This article was originally published in Steel Australia in September 2009.
The winners of the 2009 ASI Steel Design Awards for Queensland well represented the wide array of important public uses which structural steel excels – a tourism centre, a sports complex, a bridge and a museum.
The winners were presented at a cocktail reception at the Tattersall’s Club in Brisbane’s CBD on 27 August by ASI State Manager – QLD & NT, John Gardner. Now in its 20th year and as the ASI’s most established annual award program, it was one of the few awards functions held by the Institute in 2009 as it focuses on the core business of industry and professional development during the Global Financial Crisis (GFC).
Mr Gardner said that despite limitations imposed by the GFC, the awards program was well subscribed. “The response to this year’s program has showed once again that many associated with Australia’s building and construction sectors understand the material’s ability to bring to life stunning robust structures,” he said.
“This year’s winners exemplify the speedy, straight-forward, sustainable, safe and stylish benefits steel contributes to modern development projects.”
The awards were presented in the four categories of Architectural Steel Building Design, Structural Engineering Steel Building Design, Engineering Projects Structural Engineering Steel Design – Infrastructure and Mining, and Steel Clad Structures Building Design.
Architectural Steel Building Design Award
- Noosa Visitor Information Centre (Winner) – Bark Design Architects
- QAS Recovery and Rehabilitation Centre (High Commendation) – PDT Architects
Structural Engineering Steel Building Design Award
- Queensland Tennis Centre (Winner) – Sinclair Knight Merz
- 19 Corporate Drive (High Commendation) – S2 Corporation
Engineering Projects Structural Engineering Steel Design Award – Infrastructure and Mining
Springfield Link Bridge – Darra to Springfield Transport Corridor Project (Winner) – The Horizon Alliance
Steel Clad Structures Building Design Award
- Hinkler Hall of Aviation (Winner) – Fulton Trotter Architects
- Stockmans Hall of Fame (High Commendation) – Woodhead Architects
- Mulwith, Loretto College (Special Mention) – Fairweather Proberts Architects
Judging Panel
As in previous years, a steel distributor, engineer, detailer, architect and fabricator made up the Judging Panel for the awards.
- Jeff Attewell: Southern Qld Steel – Steel Distributor representative
- Les Miethke: Opus Qantec McWilliam – Engineer representative
- Phil Shanks: Steelcad Drafting – Steel Detailer representative
- Brian Steendyk: Brian Steendyk Architects – Architect representative
- Pius Studer: DWW Engineering – Fabricator representative
Architectural Steel Building Design
WINNER: Noosa Visitor Information Centre
Bark Design Architects
The roof inspired by a simple leaf allows northern light and winter sun through the space and onto the footpath whilst the roof cantilevers over the streets and together with high level clerestory glazing, allows visitors to look up and out. The maximum amount of glazing to enable the leaf canopy to float was achieved by minimising solid bracing walls that would have been required with other structural materials. Steel was chosen specifically for its purity of expression, speed of construction, rigid bracing connections and to create a physically and visually strong skeletal series of portal frames and cantilevered canopy roof. The structural steel frame was completed onsite over three days by four people. A large proportion of the steel primary structure can be unbolted, dismantled and recycled.
Project Team
- Client: Sunshine Coast Regional Council and Tourism Noosa
- Architect: Bark Design Architects
- Structural Engineer: Blakeney Munns
- Consulting Engineers
- Head Building Contractor: Hutchinson Builders
- Steel Distributor or Manufacturer: OneSteel
- Steel Fabricator: Cooroy Engineering
- Steel Detailer: JBD Steel Detailing
- Coatings Supplier: Industrial Galvanizers
Structural Engineering Steel Building Design
WINNER: Queensland Tennis Centre
Sinclair Knight Merz
Exemplary structural engineering services delivered the stadium under budget and in time for the inaugural Brisbane International in January 2009. The facility features the world’s first fixed roof for an outdoor tournament court open at the sides to bathe the centre court in natural light through translucent polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) fabric. The structure comprises an upper central eye lens-shaped fabric clad steel roof, a lower metal acoustic sandwich panel clad steel roof, triangular trusses and a structure which supports the upper and lower roofs. Four perimeter trusses and two internal curved trusses support the fabricated rectangular box rafters and lenticular trusses over the centre court. The concrete seating plats are supported by structural steel universal beam rakers and steel columns.
“Everyone involved has ‘served’ up an iconic stadium.” – Jeff Attewell
Project Team
- Structural Engineering: Sinclair Knight Merz
- Architectural Services: Populous and Mirvac Design
- Construction Services: Mirvac
- Building Services: Lincolne Scott
- Civil Services: Maunsell
- Acoustic Services: Ross Palmer
- Fire Engineering Services: Arup
- Steel Fabricator: Beenleigh Steel Fabrications
- Steel Detailer:TD Drafting
- Coatings Applicator: Transblast
- Coatings Supplier: International Paints
Engineering Projects Structural Engineering Steel Design – Infrastructure and Mining
WINNER: Springfield Link Bridge – Darra to Springfield Transport Corridor Project
The Horizon Alliance
Two equal steel bridge spans of 58 metres each were a smart alternative to three or four spans of concrete of unequal length. A tied-arch structure was adopted as the arch did not impose a great cost penalty compared to the truss option and looks much better. Each bridge span consists of two symmetrical arches which are inclined in the vertical plane towards each other at a slope of about 20 degrees. The vertical rise of the arches over the entire span is 10 metres to ensure the bridge is strong and rigid. Connections were predominantly bolted to provide flexibility in erection of the structure and minimise site welding. The bridge was designed to allow it to be lowered after the new road and rail alignments are constructed under the bridge through adopting a ‘through’ structure and temporary supporting frames.
Project Team
- Clients: QR Limited and Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads
- Architect: The Horizon Alliance – GHD and KBR
- Structural Engineer: The Horizon Alliance – GHD and KBR
- Head Building Contractor:The Horizon Alliance – John Holland
- Steel Fabricator: John Holland SMP Division
- Steel Detailer: John Holland SMP Division
- Coatings Supplier: International Protective Coatings
The Horizon Alliance comprises QR Limited, Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads, John Holland, GHD and Kellogg Brown & Root (KBR).
“This is a forward-thinking, well engineered and executed project.” – Jeff Attewell
Steel Clad Structures Building Design
WINNER: Hinkler Hall of Aviation
Fulton Trotter Architects
The steel detailing was inspired by connections used in the construction of older airplanes and the overall building is reminiscent of a hangar. Structural steel was selected for its spanning qualities, visual lightness, prefabrication ability and low maintenance qualities. The internal building program required large clear spans to allow maximum flexibility for the interpretive design. The ability to resist cyclonic wind loadings also worked to steel’s favour. The primary space has a clear span of 16 metres that accommodates five historic planes. Having one subcontractor responsible for the shop drawings and fabrication helped to tighten communication in this critical process.
Project Team
- Architect: Fulton Trotter Architects
- Structural Engineer: GHD (Formerly Leddy Sergiacomi & Associates)
- Head Building Contractor: Jeff Lennox Builder
- Steel Distributor or Manufacturer: BlueScope Steel
- Steel Fabricator: Caneland Engineering
- Steel Detailer: Caneland Engineering
- Coatings Supplier: Dulux
- Metal Cladding Contractor: Jeff Lennox Builder
“The architects have taken an innovative approach to the use of steel cladding to achieve an aesthetically pleasing outcome on a building which otherwise could have lacked impact.” – Les Miethke
