Medical Sciences Upgrade

Classification
Institutional / Structural
Locality
James Cook University, Douglas Campus, Townsville
Project Value
$15 Million

James Cook University Townsville Campus is host to some 11,000 tertiary students. This project provided a major expansion of the School of Medicine; allowing the discipline to accommodate the growing number of students. The large 2 story building comprised 2 wings, and houses lecture rooms, offices and laboratories for both Medicine and Pharmacy.

The design team was initially commissioned by JCU, but later novated to the builder, Abigroup. This process allowed for the fastest project delivery time by having well developed preliminary designs for tendering before developed designs were documented.

The building comprised long span band beam slabs supported on concrete columns and steel-fibre-reinforced concrete bored piers. Alternative designs using structural steel beams with precast or steel pan decks were investigated by the design team, however, the chosen construction methodology proved to be the most cost and time effective.

Key Design Aspects:

  • Schematic, design development and construction design services for all concrete elements.
  • Lateral earthquake design & analysis assessments.
  • Determination of cyclonic wind design loading.
  •  Steel-fibre reinforcing employed in concrete bored pier foundations systems.