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WHAT'S HAPPENING AT HAUWAI

Dec 2022 - Countdown to Completion!

75% of Monark's structure is now complete with the structural steel and precast panels along Adelaide Road installed up to roof level! We have started placing level 4 floors and in some areas level 5. The next major structural milestone will be the installation of rood steel followed by framing for the roof.

Timber framing for the facade is underway with teams to install the cladding and windows ready to commence on site in August. For the past 2-3 weeks the plumbers have been running pipes from the ground floor to level 1, simultaneously we have been preparing for the sprinkler contractor to begin fixing their pipes.

Another key contractor on site at the moment are the intumescent painters, making their way through painting the fire protection onto the structural steel.

As we work towards completing the main structure over the next 3-4 months we will commence partitioning on the lower floors as our focus turns to progressing the internal works.

The team at Monark have been working hard to ensure the apartments are completed prior to Christmas, all apartments have been fit out and the defecting process is underway. The corridor carpet has been laid and entrance door numbers installed, ready for the apartment owner’s arrival.  

On the exterior, our team have been completing the final touches of the facade cladding, with the contrast of the traditional red brickwork on the ground level against the modern Kingspan and Titan cladding guaranteeing the building stands out on busy Adelaide Road.

The main entrance glass curtain wall has carefully been installed, and the King Street kerb and footpaths reinstated. The ground floor apartment terraces are nearing completion, and garden beds have been built with plants proudly standing in place.

We are almost ready for apartment owners to move in!

Aug 2022 - Scaffolding is coming down!

It’s been another busy couple of months for the Monark team as our focus shifts from the façade to the exterior site works and finishing the apartments. Our scaffolding is coming down revealing Monark’s true beauty, we can finally start to see all our hard work paying off! 

On the interior, the ground floor apartments are close to being 100% complete and the level 1 apartments are scheduled to follow shortly afterwards. Our teams of subs are busy completing the finishing touches so we can lock the apartment doors behind them as we prepare each apartment for presentation. Further up the building, our level 3 kitchen installation is almost complete, and level 4 is well underway. Our decorators are busy preparing the level 5 apartments for fit out which is scheduled to commence shortly.

Our perimeter site works have started and our brick layer is off to a roaring start, his red bricks really brining the building together.  

The countdown to completion is well and truly on!

Jun 2022 - We are Weathertight!

Our team have been very busy working against the winter clock to get the building closed in and weathertight. Our level 5 windows are glazed and façade cladding and flashings are 99% complete, with the finishing touches under way. All will be revealed soon when our scaffolding begins to come down, watch this space….

Our balustrades are installed up to level 4, with level 5 to be completed shortly. Fit out has commenced on the lower levels with kitchens installed on the ground level, and level 1 installation underway. Floor coverings are going in and our electricians and plumbers are on standby to commence second fix shortly.

Our decorators are making their way up the building with works well underway on level 3 and commencing on level 4. The services are almost complete in level 5, and the walls will be lined shortly.

Our focus over the coming weeks is to get level 5 walls lined and bring our fit out teams further up the building. As everything starts to come together, we can’t help but start to feel excited!

Apr 2022 - Interior Progression!

Monark didn’t get chocolate for Easter, but paint! Interior painting to the apartments is underway on the ground floor, with tiling and joinery to follow over the next few weeks. One of Monark’s carpentry crews – Vertbuild, have almost completed all the building’s façade timber framing, RAB and membrane install, with the last bits being put together on level 5 now. Carpenters - SIS, are following with the fixing of facade flashings, battens, Kingspan and aluminium cladding. Cladding is fitted up to level 3, with level 4 also underway.

Simultaneously, Vertbuild have been progressing with the install of doors, architraves and skirting to lower levels as apartment gib stopping is completed.

Following COVID related disruptions to our site resource we are pleased to have our work force back in full swing with other areas being well progressed such as the installation of window and balcony slider doors, the glazing of which is completed up to level 4. The first fix of services is ongoing on level 4, signing off services and lining walls and ceilings is happening on level 2 and 3. Balcony balustrades are being fitted on level 2 and we are also building the ground floor terraces, which involves forming footings, small slabs and blockwork.

Our focus over the forthcoming weeks is to push plastering and painting works so we can get joinery installation, apartment flooring works, and second fix activities rolling. Hold tight!

By the end of April, level 5 façade framing and RAB will be complete.

Interior painting is underway on the ground floor with level 1 soon to follow. Plastic sheeting (left wall here) ensures the concrete panel walls are well protected during the painting process!

Ground level kitchens are installed and floor coverings installed.

Jan 2022 - Farewell to our Crane!

Monark has come a long way since October, although we experienced several strong wind days slowing down progress, roof steel and purlins were fully installed just in time for Christmas. The new year has seen the epic operation of dismantling the tower crane, as all of building's structural steel is installed, it’s no longer essential to the job.

Roof work has progressed - drainage connections, roofing iron material is 60% fitted and carpentry to the lift shaft ‘pop out roof’ is completed. The façade is well underway - timber framing, waterproofing and balcony membrane is installed on levels 1-3, with work going ahead on level 4. Flashing and Kingspan cladding is fixed at levels 1-3 around two elevations, with the third elevation underway.  Window and door frames are 60% installed, 40% glazed. We’re excited to finish the façade; however, this will take a while longer.

On the interior of the building, the service trades have run cables and wires, installed plumbing, sprinkler pipes and HVAC ducting from the ground floor up, with all teams now working on level 3. With interior wall framing and lining progressed up to level 4 we are now starting to line ceilings. Plastering and painting the apartments is the next step!

Beautiful day for installing the roof! Layers of mesh, insulating paper, and roofing iron.

Façade layers. Without the scaffold, façade work would be almost impossible. We have scaffolders on site full time erecting and altering scaffold to the needs of the construction. Shown here, on level 3 is RAB (rigid air barrier, the green board) fixed to timber framing, on level 4 timber framing is in progress, level 5 is yet to be reached.

A wide view of roof action. Roof material is being installed, carpentry to the lift shaft roof is going on and the beloved crane is waiting for its next lift.

Oct 2021 - Panels 100% Complete!

The structure is almost fully built at Monark, we achieved a major milestone mid-September when the final (164th) precast panel was installed. The stitch join team, BCD Carpentry, are working hard to connect the precast panels, 274 stitch joins have been constructed to date! We expect to complete these in 3-4 weeks.  

The precast panel crew, Pinnacle Resources, are now installing rood steel and we are aiming to have the roof structure complete and roof installation well progressed by Christmas. Another major milestone approaching is the completion of floor slabs with only a couple more concrete pours to level 4 and 5.

 

Inside Monark, plumbing pipe and ducting for the HVAC systems are installed up to level 3 and the electrical and sprinkler pipe services also progressing through the lower floors. Internal wall framing is progressing at rapid pace through the building, with wall linings commencing soon as the building becomes more weather tight. 

 

Coordination of facade works is well underway with timber facade framing progressing through GF - L3. Installation of balcony waterproofing is underway on the lower floors, with installation of windows and Kingspan Cladding about to follow behind this work.

With the structural works coming to a close on site the focus really has turned more to facade and internal works - the team onsite are really enjoying seeing the layout of the apartments taking shape!

Window frames, a glimpse of hydraulic and mechanical pipes above.

Balcony screeding for falls, the waterproof membrane will go over the top.

Facade waterproofing membrane and flashing around window opening.

Scaffold stairs next to precast stairs. Eventually a curtain wall will go in place in front of the precast stairs forming a fancy facade.

The last level 3 slab pour area, post-pour! The structural steel and panel starter bars (that the precast panels slot into) protrude out of the slab.

July 2021 - Structure takes shape!

75% of Monark's structure is now complete with the structural steel and precast panels along Adelaide Road installed up to roof level! We have started placing level 4 floors and in some areas level 5. The next major structural milestone will be the installation of rood steel followed by framing for the roof.

Timber framing for the facade is underway with teams to install the cladding and windows ready to commence on site in August. For the past 2-3 weeks the plumbers have been running pipes from the ground floor to level 1, simultaneously we have been preparing for the sprinkler contractor to begin fixing their pipes.

Another key contractor on site at the moment are the intumescent painters, making their way through painting the fire protection onto the structural steel.

As we work towards completing the main structure over the next 3-4 months we will commence partitioning on the lower floors as our focus turns to progressing the internal works.

The last level 3 slab pour area, pre-pour!

Monark from a distance! The tower crane is holding up a panel up whilst the props are connected to take over and hold it up.

Scaffold stairs next to precast stairs. Eventually a curtain wall will go in place in front of the precast stairs forming a fancy facade.

The last level 3 slab pour area, post-pour! The structural steel and panel starter bars (that the precast panels slot into) protrude out of the slab.

Apr 2021 - Well Underway...

It has been full steam ahead on site over the past few months, charging through the installation of our precast panels. We are now nearing completion of our lower level panels (those that span from the ground floor up to level 3) with only 9 out of the 86 lower level panels remaining. These will be installed over the next 2-3 weeks. 

 

Pouring of the level 1 and 2 slabs in the apartments is also progressing well and we expect to complete this in the next 4 weeks. Next our attention will turn to infill the level 1 and 2 floor slabs in the lift, stair, and corridor areas.

As we complete installation of the lower panels, we will soon start forming the level 3 slab, which will allow us to begin installing the upper level panels (level 3 to the roof, 79 panels in total). This level 3 slab is different in that it is formed across the top of the lower panels, as opposed to the level 1 and 2 slabs which were formed in between the 3-storey high panels.

With the splice in our structural steel columns being located above level 2 we are now installing the next lift of structural steel which takes us up to roof level. This will allow for the installation of the level 3 precast ribs and formation of slab as mentioned above before the upper levels are installed.

The formation of our stitch joins are now running like a well oiled machine - we are nearing completion of all joins up to Level 2 now with pours occurring twice weekly. We have now poured over 1500m3 of concrete on site! 

And to top things off our first set of precast stairs arrived on site today and will be installed over the next two days.

A concrete pour in action!

Concrete placers at work forming a slab area/cell on Level 1.

Our first precast stair delivery, 2 flights of stairs and a panel sitting on the truck soon to be crane lifted into the building.

The crane holding a structural steel beam in place while Pinnacle connect it to the steel frame.

Jan 2021 - Joining the Pieces Together

After an energising break over Christmas we're right back into action. This month we have begun working on the stitch joins that join the precast concrete panels together, putting in and tying the reinforcing steel, then boxing up the framework before filling with concrete.

The final big section of raft slab is being poured today (28th Jan!) with the concrete team starting on site at 5:40am this morning! 

We've also achieved the first of the upper floor slab pours, a cell/room on level 1.  The reason for pouring the upper levels in cells is the precast panel temporary propping system. The panels are supported by large steel props bolted into and between the panel and raft slab until the rest of the structure (stitch joins, floor slabs) are in place, enabling the props to be removed. There are roughly 15 cells to pour per level, and planning the sequencing of these pours around installing and removing the temporary propping, as well as coordinating timing for production and delivery of other structural elements has proved an interesting challenge for the Aoraki site management team.

Propping underneath the first floor to support the weight of the concrete until it is set and stable.

The first apartment/cell finished slab.

The order of precast panels and slab pours may seem a little illogical but is designed around propping and forming slabs in the most efficient manner.

Reinforcing prepared and ready for the first floor slab to be poured.

Dec 2020 - Up, Up, Up!

There's been another step change on site over the last few weeks - we're building up!

The formation of the raft slabs has been quite an undertaking, involving careful coordination to ensure the large concrete pours go smoothly. This included starting the concrete pour early on a Saturday morning to ensure we could get consistent flow of concrete delivery trucks to site without hitting traffic congestion. Two out of three of the ground floor raft slabs have now been poured. When finished, the ground floor will contain 1,100 cubic meters of concrete!!!

While preparing to pour the final section of raft slab we are also standing our large precast panels on site. These large upright structures are once again dramatically transforming the look of the site as we build vertically 3 floors at a time.  

 

Formation of the Level 1 and Level 2 suspended floor slabs are scheduled to commence early next year so that will be the next major change to look out for!

First area of raft slab being poured, 400m3

of concrete in this particular pour.

After pouring, concrete is first vibrated and then floated to smooth the surface. Curing compound is applied and it is left to set.

Precast panels installed and temporarily propped ahead of the suspended floor slabs and in-situ stitch joints being formed. Each panel is 3-storeys high, a further 3-storey high panel will be stacked on top of these panels at a later date, taking this structure up to roof level. 

Precast panel being lifted from the truck and rotated using both the tower crane and mobile crane, before the tower crane guides this panel into its final position.

Preparation for installation of precast panels on the newly formed raft slab is underway, including setup of the mobile crane that will assist our tower crane with rotating the precast panels once lifted from the delivery trucks.

Nov 2020 - New Crane on the Block!

There's a buzz of excitement on the site now that our crane is up and fully operational! It signals another new phase of construction, and we can now concentrate on getting ready to pour the ground floor raft slab.  

The ground floor raft slab will be poured in three sections. The first is scheduled to be poured by the end of the month. In preparation for this we have been focusing on completing the inground services, with our reinforcing steel fixers following close behind tying the mammoth volume of steel in the raft slab. The second section is due to be poured in December, and the third and final section is due to be poured in the New Year.

While preparing for our first section raft slab to be formed we are also working on forming the lift pit on site, as well as completing services infrastructure work out on both King Street and Adelaide road.

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Crane - hand drawn-website.jpg

Oct 2020 - Preparing for our Crane

One of our first major milestones has now been met - the piling is complete! Brian Perry Civil did a great job and have now de-camped, leaving the site looking quite different to before they arrived.

 

Out on Adelaide Road,  G.P. Friel have been busy installing the underground services to service the new apartment building, including new storm water manholes on Adelaide Road - quite a challenge on such a high volume traffic area.

 

The next major will be getting our crane up, and to that end we have been busily preparing the crane base. The crane base makes clever use of the building's foundations and will therefore remain in place once the crane has been removed. Our crane will have the capacity to lift up to 24 tonnes so that it be able to handle the large precast panels on our project, and will stand approximately 10 storeys high in order for our 3 storey precast panels to be lifted over the top of the building as we progress through construction. 

Installation of reinforcing steel for the formation of our crane base is underway.

Completed crane base being stripped of form work.

Installation of the cast in crane anchors complete with jig to ensure the position of the anchors suits the soon to be installed crane tower sections.

Tying the reinforcing steel for the crane base.

Sept 2020 - Piles, piles, and more piles!

The focus over the last few weeks has been piling, and with ~160 piles to get in this is no small job. There is quite a high variability in how easy/hard each pile is to drill, and so far they have ranged from taking about 8 minutes to 2 hours to drill a single pile. In brief, for each pile a 13m deep hole is drilled, filled with concrete, and then reinforcing set into it. Check out the reinforcing being driven into the concrete (click here!) - its quite mesmerising!

Despite some  obstructions being encountered, Brian Perry Civil are putting in a great effort and progressing well - we're on track to have piling completed in early October. 

Towards the end of last week, GP Friel were working on Adelaide Road excavating for and installing storm water manholes and we started preparing the ground for the crane base/slab, which will soon have reinforcement put in and tied between 6 piles.

Pile cages are laid out/stored between drilled/completed piles (the plastic caps are there for safety reasons).

Excavating around the 6 crane base piles to make room for reo and concrete, which will form the crane base slab.

Scaffold has been erected in the crane base area to allow for breaking out of concrete.

Fully excavated crane base area, which has reached the water table!

Freddy's Concrete Cutters breaking out concrete from the lower area of piles for the crane base.

Freddy's Concrete Cutters breaking out the top of the crane base piles, so that reinforcement for the crane base slab can be tied to the pile cages.

Aug 2020 - We are GO!

It's been a busy two months since we signed on to deliver the Monark Apartment development in June; the building that was on site has come down and been removed, our team have moved onto site, extensive groundworks have been completed to prepare the ground, services are in the process of being re-routed, and piling has commenced (3 completed, ~157 to go!) 

The team have arrived! Site office is in place and the the site has been cleared ready for the next stage.

It's getting busier on site now as Brian Perry Civil get stuck into work on the piling.

For each pile, a hole must be drilled, filled with concrete, and reinforcing driven down to a depth of 13m.

Preparing the ground before the team even moved onto site.

The view from Adelaide Rd prior to work commencing! 

The old building at King St prior to demolition.

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