Plenty Road
Bundoora VIC 2000
Australia
Overview
The four-storey post and beam timber structure erected for RMIT’s Bundoora Campus serves as a striking focal point for the University’s newly constructed student accommodation complex. A custom roof framing system was used along with pre-fabricated floor panels, radiata pine LVL beams and columns over eighteen metres in height, making it one of the largest engineered timber structures in Australia. The massive exposed LVL timber beams which can be seen from many levels internally as well as from the street, produce a stunning contrast to the surrounding steel and coasted aluminium cladding and creates a grand yet comfortable interior.
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Structure
Engineered timber was used for almost all elements of this project, including ProRafters roof structure, plywood floor panels and radiata pine LVL beams and columns.
All floor panels were also pre-fabricated to tight tolerances before being craned into place. The most significant use of engineered timber in this project however, lay in the sheer size of the nine 525x525 square LVL columns and 600x90 LVL beams used to create the structure’s frame.
Engineered timber was included in the university’s development for many reasons, including the aesthetic appeal of our unique design, as well as the convenience of pre-fabrication and fast, economical installation. Engineered timber was integral to achieve the requirements of the design, with substantial column and beam sizes that would be near impossible to produce with raw timber pieces. Timber was also important for the project’s environmental conscience, with a combination of our timber frame with primarily timber interiors aligning with the client’s desire to incorporate natural materials such as wood into their project.
Floor System: radiata pine
Vertical Supports or Wall System: radiata pine (Post and Beam)
Roof Structure: radiata pine(ProRafters)
Interior
It was specified that the timber structure be aesthetically impressive as it was to eventually contain several of the building’s central, communal areas. To do this, all exposed timber was sanded to an architectural finish before being coated with a clear veneer.
This aesthetic appeal was a vital factor, as the large exposed timber beams ultimately became the most distinctive and element of the entire complex. The double-height rooms inside the hub feature these exposed beams and several other timber elements to give the building a grandiose, open feel whilst wooden textures maintain a warm and inviting ambience.
Floor covering: Radiata Pine Plywood
