This project began as a tender with the unique design put together by Hassell Architects. Whilst under construction, the Ikea project was the largest retail construction project in Western Australia. Gavin Construction is proud to be associated with the construction of the four perimeter office and retail buildings. The project was particularly challenging because the dividing line between two construction sites was moving all the time.
The portal framed buildings are particularly striking in their appearance. The design has made use of its lightweight external wall framing with compressed fibre cement sheeting with the use of striking paint colours in a random ‘checker-board’ pattern.
The shape and corner location of the property required a creative solution to ensure each tenant received exposure to the busy Ellen Stirling Boulevard and Sunray Drive street facades.
The four buildings are all portal frame structures with lightweight external wall framing with compressed fibre cement sheeting. Shop front glazing with features awnings are the prominent feature for the street elevations.
The dominant construction feature of the project is the use of lightweight traditionally internal ‘Rhondo’ wall framing for the external walls. This was a cost effective solution that also contributed to the rapid construction of the buildings. These walls were then lined with compressed fibre cement sheeting on insulation and top hats.
As the site is located on a very busy intersection, our building program was designed to minimize disruption to pedestrians and traffic throughout the construction phase, making use of traffic management facilities and careful planning and timing of potentially disruptive activities
Three of the four buildings have been designed to allow each tenants fit-out to be personalized to their needs and budget, so the initial amenities provided to each unit are simple yet effective.
Allowance has been made to accommodate the different needs of each tenant in relation to ceilings, lighting and power.
Building 1 has been fitted out for offices for the developer, Lex Group and the IKEA company. The details of the fit-out were not received until near completion but were completed on time with a minimum of disruption to the construction of the main building.