Civic Precinct on national stage for pioneering safety measures

An innovative approach to workplace safety during construction of Geelong’s new council offices has earned its builder a state award and consideration for a national honour.

BESIX Watpac won the Excellence in Health and Safety category at the 2022 Master Builders Victoria (MBV) Excellence in Construction Awards in August for its build of the City of Greater Geelong’s Wurriki Nyal Civic Precinct.

As the Victorian winner, the BESIX Watpac project is in the running for the National Excellence in Building and Construction Awards from the national body, to be decided later this month.

The civic precinct, designed by Cox Architecture, opened to the public on September 5 and now consolidates the city’s offices and customer service centres in one central building.

BESIX Watpac’s consultative and comprehensive approach to safety for the project earned acclaim from MBV because of the challenges associated with the build due to its design.

MBV said the five-level mass timber frame, which included a fully-glazed curtain wall and a “window wall façade” increased potential for fall of materials during installation

Following discussions with internal and external stakeholders, BESIX Watpac altered systems including removing the use of soft slings and the chance to damage exposed structural surfaces.

MBV stated this approach “established a safer and more efficient lifting methodology and increased the margin of safety and control over lifting equipment through specialty equipment”.

“The strong application of innovative engineered systems to control risks associated with hazards unique to the project was one of the key successes on the City of Greater Geelong Civic Accommodation Building project,” MBV stated.

“The project team implemented systems of work to manage the unique complexities associated with the scale of the structure and unique building material that required installation.

“The project team’s approach to consultation was inclusive and all-encompassing, which resulted in the implementation of higher-order controls and improved safety outcomes.”

The complex construction method was due to BESIX Watpac’s use of cross-laminated timber (CLT) for the main building’s frame, which is seen as a more sustainable material than traditional sources.

“Featuring an innovative and sustainable cross-laminated timber design, the new Civic Precinct will bring together staff from seven Geelong offices to drive collaboration, reduce costs, and future-proof the city’s workplace needs,” the builder stated.

Use of CLT for the precinct was the idea of designer Cox Architecture, which said the modern look suited Geelong’s status as Australia’s first UNESCO City of Design.

“We strive to meet the environmental challenges facing the construction industry and embrace solutions with low energy and low carbon footprints,” Cox director Andrew Tucker said.

“There is a lot of potential in mass engineered timber and timber-hybrid structures, enabling urban planners and architects to develop innovative and sustainable architecture.

“As a renewable material CLT has significant advantages over traditional construction in terms of environmental impacts, off site manufacturing, speed, weight, and expressed structure.”

Master Builders Australia will reveal its national award winners at the Hunter Valley, New South Wales on November 26.