"dividing strips for in situ flooring"

The City of Boston is known for many things – from Fenway Park to the Boston Marathon to the bar from Cheers, the city is full of iconic landmarks, events, cultural assets, education centers, and more. The City is also recognised for its vast history, especially downtown, where hundred-year-old buildings have been preserved or restored. There is also a mixture of new property development, including 33 Congress Street, in the heart of the financial district, which combines the best of historical design with new construction. 33 Congress incorporates more than 400,000 square feet of office and retail space, transforming the historic neighborhood and positioning the area as a dynamic downtown destination. The project was designed by Arrowstreet, an award-winning architecture and design firm, and was led by Jason King, AIA, LEED, AP, BD+C, Senior Associate for Arrowstreet. Blending Historical Features with a Modern Design According to King, the 33 Congress Street building consisted of three different structures that were built at separate times: in 1904, 1906, and in 1922 and then all combined into one space. While the space functioned as one building, there were three separate elevator cores, sets of restrooms, sets of stairs, and more. Those entities needed to be reconfigured into one. The most striking feature of 33 Congress is a new, modern glass and steel structure, containing 6 additional floors of office space that sits on top of the original three masonry buildings. Another important project goal was to upgrade the main lobby to a modern design that allowed public access, increased security for building employees, and respected several historical aspects. “We needed a way to get people into the new, main elevator lobby quickly due to the high volume of traffic that we were anticipating would take place after the redesign,” King said. “We also wanted to create an entrance that would create a better flow of entry from the sidewalk into the building.” The original building had an existing revolving door, but it was small and surrounded by stone. “It was dark and uninviting,” King said. “We were creating an open and airy Class A lobby space and wanted visitors to clearly see the ornate, coffered ceiling and experience the grand and historic nature of the lobby as they entered.” Revolving Door and Speed Gates Provide Aesthetics and Function King implemented a Boon Edam Crystal Tourniket manual revolving door to lead visitors in the double height lobby space. The Crystal Tournket is constructed virtually completely from glass with only a few stainless steel accents to ensure the solidity of the revolving door. It fits seamlessly with modern glass facades but can also be a beautiful eye catcher in more traditional or classic designs. For employee access, the building’s previous design did not incorporate turnstiles to the elevator banks. “The building did have card reader access, but only at certain doors and locations,” King said. King installed four lanes of Boon Edam Lifeline Speedlane Swing speed gates and two Winglock Swing model access gates to provide secure employee access to the building’s upper floors. The Lifeline Speedlane Swing speed gate manages and channels the flow of people entering and moving around buildings. It employs sensors that detect visitors approaching, with pulsing light strips to guide the user. A sleep function saves on energy use. It can be customised with dimensional and glass choices, including corporate identity colors or other options, so that it either blends-in or stands-out from its surroundings. The Boon Edam Winglock Swing is constructed from stainless steel and a single glass panel, and is unobtrusive in nature and design. The access gate easily manages bi-directional traffic, with LED lights that signal if the gate is in use or on standby. The access gate ties into a manned security desk located near the front doors. Employees gain access to the building through either the Lifeline turnstiles, or a Winglock Swing access gate, while building visitors can receive credentials at the security desk. King said, “We started the process looking at Boon Edam from a security and an aesthetic standpoint. We went through multiple product options but always had a Boon Edam product as the basis of the design. We have been happy with Boon Edam entrance solutions and we are planning to use them again for future projects.”

In collaboration with market leading Astina Group, GH Commercial brought to life luxury design visions with a series of custom flooring solutions.Products:Custom Designer Jet® carpet, 17oz sheetApollo Hardwood Hybrid Flooring, colour 555 Spotted Gum NaturalSpinifex 100% broadloom carpet, colour 91 Sand Storm Custom hand-crafted rugsBuilder: Astina GroupInstaller: Homecare SydneyPhotography: Sebastian Mrugalski Photography

Installation of floor and wall coverings, Sealants application, Surface preparation, Tile & stone installation systems, Waterproofing

The Burj Khalifa – formerly the Burj Dubai – is a legendary building that can only be described in superlatives. At 828 metres high, it is the tallest building in the world. The Burj Khalifa has 160 floors, more than any building in the world. The building also has the highest floor, the highest façade made of aluminium and glass, the highest nightclub and the highest restaurant, the highest service lift and the lift with the longest travel distance. Finally, the building has the highest positioned revolving doors ever installed in a façade worldwide. In less than 30 years, Dubai has become the leading city in the Middle East and is known for its architectural and technical excellence. The Burj Khalifa has become the symbol of this progress. The Burj Khalifa also takes the title of the highest structure in the world back to the Middle East; the Great Pyramid of Giza used to hold the title 4 millennia ago. International Collaboration The tower was designed by architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merril, known for their designs for the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower) and the new One World Trade Center in New York. The three-pronged design is based on the spider lily desert flower and consists of three elements around a central core, with the elements spiralling upwards. It can rightly be called an international project: the construction team consisted of Samsung Engineering & Construction employees from South Korea in collaboration with Besix from Belgium and Arabtec from the United Arab Emirates. The UK consultancy Hyder Consulting was responsible for overseeing construction of the building. In total, companies from more than 30 different countries contributed to the construction of the Burj Khalifa. A Windy Challenge The wind is quite a challenge when building a skyscraper of this size. Without additional measures, the top of the building would move so much from side to side due to the wind that people would become seasick. Dubai is also regularly tested by the shamals: sandstorms that can last for days. As the outer façade of the Burj Khalifa contains an enormous amount of glass, these weather conditions presented a considerable challenge. The three-part design proved to be the solution because the spiral floors break the wind currents around the building, resulting in a stable structure. The World's Highest Revolving Doors Skidmore, Owings & Merril's design includes an observation platform on the 124th floor of the building. Two glass revolving doors provide access to this room. At 442 metres above the ground, these are the highest positioned revolving doors ever installed in the façade of a building. The revolving doors must also be able to withstand an extremely high wind load of at least 3000 Pascal, which corresponds to an F3 class tornado. The Burj Khalifa required two automatic revolving doors with a diameter of 3,000 mm and a total height of 2,700 mm; the cover could only be 300 mm high with the motor installed. Generally speaking, a revolving door with these specifications would only be able to withstand wind loads of up to 689 Pascal. It was clear, then, that not every revolving door manufacturer could supply an entrance that met these requirements. Challenge Accepted Koninklijke Boon Edam was one of only two companies invited to devise a system for this challenge. There were two main problems that had to be solved: the round sides of the revolving door had to be strong enough to resist the wind, and the door set had to be properly fixed so the door wings could not be blown off during a storm. Boon Edam worked closely with Mace, the Hyder Consulting Group, Samsung Engineering and Construction and Turner Construction, the subcontractor, to develop a system that met all these requirements. During the first phase of the process, the second company invited to tender had to give up because their design did not meet the challenging conditions on the 124th floor. Boon Edam persisted in its efforts, and after conducting various wind load and glass tests, it became possible to adapt the construction of the Tourniket to the requirements of the Burj Dubai. A Tornado-Proof Revolving Door at the Burj Khalifa Our proposal for the Burj Khalifa consisted of a Tourniket with specially reinforced door frames twice the width and thickness of a normal revolving door. These were securely anchored with special bolts under the floor to guarantee the structure's rigidity. Although most revolving doors are installed on the top of the subfloor, this door was installed under the top finish layer of the concrete floor. To guarantee the stability of the door set, an extra-thick steel frame was added to the structure. This allows the door wings to easily withstand the wind pressure. Expansion on the 148th Floor in 2014 Boon Edam installed the same specially designed Tourniket revolving door on the 148th floor as on the 124th floor. However, the new project brought an extra challenge: transporting all of the materials from the basement of the building to the 148th floor. First, the materials had to be transported in one lift to the 111th floor. They were then transferred to a second lift, from where everything had to be moved manually from the 149th floor to the 148th floor, to the door's location. Special Projects Based on Standard Solutions The revolving doors we created for the Burj Khalifa were an extreme challenge. The experience and expertise of our technicians combined with the tried and tested technology of the Tourniket enabled us to develop a successful solution. Both revolving doors are now used daily and give visitors a spectacular view of Dubai. The glass design beautifully complements the modern façade of the observation platform and puts Dubai's beautiful skyline in the spotlight.

This 28 metre-long facade of floor-to-ceiling glazing is constructed using Alspec’s high performance window and door framing products.

A series of versatile spaces enclosed with floor to ceiling glass feature in this new community service and entertainment centre in the South Australian city of Salisbury.

ABN Group chose a site in Leederville, WA, for a new state-of-the-art headquarters building. This included a multi-level office, ground floor commercial tenancies, end-of trip facilities, and parking for approximately 160 cars.The project demanded high standards for quality, had a construction time frame of 87 weeks, and was to be five-star Green Star rated.These considerations had an impact on the selection of finish for the car park floors, which is where MARKHAM became involved in the project.AQURON 1000 was selected for enhanced concrete curing, permanent sealing, and deep anti-dust hardening.

Floor-to-ceiling sliding doors have helped create a light-filled family living space at the rear of this renovated 1920s cottage in Summer Hill, Sydney.

Stunning views and natural light pervade this Mosman home with the inclusion of creative window framing elements, an internal courtyard and sweeping floor-to-ceiling windows and doors.

There were two sets of challenges involved in the Rosewood Aged Care.Firstly, waterproofing the basement. The basement was excavated around a heritage-listed building, which had to stay undamaged for the duration of the works. Piles and shotcrete were implemented for the construction, but there was no scope to install a membrane due to space and other limitations. The Markham BASE-TECT system was ideal for this situation.Second were the requirements for moisture control and permanent hygiene protection for the interior floor slabs of the residential parts of the building. This is a more routine challenge, faced by aged care facilities with concrete floor slabs. AQURON 2000 MEDI+ was selected for concrete curing enhancement and permanent hygiene sealing.

Swinburne University of Technology located in Hawthorn, Victoria required a new flooring solution for its Department of Architectural and Industrial Design workshop space. To find a solution that was both durable and decorative, Flowcrete Australia was consulted.600 m2 of Flowfresh SR in a custom Ultramarine Blue was installed at the Swinburne University Hawthorn campus thanks to its robust nature and ability to be specified in a bespoke colour.The workshop, locker area and classrooms provide students with a creative space to formulate, plan and create their visions, and the custom colour was chosen to help inspire and keep the creative juices flowing!As well as being extremely hard-wearing, the polyurethane system Flowfresh SR is also chemical resistant, meaning that it could withstand spills of drinks, paints or other substances that could harm lesser floors.Although Flowfresh SR has a positively textured surface with non-slip aggregates, the flooring system is also very easy to clean, meaning that spills or dirt could easily be wiped away, maintaining a safe space for staff and students.Prior to the application of Flowfresh SR, substantial remediation works were required including the removal of timber parquetry and the filling of over 100 lineal metres of 50mm deep service trenches.

Built by FKG Group, Queensland Cotton's Dalby Project involved the construction of two large steel framed sheds with a total floor area of almost 20,000m2. Metroll is proud to have been involved in the supply of materials to this significant expansion of storage facilities.

The six-storey car dealership opens up to the south and city streets with a fully glazed façade construction. In the evening the building reveals itself as a glass shelf. Inside the showroom, the floors are connected to each other by air spaces, creating a mix of visual relationships.

The unique spiral design of the tower is a remarkable architectural accomplishment, with an overall twist of 156 degrees clockwise – one of the most extreme twists in any architectural project. Each of the tower’s 52 floors is rotated through 3 degrees, leading to its twisted corkscrew shape.

Rondo’s Technical Team supplied emblematic CAD floor plans and designs for wall types including acoustic and fire rating to board to the manufacturer’s specifications. Onsite support from Rondo included assistance in setting out, framing, lining and finishing training as well material supply coordination.

Ferrero’s new global HQ gathers in one building with nearly 1,300 people, previously spread over five different offices. The building, with a total floor space of almost 30,000 m², opened in December 2019. The building is designed to evoke the atmosphere of an Italian square: a vast atrium is surrounded by two multi-storey office wings. Boon Edam was appointed to craft and install the golden revolving door, on behalf of facade builder Groven + Portal, who in turn worked for general contractor Felix Giorgetti. The colour of the revolving door makes a visual reference to the world-famous golden chocolate - Ferrero Rocher. The Casa Ferrero administrative building consists of two blocks built on a common basement. It was the combination of these plots, and the architectural skills, that resulted in what you see today: a building that is both impressive and elegant as well as being a pleasant and functional workplace for the employees of the food group. Ferrero’s colours are subtly incorporated into the classic facades, with bronze tones and a gilded effect over the windows as well as the entrance glass panels. This effect was achieved by applying a gold-coloured textile fabric to the laminated glass during the project’s construction. Behind the glass facade of the entrance, the most jaw-dropping area of Ferrero’s headquarters unfolds - a central atrium that connects the two blocks and is entirely covered by a glass roof. The spacious atrium is designed to function as a reception and meeting space. Horizontal circulation between the two blocks is facilitated by connecting walkways with a range of 20 meters. The vertical circulation occurs through panoramic glass elevators. The central atrium’s glass-roofed space is open to life within the company and encourages interaction between employees. This 11-storey building, including six upper levels (ground floor + 5 floors) and five lower levels, adapts perfectly to its urban surroundings. The office areas are spread over nine floors, taking advantage of maximum light for the interior space. Levels -3 to -5 include technical areas and parking spaces. Ferrero’s wish was for a functional and pleasant building for everyone who works there. We think they have achieved this in spades!

St George Community Housing required a modern flooring solution that not only fit the unit style but also ticked all the boxes for building compliance. Angus Nguyen, Development Manager at St George Community Housing explains how they came to the decision to use Korlok by Karndean Designflooring, a rigid core product for this development.

The resort offers numerous accommodation styles, most beautifully appointed with balconies or terraces. These are complimented by a range of fun filled holiday activities, magical dining experiences, contemporary facilities, secluded beaches and stunning rain forest. Mapei was a part of the following installments: Floor/wall coverings, sealant applications, surface preparation and waterproofing.

For a busy place like The Star casino complex in Sydney, it’s important for visitors and employees alike to be able to come and go from the car park without any hassles. But after a significant amount of wear and tear, The Star’s existing metal expansion joint covers were leaking between floors. Not only that, they were a trip hazard too as the fixings began to dislodge.

For instance, the guest room ensuite walls were mainly comprised of glazed aluminium panels made overseas. Unfortunately, this meant there were minimal tolerances in the set-out. Yet, because the hotel floors were generally the same layout, Rondo created a template system for setting out most of the guest rooms while also ensuring that ceiling heights were set exactly.

Rondo partnered with contractors ‘Sydney Projects’ once again, along with architects ‘The Buchan Group – Sydney’ to develop and execute the proposal for this project which involved the re-development of the retail arcade through the ground floor level, along with the eastern portion of the casino to contain additional commercial/tourist facilities, external works to the existing tower building and landscaping and public domain works

AQURON 1000 penetrating hydrogel treatment was applied to the warehouse floor slabs for curing, sealing and deep hardening for durability.The slabs were poured in very high temperatures. The hydrogel treatment helped preserve the curing quality.This project was Green Star rated. AQURON 1000 is licenced to use the Environmental Choice New Zealand ecolabel, which is recognised by the Green Building Councils of Australia and New Zealand.

Working closely with SA Master Plaster as the internal drywall contractor Rondo has supplied 64 & 92mm x 0.70BMT and 92mm x 1.15BMT wall studs for the internal wall framing with over 1,000 studs being required per floor. Also the project is utilising Rondo KEY-LOCK concealed plasterboard framing for ceilings and over 2,000m2 of the external Rondo MAXIframe wall system.

Ocean Keys is a major shopping destination in Clarkson, one of Perth’s new fast growing suburbs. This $100 million expansion completed in October 2014 included the addition of retail and fresh food stores and new residential apartments. The shopping complex is now 65% larger with a total floor space of 35,000m². Rondo supplied Key- Lock Concealed Ceiling System and steel framing for the extensive plasterboard soffits and bulkheads on the project.

To set the internal aesthetics apart from other similar projects being built in Brisbane, Wood Marsh Architects designed some jaw-dropping gold ribbon ceilings that hover above the modern curved walls, which elegantly wrap around the lobby floor. In saying this, achieving perfection is not a simple task and none of this could have been accomplished without Rondo’s technical designs and NAC’s expertise in making them come to life.

The University of Melbourne’s (UoM) Biosciences building is the perfect example of how to match a consistent timber throughout an entire space. And not just any timber. Australian Oak Engineered Flooring, cleverly partnered with GoodWood Victorian ash and IronAsh. To coincide with one of HASSELL’s philosophies to ‘continuously improve environmental performance and energy efficiencies as well as create healthier working environments’, the UoM building demonstrates an accurate representation of sustainable design and the connection of nature to increase productivity.

Construction has concluded on the redevelopment of the ‘old Harris Scarfe’ site at Rundle Mall in Adelaide. The renovations seek to re-energise the area but remain committed to preserve Adelaide’s most cherished department store. Four floors of retail space have had the base built by Interior Projects who have been a valued Rondo customer since 1988. Rondo provided essential technical expertise and design solutions for the fire walls and security mesh between tenancies.

Occupying a 2134m2 block of premium land, Leopold residential apartments is one of the newest commercial/residential developments in Melbourne’s residential and business district. The project involved the internal demolition of existing commercial fit out, the construction of an additional six levels and the fit-out of 174 residential apartments as well as four office tenancies. The works undertaken comprised of a new wall facade, the attachment of 97 new balconies to the existing structure, and installation of a structural steel transfer level with lightweight floor system (Powerscope).

Designed with sustainability and a targeted 5-star green star rating in mind, the building has drawn on Alspec products which feature high performance credentials for the floor-to-ceiling glazing and sliding doors. On the façades, Hunter Evo 150mm Double Glazed Flush Framing was used to construct the interfaces between guests and the habitat. The Hunter framing can accommodate up to 40mm double glazed and is well suited to gently curved and faceted façades, such as featured in the dining and kitchen extension.

54 Mary Street is an office building nestled in the heart of Brisbane. Spanning over 22 levels, it was no small feat for bureau^proberts to carry out a retrofit of the public washrooms. As part of the refurbishment of male, female, and ADA Accessible washrooms across numerous floors, bureau^proberts had to source a large selection of soap dispensers that would be readily available in large quantities – and ideally, in a particular matte black finish. ASI JD Macdonald were perfectly positioned to provide the solution.

Forget predictable ‘Hamptons’ beach design, and instead think laid-back beach location with a slight mid-century feel. To compliment the Goodwood Victorian ash, IronAsh cladding and Australian Oak Engineered Flooring were specified to create a continuous flow of design from inside to out. Matching the timber throughout a space creates a harmonious atmosphere that connects each room cohesively. Specifying timber all from the one manufacturer like ASH means you are getting consistent grain and quality products throughout the entire build.

COLLABORATIONSchool cleaning and maintenance teamBRIEFSchool bathrooms are notorious for bad smells, mould and stains. Our ECOCLEAN team were asked to apply our coatings to the ceramic floor and wall tiles and ceiling surfaces in the boy’s bathroom to reduce smell and provide easier clean.MATERIAL & APPLICATIONECOCLEAN Anti-Odour Coating (for wall tiles)ECOCLEAN Clean and Protect Shield (for floor tiles)ECOCLEAN Antimould Coating (for ceiling)OUTCOMEOnce applied, our ECOCLEAN coatings will remove the unpleasant odours, virus and bacteria that come into contact with the coated surface with the added benefit of easy cleaning.Before application the school bathroom scored a reading a 18,494 RLC on the Lumitester (classified as very dirty). Following cleaning and application of our ECOCLEAN coatings the bathroom presented with a reading of 887 RLU on the Lumitester showing a dramatic improvement in health and safety of the bathroom. Further testing also concluded that the bathroom was much less slippery than prior to the application.ECOCLEAN has provided this bathroom with a fresher and cleaner environment which has also improved the health and safety of all visiting students.COMMENTECOCLEAN coatings have been independently laboratory tested on a wide range of common substances responsible for acrid smells and health issues. These substances are the source of unpleasant odours in a range of environments including bathrooms, smoking areas, gyms, and areas near food waste.

Minter Ellison's award-winning office specified SAS International ceilings as part of their overall workplace well-being strategy. Designed by BVN, the feature ceilings enhance the open floor design while minimising the use of materials. BVN challenged internal preconceptions of how major law firms present themselves to staff and clients alike. Deliberately shying away from a stiff, corporate feel, they specified SAS750 Tubeline in black. Their aim was to evoke a sleek and forward-thinking dynamism while maintaining a highly professional atmosphere. Elsewhere in the office areas SAS310 metal pan ceilings were specified with an unusually large perforation. This design feature creates a visually engaging ceiling which offers subtle system integration for sprinklers, down-lighters and other small services. Due to a tight project programme, micro-perforated SAS150 was specified knowing the tiles were readily available in the Sydney warehouse. The system satisfied acoustic absorption requirements too, achieving 0.95 NRC. Minter Ellison invested in not just a Grade A office redevelopment, but also their staff, improving motivation and retention. The reinvigorated space also communicates a clear sense of approach to visiting clients, underlining core brand values. Occupying the top 8 floors of the Governor Macquarie Tower, the project won the 'John Verge Award for Interior Architecture (NSW Architecture Awards) in 2016.

Located in Fortitude Valley in the heart of Brisbane. Builder, Multiplex began Stage 1 of this $200m project in May 2015 and completed it in July this year. Subcontractor, Precision Interior Walls & Ceilings enlisted Rondo’s expertise in designing the internal ceilings and partitions, external walls and soffit framing. Designed by Architect’s Elenberg Fraser, Stage 1 of the development consisted of 32 levels with 910 luxury apartments sprawled across two towers. This will eventually form part of three residential towers incorporating ground floor retail areas, cafés, restaurants and over 1000 apartments in total.

Britex are proud to be involved in another successful VSBA School Upgrade Project at Upper Yarra Secondary College in Yarra Junction, Victoria. The completion of Stage One of the College’s Upgrade and Modernisation Project saw the inclusion of almost 30 Grade 316 SS Acid Resistant Britex Laboratory Bowls for their state of the art science and technology facilities throughout. A floor mounted 3.5m Vandal Resistant Sanistep Urinal was also installed in the Male Bathrooms complete with Smart Saniflush Sensor Flushing System, a water efficient and hygienic choice ideal for education projects.

Two high-end department stores Rokin 21 and Rokin 49 are rented by the Canadian Hudson's Bay Company (HBC), making this their Dutch headquarters. Both buildings have a new façade, which has been designed to blend in with their historic location. Authenticity is achieved with 3D curved aluminum façades and curtain walls housing enormous windows. The storefront display windows on the ground floor are 4.5 by 3 meters. A collaboration between Boon Edam and Stackdoor has resulted in an impressively tall entrance through a glass Tourniket original revolving door with a height of 4.3 meters.