Steelscene - WA Schools Public Private Partnership Program (PPP)

TRUECORE® steel delivers for WA schools PPP projects

Steelscene Framing made from TRUECORE® steel
Steelscene Framing made from TRUECORE® steel
Steelscene Framing made from TRUECORE® steel
Steelscene Framing made from TRUECORE® steel
Steelscene Framing made from TRUECORE® steel
Steelscene Framing made from TRUECORE® steel
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The Western Australian State Government partnered with the private sector to design, build, finance and maintain four new primary schools and four secondary schools.

Fast and efficient installation
Overall construction time reduced
Impressive strength-to-weight ratio
Strong and dimensionally accurate
Precision engineering

“By incorporating innovative engineering techniques and methodologies, we were able to increase the consistency of light gauge steel frame production due to high-rate, cold form CNC automation." - Gary James, Steelscene.

Project Summary

The Western Australian State Government partnered with the private sector to design, build, finance and maintain four new primary schools and four secondary schools to open progressively from 2017 to 2023.

The construction of the school facilities was awarded to Badge Constructions (WA) Pty Ltd (Badge) and Perkins (WA) Pty Ltd (Perkins) under a joint venture arrangement (BPJV). 

Following the successful application of lightweight steel framing on similar projects in other states, BPJV proposed this methodology for the WA Schools PPP project. Traditionally, a double brick hot-rolled steel support and steel or timber roof rafters/battens is a common framing structure in Western Australia. This solution was considered by BPJV, and was excluded by the consortium in favour of the efficiencies presented from the fully integrated lightweight steel option. Hybrids of steel framing and other traditional method combinations were also considered and discounted following detailed assessment as well (RS). 

Steelscene was appointed the steel framing design and fabrication contract for Baldivis Gardens Primary School, Woodland Grove Primary School, Aveley Secondary College (Stage 1 and Stage 2), Coastal Lakes College (Stage 1 and Stage 2), Hammond Park Secondary School (Stage 1 and Stage 2), and Harrisdale Senior High School (Stage 2).

Key Challenges

Fixed project timelines – allowance of 18 months from the start of detailed design, to the doors for each Primary School opening.

Key Benefits Delivered

Rocky Slater, Manager PPP – WA Schools PPP highlighted the following benefits:

Speed

Swift frame assembly and installation once the first floor slabs were poured

Reduction in timeline allocated for wall noggins for inbuilt joinery (since already incorporated into framing).

Tolerances enabled utilisation of split frame internal door frames leading to a quicker internal fit out cycle. 

Project Information
Project

WA Schools Public Private Partnership Program (PPP) Project

Location

Western Australia

Client

Department of Finance

Developer

The EduWest consortium which is headed by Project Co (Macquarie Capital) who are sole sponsor, equity investor, debt underwriter, financial advisor and SPV Manager.

Builder

Badge Perkins Joint Venture (BPJV) is the D&C Subcontractor.

Steel Frame Fabricator

Steelscene

Principal Steel Products

Predominantly – lightweight framing made from TRUECORE® steel.

Case Study

April 2019

Framing
Schools and Childcare
Modular
Commercial
WA

Efficiency

Reduction in secondary trades framing out penetrations for tubular skylights or large roof mounted kit (already accounted for in light-gauge framing).

Increased spacing of supports for soffits reduced the need for secondary battens to carry external cladding in numerous locations.

Integration

Fully integrated with our alternate fire engineering solution (in double storey buildings) with application of intumescent paint to adjacent hot rolled steel support members.

Fully integrated with our design consultancy team in steel coordination BIM modelling – with the buildings shared and reviewed in Navisworks environment by all parties.

Flexibility

Ability to accommodate future flexibility of the building layouts to the Department of Education’s pedagogy future demands.

Outcomes

In summing up the success achieved so far on such a large scale, and high-profile project, Steelscene owner Gary James says, “By incorporating innovative engineering techniques and methodologies, we were able to increase the consistency of light gauge steel frame production due to high-rate, cold form CNC automation. This allowed for long spanning sections to be customized for fit to purpose application throughout the corresponding projects.” He continues, “The flow-on effect of this reduced the fabrication-to-site-to-erection scheduling timeline and kept work sites at a higher level of efficiency”. 

Schools in the PPP Project:

Primary schools (all operational for the 2017 Academic Year):

  1. Alkimos Beach Primary School
  2. Baldivis Gardens Primary School
  3. Carnaby Rise Primary School
  4. Woodland Grove Primary School

Secondary schools:

  1. Aveley Secondary College
    • Stage 1 opened in 2018 Academic Year
    • Stage 2 due for 2021 Academic Year 
  2. Coastal Lakes College 
    • Stage 1 opened in 2019 Academic Year
    • Stage 2 due for 2022 Academic Year 
  3. Hammond Park Secondary School 
    • Stage 1 opened in 2020 Academic Year
    • Stage 2 due for 2023 Academic Year 
  4. Harrisdale Senior High School – 
    • Stage 2 due for 2020 Academic Year 
Sources
  • Rocky Slater, Manager PPP – WA Schools PPP (RS)
  • Jason Orso, Project Manager – WA Schools PPP (JO)
  • Gary James, Owner, Steelscene (GJ)

The content of this case study is based on statements made by the sources listed above and is a reflection of their views and experience on the above Project. Same/similar results are not guaranteed for each user and outcomes may vary across projects.

Discover other schools and childcare projects that have benefited from the use of light gauge steel framing made from TRUECORE® steel

Steelscene Framing made from TRUECORE® steel
Steelscene Framing made from TRUECORE® steel
Steelscene Framing made from TRUECORE® steel
Steelscene Framing made from TRUECORE® steel
Steelscene Framing made from TRUECORE® steel
Steelscene Framing made from TRUECORE® steel