Lend Lease will construct the first high-rise building using Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) in Australia at Docklands in Melbourne. The project is due for completion in October 2012 and the company aims to develop 30-50 per cent of its apartments using CLT. Source: Timberbiz
Grocon pipped Lend Lease to the post in that it was the first company to announce plans for a 10-storey CLT tower at the old CUB site in Swanston St. Now it looks as though Lend Lease will beat them in terms of having a completed project.
Lend Lease’s 10 storey project named Forte will unlocked a new era for the construction industry by introducing a more efficient and environmentally friendly construction process that has not been undertaken in Australia before. The company expects to continue using this type of construction for future projects.
This construction method has been used in Europe for more than a decade.
Chief Executive Officer for Lend Lease’s Australian business, Mark Menhinnitt said CLT is the most significant form of innovation in construction technology that Australia has seen in many years.
“CLT will transform the construction industry by introducing a more efficient and environmentally friendly construction process that has never been undertaken in Australia before,” said Menhinnitt.
Forte aspires to be the first 5 Star Green Star As Built residential building in the country and will rise to over 10 storeys, offering 23 residential apartments and four townhouses. Designed and built by Lend Lease.
“Building with CLT is becoming increasingly popular overseas with other residential building developments such as Bridport House and Stadthaus Murray Grove, both in London being built successfully with CLT. It proves that the appetite is there for this kind of living,” said Menhinnitt.
Forté, will reduce CO2 equivalent emissions by more than 1400 tonnes when compared with concrete and steel.
On a weight-to-strength basis CLT meets, and in some cases exceed, the performance of reinforced concrete, resulting in a very stable and durable structural outcome.
As the CLT is designed and produced in a factory environment it will be built 30 percent faster than its material counterparts.
