Steel Frames the Invisible Development Game Changer

Robina's Vue Terrace Homes community has a “hidden” advantage—920 tonnes of light gauge steel frames that sliced two months off the build time and created durability for the new luxury terrace homes.

Queensland's largest steel framing company, Australian Framing Solutions, installed the Truecore light gauge steel frames, which CEO Jake Gundry says is a game changer for the industry.

Australian Framing Solutions designed, engineered, manufactured and managed the installation of the “invisible” frames, which Gundry says made a huge difference during the construction process and the long-term structural integrity of the building.

“Steel framing is something that developers, builders and even end users are becoming more aware of, with the understanding that quality comes back to creating a good solid framework for the project,” Gundry said.

“Vue has been one of our more challenging projects to date as it is so unique.

“Master developer Robina Group designed the terrace homes to be built on an elevated concrete slab podium 5.6 hectares in size, which is the largest in the southern hemisphere.

“Hutchinson Builders required a large volume of steel to be delivered to site simultaneously as part of the build schedule, but we quickly realised that the number of installers and trucks required could hinder productivity if not managed correctly.

“AFS has the largest manufacturing capacity in Queensland, so we were able to keep pace with output requirements for Vue by scaling all functions of the business and to ensure everything ran smoothly, we placed a full-time project manager on site to manage logistics and communication.

“We also manufactured ahead of time to supply stockpiles of frames off site, enabling on-demand access for installers.

“The combination of the above strategies allowed us to help reduce the build time by eight weeks."

Gundry said as well as time efficiencies, there were cost savings gained by substituting structural steel for Light Gauge Steel where design and engineering permitted.

“The original design called for structural steel, which doesn't necessarily equate to superior quality," Gundry said.

“Hutchinson Builders agreed to adopt light gauge frames, which are an excellent option due to their ease and speed of installation.

“Our frames are manufactured in partnership with our steel suppliers Bluescope and Truecore, which both have a long track record for quality.”

Hutchinson Builders' Levi Corby says working with AFS afforded a better outcome for his team and the Vue project.

“Our work with AFS spans over a decade. The AFS team provided outstanding expertise on Vue Terrace Homes—their experience, attention to detail and progressive approach to design and construct has again proven valuable,” Corby said.

“No matter the scale, our construction teams always welcome the opportunity to work with AFS on our projects.”

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