The Chadstone Shopping Centre is the largest center of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, and now it has only grown larger with the opening of its most recent $660 million expansion. But it isn’t the size of the expansion that stands out, it’s the striking 7,080-sm steel and glass roof.
CallisonRTKL designed the expansion and seele provided its services for the design and construction of the roof. There are two key features focused on for the expansion’s design; its open style with a gallery-type second floor, and the high, dome-like glass roof that allows a flood of daylight to reach both floors.
Because the glass roof had to follow the path of the shopping mall below, it turned into a complex free-form grid with spans of up to 44 meters, according to seele’s website. The 44-meter spans aren’t the only impressive numbers associated with the glass roof, though. The 140-meter long roof has 2,672 ISO insulating glass panes, 500 tons of steelwork, 2,810 steel nodes, and 95% of its trapezoidal forms that are unique.
The steel components of the roof were assembled off-site, checked for dimensional accuracy, and then shipped to the build site. Some of the preassembled frames measured up to 18 meters long and 5.5 meters wide.
The final product was a striking, light-filled expansion.
Rendering courtesy of seele
Related Stories
| Jan 11, 2014
Getting to net-zero energy with brick masonry construction [AIA course]
When targeting net-zero energy performance, AEC professionals are advised to tackle energy demand first. This AIA course covers brick masonry's role in reducing energy consumption in buildings.
Smart Buildings | Jan 7, 2014
9 mega redevelopments poised to transform the urban landscape
Slowed by the recession—and often by protracted negotiations—some big redevelopment plans are now moving ahead. Here’s a sampling of nine major mixed-use projects throughout the country.
| Dec 31, 2013
Top 10 blog posts from 2013
BD+C editors and our contributors posted hundreds of blogs in 2013. Here's a recap of the most popular topics. They include valuable lessons from one of the first BIM-related lawsuits and sage advice from AEC legend Arthur Gensler.
| Dec 20, 2013
Can energy hogs still be considered efficient buildings? Yes, say engineers at Buro Happold
A new tool from the engineering firm Buro Happold takes into account both energy and economic performance of buildings for a true measure of efficiency.
| Dec 13, 2013
Safe and sound: 10 solutions for fire and life safety
From a dual fire-CO detector to an aspiration-sensing fire alarm, BD+C editors present a roundup of new fire and life safety products and technologies.
| Dec 10, 2013
16 great solutions for architects, engineers, and contractors
From a crowd-funded smart shovel to a why-didn’t-someone-do-this-sooner scheme for managing traffic in public restrooms, these ideas are noteworthy for creative problem-solving. Here are some of the most intriguing innovations the BD+C community has brought to our attention this year.
| Nov 27, 2013
Exclusive survey: Revenues increased at nearly half of AEC firms in 2013
Forty-six percent of the respondents to an exclusive BD+C survey of AEC professionals reported that revenues had increased this year compared to 2012, with another 24.2% saying cash flow had stayed the same.
| Nov 27, 2013
Wonder walls: 13 choices for the building envelope
BD+C editors present a roundup of the latest technologies and applications in exterior wall systems, from a tapered metal wall installation in Oklahoma to a textured precast concrete solution in North Carolina.
| Nov 26, 2013
Construction costs rise for 22nd straight month in November
Construction costs in North America rose for the 22nd consecutive month in November as labor costs continued to increase, amid growing industry concern over the tight availability of skilled workers.
| Nov 25, 2013
Building Teams need to help owners avoid 'operational stray'
"Operational stray" occurs when a building’s MEP systems don’t work the way they should. Even the most well-designed and constructed building can stray from perfection—and that can cost the owner a ton in unnecessary utility costs. But help is on the way.
