A joint AU$23.5 million initiative between the Western Australian and federal governments has delivered 38 new social housing units in North Coogee, with the project finishing about 8 months faster than a traditional build by leaning into off-site manufacturing.
The completed development includes 12 one-bedroom apartments, 2 studios, and 24 two-bedroom apartments. Local companies PARC Developments and Tyrone Group delivered the job in 14 months from start to finish, according to Build Australia.
A major driver of the time savings was the use of prefabricated bathroom pods and pre-assembled masonry wall panels. Those components were manufactured at Tyrone Group’s facility in Neerabup while foundational siteworks were underway. The panels and pods were then trucked directly to the North Coogee site, which helped streamline on-site assembly and reduce noise and disruption for nearby residents.
For mason contractors, the takeaway is that masonry work is increasingly showing up in hybrid delivery models, where part of the wall scope shifts from the jobsite to a controlled manufacturing setting. When wall panels are built off-site in parallel with foundations, schedule gains come from doing work at the same time, not just faster work.
If you’re asked to support a panelized approach, it’s worth getting clarity early on how the panels will be produced, transported, and set, and how the on-site installation sequence will be staffed. The jobsite pace can change quickly when panels arrive ready to place.
The project is supported by the federal government’s AU$2 billion Social Housing Accelerator Payment fund and will be managed by a community housing provider. Residents, including seniors, single parents, and people escaping domestic violence, are expected to move in later this year. Housing and Works Minister John Carey said the project shows “we can deliver more homes, sooner, when we look beyond the traditional double brick builds.”
Read the full, original article from Build Australia here.