The most ambitious project to date by the multinational Westfield Group is harnessing steel building technology to create a $1 billion shopping and entertainment complex at Bondi Junction in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

The landmark retail and entertainment complex consolidates three existing retail sites to establish 104,000 square metres of retail space in the heart of one of Sydney’s most affluent areas.

Westfield is bringing its global resources to bear on every facet of the mega project - from the design through to the building technology and high-grade finishes, which will create a truly world, class shopping centre.

The redevelopment works are progressing on the sites of the former Carousel Centre, the Bondi Junction Plaza and a former Grace Bros store. Grace Bros have traded on the site since 1933 and have closed their doors for the duration of the two-year project.

To complete the project structure within the desired timeframe Westfield fine tuned their construction system and adopted permanent steel formwork made from DECKFORM® steel. The system delivers significant time and material handling savings.

Permanent steel formwork made from DECKFORM® steel has amassed a formidable reputation over conventional formwork systems for economy, speed and safety for more than 20 years because it does not need to be removed after the concrete cures.

The post tensioned band beam and concrete slab design used on the new shopping centre incorporates nearly 150,000 square metres of Stramit Condeck HP steel formwork made from DECKFORM® steel.

Westfield structural engineers MPN Group used the system based on the previous success of Stramit Condeck HP permanent steel formwork on a number of Westfield Shopping Centres in Victoria.

Mr George Perl from MPN said cost efficiencies and associated benefits delivered by the permanent formwork convinced Westfield to incorporate Stramit Condeck HP decking in both the carpark and retail slab on the new structure at Bondi.

“Westfield often uses post stressed concrete floors comprising band beam and slabs for their shopping centres as it provides the most cost-effective structure,” said Mr Perl.

“The post tensioning system is not only quick but also minimises material content, with the least amount of concrete, the least amount of post tensioning and by far the least amount of reinforcement.

“Using Stramit Condeck HP decking made from DECKFORM® steel as slab formwork has significantly reduced material handling and waste on the Bondi project”.

“Stramit Condeck HP permanent steel formwork on the slabs also delivers cost savings in the final clean-up at the end of building work - another key reason for the system’s specification.”

Formwork contractors Dolso & Wideform install the permanent steel formwork as slab formwork while using conventional formwork for the band beams. Sydney post-tensioning specialist Austress Freyssinet Pty Ltd are responsible for the post-tensioned system used at Westfield Bondi Junction.

The redeveloped Westfield Bondi Junction Centre will form a landmark building in the eastern suburbs of Sydney.

The new Centre will include David Jones and Grace Bros department stores, Coles and Woolworths supermarkets, a Target discount supermarket, a 11-cinema complex, plus cafes and restaurants over 300 speciality stores and around 3300 carparks.

For Further Information Please Contact:

George Perl, MPN Group

Ph: (02) 9929 7144 Fax: (02) 9922 3041