44 Stuart Street

TEG Consulting Engineers was tasked with the architectural and engineering design of 44 Stuart Street. As a sustainable three storey residence in North Ward Townsville.

The client was looking for a sustainable alternative building material, which would provide high levels of thermal insulation and increased strength. Together with ultra-model design concept involving large cantilevers and trafficable roof.

The engineering for the residence required:

1. Load bearing walls offset.
2. Trafficable roof, with internal storm water drainage system.
3. Open frame stair case frame, to all 3 levels.
4. Unfavourable soil conditions in the form of class P and S.
5. Design of sunken pool structure aligned adjacent to external wall frame.
6. Location of services within a SIP wall frame system.
7. Large open areas, with internal offset wall framing.

TEG Consulting Engineers (TEGCE) was responsible for all architectural and engineering design and documentation as well as providing fabrication drawings of various components.

The model was designed and modelled using Autodesk Revit & Inventor and analysed for stress using the FEA module in the program, along with hand checks to check for deflection and stress points.

The architectural design concept and the use of alternative to traditional building framing posed a number of challenges:

1. MgO SIP building panel to be tested to ensure that the system meet Australian Building Requirements and was Code compliant.
2. Construction methodology to be developed for trafficable roof and offset load bearing walls.
3. Seal to roof area and drainage for high ARI such as Townsville.
4. Compliance with cyclonic wind loading adjacent Townsville strand.
5. Off set load bearing walls and floors to open plan ground level.
6. Sealing of trafficable roof and parapet walls with internal stormwater drainage system.
7. Design of sunken pool, adjacent external load bearing wall line for the length of residence.

Initial Engineering design was completed in required timeframe and satisfied stakeholders and regulators. Achieved visual aspect desired by council. Construction methodology enabled the construction of the house to achieve budget controls.