Tomkins Commercial delivers ninth project for Home Consortium

Tomkins Commercial has recently completed its ninth project for Home Consortium anchored by a 6,500 sqm Services Australia government office.

Large Format Retail lifestyle centres like HomeCo Cairns are increasingly incorporating essential services, alongside retail, into their offering.

The Cairns project involved the conversion of a former Masters Home Improvement hardware centre from an existing industrial-style space into a high-specification government office, providing essential services to the community.

As part of the development, more than 12,000 sqm of gross leasable land (GLA) has been refurbished.

Converting an industrial building presented some challenges for the Tomkins team, however working closely with the client throughout the process ensured a high-quality, aesthetically pleasing, and functional build was handed over on time and in budget.

Tomkins Commercial General Manager, Julian French, said one of the main focusses of the project was creating a significant improvement on the building façade to ensure a lasting impact on the surrounding streetscapes.

“Our client wanted to ensure that the new building no longer felt like an industrial shed and was more closely aligned with Services Australia’s goal of creating a facility which was welcoming and provided an accessible essential service,” Mr French said.

“Working with the architect we created a front-facing façade that replicated the shapes of the surrounding mountains and tropical rainforests that can be seen on the horizon behind the building.

“The client also identified the need for the front-of-house foyer area to be free from columns for a more functional retail space.

“To do this we coordinated with an architect and structural engineer to design a two-meter-deep truss which spanned over 30 metres, for the existing piled foundations to be strengthened and completed a complex modification to the foundation to allow for a column-free entrance way.”

Given the facility’s location, it was necessary to provide forms of cyclone protection to the building.

“Ensuring the build is safe from the inclement weather that often occurs in North Queensland was a huge consideration for this project,” he said.

“Tomkins worked closely with the client and the tenants to ensure all parties were satisfied with the aesthetic and functional outcomes of the design.

“Due to external factors, it was not possible for exterior cyclone shutters to be installed so Tomkins’ design team utilised internal cyclone shutters to protect the facility from the changing internal air pressure and glass failure from a wind-borne debris strike.

“A secondary barrier of Crimsafe screens were installed as part of the glazing system which is designed to withstand the rainfall intensities and wind pressures of a Category 5 Cyclone ensuring our clients and tenants assets stay safe.”

Environmental factors and sustainable builds are a high priority for Tomkins, which is why the project team worked closely with a Green Star consultant to ensure that modifications made to the existing structure for the new build aligned with targeting a Green Star performance rating.

With solar power panel installations outputting up to 200kw, as well as the facilities to collect and fully re-use all the rainwater collected, the centre is targeting a 5 Star Green Star and 5 Star NABERS rating.

HomeCo Cairns is located at 147-161 Draper Street, Portsmith, QLD.