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Neil Street Bus Station is revitalised with Transitions Honed Concrete pedestrian walkways

Project Background

The refurbished Toowoomba Bus Station in Neil Street has re-opened for bus services following a facelift, which has allowed it to become a one-stop location for local and long-distance bus services. Greyhound Australia coaches have relocated to the bus station, which will be the launching point for services to major destinations including Brisbane, Mt Isa, Darwin and Melbourne. The refurbishment works included Transitions Honed Concrete on the platform walkways and shared pedestrian and bus use ones.

Neil-Street-Bus-Station-Toowoomba_Transitions-Honed-ConcreteSpecification

  • Transitions Honed Concrete
  • R12 Slip Rating
  • Full Aggregate Exposure

Scope

  • 3000m2
  • 2.5 weeks to complete works

Objective

The clients’ objective for the concrete pedestrian and platform walkways, at the new Toowoomba Bus Interchange, included both aesthetic and functional elements. They wanted to achieve a more decorative, bright and up market look and feel as a part of this revitalisation for visiting and departing guests of Toowoomba. Furthermore, the concrete floors had to fit within the safety requirements for the environment and use of the facility.

Requirements

The concrete pedestrian and platform walkways had set requirements, which related to its performance. Firstly the concrete floors had a very important requirement to be a non-slip surface, helping to prevent slips and falls, most notably with wet weather and oil residue. Additionally, the concrete floor product chosen needed to be easily maintained. This maintenance should be in line with current cleaning regimes at the bus station.

Chosen Product

The chosen product for the pedestrian and platform walkways at the newly revitalised bus station at Neil Street in Toowoomba is Transitions Honed Concrete. Not only does this concrete flooring product fulfill all the objectives and requirements set down by the client but it has also provided UV stability and provided additional colour through locally sourced aggregate. The Transitions Honed Concrete floor was able to achieve an R12 slip rating, resulting in a smooth and serviceable profile, which also assists with easy ongoing maintenance.

Overall Outcome

Toowoomba Regional Council was very happy with the outcome of the Transitions Honed Concrete floor. The result was a cost effective yet high performing and long lasting product.

Townsville Inner Port Harbour Expansion sees Transitions Polished Concrete Floors as the right fit

Transitions Polished Concrete floors at the Townsville Inner Port Harbour ExpansionProject Background

The Port of Townsville is the third largest seaport in Queensland and is North Queensland’s premier multi cargo port. The Townsville Port Inner Harbour Expansion (TPIX) project included the reconstruction and extention of Berth 10 to accommodate military, cruise and commercial shipping, and the construction of a new multi-purpose passenger terminal. The new passenger terminal has been designed to be a highly memorable, multi-use development, defining the interface between the port operations and the public realm. Functionally, the building is designed as a flexible space to accommodate cruise liner passengers, military personnel, conferences, exhibitions and special events. The design of this project draws inspiration from robust industrial architecture, as well as the resilient structure of the palm frond. The upgrade to the Port of Townsville will enhance capacity and enable the Port to accommodate Panamax sized ships, a 3,000tonne/hour ship loader and associated materials handling infrastructure.

Transitions Polished Concrete floors at Townsville Inner Port Harbour ExpansionSpecification

  • Transitions Mechanically Polished Concrete
  • Partial Grind/Exposure of Aggregate
  • Low gloss
  • R9 slip rating

Scope

  • 1,535m2 Transitions Mechanically Polished Concrete
  • 12 Working days to complete works

Objective

Through the design of this project, the client wanted to achieve an industrial aesthetic. The flooring solution was to compliment wrought iron and exposed timber features. Furthermore, the client wanted to achieve a seamless finish throughout the building, including bathrooms, and out onto the external finish. It is important also to note that the design of the Townsville Port terminal building allowed for a great amount of natural light into the building. This would also have to be taken into account with the chosen flooring product.

Requirement

The client had very set requirements for the flooring product to be installed in Berth 10 at Townsville Port. First and foremost the product had to have an inherent ability to withstand high amounts of foot traffic at intermittent periods. This meant that the floor would need to be hard wearing and have a high level of abrasion resistance. Further on from this, the chosen flooring product would have to fit in with maintenance schedules. These are sporadic and in line with boat arrivals and departures. Therefore the floor would need to be a low maintenance floor with a long life cycle to cope with the irregular maintenance received.

Chosen Product

The flooring product chosen at the Townsville Port Inner Harbour Expansion was Transitions Mechanically Polished Concrete. This product was chosen due to its ability to fulfil all of the clients’ objectives and requirements. Furthermore, the polished concrete floor utilised the structural slab therefore reducing resources required and time to install when in comparison with competing flooring products.

Transitions Polished Concrete, with a partial exposure of aggregate and low gloss level, created the industrial aesthetic the client wanted to achieve. It also complimented the other natural finishes utilised in the design of the building without becoming the standout upon arrival. The aggregate utilised in the concrete mix was a locally sourced aggregate, adding to the cultural and local significance of the building. Functionally, Transitions Mechanically Polished Concrete floors are extremely durable and have long life cycles with minimal maintenance required. Therefore it is expected that the polished concrete floor at the Port of Townsville will stand the test of time and welcome many visitors to Townsville in the years to come.

Overall Outcome

The client was thrilled with the Transitions Polished Concrete floor that was delivered to them. The flooring product met the brief and thanks to the hard work and dedication of the Transitions team, was installed in a shorter period than what was projected.

The Polished Masterpiece of Decorative Concrete

 

Polished Concrete Floors Cairns Cruise Liner TerminalThe Restoration Project of the Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal

Wharf Shed Number 3 at Trinity Inlet in Cairns has undertaken a multi-million dollar restoration that combines its rich historical features with contemporary design. All items of cultural legacy and significance in the heritage listed building, first constructed in 1912, have been retained and restored. The new look cruise liner terminal is to be a multi-function building, not only used as the welcome mat for cruise liner passengers, but also a functions and events centre. 

The demands placed upon the restoration and redevelopment of the Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal went beyond aesthetics and cultural significance, with a large focus placed on choosing products that would carry the building through another 100 years of history. For this reason an array of decorative concrete flooring products have been chosen.

The decorative concrete flooring products used, both internally and externally, have been designed especially for this project. The volume of visitors, the harsh North Queensland climate, slip ratings, long life cycles and a desire for minimal maintenance are all objectives these concrete flooring products have fulfilled.

Polished Concrete Floors Cairns Cruise Liner TerminalPolished Concrete Floors Cairns Cruise Liner TerminalThe decorative concrete elements included in this project are as follows:

  • Transitions Polished Concrete
  • Transitions Honed Concrete
  • Decorative Shot Blasting
  • Polished Concrete Plinths and Seats
  • Honed Concrete Stair Cases
  • Honed Concrete Disability Access Ramps
  • Restoration of the Heritage Listed Railway Track with Transitions Honed Concrete Infills 

Internal Areas

Internally, the Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal has three predominant features; the exposed timber and iron work, the large windows with views over Trinity Inlet and the concrete floors and plinth. 

Polished Concrete Floors Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal

Transitions Mechanically Polished Concrete is the chosen flooring product for the internal restoration, due to its high abrasion resistance, low maintenance, R9 slip rating and its long life cycle. In addition, this product has been modified to achieve an R11 slip rating in all bathrooms and wet areas.

The final concrete mix chosen for the internal flooring took months of careful planning and numerous test samples to ensure the colours and aggregate chosen complimented the historical features of the building. The floor featured grey concrete with Innisfail aggregate.  This represents the place with which the stones are quarried, Innisfail. They are predominantly black with a small percentage of brown to compliment the timberwork in the building. Innisfail also represents a chapter in the history of the Cairns Terminal, as sugarcane farmed here was carried into the terminal via the railway track and shipped out.

Transitions Mechanically Polished Concrete has also been chosen to cover a 120-metre plinth that spans the length of the building and is used to represent a timeline of the sheds history. 

Polished Concrete Floors Cairns Cruise Liner TerminalPolished Concrete Floors Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 External Areas 

The external flooring areas of the Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal leave nothing to be desired. They are aesthetically appealing, rich in history and serve their purpose of functionality. New landscaping, feature pavements, covered walk ways, artwork and decorative shot blasted graphics formed part of the external redevelopment. 

The main flooring product used for the external areas is Transitions Honed Concrete. This product has been used extensively throughout the project, forming a seamless border around the large timber viewing deck, down the access ramps and along the long sweeping walkways. The honed concrete blends to form a seamless transition between the many components of the project. Stretching from the southmost point, along the face of the shed, to the old cargo crane, forming a perfect transition between old and new. Whilst aesthetics are important, the ability to meet the climatic and code requirements is critical.  

Transitions Honed Concrete is slip tested to an R13 slip rating, which is important due to its installation on all access ramps and staircases leading into the building. In addition, the sealers used on the honed concrete need to withstand continual exposure to the suns UV light.

The restoration of the external landscape would not be complete without paying homage to the history of the land it was built on and the people that were involved in its development. To do this, decorative shot blasting has been used to encrypt the history of the Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal into the landscape.

A collection of historical images has been shot blasted into the external concrete areas. Spread around the landscape, these images have been intricately installed, using template design and contrasting aggregates, to ensure that the finer details of each image are clearly represented.

To allow visitors of the terminal the full cultural experience, an elevated viewing deck has been constructed overlooking the beautiful landscaping project.

Without a doubt, the crown jewel of the external redevelopment is the restoration of the original railway track. This railway track has served the Cruise Liner Terminal for some 100 years. The restoration of the track included removing the old concrete and bitumen toplace a new design mix of concrete and install Transitions Honed Concrete. Spanning over 200 metres, the rail track is now rejuvenated and will be sure to send off and welcome all those that enter the establishment. 

The overall restoration of Wharf Shed Number 3 at Trinity Inlet, 
Cairns is nothing short of spectacular. The flooring products used throughout the project are a masterpiece and illustrate just how flexible concrete floors can be. They have enabled the rich history of the building to be remembered whilst introducing a contemporary feel and logical functionality. It is certain that the Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal is a highly polished masterpiece of decorative concrete and will continue on in history for the next 100 years.

Project Photo Gallery

Polished Concrete

       

Honed Concrete

Shotblasting

 

Project Highlight: Cairns Foreshore Redevelopment - Stage 2

Commercial Polished Concrete Floors CairnsProject Background

The Cairns Foreshore redevelopment project has further progressed with the restoration of Wharf Shed Number 2, the second of the reconditioned wharf sheds at Trinity Inlet in Cairns, to include the installation of Transitions Polished Concrete and Transitions Honed Concrete flooring.

The Cairns foreshore is a landmark site in North Queensland that has undergone major renovations since 2010. The works began with the restoration of Wharf Shed Number 3, to be utilised as an international cruise liner terminal and functions centre. The result was an architecturally award-winning project, which effortlessly integrated the buildings rich historical features with contemporary design. (Follow this link to learn more about this project - The Polished Masterpiece of Decorative Concrete)

Commercial Polished Concrete Floors CairnsStage 2 of the Cairns foreshore redevelopment aimed to fulfill this same goal, harmonising the look and feel of Wharf Shed Number 2 with its award winning neighbour. The project consisted of:

The intended use for this building is a multi-use public space and retail precinct, designed to compliment the influx of passengers and visitors who frequent the Cruise Liner Terminal just next door.

Commercial Polished Concrete Floors CairnsClient Objective

The clients' main objective to achieve through this stage of development was to seamlessly match the high level of quality finishes with the polished concrete and honed flooring installed by Transitions in Stage 1. Furthermore, the concrete floors were to be exactly matched in terms of aggregate colour, exposure and finish.

Client Requirements

As with Transitions' previous installation, the polished concrete and honed concrete floors were to require minimal maintenance, all whilst remaining a hardwearing, durable and functional product. This being due to the large and constant amounts of foot traffic they will receive over time.

Commercial Polished Concrete Floors CairnsThe internal flooring areas needed to achieve a minimum R9 slip rating and external flooring areas to achieve a minimum R11 slip rating.

The sealers required suitability to the harsh environment and weather conditions with which they were applied and the ability to be applied to the wharf decks. This, in addition to a high level of abrasion resistance to cope with the large amounts of foot traffic derived from cruise ships docking at the terminal. The sealers were also low VOC.

Chosen Product

For the internal areas, Transitions Mechnically Polished Concrete was chosen with the following specifications:

  • Commercial Honed Concrete Floors CairnsLow gloss
  • Full aggregate exposure with Innisfail aggregate. This represents the history of the Wharf whereby sugar was transported in by train and out by ship.
  • R9 Slip Rating
  • High abrasion resistance
  • Low maintenance,  and 40 mpa

For the external areas, Transitions Honed Concrete was the chosen product with the following specifications:

  • Commercial Honed Concrete Floors CairnsFull aggregate exposure/grind on external staircases and the rejuvenation railway track to align with the honed concrete finishes of Stage 1.
  • Partial aggregate exposure/grind in all other external areas to match the weathered look of the old wharf deck
  • Purpose designed, high saline, low VOC sealer for the wharf decks with a life expectancy of 7 years.
  • R11 Slip Rating
  • Aggregate and concrete colours match that of Stage 1

Commercial Honed Concrete Flooring CairnsOverall Outcome

The outcome of this project was simply magnificent. The specifications of the polished concrete and honed concrete floors were exactly matched, resulting in a seamless flow from Shed No. 3 through an adjoining courtyard, into Shed No. 2.

Transitions completed the works in half the allocated time. The sealer used enabled the concrete to be cut early, within 7 days, and sealed within the first 21 days. This was without any affect on curing times or product life.

The concrete floors spill out into the outdoor space to find honed concrete pathways, parkland and the foreshore,not to mention the existing public art space with Transitions decorative shotblasting.

Commercial Honed Concrete flooring and Outdoor BBQ Benchtops CairnsThe restoration of Wharf Shed No. 2 embraces the rich historical nature of this old docking terminal and highlights the significance of the cultural heritage through contemporary design and functionality.

Transitions are honoured to have taken part and to be associated with such a beautiful project, significant to the Cairns community. If the results of Stage 1 are achieved in Stage 2, which we believe they will, the decorative concrete flooring will stand the test of time.