SHADFORTH LYTHGO

Australia’s tallest engineered timber office building is now open for business. The building by Lendlease, is situated on King Street and is a part of the $2.9 billion renewal of the Brisbane Showgrounds precinct in Fortitude Valley. It is also the world’s tallest wooden skyscraper and is the latest on Australia’s list of building innovations.

The environmental benefits are obvious; engineered wood acts as a carbon sink rather than producing greenhouse gas emissions – and timber is a natural insulator. Sustainably-managed timber plantations can produce the raw materials for engineered wood products, resulting in zero waste. They also produce less CO2 during ongoing operation.

 Artist’s impression of 25 King Street. Image credit: brisbanedevelopment.com

Leading experts from academia, industry and government have come together to form Australia’s leading timber collaboration and are set to make big changes to building design and materials manufacture.  Their aim is to develop building products customised for the Australian environment, things like a hybrid concrete-timber to deal with fire safety considerations associated with timber construction. Wooden skyscrapers could well become the new norm!

Acccording to structural engineering expert Professor Sritawat Kitipornchai, the collaboration “represents an opportunity to transform not just our ability to design and construct healthy, resilient, sustainable tall timber buildings; but to engage and transform the entire industry – from the sustainable forests that provide the raw timber, right through to assembling the building safely on site.”

Artist’s impression of 25 King Street. Image credit: brisbanedevelopment.com

The impressive building, designed by Bates Smart, is over 52 metres high and contains 14,000 square metres of office space over its nine storeys. The ground floor is marked for retail space.

Dale Connor, CEO, Lendlease Building says, “25 King is setting a new benchmark within Australia and internationally for the delivery of office buildings that are more sustainable from an environmental perspective while also delivering cost, time and waste efficiencies. This is a very compelling combination. 25 King is carbon neutral through the construction phase and completely recyclable at the end of its life. Compared to a traditional concrete and steel construction, the pre-formed engineered timber construction means no waste and an energy saving of at least 40 per cent.”

Timber office buildings are being heralded as  ‘next generation’ workplaces designed to enhance wellbeing and productivity.

Artist’s impression of 25 King Street. Image credit: brisbanedevelopment.com

Fast Facts about 25 King Street

Comprised of 3,097 individual timber elements

33 timber columns on each floor and 52 beams

CLT – approx. 21,175m2 or 4824m3 of CLT timber (Walls and floor)

Glulam approx. 1415m3 (Beam and columns)

Approximately 112,500 screws/bolts used.

Six core modules and six K bracing modules to assemble per level.

Place making is what it sounds like; creating a place that promotes health, happiness and general well-being for the communities that live there. Place making by its very nature is intentional. It is the process of designing and building with the intention of enhancing the liveability and enjoyment of a place, using best-practice urban design principles.

Image:  Mooloolaba Revitalisation -  sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au

Place making sees development as an opportunity and responsibility to capitalise on the potential of an area and create community assets to enhance the urban experience.

Shadforth Lythgo has a personal commitment to place making. We reach high in what we do to create built environments that make the world a more aesthetic place. We do this by keeping our eyes on the big picture and by being adaptive and innovative.

Here are some of the principles behind place making:

Place making is about vision

Place making requires vision; not just the vision of a single perso, but the aggregate conception of the community, local council, and engaged individuals. The local community have valuable insights into a place and understand what is important to for their local environments.

Image:  Mooloolaba Revitalisation - sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au

Place making is about the big picture

Place making takes into account the big picture, the interrelation between surrounding amenities and what activities take place in the space – making sure things mesh. The big picture is about cohesion, creating spaces that work together for the value of the community.

Place making is responsive

By observing how a space is used, as well as considering the needs of the local community, an understanding of place is gained. Place making does not happen in an instant, but rather evolves over time in response to community need.

Image:  Mooloolaba Revitalisation -  sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au

Place making is innovative

Just because something hasn’t been done before, doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be done. Placemaking is about innovation, reaching for new and better ways to create built environments.

Our aspiration as a building company, is to create buildings that enhance our coastal lifestyle. We are committed to good design that improves our built environment and contributes to a carefully planned future for our region.  Creativity, lateral thinking, and imagination are imperative to our mission.

Image:  Riverview Avenue, Buderim - Cade Mooney.

New developments have the potential to create quality of life for residents, as well as real opportunities to stimulate our local economy. The quality of building in these new developments affects how they contribute to our coastal environment as well as the inhabitants they attract.

Image:  Beautiful building creates beautiful environments - Cade Mooney.

It is our goal to enhance our urban environment by creating better buildings, and with big-picture thinking, to create better suburbs and towns. Good design and excellent building methodology are at the heart of development that enhances our local environment.

Image:  Big picture thinking leads to big outcomes - Cade Mooney.

Great places don’t just happen. They are purposefully designed. Our goal is that our local built environment be highly liveable, functional, as well as sustainable. Our approach is holistic: we seek to integrate possibilities and generate new ideas, to think outside the square, to test and retest new ideas, and welcome challenges to help us develop better solutions.

Image: Cade Mooney.

The reality is that the decisions we make about our built environment today, will define our region’s future. The stakes are high and we take this responsibility very seriously. The social and environmental challenges we are facing require new ways of thinking, deeper analysis, and innovate problem-solving. We see building and design as a collaborative space, where we can push each other to achieve higher expectations and standards. We believe raising the bar is vital to creating better places.

Image: Thinking outside the square - Cade Mooney.

“Built and natural environments are collectively and ultimately tangible records of history. Both are cultural assets that represent a long-term investment for generations to come. The quality of our environment — everything from products to the planet — profoundly affects the quality of our everyday lives. Our regard for nature and the design of the built environment is an expression of our aesthetic, cultural and social values, and a statement of the challenges and expectations we seek to address in shaping a sustainable world for the future.” — Laura Lee, Professor of Architecture, Carnegie Mellon University.

Image:  Working with covenants to exceed expectations - Cade Mooney.

We believe building should be transformative.  Excellent design inspires us to create; to apply innovation and a savvy problem-solving approach to a concept brief; to exploit our broad industry experience and adaptive discipline. End result:  the emergence of stunning built environments.

If you’re planning to build a home or commercial premises, you will have probably come across the term ‘solar passive design’.

So, what exactly is it?

In a nutshell, solar passive design makes the best use of your environment to reduce the need for heating or cooling appliances, saving the average household around 40% on electricity. A solar passive home is designed to use as little energy as possible to cool your home in summer and heat it in winter.

Image:  North-facing windows are ideal.

There are a number of aspects to solar passive design, including:

Orientation

By positioning your home to absorb the least amount of sun in summer and the most in winter, you will drastically reduce energy required for temperature control. The position of windows is important too; placing as many windows as possible on the northern side of your home, and reducing windows to the east and west, will protect your home from unwanted sun penetration in summer and allow for more sun absorption in winter.

Layout

The next important consideration is layout. Living rooms, kitchens, and areas you spend time in during the day should be north-facing. This will reduce lighting needs during the daytime and help make living areas warmer during winter days.

Image:  Living areas facing the north promote natural light.

Insulation

Insulation is an important investment for reducing your home’s energy consumption. Using high quality insulation will cost you more initially, but will save you significantly into the future.

Gardens

Garden design can also play a key role in solar passive design. A garden enhances nature’s evaporative cooling process; it will cool the air entering your home – and clean it. Planting deciduous trees close to your home will provide wonderful shade in summer and allow the sun in during the winter months.

Image:  Well-designed gardens will help keep your house cool.

Find the right block

While you can apply solar passive design to any block of land, finding the right block will facilitate optimum benefits. A block where the longest boundaries are north-facing is ideal. This will allow for a building with the maximum number of north-facing windows. You may wish to avoid blocks where the street frontage faces the north, as this may mean you waste this valuable outlook on the garage.

We have a personal challenge, a moving target: every project needs to exceed the last in terms of building excellence. We plan meticulously, focus on solutions, deliver on time and budget, and strive to exceed expectations. Our aim is to invoke awe. Here’s some of what 2018 brought us …

Commercial Luxury at Coolum Beach

Shadforth Lythgo built a luxury commercial construction at Lysaght Street in Coolum Beach. This construction had lots of special features and was custom-designed to create something pretty special.

Metallic-look screens were used in the upper level. Image: Cade Mooney.

The building overlooks the adjacent ski park and has gorgeous views from the balcony and beautifully positioned windows frame the view perfectly. Read more.

Windows frame the view. Image: Cade Mooney.

Breaking Ground at Aura Northern Business Park

Tony Shadforth with Matt Byrne from Stockland and Michael Shadforth (Ray White). Photo: Cade Mooney. 

Aura is set to be a huge part of the future growth of our region and we are proud to be the first to start building at the new Northern Business Park. We had a great day (September 2018) breaking ground at Northern Business Park. We are very excited to be part of this purpose-built, intentionally-designed industrial development. Read more.

Junction Road Development

From the air. Image: Cade Mooney.

Shadforth Lythgo completed a commercial development in Junction Road at beautiful Coolum Beach. We also did a fit-out for one of the tenants – a bakery. Read more.

Bakery fit-out. Image: Cade Mooney.

Commercial at Claude Boyd Parade

Claude Boyd Project. Image: Cade Mooney.

We completed a commercial project in Claude Boyd Parade – the first land release in the Aura Business Park. It was exciting to be part of shaping this development in its early stages. Read more.

From the air. Image: Cade Mooney.

Luxury in Concrete at Brandenburg Road

Image: Cade Mooney.

Located in the beautiful hinterland in a rural setting between Mooloolah Valley and Maleny and sitting on a hilltop, this unique house has commanding views in all directions.

Image: Cade Mooney.

The home was designed and positioned with the lay of the land in mind and every window frames a spectacular view. Read more.

Image: Cade Mooney.

Luxury Home at Yaroomba

We loved building a custom-designed luxury homes in beautiful Yaroomba. This home is bold and modern with dominating horizontal lines at the entry and roof. It was designed to comply with very stringent estate development covenants; the street façade, fencing and landscaping were particularly influenced by these demands.

When covenants are used to advantage. Image: Cade Mooney.

What was special about this home was the living area with its 5700 high ceiling and extensive tiled areas in Belgian stone. So much natural light cascading through the house felt amazing. Read more.

A room with a view. Image: Cade Mooney.

Investment Property at Ferny Glen

Spacious and welcoming. Image: Cade Mooney.

n 2018, we built a home at Ferny Glen Road at Mons on the Sunshine Coast. This  investment property , unlike many rental properties, had loads of extras – lots and lots of inbuilt storage, natural light aplenty, and a luxury bathroom are just of the design features of this lovely home. Read more.

Glorious natural light. Image: Cade Mooney.

Highlights

We have a philosophy of giving to the community where we work. Here’s some of this year’s highlights.

Luka got her pram!

Luka is the beautiful daughter of our foreman, Dan Reid and his wife, Claire. Luka has faced many battles in her short life – surgeries, endless tests and examinations, fluid on her spine, and the inability to weight bear in her lower body that stops her from being able to crawl, walk or even sit upright.

Luka needed a pram; the problem was that the only one that would suit Luka is a disability-specified Australian standard pram worth a whopping $10,000.

We held a fundraiser and due to your generosity … Luka got her pram. A real highlight. Read more.

Much excitement as Luka drew the winning ticket.

Promoting young entrepreneurs on the Sunshine Coast

We were proud to sponsor the RoboGems and RoboKings, a female and male robotics team that competed in a number of competitions this year.

The girls took out first place in the 2018 Mayor’s Telstra Technology Awards. Their invention was the Kitchen Top Helper (KTH), a clever irrigation system designed to automatically water micro-greens situated in small spaces such as kitchens benches, windowsills, and balconies. Their male counterparts, the RoboKings, took out second place with the “Deuce”, an automated tennis partner to help improve your tennis skills.

The talent of these young people bodes well for the future of the technology industry in our region.

RoboGems receiving their award.

Caloundra Salvo’s Breakfast

Thank God for the Salvo’s.

In May, we had the privilege of sponsoring the annual Salvation Army Breakfast event on the Sunshine Coast. We get to do this every year and we love the opportunity to support an organisation that helps so many of our local people that find themselves in crisis. Read more.

Thank to all our clients, employees, contractors,  associates, and our community. We look forward to an even more fabulous 2019 building our beautiful part of the world.

Construction continues to evolve with exciting developments in the industry. Here’s some of the trends we expect to see grow in 2019 …

Green Technology

Green technology, building in an environmentally responsible and resource-efficient manner, is becoming mainstream. Green technology spans the entire construction process from design through to construction and continues on into the building maintenance phase. This trend is welcome as the construction industry contributes around 20% of global emissions. By making buildings environmentally-friendly and increasing their durability and thus longevity, construction can contribute to the betterment of our environment.

Research into green construction is burgeoning and we can expect to see some interesting innovations, things like air-conditioners driven thermally and asphalt that has the capacity to heal itself!

The Drone

The use of drones is increasing on construction sites. Aerial video and photography gives stakeholders a bird’s eye view of projects, increasing safety and providing valuable data.

More Modular

Modular and prefabricated construction is on the rise, particularly for building repetitive structures. Benefits include time-saving, flexibility and budget. As these are mostly factory produced, weather is also less of a problem. Despite this trend, custom-design isn’t going anywhere. In fact, the prefab trend is driving many punters to want something different!

Material Costs on the Rise

Material costs will continue to rise in 2019 and construction companies will work harder and smarter to remain competitive. Steel, iron, and timbers all rose in price in 2018. Decreasing supply versus increasing demand will see this trend continue.

Getting Safer

Safety equipment just keeps getting better. This is great news for the construction industry where there has been a concerted push to improve safety standards. Some of the new innovations include work boots that connect to WiFi and send GPS coordinates. These smart boots are rare at the moment but will become commonplace. They are able to detect if a worker has fallen or if they are tired. Moisture-wicking fabric is becoming lighter and better;  cooling vests are big news in our climate.

Sustainability

Construction has never been more purposeful. Building designs that utilise natural light and help it permeate throughout a building will lower energy constumption and reduce the carbon footprint. Re-use of grey water will continue to increase with more technologies becoming available. Re-using existing structures will become more popular with buildings being re-purposed rather than demolished and rebuilt.

ocated in the beautiful hinterland in a rural setting between Mooloolah Valley and Maleny and sitting on a hilltop, this unique house has commanding views in all directions.

Image: Cade Mooney

The home was designed and positioned with the lay of the land in mind and every window frames a spectacular view.

Image: Cade Mooney.

Image: Cade Mooney.

Image: Cade Mooney.

With nearly all of the external walls constructed from concrete tilt panel featuring a natural finish, the house has a distinctive external appearance.

Image: Cade Mooney.

This is further enhanced with the design of the curved turret sections of the building.

Image: Cade Mooney.

The result is a building with clean and simple lines that exudes some of the characteristics of a castle. The external linking walkway adds to this impression.

Image: Cade Mooney.

Step through the entry-door and the first impressions are of the full-height foyer and sweeping monorail stairway which lead to the upper level air-bridge.

Image: Cade Mooney.

Again, the extensive use of natural finished concrete contributes towards the intent of raw materials and clean lines. The honed concrete floors throughout, use of rendered walls to wet areas and some feature walls, and concrete cabinetry benches are part of the design intent.

Image: Cade Mooney.

The open kitchen, dining, and sitting room spills out through large stacker-doors onto an outdoor deck that overlooks the pool and also provides views off into the distant hinterland.

Image: Cade Mooney.

This home features lots of glass, and windows and doors are all double-glazed for energy efficiency. The sealed air gap between the two panes adds a layer of insulation, making the house cooler in summer and warmer in winter.

Image: Cade Mooney.

Other features include a discreet section for the guest bedroom and study, extensive use of effect lighting and timber open riser entry stairs.

Image: Cade Mooney.

his home is a design statement. It attracts loads of attention from passers-by and demonstrates what’s possible when you are willing to push the boundaries.

Image: Cade Mooney.

Image: Cade Mooney.

Image: Cade Mooney.

Image: Cade Mooney.

Image: Cade Mooney.

The construction is made entirely from local timbers with maple plywood panels used to cover the walls and floor. After more than 20 years as Shadforth Lythgo builders on the Sunshine Coast, Tony and Dean are still excited to go to work each day. They love the innovations that are happening  in building design and  share a personal commitment to building innovation and pushing the building design envelope.

Here’s a truly innovative housing design by Llama Urban Design; a bridgehouse built in Ontario. This wooden home cleverly traverses a small ravine in the land, connecting two sides of a tree-studded valley.

Bridgehouse by Llama Urban Design. Image: Dezeen.

The wooden home sits suspended over the forest floor and assimilates beautifully with the surrounds. Two massive beams anchored in concrete pads support the home on either side where it crosses the ravine. The structure is built from Glulam engineered timber and glass.

Unstained cedar clads the walls and the roof. Image: Dezeen.

The house is long and narrow and measures 230 square metres. It features two main facades which face out to the valley. One side is almost fully glazed with a balcony that overlooks a lake. On the other side glazing is used to fill the gaps between the Glulam structure and the floor and looks out over the forest.

Letting the forest in. Image: Dezeen.

Metals stairs along the angled beams, lead to a deck on the roof. The home has entries at each end and each end is a mirror of the other containing a bedroom, bathroom and another smaller room.

Metal stairs climb the beams. Image: Dezeen.

The centre of the home features open-plan living, with kitchen and living area warmed by a large fireplace. A hallway runs along one side of the home, linking the spaces.

Wooden cabinetry create storage in the minimalist interior. Image: Dezeen.

The construction is made entirely from local timbers with maple plywood panels used to cover the walls and floor.

If the builder shows a genuine interest in your project and offers advice and suggestions readily as well as getting back to you in a timely manner, they are definitely worth considering. If they are slow to return you calls, they may not be all that interested in your job. Some builders are not keen on doing renovations as they can present challenges. Make sure your builder is engaged and interested in your project before you hire them. Your architect or designer might have some suggestions for you. They often work  with builders who they know can deliver on their designs. If they have a track-record with a builder and have completed a number of successful renovation projects together, that’s a really good indicator to go ahead.Finding the right builder is a lot about finding someone you can communicate easily with, someone you feel comfortable with. Trust your gut instincts.Renovating can be a stressful time and finding the right builder will often be the linchpin to a successful and smooth-running reno. Your home is probably your most precious asset so it is important to find a builder that you really trust.

Issues like budget and time-frame are really important when you are renovating your existing home. You need a builder that can deliver on both.

Image: Renovated facade.

Your architect or designer might have some suggestions for you. They often work  with builders who they know can deliver on their designs. If they have a track-record with a builder and have completed a number of successful renovation projects together, that’s a really good indicator to go ahead.

Finding the right builder is a lot about finding someone you can communicate easily with, someone you feel comfortable with. Trust your gut instincts.

Image:  An old beach-house gets a facelift.

If the builder shows a genuine interest in your project and offers advice and suggestions readily as well as getting back to you in a timely manner, they are definitely worth considering. If they are slow to return you calls, they may not be all that interested in your job. Some builders are not keen on doing renovations as they can present challenges. Make sure your builder is engaged and interested in your project before you hire them.

Image:  Before!

While it might be tempting to choose the builder with the lowest quote, price is not the best way to choose the right person to do your renos. Low prices may indicate a lack of experience and/or quality workmanship. A word of caution here: do make sure you receive a comprehensive quote; some builders may quote everything at a base rate and add in extras later. Ask lots of questions and be accurate about what you want. A good builder will be able to offer you less expensive alternatives if what you are proposing is outside of your budget.

Image:  An outdoor area was part of the renovation.

Renovations can be incredibly exciting, transforming your home into a bigger and better space. They can also be very stressful, so it’s important to find someone you trust to manage the process well and to deliver on your dreams.

Future-proofing is an increasingly popular trend for people building a new home. Many clients have an eye on the future as they plan their new homes, choosing a design that will suit their future lifestyle. Building a home that will cater to your changing needs will definitely save you money in the long-term. The challenge is to design the right house for your future, at a price you can afford now. One of the most important considerations in achieving this is choosing the right site.

Image:  Thinking about future needs makes sense when designing your home.

At Shadforth Lythgo, we like to be involved from the outset because the land you choose will  affect the design. One of the biggest determinants to a successful home design and build is understanding your site.  Deciding on a house design and then plonking it on a block of land is definitely not the way to achieve the best outcome.

Image:  This renovation makes use of a large back yard.

Our sub-tropical climate demands careful positioning of your home to achieve maximum cooling. It is necessary to understand where the predominant breezes come from and design your home to capture that breeze. The orientation of the site is also vitally important and will influence where the rooms, windows, living areas, and decks will be placed. Western-facing rooms will need large overhangs for shade.

Image: Overhangs are important for north-facing rooms. Photo: Cade Mooney.

If the site is treed, the foliage can be used to provide shade and privacy, particularly to an outdoor area. The contours and levels of the site will also need to be considered. If the site is sloping, rainwater will need to be directed away from the house and will affect the placement of the home.

Image:  Designed with the land in mind.

Building is one of the biggest investments you will ever make, so utilising the services of a good architect makes perfect sense. Other areas that your architect will be across are ensuring the best environmental performance of your building;  devising the  best way to place your building on your block to maximise views, gain full advantage of airflow, and make best use of the path of the sun for temperature control and energy-saving.Whether you are building a luxury home, commercial office/premises or even renovating, using an architect is generally a very good investment. When you resell, an architect-designed building will have  market-edge; people are willing to pay for the benefits of good design.Architects are experts in design. They take your brief and turn into a unique design; a customised plan for an exceptional built environment.

Image: Your architect will be highly conversant with town planning regulations and can help navigate your ideas through the regulatory process.

As builders of custom-designed homes, we often work with architects and clients to achieve their design vision and turn that plan into reality. Shadforth Lythgo offers a Design Partnership Service, where we act as the middle-man between you and your architect, helping you set a realistic budget and oftentimes offering viable alternatives if your ideas outstretch your budget. For example, we can often achieve a similar look using a more affordable material.

Image: Your architect will be involved throughout the build and will inspect the work right throughout construction period.

An architect isn’t just creating a house or building plan. They are bringing their professionalism and creativity to the table and coming up with inspired building solutions. A good architect will devise a plan that will appeal to aesthetic values as well as being highly functional. Architects are all about attention to detail and this will set your construction apart.

Image: Other areas that your architect will be across are ensuring the best environmental performance of your building.

Other areas that your architect will be across are ensuring the best environmental performance of your building; devising the  best way to place your building on your block to maximise views, gain full advantage of airflow, and make best use of the path of the sun for temperature control and energy-saving.

Whether you are building a luxury home, commercial office/premises or even renovating, using an architect is generally a very good investment. When you resell, an architect-designed building will have  market-edge; people are willing to pay for the benefits of good design.

Image:  Shadforth Lythgo offers a Design Partnership Service.

Deciding to build a new home is an exciting time loaded with possibilities. You are about to make one of the most significant purchases of your lifetime, so it’s vital to choose an architect (and builder) that will help you create your dream home.

Image:  Award-winning Kailiani Beach Houses – designed by Andrew Bock Architecture and built by Shadforth Lythgo. (Facebook: Andrew Bock)

Choosing an architect is a very individual matter. A lot will depend on finding someone whose work you love and who you feel a connection with. Here are a few tips to help you navigate the journey –

Begin with a wish list

Think about what you are wanting from your new home. Start with the must-haves and work your way down your list of priorities. This will give a starting point for your discussion with prospective architects.

Image:  Recent build by Shadforth Lythgo (Cade Mooney).

Style preferences

Architects often specialise in distinctive design styles. Start combing through HOUZZ, Pinterest, and online housing mags or head to the library and start browsing the magazine section. This is the best way to identify what you like. Collect examples of what turns you on, so you can give your architect and builder a good idea of what you are looking for.

Image:  Timber – nature’s beautiful building material, Shadforth Lythgo.

Research

Look online to find architects in your area. Find an Architect is a great online tool that filters by location, building type, and budget. Talk to friends, family, and your builder. Check out online forums and ask for recommendations. There will be examples of the architects work on their website. Look for work you love and feel a resonance with.

Image:  Open plan works beautifully for our coastal lifestyle,Shadforth Lythgo.

Make a shortlist

From your findings, make a shortlist of the architects you would like to approach . Have a preliminary discussion with them to go over your wish list, your style preferences, and your budget. The architect will let you know if they believe they can deliver on your brief. If you think you have found the right architect, request a proposal outlining their fees.

Image:  Find an architect whose work you love, Shadforth Lythgo.

You need an architect you connect with and someone you feel you can trust to deliver your project. Shadforth Lythgo offers a Design Partnering Service where we act as the middle man between you and the architect. We can attend your first design meeting free of charge to provide costing feedback and advice on your design ideas, and help with budget control.

Image:  An award-winning home by Shadforth Lythgo.

From there, we offer a Design Partnering Service where we:

Supply preliminary costing on designs at development stage to avoid any potential mismatch between your ideas of cost and the actual cost.

Supply full cost breakdowns and budgets for both you and your architect so you can see how much each element will cost.

Act as a liaison between you and your architect explaining the vision in practical building terms so you understand the rationale behind your architect’s designs and the most cost-effective way to realise your vision.

In situations where costs are higher than expected, explain the reasons behind the costs and where appropriate, explain effective alternatives while staying true to your intent.

Image: Tony Shadforth & Dean Lythgo (Cade Mooney Photography)

Our latest commercial construction. Shadforth Lythgo recently finished building a luxury commercial construction at Lysaght Street in Coolum Beach. This construction had lots of special features and was custom-designed to create something pretty special. We’d like to give a shout out to Cade Mooney Photography for the fabulous images in this blog.

Image: Our latest commercial construction (Cade Mooney).

The structure

This building is made to last with concrete tilt up construction and a steel-framed roof. The advantages of tilt-up construction are many including durability, fire-resistance and ease of maintenance.

Image: Concrete tilt-up technology (Cade Mooney).

The Facade

The building facade is a distinctive boxed surround with a contemporary metallic feature of alternating gold, silver, and bronze aluminium screens to the upper level.

Image:  Metallic-look screens were used in the upper level (Cade Mooney).

Ground Floor

The ground floor at Lysaght Street is divided into two tenancies, with tenancy two being a vehicle storage depot for prestige cars. We loved adding the Rolls Royce to our post-construction photo shoot. The entire ground floor was finished with an epoxy coating for added durability.

Image:  Ground level houses two tenancies (Cade Mooney).

Upper Level

The upper level consists of a mixture of residential space (the caretaker’s residence), professional offices and meeting rooms. This floor was designed to exploit the fabulous water views.

Image:  Windows frame the view (Cade Mooney).

The residential area overlooks the adjacent ski park and has gorgeous views from the balcony and beautifully positioned windows frame the view perfectly.

Image:  That view! (Cade Mooney).

The residential section also features quality joinery to kitchen, pantry, ensuite, and bathroom as well as a walk-in robe. Anyone keen on taking up the caretaker’s position?

In Between

The ground and upper levels are linked with a dramatic void space  as well as internal stairs and a lift.

Black as a Feature

Our clients used the colour black as an internal feature in door hardware, dark tiles and stone benchtops, basins to the ensuite / bathroom as well as plumbing fixtures & fittings. Black is timeless and adds a striking level of sophistication to the construction.

Industrial Chic

Industrial elements have been added, a contemporary aesthetic trend in interior design that is reminiscent of old factories and industrial spaces.

Image:  Industrial chic (Cade Mooney).

As a society, we are becoming increasingly aware of the value of recycling, reusing, and repurposing materials. The building sector has also embraced this environmentally-friendly trend by re-using building materials where possible and repurposing existing structures where it is cost-effective.

Adaptive reuse is the term being given to the process of retrofitting an old building for a new use. Adaptive reuse projects still only make up a very small niche in the construction industry, but they are becoming more common as we seek to be more mindful of using our resources wisely.

As technology and lifestyle change, construction and design are constantly changing. Older buildings can be left in the wake of these changes, no longer meeting modern demands.

Restoring old buildings to their original glory can be cost prohibitive, but adaptive reuse allows for the reuse of existing structures to meet a new purpose. Adaptive reuse changes the intent of a building to meet a new need.

As we pursue more sustainable development, there is a lot to gain from adapting and reusing existing buildings. Demolition and reconstruction can be a wasteful process when compared with adaptive re-use.  Adaptive reuse also has the capacity to invigorate the community as it seeks to meet the changing needs of the population.

Adaptive Reuse: perkinswill.com

Repurposing an existing construction requires careful consideration. It can save on materials and also costs. There may existing infrastructure that has real value – the frame of a building for example. In some cases, the savings versus a new construction can exceed 30% of the overall cost.

However, conversion projects are often more complex and difficult than a new build. While the savings on materials is obvious. labour costs may outweigh the benefits. One of the biggest factors in deciding whether to repurpose a building is a cost analysis.

It is so exciting to see the Sunshine Coast growing and thriving. Aura is set to be a huge part of the future growth of our region and we are proud to be the first to start building at the new Northern Business Park.

Tony Shadforth with Matt Byrne from Stockland and Michael Shadforth (Ray White). Photo: Cade Mooney.

Northern Business Park is situated just west of the Bells Creek Arterial, making it very accessible to the Bruce Highway and Brisbane.

It will become a major industrial and business hub in the future and together with Enterprise Parkit will  accomodate over 410,000m2 industry/commercial floor-space and 40,000m2 of high exposure retail showroom floor-space. That’s a lot of floor-space and a lot of business opportunity!

Shadforth Lythgo breaking ground at Northern Business Park, Aura. Photo: Cade Mooney.

The development is expected to attract a wide-range of business, including:

Large-scale manufacturing

Large format retailing

Business offices and commercial and health-related businesses

And much more

Aura is a master-planned development and the Business Park is intentionally planned to foster strong economic growth. There will be a deliberate encouragement of knowledge creation and entrepreneurial activity in industry, science, technology, and research and development.

The development will achieve a high standard of design quality and include sub-tropical design principles. Thoughtful design will be implemented to mitigate noise, odour and lighting in buildings within 250 metres of residential areas in order to protect the amenity of residents.

Growth on the Sunshine Coast, including the development of Aura, has seen investments in commercial property rise. Commercial property investment can be a complex issue but it also offers a lot of opportunities.

Here's a few considerations for the beginner looking at this market. 

Demand 

Commercial market growth is driven by demand.  The Sunshine Coast's strong economy and population growth are fundamental to this demand. Growth in our local economy and population have a domino effect - demand for materials increases, the need for office space grows, building increases, and more jobs become available. As this continues a demand for office, warehouse, and retail space follows.

Infrastructure 

The development of local infrastructure brings with it an increased demand for commercial property too. The opening of Bells Creek onto the Bruce Highway will invite growth into  the commercial property sector in Aura, for example. The Sunshine Coast is seeing steady growth in infrastructure including the new University Hospital, roadworks, and the reinvigoration of community spaces.

Population growth 

We also enjoy strong population growth - who wouldn't want to live here? With this comes an increased demand for services - shopping centres, medical facilities, cafes, and other support services - and the rise in  need for commercial premises. 

Pros and Cons 

The advantages of commercial investments are a lucrative profit margin without a lot of time or attention needed, however there are also some potential negatives.

Finding tenants 

While commercial leases generally last 3 - 5 years, it often takes longer to tenant a commercial property. Larger properties are generally more difficult to lease. New development can pose competition as tenants may seek more up-to-date premises. 

The lease 

The details of your lease will also be important to your bottom-line. Some considerations are -

Leases of 3-5 years with offer to renew

Rental increases in line with  CPI

Tenant to pay all outgoings

At the end of the lease period the tenant repairs any changes made to the building

The building process can be overwhelming. There are often a number of different players to deal with and it’s easy to feel swamped by information.

So many details to negotiate. Image: Pexels.

Finance

Getting finance is a very important step. Shop around to find the best deal for your situation and do your homework. Find out how flexible your loan is and if there are any penalties for early repayment. You can get a pre-approved loan which can be very helpful when approaching your builder. It is important not to overcommit.

Find a builder that will work with your budget. Image: Pexels.

Buying Land

Choosing your block of land is a big decision which can affect the type of home you are able to build. If you have already chosen a builder it is a great idea to seek their advice at this stage. Things to consider include the size of the block, the aspect of the land (where you can place your home to take advantage of views, breezes, and avoid westerly sun to bedrooms), as well as any zoning or covenant restrictions. Other important considerations include  accessibility to schools, medical services, and shopping.

Position your home to take full advantage of views and breezes. Image: Shadforth Lythgo.

Choosing your design

Our advice: don’t rush this step. Choosing a design that is right for your needs is the ingredient for  long-term enjoyment of your home. There is lots to consider – budget, functionality, best use of your land, sustainability, comfort, and potential changes to your family’s requirements in the future. Take a look at existing designs to see what you like and don’t like. If you engage an architect or designer, they will create a design based on your desired outcomes. We offer a design partnering service where we act as a middle-man between you and your designer to help save you money without jeopardising the integrity of your design ideas.

Design is everything. Image: Shadforth Lythgo.

Working with your builder

Good communication is vital from the outset. Your builder should have a thorough understanding of your vision and be able to point out any potential pitfalls. Regular updates throughout the process as well as progress reports will help the building process run smoothly.