Grand Plaza Rooftop TensoCar Shade
Project Details
Location: Browns Plains, QLD
Completion Date: November 2023
Size: 1835 sqm
Fabric: HDPE - Gale Pacific Commercial Heavy 430 (Charcoal)
Client: Vicinity Centres
Photography: © Sebastian Del Rosso
The Grand Plaza Rooftop TensoCar Shade project was to design and construct rooftop car park shade structures to protect an additional 144 customer parking spaces at the Brisbane suburban shopping centre. The project is an example of the Retro Arch TensoCar Shade Structure, an external column shade structure design that is an ideal solution when installing shade structures on an suspended slab.
The Concept
Our original submission for the Grand Plaza Browns Plains site featured standard Double Bay TensoCar Shades Structures which was based an understanding that the existing rooftop slab was designed to accept the added loads of the carpark shade structures without any strengthening works.
An initial site inspection and subsequent design checks revealed that the slab lacked the structural capacity to adequately account for the additional loading and forces of a single-column cantilevered design. In response to this challenge, MakMax Australia proposed an alternative design solution – the MakMax Retro Arch.
This twin-column design was specifically engineered to minimize the reaction loads transferred to the existing concrete deck, offering a viable solution without the need for extensive slab reinforcement. The twin-legged design, with its pin-based columns, effectively reduced the loads transmitted to the slab compared to the traditional single central column-style car park shade structure.
For the Grand Plaza project, our inspection of the slab thickness and loading capacity also necessitated an adjustment in our installation methodology. Rather than heavy equipment driving on the slab, we allowed for steel to be unloaded at ground level then lifted to upper level by a 60ft crane and moved around by lighter forklifts and installed by small EWP’s.
The Materials
For the membrane, MakMax Australia selected the Gale Pacific Commercial Heavy 430 Shade Mesh (HDPE) in Charcoal, chosen to match the existing car park structures at the Grand Plaza shopping centre. This mesh provides a balance between shading and visibility, contributing to an aesthetically pleasing and functional solution.
The structural steel has been Hot Dip Galvanised, a process that involves coating the steel with a layer of zinc to provide superior surface protection. This coating ensures the longevity and durability of the structure, safeguarding it against corrosion and environmental elements.
Although this alternative design requires twice the number of columns and anchor bolts, and the columns on the outside of the shade structure will increase the chance of columns being scrapped by careless drivers, the ability to install car park shade structures onto a suspended slab without the need extensive reinforcing more than makes up for the extra steelwork.
Incorporating 48 outdoor lighting units into the rooftop car park further enhances the functionality of the shade structures, providing a safe and well-lit environment for evening shopping hours.
The Result
The Grand Plaza Rooftop TensoCar Shade project exemplifies MakMax Australia’s ability to adapt and innovate in response to unforeseen challenges. The implementation of the MakMax Retro Arch design not only resolved the issue of load-bearing limitations but also introduced a structurally sound and visually appealing alternative.
The Grand Plaza Rooftop TensoCar Shade project stands as a testament to MakMax Australia’s ability to overcoming challenges with innovative design, quality materials, and processional execution.
