Kotzur: Innovative Industrial Building Design in Regional Queensland
Located in the rapidly growing industrial belt of West Toowoomba, the blank site and new building has provided the perfect platform for an innovative step of expansion for the client. Kotzur’s new centralised silo manufacturing facility has allowed for cutting edge manufacture advancements, including complete vertical construction of a silo, material and product loading and unloading internally of the building. Whilst also bringing the administration, design and leadership teams all on site for streamlined company operations.
The client was looking to construct a new facility to consolidate their disconnected manufacturing process, while also allowing for future expansion and technology advancements. They required a new office space to bring the entire administration and design teams under one roof for integrated collaboration, client meetings and presentations. The building design needed to allow for future expansion without compromising the existing facilities, whilst also ensuring that no significant upgrades to infrastructure would be required later.
There were significant challenges with the rear of the manufacturing facility, to ensure the client’s specialty product remained internally. The requirement to construct an entire internal vertical silo, meant the rear portion of the building had a pitching height of 25.75m. Many cranes were also required within the manufacturing space to allow for simultaneous transition of materials to streamline the manufacturing process.
The biggest innovation is the height of the rear of the shed, enabling full vertical silo manufacturing inside the facility. This portion of the facility required a large 20 tonne sliding door to be installed, allowing the silo to be moved out into the yard in an already erected state.
The office space provides a large open plan for the design and administration teams, with multiple breakoff office spaces for management or small meeting rooms, including a large lunchroom. The shed portion was provided as a blank canvas floor plan, with a lunchroom and amenities, allowing the client flexibility with equipment, staff movements and manufacturing stations throughout.
Typically, manufacturing facilities develop over time as they grow and often need to house different processes in different sites that suit the specific functions. Accordingly – inefficiencies develop as a result. The investment that the client put into this facility creates a “whole of business” facility of a scale that is unusual in regional Queensland – especially when you consider it in combination with the planning for future growth and technology. Future development capacity is provided by the provisions of the offset ridge line, ensuring sufficient pitching height in the future addition along with internal slab quality external hardstand.
The built form of the building is distinctly broken into two parts. The rear manufacturing component of the building mass is a simple but effective portal framed building with large sliding doors, Daddo concrete panels and Colorbond steel cladding. The office part of the building is at the front of the development for access to the public. The office building is dramatically smaller in scale than the rest of the building, and as such, there is a tall concrete panel behind the office which has been decorated with a feature inlay, reflecting a piece of the manufacturing equipment.
If you are thinking about upgrading your current industrial facilities, our experienced team would be happy to talk further about your project requirements and specifications.