Eagers Automotive, Porsche & BMW Medindie

A collaborative best-for-project approach

Sarah’s team understand that fostering strong, transparent relationships is pivotal to project success, and employed an approach is built on open communication and mutual respect among all parties including the client, consultants, and subcontractors.

The team led continuous client engagement which facilitated timely decision-making and fostered a sense of joint ownership.

This approach was instrumental when navigating construction challenges and ensured a smooth project flow despite operational demands and the redesign of certain elements.

Design coordination with the existing structure

Sarah’s team encountered unforeseen structural challenges where discrepancies existed between the design as documented and the existing state of the structure.

Given the scale and extent of the coordination issues, the team proposed regular on-site workshops with the consultant team to identify, discuss and recommend design solutions; constantly providing market feedback on the most economical and program efficient solution.

In one example, while undertaking works underneath the existing Porsche mezzanine, Sarah’s team discovered a significant disparity between the architectural design intent and the constraints of the existing structure, likely to result in potential structural failure and damage to floor finishes.

Sarah arranged for independent testing, a third-party engineering review and specialist subcontractor input to ensure the proposed structural design modifications were appropriate, feasible and fully considered safety in design.

Managing installation of client supplied items

The workshop areas included many client-supplied items including new hoists and wheel alignment bays, requiring custom concrete designs and complex power and data installations, not fully allowed for in the design.

Sarah’s team contacted the hoist suppliers to gain a full understanding of the bespoke requirements, commenced planning to upgrade and redesign the power distribution boards in collaboration with electrical engineers, and worked collaboratively with local authorities and utility providers.

To minimise impacts to the operational site, the team implemented a detailed logistics plan, scheduling major works out of hours or during operationally off-peak hours while the infrastructure was upgraded.

Managing construction in an operational environment

Business continuity was critical to the clients and their customers, and the entire precinct remained operational throughout construction.

To manage unplanned impacts, direct communication protocols were established between service managers and Sarah’s site manager, resolving issues quickly.  

While Sarah’s staged approach to delivery allowed some buildings to be constructed and handed back as discrete unoccupied packages, often construction occurred in the same buildings as normal business activities.

All works were completed isolated using internal hoardings and external construction fencing, and wayfinding signage demonstrated safe access around site. Sarah’s team also planned for major deliveries to occur outside of the precinct’s busiest hours, to avoid congestion and manage safety.

Safety first around high-risk activities

Demolition works, particularly around the existing structure where the first floor was to remain intact, posed significant safety risks and required meticulous planning and execution.

Sarah engaged a temporary works engineer to develop a detailed demolition methodology, allowing construction to proceed in small, controlled sections.

This strategy was crucial in ensuring the safety of all personnel on-site while preserving the structural integrity of the remaining building components.

For all activities, Sarah’s team established stringent safety protocols, including detailed risk assessments, regular safety briefings, and the implementation of exclusion zones around demolition areas.

These measures, coupled with continuous monitoring, ensured a safe work environment and complete compliance with health and safety regulations.

Good neighbours

Located in one of Adelaide’s oldest suburbs, the project site had several residential adjacencies with potential to be impacted by the works.

Sarah’s team coordinated dilapidation surveys and communicated frequently with neighbours regarding upcoming works and hours of normal operation.

This proactive and transparent approach ensured that the project was completed without stakeholder complaint.  

Understanding client drivers

Being the first project delivered for a new client, Sarah’s team invested significant time with all stakeholders to fully understand the client’s drivers and the project objectives.

Fortnightly coordination meetings ensured that Sarah’s team remained focused on the agreed outcomes and created a collaborative environment to drive value management.

As an example, rather than gutting and reconstructing the existing slab in the Porsche showroom, an innovative approach was taken to retain and modify it. After collaboration with suppliers, Sarah’s team used Mapei products to adjust levels consistently across the area.

The application of an anti-fracture membrane, instead of removing the slab, not only preserved the structural integrity but also reduced the need for extensive control joints.

Building direct relationships

The new workshops feature fully rebated hoists; the first installation of this equipment in South Australia and a first for Sarah’s teams.

With a large quantity of specialised items required to outfit the workshops, Sarah’s team elected to build direct relationships with the equipment suppliers, flying the hoist supplier in from Melbourne, and creating hold points for quality assurance.

This approach ensured that bespoke items were installed with the correct supports and power requirements to function as designed and eliminated expensive rework.

The decision to retain and modify the Porsche showroom’s existing slab instead of demolishing it, and the use of Mapei products and an anti-fracture membrane demonstrates Sarah’s ability to develop innovative, less invasive construction methodologies.

This approach significantly cut costs and saved time, and minimised material waste, aligning with environmental sustainability goals and exceeding client expectations.