Building with Innovation: Tonsley Technical College and Factory of the Future
Tonsley is Australia’s first innovation district, and home to some of South Australia’s best and brightest minds.
Flinders University is expanding its Factory of the Future – a world class advanced manufacturing facility designed to bring together industry, education and researchers.
The new facility will also be home to the Tonsley Technical College, a State Government Department for Education (DfE) initiative supporting students in years 10 to 12 to complete the SACE while undertaking vocational education and training (VET) to help address state’s skills shortages, including in the construction industry.
Sarah Constructions is proud to be the project’s construction partner, continuing a long relationship delivering world-class facilities for both DfE and Flinders University.
Designed by one of South Australian leading architects, Das Studio, the new building will be the first in South Australia to be constructed using Cross Laminated Timber – an innovative engineered wood product, with exceptional structural and sustainable outcomes, manufactured in South Australia by NeXTimber.
“This project is an outstanding example of South Australian organisations working together to deliver an innovative, sustainable, high-quality project with far-reaching, long-term employment opportunities for South Australians and the future of the local construction industry.”
Adrian Esplin, Chief Executive Officer – Sarah Constructions
Artist’s impression of the Tonsley Technical College + Factory of the Future, designed by leading architects, Das Studio.
Changing the way we build
Sarah Constructions has a reputation for developing world-class, construction methodologies to suit the rapidly changing building landscape and creating better futures through sustainable products and practices.
While other South Australian projects have included engineered timber elements, the Factory of the Future/Tonsley Technical College is the first mass GLT & CLT project in the state, with the 4000m2 building’s columns, beams and floors constructed entirely of this innovative product.
Project Manager Hanan Jamal is one of Sarah’s young leaders and has led the project through its early collaborative planning stage and is now managing the construction.
“This project is an ideal match for Sarah’s drive to find better ways of building. Sarah continues to innovate in the modular construction industry, and now CLT is the next step for new forms of structures.”
Hanan Jamal – Project Manager, Sarah Constructions
Sarah Constructions Project Manager, Hanan Jamal, explains the considered process required to integrate Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) into modern construction projects:
“Our team spent six months comprehensively coordinating the building in the digital world, which allows us to order the CLT manufactured to the precise dimensions we require. Not only does this allow us to construct buildings safely and seamlessly in an accelerated timeframe, but it significantly minimises wastage and maximises sustainability outcomes.
“CLT has widespread applications for other projects with restricted footprints, and pre-fabrication will significantly address the current resource shortages. As with any new product, the industry takes some time to understand the benefits and compliance compared to traditional materials. For example, the way CLT is manufactured by NeXTimber means its fire and moisture retardant properties are comparable to steel or concrete, and superior to timber.
“Our team has embraced this new way of thinking and building and has enjoyed working with the wider construction industry to share knowledge. And importantly, the building will be integral to the Technical College’s “learning on display” approach to training new construction professionals.”
Sarah’s Project Manager Hanan Jamal during a panel presentation on the project – Timber Construct Conference, Melbourne in August 2023.
All About CLT
All Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) used in the project is supplied by NeXTimber, manufactured from radiata pine, sourced from its South Australian sawmill and engineered wood products plant, located near Mount Gambier, SA. NeXTimber is Australia’s only combined radiata pine CLT and GLT (Glue Laminated Timber) manufacturing facility, and the first in Australia to be integrated on the same site with a structural timber manufacturing plant.
NeXTimber sources responsibly managed plantation timber from the state’s southeast Green Triangle.
NeXTimber® GM of Technical and Sales, Jeremy Church explains the concept and benefits of CLT:
“CLT is an engineered wood product comprising layers of solid structural timber boards, glued together, alternating the direction of each layer. This creates a strong, and robust panel up to 16m long and 3.5m wide. CLT panels can be used to construct solid floors, walls, roofs and stairs in residential, commercial and industrial applications. The number of layers and thickness can be customised to suit the structural requirements, but generally consist of 3,5, 7 or 9 layers.
“NeXTimber CLT panels are calibrated for thickness and are then cut and processed using a large CNC (Computer Numerical Control), creating a precise and highly accurate prefabricated building component that can then be assembled on-site using screws and brackets. Building using this technique can reduce the overall build time, improve site safety, and reduce site waste. Moreover, NeXTimber® CLT is manufactured using responsibly sourced Australian plantation pine supported with dual sustainability credentials and offers an exciting alternative to traditional construction materials which can help to reduce the embodied carbon of a project.
“This project is an excellent example of State Government investment in technology, innovation and sustainability. There is a real buzz around our offices and manufacturing facilities, knowing that we are part of this South Australian first, which is leading sustainable building in the state.”
The NeXTimber team are working collaboratively with Sarah to develop and enhance the CLT solution and help educate the broader industry about future CLT applications and possibilities.
(Left to right): South Australian Premier the Hon. Peter Malinauskas MP, Minister for Primary Industries, Regional Development and Forest Industries the Hon. Clare Scriven MLC, Timberlink CEO Paul O’Keefe, SAFPA Chair Tammy Auld, Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell MP, David Oliver, SAFPA CEO Nathan Paine inside the NeXTimber facility.
Young Leaders
Project Manager Hanan Jamal is among Sarah’s emerging leaders, and one of several women leading complex, innovative infrastructure projects across the state.
“My career is rewarding every day, and the learning is life-long. As a younger female, I see continual growth in diversity across the industry, and there are rewarding opportunities for women at all levels.”
Hanan Jamal – Project Manager, Sarah Constructions
