Workers evacuated as structural columns crack on $100m Kodo Apartment tower building site in Adelaide’s CBD
TWO structural columns have cracked on the $100 million Kodo Apartment tower site, which will be Adelaide’s tallest residential building when finished, forcing the evacuation of workers.
TWO columns have cracked on the $100 million Kodo Apartment tower site, forcing the evacuation of workers and raising fears about the building’s structural integrity.
Construction of the Kerry Stokes-backed tower site on Angas St was suspended on Friday after workers discovered cracks and rubble at the base of two precast structural columns on the building’s sixth floor.
The Construction Forestry Maritime Mining and Energy Union and builder Watpac are investigating the cause of the damage to the 30-storey tower — next to the Federal Court building — which will be Adelaide’s tallest residential building at 103m when completed.
Watpac general manager construction Nick Saclley said more than 1000 steel props have been installed to support the weight of 24 completed floors while a structural engineer investigates the cause of the cracking.
He said 150 workers were ordered off site on Friday and SafeWork SA notified after the discovery of the cracks which he said had immediately “raised alarm bells”.
“We made a decision fairly quickly that it’s better to err on the side of safety and evacuate the site,” he said.
“Investigations have been underway since then, with the building propped and exclusion zones established.
“The project’s structural engineer is on site undertaking an assessment and in due course we will have a greater undertanding of what may have caused the issue.”
He said the affected columns were unique to the building because they spanned two levels and that it would “make sense this is an isolated situation”.
“But until the engineer does his work I don’t want to jump to conclusions,” he said.
On Tuesday morning 80 workers were allowed on to the site to undertake minor works but structural work, including concreting, is on hold pending the outcome of the engineer’s advice.
Mr Saclley also reassured investors in the 205-apartment development.
“We will guarantee the project will be finished with the right certifications from all the experts to ensure value hasn’t been eroded from their investment,” he said.
CFMMEU SA acting state secretary Andrew Sutherland said the CFMMEU would launch its own inquiry into the incident because it did not have faith in SafeWork SA handling the matter.
“We are bringing our own expert in from interstate and he will carry out his own investigation — this is pretty serious,” he said of the incident.
“We want to know why it has blown out (the concrete column) and are there going to be issues with other panels.
“There’s definitely a structural issue moving forward and I don’t know how they are going to rectify it.”
He praised Watpac’s swift response to the incident.
“It’s a common building practice to use precast columns and walls … I hope it’s (the damage) just a one-off,” he said.
A SafeWorkSA spokesperson said the agency was working with the builder and engineers to ensure the structural safety of the building.
Kodo’s developer is Melbourne-based Flagship Property, which is majority-owned by Mr Stokes’ Seven Group Holdings and infrastructure group Plenary Group.
Flagship referred The Advertiser’s request for comment to Watpac.
Concrete column manufacturer, Ottoway-based United Precast referred comments to Watpac.
The Advertiser revealed last month that windows had shattered and blinds had melted in Adelaide’s tallest apartment tower, Vue on King William.