Unilodge Southbank

Throughout their extensive student accommodation construction experience, ADCO have incorporated many innovations in design and build methodologies including several prefabricated systems to maximise onsite productivity and enhance delivery timeframes. ADCO’s projects have utilised the innovation of modular bathroom pods, alongside prefabricated façade and service systems.

How were challenges were addressed:

One of the challenges of bathroom construction within the student accommodation sector is the small size of the bathrooms coupled with trade coordination.

“With a two square metre bathroom it’s difficult to have four to five trades working in there. Tilers, plasterers, plumbers, electricians and mechanical guys in a tight, small space,” stated Nick Grbavac, the Design Manager at Adco Constructions.

Compounding this was a busy city site environment and a short programme timeline causing significant risk of environmental disruption and an impact on the overall efficiency of the project.

Smooth sailing from the outset – here’s why:

Interpod was engaged in the planning phase of this project to ensure that the full benefits of prefabricated modular construction could be achieved. By ensuring that the bathroom designs were standardised, ADCO and Interpod could ensure that all 632 bathrooms were manufactured cost-efficiently and to the exact specification, with the added assurance of quality only achievable in a factory environment. The low defect rate, the assured quality control and early procurement made Interpod modular bathrooms the ideal solution for the tight time frames. The site’s environmental challenges were met with the reduced disruption and boosted efficiency, as the bathrooms were delivered complete to the site and installed as needed.

“It was a fine balance on that job [Vulture Street]. It was a very tough project to work on collectively, with all trades and all sub-contractors, but a good solution was achieved in the end,” said Adco Design Manager, Nick Grbavac. “Interpod were easy to work with, procurement was streamlined, [and the partnership] suited our construction programme.”