Construcciones Yamaro: Six projects and initiatives recognised at Steel Sustainability Awards

The transformation and expansion of the Art Gallery of New South Wales has secured a win in the ‘large projects over $10 million’ category at the inaugural Australian Steel Institute (ASI) Steel Sustainability Awards.

The project saw the gallery transformed into two buildings connected by a public art garden, almost doubling the exhibition space. Employing the latest sustainable practices, including the reuse of materials, the project achieved world-leading 6-star Green Star accreditation.

The collaborative efforts of SANAA as the designer, Architectus as the executive architect, Arup as the engineer, Richard Crookes Constructions as the head contractor, and the SSA-certified Samaras Structural Engineers as the steel fabricator collectively brought the project to life – with Arup submitting the project for consideration in the awards.

The art gallery was one of six projects or initiatives honoured on 20 February 2024 at the Steel Sustainability Awards, for delivery of sustainable steel solutions in the Australian built environment.

Winners in other categories

Umbagong District Park pedestrian bridges in the ACT (small projects under $10 million) – Designed to have minimal impact on the environment, the project retained existing natural rock outcrops as structural foundations, minimising civil works and reducing the use of reinforcing steel and concrete. Smaller steel member sizes were designed into typical and recurring modules to allow manual handling of all components, eliminating the need for haul roads, crane pads and heavy machinery. A unique feature of these pedestrian bridges is the rusted finish, designed to complement the natural setting and colours of the Umbagong native grasslands, with corrosion protection only applied to the columns, bracing and fixings. SSA-certified steel fabricator ACT Steelworks entered the project for consideration in the awards, with architect TCL, engineer Sellick Consultants, and head contractor Complex Co making up the successful project team.

The Road to Sustainability Through Good Health and Safety initiative (company or project initiative, large) – Focusing on the physical and mental health of employees, this program provides data-driven occupational health and safety solutions for sustainable outcomes. The program links effective health and safety practices directly with enhanced sustainability outcomes, minimising workplace accidents and hazards. Through the identification and control of safety risks, it not only achieves cost reductions but also enhances the management of wasted resources, pollution and inefficiencies. InfraBuild submitted the initiative for consideration in the awards.

Shore Brace 400 hydraulic bracing system by Shore Hire (company or project initiative, small) – The Shore Brace 400 modular hydraulic bracing system provides a reusable hire solution to single-use bespoke steel walers, reducing waste. Designed and manufactured in Australia by Shore Hire, it is used to support rectangle, square or multi-sided excavations up to 20 metres without cross supports. The system is hot dip galvanised by Galserv to give the product a long and robust life. Galserv/NEPEAN Building and Infrastructure in Sydney entered the system for consideration in the awards.

Highly commended project and initiatives

New Fitzroy Bridge in Western Australia – This project was highly commended for its indigenous community engagement and is an exemplar of how to achieve extraordinary social and economic benefits for remote community infrastructure. Due to damage sustained by ex-tropical Cyclone Ellie, the project was undertaken with significant challenges including remoteness and harsh weather. The team used weathering low-alloy steel, the strongest available and four to eight times more resistant to atmospheric corrosion, reducing the need for maintenance in the extreme heat and remoteness of the Kimberley site. Adopting a composite bridge solution allowed for a reduction in superstructure weight and easy transport over vast distances. Fitzroy Bridge Alliance submitted the project for consideration in the awards, with engineer BG&E, head contractor Fitzroy Bridge Alliance, and steel fabricator Civmec making up the project team.

Basic oxygen steelmaking (BOS) slag utilisation – This initiative was highly commended for its innovation in optimising waste streams for positive environmental and economic impact. Waste slag produced during BOS has limited application. Innovative thinking and collaboration between multi-disciplinary teams has seen this waste charged into the blast furnace to substitute for raw materials and fluxes. Reduced consumption of dolomite, limestone, quartz, and iron bearing ores and pellets has delivered a cost reduction of $6 million per annum and reduced the carbon footprint of large slag stockpiles, resulting in reduced environmental impact in manufacturing. Liberty Primary Steel entered the initiative for consideration in the awards.

The biannual Steel Sustainability Awards cover the entire steel supply chain, including architects, designers, engineers, steel manufacturers, distributors, fabricators, processors, builders and constructors.

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Construcciones Yamaro, by Armando Iachini