A GREEN STAR

Over its 30 years of operation, PTA Landscapes have undertaken 27 projects for Monash University. Recently PTA Landscapes completed the landscape construction for the New Horizons Project at the Monash University Clayton Campus.

Completed in 2014, the New Horizons building in Victoria is a development of national and international importance.

The New Horizons project is a CSIRO/Monash University joint venture funded by the Australian Government through the Education Investment Fund and is the platform for excellence in future manufacturing research and teaching. The building is also the first at Monash University to be awarded a 6-star 'Green Star - Education' Design rating under the Green Building Council of Australia’s ‘Green Star’ system of rating sustainable building practices.

The brief for the project was to ground the building to its environment using the University’s new standard material palette. PTA Landscapes played an instrumental role in developing this palette, suggesting materials, providing samples, testing results and offering advice during the development.

Described as green, contemporary and functional, the project’s key features include in situ concrete walls, granite paving, custom designed furniture and planter boxes, sandblasted and exposed concrete pavers, and a rooftop garden.

The entire landscaping project was managed and completed by the team at PTA Landscapes. Works included demolition, bulk earthworks, drainage and waterproofing, extensive pavements and stairs including exposed aggregate paving, sandblasted bluestone, coloured paving with saw-cut pattern to resemble natural bluestone paving, granite format paving, detailed in situ concrete seating and retaining walls, petanque court, fixtures and furniture, edging, kerbing and asphalt works, irrigation and all soft works including gravel areas, rock work, topsoiling, mulch and planting.

The works also included a rooftop garden with granite paving on a Versipave support system, large steel architectural planters (designed and constructed by PTA) and planting and irrigation.

Project Particulars:Client: Monash University/CSIRO
Architect: Lyons
Project Manager: Johnstaff
Head Contractor: Probuild Constructions
Landscape Architect: Outlines L/A
Landscape Constructions: PTA Landscapes