The Specification

This week Joe and Laurence discuss an engineering marvel and icon of South East Asian architecture and dig deeper into Victoria's freshly released 10 year housing statement. Join in to hear more on the interesting stories behind these topics. For any questions or suggestions please contact Joe and Laurence at podcast@laurello.au. Links: CTBUH article: https://global.ctbuh.org/resources/papers/download/26-case-study-marina-bay-sands-singapore.pdf Victorian Housing Statement market response: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/sep/20/short-stay-levy-and-800000-homes-how-victoria-plans-to-ease-the-housing-crisis

This week Joe and Laurence discuss some of the projects receiving funding from Australia's defence budget, give an update on the infamous 'Death Star' bill preventing construction workers from taking drink breaks in Texas, and discuss what could be the next global ACP disaster. Join in to hear more on the interesting stories behind these topics. For any questions or suggestions please contact Joe and Laurence at podcast@laurello.au. Links: Defence investment: https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/media-releases/2020-09-07/11-billion-investment-commences-raaf-base-tindal US Military projects in Australia: https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2022-09-08/australia-military-construction-projects-china-7251762.html Texas update: https://www.constructiondive.com/news/texas-judge-strikes-down-law-water-breaks-Greg-Abbott/692681/ Crumbling concrete: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/sep/05/raac-and-ruin-what-the-concrete-crisis-means-for-uk-politics

This week Joe and Laurence discuss one of the world's oldest and most expensive structures, reveal the freshly appointed builder for Australia's next super tall tower, and compare how Australia's construction industry shapes up against the USA in the world of embodied carbon. Join in to hear more on the interesting stories behind these topics. For any questions or suggestions please contact Joe and Laurence at podcast@laurello.au.

This week Joe and Laurence discuss Japan's tsunami walls, review China's recently built 'City of the Future', and consider the electrification of construction sites amidst the news of Sweden's first all-electric trial. Join in to hear more on the interesting stories behind these topics. For any questions or suggestions please contact Joe and Laurence at podcast@laurello.au. Links: Japan's Tsunami Walls: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/29/tsunami-wall-japan-divides-villagers City of the Future: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-times-tech-innovations-to-assist-xiongan-to-march-toward-a-futuristic-city-301836532.html Electrified Construction Site: https://fossilfrittsverige.se/2023/04/27/forsta-elektrifierade-byggarbetsplatsen-i-eu-en-forskola-i-ostersund/

This week Joe and Laurence discuss the national asset but regional concern that is the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, the effort to rebuild Ukraine, and thermal conductivity in building envelopes. Join in to hear more on the interesting stories behind these topics. For any questions or suggestions please contact Joe and Laurence at podcast@laurello.au. Links: Grand Ethiopean Renaissance Dam: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/apr/23/itll-cause-a-water-war-divisions-run-deep-as-filling-of-nile-dam-nears Rebuilding Ukraine: https://www.globalconstructionreview.com/meet-the-canadian-architect-on-a-mission-to-rebuild-ukraine-module-by-module/

The Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) is Australia's national system for rating the energy performance of homes. Referred to in our National Construction Code, NatHERS considers a wide range of inputs to generate standardised energy ratings, helping consumers to understand the performance of their homes. NatHERS gives a 'thermal' rating based on how much heating and cooling is needed to keep the home at a comfortable temperature. It now also gives a 'whole of home' rating based on the cost of energy to run the home and its appliances, which includes the estimated cost of the energy for the household, the estimated cost to the energy network and the cost of emissions resulting from the home's energy use. In this episode the guys are thrilled to be joined by Claire Lewis, Assistant Director at NatHERS, and absolute expert on sustainable home solutions. Claire introduces us to NatHERS, explains how the scheme works, brings us up to speed on some exciting new initiatives, and offers valuable tips and tricks for those looking to improve the efficiency of their homes without breaking the bank. To learn more about NatHERS you can visit https://www.nathers.gov.au/. For any questions or suggestions please contact Joe and Laurence at podcast@laurello.au

This week Joe and Laurence discuss Australia's largest wind farm which is under construction in Victoria's West, and shine a light on Australia's plans for hydrogen production and export, with special consideration of what this means for our current built environment. Join in to hear more on the interesting stories behind these topics. For any questions or suggestions please contact Joe and Laurence at podcast@laurello.au Links: National Electricity Market: Renewable Energy Zone expansions: https://www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/map/national-electricity-market-renewable-energy-zone-expansions Enabling infrastructure for hydrogen production: https://www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/map/enabling-infrastructure-hydrogen-production Australia's hydrogen potential: https://www.dcceew.gov.au/about/news/australias-hydrogen-potential-a-message-from-the-chief-scientist

This week Joe and Laurence discuss the future location of Sydney's massive produce markets (and the potential usage of their current site), delve deeper into the recent voluntary administration announcements of residential builders, and consider Australia's potential as a solar power juggernaut. Join in to hear more on the interesting stories behind these topics. For any questions or suggestions please contact Joe and Laurence at hello@nwmedia.au.

This week Joe and Laurence discuss Western Sydney's new international airport, take a closer look at earthquake design requirements, and review a recent report which quantifies the cost of defects and re-work in construction projects. Join in to hear more on the interesting stories behind these topics. For any questions or suggestions please contact Joe and Laurence at hello@nwmedia.au. Links: Western Sydney Airport: https://www.coxarchitecture.com.au/project/western-sydney-airport/ 10 Storey Shake Table Test: https://www.nbcsandiego.com/videos/san-diego-scientists-build-10-story-building-on-a-quake-shake-table/3224725/ FMI x Plangrid Report on Re-work: http://pg.plangrid.com/rs/572-JSV-775/images/Construction_Disconnected.pdf

This week join Joe and Laurence as they review the range of projects so far announced in preparation for Victoria's $2.6b commonwealth games, get into the nitty gritty of sub surface tanks, and dissect the Federal Government's announced $1.6b policy targeted at improving residential energy efficiency without feeding the inflation dragon. For any questions or suggestions please contact Joe and Laurence at hello@nwmedia.au. Links: See examples of drainage cells and subsurface tanks here (not a sponsored link): https://globalsynthetics.com.au/drainage-systems/

This week the Joe and Laurence explore the huge network of underwater tunnels connecting islands and communities at the Faroe Islands, laminated veneer lumber, and discuss what Australia's electrificition means for our built environment. Join in to hear more on the interesting stories behind these topics. For any questions or suggestions please contact Joe and Laurence at hello@nwmedia.au. Links: Underwater Tunnels Revolutionize the Faroes (maritime-executive.com): https://maritime-executive.com/features/underwater-tunnels-revolutionize-the-faroes How It's Made: Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL): https://youtu.be/EhzyhkLmLoo Australia's National Electric Vehicle Strategy (2023): https://www.dcceew.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/national-electric-vehicle-strategy.pdf Report prepared by Property Council of Australia and Green Building Council of Australia: Every Building Counts (2023 Edition): https://everybuildingcounts.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/37/2023/04/Every-Building-Counts-2023-Edition.pdf

This episode join Joe and Laurence as they introduce an exciting new segment based approach to The Specification. As discussed this week, moving forward our regular conversations with building product experts will be complemented by solo sessions, allowing the guys to delve deeper into projects, products, news, and events than historically possible. For any questions or suggestions please contact Joe and Laurence at hello@nwmedia.au.