Pictures of work-in-progress ( HDB BTO Punggol Arcadia )

[tom]

Punggol Arcadia is a HDB BTO project consisting of 120 three rooms, 465 four rooms and 165 five rooms flats, located at the junction of Punggol Place and Punggol field.

3 room flat with a floor area of between 70 to 73 sqm. costs in between $181,000 to $211,000.

4 room flat with a floor area of 95 to 99 sqm. costs in between $268,000 to $327,000.

5 room flat with a floor area of 111 to 117 sqm. costs in between $356,000 to $416,000.

[tom]

Since pictures were taken on 29th March 2010, up to date. progress had been made to several blocks of flats at the Arcadia.

1. For certain blocks an entire new floor had been installed.

2. Gable walls which are load-bearing, reinforce steel bars had to be fabricated first, the metal formwork installed, put in place and finally concreting work.

3. All non load bearing walls, together with metal window frames are pre-fabricated in the factory, deliver to site for installation.

4. At site some blocks are already on it's 4th storey. Those along Punggol Field are only at it's 2 storey level.

[tom]

Since the beginning, we have been taking pictures from the direction of Punggol Field and Punggol Road. Those blocks are progressively built at the later stage, so they are at second, third and fourth levels.

Those fronting Punggol Central, started earlier are now at their six floor level. The whole project are expected to be completed by end February 2012.

[tom]

A bird's eye view of Punggol Arcadia showing different blocks at different levels of completion. Those facing Punggol Central are at the sixth and seven storey levels. Progressively at the centre at fifth level right down towards Punggol Field at level three.

Fabricated units on the construction site, numerous of them are ready for installation. Next month, we shall see more progress.

[tom]

A school under construction just across the road facing Punggol Arcadia. The far end of the picture shows Sengkang housing estates.

Take a look at the lone LRT line going from Punggol Central towards Sengkang. It seems to run parallel to Punggol Way.

[tom]

Blocks facing Punggol Field as of begining of May are at second / third levels. The fourth floor floor formwork, installation of BRC wiremesh reinforcements for concreting are not even started.

As of today 9th June 2010, five weeks later, workers are concreting the fifth floor floor slabs with piped concrete by conveyor belt system. Concrete mixers trucks are moving in and out of the worksite two to three loads at a time.

[tom]

Concreting of floor slabs in progress.

[tom]

Let's take a look at a side elevation view from open field next to Punggol Road.

Notice all the gable walls of the building are with cast-in-situ concrete. ( not pre-fabricated ) The floor slabs are also cast on site, after the storerooms and other structures are in place.

Building levels completed are 4th, 5th and 6th levels towards the end.

[tom]

Next is the back elevation taken from an open field parallel to Punggol Central.

These blocks commenced constructions earlier, so most of them are at the 7th / 8th floors while others are at the 5th and 6th levels.

Punggol Arcadia consists of 7 blocks of 16 storey buildings. The carpark will be at the basement with landscape decking. An elaborate pavilion will be constructed at the entrance to the estate.

[tom]

Lets compare structural building progress, back elevation with back elevation.

On the average per month, we can see a complete floor being installed. The amount of work done includes the following back up facilities.

1. HDB factories design, made / prepared to order, prefabricated units accordine to projects and location. 
2. Transportation of fabricated housing units to site.
3. Handling and storage at building sites accordine to block numbers.
4. Hoisting by tower cranes up for installation.
5. Fixing, inspection, approval and final concreting.
All this work done, inspite of bad weather and ground conditions only took about 30 days. That's co-ordination.

[tom]

The first block at the corner of open field and Punggol Field completed fifth level and are now working on the sixth floor. Take note that all facade units come complete with plastic sheet covered aluminium frames.

For Punggol Arcadia the protective cover for aluminium frames are white in colour.

[tom]

Picture presentation of the second and third block.

[tom]

Punggol Arcadia comprises 7 blocks of 16-storey residential HDB flats. ( total 750 units ). It has a basement carpark, landscape deck, communal facilities and Precinct Pavilion.

On the average between one and a half to two storeys were erected monthly. Those blocks facing Punggol Central are in an advance stage of completion, almost reaching the eleventh to twelve floor. There are four or five more floors to go. Base on the present performance, it will take another two to three months to reach the roof top.

[tom]

Looks like Punggol Arcadia is at the moment doing up a mock-up unit.

It involves the following :

1. To paint a sample unit for the Designers / Architects to choose a colour scheme for the entire project.
2. Install the aluminium windows with glass panels.
3. Install the aluminium sliding glass door for the living room.
4. The hand-railings for the balcony.
5. Any other fixtures as per request.

[tom]

How is it possible to achieve completion of one and a half to two storeys within a short span of a month.

1. Prefabrication construction methods.
2. Identical floor design from second storeys up.
3. Use of overhead tower cranes for lifting of heavy materials.
4. Use of vertical elevators for moving workers and light equipments up the building. ( It can be erected and dismantle at ease.