Federation Square: a galvanized steel application report

Federation Square: a galvanized steel application report

Keywords: Steel, Galvanizing, Hot-dip

Federation Square, dubbed “the new center of Melbourne,” is the size of an entire city block (Plate 1). As one of the most complex and ambitious construction projects ever undertaken in Australia, it has set new standards in all fields of design and is the most significant project undertaken in Victoria.

 Plate 1Federation Square

This project – which challenged typical hot-dip galvanizing processes– is an exceptional example of how a great level of innovation, planning,and persistence can lead to the successful specification and use of hot-dip galvanized steel.

Environment

Especially challenging was overcoming the natural zinc and air traps inherent in the design of the three-dimensional frames (achieved through special venting and draining), while maintaining a straightness variation of less than 1 mm.

Details

Of the project's 3,000 total tons of steel, over one-third of it was hot-dip galvanized. This choice provided a distinct economic advantage compared to paint systems. The resulting visual appearance is also aesthetically consistent with the overall design of the project, creating a blend of typical Australian building materials. The end result is one of the most outstanding uses of this protection method in Australia's history.