Alma Square – March 2026 Project Update
Construction has progressed well throughout March with advancement across both the basement and ground floor structure.
Bulk excavation of the basement is now complete, with the remaining sand associated with excavation of footings and soakwells to be used for backfill. Three quarters of the soakwells have been installed, along with the majority of basement footings.
Approximately half of the basement slab has now been poured and preparation for the remaining pours is ongoing, including trimming, compaction and installation of in-ground services.
Structural elements within the basement continue to progress, with additional columns and walls completed during the month, forming up of the southern lift is now also well underway, and shotcreting of the piling is approximately 70% complete.
Significant progress has been made to the ground floor suspended slab. The north-western section has now been poured, with the north-eastern section to be poured next week. Approximately 30% of the ground floor slab’s formwork and propping is now in place, with reo installation to follow shortly.
Currently, all concrete pours are being carried out using mobile concrete pump trucks. As the work area expands and the building increases in height, these pumps will no longer be able to reach all areas of the site. In preparation for this, a concrete placing boom has been installed. This foldable, motorised boom is attached to a vertical tower and will be used to pump concrete across the site as works expand.
Interestingly, the project experienced both extreme heat and heavy rainfall and wind during the month, resulting in two days lost to heat and two days lost to wet and windy weather. I can never recall another time in my career where we have lost days within the same month to both. Despite this minor setback, the builder remains on program.
Looking ahead to April, works will continue on the remaining basement slab pours, along with the continued erection of basement vertical structural elements, enabling further progress of the ground floor slab. The builder will also aim to commence installation of the northern ground floor columns in preparation for forming up the northern section of the first floor suspended slab. The builder’s intention is to progressively work across multiple levels, with a target of constructing up to three suspended slabs concurrently as the structure rises.
I look forward to providing a further update next month as the structure continues to rise above ground.