Australian airExpress

The facility comprises warehouse area, office accommodation, hardstand truck loading and turning bays, on-site car parking, integrated airside/landside access, as well as equipment integration. The building has been designed to support a new materials handling solution linking airside and landside. The integrated materials handling solution segregates site access for pedestrians, trucks, cars and dollies; observes safe work place principles; and includes roller beds for the transport of air cans, an automated sortation equipment and racking system.

Airside access is a critical component of the project. For maximum flexibility, an 18 metre wide staging area has been provided that is the full width of the airside frontage. This area is set aside for vehicle movements, load make up, and for the storage of airside vehicles and equipment.

Melbourne Airport values efficient use of natural resources. To reduce potable water consumption, Australian airExpress has included an underground collection tank to harvest rain water for landscape irrigation and flushing of toilets. Careful detailing of sunscreens, and glazing and equipment selection minimises recurrent energy usage.

A major workplace hazard for cargo facilities is accidents arising from shared circulation paths for pedestrians, cars, trucks and dollies. Through careful design, Architectus has eliminated the potential for dangerous situations by segregating access for all modes of transport.