{"id":29019,"date":"2025-09-30T17:01:47","date_gmt":"2025-09-30T07:01:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/?p=29019"},"modified":"2025-09-30T17:02:20","modified_gmt":"2025-09-30T07:02:20","slug":"bluerock-picks-timber-over-bricks-in-was-largest-timber-framed-complex","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/bluerock-picks-timber-over-bricks-in-was-largest-timber-framed-complex\/","title":{"rendered":"Bluerock Picks Timber Over Bricks in WA\u2019s Largest Timber-Framed Complex"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Bluerock Projects is putting the finishing touches on Tuohy Gardens, a $25 million build-to-rent apartment complex dubbed “Western Australia\u2019s largest timber-framed residential complex.” Previously reported by Wood Central in April 2024<\/a>, the four-storey building that stands on land acquired from DevelopmentWA as part of the 180-hectare Midland urban renewal precinct comprises 51 apartments above 700 square metres of retail space fronting Great Eastern Highway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Daniel Rainone, director of Bluerock Projects, said the name honours the garden that once flourished on the site in the 1950s and \u201960s, a decision reached through extensive community consultation. Speaking to BTR News last month<\/a>, Rainone said the developer hopes to welcome its first tenants in January or February of next year, weather permitting, with work on the timber roof starting in July \/ August.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Set
Commencing in mid-2024, Tuohy Gardens “has been designed to support the influx of people who are part of the flourishing town centre,” according to Kylee Schoonens, the principal of the national architectural firm Rothelowman. (Photo Credit: Rothelowman via The Urban Developer)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Building on the precedent set by DeHavilland Apartments\u2014the first 6-Star NABERS Energy-rated development in WA<\/a>\u2014Bluerock again turned to engineered timber, sourcing more than 154.4 cubic metres of LVL I-joists and custom-laminated billets from local manufacturer Wesbeam to deliver both environmental performance and construction speed: “The environmental factors around timber frame are a massive consideration for us,\u201d Rainone told Wesbeam earlier this week<\/a>. \u201cTimber is the only way we can hit the high sustainability targets we\u2019ve set.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tom Rickery, Technical Manager at Wesbeam, stated that local sourcing was a key factor in the project’s impact. \u201cThe timber is locally grown, the Wesbeam factory is just up the road, and all the trades and engineers are West Australians,\u201d he said. \u201cIt demonstrates how we can support housing and jobs here in WA while innovating at scale.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n