DCWC was engaged by Launch Housing to provide Project Management and Quantity Surveying services for their social housing development, Bellfield.
The Bellfield Social Housing Project, situated on City of Banyule-owned land, is a collaborative effort between Launch Housing and the Victorian Government's Big Housing Build initiative. This initiative aims to construct thousands of new homes for those in need and generate numerous jobs to aid Victoria's recovery.
The project boasts 58 affordable housing units across four levels, offering stable, secure accommodation for community members with low to moderate incomes. ARM Architects designed the building, which includes dual-key apartments, shared indoor and outdoor spaces, and secure bicycle storage. Cassie Fisher-Patterson, a local Taungurung and Dja Dja Wurrung artist from Wild Blak Arts, was engaged to create original artwork for the exterior and communal areas on the ground floor. Adjacent to the Bellfield Community Hub, the apartments provide easy access to essential services such as maternal and child health, aged care, schools, public transport, parks, shops, and the Bellfield Community Garden.
Designed to meet a 5-Star Green Star rating, the design incorporates sustainable elements such as an innovative timber structure to minimise carbon emissions, passive heating and cooling, and rooftop solar PV panels. These eco-friendly features are expected to significantly reduce both tenant utility expenses and the building's environmental footprint. The apartments were designed to comply with Homes Victoria's design guidelines and the Victorian Government's Better Apartment Design Standards, ensuring functional living spaces. Additionally, Bellfield was designed to achieve a Silver Standard in the Liveable Housing Design Guidelines, which includes seven key design elements such as a safe, step-free path from the street or parking area to the dwelling, and internal doors and corridors that facilitate easy movement throughout the space.
DCWC provided Project Management services to the project, later extending our role to include the provision of Quantity Surveying. This included overseeing site investigations, managing all design phases (from conceptual to development), handling the town planning process, the tender phase, and awarding the construction contract to Balmain & Co. DCWC also served as the Superintendent's representative and client Project Manager throughout the construction phase until the Bellfield Social Housing project's completion.
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