Queensland builder Condev Construction is streamlining development of the Gold Coast Airport hotel by craning in pre-built bathroom pods.

Designed and constructed off site at Molendinar, the pre-fitted bathrooms are trucked down to the airport, arriving with plumbing, lighting and joinery completed.  

A total of 168 bathroom pods will be installed across the seven-storey development, cutting construction time to the internal fit-out of the building by an estimated 15 per cent.  

Condev Construction Executive Chairman Steve Marais said it was important for the company to facilitate innovative approaches to ensure construction runs smoothly and effectively.

“This is the first time we’ve had the opportunity to use the bathroom pods and there are massive benefits including optimising the construction period,” Mr Marais said.

“Because it’s the more complicated component of a hotel room, we often find bathrooms are the usual suspect in causing delays.

“These bathroom pods allow us to be much more efficient, reduce waste and increase consistency and quality control.”

Queensland Airports Limited Executive General Manager Property and Infrastructure Carl Bruhn said the innovative construction approach would deliver significant time savings for the important project.

“This is an impressive solution by Condev to cut the construction timeline while creating a better end product,” he said.

“Construction of the hotel overall is progressing well, and we are looking forward to the first guests checking in, in less than 12 months.”

Rarely used in developments due to the differing designs of rooms, Condev assisted with the designs to feature a repetitive layout that will accommodate the pre-fitted bathrooms.

Each bathroom pod takes roughly six weeks to assemble and is being constructed offsite at a factory in Molendinar by a specialised manufacturer.

Operating under the Rydges brand, the $50 million, 192 room development is scheduled for completion in mid-2020 and is expected to create 90 full-time equivalent construction jobs and more than 60 jobs once finished.

The hotel will complement the new terminal extension with a walkway from the foyer to the airline check-in areas.

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