As a result of the driest start to May since weather records began the PlantBank construction site has changed dramatically. The majority of the western wing has now been poured and the block work walls, which form the vault for the new seed bank, are well advanced. After 24 consecutive days without rain we are well and truly back on program for construction.

Today’s time lapse video of the big concrete pour at PlantBank.

The sunshine continues and is perfect weather for pouring more concrete at PlantBank. Today the bulk of the laboratories and the seed vault and drying room all gained a floor. The next major concrete pour is scheduled for Wednesday (16 May 2012) when the remaining laboratories, including the tissue culture lab and cryogenic store should appear. This will complete the main concrete slab for the west wing.  Construction is now 25% complete and both on track and on budget!

PlantBank’s west wing is now moving out of the mud with the first pour of concrete this morning. A number of rooms now have a floor including our teaching laboratory that is being funded through the support of the Friends of the Botanic Gardens. The teaching laboratory will be used by school, university and community groups as well as a place for propagation courses and botanical illustration classes.

Another PlantBank time lapse video of the concrete pour earlier today (26 April 2012) in the lower mechanical plant rooms…these guys work fast!

A break in the clouds has enabled the first major pour of concrete on the PlantBank site. The ground floor mechanical plant rooms will finally be out of the mud!

Services installation continues on PlantBank in readiness for our first major pour of concrete. Pipework now forms a network of trade waste, sewer and storm water all over the site. Black form work is being carefully installed along the ground level walls. The rain has sadly returned and I’m sure the construction team are looking forward to escaping the mud as soon as the slabs can be poured.

The installation of PlantBank’s underground services and the construction of foundations, retaining walls and the service vehicle ramp are well underway. The 100,000L water tank is now installed and despite sporadic downpours of rain the construction team are running only a week behind schedule.

PlantBank in motion…a time lapse video from 14 & 15 March (1 frame per minute) showing construction activities on the east wing mechanical plant rooms and central garden landscape.

A solid week without rain has dried out the PlantBank construction site significantly.  Last week the wet conditions encouraged hundreds of Anemone stinkhorn’s (Aseroe rubra) to flourish in the mulched beds all over the Garden. This week the construction team are back to drilling and pouring concrete piers and additional foundations for retaining walls. A significant hole has appeared in the eastern embankment which will shortly become a 100kL water tank. The tank will capture and store rainfall off the PlantBank roof to supply the buildings toilet facilities.