Spotto Car Wash & Warehouse

Introduction

Incon was engaged to deliver structural engineering design and documentation for a new car wash facility and associated warehouse development in Kidman Park. The project involved a multi-component commercial development integrating automated and self-service car wash systems with supporting operational infrastructure.

Project
description

The development comprised a mixed-use commercial facility, including car wash operations and supporting structures across a single coordinated site.

Key components of the project included:

Automated car wash building with multi-level structural configuration
Self-service wash bays and vacuum bays with open steel-framed canopies
Warehouse with office and plant room facilities
Western boundary canopy and ancillary structures
Underground rainwater tanks and water recycling systems

The primary structure utilised a combination of structural steel framing, precast panels, and suspended concrete floors, supporting both operational loads and service integration requirements.

Challenge

The project presented several technical and coordination challenges:

Integration of car wash systems, warehouse, and service areas within a constrained corner site
Structural design required to accommodate heavy plant equipment, dynamic loads, and vehicle movements
Design of suspended slabs, lift shafts, and stair systems within the main auto wash building
Integration of drainage, water recycling systems, and underground tanks within structural design
Architectural revisions including additional fire stair, layout changes, and multi-storey configuration updates required iterative redesign and coordination

Solution

Incon delivered a coordinated and adaptable structural solution across all project components:

Combination of raft footings, strip footings, and bored piers tailored to different structures across the site
Efficient use of structural steel framing with suspended concrete (Bondek) floors for the main building
Implementation of bracing systems and portal frames to resist lateral loads and ensure compliance
Design of lift shaft, stair systems, precast panels, and canopy structures integrated with architectural intent
Engineering of underground rainwater tanks (approx. 17m long, 3m wide, 2m deep) designed for vehicle loading conditions and site constraints
Ability to accommodate significant design variations, including alternative multi-storey configurations and updated layouts

Value
Delivered

Efficient structural solution supporting a complex multi-use commercial facility
Seamless integration of car wash operations, services, and structural systems
Adaptable design approach enabling ongoing architectural changes without delays
Optimised structural systems balancing cost, constructability, and performance
Coordinated documentation supporting approvals and construction delivery

Other Projects

We deliver project success and technical excellence.

We take pride in delivering innovative and practical solutions which adds real value to our clients and the community. We strive for better outcomes that delivers a best possible solution by employing our technical expertise. We believe the real value in good engineering is breaking down a complex problem into a simple solution which underpins our philosophy of ‘do it right – the first time’.