Upon completion, the 17 storey Ibis Styles Hotel in East Perth was the tallest high-rise modular hotel, in terms of room numbers, in the world.

The building’s design, as a tall narrow tower for the guest rooms, leant itself to this innovative modular construction methodology.

The Accor Ibis Styles branded hotel prides itself in playful, fun and exciting imagery and formed the design genesis. The hotel comprises Lobby, Restaurant, Bar, Gymnasium and 252 Guest Rooms.

The building provides a cost effective 3.5 star hotel to the Perth market and contributes to the interactive streetscape along Adelaide Terrace.

The design of this building is often referred to as the ‘Lego building’ consisting of interlocking stacking ‘bricks’, which is consistent with this playful hotel branding.

The design embraces the modular construction methodology with its structured facade and cladding materials which provide a clear and ordered façade whilst providing a street presence on its prominent inner-city corner.

Our Client engaged Hodge Collard Preston Architects to take ownership of pre-existing schematic works. We embraced the existing concept and evolved the schematic design, obtaining a revised Development Approval and then documented the project to incorporate the innovative modular technology.

The Ibis Styles Hotel was designed and constructed using 160 prefabricated volumetric modules, typically consisting of two hotel rooms and a portion of the corridor within each module. Specialist modules were also incorporated for the lifts, lift lobbies and a roof top gymnasium and service plant areas.

The steel framed modular ‘boxes’ were designed to span from the front to the rear of the narrow tower, incorporating an external glazed facade on the two ends of each module.

The modules were fabricated in China by CIMC-MBS, as part of a bespoke project funding agreement for the project. The project team including the contractor worked closely to develop the innovative solutions required for this bespoke construction methodology.

The modules were fully fabricated in a factory in China, concurrently with the completion of in-situ on-site works, then transported by barge, ship and road to a Perth and delivered and craned into position in a predetermined sequence. The modular methodology minimised construction waste and maximised material efficiencies. Services were pre-installed and loose furniture and fittings were transported inside the boxes further benefiting reduced construction time on site.

The documentation team carried out a number of visits to the factory in China and the representatives of the Head Contractors sub-contractors were present during the entire fabrication stage, to monitor quality and compliance with relevant Australian Standards.

The external façade was pre-installed on the module frame in the factory, which was an innovation for modular construction. The façade of each module was then sealed to the adjoining facades via a system of double seals and locking ‘T’ pieces.

We acknowledge Meyer Shircore Architects and Campion Design Group who undertook initial design works for the project.

The final outcome of the project is an innovative and outstanding contribution to the City of Perth Skyline whilst exceeding our clients brief and expectations.