A recent site tour of the Stacked Farm project at Melbourne Airport offered stakeholders a glimpse of what is to come.
Total Construction has been engaged as the Head Contractor to design and construct the building envelope of what will be the world's largest fully automated vertical farm by volume output. The facility will include 3,586m² of grow rooms and produce 3.4 million kilograms of herbs and leafy greens annually.
© Total Construction
The Food and Beverage team is collaborating closely with Stacked Farm to design a facility optimized for maximum efficiency and end-to-end automation from seed to bag, with zero human intervention. The farm will operate with 47% higher lighting energy efficiency, a proprietary zero-waste water system, and 100% green energy.
© Total Construction
Construction is progressing well, with structural steel in the office completed and continuing into the warehouse. Precast installation in the office area is nearly complete, and the lift core and retaining wall have been installed. The water pits and waste pits have been completed and are currently being backfilled. The pad footings, strip footings, and in-ground hydraulic services are all nearing completion. The suspended slab for the ground floor office area has now been poured.
The team had the pleasure of hosting board members and investors onsite recently, offering them the opportunity to witness the latest progress at Stacked Farm. Senior Project Manager Don Peteranna presented an overview of the project's progress and key milestones so far. Michelle O'Sullivan, the Health, Safety and Environmental Coordinator, shared insights into the thoughtful approach to site safety.
The $49 million build component of the $150 million total project is expected to be completed in late 2026. The team is thrilled to be partnering with Stacked Farm and owners Melbourne Airport Property on this groundbreaking project, which will revolutionize modern farming in Australia.
Source: Total Construction
