Revolutionising Multi-Level Car Parks with SlimDek^® and MDSB^®

John Hughes Service Centre, in Perth's busy Victoria Park, is part of one of Australia's most successful automotive groups. John Hughes built his empire on hard work and great customer service, and the recent addition of a four-storey car park adjacent to the Centre is a testament to his customer-first focus. 

Now up to 300 vehicles can park behind the Centre - plenty of space for his staff and customers, even on the busiest of days. 

A Smarter Way to Build Multi-Level Car Parks 

In collaboration with Fielders, PARKD – an Australian construction technology company specialising in multi-storey car parks – has developed and successfully stress-tested a next-generation modular flooring system for multi-level car park developments. And the John Hughes Service Centre is one of the first beneficiaries of this ground-breaking collaboration that looks set to revolutionise the construction of multi-floor buildings.

Combining the structural performance of Fielders SlimDek 210® with PARKD’s patented MDSB® (Metal Decking Support Bracket) and engineering expertise, this system delivers faster, safer, and more sustainable outcomes.

This partnership brings together:

• Fielders’ decades of experience in composite steel flooring systems, including the high-performance SlimDek 210® profile.
• PARKD’s deep expertise in multi-level car park design, detailing and construction, backed by their development of modular construction methods and the innovative MDSB® bracket system.

Inside the Innovation: The MDSB® Bracket

Developed by PARKD and manufactured by Fielders, the MDSB® Bracket is a project-specific connection system designed for use with SlimDek 210®. It facilitates the secure connection of decking modules to precast beams and allows complete floor modules to be preassembled offsite or at ground level.

Space-saving Design, Time-saving Construction

As PARKD Managing Director, Peter McUtchen explained, “Thanks to the exact prefabrication of the floor modules, from columns up to completion of the implementation of the car park flooring, took six weeks – which is half the time it would normally take. As soon as the modules arrive on site, there’s no need for laydown – they’re craned into place and secured with no double handling.” 

Less Enforced Downtime, Less Labour Required

For PARKD’s McUtchen, the beauty of this innovative prefab method is that “there is little to no need for intermediate propping of floors while the concrete dries – and the downtime and space restriction that this necessitates. Plus there’s no cutting or bending required on site, and so less machinery is needed – and even less labour. In fact the whole of the flooring installation was completed by just four people.”

Less Local Impact...

As the Service Centre is a ‘live site’, with people driving in and going about their business, this ‘Just in Time’ delivery and construction style meant work on the new car park could continue with minimal disruption. Less time to build, with less labour on site and less interruptions to the day-to-day running of the centre was certainly a WIN/WIN for John Hughes! 

... More Sustainable Product

Another benefit is that the flooring system comprising Fielders SlimDek 210® and the patented MDSB® requires 40-50% less concrete and 15-25% less steel to achieve the required floor strength. The lightweight structures are also slimmer than traditional floors, reducing the height profile of the construction – so the car park not only adds to the stellar customer service on offer, it also complements the surrounding buildings, both stylistically and in terms of its surprisingly low height profile.

The Future of Car Parks?

From concept to completion, Fielders and PARKD have delivered a streamlined, offsite-ready car park structure in concurrent ‘proof of concept’ constructions in WA. As Peter McUtchen says, “The professionalism of the Fielders team and the high quality of the product meant the projects ran with absolutely no dramas – everything arrived on time, on spec and ready to be put into place.”

The successful implementation of the SlimDek 210® with the patented MDSB® is already generating nationwide interest. Enquiries about the potential for both car parks and other commercial and industrial buildings with suspended slab requirements have started rolling in, with many more anticipated in the very near future.