CMG Frames is an Australian light gauge steel framing (LGSF) specialist with deep roots in façade and cladding delivery. The business evolved from a cladding company that operated for more than a decade, where the team gained extensive hands-on experience delivering prefabricated façade solutions for complex commercial and infrastructure projects.
Established in 2018, CMG Frames was formed to bring façade design, framing and buildability together under one roof. Today, the company works across residential, commercial, and large-scale infrastructure projects, with a particular niche in complex façades involving curves, corbelling (a construction method where each layer projects slightly beyond the one below, creating a stepped overhang to support or span a space), and non-standard geometry.
What sets CMG Frames apart is not just its use of advanced software and manufacturing technology, but its practical construction knowledge, helping clients turn ambitious architectural concepts into buildable, cost-effective outcomes using light gauge steel (LGS), prefabricated façade systems, and modular façade construction.
“We’re not just designing what’s been drawn and handing it over,” says Luke Cockerell, Managing Director of CMG Frames. “Clients come to us with an idea and ask, ‘How do we actually build this?’” and that’s where our experience really adds value.”
McNab Place is a podium façade project in Footscray, Melbourne, delivered for builder Roberts Co. The architectural vision called for a highly articulated brick façade featuring deep corbelled arches and stepped brickwork wrapping the building in an aesthetic more commonly associated with historic masonry buildings than contemporary construction.
The challenge was clear - how to achieve the architectural intent without resorting to slow, expensive and impractical traditional brick construction methods.
CMG Frames was engaged early in the process to answer a critical question:
“When the builder first came to us, the question was simple,” says Cockerell. “Is this even possible to build?”
The solution was a prefabricated, modular façade system built from lightweight steel framing, allowing the project team to retain the design intent while gaining certainty around cost, timeline and installation.
The podium design presented several significant challenges:
A conventional full-brick solution would likely require extensive structural backup, complex lintels, heavy scaffolding and long construction durations, pushing the project beyond practical and economic limits.
CMG Frames designed and manufactured a prefabricated façade system using lightweight, LGS framing, allowing the façade to be delivered as large, pre-clad modular sections.
These modules were craned into position and fixed to purpose-designed brackets attached to the building structure. The building was waterproofed first, after which the architectural façade was installed as a separate outer layer. This approach transformed a complex, site-intensive façade into a controlled, off-site-manufactured solution.
To ensure seamless execution, CMG Frames coordinated an end-to-end delivery team, including:
This integrated workflow from design through manufacture to installation minimized handover gaps and reduced risk for the builder.
CMG Frames led the full engineering and execution detailing for the façade system.
Key elements of the design process included:
External framing manufactured from Z450-coated steel, as required by the project specification
The framing system was designed to support the façade’s stepped brick geometry through:
Once the building envelope and waterproofing were complete, installation followed a clear sequence:
The lightweight nature of LGS framing was critical, keeping modules liftable and eliminating the need for heavy temporary works.
LGS framing enabled the project to succeed in ways traditional construction could not:
Large façade sections could be craned safely and efficiently.
Cold-formed steel allowed complex corbelling and stepped forms without excessive weight.
Despite every module being slightly different, CAD-driven manufacturing ensured speed, accuracy and consistency.
The completed podium façade reads as authentic, solid brickwork, complete with mortar joints and natural brick imperfections, despite being delivered through modular façade construction.
The project delivered:
“When you look at the finished building, you would never know it was delivered in modules,” says Cockerell. “You cannot tell it was modular, it looks and feels like it was built in full brick.”
Looking ahead, projects like McNab Place reflect a growing shift toward modular and prefabricated façade solutions using light gauge steel (LGS), as the industry looks for more efficient and predictable ways to deliver complex architectural design.
Please contact our team for more information about LGS here.