"building boards"

A bold and significant new development has emerged in St Kilda as a ‘liveable Lego tower’, rising in tiered rainbow cubes that appear to balance like building blocks. Aptly named The Icon, the distinctive new building is wrapped in expanded aluminium mesh that changes colour as sunlight moves.The inspiration of artist Matthew Johnson, who worked with Jackson Clements Burrows Architects to conceptualise the distinctive complex, was achieved with Interpon Powder Coating on board as a collaborative partner.“My vision for the project was for people look up and see something interesting, to see something that is in a sense iconographic – as a marker or reference point,” explains Matthew.Interpon were involved with the project “right from the start”, explains Gareth Connell, Regional Specification, Interpon. Their association began after they were introduced to Pace Developments to discuss colour and product selection for the external façade.“We work closely with Interpon, and Pace asked us to quote with the product already powder coated,” says Ian Dunstan, southern regional sales manager at Locker Group, who manufacture perforated and expanded metal. Interpon were able to step in and develop the colour range separately, to meet the design brief and provide an ultra-durable coating system that meet the expectations of all parties.“The team at Interpon were very accommodating, engaged and professional in taking the concept on board,” says Matthew. “We were able to manifest unique colours based on the ratios I created with their chemist, inventing a whole new series of colours. This was crucial, as each level is depicted in different colour hue variations from earth to sky, which cross reference the nature of the geographical and environmental stratums. This flux of seasonal change is portrayed through subtle tonal gradation. Working with Interpon was a very fluid operation.”Interpon has collaborated on several high profile property developments and high rises over the years – although perhaps none quite as unique or with as many distinct characteristics as The Icon. “The nature of expanded aluminium mesh is such that it is formed by shearing and expanding aluminium sheet to create the ‘3D form’ effect. A visually appealing system for a façade, the shearing of the metal can present issues with very sharp edges, particularly in aggressive coastal environments,” Gareth explains.“Part of understanding this project was to comprehend as many elements as possible. Given the location was in St Kilda, with the bay just over 1.5km away, environmental considerations such as UV degradation, exposure to corrosive sea salts and prevailing winds needed to be considered.”After reviewing available data, such as Bureau of Meteorology weather patterns and local geography and topography maps, a specific duplex or two-layer powder finishing system was specified.“This consisted of a controlled preparation process for the expanded aluminium sheets. An epoxy barrier primer (was specified) to provide enhanced protection and to build the sharp edges in order to minimise issues associated with filiform corrosion. And the ultra-durability polyester powder top coat was developed in 34 distinct colours,” Gareth says.After the colour range was developed, it was applied by powder coating specialists Mansutti Bros. Lead by managing director Claude Mansutti, the team refinished hundreds of mesh panels over a period of nine months.“It was a major benefit to be using powder coating because, unlike liquid paints, powder is cured once it comes out of the oven and it’s ready to go once it’s cooled down. If they were painted, the drying phase could delay the process from refinish to installation by up to two weeks. It meant we were able to keep to a very strict schedule,” Claude says.“The project involved a lot of large spreadsheet work. There were 17 floors and over 30 colours, with panels in 15 sizes; it was quite a matrix to work with. But the end result is so different and so unique. It’s an interesting design and I’m sure it’s going to be a talking point for the area for many years.”

Designed by Group 4 Architects and built by De Luca Corporation the project includes: the Bunnings Warehouse building (17,719sqm), and three other separate buildings .Metroll is proud to have been involved in the supply of many Bunnings Warehouse projects including the Keperra store.

The A4080 is ideal for projects looking for an economical solution, with a high free area and where water penetration will not cause significant problems. Today, 177 Pacific Highway Commercial Building still stands out in the vibrant and bustling area of North Sydney, for its unique and elegant design.

To protect the priceless infrastructure and mission-critical IT information in Australia’s first custom built, high-tech data centre, Polaris, Project Manager Thiess turned to the leading manufacturer of specialist building products, Construction Specialties.Integral to the $121 million construction was the regulation of airflow to safeguard the computer hardware; Construction Specialties’ customised performance louvres were the only product in Australia able to meet this construction challenge.Boasting 14,000m2 of floor space on 5 storeys with 7000m2 of raised floor over three data centre levels, the project, based in Springfield, Queensland, is the largest of its kind in Australia and will be Queensland’s only Tier 3+ data collection point.So important were the Construction Specialties performance louvres to the development, much of the building design was driven by the positioning, material specifications and design of the louvres.Lawrence Issa, Project Manager for Construction Specialties, and project partners Darryl Wright and Steve Emery of Project Sales worked closely with the Polaris construction team from project inception to completion to devise the most effective weatherproofing and airflow option for the building which also matched the intended aesthetic.“In-depth collaboration with the Polaris team led to the selection of our Architectural Line Louvres, of which two types were used – our RS7305a and LSM louvre models,” Lawrence said. “Unlike other louvres on the market, this range prevents up to 99% water penetration and maximises airflow, while also complementing the building facade as the horizontal louvre frames selected are hidden from view.“Our performance louvres cover 345m2 of the exterior building and are specifically customised in terms of size, shape and colour for the data centre,” Lawrence said.Miguel Thievent, Senior Project Engineer at Thiess, remarks that the CS Louvres perform to the highest standard, which was essential in meeting the building specifications.“It was vital we didn’t compromise on weather proofing and airflow,” Miguel said. “For example, we have six generators integral to maintaining the whole IT system in case of power failure which would not run if the airflow was affected or they were damaged by rain.“The Construction Specialties performance louvres were the only ones on the market that could guarantee damage would not occur as a result of bad weather conditions,” Miguel said.Construction Specialties’ performance louvres are at the leading edge of louvre design and are tested under real world conditions to meet the maximum standards demanded.Construction Specialties offers a broad selection of louvres under 3 main categories:Storm Resistant/Performance Louvres – The main objective of Performance Louvres is to allow the passage of air, whilst providing the area beyond the room with protection from rain penetration.Standard Louvres – A standard louvre will provide the maxiumum airflow required, but with minimal rain defence.Screening Louvres – Screening louvres, are low cost solutions that hide plant or other equipment from view.CS Louvre systems are available in a comprehensive range of finishes and colours, ensuring there is a Construction Specialties Louvre system to suit most aesthetic and performance needs.Louvre panels are factory assembled in a controlled and quality assured environment and provided to site in a fully finished modular form; thus, allowing for trouble-free and fast installation.A comprehensive range of accessories including insect/bird mesh and blanking panels in various materials and finishes is available to complete the application.

Known as being positioned within one of the most popular positions within London, The River Building sits comfortably between London Bridge, St Paul’s, and Bank. The position offers enviable commutes for the city workforce, boasting a five minutes’ walk from six key tube stations. Renovated to utilise a once void entrance, The River Building is now a self-contained office space with a contemporary industrial design. The large atrium features a set of sleek black Lifeline Speedlane Swings. Stiff + Trevillion working with Blackstone Group, had specified early into the design process for the Lifeline Speedlane Swing, due to its existing specification in existing projects. The new two-story building boasts a spacious atrium that combines naked brick walling with warm feature lighting and dark tones. Mimicking the interior styling a bank of Lifeline Speedlane Swings were to be finished in black RAL. The River Building with an occupancy density of 1:8 requested comfortable yet stylish entry resulting in a wider lane width configuration. The 615mm passage width utilises two glass wings that offer fast access but give the illusion of openness.

Sydney Airport is the busiest airport in Australia and one of the oldest continually running airports in the world, with an average of 44 million passengers visiting the airport each year, from domestic to international travellers.With the large amount of people coming to Sydney Airport on a daily basis, there is always potential for dirt and moisture from the soles of shoes to enter the facility, which can cause the floor to be dirty and a risk of people injuring themselves. To eliminate the risk of hazards to visitors, the CS Pedigrid entrance mat with Graphite inserts was specified to combat the dirt and debris.Not only is the Pedigrid aesthetically pleasing but it also offers high performance in terms of rolling load capability and dirt and moisture trapping, making it ideal for areas with high foot and wheel traffic. The Pedigrid is a 44mm deep, recess mounted system of removable grill sections that allows dirt, water, and other waste to fall between the heel proof treads into the matwell below, this can significantly reduce the cleaning and maintenance frequencies.Overall, the Pedigrid for Sydney Airport is proven to combat dirt and debris entering the building, whilst maintaining entrance area aesthetics and overall passenger safety.

The casino is the largest in the world with 3,400 slot machines, 800 gambling tables and a 15,000 seated arena for entertainment/sports events. The Venetian Macau is so large that 90 Boeing 747 jumbo jets could fit into it.

For instance, Superior faced the challenge of creating curved detailed bulkheads and feature ceilings. However, with Rondo’s help using a hybrid of the Rondo KEY-LOCK Concealed Ceiling System and Stud & Track Wall Framing System, they managed to create a great outcome.

Rondo worked closely with Wadsworth Contracting providing KEY-LOCK Concealed Ceiling Systems, Panther Access Panels, plastering beads as well as external 92mm framing, soffit framing, internal 76 & 64mm wall framing.

This two-year, $100 million project was undertaken by builders Built, subcontractors Expoconti, and Bruce Henderson Architects for developers Hengyi. Using our MAXIframe External Wall Framing System, we were able to provide a full design specification for the entire external façade that met wind load requirements, also providing one stud wall to accommodate both internal and external linings.

Project ceiling contractor, Built Environs, has an almost two decade relationship with Rondo and this partnership, along with project architects Hassell & Cox, allowed all parties to work together efficiently in order to find solutions for any design obstacles that occurred during construction.

Mirvac’s mission to provide a beautiful and sustainable village was recognised in 2008 when they were the winner of the HIA LandCorp GreenSmart Award for the first release of Beachside. Rondo is closely working with our customer, Architectural Ceiling Systems, to serve the contract winners, Systeck, who have been involved in some of the largest projects in WA. In order to provide the best service, Rondo will continue to ensure that the correct amounts of stock required are available for our customer.

Currently, Quest is on an aggressive expansion drive throughout Australia, with seven projects to be completed over the next 12 months. Specifically, the freshly completed Quest on Franklin in Central Adelaide of which, Rondo has provided over 200,000l/m worth of product. Working alongside Kyren Group, Ceiling Express and Cheesman Architects, Rondo delivered frequent technical design support, as well as stock level forecasting which was imperative to control the crane lifts.

Rondo Technical Representative Tino Cucinotta, worked closely with the 2DG team – and assisted with the supply of QUIET STUD Acoustic Wall System, Stud & Track and Finishing Sections, whilst Rondo’s newly released XPRESS Drywall Grid Ceiling System was due to arrive, ensuring the project could continue efficiently.

The project was subject to wind loading up to 2.8kPa ultimate and 1.9kPa serviceability. Our technical designs specified wall and ceiling systems, as well as complementary accessories to be supplied to the project. Being able to provide tailored designs within a tight deadline was crucial to the project.

Working beside Doig Architecture, Rondo provided expert design and technical advice particularly with the high internal walls. Regular on-site inspections ensured products were installed to specification and delivered on time. Rondo Technical Sales Representative Tino Cucinotta said “The project benefited from our Technical Service team who were readily available to provide design advice when required”.

Working closely with SA Master Plaster as the internal drywall contractor Rondo has supplied 64 & 92mm x 0.70BMT and 92mm x 1.15BMT wall studs for the internal wall framing with over 1,000 studs being required per floor. Also the project is utilising Rondo KEY-LOCK concealed plasterboard framing for ceilings and over 2,000m2 of the external Rondo MAXIframe wall system.

Rondo stands proud being the site-wide supplier for drywalls throughout the City of Dreams. The Rondo Malaysia team has worked very hard to service this project by arranging and loading 35 containers a month, replying to dozens of technical inquiries a week and running the factory 24 hours a day to ensure that they have the coils to keep the machines running.

Working alongside builders JAXON Constructions, Hassell Architects and ANWEST Constructions, Rondo managed to provide specifications necessary for the position of the project which is subject to significant external wind loadings.

The $11.3 million dollar renovation of Lambton Square required Rondo product throughout including our Key-Lock Concealed Ceiling System, Steel Stud Wall framing system and various other Rondo components for the fixing of plasterboard and feature panels.

The $200 million Lend Lease Lakeside Joondalup Shopping Centre development opened in November 2014, making it the largest shopping destination in Western Australia. Contractors C & L Ceilings in conjunction with Rondo’s Technical Services Team designed pre-fabricated sections that could be built off-site and then transported to site complete, reducing installation costs and time delays.

Ocean Keys is a major shopping destination in Clarkson, one of Perth’s new fast growing suburbs. This $100 million expansion completed in October 2014 included the addition of retail and fresh food stores and new residential apartments. The shopping complex is now 65% larger with a total floor space of 35,000m². Rondo supplied Key- Lock Concealed Ceiling System and steel framing for the extensive plasterboard soffits and bulkheads on the project.

The benefit of having custom lengths sped up installation and also reduced wastage. Approximately 10,000 custom made studs were used to complete the project. Rondo also provided products used for internal lining and ceilings. During the construction stage supplying products to the site at the correct time for crane lifts was essential to the success of the project. Rondo and CSR worked in conjunction with Cree8 to ensure this happened by conducting regular site visits.

Working with the site contractor, Expoconti, Rondo supplied products for the project, provided design work, and conducted weekly site inspections. Rondo’s technical assistance allowed for the designs to be simplified, which in turn provided a more cost effective approach.

Rondo was able to provide a solution to suit the projects’ specific design criteria by using readily available materials and technical support. The wall framing for the MPS room consisted of over 31m of 150mm Steel Stud and Track, including noggings.

Regular onsite inspections in conjunction with the contractor Arc Plaster helped us to forecast any further products required for the project and ensure the project was delivered smoothly.

Rondo incorporated Steel Stud and Track, specifically 64mm track sections along with KEY-LOCK Suspended ceiling systems to perfect the final look of the complex.

Rondo was chosen as a supplier to the project due to our support throughout the tender stage and our ability to provide Leighton Holdings with a total solution package, enlisting help and resources from USG Boral, James Hardie and Rockwool. At the peak of the project, it is estimated that approx. 800 local workers will be on-site, providing a fundamental and integral boost to the community and employment.

The project includes the upgrade of Brisbane Showgrounds including the recently completed state-of-the-art Royal International Convention Centre, Plaza and Porte-Cochere together with 5.5 hectares of developments comprising of The Green and The Yards Residential Apartments, Kings Gate Commercial Precinct and the creation of King Street which will include a new shopping and dining strip.

The tower corridors to the hotel rooms followed a slight curve and the Rondo Technical Services Team were engaged to provide many engineered designs for both internal and external wall framings, as well as internal ceilings and external soffit framings. This included Stud & Track, MAXIframe External Wall Framing System, EXANGLE Finishing Sections and PANTHER Access Panels, all needed to meet the detail required throughout the tower and podium levels.

Buildup Interior carried out construction of the internal fit out packages - Rondo Steel Stud Walls and Ceilings in July 2018 that had been designed with Kelly Zammit. Buildup Interior chose to use Rondo over competitive brands due to a long standing relationship with, and understanding of its service offering.

The hotel and casino will include a luxury hotel, gaming areas, dining, and retail and convention facilities along with numerous special attractions. Rondo provided this project with all the Drywall Steel Stud Partition Systems for the podium, gaming areas and the hotel tower. Included in the plan were also specially designed and supplied maintenance WALK–ABOUT Trafficable Ceiling Systems as per the project requirements.

Rondo provided a solid support foundation, using resources from both international and Australian technical services departments. The South West Pier (Stage 1), was built by Rachana Arts and saw Rondo provide assistance for the Corian cladding to the columns by creating adjustable and concealed fixings that were purposely designed for the hollow section support framing, as well as providing Stud and Track to support the various cladding materials.

Rondo has been a major asset to the project providing reputable advice, technical design solutions and fortnightly inspections, ensuring the development is on track and our systems are installed correctly. Our Technical Services Team has supported Rondo Victoria in assisting project architects Bates Smart Architects and Silver Thomas Hanley and builder Lend Lease improve comprehensive designs for all internal walls and ceilings for the project.

The project was developed thanks to the assistance of builders BGC Construction, ceilings and walls M2 Contracting and distributors Perth Plasterboard Centre. Local supply chain efforts have proven this project to be a success with on-time delivery, reliability, excellent customer service and the ease of installation.

Located in Fortitude Valley in the heart of Brisbane. Builder, Multiplex began Stage 1 of this $200m project in May 2015 and completed it in July this year. Subcontractor, Precision Interior Walls & Ceilings enlisted Rondo’s expertise in designing the internal ceilings and partitions, external walls and soffit framing. Designed by Architect’s Elenberg Fraser, Stage 1 of the development consisted of 32 levels with 910 luxury apartments sprawled across two towers. This will eventually form part of three residential towers incorporating ground floor retail areas, cafés, restaurants and over 1000 apartments in total.