"combined heat and power systems"

Two apartment buildings with their own unique characters are the latest addition to the growing residential hub of Green Square in Sydney’s south.

A large multi-purpose facility called The Clubhouse is the popular new hub of a lifestyle community near Hervey Bay in Queensland.

Award-winning design for this major new tourism facility in Cairns, North Queensland

Modernist cube shaped construction paying tribute identifiable artistic references

Water tanks with a difference

The worlds of glazing and surfing collide to produce an impressive training facility at Casuarina Beach in northern NSW.

A bold geometric façade with striking patterned glazing is the new face of 21st century education at this historic Adelaide College.

Residents benefit from Alspec’s high end acoustic framing, windows and doors

Alspec window and door framing solutions give the conference centre and hotels a unique look and feel.

Former iconic grain silos transformed into residential apartments using Alspec's window and door framing products.

The safety product Invisi-Maxx has been used in a practical, creative manner and turned into a striking design feature.

Alspec window and door framing products maximise natural light and integrate the diverse requirements of this performance space.

International technology firm Microsoft have recently moved into their brand-new office located in Leopardstown. SAS International designed and manufactured a range of metal ceilings and bespoke metalwork installed in the multi award-winning innovation hub. This modern office signifies the celebration of an extensive 30-year history Microsoft share with Ireland. SAS500 linear baffles were supplied in either RAL 9016 (Black) or in a pre-coat timber effect to enhance the natural, organic character of this project. Installed in the main office areas, galvanised SAS130 T-Grid in RAL 9016 was chosen for its industrial demeanour and sharp appearance. SAS330 C-Profiles have also been supplied in a pre-coat timber effect, achieving the popular timber natural impression while still providing the longevity and benefits of metal. Installed in a unique triangular grid pattern, this ceiling adheres to the contemporary aesthetic of an exposed ceiling. The new building has been designed with the 2,000 Microsoft employees needs in mind creating large open spaces with the aim to promote engagement amongst colleagues. SAS International achieved the artistic vision of RKD architects through the collaboration with BAM and Platt & Reilly.

SAS International provided an unusual feature perforation to a metal ceiling solution for Cork County Council’s redevelopment of their MOT office. The refurbishment of Cork County Council has created an outstanding open plan office for their upgraded MOT Office. Included in the redevelopment is the installation of 240 meters squared of acoustic SAS500, with a unique OB50 perforation, installed within the open plan office, meeting rooms and cellular offices. Conserving the original architectural features was significant when embarking on the reconstruction of the building. SAS500 was chosen to accommodate the spacing of existing structural beams, the system hung on secondary grids to adhere to specific architectural requirements. To adhere to the recent popularity in open soffit trends, SAS500 offers a solution in addition to providing acoustic absorption. A unique OB50 perforation was specified in the design of the baffles for this project. SAS International worked in collaboration with Cork County Council Architects and CField Construction to provide bespoke design solutions for this project.

SAS International's bespoke waveform acoustic baffle ceiling solution was used as a feature in the new Skype Headquarters. An SAS International bespoke waveform acoustic baffle ceiling solution incorporating luminaires by Zumtobel, was specified by Walker and Martin Architects (WAM) for the new Skype Headquarters. Situated in Luxembourg, the new building forms part of the regeneration works to an existing brewery located in Clausen, the old quarter of Luxembourg City. The challenge set by the client was to provide an interior that would inspire innovation in the daily workplace of Skype employees whilst retaining an element of corporate sophistication. The solution helped create a dynamic and flexible office space. In the design, development and installation of the system, WAM worked closely with SAS International, to ensure the baffles integrated seamlessly with the luminaires to suit the ceiling and building shape. WAM designed the acoustic baffle ceiling solution with technical help from SAS International, then developed the layout to achieve the ‘wave’ and ‘fluid’ affect. Stuart Walker adds, “The ceiling design gives an uplifting ambience to the space, people ‘look up’ when they enter and immediately know they are in a space that challenges office convention with innovative thinking.” Another consideration that WAM took when selecting materials for the fit out process was the impact on the environment. SAS International metal ceilings have a lifespan in excess of 25 years with only very basic maintenance. These products withhold a residual value and can be recycled at end of life into new virgin steel or aluminium without any loss of properties; this ensures products do not end up in costly and unsustainable landfill sites.

The University is open every day to thousands of people and its bathrooms in particular have an extremely high footfall. Paper towels, in combination with a few hand dryers, led to considerable unwanted mess and complaints, which in turn also incurred a high, ongoing cost to supply hand towels to all campus bathrooms. Ferguson Architects, who were tasked to refurbish the UWA upgrade suggested the Dyson Airblade Tap hand dryers as the preferred product to install across the 60 bathrooms, due to its combined water tap and hand dryer capabilities. Architect: Ferguson Architects.

Designed by Woods Bagot Pty Ltd and built by Lend Lease Group, BCG manufactured curved heat strengthened laminated glass panels for the feature stair to the entry lobby of the first completed commercial tower at Barangaroo – International Towers Sydney (ITS) 2. Working closely with Woods Bagot Architects and fabricators F & D Normoyle Engineering, BCG assisted with the fine tuning of the detail design. BCG’s precision bending and laminating processes provided the quality of finish and timely supply required to ensure the successful completion of the project.

The Roads & Maritime Services (RMS) now benefit from a highly progressive workspace in their newly refurbished head office on Parramatta Street. The main aim of the refurbishment project was to improve facilities and collaborative spaces for staff and visitors. However, a significant challenge for the contractors was to keep all existing communications rooms fully operational throughout the project. Achieving the Aim: SAS800 Trucell ceilings were installed in the open plan lounges and stairwells of the renovation. Creating a grid of squares, strong lines stretch the length and breadth of the collaborative space. The system gives a decorative feature to the fit-out with the illusion of a much larger space for activity-based working. Comfortable lounge furniture and bright colours have also been chosen to encourage communication and create a flexible working space. Meeting the Challenge: Specified with a lay-in exposed grid, each tile slots in place without the need for gaskets or cutting. With the building in constant use, installation was quick and easy keeping the project on schedule with minimal disruption. Popular in Australian CBD property markets, the refit considers occupant well-being with Grade A ‘end of trip’ facilities. An upgraded lobby area also contributes to the value-added space with an improved experience for employees and visitors alike.

SAS International designed and manufactured a range of solutions for the new 75,000 square metres Terminal 2 at Dublin Airport, Ireland. According to Dublin Airport the new second terminal will be capable of comfortably handling up to 15 million passengers per year. Specification demanded that durability, ease of maintenance and acoustics were considered. SAS International worked with architects Pascall + Watson to design the ceiling solution answering the architect’s brief to factor in ongoing maintenance conducted by Facilities Management teams in the future. The design of these large sized ceiling panels required careful consideration at design stage to ensure they would be manageable when working at a height. Designed and developed specifically for Dublin Airport was 35,000 square metres of ceiling systems, installed in the main departure area, walkways and baggage handling areas. This solution looks like any other suspended metal ceiling system as it provides an aesthetically pleasing flush finish. But where this product differs is its ingenious way of allowing access to the ceiling void and services for ongoing essential maintenance. This is of particular benefit in high traffic areas such as Dublin airport as it enables a corridor to remain in use rather than having to close off the entire route. SAS International manufactured the 20,000m2 of large aluminium frames for the fabric ceilings which creates a striking central feature. Working closely with SAS International were local installers Platt and Reilly who applied the stretched fabric to the frames on-site and hoisted them into position. Creating a comfortable environment for traveller and worker was helped with the use of acoustic floating rafts and perforated metal ceiling solutions (with integrated acoustic pads) to provide the necessary acoustic control for this project. Lighting was suspended neatly between the rafts to also provide a modern finish to the corridors. In addition Perimeter heating and air handling grilles also enhance the experience.

This modern townhouse development in West Essendon has given ZINTL the opportunity to truly show its style and contemporary design. Chosen as a statement to the façade at this modern development, the popular Standing Seam 190 profile was powder coated in Dulux Charcoal Satin Finish. A vertical installation adds to the leading-edge architectural style captured within this project.

The £70 million project saw SAS International design and manufacture bespoke spun alum­inium profiled discs, acoustic metal wall panelling and System 600 rafts in the new terminal. The architects 3D Reid had to make the building light, airy and modern yet the façade and various materials used within the terminal had to withstand potential of a security breach. All products installed ‘land-side’ were required to meet the requirements of Aviation Security in Airport Development (ASIAD). The result answers aesthetic demands, yet provides the highest level of performance for the requirements of the building. For the design to be realised, square aluminium sheets were cut by the manufacturer into a circle and spun into a dome. Installation in such an environment means safety cables had to be attached to each disc, wall panel, tile and raft to ensure they do not fall and cause injury. Allowance for safety cables to be attached had to be taken into consideration during the design phase. Large vertical wall panels with an ultra-micro perforation were also specified to provide the necessary acoustic properties required for this vast open space. The very fine 0.7mm perforation, with 1% open area, helps to manage acoustics within the large open spaced terminal. The off-site modular manufacture of the architectural metalwork products meant installation was quicker, which causes less disruption to such a busy environment, and in addition there is no waste on site. Aesthetic versatility can be achieved using SAS International Architectural Metalwork throughout projects. It also allows for inte­gration of M&E services into the building design while meeting design demands and durability requirements. The range includes acoustic baffles, acoustic wall panels, air handling units, bespoke ceilings, and column casings.

Birmingham New Street Station was originally re-built in 1967 to accommodate 650 trains carrying 60,000 passengers per day. By 2010 it had become the busiest station outside of London, operating at more than twice its intended capacity. The first half of the refurbishment was completed in 2013. The station’s recently updated configuration should now accommodate a yearly 8.3% rise in passenger numbers. SAS International commenced work on the three-phase project in June 2012. NG Bailey and main contractor Mace installed SAS systems across the platforms, the shopping centre and the concourse. Full scale, physical mock-ups of the bespoke ceiling solutions were built on-site to ensure design intent prior to installation. The integration of fans for smoke extraction and complex wind loads had to be considered to guarantee passenger safety. The wind loads were a concern as trains passing platforms at speed can cause considerable negative loads. Bespoke ceilings comprising fixed angle bulkheads were installed in line with the curving platforms. The typically trapezoidal bulkheads were bolted end to end in order to form a faceted layout to follow these curves. Using shared data from the project’s BIM model, SAS International used a point cloud to measure the platforms and 3D model the panels. The model’s geometry revealed that the platforms were all non-uniform. This posed a significant design challenge. The data required careful analysis in order to achieve a smooth curved line within the platform edge. This was essential to provide train drivers with an unobstructed view coming into and out of the station. The SAS International design team was able to rationalise the number of unique panel types down to four. This overcame the driver visibility issue, ensured uncompromised aesthetics and brought costs within budget. Electronic Total Station setting-out techniques were then used to set out the panels along the curve.

Offering a wide range of colours, limitless design opportunities and stock availability in custom colours, ALUCOBOND PLUS®, MondoClad® and ZINTL® are the ideal products for orporate branding signage and external building cladding. Unlike other alternatives, the HVG Façades premium range incorporates attributes such as long-term colour consistency, weather resistance, excellent flatness, rigidity and formability, as well as ease of maintenance.

Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) Data Center was recently built using our premium aluminium cladding solution, MondoClad®. FDC Building engaged Archer Facades to install this unique cladding design on the BAC Data Center. Archer Facades’ aim was not only to meet the architectural design requirements, but also to exceed them. External Cladding on a building is a focal point and a showcase for many projects that Archer Facades installs. Therefore, MondoClad® was a fit for purpose product for both the installer and the builder.

We had the pleasure of working alongside Cachet Group to install our artificial greenery into the newly-designed office space of BAI Communications and the results were stunning! We used a combination of different hanging bushes and vines, which were offset beautifully against the modern, crisp white interiors of the space.

The headquarters of the BNL-BNP Paribas Group building is a stunning example of how to successfully combine innovative architectural design with optimum comfort and wellbeing for the building’s occupants. Due to the clever structural glazing, the aesthetics are visually appealing, reflecting the building’s surroundings on all sides and changing its appearance depending on the time of day and the weather.

As Western Australia’s flagship health facility, the Fiona Stanley Hospital is the largest building project ever undertaken for the Western Australian Government. The hospital is a complex of buildings that combine to form the hospital campus. This A$2 billion project was designed by the Fiona Stanley Design Collaboration - a joint venture between the local offices of three architectural practices: Silver Thomas Hanley, Hames Sharley and HASSELL.

As part of a large redevelopment project named ‘The Precinct’, Cairns Performing Arts Centre seeks to create a form which captures the essence of the northern tropics. Cox Architecture Brisbane and CA Architects sought to embrace the tropical surrounds of the Cairns Performing Arts Centre, using Australian Spotted Gum timber battens combined with some incredible lighting effects to produce an aesthetic which reflects the Cairns lifestyle.

Project Location: Amberley, Queensland, AUSTRALIA.In Amberley is one of the largest base facilities in Australia. The redevelopment works are valued at AU$331.5 million. New construction and refurbishment works to be undertaken include newliving-in accommodation, maintenance facilities, storage, working and training accommodation, a combined mess and a new physical fitness centre.The site is owned by an Australian Government Department. The Atlantis® Turf Cell® was supplied by Atlantis and was installed by Kennedy Projects Group in April 2009. The system is located at the playing fields on the south-western corner of Gannet St and Rosewood Road, Amberley, QLD.A vegetated swale surrounds the playing field. The swale is an open, shallow channel designed to slow runoff, filter it, and promote infiltration into the ground. Excess water moving through the soil profile is captured by Atlantis® Matrix® Tank – Single modules. The use of a swale to collected water results in smaller runoff volumes, lower peak discharge rates and cleaner runoff. The vegetation in swales, usually thick grass, helps to trap pollutants such as suspended solids and trace metals. The Atlantis Matrix modules extend 3m (10ft) wide under the swale for 110m (360ft).Water collected by the swale is collected in a stormwater harvesting tank located adjacent to the north-western corner of the playing field. Perforated corrugated plastic pipes used as subsurface drainage pipes extend for 1560m (5110ft) is also collected by the stormwater harvesting tank.The stormwater harvesting tank is located subsurface and is constructed of a heavy duty low density polyethylene liner and non woven geotextile surrounding Atlantis® Matrix® Tank - Double modules. The Atlantis stormwater tank has a 4,100m3 (144,80 ft3) capacity. Water collected by the swale and stormwater tank system is used for irrigation of the sports field.The Atlantis stormwater tank has eight (8) cleanout / inspection ports placed through the systems. A 1200mm (4ft) dia. wet well with bolt down lids has been installed adjacent to the tank serves as a pump out pit. The overflow from the tank has a 15m (50ft) long x 400mm (1.3ft) deep spill way with scour protection into an adjacent creek.

Architects from APP Arch-Studio created a building that serves as a multi-functional cultural centre, hosting important musical events, painting and photography exhibitions, as well as theatrical performances and film screenings. Combining all these functions was made possible due to a clear division of the building into two spatial modules: the glazed part acts as a philharmonic hall, while the second part is visual and exhibit-like, comprising of photography studios and a small cinema room.

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.

It’s hard to imagine a timber better suited to a palette of concrete and pale pink terrazzo than GoodWood Victorian ash. This winning combination is found throughout the space, drawing on clean lines and simplistic furniture to complete the brief. “The main reason we used Victorian ash is because it is a light coloured Australian timber that met the BAL-19 bushfire attack level requirement for the site. Its softness and warmth works beautifully with the project palette” - Atelier Chen Hung.

“Having considered both performance and materiality factors, The Winton was designed with a green conscience. Reclaimed bricks provided such an interesting personality to the build, so it was important that the soft character of a natural timber species delivered the contrasting features” - Orbis Construction. Due to Victorian ash’s natural blonde tones, IronAsh has the flexibility to grey off or to be stained to meet any design needs. IronAsh is the combination of GoodWood Victorian ash and unique water-based additives to give a H3 treated exterior timber.

Challenge750m2 roof with a large quantity of vents, air conditioning units and other equipment on the roof. Add to this problem damaged aging torch membrane, combined with Governments regulations regarding solar absorption and reflectivity of the building posed a real challenge for the applicator when determining a solution for the job.A second challenge for this job is the location of the building was located in the built up CBD of Parramatta with neighbours in close proximity, which meant the solution needed to be neighbourhood friendly.SolutionGiven the complexity of solution required for such a job AlphaGuard BIO is the only product which ticks all the boxes. AlphaGuard BIO is an extremely high performing composite waterproofing system, designed with a focus on roofing restoration. Due to AlphaGuard BIO being a liquid, it makes it ideal for jobs where there are machinery on the roof which needs to be worked around.AlphaGuard BIO has the ability to be installed over various existing roofing membranes in order to minimise tenant disruption and extend the life of the roof for an additional 20 years.It cures to form a durable rubber membrane surface that provides a lasting and easy-to clean waterproof coating. AlphaGuard BIO may be used to apply a seamless, monolithic waterproof membrane to concrete, primed metal, or existing roofing membrane surfaces.AlphaGuard BIO’s low VOC will minimise offensive odours to current tenants and applicators. The white top coat provides high solar reflectance, reducing the building’s operation costs and complying with Section J1.3(b) of the 2019 NCC.

The Mark Moran Group recently opened their latest luxury retirement, aged care and wellness precinct in the exclusive Sydney suburb of Vaucluse. The complex is more reminiscent of a high-end boutique hotel than a traditional aged care facility, with its state-of- the-art gymnasium, restaurant-quality room service, luxury spa, cinema and a unique Digital Concierge service. Yet the facilities still retain a welcoming, homely feel – a combination of serenity and class, perfectly reflecting the iconic seaside suburb in which it’s located.

As one of Mirvac’s signature developments, St. Leonards Square exemplifies sophisticated living in Sydney - including the exceptional amenities residents have come to expect. As part of this project, Cora Bike Rack was consulted to ensure the industry’s best bicycle facilities would be provided to future residents. The CBL bicycle locker range includes heavy duty models for use in outdoor public areas, and cost efficient light duty models for use in secure indoor areas such as residential and commercial towers.