"gas air and steam"

The Steamrail Adventure Playground at Millars Landing is part of a large residential development in North Baldivis, WA. Created with growing families in mind, the development includes numerous playgrounds, parks and family areas all based around the theme of steam trains, water towers and timber milling. The outdoor play equipment boasts two flying foxes, a 12-metre slide, swing sets, a climb-on steam train structure, picnic facilities, kickabout turf areas, robust timber furniture and railway sleepers. adventure+ took the idea of the landscape architect, which was a simple sketch, and turned it into a practical result. Her idea provided the foundation of the playground design, and the adventure+ team were able to reflect this idea in a way that was economical, standards compliant and required minimal design and installation time. The client’s greatest challenge was finding a company that could accurately make the structure, something adventure+ was able to do.

COLLABORATIONArchitect: Koichi TakadaBuilder: Hutchinson BuildersDeveloper: Crown GroupBRIEFThe colour-coated precast concrete of this high-end luxury apartment building required a long-lasting, low maintenance, and cost-effective solution to maintain its stunning appearance.MATERIAL & APPLICATIONECOCLEAN Porosity CoatingECOCLEAN Self-Cleaning CoatingOUTCOMEECOCLEAN is proud to be part of yet another award-winning and architecturally designed building. The invisible photocatalyst coating self-cleans the exterior surfaces of the building and purifies the air providing a sustainable and economical cleaning solution that also reduces air pollution.

The PL-5700 is designed to work effectively with the interior louvre blades to provide unparalleled air intake and water protection performance. This model louvre was specified for the University of Sydney FAAS Building

CollaborationArchitect: Koichi TakadaBuilder: Hutchinson BuildersDeveloper: Crown GroupBriefThe colour-coated precast concrete of this high-end luxury apartment building required a long-lasting, low maintenance, and cost-effective solution to maintain its stunning appearance.Material & ApplicationECOCLEAN Porosity CoatingECOCLEAN Self-Cleaning CoatingOutcomeECOCLEAN is proud to be part of yet another award-winning and architecturally designed building. The invisible photocatalyst coating self-cleans the exterior surfaces of the building and purifies the air providing a sustainable and economical cleaning solution that also reduces air pollution.TestimonialArc represents an architectural statement that combines craftsmanship and texture to create a contemporary tower that respects the rich historical context of its surrounding urban fabric.Koichi Takada 

One of Australia's most iconic hotels is using Dyson technology to elevate well-being, comfort and pleasure. From light levels and air quality to hygiene and cleanliness, the world's best hotels scrutinise every detail to enhance the guest experience.

The six-storey car dealership opens up to the south and city streets with a fully glazed façade construction. In the evening the building reveals itself as a glass shelf. Inside the showroom, the floors are connected to each other by air spaces, creating a mix of visual relationships.

The Uni of Queensland Emmanual College features the following RBA products:The 2011 Brisbane floods initiated the refurbishment of parts of University of Queensland’s Emmanuel College and created an opportunity to upgrade student amenities. The Facilities Managers decided to control water usage by using RBA’s Time-Trol shower controller. At the same time, they chose to replace out-dated twin element ‘boiler’ water heaters with instantaneous gas. The results were astonishing. “The university estimates it is now saving $60-$70K per year in water and energy savings.”The Time-Trol Shower unit allows maintenance staff to nominate run-time and lock-out parameters. These can be selected from, and changed to, any one of 12 options. No special coding required, just the flick of a dial by staff. It was ultimately decided to offer students a 5 minutes shower with a 30 second lockout. According to university staff ‘…the students have adapted to the usage restrictions seamlessly. There hasn’t been a complaint uttered…’

Alspec’s® Hawkesbury Commercial Multi-Fold Doors along with ecoWALL225® Flush Glazed Framing accentuates the key features of the open-air main pavilion which houses reception, plus the bar and dining areas, where subtle creativity pervades in bespoke sculpture and light installations. The featuring colours are those of natural elements and the bright staff are pure Byron in their cheery welcome and smart casual uniforms.

Located in the heart of iconic beachside suburb Bondi, the recently completed Amari Residences has maximised views, natural ventilation and safety by utilising a combination of Alspec’s KidScreen® window products, Air-Flo® frames and Breezway® Louvres. The development’s incorporation of these window solutions ensures best advantage can be taken of the location’s northerly aspects and ocean views for each of the 32 apartments across the building’s 9 levels.

Leading the way for architectural and educational public school design in New Zealand, Hobsonville Point Schools are located on the former Hobsonville Air Base, around 25 kilometres from Auckland. GWA Bathrooms & Kitchens partnered with the New Zealand Ministry of Education and Learning Infrastructure Partners to ensure this innovative education precinct met its key design and sustainability objectives by supplying a range of market-leading, water-efficient bathroom fixtures and fittings.

Designed by Tempus Design Studio, this project was the winner of the BDAQ Regional Design Awards 2019 – New Houses $750,001 – $1,000,000 Construction Cost. Breezway Louvre Windows are incorporated into the bedrooms, kitchen and alfresco area to offer a number of benefits to the homeowners including fresh air and wide open views out onto the natural surroundings. When closed, they offer protection from the elements so outdoor time can be enjoyed without the worry of the weather changing.

This design stemmed from the idea of the ‘Halo Effect’ – ‘a natural phenomenon whereby icebergs act as physical refuge for aquatic organisms while simultaneously releasing nutrients to their surroundings and generating a ‘halo’ of energetic life’. The Halo House is the epitome of an Australian modern family home. Breathe Architecture explained “the building reads like a geological feature in a landscape, continually evolving with the passing of time, weather and seasons”. The design represents a ‘breath of fresh air’, using light and natural materials to create a warm and nurturing home.

The Well is a beautiful sanctuary at Bondi Beach in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs. The Dyson Airblade V hand dryer has been implemented on this project and it dries hands in just 12 seconds. Yet compared to paper towels, it reduces running costs by up to 99% and produces up to 81% less CO2. It's also hygienic: with HEPA filters installed as standard, it captures 99.95% of particles the size of bacteria from air used to dry hands and does away with paper towel mess.

CollaborationArchitects: Johnson Pilton Walker (JPW) and the Government Architect’s Office.Builder: Built.Material & ApplicationFunctional Coatings were applied to precast concrete elements to protect the memorial from carbonation in addition to giving the surface self-cleaning and air-purification propertiesOutcomeA stunningly sustainable multi-award winning project that includes the prestigious Sulman Medal. Our team is so proud to have played a part in the preservation of one of Sydney’s most iconic monuments, a symbol of our history and our future.TestimonialThe Anzac Centenary Project not only realises the vision from our past, it will continue to remind future generations of the contributions made by our servicemen and women.The Right Hon. Clover Moore, Lord Mayor of Sydney

Warwick Hotel Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia, PA, is quite satisfied with the functioning and cost savings of their Boon Edam Tournex revolving door. The Tournex is an example of a classic automatic revolving door and is designed to handle high capacity applications. The historic building housing the Warwick Hotel Rittenhouse Square originally had a manual revolving door flush with the building’s facade. Somewhere along the way, it was decided to remove the relatively smaller gauge revolving door and replace the entrance with a double set of sliding doors. “Our HVAC system was designed for a revolving door entrance,” said Ray Hewitt, the hotel’s Director of Engineering, “we wanted to put a revolving door back in to address the negative pressure we were experiencing in the lobby.” That negative pressure was pulling in cold air during the winter months, and cooled, conditioned air was escaping out the double doors in the summer. During a complete lobby renovation project a few years back, designers worked to return to a revolving door lobby entrance. Because the Warwick is in a historic building, they could not change the facade of the building, so they pushed the entire entrance into the lobby itself. The architects and the designer chose a 12’ diameter Boon Edam Tournex automatic revolving door, with three door wings and a highly polished (mirror) stainless steel finish. The Boon Edam door is enclosed in a stylish glass cube, accented with purple neon lighting. Now, those entering the hotel first pass through a double set of sliding doors at the building envelope, leading to the revolving door. Swing doors are also available on either side of the revolving door to enter the lobby itself. The effect of the sliding doors and the revolving door in a cube is to virtually eliminate air flow from outside in, and vice versa. The Warwick has 301 hotel rooms and 106 permanent residents. On any given day, between guests, residents, staff, and visitors, up to 1000 people are passing through the entrance. Since the installation of the new entrance, the effect has been night and day—guest and visitors utilise the lobby space longer and in greater numbers. A big community table is usually filled all day long and the lobby is accented with attractive fireplaces. The hotel lobby also offers two full service food and beverage outlets (Bluestone Lane & Prime Rib Steakhouse), with a third to be announced sometime this year. In addition to a now grand sense of arrival and more useable, comfortable space, the new entrance is also paying dividends on energy savings. “With the old entrance, our HVAC was running constantly, it could not keep up. Now, the unit can shut down periodically; that’s good for the health of the system, and we’re seeing substantial savings on energy bills,” said Hewitt. The Boon Edam revolving door has an important feature for installations like a hotel or large office building—in the event of an emergency, the doors stop and the wings can be “book folded” to create wide open ingress and egress. The hotel has a maintenance contract with Advanced Door, but since installation the Boon Edam revolving door has been virtually trouble free.

LOCATIONParramatta, NSW – AustraliaCOLLABORATIONArchitect: HassellBuilder: ADCO ConstructionsBRIEFWhite concrete is notorious for staining and soiling during and after construction. There was also a high likelihood of graffiti strike to the car park in the future. The contractor required protection against graffiti and to keep the form liner moulded architectural concrete looking as new.MATERIAL & APPLICATIONECOCLEAN Porosity SealerECOCLEAN Self-Cleaning CoatingApplication during construction to the top edge, exterior, bottom edge, and internal concrete walling by spray.OUTCOMEThe carpark’s coated concrete has the ECOCLEAN benefits of self-cleaning and anti-carbonation whilst purifying the air it comes in contact with. Overall reducing lifecycle costs.We have visited the site since construction in 2018 and confirm that the coating continues to self-clean even under extreme weather conditions and the construction of the Commbank Stadium next door.

LOCATIONPortsea, Victoria – AustraliaCOLLABORATIONArchitect: CarrBuilder: IB ProjectsDeveloper: Portsea Surf Life Saving ClubBRIEFPortsea Surf Life Saving Club was given an $8 million contemporary redevelopment where part of the brief was to protect the glass and external concrete to reduce maintenance costs and dirt build-up.ECOCLEAN were engaged to coat the building’s glass windows (including the observation room) and all external concrete with our protective Self-Cleaning Coating. The coated surfaces will self-clean and look as new with the added benefits of purifying the air the that comes in contact with.MATERIAL & APPLICATIONECOCLEAN Glass TreatmentECOCLEAN Self-Cleaning GlassECOCLEAN Porosity SealerECOCLEAN Self-Cleaning CoatingOUTCOMEThe redevelopment of the surf club not only brings the building into the present but our ecofriendly and sustainable coatings will keep the concrete and glass protected and clean well into the future.

APPLICATION: 30mm Wall PanelsPROJECT LOCATION: Redland Bay QldPROJECT DETAILS: Seeping WallsPROJECT COMPLETION: Jun 2011Atlantis fixing old water seepage problemsA property in Redland Bay Qld was having water seeping through the walls of the lower part of the property, which was below ground level.A trench was excavated to expose the walls which were below ground level, and the walls were allowed to dry out.A waterproof membrane was affixed to the wall and Atlantis® Flo- pipe® geotextile wrapped perforated pipes were clicked together and laid on top of the lower fold of the water proof membrane.A run of Atlantis® Flo-cell® drainage cells was sat on the perforated pipes and taped to the waterproof membrane, to extend along the length of the trench. The run of drainage cells was covered in hydrophilic geotextile and the trench filled in with compacted gravel.The water proof membrane formed a barrier to prevent water from contacting the walls of the property, while the 30mm drainage cell formed an air gap to relieve any hydrostatic pressure on the water proof membrane. Any water entering the drainage cell falls into the perforated pipe where it is taken away. This arrangement has been used, literally, thousands of time to overcome or prevent this seepage problem.

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 first installation in Australasia has been completed of Boon Edam’s Circleslide architectural curved automatic sliding doors that elegantly cater to access for disability needs of modern and traditional buildings. The Circleslide installation for Mark Moran Group at Pacific Highway Warrawee on Sydney’s North Shore provides a prestigious, weather-protected entrance to a development of up-market aged care accommodation built by Next Group for Benson McCormack Architecture.  The door’s practical advantages also apply to a wide range of buildings in Australia and New Zealand, including commercial and public and private facilities, including offices, aged care, health, hospitality, restaurant, retail, tourist and transport facility uses, says Boon Edam Australia Managing Director, Michael Fisher.Circleslide installations consist of two sets of curved sliding doors – one on each of the entrance and exit sides – to provide a larger opening than traditional sliding doors, and retaining the elegant shape of revolving doors. This extra space is a major advantage for people with a disability, or those that require mobility aids. Enhanced accessibility Circleslide curved automatic sliding doors provide spacious and comfortable access for everyone using them including especially people with disability and their carers, and particularly people those with mobility issues who rely on wheelchairs, mobility scooters, wheeled walkers and other mobility devices commonly used in workplaces and public facilities. “Access to public and private facilities is an important and increasing issue for more than five million Australians and New Zealanders living with disabilities. This growing sector of the population includes the higher proportion of older people with limited mobility, including more than 750,000 Australasians who use mobility aids,” says Mr Fisher. “Where building professionals seek to provide for such people but want to retain the prestigious shape and functionality of revolving doors, Circleslide doors are an ideal solution that provides the additional capacity required,” he says. Circleslide doors complement Boon Edam’s global ranges of revolving doors, which is one of the world’s most comprehensive ranges. Their elegant design and access control functionality are preferred by architects, builders and designers for Fortune 500 companies in 27 countries. Customisable features The Circleslide door has an optional “winter mode” whereby only one sliding door opens at a time, which can reduce HVAC losses and contribute to the overall sustainability of the building. Like all Boon Edam revolving doors, Circleslide is available in a wide variety of colours and finishes, so it can be customised to the look and feel of contemporary and period buildings. The self-learning technology incorporated in the curved sliding door mechanism ensures extremely quiet and smooth movement of the doors. Options include: Interlocking modeConnection to external alarm system (e.g. fire alarm, smoke detector)Push-button free outKey impulse switchDirection sensitive motion detectorsGlass protection sheetsFloor matsAuthorised night entry·        Air curtain technology to create a barrier of air flowing from the revolving door’s canopy or sides to further extend revolving doors’ built-in advantage of excluding heat or cold to save HVAC costs through their unique always-open, always-closed configuration.  Night Locking Options include an electromechanical lock that can be unlocked with a key or by means of an optional key impulse switch.

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.

After nearly 100 years of serving the local community, the Petersham RSL club moved to a new home this year, in a redevelopment centred on style and comfort. Part of the design brief for the architects and developers was that the indoor spaces were comfortable for guests, particularly in reception, which can often feel the effects of wind and debris entering through open doors. The developers chose a fully automatic Tourniket revolving door from Boon Edam Australia to make a grand first impression to the classy new club, which was recently opened by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. It is the same type of cost-effective entrance used by leading hospitality venues globally to protect patrons and workers against wind, weather, and pollution, while also controlling traffic flow and opening up new sheltered areas for productive amenities. Petersham RSL CEO, Danny Fitzgerald, said “The Boon Edam revolving door creates an impressive entrance to our modern club, and was the perfect fit for our redevelopment. With this door, Boon Edam met two key specification requirements – enhancing climate control inside the club, and enhancing personal comfort in the reception area.” A welcoming entrance The 3-wing Tourniket revolving door pictured has a height of 2,650mm and diameter of 2,800mm to allow ample room for entry and egress. It has four LED warm white downlights for a pleasant and welcoming experience. A powder coated black grey finish on the exterior of the door allows it to effortlessly blend in with the building’s overall aesthetic and design. Boon Edam Australia Managing Director Michael Fisher says that a major benefit of revolving doors is that they allow visitors and staff alike to enter into a new world inside – one that is calm, quiet, and protected against allergens and climactic extremes. “In addition to customising the door to the club’s aesthetic preferences, we worked closely with Petersham RSL to deliver the doors within a complex installation involving temporary doors while other elements of the façade and reception were completed, prior to the arrival and installation of the revolving door,” he said. Boon Edam Australia is a part of the globally leading revolving door manufacturer, Royal Boon Edam, and the door selected by the Petersham RSL is a type already used by architects, builders and specifiers for Fortune 500 companies globally and for major Australian hotels, clubs, banks, offices, legislatures, and buildings. “The teams worked well together, and the result was an outstanding front façade and entrance, which will have a long-term impact on climate control and comfort,” said Fisher. Always Open, Always Closed A key benefit of revolving door systems in addition to access control is energy conservation, with their “always open, always closed” functionality providing lower HVAC losses while increasing the temperature stability and comfort of people inside. These advantages have been proven in many of the world’s leading clubs, hospitals and hotels, where visitor comfort is paramount. “Think about how much air escapes when a sliding door opens, or how much dust, pollution, or pollen can enter the front reception area. With a revolving door, only one quadrant of air is moving around each time, providing a highly effective method of controlling the indoor climate,” said Fisher. Further economy and versatility are provided where required by night locking entrance options including electromechanical locks that can be unlocked with a key or by means of an optional key impulse switch.  “These climate control features are not always considered at the design stage, so Petersham RSL has shown great foresight by specifying these outcomes early,” added Fisher.

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.

With a glass façade symbolising the transparency of justice and a glossy metal exoskeleton, the new Maison de l’Ordre des Avocats (House of the Paris Bar Association) is a stunning addition to the French capital’s new Batignolles judicial city. For the building owner, safety is a top priority. Therefore, the exoskeleton needed a proven passive fire protection coating that would enable the steel to maintain its load-bearing capacity for up to 60 minutes during a fire, giving those inside valuable extra time to evacuate.The challenge Specialist paint application and surface treatment company ROTH & Cie was contracted to apply the passive fire protection coating system. ROTH & Cie has worked with Hempel for many years and was keen to work with us on this project. However, due to the project schedule, the tubular exoskeleton framework was delivered to the construction site with a competitor’s epoxy primer already applied. ROTH & Cie therefore wanted a Hempel passive fire protection system that would work with the existing primer. Also, as building aesthetics are important in the overall design, the exoskeleton needed a high-quality matt satin finish. The solution Our solution was to specify a system of Hempafire Pro 315 and Hempathane 55750. A single component intumescent coating, Hempafire Pro 315 complies with the EN 13501-2 standard for the fire classification of construction products. It is optimised to provide 60 minutes of passive fire protection, as well as partial protection up to 90 minutes. In addition, thanks to its exceptionally low loadings, Hempafire Pro 315 requires significantly lower dry film thicknesses than competitor products. As a result, ROTH & Cie could apply the coating in a thinner coat, significantly reducing paint consumption, application time and project costs. The full system was completed with Hempathane 55750, a polyurethane topcoat with quick crosslinking properties that provides the matt satin appearance required by the specifications. Our dedicated passive fire protection R&D Centre in Barcelona, Spain verified that Hempafire Pro 315 could be applied on top of the existing primer. The entire system was spray applied using an electric airless pump, which is ideal for construction sites as it does not require an air compressor. The project is just another in a long line of successful collaborations with ROTH & Cie, which also include previous passive fire protection coating projects, most notably La Halle Secrétan covered market and La Samaritaine department store, both in Paris.At a glance Project Name: Maison de l’Ordre des Avocats (House of the Paris Bar Association) Customer: ROTH & Cie System: Hempafire Pro 315 + Hempathane 55750 Volume: 4,080 litres

A significant Melbourne landmark, Victoria’s Shrine of Remembrance has undergone a major redevelopment by local firm ARM Architecture. Completed in late 2014, the redesign accommodates new requirements of the memorial that have evolved in recent years, while respecting the original design by Hudson and Wardrop, thus ensuring the memorial’s use by future generations.  Built between 1928 and 1934 to honour those who served in the First World War, the Shrine was inspired by the tomb of King Mausolus, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. In the late 1990s, the Shrine of Remembrance Trustees embarked on a bold plan for the site. Access to the upper levels of the Shrine was problematic, especially for veteran visitors, and public visitation was increasing as younger generations came to understand the legacy of their forebears. Accordingly, the Shrine’s collections were expanding with donations of artefacts from families and a growing need for education facilities and an improved visitor experience became evident.  In 2001, ARM Architecture were commissioned to develop a master plan to develop the Shrine. Following the original 1920s design, ARM proposed four symmetrical zig-zag shaped courtyards, allowing access to the undercroft spaces under the existing structure which now house gallery areas, an auditorium, dedicated education rooms, an archive and offices. Stage 1 of the project saw the Visitor Centre and two of the courtyards completed on the north side of the structure in 2003. Stage 2 expanded the undercroft with the addition of the Education Centre and Galleries of Remembrance, and the final two courtyards. ARM Design Architect Jeremy Stewart explains “It was important that each of the courtyards had a distinct feel”. The open air Student Entry Courtyard offers a separate entrance to the Shrine for school groups, with a large sculptural poppy, the flower of wartime remembrance, suspended overhead. With the colour red notorious for fading on external structures, Interpon Powder Coatings recommended a system that would be colourfast. In a high traffic space that closes for only two days each year, with the additional solemnity of the memorial environment, choosing a product that would last the distance and require minimal maintenance was essential to this project. Interpon’s D2015 Gold Global Warranty offers the Shrine Trustees this assurance. Working with Locker Group, HDM Metal, an experienced fabricator and Interpon Approved Applicators AAF Vic and Powdercoating Services ACT as exclusive warrantors provided further reassurance of the product quality.  The giant overheard poppy features Interpon D2015 Ultriva™ R15 Crimson Matt YG215A and its support structure Interpon D2015 Ultriva™ Ebony YN201A. On the south west diagonal, the Terrace Courtyard features a lush green referencing South East Asian inspired garden. Amidst the greenery, laser cut aluminium panels coated in Interpon D2015 Ultriva™ R14 Waratah Matt YG222A list the names of Victorian towns, providing a reference point for visitors. The zig-zag shape of the terrace courtyards infer irregular exposure to the sun, further emphasising the need for a product of premium quality. “Interpon are interested in and open to ideas”, says Stewart, making this a win-win collaboration for the architects of this redevelopment of Victoria’s premier place of remembrance.  

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.