When people talk about mining being a risky industry, they can be referring to one of two quite different things. From a business perspective, the decline in mining profits over the past decade has made the financial risks involved in mining seem more significant. But a constant issue in mining is the serious personal risk of accidents and injuries that miners face.
In March next year Melbourne has the honour of hosting the first Australian Smart Skyscrapers Summit. Based on its counterpart in Dubai, the event will be an opportunity for businesses and industry experts to share knowledge and discuss the future of sustainable, green high-rise development.
The traditional idea of skyscraper design is a poor response to Australia’s hot climate.
Australian skyscrapers
Australia has an increasing forest of skyscrapers. According to news.com.au we’ve got over 300 buildings higher than 30 storeys, and another 272 are in the process of being built. But not all of these structures have the best principles of sustainability and environmental awareness in their design. Dr Phillip Oldfield, senior lecturer in architecture at the University of New South Wales, told news.com.au that the traditional idea of what a skyscraper looks like – smooth, symmetrical and covered in reflective glass – is a poor response to Australia’s hot climate, and one that is “environmentally criminal”.
According to Dr. Oldfield, the ideal skyscraper design for Australia is one that has our climate in mind from the initial designs, using shade and judicious use of windows to limit the potential for overheating inside. The fully glass design we imagine when we think of a typical skyscraper relies heavily on air conditioning to keep the interior a comfortable temperature, and this excessive energy use could be reduced through a rethinking of design and materials.
Inspired by the upcoming event in Melbourne, we thought we’d look at some of Locker Group’s architectural products that could be used to create sustainable, architecturally interesting skyscrapers:
1. Curtains
Whether your building is residential or commercial, the people occupying it will want two things: privacy and ventilation. Within a floor of the skyscraper, particularly in a commercial venue, you may want to divide an open plan room into multiple spaces. But adding walls will limit air flow and you’ll need to resort to more artificial air conditioning to keep things comfortable.
Wire mesh curtains provide a way of defining areas of a storey without constricting light or air flow, ensuring a liveable, breathable space that nevertheless offers privacy for the separate occupants.
Australian skyscrapers need to reduce their reliance on air conditioning to become more green.2. Atmosphere
The need for sun protection dominates so much of architectural design here in Australia, and this only becomes more of a focus when your building towers over anything that could hope to provide shade. In this case minimising the light and heat has to be done by the building itself, but so often this seems to come with a compromised visibility.
The need for sun protection dominates architectural design in Australia.
The solution is Locker Group’s Atmosphere facade, a lightweight, easy to install product that protects the interior of the building from the sun’s harsher effects without limiting natural lighting or the views from inside. This not only improves the comfort of the building’s occupants but does so in a way that reduces the need for artificial lighting and temperature control, ensuring your building is as sustainable as possible.
3. Handrails
Finally, the simplest product we can offer for skyscrapers is perhaps the most necessary, even if it does not directly affect the building’s sustainability. A building many storeys tall will offer many opportunities for stunning views, but to enjoy them safely people need to be protected from the risk of falling – a severe enough risk at one or two storeys, let alone fifty. For any viewing platform or rooftop garden, you need railings to make sure you’re not putting anyone at risk.
As technology develops, so does the scope of architectural designers, and the possibilities of high-rise buildings today is far beyond what it was in the past. Locker Group is proud to contribute to the potential of Australian architecture and design. If you’d like to talk about how our architectural products could be incorporated into your next project, please get in touch today.
Locker Group is proud to present our Summit Kit, a simple, out-of-the-box solution that allows your roof access to comply with the Australian walkway standard. Let’s take a look at what this product has to offer and how it can help your business improve its workers’ safety.
Roofs, safety, and regulations
There are many reasons why you’d need to regularly get onto roofs of industrial buildings, including accessing air conditioning units or solar panels, general roof maintenance and cleaning. Getting access to the roof of an industrial building can be a serious safety hazard – one that Mike Back, Locker Group’s National Business Development Manager, says many companies are not aware of.
According to Safe Work Australia, 25 workers had fatal falls from roofs in the period 2003–04 to 2010–11. The Australian standard AS 1657-2013 strongly recommends that external ladders giving roof access lead to a two metre walkway, with handrails, heading away from the edge of the roof. A lot of buildings, particularly older ones, are potentially non-compliant with best practice as described in the standard.
Locker Group provides the solution
The Summit Kit is ideal for retrofit application to make existing buildings compliant.
Solving this problem was our starting point for developing the Summit Kit product. Locker Group wanted to provide a simple, quick solution that would allow businesses to make their roof access safer without unnecessary bother or cost. Mike Back sums it up:
“We’re going to make a complete off-the-shelf kit, so everything you need is in the box, it’s been tested to the standard, and it can be assembled by a competent person. If you’ve got an older building that isn’t compliant, you can easily get one of these kits and it’ll sort out your problem.”
We developed a product to be an immediate, complete solution to the apparent situation. The Summit Kit is an off-the-shelf package, available for a fixed price, that is compatible with a wide range of roof types. It is ideal for retrofit application to make existing buildings compliant.
Our Summit Kit offers an immediate solution to the problem of roof access safety.The Summit Kit offers a faster, more reliable option
While other companies can build something to fit, a bespoke solution has drawbacks. The process of measuring, designing, quoting and finally installing can be long-winded and costly, and other products, despite claiming to solve the issue of compliance, might not necessarily have all the correct testing. Customers can be reassured that the Summit Kit does what it promises – this product has been designed and fully tested specifically to do this job and be compliant with the relevant standard.
Easy on roofs
A consideration for any equipment installed on roofs is its weight. Because the Summit Kit is made out of aluminium it is very light, with a minimum installed weight of just 30 kilograms.
A further unique benefit of the Summit Kit that other products lack is the use of Gripspan walkway planking. Any walkway system you install is going to need some sort of support framework underneath, which adds weight to the overall structure. Because Gripspan only needs supports every two metres, it reduces the weight of the Summit Kit and therefore the stress it puts on your building’s roof.
Gripspan’s design also minimises the contact points with the roof itself. Reducing the need for screws though the roof means fewer compromised points where moisture can get through and potentially cause leaks.
Gripspan planking means the Summit Kit is lightweight and durable.The Summit Kit’s easy installation
The Summit Kit is designed to save you time. Its out-of-the-box setup requires only basic effort for installation. There’s no need for complicated cutting or time-wasting painting. All you have to do is rivet or screw the kit together, meaning it can be assembled and installed within a short amount of time. Its hardy aluminium construction means you won’t need to do a lot of maintenance once it’s installed, and rust isn’t a worry – this is a long-lasting product that you can set up and then get on with your business.
The Summit Kit easily integrates with existing roof walkways and other Lcker Group products to complete your roof safety system. For new buildings, or ones that require a full roof access solution, Locker Group can provide products such as Gripspan that will work in tandem with the Summit Kit to provide safe walkways and access from scratch.
Where the Summit Kit excels, however, is in situations where an existing building has some roof access already, but needs extra safety equipment to make the entry point safer for workers and to bring it up to standard. The Summit Kit provides this in a quick, convenient package.
The Summit Kit contains everything you need, straight off the shelf.The Summit Kit is Locker Group’s newest initiative to supply products that deliver practical safety measures to a range of industries. If you’re concerned about bringing your non-compliant building up to standard for roof access safety, then Locker Group’s Summit Kit is an easy, reliable solution. For any other roof access or industrial building issues, please get in touch today to find out how we can help.
Australian mining is enjoying an increase in job vacancies after a period of decline. This expansion is a good opportunity to take a look at workplace safety in the industry and what Locker Group can do to help.
Mining industry hiring again
Mining job vacancies dropped sharply between 2013 and 2015, but have stabilised and are now increasing, Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) economists report.
According to CBA. the steepest increase is seen in the coal mining sector and is happening more for temporary positions than permanent ones, which have stayed fairly stable. The possibility that the upswing will extend to permanent positions depends on economic factors.
The coal sector is leading the increase in mining job vacancies.A starting point for renewed attention on safety
The employment growth that comes from these vacancies may involve new workers to the industry, or a higher rate of employment for already experienced miners. In either case, this upturn is a good opportunity for a reassessment of workplace safety in the mining industry. Safe Work Australia says a sensible time for health and safety training is when people change jobs or employers take on new workers. A shift in the workforce may bring in new people unfamiliar with mining safety practices, and experienced workers can benefit from being reminded that safety is a priority.
Mining site safety is a combination of sensible practices and the right safety equipment.
The risks of mining
There were 17 deaths on Australian mining sites in the 2013-14 year. That number has dropped in the past two years, but according to Safe Work Australia there were were still 10 mining deaths recorded in 2015.
Strategies such as Australia’s National Safe Work Month or the push by US Department of Health and Human Services to improve miners’ training are positive steps to reducing these figures. But beyond ensuring your workers’ understanding of mine safety is up -to-date, it could pay to use this as an impetus to look at safety equipment as well. The actions of your workers will impact on their safety, but the setup of the mine itself, and the safety equipment you put in place, will also determine how well you protect your workers’ welfare.
Locker Group safety products help you protect your workers
Mining site safety is a combination of sensible practices and the right safety equipment. Locker Group provides a range of products including gratings, walkways and handrails to ensure your workers have the safest conditions possible.
Safety is important to us, and now is a good time to make sure it’s a priority for your workplace too. For more information about the products we offer, please get in touch today.
Did you ever wonder what exactly it is that make airports all have that same quiet, bright, modern and clean feel? Perforated metal ceilings are one of the main architectural elements that you’ll find in almost every international airport. The advantages of using perforated metal are both functional and aesthetic: The metal creates a striking visual display for travellers as well as creating pleasing acoustics and a clean environment.
Discover the functional advantages of perforated metal – cleanliness and sound absorption – and how the material can be made aesthetically pleasing.
Sound absorption
Have you noticed how strangely quiet airports can be and how sound seems to serenely echo throughout the open space? The Industrial Perforators Association (IPA) explains that one of perforated metal’s most important benefits is sound absorption. Any business looking to create a pleasant atmosphere without too many voices overlapping should consider perforated metal.
One of perforated metal’s most important benefits is sound absorption.
The material is designed to either absorb sound or scatter it. The IPA explains that perforated metal can remove or reduce sound by “tuning” the perforated sheet, in a sense.
It can be tuned by controlling the thickness of the perforated sheet and the size and number of holes in it. The holes make the sheet more “transparent” so that sound can easily pass through the material. Perforated metal can thus be customised to fit the amount that an airport, or any business, wants to control sound by controlling the number of holes and the thickness of the sheet.
Aesthetics
In addition to being an effective barrier for sound, perforated metal is also aesthetically pleasing and versatile. At Locker Group, we know that designers frequently feel too restricted in the design they can create because of the material they’re working with. But there are less limitations when it comes to perforated metal.
The IPA further explains that a company will be able to personalise the look of perforated metal because it’s capable of being manipulated into complex and curved sheets. Perforated metal brings a lot of product versatility, giving a business the capability to personalise its architectural products.
Also, spaces like airports often require divides between the many different terminals and airlines. So, perforated metal provides an attractively designed divide to an area, too.
Furthermore, perforated metal can make it so airports are flooded with beautiful sunlight but still able to provide shade. The sheets effectively screen light while also allowing some of it to enter. The entrance of light provides a sense of warmth while also practically shielding travellers from the glare of the sun.
Cleanliness
Lastly, perforated metal is unique in providing more sanitary condition, which is particularly important for airports, known germ factories.
Perforated metal is exceptionally clean because of the smooth surface.
Auckland, New Zealand is an example of a world-class airport utilising perforated metal for this very reason. With an exceptionally smooth surface, the material doesn’t trap microbes or bacteria as easily as its rougher counterparts. This can contribute to higher air quality, not to mention the fact that it’s easier to clean for maintenance staff. Considering over 8 million people pass through Auckland Airport annually, minimising the chances of germ exposure for travellers is essential – and perforated metal helps this cause.
Locker Group has experts in perforated metal who can help you customise the material for your company’s specific needs. You’ll glean the functional benefits of perforated metal as well as create striking and unique architectural designs.
The various outcomes of perforating metal are an important aspect of what we produce here at Locker Group, and an area in which we have a lot of experience. We thought it was worth taking a closer look at what it is, how it works and what we can do with this lightweight, versatile product.
The perforation process: What happens?
As Mert Tavsanli, Locker Group’s Perforation Manager, describes it, perforation is done with hydraulic machines that “basically consist of a punch and a die.” The punch penetrates the material, pushes out the slug (the excess metal) through the die, and creates a hole.
Mass perforation machines can punch up and down anywhere from 120 hits per minute up to 500 hits per minute, making two to four rows of perforations with every hit, thus creating hundreds of thousands of holes in minutes. These are not used for every project, however; a lot of architectural products will be manufactured using a linear punch press. The pattern can be made using standard dies, or customised tools if the project demands.
Although the bulk of the perforation we do at Locker Group is to aluminium and steel, the process can be applied to other metals such as brass or copper, and also non-metal products like MDF, plywood, plastics like polyethylene and polypropylene, and polycarbonate materials.
“Effectively we can punch any malleable material” says Mert.
Pic-Perf is an aesthetic application of the perforation process.Pic-Perf – an aesthetic evolution
We’ve adapted the perforation process to create our Pic-Perf product, which uses varying sized holes to recreate a figurative or abstract image in a perforated sheet. According to Mert, the difference between Pic-Perf and regular perforation isn’t so much about the punching technique as the preparation and digital file creation leading up to it. A customer will supply an image which is translated into a digital file suitable for the perforation process. This file is fed into the programming software and the image is applied to the metal in the same way as regular perforations.
What happens to the holes
What happens to the metal that’s punched out of the sheet?
“It’s all recycled,” says Mert. “It goes to a foundry where it’s melted down and reused. A lot of it used to be recycled into car parts for the automotive industry, but now that’s gone they’re finding other homes for it.”
The benefits of perforation
The strength of perforated metal comes from its versatility and customisability. While there are plenty of pre-defined die shapes, a unique die shape is also a possibility.
“If you can draw it, you can make the hole just about whatever shape you like,” says Mert.
Perforated metal often fills a dual role: not only is it an aesthetic device, it is also functional.
Once the perforation is done the sheets themselves offer a range of applications. You can leave a border or a solid edge around the perforations, which makes it easier to work with and easier to fix to a structure. Unlike some other screening materials, perforated metal doesn’t need to be put into a frame, making it more cost effective.
Curving and folding the sheets can create interesting visual devices, and it also has the structural benefit of adding rigidity, which means fewer supports are necessary.
Around 95 per cent of Locker Group’s work for architectural applications is aluminium panels, which are light and pliable. “It has great anti-corrosion characteristics so it lasts for a long long time,” Mert says. “You could put perforated aluminium into an area with a design life of 50 years plus, easily.”
The lightweight nature of aluminium also has the benefit of reducing the load put on a building by the sheets and their supports.
MCG Sports Bar – Lockergroup Pic Perf #MCG #architecture pic.twitter.com/d5cc9HKpkU
— Locker Group (@LockergroupANZ) June 10, 2014
The uses of perforated metal – where does it end up?
Perforated metal has a huge range of uses, which can broadly be separated into industrial and architectural applications.
Some of its industrial uses include watering the pulp in paper mills, crushing and squeezing sugar cane, shielding electrical devices to reduce EMI/RFI radiation and as speaker grills or lining on transmissions in motor vehicles.
In architectural projects our perforated metal sheets have been used for ceiling tiles, balustrades, privacy screens, partitions, infill panels on bridges, sunscreens, decorative screens and facades. Perforated metal often fills a dual role: not only is it an aesthetic device, it is also one that has a functional purpose – usually reducing sunlight or moderating sound in a space.
Atmosphere – sustainable sun protection
Our Atmosphere facade is made of perforated sheets supported on stainless steel cables. The facade is held out from the building’s surface where it can limit the effects of direct sunlight without interrupting visibility from within. The aluminium sheets are folded in one of our standard configurations designed to optimise sustainability, visibility or ventilation. These configurations can also be customised to suit individual projects.
Perforation is a widely applicable process, and the results can have any number of uses. We’re proud that our product is used in such a varied and exciting range of projects. But perforation isn’t all we do at Locker Group. To talk about the products we supply and how they could help your project or business, please get in touch today.
Safety is a huge issue for the mining industry, but what about for the rest of us? You’d think that the dangers of mining wouldn’t effect those who don’t venture out to mines, but what about when mining comes to you?
You never know what instability lurks in the ground beneath you.
Take the example of Lynnette and Ray McKay from Ipswich, Queensland, whose back yard fell into a 15-metre-wide sinkhole when an old mine shaft collapsed underneath it in August. And in 2014 a similar-sized hole, also thought to be caused by an abandoned mine shaft, opened up underneath a house in Swansea Heads, New South Wales.
Sinkholes happen naturally when caves form, usually in limestone, close to the ground’s surface. When the roof of the cave becomes too thin it collapses, suddenly creating an unexpected and often sizeable pit. But this process can also happen artificially, when an underground mine collapses in a similar fashion.
The risk of this happening to you will of course depend on the mining history of your area, but you never know what instability might be lurking in the ground beneath you. If a collapse does happen at your home your first priority should be safety (and then maybe a call to the insurance company once you’ve got over the shock of your new situation). Here are some immediate ways to regain a level of safety if the ground gives way underneath you:
Handrails
The Building Code of Australia requires a handrail on decks a metre or more above the ground. An unintended pit could cause a much higher fall than that, so handrails are an obvious safety feature to stop anyone plummeting in as they admire your new garden feature. Locker Group handrails can be set up in a range of custom configurations to suit even the most irregularly-shaped hole.
Mining safety isn’t usually an issue in the suburbs, but the unexpected can happen.Platforms and walkways
When inspecting the damage or checking details for the insurance forms, you’re going to need somewhere to stand. Unfortunately your lawn or patio are no longer to be trusted, and so some sturdy walkways or platforms will be necessary. A good product for this is Gridwalk, a versatile industrial flooring that can be customised to any shape, and either welded to a structure or easily attached with removable clips.
Given that your new garden structures need to be used not only by mining experts but also by inexperienced laypeople, you may want to ensure a more secure footing. In this case an anti-slip flooring like Safe-T-Perf is the solution. Its perforated surface has 360-degree skid resistance for people walking in any direction. Safe-T-Perf is also available as preformed stair treads which are ideal for quick, easy installation.
Fencing
You weren’t expecting to own a pit, but your in-laws will expect it even less when they pop over for a visit.
To ensure safety you’ve got to keep people out of your new mine. You weren’t expecting this situation, but your in-laws will be expecting it even less when they pop over for a surprise visit. Make sure any steep drops or unstable ground are adequately fenced off to keep people out who aren’t prepared to be there. Our woven wire mesh offers plenty of fencing options, or our expanded security mesh provides a more dissuasive option if your in-laws don’t take a hint well.
The best solution to a dangerous situation is to avoid that situation altogether. Do your research when buying a home (although with that said, the Ipswich hole was caused by a shaft that hadn’t been recorded properly), and don’t go mining unless you’re a miner. But if you are a miner, or if unforeseen circumstances mean you have some sudden work to do, please get in touch today.
Wire mesh has many uses and a range of architectural applications, both structural and aesthetic. But aside from the usual applications on buildings and public features, today we thought we’d look at a few fun, unconventional projects that could be achieved with our woven wire products.
1 Mazes
We have some great mazes open to the public in Australia: Last year the Tangled Maze in Springmount, Victoria made it onto the Telegraph’s international list of top ten mazes.
There are a number of materials a maze could be built of, but woven wire’s variable opacities offer a unique twist. Building a maze out of solid barriers that offer glimpses of where you want to go, or where other maze-runners have found themselves, adds a fun dimension to the experience.
Woven wire’s variable opacities offer a unique twist on a traditional maze.2 Fashionably dressed statues
James Cook in Sydney’s Hyde Park, the bronze Queen Victoria in front of the Queen Victoria building, even the Big Merino in New South Wales – these statues are all great sightseeing attractions, but they’ve been there, relatively unchanged, for a long time.
Perhaps there is an opportunity for a tourism boost if these spectacular characters became a little more of a spectacle. Maybe a new outfit?
James could have a grand new coat, the sheep could have a jaunty hat, Victoria could have a full suit of armour. With woven wire’s range of finishes and configurations there are so many options for customisable outfits that could be attached to the statues and swapped out regularly. And with wire’s light weight these fun additions could be made without putting undue stress on the valuable statues underneath.
3 Unique playgrounds
This is actually something that’s already been done, and we’re proud to say Locker Group had a part in making it happen.
Frew Park in Brisbane contains a playground constructed in part from a stainless steel wire mesh. The architect Guymer Bailey worked closely with us to achieve his vision of an industrial-styled playground for Brisbane City Council. The project called for a material that would give the playground the feel of a tiny abandoned city while still meeting the requirements for safety and visibility. Our Boston 311 woven wire profile fit the bill nicely. This year, the Frew Park playground made the short list for Australia’s Best Playground.
Woven wire is a customisable product with huge potential; these are just a few ideas for how it could be used outside of traditional architectural uses. If you’d like to have a go at any of these projects, or have some creative ideas of your own that we could help you realise, please get in touch today.
Project Name: |
QE11 Car Park |
Location: |
Perth, W.A |
Architect: |
Designinc (Perth) |
Application: |
Facade |
Specification: |
Dragon Scale |
Photography: |
Rob Burnett |
The QE11 Medical Centre car park, located opposite Kings Park in Perth had strict design considerations given its prominent location. The aesthetics were a major design consideration, the intent was to provide inhabitants with privacy, while ensuring car headlights didn’t disturb local residents or effect the ambiance of Kings Park.
The facade cladding had to meet the BCA requirements of >50% open area, however the designers wanted to achieve a unique design that would meet both the aesthetic and functional considerations.
The architect envisaged a ‘scale’ concept where each individual scale would face up, re-directing internal light into the night sky, while the panels would also be open enough to provide high air flow; reducing the requirement for mechanical extraction equipment.
Locker Group’s engineering department worked closely with the architect, in order to understand the design vision and create the tooling that would allow Locker Group to work within the confines of the material and manufacturing equipment, in order to produce the panels locally.
In a first for Locker Group, the DragonscaleTM pattern is a true 3 dimensional profile, where the scales are formed individually out of the aluminium sheet. The hardness of the Aluminium presented a number of challenges, with profiles and samples travelling back and forth, across the country, before the team was able to achieve the anticipated profile shape & depth, without any cracking or tearing.
Dragonscale panels are installed on the car park ‘slab to slab’ therefore requiring no intermediate supports. The simple folded panels were just lifted onto the brackets and fixed to each slab; saving the installation team time and money.
The panel design, the spacing from the building face and internal guttering catches rainwater, and prevents it from entering the car park.
The bright Duratec colour scheme reflects the transition from dusk to nightfall and was designed to emulate an occupied building.
Project Name: |
Perth Arena |
Location: |
Perth, W.A |
Architect: |
ARM Architecture & Cameron Chisholm Nicol |
Application: |
Feature Wall / Security Fence |
Specification: |
Pic Perf ™ |
Photography: |
Rob Burnett |
The design and construction of the Perth Arena is a striking architectural statement, and is likely to inspire redevelopment in the surrounding section of the CBD. Perth Arena now offers a premier venue to accommodate up to 15,500 patrons.
A joint venture between ARM Architecture and Cameron Chisolm Nicol, Locker Group worked closely with the design team in order to understand their vision for a striking, dramatic interior. The interior of the facility includes four freestanding bars, five function areas and seven concessions. The different areas of the interior express individual colours and textures. Locker Group produced the internal feature wall, which provides the first impression to patrons as they come in the main entrance. The feature wall was intended to have a textural appearance that represented a quilted finish.
In addition, Locker Group was involved in specification of the anti-climb security fence, which was to envelope the goods area. The security fence covers approx 1000 m2 of both perforated and plain, unperforated panels.
The internal feature wall incorporated Pic Perf™, not as a traditional photo image or logo, but as a textural element. The perforations were designed to replicate the voluptuous image of warm quilt, and the black anodised aluminium contrasts beautifully with the warm timber panelling.
Locker Group kept in close contact with the installation team, Denmac, as each perforated panel, was a discreet shape, not a rectangle among them. Each panel was either raked or angled, and Locker group supplied every one fully finished and ready for installation.
The new Perth Arena is a spectacular and daring architectural achievement; recognised as one of 7 shortlisted projects in the 2013 World Architecture Festival awards. The West Australian Premier, Colin Barnett noted “This is an iconic venue for Perth… the Arena is a work of art.”
Locker Group is immensely proud to be associated with such a significant moment in Perth’s evolving architectural landscape.
The feature wall in the main concourse provides a visual drawcard and provides its desired texture and contrast. The external security fence surrounding the goods despatch area is further insight in to the design brief and architectural language of this imposing new structure.
Project Name: |
Latrobe Uni Dining Hall |
Location: |
Bendigo, VIC |
Architect: |
Billard Leece Partnership |
Application: |
Facade / Balustrade |
Specification: |
3mm Aluminium perforated panels 12.7mm dia holes |
Photography: |
Rob Burnett |
Download the PDF |
Click here 2.6 MB |
The architectural team at Billard Leece had a vision for a clean and sophisticated metal finish product that would provide opposing textural elements to the Dining Hall of the Latrobe University Bendigo campus. The intent was to utilize one finish across a number of different planes to provide a seamless and sharp finish across the project.
Perforated metal was chosen as the ideal substrate to provide shade and allow natural light to flow through.
The angle and shape of the façade that surrounds two faces of the dining hall, provided a challenge for both Locker Group and the fabricator. As opposed to a traditional face fixing method, the team developed a system where cleats were used to mount the perforated panels to the supporting RHS structure.
Despite the sharp folds and angles, the finish aimed to appear smooth and clean, so each perforated panel was individually folded to fit cleanly with the supports behind it. Given the geometric nature of the design, hardly any panels incorporated a 90 degree angle. Each façade had to be matched and measured specifically, so the connecting point of folded boarder met seamlessly with the cleats.
Perforated metal panels were also utilized to cover the external walkway enveloping the dining hall, these were face fixed at a distance to the right angled sheet structure, providing an industrial feel.
The sleek appearance of the perforated balustrade, façade and external ceiling panels provides a chic industrial appeal to the regional campus.
The balustrade provides protection for alfresco dining, students can eat and study while protected from harsh glare.. The façade protects internal diners from the heat during summer, but allows a warm winter sun to infuse the space during the cold winter months.
Perforated panels installed horizontally around the building provide shading protection for students and staff.
Project Name: |
Agilent Technologies |
Location: |
Melbourne, VIC |
Architect: |
SKM |
Application: |
Facade |
Specification: |
Expanded 125A Installed with tensioned Stainless Steel Cables |
Photography: |
Brent Robinson, Joe Berkelmans |
SKM Architects were commissioned by Agilent Technologies to design a purpose built research and development facility, as an extension to their Head Office in Melbourne’s South East.
The vision for the facade was to create a light veil that would encapsulate the building perimeter, and provide sun shading characteristics.
Locker Group worked closely with both the Architectural team, and two engineering teams; Bonacci & Tensys, in order to develop the concept to completion. The first challenge was a feasibility study for the cable placement to balance the requirements of aesthetics and engineering.
The mesh profile was specifically developed for the project; modelled on an existing profile; the resulting Sun 125A profile met the Architect’s intent. Locker Group designed a new fixing method, in order to attach the expanded metal to the Stainless Steel cables.
Mechanical testing for all of the components and connections was conducted, along with detailed engineering analysis, to ensure the facade would meet the design criteria and intent,and withstand any wind loads; especially as the facade returns on several elevations.
Locker Group installed the Stainless Steel cables and then provided assistance in the installation of the mesh. Detailed preparation and planning ensured the installation was fast and efficient, even though installing the mesh required a detailed touch. The intricate nature of the facade meant that the stag ends on each piece of expanded mesh needed to align to the next sheet.
This required higher than usual manufacturing tolerances, which Locker Group was able to provide Both client and architect are happy with the end result; which looks spectacular day or night. At night the facade is backlit by LED’s at each level, providing a bright hi-tech vision for passing traffic.