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Brisbane's diverse range of bikeways makes exploring the city on two wheels a firm favourite for locals and tourists alike.

As such, when Locker was asked to provide products and expertise for the Juliette St. Bridge Cycleway Overpass, we were thrilled to be part of the team working towards revamping sections of the iconic route.

In this case study, we'll explore how the project unfolded from brief to finished build, what products were selected and why, and how Locker worked with its partners to achieve the end result.

The Juliette St. Bridge Cycleway Overpass is situated along one of Brisbane's popular cycle routes.

The brief

The Queensland Government were working with multiple parties to upgrade Brisbane's cycle network to ensure it was safe, appealing and functional for future generations. The Juliette St. Bridge Cycleway Overpass was one among many of the bridges that had been selected for renovation.

Each bridge along the course offers a different aesthetic to the cyclists that use them, so the emphasis here was on creating a unique yet functional overpass that would draw the eye but also stand the test of time.

The project managers contacted Locker because they were seeking a high quality woven wire that had a long life span as well as strong visual credentials. To fulfill this criteria, our team took one of our standard offerings in this space and customised it to perfectly meet these requirements.

The product 

The product selected for the Juliette St. Bridge Cycleway Overpass was our 3.15 mm inter-crimped woven wire, featuring a 22.4 mm aperture.

Woven wire is one of our favourite products to work with, and we have a reputation for creating meshes that are lightweight, easy to transport and quick to install. From an architectural standpoint, it provides a delicate texture that's as at home on a building facade as it is on more idiosyncratic projects like the Brisbane bikeway. Among its many potential functions are sun screening, dividing up spaces and as a safety screen enclosure.

Wherever possible, we try to produce at our plant locally, and in the case of the Juliette St. Bridge Cycleway Overpass, due to the project's timeline constraints and the quantity of woven wire required, the Locker products used were made both locally in the Brisbane and in New Zealand production facilities to ensure product was delivered to meet the project's tight schedule.

On top of the wire's innate characteristics, two important features made it perfect for the cycleway application:

1. Being inter-crimped: Inter-crimping uses additional crimps between the intersections of the two woven wire strands leading to increased locking tightness and rigidity.
2. Pre galvanisation: To give it the strength and lifespan demanded in the project specification, the steel wire was pre-galvanised to a coating of up to 240 microns. This is a huge increase on the normal 40 micron coating this product has when bought off the shelf.

With these factors taken into account, despite its exposed location, this product would have a lifespan of at least 25 years, a great return on investment for a woven wire that meant it met the requirements of the brief.

The woven wire mesh chosen for this project has a long lifespan thanks to inter-crimping and pre-galvanisation.

The challenges

To help the bridge make a unique aesthetic statement and stand out from the other overpasses along the bike track, the structural engineers employed by the Queensland Government had decided to run the mesh panels on an angle from the overpass itself. 

While such an innovative approach certainly achieved the desired visual effect, producing and installing products for use on an angle created challenges for our team and for Belconnen Steel, our fabrication partners for this build. 

Getting around this involved frequent and clear communication between Locker and Belconnen to ensure that the wire, and the frames that would contain it, were produced to the correct tolerances for the application. As well as ensuring that Belconnen knew the cutting tolerances of our wire in order to produce frames to match, we also left a little extra on the wire lengths which allowed them to trim it back to the exact dimensions of their frames, meaning there was never a danger of the wire being too short.

The result

As a finished build, the Juliette St. Bridge Cycleway Overpass stands out even among the eclectic and exciting variety of bridges that make up Brisbane's bikepath. The woven wire mesh enables cyclists travelling along this stretch of the route to look out at the city around them, while providing an important safety barrier as the track crosses the road beneath. What's more, thanks to the customisation from Locker's team, the products installed will be there for years to come.

To find out more about how Locker can help you achieve your goals on your next architectural or industrial project, get in touch with our team today.

At Locker, we've always been about two things – great products, and a willingness to work closely with architects to help them achieve the results they want.

We love it when respected designers reach out to us because they're keen to work with us on their next design, but just because a specific product looks great in theory, doesn't mean it's always the right one to go with.

In late 2018, this is exactly what happened when Locker teamed up with Architectus to create the eye-catching facade for Brisbane's Services Union building. This case study will show how a seemingly simple project can throw up some unexpected challenges, and how our experts worked with both the architect and fabricator to find the perfect solution.

Locker's perforated panels are easy to install and present strong visuals.

1. The brief

Architectus initially contacted our Brisbane team to integrate our Atmosphere system into the frontage for the Services Union.

Atmosphere is a system consisting of horizontal folded panels installed on an 8 mm stainless steel cable support system. In addition to the powerful aesthetic properties this product possesses, as a perforated panel it's ideal for keeping buildings cool. This objective was particularly key in this build due to the structure's West facing aspect, which means that it bears the brunt of the afternoon sun. In the long-term, perforated facades will mean reduced costs for the building operators with regards to heating and cooling systems, as well as a greener build that uses less electricity.

However, there was a problem. The architect wanted to run the folded panels vertically on the facade, something that cannot be achieved with the horizontal Atmosphere system. So, it was time for our team to put their heads together, and come up with an alternative …

2. The product

While Atmosphere itself was out of the question for this application, it was this product that had caught the architect's eye in the first place. Therefore, the solution we devised incorporated some of the key features of Atmosphere, but with the specifics of the Services Union project in mind, the panels needed to be installed on a more traditional fixing system.  

The key aspects of this custom product were:

• Texture and depth – To provide the facade with a light and airy feel.
• Visibility – Allowing the building's occupants to see outside.
• Ventilation – To keep the structure's cooling costs down.

The product we eventually created featured a similar folding pattern to Atmosphere and gives the build a unique frontage. A total of 63 of these custom panels of varying sizes were used in the final facade. To achieve the product's ventilation objectives, 9.53 mm perforations were selected, resulting in panels that were 40% open and 60% solid. As well as sun shading, this product is great at allowing the circulation of natural light, and acting as a protective layer to shield the building from the weather.

3. The challenges

The vertical installation of the system was the biggest challenge facing all parties involved with the facade build.

Initially, one of the architect's fold details was designed in such a way that would have made it impossible for the fabricators (ATB Metal Fab) to fix the panels to the structure. Locker worked closely with ATB Metal Fab to devise a solution that involved reversing the fold while still retaining the original look the architect desired. Architectus was also heavily involved in these discussions, and this three-way communication was vital in getting the perfect product to site for installation.

Locker worked closely with the architect and fabricator to provide a facade solution that met the project brief.

4. The result

Looking at the Services Union building today, you would have no idea there was ever any degree of complexity in the design and installation. The differently sized perforated panels work seamlessly together to create a facade that's both head-turning and highly practical.

Both Architectus and ATB Metal Fab have expressed their pride in the finished facade, and the building certainly adds an exciting new dynamic to Brisbane's Peel Street. For Locker, the experience of taking on a highly nuanced project is not only rewarding when it comes to fruition, but is also a valuable learning experience for our team. Challenges such as this allow us to continue discovering ways of using existing products in new and innovative applications.

For more information on our products, or to enquire about working with Locker on an upcoming architectural or industrial project, get in touch with our team today, or check out our other case studies.

When it comes to impressions, there's nothing more important than a building's facade.

These frontages often perform multiple functions, and are made up of a number of features. Today, we're going to be exploring just one – cladding. We'll look at what cladding is, how it can be used and an example of this product in action.

Cladding can come in different materials, and performs a variety of functions.

What is cladding?

Think of cladding as a building's second skin. Fundamentally, it's a layer on top of exposed parts of a building (walls and roofs) that helps protect them against the elements.

Crucially, it is non-loadbearing, meaning that it doesn't support other parts of a facade, but rather exists to perform its own unique purposes. We'll explore these purposes in more detail later, but they can range from purely aesthetic to highly functional.

What's cladding made of?

It's important to realise that cladding isn't a set product. You can buy cladding in all shapes and sizes, and made from a variety of different materials. Among the most common are:

• Metal (especially lightweight element such as aluminium). 
• Wood
• Vinyl
• Brick
• Composite materials such as recycled polystyrene or certain blends of cement. 

Your choices here will be largely dictated by both the look you want, and the job you want the cladding to carry out: for example, brick is great as a fire retardant.

How is cladding installed?

In this article we're focussing on external cladding, though it's good to know that these materials can also be applied to the insides of your builds. Depending on the cladding product you choose, there are different facade installation methods. 

In the past, when Locker has produced aluminium cladding for commercial car parks, we've used a slab to slab technique. This works well because it eliminates the requirement for intermediate support for the cladding itself. Instead, we can simply lift cladding panels onto brackets that are fitted to the slab. We've found this to be both time and cost effective for our architectural clients!

Architects use cladding to improve the look or operation of their facades.

What are the uses of cladding?

1. Decoration

With such a variety of material to choose from, architects can use cladding to create interesting and unique effects on their facades, helping the building to stand out from the crowd. While you need to ensure that your aesthetic choices won't adversely impact the facade's practical performance, by experimenting with cladding you can add different colours or textures.

For example, a stainless steel cladding will give a structure a modern and polished look, while stone can give a more natural appeal or help a build blend in with its surroundings.

2. Insulation 

Environmental considerations have never been so important in Australian architecture. And, with more businesses and consumers switching on to the threat of climate change, the demand for green builds is only going to increase in years to come.

One of the best ways you can help your future projects stand up to this scrutiny, is to improve insulation. Properly insulated buildings are better at maintaining comfortable internal temperatures, meaning HVAC systems have to do less work, and therefore use less energy. 

By adding an extra layer to the outside of walls, cladding can help reduce airflow in and out of buildings. In summer, this reduces heat loading into a building, and in winter it allows your building to trap warm air and prevent it from escaping.

Cladding can help to insulate a building, improving its energy efficiency.

3. Fire resistance

Depending on chosen material, cladding can be important in protecting your building from the risk of fire. 

There's no innovative science behind this, you just need to select cladding fabricated from substance that doesn't combust easily. As your cladding sits over the building structure, if flames encounter a non-flammable substance first, it's going to take them longer to spread. 

From best to worst, here are the fire resistance rankings for some common cladding materials:

1. Brick – Excellent fire resistance.
2. Steel or cement planks/weatherboards – High fire resistance.
3. Aluminium and reconstituted timber products – Good fire resistance.
4. Timber weatherboard or plywood sheets – Poor fire resistance.

Following tragedies such as the Grenfell Tower fire in London, and near misses like Melbourne's Lacrosse Tower fire, it's important that architects keep on eye on changing regulations with regards to fire resistance and building cladding. The UK government has decided to replace combustible cladding on privately owned apartment blocks, and it's likely that Australian lawmakers will follow suit, according to the Australian Financial Review – so be sure to look for updates when planning your next project.

4. Weather protection 

The presence of an additional layer on top of a building can also help the structure resist weathering from wind and rain. This is is especially true if you select a corrosion resistant material such as aluminium. 

This metal naturally forms an oxide blanket when it reacts with the air, meaning that the element itself has a barrier to rust. While the cladding will need to be maintained, and occasionally replaced, this is much cheaper and less time consuming than conducting wholesale repairs to the building itself.

Metals such as aluminium and stainless steel are highly resistant to corrosion.

Cladding: A case study

Locker was called upon to provide cladding for the QE11 Medical Centre car park in Perth. This project had a number of nuances, which made it a unique challenge for our team:

1. The cladding had to meet BCA requirements of a 50% open area, but the designers wanted to ensure local residents weren't disturbed by car headlights.
2. The architect, Designinc, envisioned a scaled effect for the facade whereby each scale would face upwards, and redirect light to the sky.

To meet these requirements, Locker created a tailor-made product – Dragonscale™. This sheet has a 3D profile and retains its strength despite changes in shape and depth. This product was then fitted to the carpark facade using our slab to slab method, and provided the perfect solution to Designinc's needs.

If you want to find out more about what type of cladding is most suitable for your next project, or are seeking a customised product for your facade, the team at Locker is here to help.

Whether for functional or aesthetic reasons, dividing spaces is one of the most important considerations an architect has.

The right products used in the right environment can provide a room with the perfect sense of balance, and allow it to fulfill its desired purpose.

While you have many options when it comes to creating spacial divisions, in this article we're going to focus on one material in particular – metal.

We'll look at three different metal products and what makes them good for delineating different zones in one room.

Delineating zones within a build is a key consideration for architects.

Metal mesh curtains

At Locker Group, we tailor-make our metal curtains from interconnected, uniquely shaped metal threads. You can then customise the materials and profiles to fit the desired environment of your project space.

The advantages that metal curtains offer as architectural room dividers are:

• They're easily retractable: Mesh curtains can be installed on tracks, allowing them to be pulled out or stored away as required. This gives you options with your space – opening it up for grander events, or shutting it off to create smaller, more intimate zones.
• They allow for air circulation: Air can pass easily through wire mesh curtains, so if they are installed permanently in a room, you don't need to worry about it becoming hot or stuffy.
• They add a touch of sophistication: The sheen of stainless steel mesh curtains can add a real touch of class to a room, effortlessly combining aesthetics and function.
• They bring texture too: Different profiles will create a variety of textures in an interior. You can also use them to create 3-D structures.
• They don't block the light: Mesh curtains are the best of both worlds in that they provide privacy while still allowing ample light into a room.

With the ability to choose between stainless steel, bronze and aluminium wire mesh curtains, Locker Group has products to suit the style of any architectural project.

Locker Group's metal mesh curtains can be customised to perfectly fit your project.

2. Perforated metal screens

If you're looking for something a little more substantial, a perforated metal screen could be the divider for you.

While often seen on building facades, perforated metal is perfect for use inside too. Again, the customisable nature of this product is among the top reasons for its consistent popularity with architects across Australia. Locker Group's production capabilities give you the power to make decisions on perforation size, shape and pattern. We can also create notches, folds and borders in bespoke metal sheets to meet your exact needs. Furthermore, our Pic Perf technology enables architects to create precise imagery using the perforations, creating a truly unique interior screen. 

On top of this, perforated metal is an especially environmentally friendly product. It offers similar benefits to metal mesh curtains in terms of light and air filtration, reducing the need for HVAC systems and additional electrical lighting in a space. In our manufacturing process, none of the metal punched out to make the perforations is wasted – the leftovers are collected and recycled. 

With a wide selection of metal substrates to choose from, you can create a screen that can perform any task or suit any background decor.

Locker Group can manufacture perforated metal for all types of projects.

3. Expanded metal mesh

Expanded metal mesh is another product that lends itself well to space division applications.

Among the properties it brings to the table are:

• Strength – The finished expanded metal product is stronger per metre than the sheet from which it originated.
• Weight – Despite its strength, expanded metal mesh is extremely lightweight, making it easy to get into position.
• Air and light circulation – Like both wire mesh curtains and perforated metal, expanded metal mesh allows for an easy circulation of light and air.
• Privacy – By opting for a mesh with larger ribbon widths, you can effectively screen certain areas from view.

Locker Group's metal mesh, manufactured locally in Melbourne, can be tailored to provide the perfect privacy paneling for your build. We can tweak everything from the size and profile of the openings to different strand widths, meaning that every detail can fit seamlessly with your architectural briefs and the overall look you wish to create.

Hopefully this article has given you some inspiration on the different ways that metal products can be used to create beautiful and easy-to-use interior screens. For more information on any of the products described in this blog, get in touch with our friendly team of experts today.

Since before Roman times, balustrades have been an architectural mainstay.

You'll find them on buildings of all sizes and significance, from St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City to the apartment block at the end of your road. 

While they can add a touch of class to just about any structure, you need to marry the balustrade to the project in question. In this article we'll take a look at some balustrade design ideas by exploring popular materials, and which situations they best suit.

1. Glass balustrades

Glass balustrades are popular for the sleek, modern aesthetic they can lend to buildings ranging from private homes to corporate headquarters. 

Among the benefits afforded by this type of balustrade are:

• Light filtration – A glass balustrade won't obstruct the passage of light through a building, helping to create an airy and open feeling within. When used on exteriors, their transparency means they don't obscure views, making them a perfect addition to a balcony.
• Ease of cleaning – Unlike timber balustrades, glass can be simply wiped clean, this is essential for external balustrades that face the brunt of the elements. 
• The illusion of more space – When used inside, for example on a staircase, glass balustrades prevent spaces from feeling boxy and small by allowing the eye to travel further. 
• Durability – Glass used in balustrade design is tempered, providing it with strength equivalent to that of steel.

2. Metal mesh balustrades

Another reliable, low maintenance option comes in the form of metal mesh balustrades. Generally, you have a choice between two types of metal mesh:

1. Woven wire mesh – In this instance, the strands of wire are woven over and under each other, creating an interlocking sheet.
2. Welded wire mesh – Here, the crisscrossing wires are spot welded together where they intersect.

Ultimately, the decision comes down to a trade-off between strength and flexibility. Welded wire has extra support behind its joints, but woven sheets will bend further before breaking. Knowing exactly where your balustrade will be, and the degree of wear and tear it's likely to face will be important in making this call.

• So, where are metal mesh balustrades often employed?

Architects tend to favour this balustrade design type in functional settings, for example industrial facilities. There are a number of reasons for this:

• They're cost-effective – While the price of metal mesh balustrades will depend largely on the metal you choose to use, this is generally a budget-friendly choice.
• Their strength – Robustness is normally important in these environments and, whether welded or woven, metal mesh ticks the boxes here.
• Light filtration – As with glass, mesh allows the passage of light. As well as making for more pleasant working environments, it's important that staff have a clear eyeline as they move around to avoid injuries.

3. Timber balustrades

Timber balustrades are the least functional on this list, usually selected for the sophisticated look they can give to a structure. 

However, they bring more to the table than just a pretty face:

• Customisation – As an architect, you'll be looking for something that exactly fits your style and size specifications. The good news is that wood is easy to work with, allowing you to create intricate detailing if necessary. 
• Middle cost – While more expensive than stainless steel, wooden balustrades are usually cheaper than stone, the other material often used to create a classic look.

The most glaring drawback of timber balustrades is their susceptibility to degradation, especially when used outside. However, with regular maintenance, these features can still have a decent lifespan.

4. Stainless steel balustrades

Like glass, stainless steel is often used to establish modernity. The clean lines and shine of stainless steels barriers means they're a popular choice for residential buildings, as well as all corporate settings. 

As well as its polished look, stainless steel offers the following:

• Corrosion resistance – Thanks to a thin oxide layer that forms on the metal's surface, stainless steel is well protected from rust.
• Strength – Stainless steel is stronger than aluminium and many other popular architectural metals. 
• Ease of cleaning – Thanks to its smooth surface, stainless steel features can usually be simply wiped clean, making them a low maintenance option.
• Green credentials – Wherever possible, architects should be looking to use eco-friendly materials in their designs. Stainless steel fulfills this criteria as it can be 100 per cent recycled, according to the British Stainless Steel Association.

Stainless steel is a durable and great-looking balustrade material.

Hopefully this article has provided you with some knowledge and inspiration on the different types of balustrades out there. To find out more about how Locker Group can help you with your next architectural project, get in touch with our team today. 

Designing car parks – that's the reason you got into architecture, right?

Okay, we understand, a car park project isn't every budding designer's dream, and they're unlikely to fill you with unbridled excitement.

However, don't write them off just yet. In this article we'll draw on our personal experience of working with architects who have gone above and beyond to produce inspiring car park architecture.

Car park designs can be challenging and rewarding for architects.

1. Designing for specific functionality 

Think all car park builds are straight forward? Prepare to think again: In some cases you'll have to get creative to fulfill specific aspects of the client brief.

A perfect example of this is the Flinders Medical Centre Car Park in Adelaide. Here, Cheesman architects were tasked with designing a structure that overlooked the medical facility itself, but didn't allow those in the car park a view into patient treatment rooms.

To protect privacy, the team at Cheesman opted to adapt Locker Group's Pic Perf Directions panels by folding and forming them to create a flanged perforation. As well as highlighting the importance of good relationships between architects and suppliers, this example also goes to show that car parks can throw up interesting scenarios that go beyond simply designing an appropriate place to house vehicles.

Cheesman architects adpated Locker Group Pic Perf Directions panel for the facade of the Flinders Medical Centre car park.

2. Adding to the cityscape 

With space in Australian cities coming at a premium, multistory car parks will continue to proliferate for years to come. From an architect's point of view, the large facades that come with such buildings offer an opportunity to add your aesthetic stamp to the cityscape.

This was certainly the case with Adelaide's Young Street Car Park. Also undertaken by Cheesman Architects, this project proves once and for all that car park architecture can be far from boring. 

The imposing 525 panel frontage uses Locker Group's Pic Perf technology to create a beautiful image of Shanghai's impressive skyline. We designed Pic Perf specifically for functions like this, to give architects the capacity to use the perforations to build images of their choice, and we were thrilled with the results from this project.

As well as looking good, the use of pierced metal allows for great ventilation which prevents this car park from becoming stuffy and humid during the height of the South Australian summer.

The Young Street car park in Adelaide features an image of the Shanghai skyline.

3. Creating a statement 

Our final example of outstanding Australian car park architecture is also found in Adelaide, and comes from another of our architect partners – Hames Sharley.

Positioned close to important amenities such as Rundle Mall and Adelaide Central Market, the designers of the Franklin Street Car Park wanted to create a bold, modern facade that would catch the eye of any passerby.

Again, collaboration was the order of the day, and we modified our standard slotted perforated facade to incorporate sections both with and without holes. By juxtaposing these two sections, Hames Sharley were able to generate a smooth linear effect that gives the car park a smart and sophisticated look.

The Franklin Street car park has a sleek, modern exterior.

These three case studies go to show that designing a car park can be both challenging and rewarding for architects. As always, a key ingredient for a successful project is having a manufacturer and supplier you know you can rely on. As all the above examples demonstrate, Locker Group has the capacity to adapt its products to suit individual build requirements. This means that when a seemingly simple design takes a complicated turn, we're with you every step of the way.

For more information on how you can benefit from our years of expertise, get in touch with our team today. 

Architecture is an ever-changing industry.

Trends in aesthetics, materials and techniques never sit still for long, and you need to ensure your builds stay with the times.

A key ingredient in this is finding the right product supplier to partner with. Our 2018 Look Book gives in-depth insights into how we at Locker Group work with our architectural clients to ensure successful outcomes on every project. 

In this article, we'll draw out some of the key takeaways from that publication to show you how to make your next supplier is the right fit.

1. Flexibility

We'll start with probably the most important characteristic a supplier can have – flexibility. Architectural projects are dynamic, so you need to be sure that those providing your materials can adapt with you as circumstances dictate.

It's all well and good for a firm to claim to produce 'the best' of a given product, but if they can only manufacture it at a given size, you're going to hit roadblocks when these dimensions aren't appropriate. 

Locker Group's technicians pride themselves on their ability to meet any client brief. For example, when we partnered with Hames Sharley on building the Franklin Street Car Park in Adelaide, we modified our slotted perforated facade to include both perforated and unperforated sections, creating the linear look they sought. 

You need to be sure that your supplier can meet the unique requirements of your project.

2. Scalability 

Ultimately, you need to feel confident that quantity won't be an issue for your chosen supplier before embarking on the build. 

When working with Cheesman Architects on the Flinders Medical Centre Car Park, over 2,500 of our Pic Perf Directions panels were used. Again, these products had to be adjusted for the unique requirements of the design, but we rose to the challenge of producing the vast quantities needed.

3. Reliability 

Deadlines are always a concern in architecture, and any hold-ups in products arriving can have drastic knock-on effects for the rest of project. Ensuring that your supplier has a proven track record for delivering on time, therefore, is a must.

One of our proudest moments in recent times was the opening of the Mirvac Riverside Quay building in Melbourne. This exciting office space now plays host to PwC, as well as the architects who designed it, Fender Katsalidis. Completed two months ahead of schedule, this was a great example of all parties working together, with fantastic results.

To learn more about these projects, and many more, download our 2018 Look Book today!