The recently redeveloped Sutherland Performing Arts Centre was a major project within the southern Sydney suburb, delivering the community a landmark and state-of-the art facility in which to enjoy all manner of artistic pursuits, including music, comedy, theatre, dance and much more.
One could argue though, that for attendees the spectacle begins even before they enter the venue, visually at least. On approach, patrons are treated to an architectural masterpiece that highlights contemporary design, taking in an eclectic composition of materials including timber, masonry and extensive glazing. A crescendo of the design is a bold and eye-catching façade on the upper levels of the building, that leans heavily on Fielders’ ARAMAX® steel cladding.
Conceptualised by leading Sydney architectural firm CHROFI, the now renamed Pavilion Performing Arts Centre, is a redevelopment of a facility that has roots in the 1970s. The design took the old building as a starting point, but it has now become virtually unrecognisable as it has progressed along its journey to become a community facility built to cater to a range of cultural activities.
The structure does retain its original bones but they’re integrated seamlessly with the building’s new elements; together the final structure provides vastly larger and improved facilities that also interconnect with nearby Peace Park to form the civic hub of Sutherland.
Fielders Structural Engineer, Brett Aldridge, and his team consulted extensively with CHROFI at the start of the project, helping to guide the award-winning architects through the specification, design and detailing process of the ARAMAX® cladding.
“CHROFI came to us seeking to use ARAMAX® on the project, we assisted them by providing the engineering design, advice on the specification with respect to providing comprehensive detailing modelling and efficient ARAMAX® layout geometry. Helping them develop the technical drawings, so they could use them when going to tender with construction trades,” Brett said.
“We also organised for a quantity of the ARAMAX® to be perforated in a section of the building that required additional ventilation.
“Increasingly we’re finding that architects know about and seek to use ARAMAX® in their commercial projects. The versatility of the profile for both roofing and walling, and the generous dimensions of the cladding work exceptionally well in a commercial setting where the scale of the structure is generally much larger.”
Fielders also played a role in helping installer Dunrite Linings, who hadn’t previously used ARAMAX® as a façade material, according to Brett.
“Feedback from Dunrite Linings about working with the ARAMAX® was positive with their team mentioning that the material proved simple and efficient to install and allowed fast coverage; the most challenging aspect of the installation was some of the flashing requirements, but even these were quite manageable,” Brett explained.
Also assisting installation and efficiency on site was the use of Fielders’ mobile mill. Rather than manufacturing the long spans of ARAMAX® at the Fielders facility, the mobile mill provides the convenience of rollforming on location. Having access to this capability reduces the risk of material damage during transportation and at times depending on the cladding length, transporting the ARAMAX® is impractical.
The ARAMAX® range can be used in any length, with ARAMAX® currently holding the record for the longest roof in the Southern Hemisphere at circa 144 metres (Netball Central, Sydney). ARAMAX® can ‘free span’ up to 20 metres and has the ability to vary its cover width anywhere between 700 to 900mm, with fully adjustable 3D BIM Revit drawings available.
Colour choice for this prominent V-shaped profile is also generous with the material available in 22 COLORBOND® steel classic colours along with six COLORBOND® steel Matt options. Further broadening the design palette are a further seven COLORBOND® steel Ultra options and availability of six COLORBOND® steel Metallic colours. It is also available in Mill Finish and Colored Aluminum.
Now open for several months, performers, operators and visitors to the new venue are said to be giving the arts and entertainment space a standing ovation.
