Bondor Equitilt©architectural panels feature prominently on the newly revealed $29 million National Cricket Centre at the Allan Border Field in Brisbane’s Albion.
TVS Architects chose to showcase Bondor’s Equitilt© in the impressive multi-storey design, to meet the brief for a lightweight cladding system with benefits including low maintenance, durability, high insulation value and cost-efficiency with the required fire ratings.
TVS Architects director Michael Kisluk explained that Equitilt© was selected as it ticked all the boxes in their requirements list for a lightweight cladding system, adding that they would definitely use it again.
Cost reduction was a key objective during the construction of the building, with Bondor Equitilt© playing its part by helping to reduce the amount of framing required. Since the architectural panels are finished on both sides, there is no need to line the inside face.
In addition to offering a wide range of colours, Equitilt© also delivers high thermal efficiency to reduce the running costs for the life of the building.
Bondor General Manager Geoff Marsdon said the National Cricket Centre utilised Australian-made Equitilt© panels in both Flameguard© and Bondor options, in three different external colours: Bushland, Surfmist and the custom shade Mandarin.
The interior of the Centre featured the colour Surfmist to effectively blend with the off-white interior finish. Bondor panels were also utilised for the sun blades on the building.
The self-supporting Bondor insulated panels feature an expanded polystyrene (EPS-FR) core between two layers of Colorbond© steel, providing structural and thermal efficiency combined with a durable and attractive finish.
These architectural walling panels also offer versatility of design, insulation ability and efficiency of installation.
According to Mr Marsdon, the sandwich panel construction delivers high structural stability to the wall, and 25 times more thermal efficiency than pre-cast concrete of the same thickness; the lightweight design additionally reduces load bearing footings and structural supports.
Equitilt© architectural panels come in 50mm to 150mm thicknesses. Standard colours include Surfmist, Classic Cream, Pale Eucalypt and Paperbark; non-standard colours include Axis, Citi, Facade and Skybridge; and finishes include Shadowline, Satinline and Series 600.
The National Cricket Centre was a joint project of the Federal Government, the Queensland Government, Brisbane City Council, Cricket Australia, Queensland Cricket, project managers Johnstaff and builders Watpac.