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The Challenge
FermenTasmania is a purpose-built facility in Tasmania’s Tamar Valley designed to bring together a wide range of fermentation-based food and beverage production, teaching, and sensory evaluation under one roof.
The building includes specialised spaces for distilling, dairy, laboratories, produce processing, teaching kitchens, sensory rooms, and cool rooms, making it a unique hub for both local and international producers.
During the design and construction of this complex facility, building contractors AJR Construct and architect Bree Architects faced several key challenges to meet FermenTasmania’s brief.
The multi-functional nature of the building, combining food production, teaching, and sensory testing (taste testing), demanded strict attention to compliance with fire safety, hygiene, and thermal performance standards.
The need to accommodate a variety of uses and specialised equipment within a single structure added further complexity to both the design and construction processes.
Another notable challenge was the integration of a curved window into the insulated panel system, designed to give the structure a distinctive appearance on its prominent corner site.
Bondor Metecno’s MetecnoInspire® and MetecnoPanel® PIR insulated were selected to ensure the building meet the strict requirements of a food and beverage facility, including fire compliance, insulation (R-value), and maintaining a clean, safe environment for food production and storage.
The Solution
The groundbreaking FermenTasmania stands out as the only facility in the southern hemisphere that combines fermentation-based food and beverage production, teaching, and sensory evaluation all within a single, purpose-built space.
Spanning just under 2,000 square metres, the facility was constructed over approximately 14 months, from June 2024 to July/August 2025.
The completed centre of excellence features specialised areas for distilling, dairy processing, laboratories, produce spaces, teaching kitchens equipped with MasterChef-style benches, sensory testing rooms, and cool rooms.
Aesthetics were important. The building was designed to look attractive, not just functional, with MetecnoInspire® panels used extensively on the exterior to form the outside skin and provide both decorative and functional benefits. On two sides of the building, the panels were installed in two layers for added visual interest. The design included black panels and a distinctive white curved top section that acts as a decorative second skin, giving the building a unique architectural feature.
A curved window set into the curved MetecnoInspire® façade created a striking architectural feature to the building’s exterior. The window was created by draping cladding over the steel frame and sculpting the desired form, with the MetecnoInspire® panel used as the exposed face of the wall. The window required special consideration and planning to ensure it was properly flashed and finished for a seamless and weatherproof integration with the surrounding insulated panels.
For the interior, the design prioritised food safety, cleanliness, and pest and dust proofing.
There was a strong focus on hygienic construction, including sealed panels and careful detailing where floors meet walls to prevent contamination.
The building incorporated complex air handling systems to maintain proper differential pressures for various production areas.
MetecnoPanel® PIR 100mm panels were used for cool rooms for their excellent thermal performance, essential for maintaining temperature-controlled food storage areas. The panels also provided a cleanable, food-safe surface suitable for a food and beverage facility.
The result is a state-of-the-art building that supports both local and international producers, offering rental spaces and equipment for small-batch production and market testing.
As the only facility of its kind in the southern hemisphere, FermenTasmania is poised to become an innovation hub for creativity, learning, and industry growth, setting a new benchmark for multi-purpose food and beverage facilities.
Expressions of interest are now open for businesses looking to utilise the new Fermentation Hub.
