Griffith University, Queensland created two Red Zone Visitor Experience Centres at their Gold Coast and Nathan campuses designed to capture the attention of visitors and showcase the world-class standards of the University.

Designed by Cox Rayner Architects, the completely red rooms absorb visitors and cocoon them in an audio-visual feast set against a curved backdrop of a sea of red. Users have access to a variety of interactive touchscreens, body activated music generators, 3D projection domes and more.

“The extensive Griffith brand red theme and surreal lighting design combine to create a space that blurs and dematerialises, leaving the screens and other exhibits to stand out in sharp focus against the red ‘landscape’,” Michael Bailey, associate, Cox Rayner Architects explained.

“One of the main design challenges of this project was providing a unified red theme across all materials and finishes, and successfully integrating the highly specialised audio-visual equipment in a visually appealing manner.”

The brief also sought to create a showcase area that would help to redefine and reinvent the Griffith University brand. This was done by using organic architectural curves and creating an acoustically balanced space for maximum beneficial use of all the AV equipment in the space.

The complexity of the design created challenges for the contractor Vealstruct, who was tasked with installing the ceiling and wall panels. The curved design as well as the acoustic space was achieved using CurveShield plasterboard and Stratopanel acoustic plasterboard from Siniat.

“The wall and ceiling design was extremely complex with the majority of the walls, ceilings and bulkheads being curved,” Vealstruct’s Robert Veale said. “We were required to achieve some radiuses as tight as 400mm; we used CurveShield to achieve these curved walls and bulkheads. From set-out to framing to the sheeting and setting, all aspects of the work were extremely complex.”

The result

By following all of the installation recommendations, the contractors delivered an excellent design outcome.

“Siniat came and inspected our installation at framing, sheeting and setting stage,” said Veale. “We had some complex detailing around access panels and edge details to vertical bulkheads that they were able to help with.”

“The quality of the finish was the highlight of this project for us. This was a difficult plastering job, from set-out to framing, sheeting and setting. Our supervisors and tradesmen did a great job and should be proud of their efforts.”

Completed in April 2015, the finished project has received excellent feedback from visitors and students and is a well-used thought generating space.

Architecture & Design Team

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