The Churches of Christ Campus in Brisbane went through extensive redevelopment works, which were carried out in two phases. Cladding from the Lysaght Enseam range was installed to meet design goals on a new community facility built as part of Stage Two of the redevelopment.
Churches of Christ in Queensland is a church and community organisation comprising of affiliated mainstream Christian churches, and providing a range of care and community services to families, the elderly and people in need.
The Churches of Christ Campus in the south-west Brisbane suburb of Kenmore is the heart of this organisation. The Sunshine Coast-based Dimond Architects was commissioned to design two striking new buildings in a comprehensive redevelopment of the campus.
Stage One involved the construction of a state-of-the-art, environmentally sustainable and innovative Head Office building, designed to provide a modern working environment for over 300 staff. The next stage involved the construction of a $5.5 million community facility consisting of a 350-seat auditorium, meeting room and café.
Design was prioritised for the community facility as it was located at the front of the campus, surrounded by landscaped gardens. The design, which asserts the organisation’s community focus, was delivered featuring Lysaght Enseam cladding in the new COLORBOND matt finish steel.
One of five European-inspired profiles in Lysaght’s new ZENITH range of premium architectural profiles, Lysaght Enseam is produced in COLORBOND steel matt finish. The use of Lysaght Enseam in the colour Monument on the cladding introduced a fresh new design element to the community building.
Dimond Architects’ Managing Director Ian Dimond explained that both the architects and the client wanted a design that was visually impacting as the community facility was the gateway to the campus, necessitating a bolder architectural expression than the other buildings on the campus.
According to Ian Dimond, they liked the way the new COLORBOND steel matt finish looked in the sun with the material exhibiting variation from different angles without producing glare.
He adds that the COLORBOND steel matt finish cladding contributes to the building’s intended modern industrial and commercial aesthetic, balanced well with the use of concrete and glass.
In addition to its visual appeal with its broad flat pans, substantial rib and striking matt surface, the Lysaght Enseam steel cladding was also very easy to install, according to Ian Knights, Project Manager for cladding contractors Dowbury Pty Ltd.
Having used the product in a previous project, the installation team was aware of the cladding material’s benefits.
Andrew Mandla, the Account Manager at Lysaght’s Archerfield branch, who assisted with the installation, said Lysaght worked with BlueScope during roll forming trials in developing the COLORBOND steel matt finish, helping them gain in-depth experience.
