Panelcorp worked with the architect and builder to supply a range of CeramaPANEL prefinished fibre cement boards for the Westfield Sports High School in Fairfield NSW.

Designed by Mode Design and built by Hindmarsh Constructions for the NSW Department of Education, the recently completed Westfield Sports High School offers a dynamic and flexible learning environment with the contemporary school design featuring general and shared learning spaces as well as wood and metal workshops to accommodate a broad range of programs. Seminar rooms, a staff lounge, staff study rooms and a large multipurpose hall also form part of the new school.

The activity spaces at the school can be broadly categorised into noisy and quiet; keeping this in mind, Mode Design based their architectural framework on providing both acoustic and visual separation between these two distinctive areas.

Mode Design was tasked with the design of a new three-storey building that provided 23 new teaching spaces accommodating up to 460 students. Additionally, the design needed to conform to the Department of Education requirements.

The difficult location, which was inside a functional school and surrounded by operational and occupied areas, also meant that the work had to be carefully planned and executed in a staged manner in coordination with all project stakeholders so that harmony was maintained onsite.

The project presented additional challenges from the stringent timeframes, which demanded installation efficiency and simplicity; conformance to EFSG (Education Facilities Standards and Guidelines) and compliance with the current NATSPEC (National Building Specification); and the budget.

Despite the complexities of the project, Panelcorp supplied CeramaPANEL prefinished fibre cement boards in three different colours, and installed the panels using colour coded security fixings. Panelcorp supplied the complete systems including their proprietary top hat system, back flashing and accessories, minimising the number of suppliers while also ensuring compliance.

The screw-fixing of CeramaPANEL architectural facade boards ensured a faster and more cost-effective solution to rivets. 

Panelcorp supplied CeramaPANEL Raw, CeramaPANEL Natural and CeramaPANEL Depth in CPR-7038, CPN-9001 and CPD-3009 colours.

Panelcorp worked closely with the project team to ensure accurate detailed drawings, material optimisation, waterproofing and flashing details. Panelcorp supported the installer throughout the entire project with regular site visits, helping deliver an excellent finish, on time and within budget.