SUPAWOOD ’s SUPACOUSTIC acoustic panels warm the interior of
the new award winning multipurpose hall at St Pius X High School in Adamstown,
Newcastle NSW.
In mid-2012 the school’s hall was completely destroyed through
fire by suspected arson, the damage estimated at more than $500,000. Schreiber
Hamilton Architecture were given the brief to design a new communal meeting
place using simple materials which would serve as a long lasting centre of
inspiration and reflection for the school.
SUPACOUSTIC customised panels in SUPAFINISH Hoop Pine
concept veneer perfectly fulfilled the interior design intent. Offering a
highly durable consistent finish, a customisable acoustic option, proprietary
fixing system and Group 1 fire rating, this product provided an effective cost
saving alternative to plywood.
The interior of this building has incredible warmth evoked by the timber finish throughout. The
ceiling has been lined with grooved and perforated SUPACOUSTIC acoustic panels
which form a tree motif over the entire surface. Lighting has been integrated
into the patterned panels to emulate twinkling stars. Matching SUPAFINISH Hoop
Pine concept veneer panels have been used on the walls between windows and
other matched joinery.
The ceiling panels were supplied over size and prefinished
with the pattern segments, then trimmed to size onsite so that they could be
fitted exactly together to form the planned motif on the shape of the ceiling.
As plywood was originally specified by the designers, SUPAWOOD assisted in
redrawing the ceiling design to suit and provided full shop drawings to take
care of the installation complexities.
Now named the Sister Marie Centre the building is a
dedicated school chapel as well as a flexible multipurpose space and has been
awarded 2 regional architectural awards. The jury citation for the project sums
up this beautiful warm interior…
“The quiet harmony of the robust exterior form is focused
on the quality of the new spaces it now contains. Delight in this architecture
is created within. The interior space allows a curious combination allowing a
gathering space of joy and light with a paralleled sense of solitude and
contemplation. The exploration of simple materials detailed with attention and
care encourages a continual degree of observation and admiration. A space that
leaves the user simply delighted.”
(Quote taken from Newcastle Herald, 13/3/15)
Awards:
2015 - Australian Institute of Architects – Newcastle
Architecture Awards – Award for Excellence – Winner.
2015 -Australian Institute of Architects – Newcastle
Architecture Awards – Educational Architecture – Winner.
Photos © Murray McKean Photography
