Architectural wall panels from Kingspan Insulated Panels were installed at the new state-of-the-art clinical research centre at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Adelaide.
Architects specify Kingspan’s cladding system not only for its aesthetic value but also for its excellent thermal properties, high fire performance and quick installation. Kingspan’s insulated wall panels were put to the test in one of the most challenging of modern building environments when they were installed in the Adelaide hospital project in 2008.
Designed by Cheesman Architects, the building features Kingspan’s architectural wall panels externally and internally. Outside, Cheesman continued the clean, uninterrupted vertical lines created by the long-span panels to the window edges of the facility. Pre-formed in Kingspan’s Australian factory, the vertical installed panels were used as external window sills, eliminating the need for a bulky flashing.
Inside the building, Kingspan’s insulated panels were installed on the side walls of the atrium and continue out, seemingly uninterrupted, to the walls of the outside terrace – separated only by an expansive wall of windows. The final outcome is a light-filled atrium, which draws the eye to the outside world and, emphasises the multiple storeys of open space.
“Once the preparation work (such as installing the fixing brackets and angles) was complete and minor technical issues addressed, the installation process of the panels was effortless and quick,” said Aaron Griffiths – project builder and Director of Hansen and Yuncken. “The end result looks great.”
Kingspan products used in this project include architectural wall panels (KS1000 AWP), a secret-fix wall panel system with five distinct profiles; preformed corners that combine insulation continuity with aesthetic design; and top hats providing the finishing touches to the wall system.
