Balancing design intent with functionality, sustainability and safety, Locker Group aims to deliver architectural solutions that are efficient and cost-effective. Sometimes, however, pursuing these goals unveils certain challenges that need to be overcome, and it's up to the Locker team to find creative solutions.
Recently, Locker Group worked on the design and construction of Sydney's new International Convention Centre (ICC Sydney) with multinational architectural firms HASSELL, Populous and contractor Lend Lease. Lend Lease, tasked with the delivery of the Darling Harbour Precinct, consulted Locker for help in solving a nearly 10 square-kilometre cladding problem on this iconic project.
Collaborating on ICC Sydney
Darling Harbour's ICC Sydney, completed in late 2016, is one of the city's leading destinations - an integrated convention, exhibition and entertainment precinct for numerous high-profile events.
A dynamic team of HASSEL, Populous and Lend Lease formed the backbone of the project, while Locker Group lent its expertise by consulting on the theatre facade, which had unique and challenging design characteristics.
The ICC building design brief called for fully integrated wall and roof cladding that also needed to be traversable for maintenance and roof-access contractors. The plan, which included Locker Group's expanded metal cladding with a bespoke aluminium clip system, had to suit the Kliplok 700 Colorbond roof cladding. This architectural metal product ultimately had to function as a secondary skin external to the Colorbond cladding that seamlessly flowed up the wall and onto the roof.
Solving a unique architectural problem
The roof at ICC Sydney proved to be difficult from an architectural standpoint as it required a cladding system that seemingly defied physics. It needed to be lightweight and self-supporting, but also durable enough to support the traffic of maintenance employees and the Darling Harbour wind loads. The hope was to find a solution that was minimalistic in design, but was also economical to install, stable and safe for people to use.
Locker Group was able to assist in this effort by developing and manufacturing a custom expanded aluminium profile and framing extrusion. The team rigorously engineered this product, testing it to ensure durability for both traffic and wind load and collaborating with the architects to ensure the design brief was met. Locker Group understood the importance of supplying not just a product but an entire solution to meet the exact project requirements. The result is a unique presentation of expanded metal that adds a textural element to a landmark architectural project with optimal sheet dimensions.
How Locker Group made the difference
Locker worked closely with both the architectural and construction teams to deliver the 9,800 square-metre cladding system. With an eye for both design and functionality, the build went up within the required timeframes in a way that was innovative and cost-effective, as well as was easy to implement.
While the successful work on this project has solidified the company’s position as Australia's leader in expanded metal manufacture, it has also furthered Locker’s reputation in the delivery of fully engineered solutions to complex construction problems. With a team of experts presiding over product development, engineering and design, it was the ideal candidate for handling the size and complexity of the ICC Sydney project.
