SUPAWOOD’s SUPATILE SLAT panels have been used to address acoustics and ceiling accessibility throughout large areas of a multi-million dollar facility located at the Western Sydney Institute of TAFE Nepean College Kingswood Campus, NSW.

Designed by Perumal Pedavoli Architects, the massive building facilitates a simulated work environment and modern interactive study in the fields of allied health, aged care, nursing, dental nursing, optical dispensing and audiometry.

The solving of noise reverberation was vital throughout the expansive ground floor open-plan study and library space while ensuring access into the ceiling could be maintained. Other design elements called for durable timber beams. SUPAWOOD’s SUPATILE SLAT and SUPASLAT MAXI BEAM systems provided the designers with the solutions to all these needs without compromising the aesthetic elements of their design.

Throughout the study and library areas SUPATILE SLAT panels in both profiles Slat 2 and Random with the acoustic option have been used over the vast expanse of the ceiling area. This enables full access to services in the ceiling cavity and effective integration with services. The use of Western Red Cedar gives the contemporary interior great warmth. Different distinct directional effects have been placed purposefully to point the way to different areas. The unique 3D look of the random slats defines central study areas.

On the upper floor of the building the timber slatted tiles run the length of corridor ceilings, again pointing the way around. Where corridors intersect, the slats cleverly continue in the other direction.

To bring light into the centre of the building and open it up to the upper levels, an atrium forms a strong feature. Here SUPASLAT MAXI BEAM in Spotted Gum natural timber veneer has been used on the lower floor in small groups as columns and on the upper floor as a large open screen, which also acts as a balustrade.

The SUPAWOOD products used in this building have been carefully chosen to achieve specific functional requirements as well as create outstanding feature elements to complement the overall design. This building is an invaluable asset to health education in Western Sydney.

This is what the architects say… © JadaArt

"Perumal Pedavoli Architects (PPA) were engaged as Head Design Consultants to design an iconic 'state-of-the-art' Allied Health Education Building including faculties of Nursing, Dental, Optical and Audiometry as well as a central Connected Learning Common/ Library at the Western Sydney Institute of TAFE, Nepean College - Kingswood Campus.

A number of Supawood products were specified for this project including Supatile profiles Slat 2 and Random slats and vertically fixed Supaslat Maxi Beam. Supawood technical staff took a co-operative approach to assisting PPA with our design requirements.

Supawood had the Maxi Beam load tested for the way we wanted to use them in this particular design. We have specified Supawood products on several projects in recent years and have found them to be of a consistent quality."

- Marco Luci BA (Arch) BArch (Hons), Associate, Perumal Pedavoli Architects

Image: SUPATILE SLAT panels in Slat 2 and Random profiles have been used over the vast expanse of the ceiling area (Photography JadaArt)