Wesbeam played a major role in the mass timber construction of the Western Sydney Airport Visitor Centre (WSAVC) as part of the project team.

Wesbeam’s Tall Timber Building Systems team worked closely with engineers Taylor Thomson Whitting (TTW) and Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) manufacturers XLam to develop the structure’s Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) columns and beams, overlaid with XLam’s CLT roof panels.

The benefits of mass timber structures quickly became evident to the project team working on the WSAVC building. Not only would a prefabricated mass timber solution support the short construction program, it was also cost-effective whilst providing a natural timber finish for a sensory visitor experience.

Featuring a distinctive design with simple geometric rules governing an outer and inner circle of columns, the WSAVC structure was divided into wedges to form an array of timber beams. Each LVL beam was designed and manufactured to support the radial roof geometry. Complexities of beam to column connections were accommodated within individually designed steel plate brackets, which enabled time efficient installation.

The beams cantilever beyond the façade, providing a generous roof overhang to the multiple entrances, and the metal sheet roof provides protection from the weather. The LVL columns and beams were clear finished to showcase the natural beauty of Wesbeam LVL.

The Western Sydney Airport Visitor Centre provides an immersive learning experience. Digital exhibits guide the visitor through the story of how the airport will take shape and provide the perfect venue for business, community and school groups interested in watching the airport come to life by 2026.

Project details

Project: Western Sydney Airport Visitor Centre

Project Type: Government & Public, Art & Culture, Timber, Structural

Architect: Nettletontribe

Engineer: Taylor Thomson Whitting

Builder: Watpac

Prefabricator/CLT Supplier: XLam

Project Completion Date: September 2019

Feature Summary: Mass LVL and CLT create a fast, cost-effective and sensory visitor experience