Span+ Installation, Education building, VIC

AN ANGLED APPROACH

This unique tapered screen on our Bundoora project hides a number of clever innovations.

The architect specified a louvre screen tilted back at 75 degrees to hide the HVAC plant machinery and the end result is really eye-catching.

Given that HVAC screens are usually vertical our engineers and production team collaborated to ensure that we could modify our LouvreWall© system. The enclosure spanned 42.5 metres x 10.5 metres and required more than 600 louvre blades in 6 metre lengths. The louvres, which are a visual barrier, allowed 55% airflow through to the equipment and were finished in an attractive Monument colour which complemented the building design.

This part of the project was straightforward. The challenge began when we arrived on site to find that the steel fixing point on the roof wasn’t straight and as a result the existing frames weren’t in alignment. To use them would have meant that our louvres were out of alignment and there would be gaps between the end pieces. Also, the heavy gauge steel made it difficult to attach the louvre brackets.

In order for us to ensure that the louvres lined up perfectly over the 42 metre distance, there weren’t any gaps between them and we controlled where the mounting points would be our engineering teams designed and manufactured a steel angle bracket and sub-frame. This was fitted inside the existing structure. Having done this, the louvres went straight on in no time and we ended up with this very aesthetically pleasing result.