Geraldton Senior College Library & Cafe
The brief required the new work to have a contemporary aesthetic while respecting the original campus buildings.The concrete-framed structure is clad in rendered masonry to the lower level, while the upper level is framed in structural steel and clad in Terraçade terracotta facade system.
Terraçade tiles are classified as Exposure Grade and are therefore highly suitable for a saline environment such as this.The choice of colour, Tanami, reinterprets the school’s heritage character and particularly the terracotta roofing. Despite the harsh conditions, the finish of the facade tiles will endure.
Intriguingly, the design picks up on Geraldton’s maritime heritage with a portion of the building cantilevered at a 60 degree angle, implying a ship’s prow. From a distance, the building appears to float above the ground.
Engineered details were developed to enable Terraçade to be fixed in the cantilevered sections, replacing the fibre cement sheeting originally specified. Anti-lift-off angles were installed on every tile in the cantilevered sections to prevent uplift movement caused by dynamic wind loads. Anti-rattle sponges were also installed to minimise or eliminate rattling.These unique engineering details were reviewed by Connell Wagner and guaranteed by Austral Facades.
Externally, the former bitumen-paved quadrangle was transformed into a green plaza, sheltered from the prevailing sea breezes.The library and cafe development at Geraldton Senior College creates a more sophisticated and mature zone for students who are on the verge of adulthood to socialise and develop.
- TN Smooth is the harmony of nature and design, its earthy Australian colours contrasting its matte finishes
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