Geoscience Australia’s award winning headquarters was purpose built in 1996-97 to house first class scientific facilities including nearly 30 geochemical laboratories and more than 550 staff. The $85 million structure was designed to embrace the philosophies and earth-science culture of its’ tenants.
The building design is unconventional. Natural light and the Earth’s sub-surface heat are used to reduce energy needs. Stairwells, overhead bridges, walkways and a pedestrian ‘street’ link the seven split-levels within the main building.
Designed by DesignInc Melbourne and constructed by Baulderstone Hornibrook, the Geoscience Australia building won five building awards in 1998. Included in these awards were the Royal Australian Institute of Architects Canberra Medallion, Project of the Year at the Master Builders Excellence in Building Awards and a Minimal Environmental Impact Award on World Environment Day.
A central feature of the building’s external design is the sweeping ColorCote® ZRX™ roof.
ColorCote® ZRX™‘Dusty Miller’ was used to reflect an earthy neutral colour complimentary with the Australian landscape and to assist the reflection of natural light back into the building's workspace.The gently curved roof form symbolises the worn nature of the Australian geological landscape and in particular the hills surrounding Canberra.
With over 20,000 m2 of ColorCote® used on the main building alone, the ZRX™ premium paint system was chosen to ensure the roof would maintain its' appearance, form and function into the future.
ColorCote® ZRX™ is a highly durable and corrosion resistant product with high formability and premium weatherability. It is recommended when excellent colour and gloss retention is required. It is suited to environments such as severe marine, geothermal and industrial sites where there is a high risk of deterioration due to corrosive elements in the atmosphere.
The exterior coat of ColorCote® ZRX™ is a PVF2 (polyvinylidine fluoride) paint system containing at least 70% PVF2 resin in the dry paint film.
Selection Steel has been distributing ColorCote® throughout Australia since 1981.
|
 |
|
