Behind the Facade

The Brief 

Baulderstone Hornibrook engaged Austech Facades to deliver the facade for ANU Exchange Section 68 in Canberra. A landmark project for the Canberra CBD defined by architectural ambition.

The design called for a perforated panel screen on the north elevation, positioned in front of the glass curtain wall. At 2,400mm wide – spanning two typical panel widths – these were substantial, and unique, elements. The facade also incorporated vertical and horizontal sunshades on both the facetted northern and southern elevations, along with cantilevered wing panels.

From the outset, Baulderstone Hornibrook was clear on one consideration: no penetrations to the curtain wall, as water leaks were a major concern.

The Challenge

The challenge was twofold.

First, design an exterior panelised screen system large enough to make an architectural statement, but supported entirely by the curtain wall – without a single penetration through it.

Secondly, every screen panel – each measuring 2.4m wide by 3.66m high – would need to be installed from inside the building.

Our Solution 

Austech's solution was to reinforce the curtain wall mullions to carry the load of the screen system, eliminating the need for any penetrations. From there, we designed a hinged triangular bracket system that allowed each screen panel to be installed using a 'hook on' method – once the curtain wall was in place, panels could be hung from inside, without external access.

The same principle of precision-designed connection carried through to the sunshades: designed with locator pins and stainless steel brackets for exact alignment and ease of installation across both the facetted northern and southern elevations.

The result is a facade that reads as layered and considered from the street – perforated screens, sunshades, cantilevered wing panels – with none of the structural compromise that comes from forcing connections through a waterproofed curtain wall.

The constraints on this project weren't obstacles – they were design drivers. No penetrations and inside-only installation pushed us to design an entirely unique bracket system, that we were exceptionally proud to deliver.