University of Auckland

The structure housing the University of Auckland’s Engineering Faculty, highlights the relationship between the disciplines of engineering and of architecture.The feature wall for the Faculty’s common area demonstrates the synergy between form and function - two parameters so commonly used to measure design success.

Building architects, Jasmax chose to use Industrial ‘Safe-T-Perf’ sheets (19mm up-formed perforations) in pattern with plywood panelling for the wall.The resulting checkerboard effect is not only striking, but highly functional. The perforated materials have acoustic properties which mean the feature wall operates as a highly effective sound-reduction device.

Maori Television Studios

Industrial products are increasingly being used in modern architectural design. In response, companies like Locker Group are adapting and manufacturing ‘industrial’ products to better suit the urban environment. Safe-T-Perf ‘Stiletto’ is one such product.

The main stairway and landing at the Maori Television studios in Newmarket, Auckland maximise the benefits of the Stiletto product. Using a combination of Z-tread pre-fabricated riser/tread format and Stiletto sheets for the landing, the stairway provides 360 degree slip-resistance, increased strength and durability.

The product’s clean lines and galvanised finish work in harmony with the rest of the building’s design.Architect, Freestyle Architects also used Locker Group woven wire as an unobtrusive balustrade. The woven wire offers strength and safety while being relatively transparent in design.

Parnell Carpark

The introduction of building regulations that require any safety barriers to be unscaleable, posed new design issues for architects.

Traditional, horizontal ‘ladder’-style barriers no longer meet building regulations. However; rather than remove and replace non-compliant barriers from an office car park in Parnell, Auckland, architects Stack Architecture, chose to use the existing structure to support newly compliant materials.

Locker Group manufactures a range of anti-scale security and safety fencing that offer varying degrees of visibility. Stack Architecture chose to use perforated aluminium in a 35mm x 20mm “round end slot” configuration for the balustrades. Made of 3mm, anodized aluminium the balustrades comply with new safety regulations and will retain look and colour for many years to come.

Outboard Boating Club Walkways

Seaside construction poses several construction obstacles, the most obvious of which is managing corrosion. When the Outboard Boating Club developed plans for new berths at their Tamaki Drive marina, they needed walkway materials that were corrosion-resistant, hard-wearing, non-slip and relatively light-weight.

Contractors Fletcher Construction Ltd chose Alu-Tread walkway planks for all walkway bridge and pontoon areas. Alu-Tread is manufactured with the high-salt New Zealand environment in mind. It offered the Outdoor Boating Club a corrosion-resistant, light-weight and durable format.It is also extremely strong for its weight, making it perfect for pontoon walkways that must service regular loading and unloading of equipment from boats.

Britomart Station, Auckland

Managing safety, trackside at any train station is paramount. Gripspan walkway planks are lightweight, yet strong and are available in easy-to-install lengths. Jasmax chose to lay two 300mm wide planks (2.1km of walkway in total) side by side on the far side of all railway lines in the station.

The walkways provide ready access to service crew should any problems arise with trains entering the station.The Gripsan planks were easily fixed to each other and are supported on concrete sleepers.

Botany College

ASC Architects required a non-slip surface for an external heavy foot-traffic area in a new secondary school. After satisfying compliance requirements by providing slip resistance test certificates (available for all Safe-T-Perf product configurations), Locker Group (NZ) Ltd was commissioned to supply.

Safe-T-Perf

“Stiletto” in sheet form.“Stiletto” is best suited to high-traffic areas where usage and footwear-type are not uniform.

Corr-A-Perf

Corr-A-Perf was the product of choice used by ASC architects when developing the ceiling in the gymnasium area at the new Botany Secondary College in Auckland’s Eastern Suburbs. At a height of 10m the 420 sq m ceiling carries lights, speakers and fire sprinklers and was supplied in colour in P119 perforation, (2.41mm dia holes at 9.53mm centres). The profile specified for the project was “Custom Orb”, supplied in 6670mm lengths.