Albany Senior High School

Arrow International engaged Miller Design early in the Albany Senior High School development with a view to providing a project specific solution for the entire façade, including an integrated solution between the glass façade and aluminium composite panelling (ACP). The solution had to meet the architectural and functional design objectives, come within well defined cost parameters, and reduce façade site installation time due to programming constraints. Core to the functionality of the design was the need to achieve high thermal and acoustic performance.

Miller Design drew on its own technical design, engineering and project management expertise to take full responsibility for the engineering of the façade, and in doing so, develop a solution and methodology that would support the project objectives.  The outcome was a fully integrated glass curtainwall and ACP 'solid panel' solution, with the concept of 'bringing the building wall to site'.

Bringing the wall to site meant the thermally and acoustically rated solid panels of the façade were manufactured in the factory. These panels included an external composite panel, building wrap, timber stud, batts and Gib. In effect, the external and internal wall were taken to site and installed as one item.

The result:

• glass and ACP panels are produced in advance of the building site being ready to receive them;
• when the site becomes available, faster installation of the external wall (glass and ACP) due to site glazing and ACP installation not being required; and
• reduced interior fit out time due to part of the fit out having already been included with the façade.

Miller Design will undertake such challenges by bringing together its engineering resources, project management capability and the application of some level of Kiwi ingenuity. We will work with the builder and the architect to provide the best solution, which in many instances will result in cost benefits to the project.