Case Study - Sydney Wharf Apartments,

Our case study of the Sydney Wharf Apartments project featuring MondoClad in Sage outlines the background of this project, the challenges faced with meeting Australia's stringent regulatory requirements and why MondoClad is the proven recladding solution.

Builder: CJ DUNCAN | Supplier: HVG Facades | Product: MondoClad? in Sage

Background

Occupying a prominent position on the water at the entry to Darling Harbour, Sydney Wharf Apartments at Pyrmont represents the perfect balance between convenience and luxury living. Designed by PTW and built by Multiplex , this modern waterfront apartment is an inner-city oasis that retains the wharf characteristics of times past. In today’s building environment, recladding has become an essential prerequisite for compliance with Australia’s increasingly stringent fire safety requirements. In April 2021, CJ DUNCAN announced the award of the contract to replace the combustible cladding on Sydney Wharf Apartments, working with both the owners and RHM, the client-side engineer and project manager. This recladding project required the remediation and replacement of approximately 5000m2 of cladding on the building’s exterior, which posed significant logistical and material supply challenges.

Challenge

The key requirement for the Sydney Wharf Apartments project was identifying a cladding material that met Australia’s stringent regulatory requirements for fire performance. Tenders were called by RHM on the selection of the new cladding material, which involved requiring suppliers to provide information on their proposed product, including material composition, paint quality, colour samples, tests and chain of custody. Initial colour selection was an important step as the building’s original colour had faded over time and needed updating. The supplier needed to match an original colour and a palette of different colours that were proposed by the colour consultant. In addition, considering the building’s waterside location, the cladding had to be able to withstand corrosive environments while maintaining a high-quality appearance.

ution

A proven recladding solution, MondoClad? by HVG Facades offers a categorically non-combustible cladding product that is certified to C1.9 (e)(v) of the National Construction Code, after being tested to AS1530.1 and meets the FP1.4 Performance Requirement, and FV1.1 Verification Method, having been tested to AS4284. “We use MondoClad? predominantly. It is the vast majority of the cladding that we use on our projects,” says Josh Black, Head of Pre-construction at CJ Duncan.

MondoClad? solid aluminium cladding panels are CodeMark Certified and come in a wide range of finishes and sizes to ensure even the most complex designs can be achieved. This versatility proved to be an important factor in its selection as the final colour was chosen by the owners committee based on a custom-made Sage Green MondoClad? sample. The product’s in-built resistance to corrosion, thanks to the use of a marine-grade alloy, as well as its superior PVDF architectural paint finish, which ensures UV stability, colour retention and longevity, were additional attributes that made MondoClad? the ideal choice for Sydney Wharf Apartments.

The project started in mid-July 2021 and went in stages throughout the two buildings. A key challenge for HVG Facades during the process was to ensure continuous material supply in the required sheet sizes and quantities throughout all stages. In addition, as the apartments remained inhabited throughout the remediation works, the removal of panels and installation of new panels had to be conducted with minimal disturbance to the residents.

HVG Facades worked closely with CJ Duncan, preparing material supply and deliveries to guarantee a smooth process of material flow. Their quick response time to technical queries and regular site visits helped avoid delays during the installation phase, which contributed to the project’s success as it nears completion in 2022. “We can call up one of their technical specialists and they’ll be on-site, in some instances the next day, colour matching, telling us what colours we need, what stock availability they’ve got, and what the lead times are.” says Josh. “They really go above and beyond."

Builder: CJ DUNCAN | Supplier: HVG Facades | Product: MondoClad? in Sage