About The Project
West Block: an ancient building with a whole lot of history!
Opened in 1927, the building has long been the home of various federal government departments – and was even the place where Prime Minister Curtin took the phone call that drew Australia into World War Two!
This refit pays homage to the heritage of the building while freshening the space – Aluform is grateful to Capezio Copeland, Fore Group and MNS Interiors for the opportunity to contribute to this project.
Photographs used with permission of Fore Group and Adam McGrath.
Series 1000 Partition Suite
Series 1000 is Aluform’s most popular partition suite, designed for a 64mm stud and track system with 25, 32 and 50mm edge profiles.
This project used both centre and double-glaze configurations, with 32mm edge; and made use of Aluform’s glazing adaptors to switch between profiles. The specification by the architect involved mullions and transoms within each full-height glazing section, giving the spaces a vintage vibe.
In order to ensure the individual offices are as private as possible, the jambs were fitted with Kilargo 7080si perimeter seals in place of regular door stops. This improves the acoustic performance of the system.
Metal Pan Ceiling Panels
Working with the team at National Ceiling Systems, Aluform sourced a number of perforated metal pan ceiling panels for various spaces throughout West Block.
These panels were overlaid with a thin, highly absorbent black acoustic fabric to improve the acoustic performance of the ceiling. These tiles are an ideal type for feature ceilings, creating a modern look and adding interest to the ceiling scape.
This project featured square lay-in panels, however these can also be done with a rebated edge to hang slightly below the ceiling grid.
Aludoors
Aluform’s proprietary aluminium glazed doors were custom manufactured for this project, matching the Series 1000 framing supplied.
Aludoors are available in two stile widths; 73mm and 114mm. Widestile (114mm) was used in this project. In keeping with the art-deco look throughout the space, the designer specified horizontal transoms across each door, aligning with the transoms glazed into the frames.
This is where Aluform’s stick-on transoms came in. Available in 25, 32 and 45mm profiles, these transoms match the edge profiles available across all our systems. These transoms create the art-deco aesthetic with a lot less work: only one piece of glass needs to be installed, and the transoms simply stick on top!
