Low VOC Acoustic Panels for Sydney Hospital from SUPAWOOD

A mix of SUPAWOOD's slatted and acoustic panels have been used extensively throughout the new $5.5 billion Northern Beaches Hospital at Frenchs Forest in NSW, which opened in October 2018.

In such a high-profile public building project, it was crucial for designers BVN to meet all BCA standards to the highest level plus address the Green requirements of the brief. Additionally, the design concept required a variety of lining types with matching or blending timber finishes.

SUPAWOOD were able to supply a wide range of matching linings to perfectly meet the strict criteria as well as provide advice and technical support throughout the project.

Having worked with SUPAWOOD on many distinguished projects, BVN were confident in the quality of Supawood's products and their ability to meet the brief's Fire Group 1, moisture resistant and low VOC requirements. In total, 170m² of SUPACOUSTIC acoustic panels and 930m² of SUPASLAT slatted where used throughout the interior.

The ceilings and walls in the ground floor concierge and waiting area are lined with SUPASLAT slatted panels. These have been supplied as profile 4 slats on a backing board in a Moisture Resistant and Fire Retardant MDF. The slats are finished in a low VOC, SUPAFINISH Tasmanian Oak laminate.

Moving into the atrium, bulkheads with return ceilings lead into the lift lobbies on either side. These surfaces are lined with more SUPASLAT panels with the same substrate and finish. Here, the 2400 x 1200mm panels proposed on the shop drawings would have been too heavy and difficult to install, so SUPAWOOD divided 1200 into 3 pieces to keep the weight below 25kg per panel. The upturn return in bulkheads was supplied with 45-degree mitre on one end of all panels to ensure a neat return junction.

In some of the lift lobbies on higher floors, SUPACOUSTIC perforated acoustic ceiling panels provide effective noise reduction. Acoustic panels have also been applied in smaller waiting areas as well as the GP clinic and Dialysis reception areas.

This is the first project where SUPAWOOD supplied folded light boxes with their ceiling panelling. The client wanted the light boxes to sit flush with the slats. To achieve the design intent, light boxes were manufactured in different styles and sizes - the smaller sizes without cut-outs in the panels and the larger, rectangular light boxes with cut-outs in both the slats and in the backing board.

Northern Beaches Hospital marks the first newly built hospital in Sydney in 20 years. It is also the first hospital in NSW to receive a 4 Star Green Star rating. The building was also selected as a finalist for the 2018 Australian Construction Achievement Award (ACAA).

To know more about low VOC acoustic panels for Sydney Hospital, visit www.supawood.com.au.

Photography: John Gollings