Sign of the future

THE distinctive prow dominating the front entrance to Sylvia Park is not only eye-catching but acknowledges the site's rich history as a Maori settlement for many hundreds of years.

For Symonite New Zealand, the supplier, fabricator and installer of the aluminium composite panels used to clad the prow, designing and building this feature was a huge technical feat.

Ben Heald, partner at Symonite, says at the beginning of the project, his team met with the architects, owner and contractor to ascertain how its technical capabilities and experience could help develop custom solutions for each area of Sylvia Park. Symonite then prepared project-specific workshop drawings for design approval, taking into account the complex architectural nature of the project.

"These helped us to identify potential cost-saving opportunities through efficient design and panel usage. In this way, our design and specification team could guide the project through all stages and guarantee the final result," he says.

Symonite's aluminium panels, in several colours and cut into a variety of shapes, are used as cladding on walls, fascias and soffits throughout the project, as well as on the prow.

"By taking advantage of the range of colours and the many dimensional possibilities, the architects have been able to achieve a subtle and creative design for the exterior of Sylvia Park," says Heald.

For more information, contact Symonite New Zealand, PO Box 12 400, Penrose, Auckland 1642, phone (09) 570 7077, fax (09) 574 6910. Email: b.heald@symonite.co.nz, or visit the website: www.symonite.co.nz.

Story by: Trendsideas