In some parts of our industry, the timber aesthetic has become synonymous with luxury. It seems as though every high-end residential project relies heavily upon the beauty of timber detailing, while public sector projects have to make do with lower-cost materials.
Hastings Boys’ High School, however, tells another story.
This school was opened in 1904, back when King Edward VII was our Head of State and motor cars were still something of a novelty. It continued to educate students through the entirety of the 20th century, stood strong through two global wars, and transitioned into the digital era with aplomb.Still, nothing makes it through time unscathed. The school recently made the decision to demolish the English and Mathematics Learning Block that had been built in the 1970’s and replace it with a new 1001m2 building. This project was awarded to DCA Architects.
It would have been easy for DCA Architects to stick to the same old linoleum-fibreglass-drywall trifecta, producing a cookie-cutter school environment indistinguishable from other public buildings. However, this would not have been appropriate for a school with such rich heritage and such a strong role in the local community.
Instead, DCA Architects opted to tap into timber, turning to Featurecraft for our signature architectural ceiling systems.
Safety was obviously foremost amidst the architects’ concerns, given that the building would host young students. Fortunately, Featurecraft’s team knows exactly how to achieve code compliance without sacrificing aesthetics. We supplied fire-rated plywood panels for the school’s interior ceilings, creating visual tranquillity to balance the hustle and bustle of school life. These panels had slot perforations to optimise the acoustic performance of the space, and our team arranged them to enhance the overall appearance of the ceiling grid.
A good architect leaves no detail unattended, and DCA Architects certainly did not skimp on their visuals. When it came to the building’s exterior, they again tapped Featurecraft to provide decorative plywood. We supplied V-grooved panels with a paint finish for the exterior soffit. Not only were the faces of the panels painted, but we went one step further and blackened the edges too, creating a sober, streamlined look that reflected the dignity of this institution.
While we’d traditionally make use of birch plywood, in this case we switched to radiata pine for a more economical approach that was sensitive to the budget of this education sector project.
Timber is a part of our natural world; it shouldn’t be inaccessible to budget-conscious environments. That’s why Featurecraft offers such a diverse portfolio of products, from cost-effective plywood panels to one-of-a-kind pieces: we believe that every project deserves to benefit from the magic touch of a little timber.
