A recent ‘Get The Bigger Picture’ initiative gathers HASSELL+OMA Architects and Multiplex to design and build a world class destination. The WA State Government hopes to showcase its heritage with iconic state collections in this modern facility.
Working with the ceiling and wall contractor, Ceilcon, Rondo provided the internal wall designs which required more complex and specialised solutions due to the weight of artworks, the height of the walls, and the necessity for maximising the allowable floor space of the gallery.
There were various challenges associated with this project including; achieving wall heights between a big 6-9 meters, as well as a limited wall space that required internal stud frame walls to be no greater than 92mm, and accept potential loadings of 100kg which could be supported 500mm off the wall. Rondo Engineers understood these challenges and designed a stronger steel wall frame using the Rondo MAXIjamb®, which are produced from hi tensile steel with a base metal thickness of 1.20 for added strength.
The Museum was categorised as ‘Building Importance Level 3’ which therefore required seismic loading to be considered. For the ceilings, Rondo Engineers designed our KEY-LOCK® Seismic Ceiling System to support the BASWA acoustic ceiling system. Plenum bracing solutions were introduced in many areas of the project due to the seismic design requirements. Rondo had an early technical involvement with a long-term Rondo customer, Ceilcon, and throughout the project Rondo helped onsite to overcome challenges while providing services and solutions in collaboration with the ceiling and wall contractor and the project design team.