Shadowclad case study: University of Western Sydney Village

Project:

University of Western Sydney Village

Product:

SHADOWclad®

Architect(s):

Architectus

One such project is the new UWS Village at the University of Western Sydney in Parramatta which opened its doors in February 2009 to throngs of students. Built to provide affordable self catered apartments, the village aims to offer a refreshing, stimulating and comfortable environment for students to live, study and socialise. Designed by Kerry Clare and her team at Architectus, the modern design, coloured feature walls and extensive use of environmentally sustainable products and practices appeal to and show understanding of today’s and tomorrow’s students. UWS Village consists of 13 separate buildings that are typically 3 storey and are predominantly made up of 5 and 6 bedroom apartments - this is recognised as the most successful model for creating good ‘share’ relationships.

The environmental principles and technologies employed by Architectus in the design of the UWS Village include cross ventilation to each individual bedroom and natural daylighting to all spaces, insulated walls and roofs, reverse masonry veneer walls, solar hot water, grey water reuse for the central laundry, orientation and sunshading. Shadowclad® lightweight cladding ‘fins’ top off the design on the third floors and minimise the impact of glare and radiant heat from the sun. As Kerry puts it, ‘Student housing needs robustness in its planning and materials. We used steel and fibre cement board for cladding to the lower floors and ‘softened’ each building with an expressive timber top level with overt Shadowclad sunshading. We then stained the Shadowclad in a variety of earthy colours to create diversity and identity.’

Even the paint chosen demonstrates the Architectus environmental policy - Resene Waterborne Woodsman colour range provided low VOC, rejuvenating stains in four rich colours which is not only long lasting but actually protects the Shadowclad substrate and it’s certified by Good Environmental Choice Australia.

Kerry states, ‘We have used Shadowclad for more than 20 years and it has always lent our projects a natural and durable quality that compliments the way we put our buildings together. It has its own aesthetic and has good environmental credentials.’ Shadowclad by Carter Holt Harvey is manufactured from 100% legally harvested plantation grown Radiata pine and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Chain of Custody certi?ed products are available on request. Shadowclad is available in sheets of coverage 1200 mm width and lengths of 2440, 2745 or 3050 mm with a ship lap weathergroove joint on the long edge of each sheet. Shadowclad is treated to H3 which protects the surface against rot and insect infestation. It can also be used for structural bracing when directly fixed to framing and can be supplied with a custom aluminium flashing system. The surface has a rough, band-sawn face and is available with either vertical grooves or with a textured finish, natural or pre-primed for painting. Shadowclad was selected for the UWS Village not just for it’s durability and environmental credentials but also for it’s capability of being enduring as an aesthetic.

Shadowclad has been used extensively on residential projects for many years due to its durability, insulative qualities and ease of installation. The UWS Village project demonstrates just how well it can be incorporated into commercial buildings and as Architectus have found, although not conventional, they can easily comply with fire safety measures. Forecasters suggest that the trend towards more environmentally sustainable commercial building is not just something to look forward to in the future, the time is now.

And for the students of UWS Village, the future also looks bright. Architectus has invested time, effort and research into making the new precinct as welcoming and comfortable as possible. They recognise that, ‘for students living away from home, it’s important that planning arrangements support living patterns to create privacy without seclusion and community without crowding.’ From well appointed living and dining areas that provide a ‘family’ atmosphere to individually cross ventilated bedrooms, even with the doors closed, the students are very well catered for. ‘Even the laundry has a large window to the street and is situated near the club room, so that washing day need not be a chore.’

Photo: Jiun Der Chung (B.Arch), courtesy?Architectus™