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Geraldton, on the coast 400 kilometres north of
Perth, is home to Geraldton Senior College.
Established in 1939, the college was in need of
updating and CHRISTOU Design Group was
commissioned to undertake a series of upgrade
projects, commencing with a new library and cafe.
The brief required the new work to have a
contemporary aesthetic while respecting the
original campus buildings.The concrete-framed
structure is clad in rendered masonry to the lower
level, while the upper level is framed in structural
steel and clad in Terraçade terracotta facade
system.
Terraçade tiles are classified as Exposure Grade
and are therefore highly suitable for a saline
environment such as this.The choice of colour,
Tanami, reinterprets the school’s heritage character
and particularly the terracotta roofing. Despite the
harsh conditions, the finish of the facade tiles will
endure.
Intriguingly, the design picks up on Geraldton’s
maritime heritage with a portion of the building
cantilevered at a 60 degree angle, implying a
ship’s prow. From a distance, the building appears
to float above the ground.
Engineered details were developed to enable
Terraçade to be fixed in the cantilevered sections,
replacing the fibre cement sheeting originally
specified.Anti-lift-off angles were installed on every
tile in the cantilevered sections to prevent uplift
movement caused by dynamic wind loads.
Anti-rattle sponges were also installed to minimise
or eliminate rattling.These unique engineering
details were reviewed by Connell Wagner and
guaranteed by Austral Facades.
Externally, the former bitumen-paved quadrangle
was transformed into a green plaza, sheltered from
the prevailing sea breezes.The library and cafe
development at Geraldton Senior College creates
a more sophisticated and mature zone for
students who are on the verge of adulthood to
socialise and develop.
Geraldton Senior College