a passion providing a new lease on life

With an increasing focus on environmental awareness and sustainability, the use of recycled timber is becoming an increasingly attractive option among builders, developers, architects, and the like.

Kennedy's has a great passion for providing a new lease on life to recycled timber. Being able to recognise the remarkable potential and beauty in such a unique commodity is at the very heart of the Kennedy's business.

The thoughtful and often stunning employment of Kennedy's timbers can be seen in many award-winning commercial and residential developments across Australia.

Kennedy's was recently contacted by Matt Chaplin, of Sumich Chaplin Architects in New Zealand, to provide a range of recycled timber to exacting specifications. These products were earmarked for use in a landmark residential development located in the picturesque South Island township of Wanaka.

Sumich Chaplin were commissioned to design a magnificent chalet situated on Lake Wanaka to take full advantage of the wonderful vistas afforded by the surrounding lake and hills.

An extensive search took place, both locally and internationally, for a supplier who could provide the architectural timber required for a project of this calibre.

This search ultimately led Sumich Chaplin to Kennedy's. So impressed with the quality of the timber, notable product knowledge, vast skill set and expertise offered by Kennedy's, Sumich Chaplin placed further orders including a request for architectural truss timbers.

Using real time photos and electronic links the clients were able to hand select the timbers from the impressive range Kennedy's had to offer without having to visit.

The hand selected bespoken and richly patinaed timbers were prefabricated by the Kennedy's joinery team to the very detailed architectural and engineering design requirements.

Once fabricated, photographed, labelled and recorded the trusses were disassembled, labelled and flat packed for delivery to New Zealand for a quick and easy installation on-site. In all, deliveries of timber to the project site have totalled 2 X 40ft and 1 X 20ft shipping containers.

This signature architectural project will be showcased in a future edition of AGAINST the Grain

Architect: www.sumich.co.nz

kennedy's creates calm

Located in the inner city suburb of Kedron, the new Queensland Emergency Operations Centre (QEOC) is a world-class, best practice, management facility provisioning all coordination and communication for the State's emergency and disaster response efforts.

With staff often faced with highly charged and stressful situations, the incorporation of cutting edge technology within an environment promoting calm, organisation, and efficiency was a primary goal for architects, and principal consultants, Architectus.

In any workplace that relies heavily on technological infrastructure there is always a danger of the environment becoming sterile, with a focus on efficiencies over aesthetics. This is not the case for QEOC however.

Architectus, well known for excellence in design and construction, chose Kennedy's timber for use extensively throughout this development.

QEOC has been designed with a 'campus' style feel featuring a number of courtyards composed of generous timber decks. These spaces provide an important 'retreat' for staff away from the Centre's operational spaces.

The recycled hardwood used for timber screens and decks was not only a strategy for sustainability, but also provides for a calm and enclosing feel which was seen as important to these break out spaces. All timber used throughout the development was of Class 1 durability (graded to RFG1).

Internally, timber lined pods create a sense of warmth while also providing effective noise dampening. From the quiet meeting rooms to the open, flow through spaces, workers enjoy encompassing vistas enriched by the tranquility rendered by Kennedy's recycled timber.

The end result is a building that exudes a unique organic feel, providing nurturing and humanised spaces appropriate to the look and feel of the subtropical environment of South East Queensland.

The QEOC also boasts extremely high environmental standards having been awarded a 5-star Green Star design certification rating from the Green Building Council of Australia.

Incorporated systems include full water recycling, on-site power generation, and several energy reduction initiatives including displacement air conditioning, task air and task lighting.

Feature Timber:

• All timber Class 1 durability recycled hardwood RFG1 grading
• 7.5 kilometres of precision profiled K-Battens
• 850 square metres of pre-fabricated recycled hardwood screening
• 1230 square metres of precision profiled commercial decking
• A selection of purpose built exterior seating
• A wide selection of seasoned structural timber

Project Details:

Client: Queensland Government, Department of Community Safety

Location: Kedron, QLD

Approx. Value: $50m + $25m ICT

Area: 6200m2

Links:

www.architectus.com.au

www.hutchinsonbuilders.com.au