360 Collins St, Melbourne

The complete transformation of the lobby and lounge areas at 360 Collins Street is markedly enhanced by the warmth and texture of the timber wall panels lining the 6-metre-high walls.

Solid American Walnut timber with a custom edge profile was originally specified but the BCA requirement of a fire group rating of Group 2 required a complete rethink of the materials that could be used without compromising the design. The europanel team’s creative solution well and truly met, and exceeded, that brief by creating the same design profile in a fire rated MDF substrate, vacuum formed in American Walnut crown cut veneer which not only met the Group 2 rating but also provided substantial cost savings.

An individual split batten shadow panel system was also engineered with all mounting blocks hidden from view which was crucial to the designer’s desire of creating a ‘floating’ panel aesthetic.

This was a complete supply and install project by the europanel team, resulting in the staged program dates being well and truly met.