2024 Archive : Metro Sports Facility (Parakiore) – Acoustic/Plenum Panels

Project Details

Fabric 1

Serge Ferrari Alphalia AW
Producer/Manufacturer: Serge Ferrari North America Inc.
Primary Use: Main Fabric

Fabric 2

Serge Ferrari 502s2
Producer/Manufacturer: Serge Ferrari North America Inc.
Primary Use: Secondary Fabric

Fabric 3

Custom Made Tensioning Extrusion
Producer/Manufacturer: PPS HK Ltd
Primary Use: Hardware/Findings

Fabric 4

Fasteners
Producer/Manufacturer: Blacks Fasteners - Sth Island
Primary Use: Hardware/Findings

Design Name
Greg Thomas

Design Company
Wade Design Engineers

Please describe the project specifications

We were tasked with designing, engineering, procuring and installation a custom ceiling panel solution that provided both an acoustic solution along the underside of the panel (facing the pools) as well as a solid membrane for a plenum on the top side.
The brief was that the ceiling could not sag or look like a series of sails, meaning the look and feel is like a series of rigid rectangular panels (approx. 150 panels in total), creating a more uniform ceiling system. These panels were all varying in sizes (max. 5mx9m) and also had to be installed around a series of skylights to allow light into the pool areas. We would describe the look and feel as a scaled up version of traditional acoustic 'office' ceiling tiles.

What is unique or complex about the project?

We have entered this project as this was the first of its kind in NZ with the rigid panel look and feel. This meant considerable R&D was required as well as procurement of unique custom panel tensioning system from China.
Essentially we had to design, engineer, then get a unique dye made for the panel extrusion system from China, then order approx. 4,000LM of the extrusion at 9m lengths. The tensioning extrusion was designed to carry two PVC skins (acoustic and solid) and be externally tensioned using a frame.
Then on site, each of the 150 panels had to be individually assembled and lifted in place from a bird cage scaffolding up to 20m above ground level. As with a lot of these large scale projects there was considerable programme delays, (some due to Covid) meaning we had to leave site on multiple occasions, with the overall project taking over 4 years to complete. This meant considerable challenges with the main contractor in regard to variations for time, considerable cost increases (inflation) over this period, we finally completed this project in May 2024.

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