Carter Holt Harvey's Hyspan LVL truss tops off the National Portrait Gallery
The under-construction National Portrait Gallery in Canberra will
provide a magnificent, permanent home for 500 portraits of people who have shaped
and continue to shape Australia. The stunning, single level design was selected
from an open, international architecture, competition won by Johnson Pilton Walker
(JPW).
The design features vast open spaces, inviting public areas and lofty ceilings with
an arresting roof structure. According to JPW, "it draws inspiration from Canberra's
climate and unique natural light, the essential character of many Australian rural
structures, the institution's art collection and purpose: to increase the understanding
of the Australian people... through portraiture."
In creating the vast spaces for the building, Architect Graeme Dix of JPW was keen
to maximise the use of timber in the roof structure. This presented a challenge.
Initially specified with hardwood glulam beams, Bernie Wilson of Trussme Truss
Fabricators recommended they be replaced with Hyspan® Structural LVL. Massive
financial savings were the result and a simpler construction of the roof forms.
Carter Holt Harvey needed to put on a special run of Hyspan for this gigantic order
amounting to over 250 cubic metres supplied through Meyer Structalam. Trussme regularly
use Hyspan in trusses as it is one of a few LVL products certified for truss applications
by nail plate manufacturer Mitek. And as Architect Dix puts it, "Hyspan is dimensionally
stable. The tolerances are good."
John Holland project manager, Paul Van der Plaat has also used Hyspan a number of times
before, "it's good to work with, quite easy." And with the amount of Hyspan on site,
that's just as well. The enormous roof structure was trucked on to site and craned into
position partially assembled - quite a task. The lighter weight of LVL was another benefit
and as Van de Plaat points out, "we could get better spans using Hyspan, with reduced
section sizes." And reduced sections means reduced weight, time and costs.
It's good to know that the new face of portraiture in Australia is also environmentally
aware. Hyspan is produced from 100% plantation pine. And 100% of every tree is used,
making it a better product for the future. Let's hope this is the face of things to come.
For further information contact:
Carter Holt Harvey
phone: 1300 658 828
web: www.chhpanels.com.au
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