Kangan Institute’s Broadmeadows Health and Community Centre of Excellence

Melbourne, Victoria

Architect: Architectus
Contractor: Ccon Construction
Product Details: Troldtekt Line Design 11 in black and white

Background

Set to open in 2025, Kangan Institute’s new Broadmeadows Health and Community Centre of Excellence (HACCOE) represents a significant investment in the future of healthcare and community services education. The project – funded by the Victorian Government, designed by Architectus and brought to life by Ccon Construction – was born out of the necessity for innovative learning models during the pandemic. As such, the Broadmeadows campus has been designed to facilitate a blended learning approach, where simulation labs and immersive spaces complement online learning. The building is a bold architectural statement, featuring light-filled atria and interactive learning environments spread over three levels. Its design prioritises engagement and hands-on experience, with all learning spaces designed to encourage interactions and put theory into practice. “ Troldtekt cement-bonded wood wool acoustic panels are high-performing, flexible and versatile. Plus, they boast unique creative potential, which made them an ideal solution for this project.”

Challenges

Realising this future-forward educational vision brought a unique set of design considerations. Because of the multi-faceted nature of the project, it was essential to create an environment that was not only aesthetically engaging but also offered superior acoustic performance, ensuring comfort and appropriate conditions for collaboration and learning. This was particularly relevant in the larger, immersive spaces designed to cater to a diverse range of activities, which run the risk of creating serious noise disruption. At the same time, balancing these design aspirations with budgetary constraints – a common consideration in educational, public and community projects – added another layer of complexity. And, of course, ensuring the safety of occupants meant adhering to strict fire regulations.

“Troldtekt cement-bonded wood wool acoustic panels are high-performing, flexible and versatile. Plus, they boast unique creative potential, which made them an ideal solution for this project.”

Solution

To meet this layered plethora of requirements, Himmel, an Australian distributor of Troldtekt ceilings and wall panels, delivered a solution centred around the innovative Troldtekt Line Design 11 acoustic panel system.

“It was important to have a design solution that fused refined aesthetic and exceptional acoustic performance,” says Grant Lindsay, CSR’s Specification Manager. “Troldtekt cement-bonded wood wool acoustic panels are high-performing, flexible and versatile. Plus, they boast unique creative potential, which made them an ideal
solution for this project.”

Troldtekt Line Design has milled grooves in the surface and overlapping edges on all sides, and when the panels are joined together, they create a seamless surface, allowing their signature linear pattern to take centre stage. “The design of the panels facilitates a more interesting, batten-like effect,” Grant says. “Something that goes beyond a standard flat ceiling.”

The Troldtekt Line Design 11 acoustic panels, specified in black and white, yield a captivating pattern across walls and ceilings, bringing a sense of dynamism to the interiors. The pared-back colour palette is augmented by  the rhythmical cadence of the grooves, which adds visual interest to the traditionally non-dimensional surfaces. The batten-like shape lends itself to seamless integration with other elements of the fit-out – including linear lighting fixtures – while the wood wool finish of the panels imbues the interiors with natural softness.

Alongside their outstanding design flexibility, the panels proved to be the ideal solution to effectively absorb sound, minimise reverberation and create a more comfortable acoustic environment. And because the system offers varying levels of sound absorption, it enabled the tailoring of acoustic performance to specific areas, optimising cost efficiency without compromising performance. “With Troldtekt products, you pay for what you need,” Grant says.

In addition, Troldtekt’s unique cement construction provides a Group One fire rating, the highest possible for internal applications. “One of the critical things for educational and community centres is that we need to keep buildings safe from a fire perspective,” Grant emphasises. Being able to meet the highest available fire rating with Troldtekt means projects can achieve a stunning timber aesthetic without the need for costly sprinkler systems, ensuring both safety and budgetary compliance.

With outstanding acoustic comfort and a captivating, modern aesthetic, the Broadmeadows campus emerges as an inviting and immersive environment conducive to improved educational outcomes. However, Himmel’s high-performing and fire-safe solution doesn’t simply address the Centre’s functional challenges – by elevating the appeal of the space while successfully addressing sound absorption, the panels showcase their potential not only to help create better learning conditions but also to foster a powerful and enduring sense of community.