SPANTECH LONGREACH specified for a complex regional airport upgrade

STEA Architects designed the new Lord Howe Island Airport Terminal, a very remote regional airport.

The terminal caters for two simultaneous Dash 8 aircraft with a seating capacity of 30 passengers each. While only a relatively small building, the terminal provides an appropriate and unique gateway to this spectacular world heritage destination. So STEA were seeking a bold statement for the roof.

The roof had to be an aluminium roofing system to withstand the highly corrosive island environment. The supplier also had to meet the logistic challenges for the remote project. Panel length and weight limitations applied to all materials being shipped from the mainland. The design and installation had to account for the limited construction resources on the island.

STEA and Spantech had successfully collaborated on a number of challenging aviation projects in the past. So while they considered other roofing profiles, STEA specified the Spantech Longreach 650 in aluminium for the main roof.

The ceiling is also made with the Spantech Longreach profile, this time in a perforated aluminium. Both the roof and ceiling was provided in the 650mm cover width and manipulated on site to the required cover.

The Longreach solution proved more affordable than alternatives. The spans achieved with Spantech Longreach were superior, particularly in aluminium, with 2.5m cantilever eaves achieved. Spantech also assisted with the design and delivery of bespoke fittings and connections.

Spantech’s unique ability to meet the construction deadline was another paramount consideration for STEA.

SITE LIMITATIONS

As the maximum panel length was just over 9m, Spantech devised a method to join the Spantech Longreach panels. Spantech created a personalised video to help train the roofing plumbers and ensure the profiles were installed correctly and remained strong and waterproof.

LIGHT WEIGHT CONSTRUCTION

The frame of the building is timber, much of it recycled. Spantech’s Engineer devised a method to fix the Spantech Longreach profiles securely to the timber beams with a series of pre-cut timber blocks and coach bolts. The solution is simple to build, cost effective and makes the Lord Howe Island Airport Terminal aesthetically pleasing.

SPECIFICATION

Profile: Longreach 650
Cover widths: 600mm, 620mm and 745mm.
Material Grade: 5251-H34 aluminium
BMT: 1.6mm thick
Finishes:
- Roof and Gutters: Embossed aluminium
- Ceiling: Perforated and embossed aluminium

Client
Lord Howe Island Board

Location
Lord Howe Island, Australia

Architects
Steve Turner, STEA Architects

Principal Contractor
Spantech

Products
Longreach 650 - embossed aluminium and perforated embossed aluminium