Timber was used in this project to form an external sunscreen of fixed full height vertical timber blades which control the western sun and the sight lines along the façade providing filtered views into and out of the building.

The key to the design solution was simplicity. The building is 9m tall and it was important to use an element that would span the full height rather than break it down into framed panelling.

Blades made from mixed Australian hardwoods in the form of custom made laminated Hyne beams were used. This timber is sourced from legally harvested plantations in north Queensland. The result is a solid timber blade 800mm wide x 85mm thick x 9m tall with bevelled ends. The main roof of the building is supported separately by a steel framed structure, leaving the blades to support their own weight. The simplicity of this solution also meant that no additional metal framing or processes were required for these panels and these monolithic forms become inherently structural and decorative.

At the entry, a load bearing folded timber portal frame supports the remaining 4.5m high timber blades as well as a translucent canopy.

Inside the building, a recycled timber screen forms a shroud over the main stair. This is made from continuous unjointed 8m tall recycled ironbark telegraph poles sourced by Nash Timbers.

The flooring to the internal central circulation corridors are made of Boral Silkwood Australiana Grade spotted gum engineered flooring directly fixed to the concrete slab.

External cladding on the East Elevation is Shadowclad texture finish supplied by Carter Holt Harvey

Being a fitness centre, timber was the natural choice, not only providing warmth and texture to the building but also a sense of health and wellbeing to the patrons.