Several products from Architectural Window Systems were specified by the architect of the new purpose-built Dorrigo Health and Wellbeing Centre in Dorrigo to help achieve clear environmental objectives.

Located in rural Australia, Dorrigo has often been challenged by the need to attract much-needed doctors to the region, provide employment for the community, and offer training opportunities to its younger residents. The new medical centre owes its existence to the very generous legacy of former builder Cyril Cork.

The project brief for architecture firm Regional Architects Pty Ltd was to create a future-proofed, environmentally-sustainable community medical centre. With the focus on maximising the use of locally available material, labour and trades, the project used local timber throughout, with local suppliers providing almost all other materials.

Having already used AWS products extensively in the past for their thermal efficiency, robust low-maintenance design, reliability, quality commercial finish, and environmental sustainability, Regional Architects, in consultation with fabricator, SGA Architectural Window Solutions, achieved the desired U-values and solar heat gain co-efficient numbers using a combination of Viridian’s new range of Lightbridge Low-E IGUs, and AWS Designer and Commercial Series framing systems.

The final design outcome of the Dorrigo Health and Wellbeing Centre was stunning, and helped the project win the coveted Australian Institute of Architects NSW Country Division Award for Commercial and Public Architecture 2016, as well as the NSW Country Division Termimesh Award 2016. The medical centre was also a finalist in the NSW Business Chamber Awards for Excellence in Sustainability and Excellence in Innovation.

Photographer: Coastal Media