Corian cladding has been used in the construction of One One One Eagle St in Brisbane, setting a new benchmark in innovative office architecture.
Its design was inspired by the way plants grow upwards, towards the light, with branches weaving themselves around the structure, providing an organic feel to the building.
With versatile application, Corian from CASF Australia was selected for the exterior cladding material of the V columns on the building to provide a seamless flowing appearance of the base root structure of the design.
CASF Australia director Craig Smith says with the large scale Corian exterior applications in the European market, CASF was confident in recommending the right fixing solutions for the Corian V columns at One One One Eagle St.
“This included an H section aluminium sub-frame system, coupled with an undercut keel anchor where we were able to attach the C clamp to then install the Corian on to the aluminium sub-frame.
“So this became the foundation fixing solution for commercial facades to meet the design brief.”
Commercial Facade Australia construction engineer Richard Lee says consideration had to be given to the thermal movement of the product on the V columns.
“We had to give consideration to the sheet size. A great deal of consideration had to be given to the wind loading and the engineering of such a sub-frame, but we also had the added task of having to fire proof the columns.” 
Additionally, Corian was used as cladding material on the internal staircase and escalators.
Arden Architectural Staircases CEO Jim Browne says they had to build the stair structure in the factory with it occupying 40sqm and a height of more than eight metres. ARUP Engineers helped with the design.
“In the end we assembled [the staircase] here in the factory, then we had to disassemble it. Then each module had to be cladded in Corian. We didn’t have quite as many control joints allowed, so we had to do those in six metre panels.
“So what we did was build a sub-frame – a relatively light-weight steel sub-frame – then we used squirrel fixings from the inside. We basically used the squirrel fixings through a steel plate that had an oversized hole in it. That allowed the Corian to move thermally, if it felt the need.” 
Smith says, “Corian was originally invented as a benchtop material, but in more recent times, architects and designers across the globe have pushed the boundaries of use due to its versatility and seamless appearance. It’s particularly lending itself well to interior and exterior cladding applications. That journey is only just beginning.”
