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Enhancing Façade Performance Through Lysaght’s Material Expertise

Lysaght

The NSW Government’s $890 million John Hunter Health and Innovation Precinct is one of the most significant healthcare infrastructure projects ever delivered in regional New South Wales. Designed by BVN and built by Multiplex in partnership with Health Infrastructure and Hunter New England Health District, the landmark 7-storey Acute Services Building is at the heart of the precinct.

Responding to the project’s ambition to create a steel façade that reflected the surrounding landscape while meeting the functional demands of a major healthcare facility, Lysaght provided material selection guidance, colour development support, product supply and logistics coordination throughout the delivery process.“Working closely with architects, specifiers, and designers in order to achieve the best product solution to meet the architectural intent has been the absolute focus,” said Will Pereyra, Business Development Manager for Lysaght’s Design Solutions Group.

The façade features several Lysaght® cladding profiles, most prominently, LYSAGHT HORIZON® a dual-layer system that contrasts a flat steel outer protective skin with a trapezoidal internal backing layer, to deliver a wider, smoother, and overall sturdier panel. The project also featured cladding from the LYSAGHT ZENITH® range, including DOMINION®, SNAPSEAM® and ENSEAM®.

The Lysaght profiles were manufactured from Australian Made COLORBOND® steel, featuring custom organic finishes in Glenwood Green™, Fallen Gumnut™, and Wild Fawn™, chosen to blend seamlessly with the natural environment.

Sustainability considerations were embedded from material selection through to façade performance. ResponsibleSteel™ certified steel manufactured by BlueScope, roll-formed by Lysaght, provides independently verified environmental and social performance data, while the external steel skin contributed to solar control objectives as part of the building envelope strategy, supporting the Hunter New England Local Health District’s target to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.

Precision logistics were central to the project’s success. The Lysaght cladding was custom-processed and routed through BlueScope’s Tomago Distribution hub to regional fabrication partners, enabling sequential deliveries timed to match the crane and assembly schedule on site. It was this level of coordination, supported by the Lysaght Team, that kept one of the state’s most complex health builds on programme.

The completed façade demonstrates the value of early collaboration, considered material selection and coordinated supply in delivering a complex architectural outcome for a major healthcare facility.

For more information about Lysaght products or to locate your local Lysaght branch, visit lysaght.com



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Co-ordinated Facade Delivery Across a Multi-builind Programme

Seven Facade

Successful façade delivery depends on more than product selection, it requires contractors who can manage complexity, coordinate multiple trades and systems, and maintain quality at scale without compromising programme outcomes.

Established in 2021 by two carpenters with extensive installation experience, Seven Facade delivers integrated roofing and cladding solutions across the ACT region. Based in Queanbeyan, the company specialises in external roofing and cladding, bringing an end-to-end capability that takes a project from subframe setup through to final panel install under one roof.

At MIO in Googong, a high-volume multi-building residential development, Seven Facade applied their delivery model, with the team managing multiple buildings simultaneously while maintaining a consistent, high-quality finish across the entire development.

“The biggest challenge on MIO was the number of buildings being delivered at the same time,” said Director Hayden Birch. “Maintaining consistency across every block while keeping pace with the construction programme comes down to people, systems and communication.”

The product specification played an important role in achieving both the architectural vision and programme efficiency. Lysaght Trimdek steel sheeting provided a clean, durable profile across the larger façade areas. Fairview Genesis pre-finished panels were used to create the concrete-look feature blades that wrap around sections of the complex, forming a picture frame effect that gives the buildings depth, definition, and a striking visual identity.

“The Genesis panels arriving pre-finished as a concrete-look product was a major advantage,” explained Director Rory Stokes. “It eliminated the need for additional finishing trades and helped keep the programme moving.”

The contrast between the two systems was as effective both practically and aesthetically.

Handling the full scope, from wall wraps and waterproofing through to final cladding, gave the project team a single point of accountability and minimised the risk of issues falling through the cracks between trades.

That end-to-end philosophy traces directly back to the company’s origins. Founders Hayden and Rory started the business as working carpenters, and that trade background continues to shape every project they take on.

“Rory and I started out installing cladding themselves, we understand what’s required to deliver a quality façade, not just at the installation stage but from the very beginning,” Hayden said.

“That trade background gives us a practical approach to problem-solving. We understand buildability, sequencing and what builders need from their subcontractors to keep projects moving.”

“A big part of that is preparation,” Rory said. “Wall wraps, waterproofing, thermal bridging, R-values and ensuring the substrate is straight and ready for installation are all critical. We know that getting the basics right is what delivers a quality finished product.”

Seven Facade Directors Rory Stokes (left) and Hayden Birch (right), at MIO in Googong.

As the business has grown, that hands-on mindset has remained constant. Seven Façade has invested heavily in its people, systems, and project management processes. They have strengthened their leadership team and created greater structure around operations, procurement, and site delivery without losing the agility and personal accountability that defined the company from day one.

Rory remains a regular presence on site, working closely with supervisors and the Construction Manager to ensure workmanship, safety, and programme commitments are consistently met.

With the business on track to double in size and revenue this year, and a pipeline that includes Watson Health Hub, Winnunga, Elm Lane, The Heather, and The Googong Hotel, the growth trajectory is significant. Directors Hayden and Rory are clear that scaling will never come at the cost of standards. “Quality remains non-negotiable. Whether it’s MIO or a smaller project, the expectation is exactly the same.”

Seven Facade’s goal is straightforward, to keep working with builders who value quality, collaboration, and long-term partnerships.

For more information contact Seven Facade, phone 02 6297 3552 website 7facade.com.au




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