MEC

Heritage Glass was contracted by Baulderstone to provide three main façade elements for this landmark project. Not only was the structure the largest point fixed façade in Australia, (measured at nine meters high and 500 meters long), it is a large free standing glass signage panel which incorporates all building and car park entrance doors, all with electronic security controls.

The façade presented the typical programming demands of such a large installation and was complex in terms of glass elements and the significant thermal movements of both the slab and steel members from which the glass was suspended. To combat this, Heritage Glass designed support brackets which incorporated a slide mechanism and allowed the substructure to move as the temperature varied, ensuring the glass remained static.

Glass sizes were generated using a computer model which allowed for greater accuracy and speed of installation. The Logia screen which faces Clarendon St was a bolt fixed glass installation, incorporating back painted glass to allow for backlighting. Installation was carried out using a large mast climber to allow the offset glass panels to be perfectly aligned. All the glass joints maintained a constant minimal gap to lessen the wind load on the structure.

The design for the doors called for vertical support elements, requiring the development and design of project specific extrusions and locking elements. 17 years later, the project has not experienced a single maintenance issue which is a testament to the quality control protocols in place for Heritage Glass projects.