St Pius X High School

‘We provided a quote to Reitsma Constructions, who we’ve worked with extensively in the past, and won the project,’ says Leigh Spinks, Managing Director of PCW Commercial Windows. ‘We’d already done a string of major projects together, so it was great to work with Reitsma again on such an interesting project.’

The supply and installation of the window and door suites at the new St Pius X High School Library in Adamstown, New South Wales, was a career highlight for both the builder and the PCW Windows team. ‘Being judged the winner of the 2018 Master Builders Association’s ‘Commercial Projects $3m–$6m category has made us extremely proud,’ Leigh remembers. ‘There was a genuine need to use top-quality products for this demanding brief, and we naturally chose a range of Capral window and door systems. The quality of our work, combined with the installation of the Capral window and door systems, obviously contributed to the project receiving this coveted industry award and subsequent recognition.’

The new library was completed in February 2018, after what proved to be a massive undertaking. ‘St Pius X was an extremely challenging – though ultimately rewarding – assignment,’ Leigh remembers. ‘To meet the architect’s intricate design brief, we had to customise a solution by working in close collaboration with the builder.’

The bespoke library (and adjacent classrooms) features a high proportion of purpose-built Capral window and door units throughout. ‘Nothing was standard for this project; everything had to be custom-built,’ Leigh notes. ‘Fortunately, we had extensive support from Capral’s technical team, who ensured we’d nailed every element of the specifications before proceeding.’

As the photos reveal, the impressive glazing and framing work used throughout the building showcases the experience and skill of the PCW Commercial Windows team along with the capacities of the Capral systems. ‘In one example, there was a large expanse of oversized glazing panels specified on the south and west orientations to maximise the outlook, a challenge which the Capral St Kilda suite handled perfectly,’ Leigh says.

The physical properties of Capral’s range of window and door suites aligned perfectly with the architect’s demands. ‘The architect wanted extremely slimline framing, to maximise visibility and minimise visual obstruction,’ says Leigh. ‘The glass façade’s Capral 419 Flushline window suites were combined with Viridian Low-E toughened and laminated glazing systems.’

The project’s customised nature required an intensively practical approach. ‘The job was hands-on and site-specific,’ Leigh confirms. ‘As we couldn’t fabricate the components in the factory, most of the work had to be constructed onsite.’

‘The Capral 419 Flushline window suites were all glazed onsite, which was a big ask,’ Leigh says. ‘The constraints on the sloping block were very high. All access was via boom lifts, and the 150kg glazed panels had to be craned into place.

‘We also used Capral 12mm frameless pivot doors, which worked perfectly with the massive glazed panels. The new classrooms used Capral EL1671 extruded aluminium louvers and Capral AGS 480 Series sliding windows – another aspect which contributed to the project winning the Master Builder Commercial Project award. It’s a smart-looking building!’

Based on the stunning photos, that’s a significant understatement.