Thinking outside the square - St David 2

W hat could have been a big pre-cast concrete facade has been brilliantly animated with colour and subtle tonality. Designed for flexible use, the new four-level, $4.5 million St David 2, on St David Street in Dunedin, has opened its doors to University of Otago Departments and tenants associated with the campus.

Different shades of grey that grace the facade have been achieved by using a variety of zinc panels, sheet steel painted in Resene Imperite IF 503 Blast Grey and pre-cast panels painted in Lumbersider tinted to Resene Jon (charcoal grey). The treatment mimics the colour and texture found in the stone and slate used on the nearby CRI and University of Otago registry buildings. The colour depth and textural effect have been further enhanced by shadow patterns created by perforated white sunscreens.

Architect Tim Heath required a paint system for the steelwork that would retain the natural look and texture of freshly blasted steel while providing the ultimate protection against corrosion.

In developing the paint system for the steelwork, Heath, assisted by a Resene architectural representative, specified Resene Zinc Silicate Primer followed by Resene Fast-Dry, High-Build Epoxy for corrosion control.

A topcoat of Resene Imperite IF 503 Blast Grey was subsequently applied, reproducing the look of abrasive blasted steel.

Exterior pre-cast concrete panels meant sealing the substrate first with Resene Smooth Surface Sealer, providing the adhesion for Resene X-200 weathertight membrane while Resene Zylone Sheen and Resene Lustacryl were used in the interior teaching zones. Resene Aquapoxy and Resene Uracryl 402 were specified in the ablution areas.

Architect: Designgroup Salmond Anderson Heath
Builder: Naylor Love Construction
Painting Contractor: James Wren & Co

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