Australian manufacturing capabilities have been showcased in the construction of the St George Illawarra Dragons’ new Bruce Gordon Centre, with Tamar Windows manufacturing and installing the facility’s windows, doors and framing systems using Capral Aluminium’s AGS Commercial range.
Located at the University of Wollongong’s Innovation Campus, the high-performance centre combines training, administration, medical and rehabilitation facilities with sports science, education and community spaces. The project was designed by Populous and delivered by FDC Construction & Fitout.
According to Capral Aluminium, Tamar Windows worked with Capral, FDC Construction & Fitout and Populous to deliver a glazing package designed to meet the project’s architectural, acoustic and thermal requirements while maintaining the construction programme.
The package included Capral’s AGS 1029 Flushline Double Glazed 250mm, AGS 629 Flushline Double Glazed 150mm, AGS 419 Flushline Acoustic and AGS 225 Hinged Door systems.
The 250mm Flushline system was used in key feature areas, including the main entrance, where glazing panels reached up to 7.5 metres in height. Capral said the system’s framing capacity supported the fabrication and installation of the large-format glazing.
Tamar Windows general manager Aaron Pittman said the scale of the installation required additional engineering and coordination.
“The 250mm Flushline system was one of the defining features of the project,” Pittman said. “With glazing reaching 7.5 metres in height, the scale of the installation required custom extrusion lengths, detailed engineering coordination and close collaboration between Tamar Windows, Capral and the wider project team.”
The AGS 629 system was used throughout the facility, with Capral stating that it provided an acoustic rating of Rw (C;Ctr) 40 (-2;-6). The AGS 419 Flushline Acoustic system was also incorporated in selected areas to support sound control, while the AGS 225 Hinged Door system was installed throughout the building.
Capral said the project presented logistical and technical challenges, including the fabrication, transport and installation of large glazing elements, as well as coordination between multiple trades.
“Despite the complexity, the project was delivered on programme and achieved the architectural vision for this world-class facility,” Pittman said.
Capral said the completed project demonstrates the use of Australian-manufactured aluminium systems in a major commercial and sporting facility, with Tamar Windows responsible for fabrication and installation.
The Bruce Gordon Centre is intended to serve as a training and high-performance facility for the St George Illawarra Dragons while also providing facilities for the wider Illawarra community.
