The Calyx Sydney Botanic Garden, NSW

In the South Western Corner of Sydney’s Botanic garden is “The Calyx” a unique horticultural display and education centre. Built around the site of the original Arc Glasshouse, the innovative and sustainable structure is the result of a prestigious design competition awarded to McGregor Coxall in collaboration with PTW Architects and Cockram Constructions. Opened in June 2016, the new facility has already become an iconic landmark.

The Calyx is a giant changing space for events, exhibitions and displays. The building is multi-use and houses the largest changeable interior green wall anywhere in the Southern hemisphere. One of the most significant design challenges was creating spaces that were ideal for plants and comfortable for people. Extensive research was undertaken on the glazing to ensure the best environmental performance for required light transmission for plant growth. Automated louvres by Safetyline Jalousie and vertically opening skylights by EBSA Mechanical contribute to the thermal control and superior architectural asthetics. Rather than operating as a standalone system, the louvres connect to the Building management System (BMS). Installed at high level, they are programmed to open and exhaust heated air. Even in the event of a power outage, the louvres failsafe to an open position. The Calyx accommodates a range of horticultural exhibitions, which change with the seasons so the louvres play an instrumental part in ensuring that optimum conditions are maintained for the garden all year round.

BMS technology is becoming increasingly popular in modern building design. Safetyline Jalousie louvre windows have recently been chosen above other louvre types for various commercial and education projects as they can easily, acting as a slave, be incorporated into the existing or any new BMS rather than having to be run as another separate stand alone system. This enhanced functionality offers a sophisticated mixed-mode ventilation solution that can be used and certified fully compliant as part of a complete failsafe solution for fire mode / smoke exhaust / relief air / stair pressurisation purposes. Alternatively Safeyline Jalousie louvres and motors can be a stand-alone mechanical ventilation system utilising sensors for wind / rain / temperature / timers / humidity / pinch sensors and more.

Project Specifications

Height – 1274mm (9 Blades)
Width – 902mm
Colour/Finish – Dulux Shimmering Champagne 3116K
Louvres – 6mm Clear Toughened
Operation – Motorised LA Drives