Perth Cultural Centre Heritage Restoration Library Hall & Lantern 2018-2019

LIBRARY LANTERN: Repair of original rosettes and replacement of pressed metal border frieze. LIBRARY HALL: Removal of pressed metal elements, each numbered and catalogued and reinstalled.

2018 - 2019

Perth, Western Australia

LIBRARY LANTERN Scope of contacting works; Repair of original rosettes and replacement of pressed metal border frieze. National Pressed Metal (the contracting arm of Australian Pressed Metal) & Perth Pressed Metal worked closely with Heritage Architects & builder Multiplex on the restoration and redevelopment of the heritage listed buildings in the Perth Cultural Centre, part of a state heritage precinct with buildings dating back to the 1890’s Gold Rush. The relocation of the Library lantern skylight was a unique achievement in engineering. The whole structural integrity of the ceiling needed to be preserved and the entire ceiling was cut away, lifted and connected and suspended to the new roof structure by Mutiplex. Repair work to the lantern was carried out by National Pressed Metal restoring the original rosettes and replacing the border frieze using the original Paddington design. LIBRARY HALL Scope of contacting works; Removal of pressed metal elements, each numbered and catalogued and reinstalled. National Pressed Metal (the contracting arm of Australian Pressed Metal) & Perth Pressed Metal worked closely with Heritage Architects & builder Multiplex on the restoration and redevelopment of the heritage listed buildings in the Perth Cultural Centre, part of a state heritage precinct with buildings dating back to the 1890’s Gold Rush. Initial works to the heritage listed Library Hall by National Pressed Metal and Perth Pressed Metal included removal of sections of the existing original pressed metal panels with each individual piece numbered and catalogued including cornice, rails, border friezes and panels in preparation for seismic construction works to be carried out over 3 storeys. With sections of the existing pressed metal removed and preserved, seismic needling was installed over the 3 levels of the library hall. A new contemporary linked walk bridge was built and installed across the entire span of the library hall at first floor level. National Pressed Metal unpicked the pressed metal panels in preparation of the bridge being installed and were required to reinstate the ceiling, cornice, rails, border friezes, corbels etc. that had previously been numbered and catalogued, with a 10mm shadow line, all cut freehand, to give the ceiling an ultramodern edge. All existing pressed metal panels, rails, cornice etc. were then reinstalled and tailored to fit around new structural elements. Panel designs used in the hall are still manufactured and available today including; Tivoli, Jasmine, Wild Berries and Queen of Hearts. Some of the challenges of this restoration included working at heights (up to 18 metres in height), working around seismic constructural elements and removal and reinstallation of original pressed metal panels, cornice, rails and border friezes.