Melbourne Convention Centre Achieves a World First with Help from Laminex

The Melbourne Convention Centre, opening for business on Monday 22 June, is the first building to achieve a 6-Star Green Star environmental rating from the Green Building Council of Australia. The Laminex Group is proud to have assisted the Convention Centre in realising such a significant achievement, through the provision of Laminex FSC certified Spotted Gum Veneer on FSC E0 MDF.    

Laminex FSC Timber Veneer Panels were developed specifically for use in the Melbourne Convention Centre project and with planning beginning in 2006, the process of creating such a timber panel was extensive. In order to obtain such a certification The Laminex Group sourced a forest that adhered to the strict environmental and socio-economic standards in accordance with FSC criteria.    

The Laminex Group also proudly purchased and planted 60 Spotted Gum trees to replace the timber used for this project and ensured that all of the excess veneer not suitable for inclusion in the design brief, was reissued to the Salvation Army fit-out, another FSC project in their Melbourne Head Office.    

“Laminex FSC Timber Veneer Panels were selected because they are heavily endorsed by Good Environmental Choice Australia and provided a valid Chain of Custody certification,” said Simeon Lloyd of Brookfield Multiplex, the company responsible for construction of the Convention Centre. “Of all the suppliers we engaged, The Laminex Group were the only ones able to develop and deliver an FSC certified timber veneer panel, to meet our specifications,” he said.    

Designed by joint venture architects Woods Bagot and NH Architecture, the Centre assigned individual interior and exterior areas with a unique character to provide visitors with a memorable experience. Jeff Arnold, Design Leader with Woods Bagot, was impressed with the FSC Timber Veneer Panels and The Laminex Group’s ability to fit the brief aesthetically as well as environmentally.