Recladding with Confidence: How the University of Sydney Delivered a Future Proof Façade

The Charles Perkins Centre is one of the most recognisable buildings on the University of Sydney campus, located on the high-traffic corridor of Parramatta Road. As a multidisciplinary hub dedicated to tackling chronic disease through collaborative research, education and innovation, the Centre represents cutting-edge thinking in both purpose and design. But when it came time for recladding the building to address non-compliant materials, it was clear that only a premium, future-proof solution would do.

A review of its façade revealed that the building’s original cladding, installed in 2015, was no longer compliant with current fire safety standards. The result is a new façade that not only meets the highest standards of compliance and safety but also enhances the Centre’s architectural integrity and long-term value.

The University was uncompromising in its expectations for the project. According to Catherine Jacob, Façade Technical Director at The University of Sydney, who managed the reclad from the University’s side, the priority was finding a cladding solution that delivered peace of mind with long-term performance:

“When you’re dealing with a flagship research facility, the last thing you want is to worry about the building envelope again in 5 or 10 years. We needed a product with zero risk of colour fade, oil canning or ongoing maintenance. ALPOLIC™ NC/A1 gave us that certainty.”

After an extensive review process, ALPOLIC™ NC/A1 by Mitsubishi Chemical Infratec (MCI) was selected. Manufactured in Japan, and exclusively distributed in Australia and New Zealand by Network Architectural, ALPOLIC™ NC/A1 is a DtS non-combustible mineral core aluminium cladding – renowned for its exceptional flatness, colour consistency and long-term durability, while meeting all relevant compliance requirements.

The decision to go with ALPOLIC™ NC/A1 was driven not just by performance, but by protection. As Llewellyn Regler, National Technical Manager at Network Architectural explains:

“The Charles Perkins Centre project really showcased why ALPOLIC™ NC/A1 is the best choice for high-profile reclads. It’s the only product on the market with a 20-year full replacement manufacturer’s warranty. That means material, labour and rectification are all covered. And importantly, there’s no catch—no maintenance required to keep that warranty valid.”

This maintenance-free advantage delivers major lifecycle cost savings and mitigates ongoing risk for facilities management.

Design-Led Durability

Spanning 12,765m2, the new façade features ALPOLIC™ NC/A1 panels in six colours: Silver Metallic, Black, Rustik, White, Charcoal, and Manganese Metallic. The colour palette was carefully curated to complement the Centre’s existing materiality and the surrounding architectural context.

Catherine worked closely with the Network Architectural team to ensure the finishes achieved her vision:

“They gave us ten different colour samples and were extremely helpful in matching tones to our internal wood panelling. That level of detail made a huge difference. I was particularly impressed by the consistency of the metallics.”

One of the key visual performance markers was the product’s flatness. ALPOLIC™ NC/A1 is renowned for its superior rigidity and resistance to oil canning—the unsightly warping or rippling often seen with solid aluminium panels.

“On a building this size, oil canning would have been disastrous,” said Llewellyn Regler. “But ALPOLIC™ NC/A1 delivers a perfect finish, even at large panel sizes.”

Compliance Through Collaboration

The Charles Perkins Centre recladding is one of the largest and most complex projects to be undertaken by the University of Sydney. That meant additional layers of approval, testing and verification, requiring absolute transparency and technical rigour from everyone involved.

Working in close partnership with Buildcorp and facade contractor Aesthetic Building & Facades, Network Architectural played a hands-on role from early specification through to delivery, ensuring smooth coordination and alignment with government and regulatory bodies.

“It was a long process,” said Llewellyn Regler. “But in the end, I think they appreciated our support, responsiveness, and technical knowledge. Network Architectural was here to support every part of the process.”

More than just a safety upgrade, the recladding has restored the Charles Perkins Centre to its rightful status as a forward-thinking facility. Its new façade is not only compliant but also quietly striking, contributing to the University’s broader commitment to sustainability, safety and architectural excellence.

“It was about more than replacing panels,” said Catherine, “It was about protecting the legacy of this building and what it stands for.”

Why ALPOLIC™ NC/A1?

• Non-combustible mineral core aluminium cladding
• LUMIFLON™ Colour Technology so there is no colour fade
• 20-year full replacement warranty covering materials, labour and rectification
• No ongoing maintenance required to uphold warranty
• The sustainable cladding choice with an Environmental Product Declaration
• Wide range of finishes and custom colour matching available
• Supported by Project Remediate

A Network of Expertise

With over 50 years of combined experience  supporting the Australian building industry and specialising in DtS non-combustible recladding, Network Architectural brings together market-leading façade solutions, in-house technical support and hands-on project guidance. Their exclusive partnership with Mitsubishi Chemical Infratec Co., Ltd ensures that Australian projects can access the safest, most compliant cladding products on the market—backed by service that goes beyond the spec. If you’re looking for technical advice or support with implementing a recladding solution for your building, get in touch with our expert team today.