Acoustic Timber Battens Across One of Australia’s Largest University Projects 

ECU City Campus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ECU_CityCampus_Pixel_028

ECU is a 65,000m² vertical university campus in the heart of Perth’s CBD, bringing education, technology, business and the performing arts together across 11 super levels.

For Sculptform, the project involved a significant scope of Click-on Battens across theatres, recording and mixing studios, lobbies and other major interior spaces. The challenge was not simply delivering a consistent batten finish at scale, but adapting the system to complex curves, acoustic requirements and detailed installation conditions. 

Product
Click-on Battens

Material
Timber
Applications
Feature Ceilings, Wall and Acoustic Solutions
Sector
Education
 
Architect
Lyons Architects
Builder
Multiplex
Installer
Cubic Group
Location
Perth, Australia 
Completion
2025
Photographer
Pixel Collective 
ECU City Campus Theatre

 

Designing for Acoustic Performance 

The recording and mixing studios presented one of the project's most detailed applications of Sculptform timber. 

Working from the acoustic design developed by the architects and acoustic engineers, Sculptform supplied a series of batten profiles and sequences to form purpose-designed diffusion panels. The sequences deliberately vary the batten depth across the panel, creating a non-uniform surface to diffuse reflected sound within the recording spaces.

Rather than treating the acoustic treatment as a separate element applied to the architecture, the batten system forms the visible surface of the panels, integrating the acoustic strategy directly into the interior design. 

 

 

ECU City Campus Studio with Acoustic Diffusion Panels Sculptform Click-on Battens

 

Pre-Indexed Panels Simplified Installation

With the acoustic sequences resolved, the next challenge was translating them into something that could be installed efficiently and accurately on site. 

Sculptform's preconstruction team developed pre-indexed MDF panels for the diffusion elements, with the timber battens mounted using direct-fix clips. This provided a clean fixing solution while allowing the complex sequences to be prepared as repeatable panel assemblies rather than individually set out during installation. 

ECU Sculptform Drawing Detail Acoustic

A ‘Kit of Parts’ Approach for a Complex Installation

Each panel was supported by labelled components and installation layouts identifying the location and sequence of individual parts.

The approach effectively turned a highly detailed architectural and acoustic treatment into a coordinated kit of parts. By resolving the indexing, sequencing and documentation ahead of installation, the complexity could be managed through the system rather than transferred to the installer. 

ECU Sculptform Drawing Detail Acoustic
ECU City Campus Studio with Acoustic Diffusion Panels Sculptform Click-on Battens

 

Maintaining Consistency Through Changing Geometry

Elsewhere throughout ECU, the interior architecture incorporates numerous varying radii. Maintaining a consistent batten pitch through these changes in geometry required detailed coordination between the project team and Sculptform.

Across levels 4-6, the Laneway Zones use our Click-on Battens across a combination of straight and curved walls. The system transitions between the two using straight and kerfed tracks, allowing the batten layout to follow the geometry of the space while maintaining consistent spacing an alignment. 

ECU City Campus Sculptform Click-on Battens
ECU City Campus Sculptform Click-on Battens  Two Column

 

Resolving Complexity Before it Reaches Site

For a project like ECU, buildability starts well before installation. Regular workshopping between Sculptform and the project team allowed potential challenges to be identified and resolved early, rather than becoming problems on site.

From pre-indexed acoustic panels to detailed layouts and curved track solutions, the approach was about breaking complex details into manageable components. The result is a system that supports the architectural intent while making the installation more predictable. 

ECU Sculptform Drawing Detail Acoustic

 

Timber Specified with Certified Chain of Custody

The timber supplied by Sculptform was 100% PEFC certified, providing certified chain of custody from forest through to the finished product.

For a project of this scale, the certification provides a clear, independently verified link between the specified timber and its responsible source, supporting the project's broader sustainability objectives without compromising the materiality and warmth of the interior spaces. 

ECU City Campus Studio with Acoustic Diffusion Panels Sculptform Click-on Battens

Recording Studio Diffusion Panels

Product

Click-on Battens

Material

Timber

Species

Australian Ash, 100% PEFC

 

Profile

Dome, 30mm x 19mm, 30mm x 60mm, 30mm x 40mm, 30mm x 80mm, 30mm x 120mm (of different variations for each type of diffusion panel) 

Mounting

Standard and Curved Tracks

Acoustic Backing

Yes

Dance Theatre

Product

Click-on Battens  

Material

Timber

Species

Australian Ash, 100% PEFC

Profile

Block, 50mm x 25mm, 93mm x 46mm

Coating

Red Wine

Track

Standard Tracks

Acoustic Backing

Yes

Laneway Zones

Product

Click-on Battens 

Material

Timber

Species

Australian Ash, 100% PEFC

Profile

Dome, 40mm x 30mm, 40x60, Block, 75mm x 19mm

Track

Standard and Curved Tracks

Spacings

24mm gaps

ECU Acoustic Diffusion Panels Sculptform Click-on Battens
Experience the Material Behind the Design 

Get a closer look at Sculptform Finishes and see the detail that defines the space. 

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