Brought to life by Mayoh Architects, the swirly volumes of the new wing at Sydney’s Warren Integrated Studies Hub are a stunning celebration of organic design that brings a new kind of softness to the realm of educational architecture. “Design that mimics nature makes people feel more comfortable,” explains Jonathan Henley, Mayoh Architects Associate. “We evolved in the natural environment and that’s the place we feel most tranquil, so I think the way to go is to mimic that as much as we can with our built environment.”

The sweeping curvature of the roof exemplifies the architects’ unwavering commitment to this ethos. “We looked into a few different options that would help with the curves,” Henley adds. “What we really didn’t want was a series of straight roof sheets with overlapping flashings in triangular form – that could have been problematic for water leaking and it’s a real maintenance issue.”

To bring their ambitious vision to life, Mayoh Architects turned to LYSAGHT – an Australian manufacturer of quality steel building products – and the LYSAGHT LONGLINE® 305 roofing profile promptly emerged as a solution that allowed the custom rolling of tapered sheets to match the curve of the roof shape. The tapered roofing profile features a standard 305-millimetre-width cover that is concertinaed at one end to a narrow dimension of 155 millimetres, with ribs radiating from a central point, creating a beautiful fan effect. The same concealed fixings as the standard LYSAGHT LONGLINE® 305 product are used to clip sheets together so there are no penetrations.

This adaptable roofing profile, in combination with COLORBOND® steel in the colour Surfmist®, enabled a seamless, organic structure that is both functional and aesthetically impactful. The roof’s dynamic, meandering shape departs from traditional rectangular forms to create a striking focal point, while the concealed fixings enhance the clean lines and the low-maintenance nature of the facility.

Beyond its aesthetic and functional benefits, the steel roof was instrumental to achieving the project’s sustainability goals. As one of eleven shades in the COLORBOND® steel core colour range with low Solar Absorptance (SA) value, Surfmist® helps to mitigate the urban heat island effect, boosting the building’s overall energy efficiency.

In addition, due to the design decision the material helped facilitate, the architects observed a significant reduction in material waste. “The steel roof was a much more sensible option than other materials, which could have had a lot of wastage in that curve form, whereas the roofing made from COLORBOND® steel in tapered LYSAGHT LONGLINE® profile, and even the structural steel supporting it, was much more flexible,” says Henley. This flexibility allows for future adaptations, extending the building’s lifespan and reducing the need for future renovations.

While this exhilarating educational project draws from the organic qualities of the natural world, it also challenges the preconceived limitations we’ve come to associate with certain construction materials. It demonstrates how steel – often associated with strength and rigidity – can be used to create structures that are soft, organic, and sustainable. By embracing fluidity of form and the outstanding technical properties of a roofing product that fuses the qualities of COLORBOND® steel with a specialised LYSAGHT LONGLINE® profile, the stunning arc emerges as a fitting symbol of the school’s identity – and a powerful reminder that strength and softness can, indeed, coexist.

COLORBOND®, STEEL PROFILE® and ® colour names are registered trade marks of BlueScope Steel Limited (ABN 16 000 011 058). All rights reserved.