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AMART Furniture used bespoke durlum metal ceilings in stores at Bathurst, Warrawong and Hervey Bay to make the ceiling part of each fit-out’s identity rather than a concealed services zone. The core specification was durlum’s GEOTE open-cell system: its visible grid leaves the plenum above in sight, creating the open, industrial character the projects were designed to support.
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The important lesson is not a claimed sales uplift or a measured performance figure. The project shows how a retail ceiling can be engineered around lighting, sprinklers, air-conditioning, an existing Rondo grid and a distinctive colour perimeter while remaining visually consistent. Panel dimensions, infill boxes, colour samples and project-specific touch-up paint were all treated as design and coordination decisions.
What AMART’s ceiling project involved
Network Architectural lists three AMART store projects: Bathurst, Warrawong and Hervey Bay. The projects were completed across 2023 and 2024. The listed collaborators were durlum, Network Architectural, Dunrite Linings, DTR Projects and NAC. The architects named for the stores were Buchan Group at Bathurst, BDAI at Warrawong and Mode at Hervey Bay.
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Although the stores had to accommodate different services and site conditions, the case material presents a common design direction: a bespoke metal ceiling that supports AMART’s retail environment while keeping the overhead construction legible. The ceiling was not treated as a generic field of standard tiles. It was sized, coloured and detailed in relation to the store layout and the equipment that had to fit above shoppers’ heads.
| Store | Architect listed | Documented ceiling response | Completion information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bathurst | Buchan Group | GEOTE open-cell metal ceiling as part of the bespoke AMART fit-out | Listed within the 2023–2024 project period; an individual completion year is not stated |
| Warrawong | BDAI | Metal panels with light infill boxes coordinated with lighting and sprinklers | Listed within the 2023–2024 project period; an individual completion year is not stated |
| Hervey Bay | Mode | Larger 400 × 200 panels used to house an air-conditioning unit | Listed within the 2023–2024 project period; an individual completion year is not stated |
The dimensions and service details differ by store, but the specification logic is consistent: use the ceiling system to solve the practical coordination problem and to reinforce the visual language of the shop.
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Why an open-cell GEOTE ceiling suited the retail identity
GEOTE is an open-cell ceiling system. Instead of presenting a continuous opaque surface, it leaves the grid and the plenum visually open. In AMART’s stores, that openness was selected to expose the space above and to support an industrial atmosphere that could sit alongside furniture displays.
That is a design rationale, not a measured claim about spaciousness. The project sources do not report shopper surveys, sales changes or an independently measured increase in perceived floor area. They describe an intended relationship between the furniture, the services above and the store’s overall character. For a retailer whose merchandise is displayed in large, changing arrangements, an exposed ceiling can make the overhead infrastructure part of the environment rather than visual background.
An open-cell specification also changes what must be coordinated. Ducts, cable trays, sprinklers, light fittings and structural elements may be visible through the grid. Their position, colour and alignment therefore affect the finished appearance. A successful result depends on designing the ceiling and the services together, not selecting a ceiling after the mechanical and electrical layouts are complete.
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How the panels were adapted around building services
Warrawong: light infill boxes for lighting and sprinklers
Warrawong used metal panels with light infill boxes. The infill allowed the project team to accommodate lighting and sprinkler requirements while retaining the metal-ceiling concept. In a retail fit-out, those devices cannot simply be placed wherever a standard module happens to leave an opening; they need clearances, access and a coherent visual relationship with the ceiling grid.
The documented solution demonstrates a useful distinction between an open-cell system and an unplanned exposed ceiling. The grid can remain visually open, while selected areas receive infill to support equipment that needs a more controlled background or a specific mounting arrangement. The project does not publish a quantified installation saving or a performance test for the infill boxes, so their established role here is coordination and appearance.
Hervey Bay: a larger panel for an air-conditioning unit
At Hervey Bay, the project used larger panels noted as 400 × 200 to house an air-conditioning unit. The published case text gives that notation without a unit, so it should not be converted into an assumed measurement system or a different dimension. The point is that the panel size was changed to suit a particular piece of equipment rather than forcing the equipment into an untouched standard module.
This kind of adjustment is especially important where an air-conditioning unit, access requirement or grille occupies more area than a typical ceiling cell. A bespoke panel can preserve a repeatable visual rhythm while creating the opening the service needs. The project does not state the equipment model, loading, access method or fire-engineering requirements, so those would still need to be resolved on a new project by the relevant consultants.
Panels sized for the Rondo grid
Project panels were designed to fit the Rondo grid. According to the project partner’s account, this removed the need for on-site cutting. Factory or workshop sizing can reduce the amount of modification required during installation, but the sources do not provide a measured programme saving, labour figure or waste calculation. The supported conclusion is narrower: the panel dimensions were coordinated with the supporting grid before installation.
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For a fit-out team, that means the grid layout, panel schedule and services plan should be developed as one set of information. A panel that fits the grid but clashes with a sprinkler head is not a coordinated panel; neither is a service opening that leaves an awkward perimeter cut. The AMART examples show why each condition should be recorded in the reflected ceiling plan and the fabrication schedule.
How AMART’s blue perimeter was matched
The projects included a blue perimeter intended to connect the ceiling with AMART’s store identity. Colour samples were supplied for approval before the finish was finalised. The sources do not provide a colour code, paint formulation or numerical colour value, so the match should be understood as a project approval process rather than a universally specified AMART blue.
Durlum also created personalised touch-up paint for future maintenance. That is different from an ordinary off-the-shelf paint recommendation: the touch-up material was prepared for the project finish. No maintenance interval, quantity, cost or storage life is published. A future project should therefore establish who holds the paint, how it is labelled, where it is stored and which surfaces it is approved for.
Colour approval is particularly important with an open ceiling because the perimeter can frame the entire sales floor. A small variation may be visible across long runs, while a mismatch between new and repaired sections can draw attention to service work. The documented sample process and bespoke touch-up provision address those risks without claiming that the colour system eliminates them.
A practical specification workflow for a similar fit-out
- Define the visual objective. Decide whether the ceiling should expose the plenum, create an industrial character or provide a more concealed background. Record that intent before selecting panel sizes.
- Survey the existing support grid. Confirm the Rondo grid geometry, level changes, perimeter conditions and any areas that cannot accept the proposed modules.
- Map every service opening. Coordinate lighting, sprinklers, air-conditioning units and other visible equipment against the ceiling grid. Identify which locations need infill boxes and which need enlarged panels.
- Prepare a panel schedule. List standard and bespoke dimensions, edge conditions and the equipment each non-standard panel serves. The Hervey Bay 400 × 200 example shows why service-specific dimensions should be recorded explicitly.
- Approve the finish. Use physical colour samples for the perimeter and any other coloured components. Keep the approved sample with the project records rather than relying on a screen image.
- Resolve fabrication before site work. Check that each panel fits the Rondo grid and that service openings are formed in the intended location. The AMART account describes panels designed to avoid on-site cutting.
- Plan access and repairs. Decide how panels will be removed for maintenance and how touch-up work will be controlled. Record the project-specific paint information before handover.
- Inspect the installed ceiling as a coordinated assembly. Check grid alignment, panel fit, infill positions, equipment clearances, perimeter colour and visible damage. Open-cell ceilings make these relationships easy to see, so inspection should include views from the sales floor.
What the project evidence does—and does not—show
The case material supports several concrete conclusions:
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- AMART used bespoke durlum metal ceilings at Bathurst, Warrawong and Hervey Bay.
- GEOTE open-cell construction was selected to keep the plenum visible and to support an open, industrial store atmosphere.
- Panels and infill were tailored around lighting, sprinklers and an air-conditioning unit.
- The panel design was coordinated with a Rondo grid, and the project included an approved blue perimeter and personalised touch-up paint.
- The named project partners described speed, quality and collaborative problem-solving positively.
It does not establish a numerical installation duration, project cost, acoustic rating, energy result, maintenance interval, sales impact or customer-response measurement. It also does not rank GEOTE against another ceiling system in a controlled comparison. Statements about quick installation or short lead times should be attributed to the project participants rather than presented as independently measured results.
Network Architectural quotes an AMART Procurement Manager saying, “We were extremely impressed with the speed, quality and innovative thinking.” The individual is not named. The quotation records the client’s assessment of the collaboration; it is not a test result or a warranty of performance on another project.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How GEOTE compares with other metal-ceiling approaches
Durlum’s official range includes open-cell ceilings, rectangular metal panels, expanded-metal ceilings, rafts, tiles and other design systems. The available project material does not provide comparative performance data for those options, so the useful comparison is a specification checklist rather than a winner’s table.
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| Decision axis | Question for an open-cell GEOTE scheme | What is established for the AMART projects | What remains project-specific |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visual openness | Should the plenum and services remain visible? | Visibility was a stated design rationale | Final appearance depends on service layout, finishes and lighting |
| Service integration | Can lighting, sprinklers and air-conditioning be placed without breaking the grid? | Light infill boxes and a larger panel were used at two stores | Equipment types, clearances and engineering approvals |
| Grid compatibility | Will the panels fit the supporting system without site cutting? | Panels were designed for the Rondo grid | Survey accuracy, tolerances and site changes |
| Colour control | Can the perimeter match the brand finish? | Samples were approved and touch-up paint was personalised | Colour code, formulation, cost and maintenance interval are not stated |
| Future access | Can panels be removed and repaired without damaging the finish? | Future touch-up provision was documented | Access method and maintenance procedure are not published |
Architects should use this table to frame consultant questions, not to infer an unreported acoustic, thermal or cost advantage. A concealed tile, expanded-metal ceiling, raft or rectangular panel may be more appropriate where the plenum must be hidden, where a different access strategy is required or where the services cannot be coordinated with an exposed grid.
Maintenance and handover considerations
An open-cell ceiling makes inspection straightforward because the plenum is visible, but visibility also makes dust, damaged edges or displaced services noticeable. Handover documentation should identify the panel types, grid layout, approved colour samples and the location of the project-specific touch-up paint.
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Maintenance staff should not assume that any blue paint is suitable. The documented paint was personalised for the project, and the sources do not state its chemistry or application limits. A responsible handover should include the manufacturer’s instructions, surface-preparation requirements and a small test area before a visible repair is completed.
Service contractors should also know which panels were enlarged or fitted with infill boxes. Removing a panel without recording its position can create alignment problems when it is reinstalled. A panel schedule linked to the reflected ceiling plan gives future teams a way to distinguish standard modules from service-specific pieces.
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For Australian architects and fit-out teams, Network Architectural describes local design and technical support, specification consultation and project assistance for durlum systems. That makes it a relevant project resource when a scheme requires non-standard panel dimensions, colour coordination or service integration. Any appointment, fee, lead time or supply commitment would need to be confirmed directly for the specific site; the AMART case does not publish a standard commercial package.
The takeaway for retail ceiling design
AMART’s stores demonstrate a disciplined way to make a metal ceiling carry brand intent without treating engineering as an afterthought. GEOTE provided the open visual field; bespoke panel dimensions and infill boxes accommodated the services; Rondo-compatible sizing supported installation; and an approved blue perimeter with personalised touch-up paint extended the identity into maintenance.
The strongest, supportable conclusion is therefore about coordination. The ceiling worked as a retail design element because its appearance, grid, equipment openings, colour and future repairs were considered together. The available case material does not prove a sales, acoustic, energy or cost outcome, but it does show how a bespoke specification can align those practical decisions with a recognisable store environment.
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