Waterloo Station, located on Gadigal Land, sits at the heart of a place rich in Indigenous, industrial, and social history. Designed by John McAslan + Partners, the station reflects the area’s layered identity and a community shaped by thousands of years of occupation and constant transformation.
Inspired by the phrase “the past is in the earth and the future is in the sky”, the design embraces its cultural and natural context through every level — from ancient roots 25 metres below ground to the vibrant civic space at street level.
The architecture required all components — including mechanical systems — to align with the broader narrative of connection, respect, and resilience.
Performance Louvres
Zero vision, extruded aluminium vertical chevron louvres
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Two-stage extruded aluminium louvres
At early design stage, architect Marina Evangelista (née Savochkina) from McAslan + Partners engaged Louvreclad to advise on performance louvres — a critical yet often undervalued component in complex infrastructure projects.
The initial preference was for a vertical louvre system that would support efficient airflow while maintaining the architectural rhythm and integrity of the station’s vertical façade elements, in alignment with mechanical ventilation requirements. Based on this design intent, the Louvreclad Altura Series® 300 — offering Class 1 aerodynamics, Class B rain resistance, and 80% free open area — was initially selected.
A key benefit of the project was that many of the performance louvres were concealed behind cladding and vertical façade battens. This freed the team from typical visual constraints and allowed the use of multiple louvre profiles based on performance rather than appearance. In many cases, vertical louvres were installed behind perforated aluminium cladding or brick façades, preserving the architectural vision while meeting functional performance goals.
Louvreclad advised that louvre performance depends not just on open area, but also on design airflow rates, pressure drop, and rain resistance. In collaboration with mechanical consultant Danielle Kwik from WSP, the team worked to define project-specific performance parameters. This enabled the development of a bespoke performance louvre schedule — ensuring each louvre type aligned precisely with both the station’s mechanical demands and architectural intent.
WSP also considered the impact of surrounding façade materials — including perforated aluminium, brick, and aluminium battens — on overall system performance. This resulted in compliance with system pressure drop limits and mechanical efficiency.
By integrating Louvreclad early in the project, the team ensured that each louvre met its functional role (intake, exhaust, acoustic treatment), environmental exposure requirements, and pressure drop limits, while minimising rain ingress. The architectural integrity of the station’s façade was maintained throughout.
This proactive, data-driven approach supported the station’s long-term operational reliability and sustainable performance outcomes. Design collaboration was prioritised to avoid late-stage specification issues that often result in compromise or inefficiencies.
Waterloo Station stands as a testament to the power of early collaboration. Too often, louvres are specified late in the process, resulting in poor performance and compromised design. Here, louvres were treated as integral to the building’s ability to “breathe” — delivering long-term benefits in both functionality and sustainability.
By involving a specialist louvre contractor early, Waterloo Station demonstrates how thoughtful integration of mechanical systems can uphold cultural storytelling, reduce risk, and support future-ready infrastructure.
AS 4740 Rain Resistance Altura Series® 145 Rain penetration classification...
AS 4740 Rain Resistance Cascade Series® Single Stage Rain penetratio...
AS 4740 Rain Resistance Jupiter Series® Standard Rain penetra...
AS 4740 Rain Resistance Neptune Series® Rain penetration classification at...
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Infrastructure
Infrastructure,Refurbishment