Atec Facades : Custom Design and Functional Façades

Grant Oliver, National Façade Manager at Duratec, introduces us to the company’s newly established specialist arm, Atec Facades, which he heads up as Managing Director.

CUSTOM DESIGN AND FUNCTIONAL FAÇADES

Duratec is a leading Australian contractor providing assessment, protection, remediation, and refurbishment services to a broad range of assets and infrastructure.

The company’s innovative, cost-effective, and customised solutions extend the life of infrastructure and assets, which are being pushed harder and further than ever before, increasing demand for fully integrated lifecycle solutions.

Since it was established in 2010, Duratec’s operations have expanded to every state and territory in Australia, delivering high-quality, safe, predictable, and cost-effective projects across a wide range of sectors.

Over the past seven to eight years in particular, the company has delivered specialist, major modern façade remediation projects involving glass, cladding, and curtain wall systems across the country through its Building & Façade division.

This includes the successful completion of the Central Park façade refurbishment in Perth, a flagship project of unprecedented scale and complexity that now serves as a benchmark across the remediation industry.

In that time, Duratec developed strong façade design expertise through exposure to a broad range of remediation systems, whilst also enhancing its building information modelling (BIM) capability, procurement approaches, installation methods, and relationships with key local and international suppliers and manufacturers.

“We saw an opportunity to establish a dedicated façade subcontracting business that could deliver façade supply and installation packages as a specialist subcontractor nationwide,” outlines Grant Oliver, National Façade Manager at Duratec and Managing Director of the company’s newly established specialist business, Atec Facades (Atec).

A cabinet maker by trade, Grant has worked in both remedial and new-build façade construction across his career, spanning everything from smaller complex works to major façade developments.

Those experiences with materials, buildability, and logistics are crucial in shaping how Duratec is building Atec today.

FORMALISED CAPABILITY

Atec was recently launched within Duratec’s Building & Façade division to formalise the company’s maturing capability and focus on specialist commercial and institutional façade projects as a supply-and-install contractor.

Delivering high-quality façade builds for complex commercial and institutional construction projects, the Western Australia (WA)-based subsidiary brings deep technical expertise across the full project lifecycle, from conception through to completion.

Indeed, whereas façade subcontractors commonly navigate complex project environments, with dispersed stakeholders depending on disconnected platforms and manual processes, Atec redefines the façade delivery model – spanning design, procurement, fabrication, and installation.

This enables Duratec to deliver design-led façades end-to-end, extending beyond remediation alone.

The aim is a bespoke, better-value service for clients and a clearer pathway from concept to installation.

“Duratec typically works as a head contractor engaged directly by the client, whilst Atec generally operates as a specialist subcontractor delivering façade works on behalf of the builder,” explains Grant.

Façades shape the identity of a building and are often the feature people notice and remember most. Think function and fashion – they protect occupants from the environment, such as harsh weather, loud noise, and fire spread, whilst also defining the property’s appearance.

The experienced team at Atec specialises in façade projects that involve bespoke designs, complex geometries, distinctive material selections, and tailored delivery strategies.

“We work closely with clients to understand their objectives, develop practical and buildable design solutions, and provide early guidance on elements that may present challenges during delivery,” he tells us.

“Because many of our projects are driven by custom design outcomes, we are also able to offer clients a wider range of procurement options, including both local and international supply pathways.”

FAÇADE PROJECTS

Today, Atec is completing the façade installation of an art gallery in the Northern Territory (NT), featuring a modular anodised aluminium cladding system designed for Darwin’s cyclonic conditions.

The building will form a major part of the city’s revitalisation, bringing together art and architecture whilst imbuing a distinct sense of place.

Once the initial design concept had been presented, Duratec was engaged to review the design from a constructability perspective.

“We reviewed the original architectural façade and provided advice on buildability and delivery efficiency. The initial concept featured a significant amount of primary and secondary steel framing, together with face-fixed red anodised cladding panels,” Grant informs us.

“In response, we developed an alternative modular solution that substantially reduced the extent of primary steel, secondary framing, and face-fixing requirements.”

The client adopted Duratec’s revised design, which delivered cost savings, improved procurement and fabrication efficiencies, reduced installation time on-site, and maintained a high-quality architectural outcome.

“The completed design includes custom aluminium extrusion modular framing, solid aluminium panels with a red anodised finish, high-performance glazing, two-stage performance louvre systems, perforated screening, modular external screening, and internal architectural linings,” he sets out.

Along with the art gallery façade, Atec is delivering the design, supply, and installation of the façade package for a highly complex higher education lab facility located in WA.

The works on this facility include bespoke curtain and window walling, stainless steel and aluminium sun-shading systems, glazed louvres, unitised balustrades, high-performance skylights, frameless lift glazing, and architectural cladding.

“This project is unique due to the custom design elements for almost every scope of work, including the size of the panels and structural requirements to satisfy the architectural intent,” highlights Grant.

“We have completed the design and procurement phases and are on track to complete installation by September 2026.”

BIM WORKFLOWS

As the construction industry continues to evolve, Atec demonstrates how specialist subcontractors can lead the way, using digital technology to foster stronger collaboration, smarter project execution, and improved outcomes.

All design-led façades are developed in 3D, supported by industry-standard 2D documentation.

End-to-end BIM workflows enable enhanced visualisation, greater control over materials, quantities, and costs, and earlier design-for-manufacturer decisions, whilst also accelerating research and development (R&D) across materials, fabrication techniques, and installation methodologies.

“BIM continues to transform the façade industry, creating meaningful efficiencies throughout the design process,” Grant enthuses.

Duratec and Atec have been investing in internal BIM capability and collaborating with software providers to strengthen the link between concept design models and fabrication documentation.

“This is delivering clear benefits across design coordination, procurement, fabrication, installation, and overall project tracking. I expect this capability to keep evolving in Australia, enabling the delivery of increasingly complex façade solutions,” he notes.

Duratec’s investment in BIM began in 2020, initially focused on improving visibility across design development, material procurement, and installation progress.

As both the technology and the company’s internal capability have advanced, BIM is now embedded throughout the full project lifecycle – from early concept and detailed design through to shop, fabrication, and assembly drawings, clash detection, procurement, fabrication tracking, logistics, installation progress, material non-conformance reports, and overall quality management.

“By integrating this information into our BIM models, we enable project teams to deliver with greater efficiency, accuracy, and control,” acclaims Grant.

“On completion, these models are handed over to the facility owner to support ongoing facility management, providing access to detailed information such as material specifications, exact dimensions, product data, and replacement requirements where needed.”

STRENGTHEN, GROW, EXPAND

Atec is strengthening its BIM and broader digital capabilities, which it believes will deliver significant efficiencies for clients from early concept through to site delivery.

Another key priority is growing Duratec’s Perth-based team whilst establishing an Atec presence in Queensland and New South Wales over the next two to four years.

“More broadly, we are targeting opportunities with clients delivering high-rise projects that require custom façade designs, complex geometry, and high-performance façade solutions,” Grant closes.

Atec continues to expand whilst also supporting Duratec’s Building & Façade division on projects nationwide.

In addition, Duratec and its subsidiaries are delivering live projects and maintaining a strong future pipeline across the defence, mining, marine, energy, infrastructure, and industrial sectors.