Case Study: Protecting History in the Making at the Australian War Memorial

Project Details:

Lend Lease
Anzac Hall Atrium, Australian War Memorial, Canberra

Products Used:

Key Outcomes:

Heavy-duty protection for polished concrete flooring
Easy access to service points during construction
Durable performance under extreme load conditions

Background

The Australian War Memorial’s new Anzac Hall and Anzac Atrium, designed by Cox Architecture, is a landmark redevelopment project adding 6,500 m² of gallery space across two levels.

This expansion allows the public to view previously unseen artefacts from the National Collection, including:

A German V2 Rocket
A C-130 Hercules cockpit
An RF-111
A CH-47D Chinook helicopter

The centrepiece, G for George, returns to its rightful place in the Bomber Command exhibit, surrounded by other large-scale military displays that required careful manoeuvring into place.

Challenge

The recently laid polished concrete slab throughout the exhibition space required robust protection during the complex installation of heavy and oversized artefacts.

The solution needed to:

Withstand the weight and movement of cranes, helicopters, jets, and submarines
Allow for easy access to service points beneath the protection without compromising the rest of the surface
Perform reliably both indoors and outdoors, including exposure to weather and heavy machinery

Solution

Protecta Board XTRA Grey (3mm) was selected for internal areas due to its ease of handling and customisability.
- Sections could be cut and removed as needed to access service points while the rest of the slab remained protected.
Protecta Board XTRA Green (5mm) was used externally, where higher crush resistance and weather durability were essential.
- These boards supported the movement of large cranes and equipment as they transported and positioned the exhibits.

Final Result

The Protecta solution ensured the concrete slab remained undamaged throughout the installation phase, helping to keep this high-profile and logistically complex project on schedule.

The combination of Protecta Board XTRA Grey and Green provided tailored protection for both indoor and outdoor environments, delivering peace of mind and performance under pressure.

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