BlueCare Sunrise Beach Aged Care Home represents a significant advancement in aged care design. Located just south of Noosa on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, the project embraced key insights from the recent Royal Commission into aged care, focusing on home-like environments, nature integration, and community connection. Designed by ThomsonAdsett Architects, every aspect of the build was carefully considered, leading to its recognition as Best Seniors Living Development at the UDIA Queensland Awards 2024. 

The project posed unique challenges due to its sensitive setting and vulnerable residents. It required strict bushfire compliance, given its location in a high-risk area, and corrosion resistance, being within two kilometres of the coast. Additionally, hygiene was a priority to ensure a safe environment for residents. Weepa Products were chosen for their certified compliance across multiple Bushfire Attack Levels (BAL), built-in pest protection, and durable marine-grade stainless steel construction, making them a practical solution for the build. 

Requirements
Several sides of the facility required the highest bushfire protection rating, while others were downgraded due to lower risk. The proximity to the coast introduced concerns about salt corrosion, necessitating materials with high durability. Additionally, the facility's combination of masonry brickwork and concrete load-bearing columns meant weep holes were essential for cavity wall ventilation, while also needing to meet bushfire compliance standards. 

Solution
Weepa Products provided a tailored solution to meet these varied requirements. Stainless Steel Weepas were installed in areas requiring the highest bushfire protection, while High Performance Bushfire Weepas were used in lower-risk zones. Both products' marine-grade stainless steel construction provided superior rust resistance, crucial for withstanding the harsh coastal climate. 

Weepa's ability to be easily procured also played a key role, ensuring a seamless late-stage design adjustment. Tom Monahan from Badge Construction noted: 

"Weepa Products were selected due to their wide range and ease of procurement, especially given the late design change. They ensured the BAL requirements for our project were met without complication."

Importantly, the pest-resistant design of Weepa Products added a hygienic advantage, reducing the risk of insect and rodent intrusion, critical in an aged care environment. Monahan further confirmed the product's reliability:

"The product has performed as expected thus far, with no issues in installation or integration with the design."

Benefits
The BlueCare Sunrise Beach Aged Care Home demonstrates how architects can integrate effective, compliant, and durable cavity ventilation solutions in complex environments. By specifying Weepa Products early in the design phase, architects can ensure seamless bushfire compliance across varied BAL zones, corrosion resistance in coastal environments and enhanced hygiene through pest protection. Weepa Products are stocked nationwide at over 1000 stockist locations and special orders are shipped same day to ensure reliable procurement and smooth project execution. With proven performance in this award-winning project, Weepa Products should be a key consideration for architects designing for bushfire-prone, coastal, or hygiene-sensitive environments. 

Client: UnitingCare Queensland 
Architect: ThomsonAdsett
Builder: BADGE Constructions