Anodised aluminium cladding from BWB
University of Surrey Integrated Learning Centre
Ross Shannon, senior architect, RMJM Architects
Located in the heart of the University’s Stag Hill campus, the Integrated Learning Centre spans 4,950m2, rises four storeys and links to an existing six-storey library to the west and a three-storey lecture block to the east.
Much of the existing campus building stock dates from the 1960s and 1970s and there is lots of concrete and yellow brick, so we wanted a cladding that would create a dramatic contrast, but also pick up on some of the existing colours. We settled on gold, a material associated with the town historically, for most of the exterior and bronze to cover the interface linking the building with the library block.
We initially considered using gold and bronze copper alloy cladding, but the university was unsure about the effect that weathering would have on the copper as it oxidises. A pre-finished aluminium composite material was also discussed, but it didn’t look natural enough.
Swiss firm BWB’s anodised aluminium product came with a 30-year warranty, it cost less than copper, the colours were warmer and more natural than the composite material and the anodised surface ensures the colours will not change over time. The colour finishes we chose were Gold Buerox VSA 2.5 and Bronze Analok 545. In total, cladding contractor Prometplan installed was about 1,000m2 of gold and 320m2 of bronze.
Along the longest, southern, facade the gold is positioned in vertical planks as a rainscreen over a series of protruding “bookends”, which are separated by tall slots of glazing. The material also forms the rims of two huge picture windows on the west and north elevations.
All panels feature a “secret fix” system, sitting on hangers in the backing system, which means they can each be removed individually for maintenance.
We wanted a fairly flat, clean aesthetic, but the anodised treatment also introduces slight variations between panels, so you get a nice textured effect when looking across the whole facade, which is not possible with a painted finish.
Product news
Green warehouse
Kingspan has been busy making sure that the usually energy profligate distribution centre model is making some inroads into sustainability by supplying its insulated cladding panels to supermarket Morrisons’ south-west regional distribution centre.
On the roof Kingspan has installed its PowerPanel Laminate, a single-ply insulated membrane roof deck with a PV laminate applied directly to the surface on site. Its 1,548 modules are expected to generate 197,280kWh of energy a year.
On the walls Kingspan has supplied its Micro-Rib wall panels and KS1000 RW panels. It is hoped that building performance improvements of up to 44% will be achieved.
A little local colour
Steni UK’s colour panels are now available in a range of 44 colours and have recently been specified as rainscreen cladding at “The Hub”, York’s Creative Media Centre, a new £3m performing arts college for the city. A total of seven panel colours were used here to create the multi-coloured facade — each panel is made from a fibreglass reinforced polymer composite with a smooth surface of 100% acrylic that is electron beam cured without the use of solvents.
Steni’s cut-to-size capability meant that panels sizes from 850mm to 3,500mm could be cut to length at no extra cost and to section widths at nominal charge, minimising waste and time on site.
Star glazing
When law firm Clifford Chance wanted to update its City of London HQ to make it suitable for multi-tenancy, it necessitated the removal of the 90s-style cascading glass atrium for something more contemporary. Architect MoreySmith chose specialist glazing contractor OAG to create the building’s five-storey glass-clad structure, which straddles the road below.
OAG installed glass panels of 2.32m x 4.35m — the largest made by St Gobain for bolt-fixed systems. These are argon-filled, low-iron units with a 70/35 solar coating and double-glazed thickness of 53.2mm.
