"cladding"

An antiquated industrial building in the heart of Hatton Garden, London, has been given a new lease of life thanks in part to sparkling bronze anodised aluminium rainscreen cladding panels from Proteus Facades. Following an £18.4m refurbishment designed by Karakusevic Carson Architects, Record Hall has been transformed from an outdated former record depository, into a state-of-the-art, six-floor business centre with a striking exterior.

This project was designed, manufactured and installed by David L Douglas. The design inspiration was Scandinavian; the client wanted something completely different from the traditional look of their main house. With the exterior of the building being cladded in Larch timber, their design team decided to use oak timber internally. The main items that were finished with Oil Plus 2C, was the oak flooring, wall panelling, doors, mock beams, the staircase, and even on the dartboard housing!

The Reflections project features multiple freestanding banks of mailboxes combined with LED lighting areas behind frosted glass. The mailboxes for this project were manufactured and installed on to a sub frame which was attached to the building column and then finished in an oak cladding surround.PROJECT DETAILSProject Type: Private AccommodationProduct: COM 2 – 145 MailboxInstallation: FreestandingAccessories: Engraved writing. Surround Frame. Freestanding Support Legs

In 2004 Apple opened their first European store in one of the most famous shopping streets in the world, Regent Street in London.The interior space is a 7.2-metre double-height grand hall and the interior front facade, with its full height arches clad in Portland stone, can be appreciated in its full extent.Albion Stone supplied Jordans Basebed for the internal wall linings which was sympathetic to the historic nature of the building.

Developed on what was previously the Strathclyde Police Headquarters, Holland Park is a residential complex with 4 towers ranging from 6 to 22 storeys in height, around a courtyard formation.ChallengeSpecialist building envelope company MetalTech Roofing & Cladding were contracted to secure the façade on this new development, with the task of fixing nearly 9,500m2 of façade to the external face of the buildings.SolutionMetalTech approached Fixfast and requested a technical façade calculation for the Fixfast façade support system, which we provided alongside technical advice.The Fixfast façade support system is a system for any application - including SPIDI® Max brackets: one bracket design means the system can be used in vertical or horizontal installation configurations and is engineered for both fixed and sliding points. Essentially, one bracket design means all challenges solved - simplifying material selection and on-site installation management.The unique ribbed bracket design offers superior strength, allowing systems to be engineered for heavier loads, or potentially fewer brackets per square metre for lightweight panels.With MetalTech needing to fix the façade simply but fast, Fixfast were able to work with them to get deliveries to site when they needed them, with the assurance of a versatile façade support system that works in a range of applications - wall cladding, soffits, or ceilings. "In addition to supplying an innovative support bracket for this contract, Fixfast also continued to provide their usual first-class service. Engineering and design services were available from the outset and technical support was gratefully accepted during the build to help overcome some difficult details. We were fortunate in being able to use the same SPIDI Max bracket for both façade and soffit support in both aluminium and stainless steel. This greatly helped to simplify our process from design through to install. And with the site being in a restricted, city centre location, timely and flexible deliveries were required - which Fixfast duly achieved."MetalTech Roofing & Cladding Ltd

Lancaster University School of Mathematics (LUSoM) is a specialist school that will deliver world-class mathematics education for 16 to 18 year-olds.The four-storey building, featuring a rooftop terraced area for students to relax and study, has a unique and iconic look, making it an immediate landmark for people travelling into Preston City Centre.Interpon D2525 Y2217F Steel Bronze 2 was applied to the feature `Zig-Zag` cladding panels supplied by Sotech.

Installer – Imperial Facades.Main Contractor-Bugler Developments.Architect- dRMM.Client – Populo Living.A stunning development of 148 Apartments, clad in our Vantage IP (Interlocking Plank) rainscreen system powder coated in Golden Beach from Akzo Nobel.A difficult build throughout covid but handled superbly by all involved.Once again working closely with Imperial facades has been a pleasure and the finished project is something to be proud of for all.

When restoration of the UK’s last remaining open-pan salt works began, Eternit was integral to completing the £10 million industrial heritage project. Early in the design process, Eternit was consulted to assess the feasibility of using semi-compressed fibre cement profiled sheeting as roofing and cladding materials. To maintain the aesthetics of the original Lion Salt Works buildings with new products, Profile 6 and Profile 3 sheeting was used in Natural Grey.

James Hardie recently featured on a stunning leisure facility in the heart of Clarach Bay, Aberystwyth. In collaboration with Nick Carroll Architects, we were able to provide a unique Hardie® Panel solution to this project. Originally a competitor product was specified at nearly three times the cost of Hardie® Panel, the client chose to switch to James Hardie thanks to our cost effectiveness, A2 fire rating and providing a robust cladding solution.

A new state-of-the-art Graduate Centre and student accommodation pavilions at St Catherine’s College, Oxford, have become the latest developments to feature eye-catching Proteus HR cladding panels, manufactured by Proteus Facades. The new Ainsworth Graduate Centre is a striking circular design yet one that sits harmoniously in a location steeped in history. The building resides on the site of the original Grade I listed campus designed by renowned architect Arne Jacobsen.

The award winning Copper Building, designed by Ferguson Mann Architects, adds 136 new apartments to Bristol’s Lakeshore scheme, an ambitious regeneration project by Urban Splash. The distinctive, copper-clad four-storey building is a thoughtful solution to higher-density living, underpinned by sustainable building performance. Generous glazing is a key feature of the project, with VELFAC triple glazed slim-framed composite windows bringing extra light into apartments and communal spaces.

2,500/M2 OF EXTRUDED ALUMINIUM 6063 T6 GRADE HAS BEEN USED IN THE PRODUCTION OF BESPOKE EXTRUSIONS FOR THE BRAND NEW 435 BED BATH COURT STUDENT ACCOMMODATION SCHEME IN BIRMINGHAM.This has been a fascinating project to work on as the architect wanted a bespoke alternative to terracotta cladding; something more hard wearing and lighter and something that could be manufactured more quickly to reduce overall lead times.As a team, we drew on our existing knowledge of extruded cladding systems as well as our relationship with extrusion manufacturers to produce the bespoke solution.We selected aluminium as the material to allow for the complex shapes required and designed four new dies for the development of the system. We also completed a project specific CWCT test at Vinci Technology Centre to provide assurances over the final build up.The bespoke extrusions created under the Sotech Limitless Range reduced the weight of the façade from the original specification. The extrusions also provide greater levels of impact resistance whilst also offering a more cost-effective product. Sotech’s Limitless Range can be provided in a vast number of powder-coated finishes and can be supplied in an anodised finish.

Ultimate Grey and Illuminating Yellow have been declared as the Pantone Colours of the Year for 2021and that grey and yellow combination was used to create a striking contrast with the contemporary cladding and render. The owners had installed AluK products in their previous property and had been impressed with the quality, style and durability, particularly for a coastal location. They had no hesitation in choosing them again this time around; and worked with AluK fabricator Rhino Aluminium and installer SG Installations to complete the design and installation.

Location: Westminster, LondonProject Type: Housing & Retail unitDevelopment Cost: £7mProduct: Rainscreen Panels with Relief MotifMeridian Wall CopingsVertical KwikFix CladdingKwikFix Soffit Planks to Balconies & Winter GardensFinish: IGP Dura XAL 4201 Style 26 MetallicClient: Taylor Wimpey Central LondonArchitect: Darling AssociatesMain Contractor: McAleer & Rushe LtdSub Contractor: KTD Facades Ltd

Minsthorpe Leisure Centre in Yorkshire is managed by Wakefield Council - offering a 25-metre swimming pool, a gym, and fitness classes including Zumba, Pilates, HIIT workouts, and boxercise.With support from our technical team, JML Building Services were advised to use Fixfast TapFast Stainless HCR fasteners, for use in corrosive environments. The finished effect was a brand-new swimming pool with roofing and cladding fixings that would stay in place despite the risk of corrosion.

The Kingspan TEK Building System and Kingspan TEK Cladding Panel have been installed as part of the new Seaton Jurassic visitor centre in Devonshire, forming the gateway to the region’s historic Jurassic Coast. BREEAM ‘Very Good’ was a central requirement on the project, and the Kingspan TEK products delivered the excellent thermal and airtightness performance that was needed in a single operation. As a result, costs were reduced and speed of construction was significantly increased when compared with a traditional stud wall approach.

Ateliers C.Eco.Bois got their hands on this ecological Bed & Breakfast. The wonderful Red Cedar cladding on the outside of the B&B is finished with our all-rounder product for exterior wood: Rubio Monocoat Hybrid Wood Protector, colour Teak.The guys from Ateliers C.Eco.Bois are specialized in the construction of timber frame houses. The know-how and the quality this craft company brings to their clients is now recognized by the profession. Each project is unique and the requirements and budget of the customer are ‘key’.

This old Bakery in Ashford Kent was no longer in use, it was purchased by a developer and planning was granted to bring this back in to use by refurbishment into habitable residential flats. One of the requirements were to sustain the commercial properties of the building but also to give it a modern look. Metal Solutions offered ZM Silesia Pre-aged zinc in a 0.8mm gauge, the light catches the characteristics of the slight oil canned aesthetics this angle seam cladding provides and delivered exactly what the planners were looking for.

One of the key towers within the prime Nine Elms redevelopment in Lambeth, is Terracotta clad The Atlas which is nothing less of a statement and a local landmark. BackgroundFollowing the international recognition of the Broadcasting Tower building in Leeds that in 2010 won the CTBUH "Best Tall Building" award and became an industry referent, when Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios were given the arduous task of designing The Atlas building in Vauxhall, they knew that the World was watching and that their next joint venture with Downing Construction couldn’t be anything less than a statement and Argeton terracotta was selected as the material of choice for yet another prestigious project. The projectFCB Studios and the Lambeth planning committee wanted to portray the essence of Lambeth’s strong pottery and ceramics industry and of the site’s past which once was home to the Royal Doulton ceramic factory and Argeton Terracotta provided a solution that offered the versatility to respond to the technical challenges of modern high rise construction and ease of installation that would allow to meet a tight programme whilst answering to the aesthetic requirements and fitting in the concept sought.Industry leaders independent façade engineering consultants Wintech worked in the project from its birth and during the development of the scheme ensuring all of the engineering challenges were overcome and they worked together with FCB Studios in developing an algorithm to randomly distribute a mix of glazed and unglazed ceramic finishes, to resemble the speckles often found in traditional pottery. Argeton Terracotta provided a range of colours and finishes to meet the scheme requirements including a specialist hand-fired finish with special glaze for the lower areas of the scheme. Alumet’s record of outstanding delivery of full envelopes for some of the most reputable Main contractors nationwide combined with their over 20 years of expertise led them to be nominated façade contractor for the new build student accommodation tower which they delivered on time and on budget thanks to the cost effectiveness and ease of installation of the Argeton system.SolutionTerracotta is one of the cladding resources of choice in the market because it is a natural and versatile material that gives architects freedom of expression whilst it gives cladding and envelope contractors the advantages of a quick and easy installation process. The Argeton system is one of the principal terracotta systems used Worldwide not only because it is a natural and versatile material but also because it offers a technical and cost-effective solution for the residential, commercial and health and education sectors. Argeton is CE and UKCA marked and one of the most tested systems in the market including a BBA and an EPD. NHBC approved and not subject to any restrictions on building height or proximity to boundaries thanks to its Euro-class A1 Fire certification, it is no surprise Argeton is one of the materials of choice not only in new builds but also for refurbishment or re-clad. Durable and fully recyclable, ISO 14025 and EN 15804 (European BREEAM equivalent) certified, sustainability is at the heart of Argeton’s values.

Woodlands is a high-quality retirement scheme of 17 luxury apartments by PegasusLife, now part of Lifestory, in exclusive Canford Cliffs, Dorset. Designed by Snug Architects, the building’s striking, contemporary form is crafted to include a carefully specified combination of whitewashed, vertical timber cladding, glazed balconies, bronze-coloured windows and white Antro facing brick slips from leading brick innovator, Vandersanden. “It was the team at PegasusLife that first suggested using Vandersanden brick slips,” explains Mike Worthington, director at Snug Architects. “The very stylish Antro brick complements the whitewashed timber cladding and the bronze metal colour of the windows very well to provide an incredibly mature material palette.” Within walking distance of the beach, Woodlands stands on Flaghead Road amongst age-old pines. The building’s architecture was inspired by its setting and, although bold and contemporary, relates harmoniously to the scale of the surrounding housing. The structure was conceived as a three-storey modern brick envelope with a basement car park that has lift access. Woodlands was built using a reinforced concrete frame construction. Instead of traditional brickwork, Gebrik Brick Cladding Panels featuring Vandersanden’s Antro brick slips were supplied by Aquarian Cladding for the project. These were constructed off-site and installed straight onto the building frame. By using Gebrik panels, the aesthetics of the building were maintained as originally designed while minimising on-site works. A further advantage was that the build programme was more efficient than with traditional construction as the building was watertight more quickly, so interior spaces could be fitted out in tandem with work to the exterior. To complete the facade, Antro brick pistols and splayed/canted brick specials were employed with the bricks wrapped underneath the soffit of window and balcony openings. Vandersanden’s Antro stock facing bricks have a sanded-coated and creased structure. They are a mix of different kinds of clay forms and made with 100% natural resources; the loam that forms the most important base material dates from the Ice Age. By using specific sand types for the surface covering, the desired colour is achieved. Mike Worthington says: “The Vandersanden bricks are good quality and provided the basis for a beautiful and mature materiality for this retirement living development which we were delighted with. They’ve weathered very well and we’re regularly complimented on the scheme and asked who supplied the bricks. We’re very proud of it.” Canford Cliffs is an affluent suburb of Poole with a significant population of retired people. PegasusLife is a retirement living provider on a mission to fundamentally re-think retirement living in the UK. Unsurprisingly, Woodlands was shortlisted for the 2017 RIBA South West Awards. Further details on Snug Architects are available at https://www.snugarchitects.co.uk. To find out more about the bricks used in this project or to see the wide range of high-quality bricks available from Vandersanden, click on the 'View more' link 

Metropolitan Works is London’s first Creative Industries Centre, offering digital manufacturing services, IT suites, training and workspace to local creative businesses and designers. Echoing the form-making processes undertaken at the Centre, the building was conceived as a series of interlocking volumes unified with a perforated aluminium cladding. On the ground floor level, a dramatic frieze by local artist Tom Price has been laser cut into the Ash & Lacy anodized aluminium panels to give the facade a sense of movement and life.

In 2022, BCM supplied grey GRC cladding to 'The Church Inn' in Manchester, a project which converted the vacant site of a former pub into much-needed student accommodation.The jewel in Church Inn's architectural crown is the large debossed lettering at the top of each of the building's four elevations, which – nine stories high – creates a landmark visible across the MMU campus and from The University of Manchester.The GRC we supplied to Church Inn was expertly installed by our partner installer, Henley Stone.

Eagle were chosen to provide two PAS68 Gate to a high security site located in the South East. The specification required an airlock system rated to withstand a HVM impact of 50mph and 7500kg. The outer gate was 3m high clad in solid steel whilst the inner was 3m high with 358 mesh. For further information on the range of PAS68 Bi-Folding Speed Gates and HVM solutions including PAS68 Road Blockers and PAS 68 Rising Bollards click on the links

The Redmonds Building provides the university with a state-of-the-art home for the Faculty of Business and Law, the Liverpool Screen School and the university’s new Professional Centre. The work is taking places in phases over a two-year period and will replace the cladding on the outside of the building. The external works are scheduled to be completed in summer 2021. Fire protection is a main concern for this project and Effisus Breather FR, a fire-resistant breathable membrane, was the chosen membrane for protection of the new façade against moisture, driving rain and wind.

J&P was involved early in discussions with several members of the project team, and using its BEAMCON product, provided a coordinated and value-engineered range of solutions to the multiple fixing requirements on the project. These included brackets that could take vertical shear loads of 72 kN, horizontal shear of 270 kN, tension of 495 kN and a moment of 25 kNm. BEAMCON was used to fix the innovative ETFE cladding “cushions” which give The SSE Hydro its distinctive appearance.

Johnstone’s Trade were approached by the Commissioners of Irish Lights to improve the condition of the walls and the railings as the structure indicated that it had not been painted for a number of years. The products that were specified for the project included Johnstone’s Stormshield Pliolite Masonry, a solvent based paint that was applied on the exterior walls of the lighthouse to provide a smooth matt finish in Brilliant White. To complete the makeover, the metal railings of the lighthouse were painted in Johnstone’s Steel & Cladding Semi-gloss Top coat in Signal red.

The Koster TPO Single Ply membrane was selected to waterproof the flat roof on this new build development. The design called for a warm roof system installed over a timber deck followed by a sedum blanket (on protection membrane).Koster TPO 2mm Fleeceback membrane was used as it is highly resistant against mechanical damage, fully weldable so no weaknesses and it will not contaminate any of the planting such as a PVC membrane would.The Slate Grey RAL 7015 colour was selected to compliment the Zinc cladding.

Tarka Housing. Based in Devon, Tarka looks after approximately 6000 properties (in conjunction with West Country Homes) in the Devon and Cornwall areasFrom time to time, it is important to complete major refurbishments on housing stock to ensure Government living standards can be achieved and that the homes can supply shelter to families for years to come.Cornish Units are distinguished by their Mansard Roofing, which requires a roofing material that can be fitted as vertical cladding, just like Metrotile’s Shingle profile

150m2 of Oranit Shiluvit panels in Poplar were used to clad the walls and ceiling of the multi-use event space, the Pickle Factory in East London.Part of the larger Oval Space group, the pickle factory is an ex-industrial unit in Tower Hamlets designed for more intimate live music and acoustic events and has hosted corporate events for companies including Google, Forza, and Joypad.The natural finish Poplar timber Shiluvit panels are also in keeping with the versatility of the space.

The VeloPark Clad in Siberian Pine, and affectionately nicknamed 'The Pringle' due to the shape of its roof, The Velodrome was the first Olympic venue to be completed, and it came in on time, and on budget too! Built by ISG Ltd, who were responsible for the refurbishment of the Manchester Velodrome, and designed by Hopkins Architects, with the help of cycling legend, Sir Chris Hoy, it cost just £94 million to build. Again, Naylor Lintels feature heavily in this building and were supplied to Bromley based Brickwork Contractor R.I Works Ltd.

Proteus Facades has helped to create a grand entrance at the new Grange University Hospital in Gwent, through innovative use of Proteus HR TECU Patina Iron Two copper rainscreen cladding panels and architectural fins. Designed by BDP Architects, the hospital, which opened four months ahead of schedule in November 2020, was built as part of the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board’s Clinical Futures Strategy and houses the region’s accident and emergency and intensive care facilities.

The ideal choice for specifiers looking for multi-functional wood protection, Sadolin Classic blends outstanding performance with a beautiful finish. Suitable for all exterior wood, Sadolin Classic delivers long-lasting protection for a wide range of timber, including decking, cladding and fencing. It features a high performance formulation which enables the product to absorb deep into the timber, providing exceptional protection against the elements. And as well as being a versatile choice, Sadolin Classic is also available in over 40 shades.

Wakefield has had a sporting boost with the construction of its new Minsthorpe Leisure Centre which was opened February 2018, after the 14-month project was completed on schedule. Facilities at the centre include a 25m, six-lane swimming pool, a 60-station health and fitness club and a group exercise studio.The project cladding design underwent a value engineering programme and the originally specified product was changed to include our Trimapanel® smooth faced insulated panels for the external building envelope.

Built on a 5.3-acre plot of land, Barnwood Distribution Centre sits alongside the A417 in Gloucester. Originally commissioned by client Amazon, the project was managed by Bowmer and Kirkland and delivered a 118,000sqm distribution centre that will now be sub-let to another company. The development includes a multi-storey van storage deck, offices and HGV and car parking spaces. We were pleased to supply polyester powder coated (PPC) Anvil metal cladding fins to the multi-storey car park.

North Kent Police HQ is a four-storey landmark building of 11,500 m2. In addition to the perimeter fencing, Lang+Fulton supplied the steel louvred cladding panels and support steelwork for the generator housing. The panels were made from Italia-100 which is an extremely robust louvred material, providing 100% visual screening and a high level of security. Italia-100 was considered to perfectly complement the overall architectural design as well as providing the required functionality at a sensitive site.

Completed in 1958, Bracken House was built as the headquarters and printworks of the Financial Times – the Hollington Staffordshire pink sandstone cladding cleverly matching the newspaper’s distinctive salmon pink pages. John Robertson Architects has since undertaken a sensitive renovation to create a space for the 21st century whilst reconciling the two architectural styles. The entrance matting has been carefully considered as part of the project, featuring a combination of profiles and inserts to create a zonal system that harmonises with the building’s aesthetics. Find out more