"building systems"

Wick Tower is an iconic building for the locals which lay derelict for 20 years. Licata Building Systems was part of the process to bring Wick Tower back to life. Our silicone render system was used to create an aesthetic façade finish. The render system used maintains it’s clean fresh look for many years to come due to its self cleaning properties and will protect the structure from moisture.

Beechview Drive is a development by MD Constructions Ltd consisting of 8 brand new, luxury detached family houses set in a secure gated development. Each comprising 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, stunning kitchen diners and integral double garages. Licata Building Systems supplied full silicone render systems and clay brick slips systems for the facades of the houses. The combination of the two finishes created a modern style to the development. Full Licata waterproofing systems were used in the bathrooms of the properties and were also finished of with high quality premium Italian porcelain tiles supplied by Licata.

With several stops marked out on the future Crossrail route, new-builds on the rise, and an impressive range of ‘Outstanding’ schools, this culturally diverse borough of Ealing is becoming more popular than ever. To meet this popularity new-build property is on the rise however there is strict guidance on design of new buildings. Licata Building Systems in partnership with Build-Therm Services Limited were commissioned to specify and supply the façade systems for The Vale apartments. A prestigious block on Connell Crescent, The Vale was subject to planning guidance that insisted the block remained in-keeping with the more traditional neighboring blocks. The system installed is Licata FireSafe Brick slips. Using a 7mm extruded brick slip the system is one of the lighest systems available on the market. Coupled with class A2 fire performance and a U-value of 0.039W/mK, the apartments not only met all NHBC and local planning design criteria but provides the occupant a safe and energy efficient environment.

Victoria Residences is a bespoke collection 11 luxurious apartments and penthouses with elements of traditional British heritage blended with a contemporary and timeless design. Replicating powerful Georgian features with modern thermal efficient technology was a primary driver for the architect selecting Licata Building Systems as the facade provider. Specifying Licata Therm Eco, the installing partner used ashlar plus other decorative profiles to ensure the properties regal vision was achieved. The system was finished with a 1.5mm self-cleaning Silicone render to ensure the building retained that “just-applied” look for the longest possible period.

Park Plaza Victoria Hotel is located in the heart of central London providing premium stays in close proximity to famous attractions such as Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, and the Houses of Parliament. Guests of the Park Plaza Victoria Hotel can enjoy the exclusive facilities available such as the sauna, swimming pools and on-site restaurant. Licata Building Systems are proud to have been a part of this project by providing full Licata waterproofing systems, flooring systems, and interior paints.

With an enviable location on the South Bank of the River Thames, Park Plaza London Riverbank is ideal travellers from near and far to central London. Those travelling for leisure return again and again thanks to the prime central location, heated indoor swimming pool, enticing dining options and elegantly spacious rooms.Licata Building Systems was involved with the development of this project, providing several Licata systems, such as waterproofing and flooring systems. Licata waterproofing systems were used throughout the modern bathrooms and swimming pool facility. Licata resin flooring created a sleek and modern finish throughout public area of the hotel.

The Park Plaza Hotel, Hercules House is positioned just south of Westminster Bridge overlooking the River Thames with spectacular views across London. The hotel provides high-end dining and premium facilities such as the spa, sauna and swimming pool. Within walking distance of London’s most famous attractions inclduing the London Eye, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament and the London Aquarium, Hercules House is the ideal place to stay in the Capital. Licata Building Systems was involved with the development of this project, providing several Licata systems, such as waterproofing and flooring systems. Licata waterproofing systems were used throughout the modern bathrooms and swimming pool facility. Licata resin flooring created a sleek and finish throughout public area of the hotel. 

Starboard Hotels and Maith Architects invited Licata Building Systems and Licata contracting partner Build-Therm Services Limited to assist with the redevelopment of the previous Park Royal bar to provide a 162-bedroom Hampton by Hilton hotel. The original building, lying vacant and in a state of disrepair, has a listed Art Deco façade, which has been retained and refurbished to its former glory, with the new hotel being built in behind and wrapped over with new, substantially glazed floors and Licata FireSafe Brick Slip system. Completed in 2018, the system comprised of 160mm high density mineral fibre, comfortably achieving the target U Value of 0.04W/mK. The brick slips were selected and cut from handformed clay to match the original building.

Park Plaza London Park Royal provides tasteful accommodation for all guests whether you are travelling on business or a family getaway in west London. The modern, full-service hotel features 212 spacious guest rooms, four exemplary meeting rooms, a convenient on-site restaurant and a contemporary bar.In the development of this project, Licata Building Systems provided approved and certified systems consisting of high quality products. Licata waterproofing systems were used throughout the building, providing sustainable and effective solutions for the project. Licata resin flooring applied throughout public area of the hotel creating a modern and sleek environment throughout. 

St Hila's Cresent - Wetherby's Modular Facade System

Les Quennevais School - Education New Build

The East London Hotel is positioned in the heart of Bethnal Green, London. Since 2015, this vibrant area has experienced an urban renaissance, and consequently architect Maith Design wanted a facade that represented modenism but also complimented some the neighbourhoods more traditional post war architecture. Completed in 2018, the A2 Licata Therm Fire Safe facade was finished with an extruded staffordshire blue facing brick (3mm Acrylic Slip).

Linwood High Rise

As with all balcony constructions, the issue of cold-bridging (also known as thermal-bridging) must be addressed and minimised to meet the required building standards - Part L of the Building regulations being of particular relevance. The H-BAU ISOPRO® thermal insulation element from J&P solved this problem by providing structural connection between the internal concrete floor slab, and the external concrete (insitu, or precast) balcony, whilst creating a thermal break to minimise cold-bridging.

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.

J&P explored a number of possibilities with the precast contractor, Border Concrete Products and the main contractor Expanded Structures, culminating in a proposal to utilise J&P’s TSS invisible connectors. The innovative solution involved the TSS units being rotated through 90°, to accommodate the bearer within the slender 125mm rib section (see image above). The additional challenge of the supporting downstand being radiused was easily accommodated due to the flexibility of the TSS units, and the detailed dimensional/setting-out information provided by J&P to the contractors ensured accurate positioning for the varying angles required.

The Dream is a 20m precast concrete sculpture on the site of the old Sutton Manor Colliery near St. Helens in Lancashire. Created by world-renowned Spanish artist Jaume Plensa, it serves as a memorial to the miners who worked at the site. Because of the sculpture’s exposure to winds of up to 45m/s, all of the elements were connected to form a single monolithic structure. The design required a connection force of 200kN between adjacent elements, both horizontally and vertically. J&P was approached to deliver because of the company’s expertise in working with precast concrete.

Bank Street, High Wycombe

Audley Cooper Retirement Village

College Gardens, St Helier

JORDAHL® cast-in channel provided the versatility of fixing, whilst J&P provided the quality of support for this prestigious project. Loveld Concrete provided the high-quality precast panels used on both end gable elevations. Unitised glazing was fixed into each panel using JORDAHL® JTA K channel. Each panel was then subsequently fixed back to the concrete structure also using JORDAHL® JTA W 72/48 high-load channel. The pods were fixed using JORDAHL® JTA 53/34 channel, which accommodated the greater loads required.

St George Wharf consists of 750 apartments and offices, cafés, restaurants, a health and fitness centre as well as an international hotel. The project centres around 5 towers ascending in steps up to the 22nd storey. The top levels, directly under the striking wing-roofs, consist of penthouse suites with sea-green glass facades. Due to the fantastic location of St. George Wharf a complex has been created, which offers a high level of exclusivity, convenience and comfort. JORDAHL® supplied anchor channels JTA for connecting the elements of the glass façade.

Berry Systems completed works on behalf of our client, Bowmer & Kirkland, to deliver effective bespoke edge protection. We also installed rubber column protection and specialised bridge walkway pedestrian barrier to meet their specification requirements.The Porter Building houses 110, 625 square feet of office space for companies to utilise. It is conveniently situated in Slough with excellent transport links to key areas in London and the surrounding cities. The building itself has 100 car parking spaces and 100 bicycle parking spaces for employees and visitors to use. We were tasked with installing edge protection and vehicle restraint systems in the building to ensure both vehicle and pedestrian safety.The system installed was a perforated aluminium edge protection combined with buffer baseplates and mullion attached. This was designed in house by our design team to combine the two products delivering a compliant system meeting BS EN 1991-1-1 standards. Our team also designed the specialised bridge walkway pedestrian barrier to increase pedestrian safety on site. This particular project demonstrates our ability to design VRS solutions bespoke and being able to accommodate additional client requirements. In all of our projects, we work with our client to ensure that safety is the ultimate priority and the necessary industry standards are met.

Avoiding gas reliance when building a new house.Traditional self-build projects have always had heating systems such as gas central heating and solar panels installed. However, with the increasing costs of gas, and the uncertainty of future supplies, a secondary heating source is required.There are options such as ground heating pumps, etc. but a real heating system independent of the grid, plus a stunning focal point has to be a wood burning stove.In fact, wood logs are now the cheapest domestic heating fuel. According to the Stove Industry Alliance, wood now is “costing households 74% less per kWh than electric heating and 21% less than gas heating”. The benefits don’t end there. “Using a modern wood burning stove also costs 29% less to run than an air source heat pump. Wood logs are 87% less carbon intensive than gas, 88% less than electricity and 74% less than an air source heat pump.”Building a traditional steel pipe flue system is always an option, but steel systems are more suitable in retrofit projects where minimum disruption is required. When you are building a house from the ground up, then a more permanent and ultimately lifetime option is the better one.

NV Buildings is one of the most prestigious and iconic residential sites in Greater Manchester.The distinctive sail-shaped buildings are a major landmark in Salford Quays. The blocks have a curved main elevation providing a unique aesthetic on the skyline and are one of the most popular developments in the area.With a prominent location in Salford Quays, adjacent to the Lowry Theatre and Media City TV headquarters, the apartment blocks feature in many iconic photos of the area.The project itself was funded by the Building Safety Fund, the Government’s £4.5 billion fund to remove unsafe non-ACM cladding on residential and mixed-use properties that are 18 metres and over and do not meet building safety regulations.Our Approved Installer QFF Facades were contracted to complete the exterior wall insulation and rendering which upgraded the fire performance of the cladding, ensuring the safety of both the building and residents.Three 15 storey blocks were refurbished, with a safe and thermally efficient façade solution.Our ServiceWe worked in close partnership with QFF Facades throughout the duration of the project.Deliveries and install were strictly monitored and a very systematic approach was followed. A planned install programme was agreed to ensure minimal disruption to the residents of N V Buildings, who remained in their homes while the work was carried out on this prestigious site.We produced a bespoke specification which included various detailing such as soffits, balconies, and full height panels.A partnership approach was vital, as we worked with QFF Facades, Thomasons Consulting engineering, and the fire officer to agree upon and deliver specific detailing at abutments, openings, and for the drained cavity of the façade system.Particular attention to detail was afforded to the drained cavity fire-stops, including fire-stop details between floors, at party walls for each apartment and around openings.As part of our service commitment, our technical team were available to provide hands-on-guidance, offer support, technical guidance and ensure high levels of quality.Technical Project DetailsAfter testing, the existing cladding had been deemed a fire safety risk by experts and therefore needed to be removed and replaced with anon-combustible alternative.The project was a strip-and-refit of a drained cavity external wall insulation system, which included an expanded polystyrene insulation system.Our Approved Installer QFF Facades installed a K Systems Exicco M, Drained Cavity External Wall Insulation System for steel frame buildings, utilising Mineral Wool insulation. This high performing system provides high levels of fire resistance and non-combustibility.The fire classification of the façade for N V Buildings was upgraded to A2-s1, d0 and therefore complies with the latest building regulations, ensuring the safety of its residents.For the finish, high-performance thin coat silicone render (Silicone TC) was specified. Our Silicone TC render has a number of fantastic advantages including ease of application, and its hydrophobic properties make the render low maintenance. Available in a wide range of colours the topcoat finish used on NV Buildings is a light grey to match the original façade, meaning aesthetically the iconic buildings maintained their distinctive design.

Sto has supplied the StoTherm Mineral K external wall insulation system with StoLotusan render for the new Day Case and Eye Unit building at Chorley and South Ribble Hospital. Specified by Gilling Dod architects of Chorley, who worked closely with the main contractor Tilbury Douglas, the StoTherm Mineral K system combines impressive insulation with excellent fire protection characteristics. With an A2-s1, d0 reaction to fire classification in accordance with BS EN 13501-1, the non-combustible mineral fibre insulation is fully bonded to the substrate and therefore no additional firebreaks are required. Ideal for both new-build and refurbishment projects, its efficient single-leaf construction also means that interior space within the building is not reduced.  For this project, the system’s mineral fibre insulation boards were secured to the lightweight steel frame and sheathing board substrate with mechanical fixings and StoLevell Uni adhesive and levelling mortar. A StoLevell Duo Plus reinforcing coat embedded with Sto-Glass Fibre Mesh was then applied to the face of the insulation boards, with StoLotusan and StoSilco renders used for the final finish on different sections of the building, using light colours from Sto’s architectural colour range.  StoLotusan is the only render available that uses Sto’s patented Lotus-Effect® technology which delivers impressive water and dirt repellence. It forms a unique surface texture, similar to that of the lotus leaf, that causes the rainwater to run off the render quickly and easily, removing any dirt or dust as it goes. Providing outstanding resistance to the growth of algae and fungus, the building will retain its looks for many years to come.  The new Day Case and Eye Unit is the result of a major £17.5 million investment in developing enhanced ophthalmology and day case services. The new Day Case and Eye Unit now offers an extensive range of diagnostic and treatment facilities for patients with medical eye conditions.

Triton has supplied 3,280kg of TT Admix, its BBA certified concrete waterproofing system, to a prestigious new build project in West London. The project is a new car dealership situated between the M4 flyover and the site of Brentwood FC's new stadium. The construction comprises a watertight concrete base with welded sheet piled walls and a watertight concrete capping beam to provide a Type B integral waterproofing solution to BS 8102 (2009). On top of the slab is a steel framed structure.

Fed up of renting in London, Joe and Lina decided to build their own on a tiny 38m² plot of land in East London. With a budget of just under £200k they set about delivering Joe’s innovative concept for a six half-floor house with floating concrete slab, designed to maximise the space into a 83m² home, all whilst being filmed by Channel 4’s Grand Designs. However, things soon went south…Within weeks of the project beginning in October 2015, rogue contractors had performed a disastrous basement excavation attempt contrary to the Structural Engineer’s instructions, leaving unsupported banks of earth falling in beneath the street and shutters bursting inwards under the weight of the concrete.This first attempt, described as “spectacularly shambolic” by Kevin McCloud, more than doubled Joe and Lina’s budget for the excavation from £48k to £100k, and caused months of delays in order to get the project back on track.Having already contacted Newton Waterproofing Systems to consult on the poor workmanship, Joe and Newton soon determined that if he were to save his home and get it out of the ground, he would need a specialist contractor to actively communicate, collaborate and listen to him as both the engineer and client.MJ Rooney Construction came on board as contractors in November 2015, and following discussions to determine exactly what was required, modelled the entire project in 4D to ensure that all potential difficulties were solved before work began.With the right lines of communication in place, work recommenced in late January 2016, with the first challenge being to make safe a 3.5 metre high bank of unsupported earth with sheet piles, before creating a new and waterproof structural shell of reinforced concrete.With the shell of the structure in place, Newton and MJ Rooney’s next challenge was a much more welcome one, as they created a bespoke waterproofing solution to accommodate Joe’s ingenious design for a suspended reinforced slab that acted as both a floor and a prop force against the lateral pressure from the basement walls.This entire slab rested on brackets designed by Joe and his structural engineer, insulating it from the external walls by ensuring minimal contact, and only making contact through insulated blocks with enough compressive strength to take the vertical loading. The design also created a cavity around the slab that can be fully insulated, allowing the slab to be used as a thermal mass inside the building without having to insulate the entire external envelope.Working closely with Joe, a solution was devised that enabled the continuity of the waterproofing behind the brackets without compromising the structural design.

Schlüter-Systems used its specialist technical knowledge and a number of key product solutions to minimise floor build-up and guarantee complete waterproofing provision in the refurbishment of one of Ireland’s most magnificent country houses. Set in 840 acres of grounds, Adare Manor was the subject of an 18-month-long renovation—its most extensive in 25 years. 40 new bedrooms have been added to this 19th century neo-gothic masterpiece as well as a host of new facilities; including a swimming pool, boardroom, cinema, spa and 350-capacity ballroom.

The new Engineering Building for The University of the West of England (UWE) is located at the main Frenchay Campus. Designed by multi award-winning architects, AHR, the iconic building will enable the university to deliver its vision for 21st Century engineering and inspire engineers of the future. It has been designed and operated to BIM Level two and aims to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating. The building will accommodate up to 1,600 students as well as 100 academic and technical staff. The design brief was to create a space which would encourage multi-disciplinary collaborative learning. The outcome is an ideal environment for students to explore, create, and test ideas to change the world for the better.A large central atrium provides a generous space across multiple stepping floor plates which leads to social learning spaces, manufacturing workshops, wind tunnels, laboratories, computer rooms, and computer-aided design (CAD) suites. At the heart of the building there is also a hub for group study which will encourage students and academics to meet and exchange ideas.Lusso atria glazing was installed within the space to allow natural light into the core of the building and visual connection between different areas .  A combination of Lusso 105 framed glazed partitioning and Lusso 25 frameless glazed partitioning has been used for different specification requirements within the space and combine well with the wood and black coated steel beams to achieve an industrial look. 

The Ascent stair unit - Industrial stair system was specified to create a safe means of access over roof mounted mechanical and electrical plant and equipment. The roof area is tightly packed with Air conditioning plant creating a unique challenge to design a safe means of access across it. The Ascent step over / stair unit is able to accommodate spans up to 4.5m and was able to be utilised to create a safe access route. The step over unit is supported on rubber spreader feet which provide a non-penetrative support solution on the flat single ply membrane roof. The stair unit is designed in accordance with BS EN ISO 14122-1:2001 + A1:2010 and Building Reg Part K:2013 and manufactured following 1090 factory production control procedures.

Standard Life Investments’ new £75m development at St Andrew Square in Edinburgh, as with many modern builds, it is fronted with lots of glass. It looks amazing and delivers plenty of natural light, but often requires robust shading solutions to protect people from the sun’s glare and heat. The fit-out company opted to use YewdaleDefiant® R20 systems with side channels throughout, and the YewdaleDefiant® R20M with double bracket. This allowed the installation of a dimout screen fabric and a blackout fabric, which can be easily switched between at the touch of a button. Read more...

Public Sector buildings, including museums and libraries, are enjoyed by millions of us on a yearly basis. They are a place where the general public can enjoy viewing priceless artefacts and other national treasures and are of major importance to the country’s economy.

Shower and changing facilities bind practicality and design at this new-build office development in Smithfield. At The Haymarket Building, practicality meets excellent design, and Architects Reddy Architecture + Urbanism have created a sophisticated space that the tenants can be proud of. The building is accessed via an impressive double-height lobby, and this grandeur is maintained throughout the entire building, including the washrooms.Split over two floors, the basement houses a gym and self-contained male and female changing rooms with a separate toilet block on the upper basement level. Venesta’s Unity Full Height cubicle range was the product of choice for the designers of this project, due to its versatility.Model Z Active 400mm Bench Lockers were specified for both the male and female changing rooms. The unique Z-shaped locker provides space for storing bags and hanging clothes and has the benches integrated into the locker units saving on floor space for a minimalist room layout. The Model Z Active Lockers come readily constructed for quick, easy installation and are finished in SGL making them hardwearing, impact and scratch resistant.  Read the full case study for more details.

The Porter Building presented a range of demanding challenges for the Aquarian team but now complete, this ?agship project has transformed a key development area in central Slough. Thanks to...

DescriptionLocal Smet Supported Partner, a seasoned Lidl Contractor, McCallion Group machine applied the LIDL External Render System onto Poroton blocks externally using as Base Coat: Bauprotec 850 M – Lightweight Lime Cement Render, and as Key Coat: Change of substrate concrete/steel pillar/Poroton block or mass concrete and insulated plinths: Bauprotec RHS Multi-Purpose Render.The internal Render System specification onto Poroton blockwork consists of a base of Coat: Bauprotec 850 M, Lightweight Lime Cement Render, sponge floated in warehouse areas, and skim finished in sales areas. Key Coat: Change of substrate concrete/steel pillar/Poroton block: Bauprotec RHS is used.The Irish LIDL render spec, available from SMET consists of:Bauprotec 850 M is a factory-produced Lightweight Lime Cement Render, specially designed for machine or hand application produced to EN 998-1: 2010 and is CE Marked.Bauprotec RHS is a CE Marked, factory-produced highly polymer-modified render specially designed for hand and machine application produced to EN 998-1: 2010.The special render properties; lightweight, low thermal conductivity, high yield, and the Smet Supported Partner superior technical backup, are key factors in choosing SMET.SMET is committed to delivering consistently superior quality, German-made Render Systems to Lidl Plastering and rendering/plastering contractors across the UK and ROI.  If you’d like to speak to us about your Lidl job – contact SMET.All LIDL spec SMET Render System products are available directly from Smet Building Products Ltd, which ensures the contractor has a superior level of technical backup in the machine application of the LIDL specification.Related DownloadsTDS CASEA Bauprotec 850 M – Lightweight Lime Cement RenderTDS CASEA Bauprotec RHS – Multi-Purpose Render