"cladding"

WMOR Architects completely redesigned the ground floor to include a flexible living area to open into the garden. Accoya was chosen as the ideal material for the extension because of it aesthetic appearance as well as its ability to provide better insulation than other materials. & the owners wanted to use the most sustainable material they could. The Accoya extension which houses the show piece kitchen will be left to weather naturally and match the pale grey flooring. This was specifically designed so that in the summer, when the sliding door completely opens, the interior & exterior space will merge seamlessly.

The regeneration of Swansea’s old docklands has seen old, dilapidated warehouses transformed into exciting mixed-use projects. Residential, commercial, as well as valuable retail space now occupy the area, collectively known as ‘The Urban Village’. Construction of the new-build 9-storey residential apartment block by the main contractor R&M Williams, saw RCM engaged as an important supplier. As well as providing the essential aluminium support frame, RCM also ensured timely delivery of the colourful Swisspearl façade. Each panel was fabricated by RCM to exact specified size, saving precious time on the construction of the building.

Crown House, Barking, LondonThis project consisted of over 550,000 brick slips, including bespoke headers, pistols, and reveals. A choice of two brick types was selected for this project, both from our core range of products, the Mystique and the Rustington Antique.Client - Thorp precastBrick Types - Mystique, Rustington AntiqueProject timescale - 6 monthsConstruction Method - Pre Cast Concrete

Mecure HotelThis was a particularly sensitive project due to the central location of the site in Oxford, we worked alongside the client and planners to find a suitable brick type which blended in sympathetically with the surrounding proerties.This was a new build project with bricks slip bonded directly onto fire-rated backing panels.Brick Type - Old English Buff MultiClient - Mecure HotelsContractor - Fern Plant Ltd

Project: East Parade, LeedsArchitect: Associated ArchitectsInstaller: HKL Specialists LtdStone: Yorkstone & Black GraniteBarclay’s House in Leeds Office Quarter was transformed by the design from Associated Architects. An old 1980s building is now a prime 45,000 sq. Ft office building – 6 East Parade (6EP)Glazing on the upper levels gives way to Glazed red terracotta and a solid foundation on the ground floor of Yorkstone on Aztec Rainscreen. A truly stunning building that was Highly Commended in the BCO (Regional) ‘Refurbished / Recycled Workplace’ Awards

Architect: Guy Hollaway Architects Main Contractor: Buxton Building Contractors Installer: Colorminium Stone: Jura Beige Guy Hollaway Architects designed the competition-winning scheme for the new concert hall at Benenden School near Cranbrook in Kent. The project, completed in 2021, delivered a new combined concert hall; school hall and music department. The new school hall has a capacity of 750. The Concert Hall includes a 150 seat recital hall and digital media suites. This development, the largest in the school’s history, achieves the combination of brick and natural stone, in the form of Aztec Rainscreen with stunning success. The honed Jura Limestone angled soffits give the windows a superiority as well as realising more light into the building. Areas of the large panel 1200x450mm rainscreen achieve a modern look on this prestigious development.

As a project local to Vincent Timber here in Birmingham, this was quite an exciting one for us. Contractors Design and Build worked alongside architects Piper Whitlock on behalf of Harvest on this stunning, 30-acre regeneration project, which was formerly an industrial site.The project is a joint Sainsbury's and Landsec venture which features 250,000 sq. ft. of retail and leisure buildings. As you may imagine, the large onsite Sainsbury's, erected upon stilts, is an impressive feature building.“It was very exciting working on this large-scale project, especially with the unique solar shading we created. Being built locally meant it was great to see the site as it progressed.”  - Malcolm Frowen, Head of Cladding and Brise Soleil Sales @ Vincent TimberWhat You'll Find Here The Sainsbury's site not only features an unforgettable glazed movement atrium, most of its elevations are also clad in beautiful vertical timber strips. Other retailers include Next, Marks & Spencer and JD Sports while Nando's and Costa provide a fuel break from all the shopping fun. All of which are fronted with aesthetically pleasing solar shading created using our Sivalbp timber.Design and aesthetic have been a huge focus of this project, combining many wonderful materials and features while heavily incorporating the Worcester and Birmingham canal to create a unique experience that's so much more than shopping. Whilst there is parking for 860 cars onsite, the canal side square connects the site to the centre of Selly Oak, providing easy access for pedestrians and cyclists too. Thanks to its environmentally friendly design this project has a Very Good BREEAM rating. About SivalbpVincent Timber is the UK's sole distributor of Sivalbp, a modern production facility based in the South of France.The facility combines the latest technology in wood processing, with high quality pre-coating preparation and sophisticated environmentally friendly coating methods to produce a range of coated products that are both high performance and aesthetically pleasing.Many profiles can be secret fixed, avoiding visible nail heads and protecting the integrity of the coating.

Canadian Western Red Cedar Timber Cladding with NORclad Brunnea treatment Approximately 7.5km of Canadian Western Red Cedar has been suppled for this project in Wednesbury, machined to our face fix NWC2 T&G profile. Brunnea treated Canadian Western Red Cedar cladding from NORclad offers a formal 30 year warranty against rot and fungal decay. The NORclad Brunnea treatment is a popular choice, containing a pigment and UV inhibitors – there is a good level of colour stability VS uncoated timbers. Being a preservative treatment rather than a coating, there is less involved in terms of maintaining the product.

Location: Acton, London Project Type: Housing Development Cost: £160m Product: Balcony Soffit Cladding, Meridian Copings, 101.6 Dia & 76.2 Dia Contemporary Rainwater Finish: Interpon YW255F Golden Beach (Balcony Soffits), RAL 7016 Matt (Meridian Copings & Rainwater Pipes) Client: Countryside Properties Plc Architects: A&Q Partnership (London) Limited Main Contractor: Countryside Properties Plc Sub Contractor: Roweaver Developments Ltd

We visited one of our approved installers to check out the refurbishment process underway at The Kingsbury Building project on Horsell Road in Islington, London. Alu-Installations installed our complete non-combustible balcony solution, using AliClad Flow aluminium soffit cladding and AliDeck Junior Ridged aluminium decking boards.

A self-detached home in Brighton that once blended in with its' neighbours is now arguably the street's most striking resident. The homeowners were passionate about creating a contemporary two-toned look, using materials that are durable and low maintenance.The exterior walls are clad with Hardie® VL Plank fibre cement board, showcasing a mix of a vertical installation on the top half and horizontal installation on the bottom half. The clean, modern lines of the interlock V groove help to accentuate the building's shape, enhancing a sense of spaciousnous.

The vision for Rochdale Riverside was to provide a revitalised and vibrant town centre incorporating a contemporary architectural form and material palette. In this way it was hoped that it would create a destination experience and re-establish Rochdale as a major shopping centre.The impact of the Stereo-kinetic® wall cladding was fundamental within the design of the project.As described by architects, TP Bennet, “The centrepiece of the scheme, a striking, copper-clad cinema, is set against a background of a dramatic kinetic wall featuring a relief depicting the River Roch, which runs in a culvert underneath the centre”.And also noted within the report by Rochdale Online, “To bring visual interest and activity a unique moving tile wall is proposed which will move with the wind to create rippling effects. It will create a truly distinctive piece of public art and feature at a key entrance point to the town for tram and bus passengers”.Lang+Fulton fitted the 77,500 stainless steel tiles off-site using a template corresponding to the architects design and supplied their panels fully finished with protective, recyclable wrapping for ease of installation.

Location: Lots Road, Chelsea, LondonProject Type: HousingDevelopment Cost: £60mProduct: Rainscreen CladdingMeridian Wall CopingsShadex 150 Privacy ScreensPerforated Secret Fix Soffit Panels (To Balconies)Finish: Syntha Pulvin RAL 7012 Matt Basalt Grey S4L0891: Qualicoat 2Fire rating: A2 s1, d0 Non-combustible (Reaction to Fire EN BS 13501-1:2018)Client: CK Asset Holdings LtdArchitect: FarrellsMain Contractor: Rollecate Facades LtdSub Contractor: Rollecate Facades Ltd

AWMS Skyline specified in prestigious educational projectThe INCA 2019 New Build Award Winner features one of Alumasc Water Management Solution (AWMS) most innovative products. AWMS Skyline range helped to create the now nationally recognised £5 million Shipston on Stour project.The construction of the Shipston High School began in November of 2017 and was completed last March (2019). Originally requiring a new teaching section, the educational institution acquired an entire new block. The successful new addition to the building was provided through extensive reviews of the building’s estate and cost modelling.With its new contemporary architectural design, the school earnt itself the winning position as the 2019 New Build and Judges’ Choice award. Shipston High School was said to demonstrate impressive window detail, as well as a simple and effective overall minimalist design.As the construction of the project focused on a simple and modern style, it comes as no surprise that AWMS Skyline products were specified for the school’s cladding, capping and trims.

DAYLIGHT FOR SHOWCASING STUDENT SUCCESSWe have always recognised that daylighting is both an art and a science, which makes it an appropriate focal point for Mahwah High School’s new STEAM Lab. The STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) approach to education takes an important step in recognising the importance of and integrating the arts into a science-and-technology-geared curriculum. The arts foster creativity and ingenuity that allows for the successful application of other skills.The 9,000-square-foot facility—designed by Tokarski Millemann Architects and fondly nicknamed the “Thunderbird Think Tank” in honour of Mahwah High School’s logo—houses classrooms, indoor and outdoor labs and a gallery to showcase student projects.Tokarski Millemann was looking for the perfect material to use for the art gallery component of the facility. According to principal architect, Michael Millemann, “The vision was to create a ‘cube’ shaped space for the display of the students’ creative works which were previously tucked in a hallway. The material needed to create a beautiful glow from the exterior along with permitting only serene, diffused light to the interior.”Kalwall’s museum-quality daylighting™ delivers full-spectrum, diffuse natural light to allow for high visual acuity and accurate colour rendition within the gallery space. This creates a comfortable, welcoming environment for viewing artwork and other projects or hosting gatherings.A custom blue face sheet was developed to match the school’s logo. The blue is not a coating, but rather full-colour thickness through the entire exterior face, utilising Kalwall’s super-weathering technology. Due to the panel’s power of diffusion, the blue exterior does not affect the quality of light within the space, but it allows for a beautiful, soft glow at night that acts as a marquis for the school. During the day, Kalwall’s best-in-industry solar heat gain control prevents the cube from becoming a hot box and superior thermal performance ensures a comfortable environment all year long while lowering HVAC loads. Combined with daylighting’s ability to reduce reliance on electricity, Kalwall plays a major role in the project’s overall energy efficiency.Cost efficiency is another benefit Kalwall provided. Panels are low maintenance with a self-cleaning surface, meaning normal rainfall helps to keep the exterior free of sediment while at the same time retaining its original colour during the weathering process. The lightweight panel system minimised the need for additional internal structure for a very clean design, while rapid installation kept the project on schedule and on budget.“The Kalwall translucent panels exceeded our vision,” said Millemann. “We worked with Kalwall’s Steve Del Guercio and their team to develop a daylighting and structural strategy, and the custom panel colour. The Kalwall cube anchors the addition to the existing building and is a visual beacon located on axis with the entrance to the campus. Along with the client, we could not be happier with the final product.”The Mahwah High School STEAM lab will be an environment in which students can thrive for generations to come.Photos: Courtesy of Tokarski Millemann Architects

Founded in 1541 by King Henry VIII, The King’s School is a prestigious co-educational independent school with a rich history, educating children from 4 -18 years of age.

This new store was the first of its kind in the country, tested in the Central Arlington location (612 W. Park Row). With over 3,000 Arlington High School students just across the street and over 34,000 UTA Mavericks under a mile away the store is perfectly situated for big sales. Conceived as a kid-friendly yet upscale environment, the restaurant marries a fast-casual vibe with modern details. Therefore, Accoya was the ideal choice for this exterior application due to its superior aesthetics, sustainability and class 1 durability.

A major development has seen the creation of some 300 contemporary new homes in the heart of a country park in Kent. The Conningbrook Lakes scheme was built by the Chartway group, a leading Kent based developer, with GDM Architects responsible for the main design. RCM were asked to supply their Supertech Weatherboard for the exterior of the different types of houses, ensuring an individual finish for the different house types.

During the early 19th Century, a large section of the South Bank of the River Thames, London, comprised small wharves, docks and other industrial uses. In more recent years, the site has been used as a delivery depot, however, it is only now that the value of the site has been realised as a prime mixed-use location.

Architect: Redbox Design GroupMain Contractor: Tolent Construction Installer: Metcalfe Roofing & Building Services LtdStone: Cebecca LimestoneThe Sunderland Hilton Garden Inn, on the banks of the River Wear, is a 141 room hotel featuring MX curtain walling as well as Aztec 20mm Cebecca limestone Ventilated Rainscreen. Designed By Redbox the architects wanted a light and spacious building without the need for a heavy support system. The glass and limestone mix imparts this vision perfectly. Completed in 2016 The Aztec system was installed by Metcalf Roofing & Building.

Client: Stockport Metropolitan Borough CouncilArchitect: BDPMain Contractor: Wates ConstructionInstaller: Range RoofingRedrock Stockport is a 10 screen cinema, retail and restaurant space and a multi-storey car park. Designed by BDP and delivered by Wates Construction the Aztec Ventilated Façade with Cebecca Limestone was installed by Range Roofing.

Architect: GSS ArchitectureInstaller: Teams RoofingStone: Fletcher Bank SandstoneGSS Architecture were the lead architects for the £11m Enterprise and Innovation Centre in the heart of Sunderland.The development of a large new building next to a Grade II listed building contrasts the old and the new with some style.The Aztec Rainscreen System comprised a ventilated Fletcher Bank Sandstone façade at 40mm and was installed by Teams Roofing. Completion was in 2016.

Established in 1840, this stunning refresh of the Rosebank Distillery situated in Falkirk, Scotland, illustrates the beautiful design and installation of the 3mm Aluminium Traypanel System in Anthra Zinc

Investment in the infrastructure at Festival Place shopping centre in Basingstoke has included the refurbishment and extension of the 3,000 space car park. Lang+Fulton worked with Bell Associates to design a new façade using their STEREO-KINETIC® Wall cladding. The gradation of the stainless steel tiles was designed to allow for ventilation whilst transforming the appearance of the original car park and linking it to the new extension with one seamless frontage. The panels were mounted on to an independent steel frame which was bolted back to new structural steelwork.

Capturing all the glamour and splendour of the roaring twentiesthis latest scheme takes to the spotlight. For the restoration of this magnificent building, St. George and TP Bennett turned to a rainscreen which would not only project the right image, yet stand up to the most demanding requirements.For a building with such status and heritage, bothSt. George and TP Bennett opted for a rainscreen solution which would not only project exactly the right image, yet stand up to the most demanding requirements. As a mixed-use development, comprising 209 new homes overlooking a central square, lined with bars and restaurants, and an impressive double-height entrance foyer to the eight-screen Picturehouse Cinema, 'the biggest outside London’s West End,' it was vital that the chosen rainscreen could withstand numerous vying challenges. Thanks to a comprehensive list of intrinsic qualities; including extreme weather resistance, durability, longevity, impact and graffiti resistance, as well as BBA, CWCT and NHBC 2021 certification, Petrarch ticked all the right boxes and exudes pure elegance with its smooth Alabaster finish.Petrarch enrobed Filmworks wins Best Refurbishment project at this year’s Facade AwardsWe’re extremely proud to share that The Filmworks has won the Best Refurbishment project at this year’s Facade Awards. This is the first year that Architectural Panel Solutions has personally entered the awards and we’re thrilled to have debuted as award-winners. We cannot, of course, take all the credit for this project; it is the result of a highly successful collaboration with Richardson Roofing, and talented architect tp bennett for our client Berkeley Group, St George.The Ealing Filmworks by Berkeley Group, St. GeorgeFor a building with such status and heritage, both Berkeley Group, St. George and tp bennett turned to a rainscreen and framing solution which would not only project exactly the right image and retain the splendour of a bygone age, yet also stand up to the most demanding requirements. Blending elegant aesthetics and exacting technical standards; our Petrarch engineered stone rainscreen facade offered the perfect balance.As a £100m mixed-use regeneration scheme comprising: 209 new homes, a central square, lined with bars, restaurants, and featuring a double-height eight-screen Picture-house Cinema (the biggest outside London’s West End) the demands and rigour demanded of the chosen building materials were to be immense.About The Filmworks, in the words of the architect tp bennettGiven the delicate restoration and the fact that this was a conservation area, it was important that the chosen facade retained an elegant and natural aesthetic.’A careful infill within an existing urban block, the scheme has been designed by tp bennett as a contextual response to the surrounding buildings in the conservation areas. Each perimeter facade is designed in a subtly different language, depending on the character of the particular street it is facing. The architectural language changes towards the interior, where the contextual red brick and stone have been complemented with a more contemporary materials palette, including dark blue brick with contrasting green-glazed brick inserts and bronze-coloured cladding laser cut with a distinctive, three-dimensional geometric pattern.‘tp bennett are dedicated to ’creative reuse‘ as a practice – ’our ethos is to re-animate and adapt redundant historic buildings to reinforce a unique sense of place within each project. With our in-house skills and experience to draw from – as well as access to a strong network of conservation specialists – the practice is in a prime position to animate the past and inform the future.‘Here’s what our esteemed installer, Richardson Roofing had to say about Petrarch panels and our level of customer service:‘APS were very easy to deal with during the purchase and logistics process, of getting the Petrarch engineered stone to site. They are very responsive to queries, helpful and went out of their way to assist in any way they could. The team really do know their products well and were very helpful. Despite this being a somewhat difficult site with delivery booking requirements, APS worked with us to optimise logistics for just-in-time deliveries.’Krissy Dawson (Contracts Coordinator)

The frontage of the Ocean Terminal shopping centre in Edinburgh has received a radical makeover as part of a major investment to increase footfall by enhancing the visitor experience. The extension has been covered with STEREO-KINETIC cladding; hundreds of freely-moving stainless steel sheets suspended from grating panels. Gusts of wind, traffic, even people walking by cause the metal rectangles to ripple in an ever-changing display. The kinetic artwork has been designed in such a way as to allow the passage of natural daylight through the underlying window openings on the second floor level.

Copenhagen’s Amager Bakke is a visionary project in Denmark that doubles as a recreational playground and a waste-to-energy plant.The towering structure is over 280 feet high, has an estimated cost of $670 million and is a part Copenhagen’s commitment to become the world’s first carbon-neutral capital by 2025. Part of the facility is already on line.The waste-to-energy plant, a giant incinerator that burns household garbage to generate heat for approximately 160,000 households and electricity for 62,500 homes, began operating in March. The recreational component is still under construction.Kalwall® translucent sandwich panels provided a critical solution in this truly global project, with their aesthetic beauty, energy efficiency and, most importantly, their best-in-class explosion-venting properties.Kalwall panels are used in areas of the building where a potentially volatile event could occur. The panels work to vent pressure out of the building, allowing it to withstand an explosion without collapsing roofs or floors. The panels are designed to release from their mounting system, but remain attached to the side of the building to avoid becoming falling debris. The interior of the panels are shatterproof and include a Fiber-Reinforced Polymer(FRP) face sheet that can be customied to withstand 230 ft-lbs (312J) of impact.Staying close to the project’s mission of being environmentally conscious, Kalwall panels provide dramatic savings in energy consumption through exceptional thermal and daylighting performance that reduces heating costs and artificial light usage.Working through Sipral, a leading supplier of external building envelopes based out of Prague, the panels were delivered on schedule and required no on-site modifications. Amager Baake was designed by the highly-acclaimed architecture firm Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and has the world watching as it merges two completely different applications.BIG founder Bjarke Ingels hopes that Amager Bakke will “change public perceptions of what a public utility should be” by providing a social and physical infrastructure.Amager Bakke provides Copenhagen with a rooftop ski slope that is comprised of 1,600 feet of trails, as well as 10 running and walking trails. There is also a 260-foot climbing wall along the facade.Ingels said the concept of a structure that brings together two diverse interests can be lasting. “If you make a building that remains relevant to the people living around it, and using it and inhabiting it, it can last forever,” Ingels said in an interview with CNN Style.Photography: Christoffer Regild

• The West Croydon Bus Station in London is a vital link for the millions of people every year commuting to work from the South and South East into London. The station forms a hub for over 150 buses per hour with the adjacent tram stop and West Croydon railway station providing routes to both East and West London as well as to the City and Docklands.• The redevelopment of the bus station forms part of a £50 million programme of the Main Street public pedestrianised space and transport infrastructure to transform the town centre by creating a more attractive environment in which to live, work, socialise and do business.• Designed by Transport for London’s in-house team of architects headed by Martin Eriksson, the project goal was to create a user-friendly waiting and assembly shelter to cope with a 20% increase in passenger numbers and provide a brighter more spacious environment to service the vast number of passengers using this interchange daily.The SolutionThe normal choice of construction for a translucent and weatherproof canopy would be to glaze the roof with glass. However the project team at TfL realised that Kalwall® offered a better solution in this location. It would not only solve the design requirements and contribute to a better design but would offer many other benefits over traditional glazing.For example, since Kalwall is much lighter than glass the supporting structure could be less strong and far less substantial. This meant the vertical supports were less obstructive and opened up a better view of the environment, including the very attractive St Michael’s Church located nearby which had previously been blocked from the view of waiting passengers. The corten steel (weathering steel) support could also be subtle and worked into arches and patterns meant to mirror and complement the church.Furthermore, Kalwall is visually far more attractive than glass while eliminating shadows, hotspots and glare and the stark contrasts of light and shade; all improving the experience for passengers underneath.As Kalwall diffuses natural daylight downwards and reduces vertical illumination and reflection upwards at night, it can control light pollution on the surrounding high-rise buildings while emitting a very attractive ethereal glow, making it a beacon for travellers.Maintenance-wise, Kalwall is also an effective choice. Soil and detritus are less obvious on Kalwall than on glass and cleaning is much simpler because access scaffolding is not required and maintenance staff can safely walk across its surface.The CommentsMartin Ericksson comments, “Transport for London has a long and rich design heritage. The approach to the redevelopment of West Croydon bus station has sought to build on this heritage and recognises that waiting for your bus should not just be a perfunctory experience, instead it should be a positive one enhanced by good architecture. Site constraints, high footfall and the poor design of the previous station, presented an excellent opportunity to demonstrate the difference good architecture can make through improved layout, better passenger movement and accessibility – whilst supporting the West CroydonMasterplan.Brick was chosen to connect the station to its urroundings, especially the adjacent listed church. Using Kalwall brought many advantages and benefits in relation to its lightweight yet strong structural qualities. It has helped enhance daylight transfer and protects from sunglare whilst reducing hotspots and solar gain. The material’s soft translucent qualities contrast beautifully with the building’s warmth and texture, providing a sheltered waiting environment with the added advantage of low maintenance and high performance.”

From the beginning, architects DLR Group designed Metea Valley High School in Aurora, Illinois, to light up education, both literally and figuratively. The sprawling campus with room for 3,000 students is broken down into a handful of more intimate, human-scale learning spaces, called “think tanks”, where interaction with faculty is encouraged. Two interior courtyards, open to the sky, offer fresh air during free periods. Shaped a bit like a bow tie, Metea combines three concepts – mind, in the midsection, and body and soul on either end – to offer students a truly 21st century school experience.Lighting up Metea in the literal sense comes largely from the extensive use of Kalwall translucent curtain wall throughout the school. Upon coming through the school’s main entrance, visitors are struck by the cheerful, airy, daylighted lobby. Controlled daylight also pours into the school’s innermost areas, traditionally a structure’s darkest, from the courtyards. Kalwall introduces daylight into the vast commons area that serves as the students’ lunchroom. In the gymnasium, Kalwall’s shadowless, glare-free light enhances ball handling in team events; sunlight does not glance off the shiny court surface. The diffuse-light-transmitting panels also prevent glare off computer screens, easing eyestrain. And in a dramatic demonstration of Kalwall’s superb flexibility, the design includes occasional, narrow, horizontal runs of clear glass – some serving as clerestories – adding visual interest as well as clear views to the outside.At 464,000 square feet, Metea could have been an energy-consumption nightmare, adding significantly to its $125 million total project cost. But innovations such as demand control ventilation, energy recovery wheels, and high efficiency boilers will save Indian Prairie School District 204, the state’s fifth largest, thousands of utility dollars every year and pay for themselves in just a few years. In fact, the building’s design is targeted to be 19 percent more efficient than ASHRAE 90.1 requires. Because translucent Kalwall admits so much controlled daylight, the school’s exterior light harvesting system, which monitors indoor light levels, can actually turn off electric lights in public spaces automatically when they are not needed. The harvesting system alone is expected to save the district over £16,000 a year in operational costs with a payback of under seven years.Illinois can get very cold in the winter and quite toasty in the summer. Highly insulating Kalwall helps there, too, keeping temperature extremes outside and lessening the need for and cost of heating and cooling. During the manufacturing process, standard 2-3/4” and optional 4” Kalwall sandwich panels can be infilled with various densities of specialized, translucent insulation. Architects and designers can achieve a thermal insulation value of up to R-20 (0.05 Btu/hr/ft²/F).At Metea Valley High School, DLR Group chose to include Verti-kal™, a unique design variation on the standard shoji or square grid layouts of Kalwall Translucent Systems. The panels incorporate internal, continuous supports to provide a vertical emphasis. As with all Kalwall translucent systems, Verti-kal distributes diffused daylight throughout the school, even on cloudy days, drastically reducing the amount of artificial lighting required and eliminating shadows and glare as well as stark contrasts of light and shade. Verti-Kal can be supplied in panels up to 5 ft. (1.5 m) wide and up to 12 ft. (3.6 m) high, minimizing the number of joints. The unique format creates an entirely different look while still utilizing the most highly insulating, diffuse-light-transmitting, structural composite technology.Any school system must concern itself with maintenance costs, and Kalwall excels there as well. The panels are vandal-resistant and self cleaning; dirt simply washes off with each rainfall. After dark, the diffuse, translucent properties of Kalwall contain interior lighting and prevent direct-beam light pollution. Instead, the exterior surface of the building simply glows beautifully, boosting Metea Valley High School’s aesthetics and welcoming both students and the surrounding community to a true masterpiece of daylighting.Photography: James Steinkamp

The building of a new fire station and safety centre in Lymm was part of a comprehensive plan to improve response times across Cheshire, Halton and Warrington.

The campus in Colchester, which is home to 15,000 students, is undergoing a massive phased transformation. Benx-RCM are currently supplying into phase three of the campus-build, known as The Pastures.Split across five new buildings, The Pastures will bring an additional 1,262 student bedrooms to the Colchester campus. One of these blocks will create a new hub which will include a reception, a post room, an administrative area and a student services centre, along with a laundrette and staff welfare facilities.Overseeing this £168 million project as main contactor is Bouygues Construction.Stanta were awarded the SFS infill package at the site. As part of this package, Benx RCM were selected to supply Y-Wall external sheathing board for the entire project.Y-Wall is a flexible calcium silicate based fibre cement building board, offering excellent fire properties as well as high levels of dimensional stability. The Y-Wall BBA Certification provided the Stanta project team with assurance that this building board solution has been tested to exacting standards, evaluated onsite, as well as undergoing a life expectancy assessment and a quality management system review.Y-Wall was utilised to create a sheathing for the five high rise structures. In buildings with storeys more than 18m above ground level, any products used in the external wall construction should be of limited combustibility. Being a non-combustible, A1 fire-rated building board, utilising BS EN ISO 1182 and BS EN ISO 1716 tests, Y-Wall is the optimum solution for a project of this type and size.In specifying the building board for this project it was important to ensure the optimum racking performance to enhance structural strength. Y-Wall conforms to European Norm - BS EN 594:2011 - the certification which proves the system has been rigorously tested and offers excellent racking performance, structural strength and stability.Specifying a building board that is fully tested to BS EN 1062-1 allows for adequate moisture resistance and durability. Y-Wall fully complies with this standard which ensures the building boards will have a life equal to that of the building. Selecting a building board with good external performance and durability is important, particularly through the build phase, as the product may be left exposed for several months prior to a secondary facade being installed over the top of the system. In order to generate speed and ease of construction, Y-Wall was supplied pre-cut to specified panel sizes. The fabrication work was undertaken by Benx Façades at its dedicated facility, to ensure a seamless process.

A regeneration development in Vauxhall by the Ballymore Group has seen the biggest transformation story London has ever seen. It has added an entirely new urban quarter to London. The South Bank regeneration stretches from the Shard in the east to Battersea Power station in the west. The area known as Embassy Gardens is at the heart of Nine Elms and includes up to 1.750 new homes and over 20,000sqm of office and flexible workspace spread over 8 building plots covering an impressive 241,548 sqm. RCM’s Y-Wall was used in its construction.

Located near Pett in South Essex, this family home combines sustainability with an eye on the future. The house, which has an internal floor area of 400 square metres, was completed in 2014, after a construction period of 18 months. The aim of Alma-nac architects was to create a building that makes the most of its enviable location in the natural environment, offering 360° views. The upper level of the Split House features CUPACLAD® 201 Vanguard, helping to prevent moisture in while enhancing the contemporary look of the house.

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...

The new Apley House administration building at the Royal United Hospital (RUH) in Bath scooped two awards at the 2015 South West Built Environment Awards, winning both the ‘Innovation’ and...

Buckinghamshire University Technical College (UTC) in Aylesbury required project constraints that demanded an intelligent, modern approach to construction. As with many education projects, the build-programme involved winter working and extremely...