20
BUILDING PROJECTS
‘There’s green copper lookalike cladding, which is much more practical than actual copper. The architect tried to mirror the design of two neighbouring buildings but selected a different material, which I think has been better’ –Phil Jay, major projects manager at Russells Construction
The mixed-use scheme, just off Bridge Street and the A6, is
intended to attract locals and visitors to the basin area and to improve access to the waterfront. British Waterways’ Mike Coates says: “The hotel is the
final piece of the jigsaw that will see Loughborough Wharf re- energised. This area was once a hive of activity and our aim has always been to bring people back to enjoy the waterfront in a manageable and sustainable way. I have no doubt that the new Travelodge will play a major part in attracting visitors and canal users to the Loughborough basin once again.” The 50-week construction and fit-out programme was
completed in time for the Olympic Games, when it was expected demand for accommodation would be high as ath- letes and their entourage from some of the international teams were based in the town and at Loughborough University for their pre-Games training camps. Phil Jay, major projects manager at main contractor Russells
Construction, says: “Travelodge stipulated the internal config- uration of the rooms and the finishes and specification, but externally the building design is not dictated: it varies with each job – and what we have here is something unique. “We’ve got brickwork, render and a mixture of cladding.
For instance, there’s green copper lookalike cladding, which is much more practical than actual copper. The architect tried to mirror the design of two neighbouring buildings but selected a different material, which I think has been better. I’m very pleased with how it looks.” The building was designed to harmonise with the surround-
ing buildings and to continue The Wharf ’s style of street planters, seats, street furniture and heritage paving units. While the ground floor retail area is a single-span concrete
structure, the main building above is timber-framed. This pre- sented a few minor issues of detail as the structure settled, but a bigger challenge was to satisfy the authorities with its safety credentials. “It’s a myth that timber frame is more of a fire hazard in
© Russells Construction
its completed state,” says Jay. “But some measures are required during the construction phase. A new Timber Frame Association document was published in 2012 and was
respond online... search our information archive at
www.adfonline.eu
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60