Exteriors


Laminates create a colourful campus A


bet Laminati’s MEG exterior grade laminate has been used to colourful effect at a new Academy in


Birmingham which specialises in preparing students for careers in Health & Social Care, Enterprise and Creative Technology. Designed by international design practice


Scott Brownrigg, with the exterior supplied by SIG Building Systems, the new purpose built premises spans several buildings all clad in grey and orange laminate from Abet Laminati’s exterior grade high pressure laminate collection. MEG is a perfect choice for this kind of


high demand environment where durability meets design. Carrying a BBA Agrément Certificate, MEG is a self-supporting high pressure laminate (HPL) for cladding the exterior of buildings, balconies and other applications. It features high resistance to temperature, climate shock, weathering, UV


light and impact. Furthermore, its chemical resistant nature and closed structure do not allow paint in spray cans, various inks, emulsion paints, lipstick or pastel paints to penetrate into the decorative layer negating the need for any anti-graffiti treatment and making the surface easy to clean. The range is available in over 91 colours in


a mix of traditional plain colours, wood finishes and simulated-concrete colours Metal. MEG is also able to incorporate Abet’s digital printing technology. This means that almost any design, photograph or pattern can be reproduced in stunning detail to give archi- tects and designers unparalleled freedom to create unusual and dramatic building facades. Samples and technical literature are available from Abet Ltd's sample line on the website.


020 7473 6915 www.abetuk.com


Creating a healthy ambience


A specialist school in the South of England educates children and young people with special needs including autism and learning difficulties. Set in stunning grounds, the school has recently completed a major construction project, designed by Lee Evans Partnership, to ensure that all its buildings are suited to pupils with their wide range of neurological and developmental disorders. Insulating Structura’s Kalwall was specifically chosen by the architects because of its unique ability to convert and diffuse daylight, as well as providing privacy. It also eliminates brightness, glare and shadows which are common with normal glass. This is particularly important as it helps students with visual problems such as hypersensitivity to light, or those affected by glare, colour contrast or brightness. Unlike glass, the translucent system resists solar gain so air-conditioning costs can be reduced without the need for external shading devices or internal blinds. Kalwall structural panels can be used for walls, roofs and skylights and are increasingly specified for the refurbishment of cladding or rooflights in older buildings. At night when viewed externally, the panels exude a gentle and attractive glow.


Kalwall@structura.co.uk


Getting on top at the Crick


The Francis Crick Institute in central London is a world-leading centre of biomedical research and innovation. It’s research groups are now beginning to move into a new state-of-the-art building, featuring an extraordinary roof screening solution from Levolux. This striking new building, designed to achieve a BREEAM ‘excellent’ rating by architects from HOK with PLP Architecture, is one of Europe’s largest biomedical research centres. Once complete, it will accommodate some 1500 staff including 1250 scientists. Levolux worked collaboratively with the project design team to develop a custom roof screening solution, to satisfy unique and challenging project-specific requirements. The resulting solution is impressive in scale; extending 160m in length and 80m in width, and reaching up to more than 43m above street level. The enormous roof screening structure resembles a modern vaulted roof, divided into two interlocking shells. Each shell is formed from a variety of screening fins, or louvres, that combine to create an attractive, yet multifunctional enclosure. Solid, perforated and twisted aluminium fins all feature, along with glass fins.


info@levolux.com


2 www.buildingconstructiondesign.co.uk 2


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