EXTERIORS


35


Sapphire’s innovative solutions ensure rapidly installed, rigid balconies for development


A


s industry leaders in prefabricated balconies backed by the brand promise to be rigid, ready and right, Sapphire has overcome challenges posed by a new residential project in one of London’s most notable suburbs. Phase 1 of the White City M&S development by leading property developer, St James, part of the Berkeley Group, features 342 balconies designed and manufactured using Sapphire’s innovative offsite-manufactured Glide-On™ aluminium Cassette®


system.


To complement the new apartment buildings’ intricate façade detailing Sapphire created a bespoke balcony package with Crystal®


frameless, structural glass balustrades. As well as meeting the project’s design challenges, Sapphire’s team maintained clear and frequent communication with the supply chain throughout. Additionally, the use of Sapphire’s Balcony Passport System, a quality control app, provided a complete traceable history of each balcony, from assembly to final


quality acceptance, delivery and installation, thereby reducing the potential for snagging at the point of client handover. The prestigious White City project specified Sapphire’s Glide-On™ Cassette®


balconies


with clear toughened laminated structural glass, polyester powder coated aluminium fascia trim to conceal glass fixings/edge of the balcony frame, controlled draining soffits, and composite decking fixed with hidden clips. While the balcony units were preassembled offsite,


cast-in anchors and incorporated ADF01_Sapphire_External Envelope - Balconies & Balustrades_HPAdv.indd 1


thermal break connections offering superior rigidity to the balconies, were cast into the building slab. Contractors working on site reported that the anchors were on a par with the best in the industry. Sapphire’s offsite manufacture and storage package, which meant balconies could be kept in storage for an extra six months due to project delays, was seen as a huge positive to the project. When they were required on site, the preassembled balconies, including balustrades, decking and soffits, were transported with balconies ‘nested’ onto each pallet, making transportation both cost-effective and safe. Balconies were pre-slung offsite and ready for fast and easy installation upon arrival. Once lifted into position, the Cassettes®


simply


Glide-On™ to the pre-erected galvanised steel support arms before completing the simple mechanical fixings.


sales@sapphire.eu.com www.balconies.global.com


14/12/2022 12:29


Perforated panels combine safety, functionality and aesthetics


O The location,


verlooking the Manchester City Canal, a total of 500 apartments are being built in Manchester Waters. quality and facilities are


unique, and the selection ranges from studios to 3-bedroom apartments. The first blocks are finished and stand as a symbol of the new Manchester.


Premium waterfront living on this level must offer all amenities,


including the


ability to park near the residence. Therefore, car park facilities have been established on the lower level. In this connection, RMIG Solutions has supplied facade panels for covering the car park.


Challenges and wins


The facade panels presented several challenges. Aesthetically, the panels should be decorative and match the architecture. Functionally,


they should have an


extraordinarily large open area, as the rest of the basement is surrounded by solid walls.


Finally, the panels should appear in a raw finish, directly from the mill.


The task was solved thanks to a close and trusting collaboration with the architect. Aesthetically, the choice fell on a botanical pattern with a closed surface at the top that hides the concrete deck.


An open area of 50% is difficult to achieve in this thickness (3 mm), particularly in an


ADF12_RMIG_External Envelope - Cladding & Facades_HPAdv.indd 1


aesthetic finish, but with precision tools, our sales and development departments at RMIG Solutions managed to increase this. The architect proposed displacing some of the panels to provide extra ventilation, and this ultimately resulted in an open area of approximately 75%.


01925 839610 www.rmig.com/en 08/11/2022 10:03


WWW.BUILDINGCONSTRUCTIONDESIGN.CO.UK


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