BENCHMARK Konnect provides high quality solution

The innovative BENCHMARK Konnect Engineered System has delivered top class installation speed and performance as part of a luxury seven storey apartment block in central Edinburgh.

Meadows View Q20 forms the latest stage in Gladedale Capital’s multi-award winning Quartermile development, transforming the former Royal Infirmary site into a bustling, vibrant mixture of apartments, offices, cafes and shops.

The apartment block’s exterior combines large glass windows with metal façade panels, installed on over 1000 m2 of BENCHMARK Konnect Engineered System. Architects Foster + Partners master planned the development and a spokesperson commented: “The materials and finishes have been carefully selected for the historic site, allowing the newly constructed elements, such as Meadows View Q20, to be woven into the grain of the old, selectively refurbished infirmary buildings.”

The unique design of the BENCHMARK Konnect Engineered System was a key reason for its specification on the project and helped to compress the installation schedule by three weeks. The factory pre-engineered, unitised system comprises highly insulated, multi spanning modules. These provide the ideal platform for BENCHMARK’s wide range of façades and also come fit-out ready for internal plasterboard, eliminating the need for additional internal framing.

BENCHMARK’s team worked closely with both main contractors Sir Robert McAlpine and specialist installers, Edinburgh based, Charles Henshaw and Sons Ltd to ensure a successful installation. Graham Chung, Sales Director at Charles Henshaw and Sons Ltd discussed the project:

“We found that BENCHMARK Konnect Engineered System could be installed far faster than other systems currently on the market. Using a crane and specially developed sucker system, we were able to lift the units from vertical to horizontal and quickly transport them up the building. Our team then fastened most of the panels into place from an external mast climber system.

In certain cases where access was tight and it wasn’t possible to use the mast climber, we were able to position and bolt the panels internally without any external scaffolding, thanks to BENCHMARK Konnect’s design, saving both time and cost. Overall our team of five operatives were able to install all the modules in only ten days.”

Suitable for both new build and retrofit projects, BENCHMARK Konnect Engineered System modules can be up to 7 m high, and incorporate an integral cavity for ventilation and services. The top and bottom of the modules are fixed internally to floor shims and mounting angles, allowing fast-track installations without external scaffolding. The product also provides outstanding thermal and airtightness performance with U-values as low as 0.09 W/m²K and air permeability rates of just 0.01m3/hr/m2 at 50Pa.

Meadows View Q20 includes a range of one to four bedroom apartments and is topped with a stunning penthouse, offering spectacular views across The Meadows to the South, and Edinburgh Castle to the North.

The BENCHMARK Konnect Engineered System has now also been certified by the British Board of Agrément (BBA). The comprehensive independent assessment requires the product to pass laboratory and onsite testing along with inspections of the production process and provides detailed information about the structural, thermal and fire performance along with durability and weathertightness.

BENCHMARK provides a comprehensive range of complete building envelope solutions which combine spectacular aesthetics, outstanding performance and fast-track installations to meet any building’s design and specification requirements.