Sotech adds detail to retail at new leisure development

The recently completed Westgate Leisure development, built on the site of a former 1960s car park in close proximity to Aldershot’s retail core, incorporates over 2,000 sqm of Sotech-Optima 3mm bronze anodised aluminium FC rainscreen with bespoke detailing to accommodate unique glazing features.

Embracing energy efficiency with 10% of the scheme’s energy provided from low-carbon or renewable sources, the development is arranged around an open air piazza boasting a diverse range of restaurants and retail units together with a 90-bed Travelodge and multiplex clad in Sotech-Optima anodised FC rainscreen cladding.

The new retail and leisure destination developed by is anchored by a 7,520 sqm Morrison’s supermarket and a seven screen multiplex Cineworld. The cinema is clad in 3mm Sotech-Optima FC secret-fix rainscreen cladding in natural anodised aluminium to the walls and contrasting bronze anodised aluminium to full height feature panels and projecting column casings to three elevations.

Manufacture of the rainscreen system for the 90-bed Travelodge was undertaken to demanding tolerances at Sotech’s Peterlee factory to ensure accurate alignment of the cassette panels during installation.

Installed by FK Construction, the bronze anodised FC cassette panels were designed for installation vertically with horizontal alignment offset and with a wider shadow gap than the vertical joint. Precise positioning of the FC hooks on the support rails during factory manufacture was essential in order to ensure that the panels when fitted on site, would only locate into predetermined positions. Bespoke ‘notched’ Sotech FC panels were designed and produced in the factory in order to accommodate recessed window detailing differing in size from the panel modules, together with bespoke angled panels designed and manufactured to integrate with feature curtain walling.

Because anodising of the Sotech-Optima FC system is undertaken to the finished cassette panels, exceptional quality of engineering and processing is essential as minor faults at the manufacturing stage would be ‘anodised in’ to the panels prior to delivery to site.

Anodising is unique amongst surface treatments, integrating totally with the metallic substructure rather than simply being applied to the surface of the aluminium. Providing a totally UV resistant finish, the anodic layer enhances the natural qualities of the aluminium whilst providing exceptional durability.  

Sotech has invested heavily in sophisticated design and manufacturing technology and remains the only rainscreen manufacturer to achieve LPCB Red Book accreditation for its systems. The training facility and showroom are open to specifiers and contractors where all Sotech’s rainscreen systems are on display alongside the widest selection of materials and finishes including copper lookalike, HPL, ACM, digital print and anodised.