City School in Sheffield has undergone a major extension and refurbishment project, which included with a completely new façade system of decorative insulated composite cladding panels supplied by Sheffield-based Panel Systems.
Panel Systems manufactured 400m² of composite panels using a tough, Steni Color facing with insulation backing, which created a high performance panel that was only 98mm thick, but which met all thermal performance requirements on this project.
Steni Color cladding was selected in six distinctive colours –orange, red, grey in three shades and black, which were chosen to reflect the school’s distinctive logo. The composite panels were primarily supplied in a half-matt finish to provide added durability and longevity.
Anne Daw from HLM Architects in Sheffield who specified the composite panels, said: “It was really important that the colour of the panels reflected the school’s logo.
“The colours were carefully chosen so the façade of the building has an appealing, eyecatching design, both from a distance and when standing directly outside it. Close up it has the appearance of a mosaic, whilst for anyone standing some distance away, the panels create a contemporary, fusion of texture and colour.”
As part of the project, Panel Systems manufactured the panels with a rebated glazing edge to allow them to be mounted in an aluminium glazing system, creating a contemporary façade. The composite panels were installed by NG Developments, working in association with Vinci Construction, who were the main contractor on this project.
Adrian Lee, Commercial Director of NG Developments, said: “We worked closely with Panel Systems to ensure we could meet the very specific requirements of this project. It was great that Panel Systems had the expertise to be able to manufacture the panels to our exact specification, so they fitted perfectly within the glazing system.”
Steni Colour is a fibreglass reinforced polymer composite panel, with a smooth surface manufactured from electron beam-cured acrylic. The material is available in 44 standard colours and three different gloss levels – matt, half matt and high gloss - to suit project purposes. Steni Color is both highly chemical and water resistant, making it suitable for exposed buildings.
Steni Color façade panels are an exciting alternative where design is an important factor, because of its colour possibilities, surface variations and format flexibility.
Danny Phelan, Sales Manager at Panel Systems, said: “We have extensive experience in producing high performance composite panels to meet bespoke requirements. The use of Steni Color on this building was inspired, as it creates an unusual extension of the school’s branding. This looks set to be an iconic building on Sheffield’s skyline and we are proud to be associated with it.”
City School is based on Stradbroke Road in Sheffield, formerly City Grammar School, it is a specialist Business and Enterprise College with around 1,500 pupils between the ages of 11 to 16 years.
The refurbishment of City School is part of Sheffield Council’s modernisation of the existing school building, which dates back to the 1960s. Part of the school has been rebuilt whilst other areas of the building have been refurbished with modern classrooms, practical spaces, sports facilities and state of the art technology.
Panel Systems, based at Parkwood Industrial Estate in Sheffield, is one of the largest manufacturers of architectural panels and has supplied to many high profile projects across the UK, including schools, hospitals, housing developments and commercial buildings.
The company has the ability to fabricate a wide range of cladding materials, such as fibre cement boards, high pressure laminates and aluminium composites. The company also supplies insulated panels for curtain walling and window infill areas.to meet the thermal requirements of a building.
