Architectural glazing systems from Kawneer feature on the only purpose-built arena, convention and exhibition centre in Europe.
Kawneer’s AA®100 mullion-drained curtain walling and 451PT thermally-broken framing system, both with narrow 50mm sightlines, are complemented by AA®720 HI tilturn windows on the £66+ million Exhibition Centre Liverpool and Pullman Hotel development.
The exhibition centre, which links to the existing BT Convention Centre and Echo Arena via a 35m sky bridge, incorporates a 216-room four-star Pullman hotel, the group’s first new-build in the UK and its first hotel outside London.
Constructed concurrently over two years on the city’s 18th Century waterfront by ISG to designs by architects Denton Corker Marshall, the exhibition centre hosted its first event in September 2015 and the hotel opened to the public in February 2016.
The 87,000ft2 steel frame exhibition centre, which has more than doubled existing capacity at ACC Liverpool, features a Kawneer-glazed public atrium with stunning views across the River Mersey and the UNESCO World Heritage site.
As well as the atrium, it also features food and beverage outlets, meeting rooms and a business centre. The three equally-sized halls of 2,100m2 can be divided by moveable walls, with the centre capable of hosting major international exhibitions, conventions, concerts and sporting events.
The 116,000ft2 Pullman Hotel has been cleverly designed as three feature tubes which reduce the overall mass of the building. Here there is extensive Kawneer glazing and a spacious double-height atrium at its lower levels. The nine-storey concrete frame building features a guest gym, with ground floor reception, bar and restaurant plus meeting space located at first floor level.
The Kawneer systems were installed by approved specialist sub-contractor Bennett Architectural Systems for design and build contractor ISG. Director Rob Bennett said the Kawneer systems met four particular requirements – high acoustic performance for the hotel, the site’s extreme environment on the docks, challenging solar gain, and large panes of glass.
Danny Murray, ISG’s Northern regional managing director, said: “Early stage engagement and excellent levels of collaboration between all project stakeholders have significantly contributed to the successful delivery of these two key note schemes in Liverpool. Innovation has been embedded within the project from day one and there has been a real sense of ownership and passion about the way the entire delivery team has worked together to achieve this great result.”
Bob Prattey, chief executive of The ACC Liverpool Group, said: “We are extremely proud to add Exhibition Centre Liverpool and Pullman Liverpool to our range of venues. The design and flexibility of Exhibition Centre Liverpool presents limitless opportunities and its integration into the arena and convention centre has given us a unique offering. The integrated hotel enhances our campus offering.”
