Technically advanced
in terms of both interface detailing and at manufacture, the impressive glazed
façade at M-SParc (Menai Science Park) - Wales’ first dedicated science park -
has been fabricated by Total Glass, using Sapa E52 aluminium curtain walling
and forms the façade’s main waterproof line.
Located in
Anglesey and operated by Bangor University, M-SParc is the flagship building
for the new science park. The facility has been constructed to BREEAM Excellent
standards and comprises 5,000 sqm offices, laboratory and workshop space for up
to 700 people - from start-up businesses to large corporate companies.
Designed
by FaulknerBrowns Architects, the building’s structure features a striking
white continuous flowing ‘Ribbon’ that forms floor, wall and roof surfaces and
wraps around the glazed façade to the front elevation. This two-storey entrance
connects to the main three-storey, traditional brick cavity U-shape building,
which houses the laboratories and offices, also featuring a façade that
encloses an open courtyard.
FaulknerBrowns
Architects associate and project architect, Leighton Cooksey, highlights the
building’s objectives from a fenestration perspective: “One of our main
priorities was to deliver a façade that would ensure transparency and openness
of the Tanio area. This is the innovative and collaborative space that forms
the main entrance as you walk in, and is also home to the cafeteria. Driven by
the location, the façade allowed us to maximise the views towards Snowdonia and
make the best of this fantastic scenery.
“Another
main architectural driver, not just for the façade but the building as a whole,
was low energy use. We designed and constructed the three-storey building to
BREEAM Excellent standards – the façade making a significant contribution.”
The
complexity of the building’s curved scheme meant the design team, involving the
architect, main contractor Willmott Dixon and fabricator Total Glass, supported
by Sapa, worked closely pre-construction to ensure input into the early stage
design. This provided direction on buildability from the outset.
Fabricator
Total Glass’ Technical Manager Chris Valentine said: “Technically our focus was
to get the interfacing detailing right between the curves of the Corian and the
curtain walling, especially where drainage was concerned.
“Designed
using Sapa E52, the façade spans 74m x 11m. The curtain walling had to follow
the curvature and flow of the ‘Ribbon’ with the aluminium having to be curved
to follow the shape at point of fabrication.”
As architect Leighton Cooksey explains: “The key area for the façade to
the front elevation was the first floor horizontal and sloping Corian® ‘Ribbon’ – here the curtain walling continues behind the Corian rainscreen. The glazing was the main waterproof line, with structural
penetrations weathered within insulated composite spandrel panels in the
curtain walling. There were also some critical details in the curved corners of
the glazing where the curtain wall extends behind the glass, concealed by a
removable flashing.”
Chris
Valentine continues: “In total 1,650 sqm of E52 curtain walling and roof
glazing was used across the building.
“One
particularly challenging detail was a 6m glazed linking walkway that joins the
innovation area to the brick-built main building. Designed by the architect
with a double-pitched roof, the curtain walling follows the long contours
across the two pitches of the roof at an angle. This involved a lot of
calculations and modelling to accommodate the difficult compound angles and
ensure the desired architectural intent was achieved.”
Creating
entrance and exit doors on the linkway, Sapa’s Stormframe ST II Aluminium Door
system has been installed additionally to 2.8m high, providing access for the
Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs) for façade cleaning purposes. Suited to
high traffic areas, this high performance door is tested to the relative
clauses within ‘PAS24: 2012’ and is 2010 Equality Act compliant.
A
thermally insulated aluminium sliding and lift-sliding door has also been
installed using Sapa’s C125 Aluminium Sliding Door system, which opens from the
cafeteria on to the external courtyard space where people can sit outside.
Elsewhere, the company’s Dualframe 75 HP Aluminium Hinged Door was used for the
balcony doors above ground floor level.
Throughout
the building, 132 Sapa DF 75 Si casement windows have been installed, some as
inserts within the curtain wall façade including automatic opening vents, and
also to the courtyard elevations. Completing this contemporary outdoor space,
the windows are complemented by timber rainscreen panels, with hit and miss
battens of varying heights, and the blue-grey contrast of the Staffordshire
Blue Brindle brick.
Another
interesting application of Sapa’s E52 curtain wall is the double height
internal glazing to the boardroom, which connects to the underside of the
curved ‘Ribbon’ at roof level.
Two glass
specifications were used across the building, solar control 7535 and 2918,
which provides the dramatic reflective style externally. All of the façade
systems were finished in a grey RAL 7031 marine powder coat finish due to the
location and standard hardware was installed throughout.
Sapa is
part of the Hydro Group, a world leader in aluminium solutions that also
encompasses sister brands Technal and WICONA. Through its globally renowned
Hydro Technology Hubs, the group is shaping a sustainable future, with
innovative products that satisfy and surpass customer expectations, in line
with demands of CSR and increasing environmental regulations.
