APPLICATION: GLASS ROOFS AND ATRIA
BUILDING TYPE: COMMERCIAL OFFICE
ARCHITECT: CARTWRIGHT PICKARD
PRODUCT: TESS 140
LOCATION: UK
PROJECT TEAM: DEARNLEYS
Tension Blinds standing the test of time.
Sometimes looking back at a project is the best way to determine the success of the design and its components. Completed back in 2005 the HSE headquarters in Bootle, Merseyside has certainly stood the test of time.
A survey of the building five years after completion found that measurable items like energy use and comfort significantly exceeded expectations, while user satisfaction was also extremely high. So what made this building so successful?
The dramatic drum-shaped building is the work of architects Cartwright Pickard whose success lies in their pursuit of new and better solutions. Atria were used in the building design to harvest natural daylight but the architects understood that solar shading would be required to regulate heat and light gain.
Almost two years before any ground was broken on site Commercial Solar Shading Specialists Dearnleys were asked to provide their expertise regarding the solar shading system that would meet the project requirements. This type of early involvement in projects ensures that the solar shading is an integral part of the building.
Guthrie Douglas electrically operated tensioned roof blind systems were selected covering some 2,500 square metres to the main rectangular atria as well as a circular atria.
The idea of research and foresight were at the heart of this project. Initial atrium roof drawings from Cartwright Pickard show that the blind location was an early consideration. Choosing to create a maintenance walkway meant that the blinds and luminaires were contained in one location under the walkway.
Another challenge was access, given the fact that the blinds are fitted 13m above ground level. Access to the fixing site was via a combination of powered access equipment and bespoke scaffolding. It was however imperative that a proven and robust system was installed. The TESS TM140 System had a proven track record of reliability and was therefore a perfect fit.
Here is what Julian Rudd-Jones, Managing Director of Kajima Partnerships had to say about the project:
“The building is now in its eleventh year of operation but is still looking really good. The best thing is that the building has a genuinely good buzz to it. I believe it is a real example of thoughtful design improving the efficiency of the workplace.”
Click here to find out more about shading for Glass Roof & Atrium Blinds
