The stunning new £60 million first direct Arena in the northern quarter of Leeds operated by SMG Europe, features Sotech’s back-lit perforated panels which light up the Leeds skyline with a kaleidoscope of ever-changing colours, producing a dazzling honeycombed external façade on what is believed to be the first ‘fan shaped’ arena in the UK.
The giant dome of the arena, rising to 35m in height, contains a skin of aluminium shingles finished in graduated shades of mint green and brown.
The landmark 13,000 capacity entertainment focused arena designed by architects Populous and constructed by BAM for client and developer Leeds Council, boasts a unique honeycombed external façade based on a series of geometric layers punctured with hexagonal tinted glass to the main entrance area.
The varying shapes of the glazing, reminiscent of the cellular composition of a giant insect’s eye, are further emphasised by Sotech’s hexagonal perforated aluminium feature panels fixed back to a lightbox and adjoining the glazing.
Working closely with leading building envelope specialist Lakesmere to achieve an integrated solution for over 400 square metres of aluminium feature panels, Sotech achieved an economical method of producing the 9mm perforations with the use of a sophisticated cluster tool enabling a number of holes to be punched simultaneously across a wide and complex variation of shapes and sizes.
The perforated feature panels subtly echo the cellular nature of the aluminium shingles during the day, but at night the seemingly randomly patterned perforations in the Sotech aluminium feature panels give way to an illuminated tracery, providing an almost psychedelic lighting experience featuring a palette of mesmerising, vivid colours which light up the Leeds skyline.
Renowned for its wide range of rainscreen products and engineering expertise for complex envelope fabrications, Sotech has become one of the leading exponents of perforated panels. Working closely with leading envelope specialists on a number of project requiring perforated panel technology including Glow, the ground breaking events venue at Bluewater, many high-specification retail and office projects and currently the home of British motorsport, Silverstone, Sotech has developed a unique approach to the design and manufacture of perforated panels which offers the specifier the combination of aesthetics and economy.
Sotech has invested heavily in sophisticated design and manufacturing technology and remains the only rainscreen manufacturer to offer a rainscreen system that is both independently tested to CWCT standards and achieves LPCB Red Book accreditation.
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 pre and post coat aluminium, ACM, copper, zinc, stainless steel, digital print and anodised.
