The Kalwall translucent system plays an important part in the design of many sports buildings. A good example is the new SportsDock at the University of East London’s Docklands Campus.
Here, the system not only diffuses natural daylight but also creates perfect playing conditions by eliminating glare and shadows. This means that there is no need for blinds, curtains or external shading. With increased natural daylight and resistance to solar gain, energy-consuming artificial lighting and air-conditioning costs can be dramatically reduced.
The SportsDock was designed by Ball Hall in conjunction with Clague Architects to create a sense of clarity and legibility. Of particular note are the three dance studios exposed in the east elevation, which consist of double height spaces that are illuminated after dark, allowing passersby to see the silhouettes of activity within and creating a spectacular ‘animated’ effect.
The facility played a major role as the training headquarters for Team USA in the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Now local residents can use the £21million sports facility complete with fitness centre, strength and conditioning room, two outdoor 3G five-a-side football pitches, indoor arenas, dance studios and sports café.
Kalwall is distributed in England, Wales and Northern Ireland by Structura UK, a leading supplier, fabricator and installer of glass curtain walling, rainscreens, glass atria, windows and other architectural glass building products.
The company has recently had all three of its ISO certifications successfully renewed for three years: OHSAS 18001 Health and Safety Management, ISO 14001 Environmental Management certification and ISO 9001 Quality Management certification.
Case studies and technical information are available from Structura UK Ltd, Tel: 01233 501 504 or visit www.structura-uk.com/kalwall
