GA/25.08.06                                         VERSATILITY 1/2

UNUSUAL ‘KITE’ SHAPE OR PERIOD BUILDING?

Andy Swan Awards For Educational Buildings Illustrate EWI Versatility

Whether you want your building to look like a kite for visual impact on the seafront, to allow through ventilation to house computers, or to echo the period character of nearby buildings, all demands can be met by using external wall insulation systems. The versatility and flexibility of external wall insulation in accommodating curved and unusual shaped buildings, is illustrated by the winning projects in the educational building category of the Andy Swan 2006 Awards for the best use of external wall insulation, sponsored by the Insulated Render and Cladding Association.

The winner in this category is the University of Dundee Applied Computer Building, a new building consisting of seven linked towers that allow through ventilation, essential due to the amount of machinery in use.  The buildings are spacious and easily accessible, providing a focal point on the campus green, illustrating that the university is forward thinking and innovative. The building was constructed of locally sourced materials.

The Sto external render system over brickwork, was chosen as the external cladding flowed smoothly and accommodated the organic shape of the building; and the insulated mineral wool system provided a U-value of just 0.23 W/m²K, which enabled the building to keep warm in winter and cool in summer. The system designer was Sto Ltd; the installer, Muirfield (Contracts) Ltd – both INCA members.

Runner-up is the Imperial College of London Sports Centre, 14 Princess Gardens, London SW7, a new four-story extension to a period building. The M.R. Swistherm external wall insulation system was specified by architects, Arup Associates, as the render system would echo the period character of the college, blending in with the surrounding architecture. The system also included high thermal insulation with acoustic sound reduction – 140 mm of mineral wool was incorporated to produce a non-combustible façade with a U-value of 0.25 W/m²K, with extra strips of insulation providing feature bands. The silicone render finish offered water shedding capability, resistance to surface dirt and low maintenance, ideal for a busy city location.

The building is used for sports activities, houses residential accommodation on the top floors, is adjacent to a bandstand, and is situated on a main road. The system designer was Alumasc Exterior Building Products Ltd; the installer, Purkiss Brothers Ltd – both INCA members – and the main contractor, ISG Interior/Exterior.

            The Hexagon Building, Tretherras School, Newquay, Cornwall, was highly commended, using the flexibility of external wall insulation to create an imaginative design, so that the new two-storey drama building would be visible and stand out from the seafront. Two contrasting through-coloured render colours, with a specially-made ‘shadow’ gap feature between them, were used on the exterior walls of the building, which was designed to look like a kite overlooking the seafront.

            The architects, PWBC, specified the PermaRock mineral fibre insulated render system for its decorative finish, suitable colour range, and flexibility to fulfil their design. Two striking and contrasting colours were used with a shadow bead detail in order to achieve the ‘kite’ design. The system incorporated 40 mm of mineral insulation to surpass Part L Building Regulations. The system designer was Permarock Products Ltd; the installer, E J Horrocks Ltd – both INCA members.

These and other winning projects will be illustrated at the INCA Seminar, on Thursday, October 5, 2006, at the Royal Berkshire Conference Centre, Madejski Stadium, Reading. This will concentrate on external wall insulation used with modern methods of construction and as a refurbishment/remodelling process. Specifiers wishing to attend should apply for an invitation to the Insulated Render and Cladding Association, PO Box 12, Haslemere, Surrey GU27 3AH; tel: 01428 654011; fax: 01428 651401; e-mail: incaassociation@aol.com; www.inca-ltd.org.uk

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DOWNLOADABLE IMAGES:

Imperial College of London Sports Centre

University of Dundee Applied Computer Building

The Hexagon Building, Tretherras School, Newquay

Further information from Gillian Allder or Leonie Onslow Dewey on 01428 654011.