GA/06.11.09                                              STRIKING 1/2

THREE STRIKING COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS WIN INCA AWARDS

Three very striking commercial buildings, all using through-coloured render in exciting colours from black to white, with yellow, purple, green and red, are winners in the INCA 2009 Awards for the best use of external wall insulation, sponsored by the Insulated Render and Cladding Association.

          Winner in the hotel category was the Ramada Encore Hotel, Chatham, Kent, where mainly black render was used on the facades (alongside contrasting oak rainscreen cladding), with bright coloured render panels at the front of the building.

          The specifier, McLaren Construction, chose the PermaRock insulated render system, incorporating 130mm of mineral fibre lamella and mounted on a steel frame structure to the first floor, with remaining floors and walls of pre-cast concrete, to produce U-values in excess of Building Regulations. The system designer was PermaRock Products Ltd; the installer, George Howe Ltd – both INCA members.

          Winner in the leisure category was the Middleton Arena, at the Middleton Leisure Centre, Suffield Street, Middleton – a striking building designed to uplift the town centre as part of a major regeneration scheme led by the client – Tesco.

          The specifier, Building Design Partnership, selected the Alumasc Swistherm external wall insulation system to provide a seamless facade without joints, wherever possible onto cement particle board with a metsec frame. The silicone render offered optimum weathering performance, being carried below ground on parts of the building. Render panels generally in white, but contrasted with yellow, purple, green and red for different building functions, with a rolled texture finish, were completed in the same day where possible. The system designer was Alumasc Exterior Building Products Ltd; the installer, SLK Contractors Ltd – both INCA members.

          The mixed development winner was The Gateway, East Street, Leeds, comprising residential, retail and commercial premises. For this prominent city centre development Carey Jones Architects were looking for speed of build, and striking contrast between adjacent building finishes and the render. They used the Sto Therm Classic external wall insulation system, with vast expanses of bright white render, incorporating 60mm EPS onto the lightweight steel frame and cementitious board. The system designer was Sto Ltd; the installer George Howe Ltd – both INCA members.

          Technical information on external wall insulation for new build and refurbishment is available from the Insulated Render & Cladding Association at Royal London House, 22-25 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1DX; tel: 0844 249 0040; fax: 0844 249 0042; e-mail: info@inca-ltd.org.uk; or www.inca-ltd.org.uk.

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Further information from the INCA Secretariat on 0844 249 0040.

Downloadable Images:-

  Ramada Hotel, Chatham

Middleton Arena

  The Gateway, Leeds

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