Challenges
Winchester Sport & Leisure Park was a complex project with a wide variety of materials. Interface detailing and meticulous installation planning were crucial on such a prestigious scheme with multiple façade finishes. Any misalignment, coordination or on site tolerance issues could have had a domino effect on the programme and budget.
The profile and the glazed finish of the Terrart ceramic tiles were delicate, which meant that they had to be handled, stored and installed with the greatest care.
The secret fixed Terrart ceramic baguettes over the glazing (brise soleil in the form of ceramic pipes with elliptical cross section) presented a safety risk, should any crack and fall from the façade.
The mounting of this system back to the curtain wall mullions of the double-height glazing (fins and vertical plates) had to be engineered by A2O, to the architect’s intention to be as minimal as possible.
Covid struck shortly after start on site requiring the RAMS to be redone with Covid-specific measures.
Solutions
Almost 200 detail drawings were produced to ensure that interfaces were fully coordinated and that our skilled install teams had all the information to delivery the design intent on site. A2O have a Project Management System with Document Lifecycle Management, ensuring installers have tablet access to the latest drawings at all times.
The helping hand brackets for the tiles were specially customised by Fischer to accommodate thermal movement, while maintaining building joint lines in architect-specified locations.
The secret fix system, which included a safety feature. The baguettes had a spring-loaded mechanism with a safety bar, such that if any were to fail, the bar would catch the baguette.
Each baguette was assembled on site and clipped into place between the fins on the façade. A2O used lasers to set out from grid lines and datums as any deviations would have been eye-jarring.
There was no impact by COVID on install quality and no disruption costs were passed on by A2O.
Fact File
Sector
- Leisure
STATUS
- New Build
Value
- £2,000,000
Scope of Work
- SFS
- Sub-grid
- Terracotta tile rainscreen
- Terracotta baguettes - over glazing by others
- Polycarbonate rainscreen: Danpatherm K7
- Louvres to plant area
- Panels: Rainspan
- Granite Plinth
- Fire Barriers