Project Description
The Paper Exchange project in Belfast stands as a testament to innovative design and expert craftsmanship. Located on Chichester Street, in the heart of Belfast, this impressive state-of-the-art, 11-storey building offers Grade A office accommodation and sets a new standard for Northern Ireland development.
The building is bound to the city’s paper creating history acting as a contemporary canvas for bright, bold-thinking businesses.
Spanwall was engaged by Clarke Facades, Ballymena, to deliver a series of bespoke rainscreen panels that aligned with the architectural vision of Todd Architects
Design criteria
This was an extremely challenging design intent and Spanwall, in conjunction with the Clarke project team created an innovative combination of bespoke RF50-FR panels to produce a unitised solution– bringing Todd Architects vision to life. Additionally, the project required custom perforated RF50-FR panels which were manufactured to meet specific aesthetic and functional requirements. Spanwall also crafted vertical fins, ensuring precise vertical alignment to create a seamless facade.
The panels, fabricated from 2mm and 3mm thick aluminium and finished in Polyester Coated to mimic Weathered Steel. This approach allowed the building to achieve an iconic, durable aesthetic, while adhering to modern construction standards.
Challenges
The sizing of each unit was bespoke and much larger than standard. Spanwall manufactured each panel in their state-of-the-art factory in Belfast. Throughout the process, tight manufacturing tolerances had to be adhered to with Spanwall conducting careful logistics planning to ensure the large and extremely fragile unitised system was packed and delivered to site without damage.
The project had an extremely demanding construction programme. However, Spanwall was able to manufacture within the required time frame without compromising on quality or specification.
Manufacturing Excellence
The panels were manufactured in a factory-controlled environment. Using digital technology, the engineering team created a ground-breaking rainscreen system that enabled panels to be pre-assembled into larger rainscreen panels, massively reducing installation time on-site to meet the tight deadline.
As well as minimising on-site disruption, manufacturing the products offsite also minimised weather impact, keeping the products protected and enabling a rapid install.
This project not only highlights Spanwall's ability to meet complex design and material demands but also underscores its commitment to delivering high-quality architectural solutions that stand the test of time.
