The works on 68-86 Farringdon Road transformed a multi-storey carpark into an eclectic scheme that includes a 180-key hotel, office accommodation, and retail spaces in London’s vibrant Clerkenwell neighbourhood.
One Elmwood is the location for the new £41.8 million student centre at Queen’s University Belfast. The four-storey, 11,000m2 hub was designed by studios Hawkins/Brown and RPP Architects and sits at the centre of the University’s campus.
Dublin Landings is a 1,000,000 sq. ft mixed-use development on North Wall Quay, Dublin. Jointly developed by Ballymore Properties and Oxley Holdings with the site masterplan by Arrow Architects. Dublin Landings includes Grade A flexible office and retail space alongside 237 apartments. Spanwall worked with our long-established customer Gunn Lennon Fabrications to deliver several custom aluminium fabrications from rainscreen panels to pressing. The main element was manufactured from J57S UP Aluminium and then Anodised. Dublin Landings encompasses the very recognisable Central Bank of Ireland office with its striking gold perforated facades, elements of which Spanwall manufactured. The project was completed in 2019.
When Newry, Mourne and Down District Council undertook to upgrade the Downpatrick Leisure Centre they engaged Kennedy Fitzgerald Architects and local main contractors Felix O’Hare. Roofscape was the Specialist Facade Contractor appointed to carry out the installation of the specified Spanwall RF50-FR Hook-on Rainscreen system to the facia and soffit of the complex. The soffit panels were perforated to accommodate lighting. The RF50-FR rainscreen panels were manufactured from J57S UP Aluminium and post anodised Anolok® 543 (Bronze). The project was completed in 2018.
A complex geometry and concealed fixing system, made the package outside the normal boundaries of a soffit and one that needed a design led approach to deliver the architectural intent.
Cladding of the newly constructed RVH maternity unit in Belfast, using Spanwall’s own RF50 Rainscreen system the new Maternity unit will be clad with a combination of 2mm Corten Steel and 1mm zinc
This multi-award-winning project that includes the Education Project of the Year in the Irish Construction Industry Awards 2017 and the Retrofitting / Renovation Project of the Year at the Irish Building & Design Awards 2017 was designed by renowned Belfast Architectural practise TODD Architects. The MST & PFC (Main Site Tower and Peter Frogatt Centre) at Queens city centre campus, links and transforms the interiors of two outdated 1960’s university buildings, into a contemporary teaching and learning environment – where the challenge of knitting together of old and new. Externally the facades were refaced in a restricted palette of materials – red clay brickwork, glazed screens, and Spanwall RF50-FR panel system was supplied in Anodic Bronze and Zinc PPC. The complex is naturally ventilated, as part of a low energy design strategy, achieving a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating, with each facade “engineered” through analysis by way of a thermal model. The exposed existing concrete slab (retaining embedded carbon) assists in heating in winter and cooling in summer. The main contractor was Felix O’Hare, and the Specialist Facade Contractor was Gunn Lennon Fabrications and Roofscape. The building was occupied in September 2016.
As part of a larger £36M renovation and upgrading project of the Vauxhall underground station by Bectel for Transport for London (TfL), Spanwall Facades Ltd worked with the then local company McGrath Group to manufacture and supply our SF40-FR Discreet fix cladding panels in 1.5mm Polyester Coated steel.
Swanton House, Student Accommodation, Queen St, Belfast operated by Student Roost is a purpose built 13-floor 247 bedroom and 93 self-contained studio apartments complex in the centre of Belfast. The original Victorian street level structure was maintained and renovated with new floors added and Manson Architects + Planners then added the curved tower which is clad in a mix of glass and Spanwall RF50-FR rainscreen panels. Spanwall custom facetted the panels at our Carryduff factory from pre-coated 1.5mm textured Rimex ColourTex® Bronze Pagoda Stainless Steel for Lisburn based specialist facade contractor Walsin Ltd. The Spanwall RF50-FR panels consist of a mix of vertical and horizontal hooked-on panels in various modules. The main contractor was Felix O’Hare & Co Ltd, and the project was completed in 2018.
Spanwall fully perforated 3mm J57S UP Aluminium flat sheeting to the agreed circular diameter patten using a Cluster tool on our CNC Finn-Power Laser Punching combination machine. The custom Sinusoidal profile was formed using tooling with a radius nose, making sure that the holes aligned with the crowns and the valleys of the sheet. Once fully fabricated the panels were then natural anodised. The building was wrapped using the sheeting and due to the perforations, the building when viewed, revealed the black liner behind the sheets to create a veiled effect. The Spanwall system was installed in 2018 by principle and specialist contractor in building envelopes and facades – Clear Line.
Ireland first Aloft Hotel (Marriott International) in the heart of Dublin Liberties opened its doors in December 2018. The Project Team included BAM, Plus Architecture and Linesight. The contemporary facade treatment consists of glazing and Aluminium rainscreen panels. The choice of rainscreen was Spanwall RF50-FR, a 50mm deep Fire Rated and CWCT tested hook-on cassette panel system. A contrasting palette of corporate Du Pont Greys (RAL7042/7043) and Orange (RAL2009) was used resulted in a striking urban Facade that embodies the brand philosophy “different by design” that injects personality and colour into this Dublin 8 area which is designated a Strategic Development & Regeneration Area. The RF50-FR system was installed by Season Master Double Glazing Ltd.
Royal College of Surgeons (RCSI) Dublin is a multi-award-winning training facility in the centre of Dublin just off St. Stephen’s Green boasting the most advanced clinical healthcare simulation centre in Europe. Designed by Henry J. Lyons, Spanwall custom fabricated a Perforated Hook-on 3mm J57S UP Aluminium panel solution that was Anodised Pale Bronze.
In 2017 MSM Contracts completed a major extension and refurbishment of the outpatient facilities at the UIC Strandmillis Rd. campus. The Architect was Turkington Magowan Partnership. This project required two different colours of RF50-FR design. The flat elevations had landscape orientation and were polyester powder coated with a metallic silver finish. The other part, a rotunda required a curved elevation. Albeit possible to curve our RF50-FR cassette panels in a horizontal orientation, a combination of narrow vertical floor-to-floor panels allowed faceting which when viewed produced an illusion of a smooth curve, the contrasting dark grey colour contributed to this. The Spanwall RF50-FR Rainscreen cladding system was installed by Roofscape. Imagery courtesy of Armstrong Taylor
Designed by Scott Brownrigg Architects, Vista at Chelsea Bridge, Battersea, London is a large luxury apartment complex for Berkeley Homes with a unique stepping stone design almost Ocean Liner-esque. The complex is a powerful new architectural statement to the London skyline. Ranging from 6 – 16 storeys, elements of the external facade are clad in high quality materials including natural stone, zinc, and glass. For the elevations fronting the railway, the architect choose Spanwall RF50 Hook-on cassette panels manufactured from VM Zinc in a Pigmento Red which according to the project Architect, provided a more “solid defensive treatment” The specialist facade contractor was Dublin based Architectural Aluminium Ltd who installed the Spanwall system.
The £50m Cambridge North Train Station was part of Network Rail’s £40bn Railway Upgrade Plan. The plan was to provide interchange facilities between the five main modes of transport (rail, bus, cycle, walking and car). The 450m² station, includes passenger waiting facilities, toilets, a staffed ticket office, retail space as well as rail staff accommodation and facilities. Externally there are three platforms, a parking area for 1000 bicycles as well as 450 cars. The station also benefits from solar panels that provide up to 10% of the station’s power requirements. A key design feature of the new station was a perforated pattern in its rainscreen cladding. Contractors Kilnbridge engaged Spanwall to create this complex design brief. The perforated rainscreen cladding represents Rule 30, an elementary cellular automation introduced by Stephen Wolfram in 1983. The Rule 30 theory was inspired by the Game of Life, the famous mathematical model created by former Cambridge University professor John Conway in 1970. Designed by Atkins, the perforations within the cladding were intended to provide passive security and ventilation to glazed areas around the concourse as well as views across the site. Spanwall were chosen due to their advanced knowledge, technical skills, and outstanding track record in delivering bespoke, complex cladding solutions. Spanwall worked closely with Kilnbridge to engineer its RF50-FR rainscreen system. This has evolved over 50-years of manufacturing to meet the demands created by Architects, Specifiers, Contractors and building owners for a precision-made, Fire Rated and independently tested back ventilated Rainscreen facade system. Spanwall manufactured the perforated aluminium cladding system in a polyester powder coated metallic silver. A key challenge for the project was the bespoke design requirements which required the system to be highly perforated. Spanwall manufactured the facade panels at their state-of-the-art factory in Northern Ireland, using innovative technology that enabled them to create the complex design requirement for the project. One of the facade systems would act as the main footbridge, connecting the ticket office with the platforms. This was installed in two sections and lifted into position during a short window throughout the night. This was a complex project with exacting design requirements and is a true example of the manufacturing ingenuity at Spanwall. “Spanwall’s RF50-FR rain screen system is a high-quality, well-designed product that is the very best of form and function. This was a complex project which required the creation of a perforated panel. Having worked with Spanwall before we were confident of their ability to deliver this project and bring Atkin’s vision to life.”
In the shadow of The Shard a new 400-metre steel viaduct incorporating a 70-metre railway bridge was installed by Skanska in 2012 for Network Rail to ease train congestion and increase the flow of trains through nearby London Bridge station. This was a very challenging project that utilised Spanwall RF50-FR panel in 1.2mm VM Zinc quartz. These panels were folded and then using a method designed by Spanwall, curved over their height to create a smooth convex panel. Once these panels were curved, they were then treated with an anti-graffiti layer to achieve a uniform protective coating. The installation was carried out by Cambridge based Delta Fabrications and when completed it has provided a striking organic look.
BACS Riyadh Metro Project, Spanwall were employed to provide 6mm Aluminium perforated panels with bespoke extrusions secured to the rear of each. The finish was RAL9006 PPC.
Part of UU’s York St. Belfast city centre Campus, the Birley Building Blocks BA and BB were completed in 2016 to house the University’s School of Art. Spanwall manufactured narrow floor-to-floor perforated naturally anodised aluminium panels that integrated seamlessly with the large, fixed windows. The installation was carried out by a subsidiary of McLaughlin & Harvey.
Completed in 2015 and with 16,000 pedestrians and cyclists using the 120-metre Lagan weir footbridge each week, it is a pivotal part of a more sustainable approach to travelling around Belfast Waterfront area. Spanwall were pleased to be part of the project delivery team that consisted of AECOM, Graham and Roofscape. While very challenging the result was very rewarding. The underdeck cladding consisted of two of Spanwall’s core products the Hook-On RF50-FR and Discreet fixed SF40-FR panels. Part of this project required the RF50-FR panels to incorporate a curved aerofoil to displace and buffer the prevailing winds from the pedestrian deck. Building Information Modelling was required not only to accommodate two different radii at each edge but also the 1:20 curved elevation along the length of this iconic bridge. Each panel was custom fabricated to fit in its precise location on the bridge deck. The panels are 3mm aluminium and were polyester powder coated silver metallic to a marine grade because of the location over the river Lagan.
Moving from their iconic Dame St. head office, the new Central Bank of Ireland building on the cities North Quays was a logical location in the heart of Dublin’s Financial district. Henry J Lyons was commissioned to reimagine the defunct concrete structure of the former Anglo-Irish Bank headquarters in Dublin Docklands and oversee the delivery of the new Central Bank of Ireland headquarters and create an iconic landmark emblematic of its strategic national function. At approximately 28,000m2, this imposing 8 storeys building perched on the quayside of the river Liffey is clad in curtain wall glazing with a veil that consists of gold anodised perforated Aluminium panels, the solid elements and some of the perforated panels that provides both design and solar shading were manufactured by Spanwall. Designed by Henry J. Lyons Architect and build by Walls Construction the facade was installed by Architectural Aluminium.
Over 1,000m2 of our hook-on cassette RF50-FR rainscreen was selected to reflect the crisp clean lines of the building that was achieved by routing then folding. The choice of colour selected was a matt black to capture the world-renowned brand image. Following on from the successful completion of the first phase, Spanwall again were engaged with supplying specialist Dublin based glazing and cladding installers, BRFS. As always Spanwall are thrilled to have been chosen to supply another iconic brand at this very famous Dublin landmark.
Hackney Marshes is best known as the London home of amateur Sunday League football. Designed by architects Stanton Williams, the new ‘Community Hub’ at the South Marsh, comprising new changing rooms, a cafe, and an education facility, which was completed in 2011 at a cost of £5 million by John Sisk & Sons. Materials have been chosen for robustness and for their ability to blend into the structure’s surroundings. Gabion walls provide a vandal-resistant envelope and function as a framework for climbing plants, creating a ‘green wall’. COR-TEN® weathered steel offering a rich texture is used for cladding which includes perforated panels, shutters, and louvres, all supplied by Spanwall. The nature of weathered steel changes in colour over time, it emphasises the combination of nature and artifice that permeates the scheme. The Hackney Marshes Centre is another multi-award-winning project Spanwall are proud to have supplied.
Addenbrooke’s Hospital Car Park – Cambridge Biomedical Campus The building is wrapped with a screen of continuous, twisted 5mm aluminium ribbons, that are silver anodized and subsequently polyester powder coated on one face in bright yellow. The effect is a woven basket-like structure on which light plays and models the texture of the façade. This surface provides weather protection and screening to the interior of the car park, while allowing glimpses of the surrounding countryside. Produced from 5mm 5000 Series Aluminium Spanwall manufactured these 4620mm long helix ribbons on our bespoke “Twister” that allow fabrication of up to 10mm Aluminium turned through 180° This prestigious project was recognised at the 2015 cutting-edge RIBA Regional Awards.
The GPO Museum is a permanent visitor attraction located within the historic GPO (General Post Office) building on O’Connell Street, Dublin. The experience is one of the newest Dublin Museums and it is one of the top attractions to explore. GPO Witness History has won numerous awards including the Micheletti Award at the European Museum Academy Awards (2017) and Best Cultural Experience at the Irish Tourism Industry Awards - over 100,000 people (2017). This listed building was to house a museum which would tell the history through the years. Designed by Kavanagh Tuite Architect and delivered by main contractors PJ Hegarty, Spanwall RF50-FR panels were produced with a reduced 10mm shadow gap rather than the standard 20mm from J57S UP and then bronze anodised to complement the cleaned and repaired Eastern Courtyard brick façade which incorporated the very old with the modern to create a seamless visual impression for the visitors. The Spanwall RF50-FR panels were installed by Lynch Roofing Systems (Ballaghaderreen) Ltd
For this re-clad project of the existing 1960s built red brick tower block the Architect, ARCEN selected Spanwall RF50-FR system with a choice of coloured glass and aluminium panels. The Dungannon hospital design team selected a specific type of Pearlescent paint to enhance this building and bring the total appearance of the hospital up to a very modern style. Vertical 90° factory fabricated floor-to-floor panels are used on the corners that align modularly with the horizontal panels resulting in clean geometric lines. Also featured is a 150mm deep cassette panel custom made to negate the need for separate window jambs. The Spanwall system was installed by Enniskillen based Roofscape for main contractor Brendan Loughran & Sons Ltd.
Designed by Coady Partnership the 8,000m2 EOLAS Building ICT Hub at the National University of Ireland Maynooth campus provides state of the art Information Communication Technology facilities for undergraduate, post-graduate, research, and business users. Opened in 2015 the building is clad in a Spanwall RF50 aluminium rainscreen system that provides a deep Veil made-up of multiple panel shapes and modules that include folded corners and soffit returns. The perforations replicate the panel shape being a mixture of square and rectangular. The installation was carried out by Gunn Lennon Fabrications and the Facade Consultants was Billings Design Associates. The main Contractor was Tracey Brothers. The EOLAS building won an award for the Best Educational building 2016.
The Titanic Visitors Centre in the heart of our home city of Belfast is arguably the most iconic project to feature and showcase Spanwall’s expertise in sheet metal fabrication. In 2012 costing £100 million, the Museum which is the largest man-made tourist attraction in Northern Ireland and part of the ongoing £7bn Titanic Quarter development for Harcourt Development opened its doors, 100-years after the ill-fated steamship left Cobh for New York. From a distance the 3- dimensional rainscreen panels manufactured from almost 120 tonnes of 3mm J57S Aluminium look to be two-tone coloured but were all anodised in natural silver and covers the four-pointed 28-metre-tall hulls of this maritime museum. With approximately 2,000 different panels this was a challenging project. Spanwall worked closely with Belfast-based TODD Architects at the early concept design stage and were able to simplify the panel design and layout to create 6 standard geometrical shaped aluminium panels and one, very special one-off, panel for all the elevations. Spanwall was also able to incorporate it’s RF50 Rainscreen carrier system into the design for the installation. Most panel measure 4-metres on the diagonal. Spanwall achieved the original concept and vision for the irregular panel facade while keeping the costs for the geometrically complex shapes within the project budget. Installation was carried out by German specialist building envelope contractor Metallbau-Frueh. Spanwall also worked on the interior where custom-rusted steel sheets were used for walls and ceilings, with the undulating system of steel plates having a patina in keeping with the site’s ship-building heritage. The building secured its own record with more than 4 million visitors to date from all over the world.
Part of the Carton Park Shopping Centre this was the first Tesco Format 80 Supermarket on stilts constructed in Ireland. The €45M project was delivered by Precision Construction. The choice to facade treatment was Spanwall RF50 with a 1.5mm stainless steel finish. Tesco had been using traditional handset stone/ceramic granite facade system but to reduce the weight on the Format 80 building selected the much lighter 1.5mm Stainless Steel rainscreen panel system from Spanwall. The stepped-out areas retained the traditional handset granite cladding providing a contrast between materials and colour. To mimic the granite facade the Spanwall panels were produced in various modules and installed in a staggered pattern to all the elevations. The pop-out windows add a final splash of colour to the building. The Spanwall RF50 panel system was installed by PJ Quinn Limited.
Victoria Gate was a £165 million scheme that forms part of the new 53,400m2 Victoria Leeds shopping destination, creating the largest premium retail space in Northern England. Designed by architects Acme, the development is a striking nod to the city’s rich merchandising and textile history and was voted the best shopping centre in the world. Design Criteria Acme had a complex design brief for the adjoining car park at Victoria Gate. The façade was designed to mirror the unique diagrid etched concrete of the centre. With an outstanding track record, Spanwall was appointed by Maple to help deliver the façade element for contractors Sir Robert McAlpine. A key feature was the creation of a bespoke solution to ensure the facade would perfectly replicate the centre, seamlessly blending into the building. Spanwall designed a twisted fin façade that would bring the architect’s vision to life – however the biggest challenge was that the technology to create these fins did not exist. Manufacturing excellence Spanwall manufactured a machine at their state-of-the-art factory in Carryduff, Northern Ireland, that enabled them to twist the aluminium panels into a series of partial twists, creating a stunning architectural façade made up of a series of fins twisted at various angles to give the appearance of diamonds. The result was a highly engineered product that was truly fit for purpose and the very best in both form and function. The product was presented in a natural anodised state, which gives the façade a reflective surface. As the light hits the façade, this creates colour. This was a large-scale complex project and as construction took place within a live site, planning, logistics and liaison were crucial to ensure the fins were ready for handover. This award-winning product has received critical acclaim and is a true example of the manufacturing abilities at Spanwall.