Maple have just completed work on the UK’s leading science and innovation campus, Harwell. Their new grade A office and laboratory building, Zeta, now features our bespoke Skyvane brise soleil system which forms an important role in achieving Harwell’s net-zero goals.
The brise soleil was installed as a combination of horizontal and vertical panels and framed the windows in an L shape on the east and south elevations, providing critical protection from solar glare. Horizontal blades, meanwhile, cover the east, west, and south elevations.
The brise soleil blades were constructed as cassettes to facilitate efficient installation and were finished with a sleek, modern black coating, ensuring the system also matches the aesthetic of the building.
Our innovative shading solution is a key part of Harwells’s sustainability strategy to control solar gain and minimise energy consumption. By blocking direct sunlight, Maple’s brise soleil system reduces the need for internal cooling systems, thereby lowering the building’s overall energy usage. The placement of the blades on the windows also helps maintain optimal daylight levels.
The new ‘Zeta’ facility was in collaboration with SDC Builders and is now open to the public.