High performance solar shading from Maple Sunscreening is improving safety for swimmers at the new £11 million Rochdale Leisure Centre.
External aluminium louvres from Maple’s Aurora Panel system were installed to the façade of Rochdale’s pool hall to eliminate glare and ‘mirror-like’ specular reflection on the surface of the water.
Sunscreening systems have become part of the safety specification for many public pools in recent years, particularly those with large glazed facades. Improved visibility through the water is a key benefit, ensuring that lifeguarding staff have a clear view at all times and can react quickly to any swimmer needing assistance.
Rochdale Leisure Centre, which includes an eight-lane 25 metre pool among a variety of dryside sports and fitness facilities, was built by Willmott Dixon and is managed by Link4Life, the Rochdale Boroughwide Cultural Trust. The pool hall is an eye-catching element of the new building with an over-sailing roof striking a dynamic angle over the gable elevations. The external sunscreening is a key part of the building design as well as performing an essential safety function, explains project architect, Richard White of KKA Architecture in Liverpool. He comments: “With its distinctive aerofoil blade design and choice of finish, Maple’s Aurora Panel system combines superior shading performance with high aesthetic appeal.”
Maple designed, manufactured and installed solar shading to the pool hall using 100mm vertical aluminium louvre profiles from its Aurora Panel system. Louvres were fixed between aluminium side arms and delivered in ready-assembled sections for fixing direct to the curtain walling façade system with minimum time on site. All panels and brackets were powder coated in a silver metallic (RAL 9006) finish to complement the leisure centre’s visually striking façade.
The Aurora Panel system is part of an extensive range of solar shading and weather protection solutions offered by Maple Sunscreening. Aurora is available for horizontal and vertical applications and features a distinctive aerofoil blade design which provides high resistance to wind forces. Panels can be fixed with brackets direct to structural steelwork, to brickwork with chemical anchors, or to curtain walling systems.
Leisure facilities in the borough of Rochdale have been transformed over the past five years with more than £34 million of investment and three new-build sports and leisure centres with pools. These provide swimmers with an excellent overall swimming experience and have seen significant increases in levels of participation. The screening at our newest centre in Rochdale is an integral part of the overall design to ensure both comfort and safety of our customers and has proved extremely effective.” Craig McAteer, Managing Director, Link4life