We’ll use perforated vertical fins and solid horizontal blades for practical and visual reasons. Not only will the anodised façade shield the seven-storey building from direct sun and reduce solar gain, it will also create a striking gold-coloured feature on the building
Just like Maple’s 3D façade on the nearby Circle Square hotel and car park development, the project will demand all our expertise as well as close collaboration with contractor Charles Henshaw.
Metal just 3mm thick will create the sleek lines demanded by the design brief, but the fins will require internal stiffening frames to retain their integrity as they span between floors.
Work is scheduled to begin in January 2022. When complete, the development will replace the John Dalton West Building, which will be demolished, and connect to the John Dalton Tower.
The construction will create new facilities for research, deliver enhanced STEM education in collaborative working spaces, bring together different departments into a high-tech ‘super-lab’, and deliver world-class modern facilities to support the university’s ambitions.