The louvred screens for the two 75,000 sq ft, five-storey buildings will be among the largest ever installed by Maple – reaching total lengths of 120m and 90m respectively.
They’ll hide rooftop HVAC plant and machinery from view as well as giving protection from the worst of the elements. However, the location and height of the office development mean that the 3.4m high aluminium structures themselves will need protection from the corrosive, salty environment of the Mersey Estuary.
With that in mind, the screens are being power-coated in Interpon D2525 soft champagne and steel bronze. The D2525 range is a series of ultra-durable powder coatings with outstanding weathering resistance, and was preferred to standard anodising by architects AHR despite being a more expensive option.
The project is being delivered by main contractor Morgan Sindall on behalf of the Wirral Growth Company. When complete next year, one of the buildings will be occupied by Wirral Council staff, with the other helping to address Liverpool City Region’s shortage of Grade A office space.
Maple are due on site for installation of the plant screen in December.