Maple provided rooftop plant screen for Zurich UK’s new flagship offices in Swindon.
Our advanced louvre system was required to protect important machinery and equipment from the elements while permitting airflow AND reducing noise pollution. Typically, that would have required both ventilation and acoustic louvres. But Maple’s design team value engineered the specification to find a more cost-effective screening solution.
Instead of acoustic louvres, we installed blanking plates behind standard 150mm louvres to cut out noise - an important consideration as the building also featured a rooftop terrace for staff.
The project created a buzz for other reasons. Zurich’s staff share their sixth storey roof terrace with beehives as the firm seeks to boost biodiversity and sustainability. It was part of a drive by Zurich to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating for the offices. The leading insurer also made their offices ‘single-use plastic-free’, set ambitious targets for zero printing and filing, and installed electric car charging points for visitors.
“We worked closely with contractors Skanska to ensure low-impact construction techniques and minimal waste,” said Maple’s Project Consultant, Mark Revell. “Our plant screens lend themselves to modular construction techniques within a controlled factory setting, ensuring high quality and making installation quicker, more cost-effective... and safer.”
Even with modular construction, installation was challenging. “Maple’s teams of operatives were very skilled and also great communicators,” said Skanska’s project manager Chris Greenhough. “It was a challenging job, so we appreciated the proactive nature of the Maple team. They were able to identify potential problems with the multiple interfaces with the other build systems, giving us solutions and mitigating potential downtime.”
Instead of acoustic louvres, we installed blanking plates behind standard 150mm louvres to cut out noise - an important consideration as the building also featured a rooftop terrace for staff.
The project created a buzz for other reasons. Zurich’s staff share their sixth storey roof terrace with beehives as the firm seeks to boost biodiversity and sustainability. It was part of a drive by Zurich to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating for the offices. The leading insurer also made their offices ‘single-use plastic-free’, set ambitious targets for zero printing and filing, and installed electric car charging points for visitors.
“We worked closely with contractors Skanska to ensure low-impact construction techniques and minimal waste,” said Maple’s Project Consultant, Mark Revell. “Our plant screens lend themselves to modular construction techniques within a controlled factory setting, ensuring high quality and making installation quicker, more cost-effective... and safer.”
Even with modular construction, installation was challenging. “Maple’s teams of operatives were very skilled and also great communicators,” said Skanska’s project manager Chris Greenhough. “It was a challenging job, so we appreciated the proactive nature of the Maple team. They were able to identify potential problems with the multiple interfaces with the other build systems, giving us solutions and mitigating potential downtime.”
