Virtually the entire range of architectural
aluminium systems from Kawneer is being installed on the
landmark mixed-use Islington Wharf in Manchester to meet three
essential requirements – good thermal and acoustic performance
and the movement inherent in the 21-storey tower.
The range of products was performance-specified by
Kawneer-approved installer SG Aluminium for Phase One main
contractor Laing O’Rourke to deliver the £27.5 million design by
Broadway Malyan architects for 200 apartments, two leisure units
totalling 572m² and five smaller commercial units totalling
140m².
The Kawneer systems being used on this new waterside community
are worth approximately £2 million in themselves and include the
ACS 40FSG framing system, AA®100 dry-jointed curtain walling,
AA®601 casement windows, 190 welded door , 603 tilt slide door
and 505 swing doors.
The sandstone and copper tower is on a three-acre site next to
the New Islington Millennium Community where the developer Isis
Waterside Regeneration already has outline planning consent for
a further 300+ apartments, a 1,245m² food store, additional
shops and leisure units, and an option for a 100-bed hotel.
Isis is a joint venture company between British Waterways, AMEC
Investments and Morley Fund Management’s Igloo regeneration fund
and Phase One at Islington Wharf is due for completion next
year.
SG Aluminium are installing large panes of glass, some up to
almost eight square metres and weighing 580kgs, which were
subject to solar control requirements, stringent U-values and
demanding acoustic performance. The large curtain wall shards
projecting into the sky are hung off the structure by brackets
specially-designed to accommodate excessive building movement.
Some particularly disciplined sequencing has been necessary to
enable the installation of the glazing and cladding to be
carried out by the same mast climbers. Tower cranes are also
being used.
Email: tracy@tlcpr.co.uk