Architectural
Steelwork
SAS International provides solution to award-winning redevelopment - Skyways House
A regional and national winner in the recent BCO Awards,
Skyways House near Liverpool, is a converted World War II
aircraft hangar. It is now the centrepiece of a campus of
buildings which forms the striking head office complex for
Littlewoods Shop Direct Group. Three levels surrounding a
central atrium have been inserted into the Grade II* listed
building. Architects CDA (Comprehensive Design Architects) rose
to the challenge the structure provided, and employed some
clever metal ceiling solutions from SAS International.
SAS International’s System 205 was specified for the main office
space and underside of the galleried walkways. Allowing access
to services, System 205 is normally specified for use in
corridors; it proved the ideal solution with panels manufactured
to fit between the exposed structural steelwork. Manufactured in
lengths up to 3000mm, System 205 can be installed quickly and
efficiently, a serious consideration for the project team.
Providing excellent acoustic performance, a key issue in the
open hangar, System 205 and SAS System 150 (used in other areas
of the project) met the specification requirements. The
decorative perforation patterns on the tiles assist acoustic
absorption in conjunction with acoustic pads.
In addition, SAS International worked with Siteco on four
custom-designed high level lighting rafts. Suspended from the
curved roofs, the rafts run the full length of the hanger
providing lighting to the second floor.
The BCO judges particularly like the way a ‘controlled palate’
of steel, glass and timber has been used to bind unpretentious
industrial utility to modern new office floors, creating a 21st
century working environment. No apology is made for the
building’s origins. In fact, the exposed roof structure, ties
and beams celebrate that history.
Close collaboration between architects and engineers has created
a building within a building. Light floods through the huge
space across three floors, a daunting challenge in itself when
the roof was sacrosanct; achieved by glazing both ends of the
building, the original roof lights and windows have been
upgraded for solar control.
Construction was successfully completed to a tight timescale and
budget and the result is a remarkably distinctive highly
efficient building according to the BCO. Littlewoods Shop Direct
Group is certainly satisfied, saying the new HQ has ‘radically
improved’ its business.
Email:
edwinac@thinktank.org.uk