Tag Archive for: Curtain walling

Britplas appointed to new IDRM build at Oxford University

Britplas is pleased to announce that they have been awarded a contract to complete the design, manufacture and installation of the building envelope to the new Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine (IDRM) at Oxford University Old Road Campus.

Working with main contractor McLaughlin & Harvey, the project is expected to start on site in October this year with a completion date next spring.

Designed by SRA Architects, the 6,000 sq m, 3-storey building will include laboratory and write-up spaces for each of three research themes, cardiology, neurology and immunology, with shared meeting / seminar rooms and specialist / ancillary labs for the purpose of life sciences research.

The building envelope is to comprise rock wool-based composite panels finished in naturally weathered Corten Steel, glass rainscreen and Schueco curtain walling, triple glazed to attain a required U value of 0.9. The building will also feature glass brise soleil. All components are being designed to meet Passivhaus standard with an air tightness of 1.0.

Britplas pre-construction manager Ben Woodward commented: “We are delighted to be working with new client McLaughlin & Harvey on such a prestigious scheme and returning to Oxford where we have a great track record of similar projects over the past few years.”

Image: SRA Architects

Britplas to construct building envelope at new Moxy Manchester hotel

hotel facade contractor

Britplas has been appointed to deliver the external facade package to a new hotel in Manchester city centre by main contractor Gilbert-Ash.

The project will see a former hat factory (Invicta House) in Manchester’s Spinningfields district, transformed into a stylish new 145 bedroom hotel under the Moxy brand, part of the Marriott International portfolio.

Britplas will be installing the full building envelope including Kawneer curtain walling, SFS and weathered-effect aluminium rainscreen, some of which is perforated to resemble the punch cards of a Jacquard loom as an echo to the site’s textile history. The scheme will retain and preserve the building’s listed Victorian facade.

The project is due to start in Q4 this year, with completion in May 2021 and the hotel has a planned opening date of late next year.

Maritime defence facility brings Britplas on-board

Britplas have been appointed as the external envelope supplier for the latest development of Qinetiq’s Portsdown Technology Park (PTP). Main contractor Volker Fitzpatrick will be completing the project for client QinetiQ, who have a long-standing interest on site which had its first military facility built in 1870.

The complex project will require Britplas to design, manufacture and install a mixture of curtain walling, cladding and soffit systems as part of a facade package worth in excess of £2m, made up of 1,450m2 cladding, 1,900m2 curtain walling and 675m2 fire screens. The new facility will offer 6,320m2 office space, an auditorium and accommodation, forming the National Maritime Systems Centre.

For over 45 years PTP has integrated and tested combat and communications equipment and software for all Royal Navy warships prior to their deployment at sea. The new £23m facility will continue this by securing 100 new jobs in addition to the 300 based at the site.

Recent examples of technology that has been tested and integrated with existing equipment includes BAE Systems’ Artisan surveillance radar and MBDA’s Sea Ceptor Air Defence System.

The exact systems being used are:

  • Schueco FWS 50+ capped curtain walling system
  • Aluprof MBSR50N fire rated curtain wall
  • Aluminum cladding system

Installation of the façade is scheduled to start on site in July 2019 with Britplas due to finish in by the end of 2019.

Britplas make it to the final!

After the summer where England couldn’t quite reach a final, Britplas have made it that one step further!

For the second time in our history we’ve been selected for the final shortlist of the prestigious Building Awards, in the category of Specialist Contractor of the Year. The awards are hosted each year to celebrate those who’ve had an exemplary year within the construction industry, and we’ll be there on November 6th.

Britplas has had another terrific year growing its turnover again, completing a number of landmark projects and further establishing itself as a facade contractor.

For the full list of finalists please click here.

Britplas appointed to Norton Street residential scheme

Britplas have been awarded a £4.2m contract to design and install the external vertical envelope to The Weavers, Norton Street – a £36m student accommodation development in Liverpool’s Knowledge Quarter.

The scheme is located in Islington, 400m from both Liverpool John Moores University and the University of Liverpool, and will house a total of 748 students across three blocks of eight, eleven and fifteen storeys.

Britplas were appointed to the 220,000 sq. ft. scheme by main contractor Create Construction, and are due on site in late August 2018, finishing early January 2019.

The in-house design department at Britplas have worked in collaboration with the client and scheme architect to choose a specification consisting of both Aluprof and Smartwall systems which have been chosen to meet both aesthetic and technical requirements. Products used will include:

  • Aluprof MB-SR50N capped curtain walling;
  • Aluprof MB-SR50N SG silicone pointed curtain walling;
  • Aluprof MB-70Hi window suite: Opening lights glazed internally, fixed lights externally; and
  • Smartwall thermally broken commercial door system.

Britplas chosen for emergency services reshuffle

Britplas have been appointed to provide the external envelope of Milton Keynes’ new Blue Light Hub. The £14 million development will create a state-of-the-art combined fire, police and ambulance centre to serve as a central command centre, replacing several dispersed services spread through each borough.

The project is being led by Kingerlee Limited who are contracted to complete works on site by August 2019, with Britplas due to start their £2 million external envelope package in late October 2018 and finish late June 2019.

The in-house design team at Britplas worked closely with Kingerlee to create an envelope which worked for the specific needs of this unique building. composite cladding, Schüco FWS 50 curtain walling and Schüco AWS 65 windows/ doors are due to be installed on the landmark project which will form part of a 3 acre site in Thornbury, West Ashland.

As part of the development, services provided by Bletchley and Great Holm Fire stations and Bletchley Police Station will move to the Blue Light Hub.

Britplas on board with Bristol office development

Britplas have been awarded the contract to provide the vertical exterior facade to a new commercial building at Bristol Business Park.

The package, worth around £1m, is Britplas’ first for main contractor Bowmer and Kirkland and will see them carrying out the design and installation of all external glazing, cladding and doors. The building (no. 100) will provide 86,000 sq. ft. of Grade A offices over 5 floors and is set to become the new headquarters of Babcock International Technology, the UK’s largest maritime support company to the Royal Navy.

Britplas are due on site from May this year, with an eight month programme taking them to the start of 2019. The team will be installing a range of products and systems including Schüco FW 60 SG, Schüco ADS70 manual doors, Schüco ASS70 and Boon Edam Crystal Tourniket manual revolving drum doors.

Bristol Business Park is an established office park situated five miles north of Bristol City Centre with excellent transport links and within easy access of the M32, M4 and M5 Motorways.  Building 100 will be the first of three phases for the 7.3 hectare site, which will eventually total 150,000 sq. ft.

Westgate Oxford opens to the public

Oxford’s new £440million Westgate Shopping Centre, where Britplas delivered the full external glazing package for two blocks, was completed and opened to the public on the 24th October.

Britplas were appointed to the two stage project, which brought with it various challenges particularly around access, by main contractor Laing O’Rourke. Westgate block 1 comprised the installation of multiple aluminium door varieties and a unitised curtain walling system creating a technical challenge for our design team which was overcome with collaboration from the system supplier, Schueco. Block 4 involved the manufacture, supply and installation of aluminium doors, Schueco FW60+ curtain walling and fixed light glazing. Together these packages totalled £2.4m and represented several months on site for our installation team.

The Westgate development was a joint venture between Land Securities, The Crown Estate with Westgate Oxford Alliance to improve facilities in Oxford City Centre, with the revitalisation of the 1970 built shopping precinct central to this. 125 shops including the major new John Lewis with its Britplas façade are expected to bring in triple the amount of shoppers as previous years.

Britplas secure Honeybourne Place contract

Britplas have secured a £2.9m glazing contract at a new commercial development in Cheltenham, Honeybourne Place. The mixed use development consists of ground level retail units and penthouse apartments, with the bulk being office space.

The £12m build will complete the redevelopment of the old St James railway site in the heart of Cheltenham, and provide a much needed 64,000 sq. ft. of office space as well as bringing 500 jobs to the area. Britplas are again working with contractor Barnwood Construction who broke ground at the site last month, with Britplas due to start on site towards the end of 2017.

Britplas’ package of works includes the design, manufacture and installation of Schüco FW60+ curtain walling, Wrightstyle SR60 steel fire resistant screens, finished with composite and brick slip cladding.

Work starts on site at Oxford Science Park

The latest collaboration between Britplas and Barnwood Construction has now started on site, with the steel framework now in place at Plot 12, Oxford Science Park, in readiness for the installation of a Schüco FW 50+ curtain walling system.

Recently named the Schrödinger Building, Plot 12 is a 61,500 sq ft, £13 million state of the art office and laboratory building due for completion early next year.

Britplas Site Manager Kevin Wilkinson is now preparing for the first glazed units to be lifted in to place over the next few weeks. The project is the third secured by Britplas for main contractor Barnwood Construction following the successful design and installation of two building façades on the nearby Milton Park development last year.

Our Pre-Construction Manager Ben Woodward commented “We are delighted to have secured a third project working with Barnwood Construction. The ongoing collaboration is testament to the high standards achieved by our design and construction teams on the recent Milton Park projects, and we look forward to helping to create another great building which will be an exciting addition to our portfolio.”

Tag Archive for: Curtain walling