2023 Shortlist

Expand the categories below to see the shortlist in more detail

Aberbay
DJC Habitas with James Hardie

A private holiday park leisure facility located on the sea edge in Clarach Bay, just north of Aberystwyth.

This facility supports the holiday park users with swimming pool and restaurant/bar facilities as well as Allens Caravans offices.

The building draws influence from nautical themes and its cladding is designed to provide a dynamic finish that blends in with the pebbles located on the beach adjacent.

Cloud themes influence the internal finish from the light fittings to the bespoke stretched swimming pool ceiling.

This building is a testament to full client, contractor and architect involvement throughout the process.

Clients final assessment
Because of where the building is, right on the sea front, the colours of the cladding were a critical decision and this was made over many meetings between Nick the architect and the builders Joe and Dan. Many products were looked at for the cladding but we needed this to be flexible, creative and withstand the harsh environment, this is why we went with fibre cement cladding.

Alder Hey - Catkin Centre & Sunflower House
Longworth Building Services with Proteus Facades

The newly erected Alder Hey Children's Hospital's Catkin Centre & Sunflower House boasts a remarkable design that's both functional and captivating.

The architects relied on Proteus Facades to bring their vision to life. The Proteus SR system on this project was supplied with over 160 of the panels perforated. All the SR panels manufactured by Proteus Facades were produced using a 2mm weathering steel finish, which adds texture and depth to the building's facade, creating a dynamic and visually striking appearance.

The Proteus SR system used in the Catkin Centre & Sunflower House is highly rated for its fire-resistant properties, which ensures the safety of the hospital's occupants. The system is also easy to install, compliant with CWCT standards and boasts a long-term low maintenance façade.

The chosen system allowed for concealed joints and hidden fastenings, ensuring that the exterior of the building remained clean and uncluttered, with no unsightly or visible fixings.

Installed by Longworth Building Services, The Proteus SR System features a Secret Fix hooking system that attaches each panel through specifically designed Proteus SR Hook Brackets, taking advantage of the system's spring-loaded tapped block feature.

Dyson Steam Building Gresham School
Drayton Windows with Proteus Facades

In order to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the new Dyson Building, architects WilkinsonEyre specified Proteus HR solid and perforated copper cladding panels. The panels are in Aurubis Nordic Brown Light. Proteus guided the designers to this material because the warm, mellow hues within in the copper patina complement the decorative flint details on the adjacent school chapel elevation. This timely and knowledgeable intervention by Proteus results in a perfect blend of new and old. By combining the perforated copper cladding with an exposed steel structure, the Dyson Building exudes a striking molecular ambience. This is further accentuated by perforated Proteus copper panels intersperse throughout the façade. Patterns in the oxidised copper Proteus cladding panels created by the Perforations further mirror the decorative flint details on the chapel elevation.

The perforated Proteus HR panels use ingenious horizontal stiffeners to ensure the panels can withstand the design and wind load. The perforated panels are attached to the curtain wall to create a seamless aesthetic with the floor to ceiling glass panels. This involved working closely with Drayton Windows, who we’re undertaking the cladding and glass curtain walling on the scheme.

Moulding Foundation Building, Seashell Trust, Cheadle
Longworth with KME Tecu

The Moulding Foundation Building is to be the new home for the Royal School Manchester, operated by the Seashell Trust to provide specialist education for young people with complex disabilities and communication challenges. The building takes its name from the Moulding Foundation, established by the family behind local beauty e-commerce giant, The Hut Group, which have supported the project, alongside funds raised from the sale of part of the charity’s campus for housing development.

The new facilities include an assembly hall for 200 people with retractable seating, a dining hall with both group and individual dining spaces, an assessment suite with a high-tech audiology suite and a swimming centre comprising a learner pool with a rise-and-fall floor and an interactive hydrotherapy pool.

On this scheme, Longworth designed, supplied and installed the Tecu shingle cladding, IKO hot melt and single ply membrane roofing systems, Siberian Larch external soffits and internal ceilings and composite panel cladding.

Northgate Yard Entertainment Complex
Progressive with Equitone and Rockpanel

Opened in late 2022, Northgate Yard is the culmination of years of planning and consultation by Sedgemoor District Council, which has created a unique entertainment hub at the heart of the Somerset community.

Central to the project is the eye-catching façade design, which combines natural hues from Equitone’s Pebble TE20 range with Rockpanel’s Metallic and Chameleon boards to create inspiring bursts of colour. Installed by Exeter based Progressive Systems, the 966m2 of cladding (534m2 Rockpanel and 432m2 of Equitone) was supplied by BBS Facades’ Cheltenham branch. The main contractor for this development was Wilmott Dixon.

Parliament Square
Legacie Developments with Genius Facades

A striking new presence in the Liverpool skyline, Parliament Square was built in a contemporary style with strong angular lines contrasting with curved sections and rounded corners. The project reflects the surrounding context of materials within the Baltic Triangle, continuing the regeneration of this historic area with a quality scheme that enhances the district’s reputation as a thriving creative and leisure hub.

The genius rainscreen façade system was chosen as it can meet the superior quality, aesthetic and safety standards required for the project whilst remaining a cost-effective solution.

SoYo Leeds
Caddick Construction with Genius Facades

Nestled in the city’s cultural district alongside the West Yorkshire Playhouse and the Leeds College of Music, sits SoYo Leeds.

The project was designed by DLG Architects for Caddick Construction and Moda Living.

The Genius Prime rainscreen façade system was chosen for this project as it can meet superior quality, aesthetic and safety standards whilst remaining a cost-effective solution. The Genius Prime system utilizes a unique hook-on fixing method that provides greater stability, ease of installation and allows for larger format panel use. The system has been fully CWCT tested for structural integrity and can achieve an A1 or A2s1d0 fire rating, making Genius Prime a non-combustible cladding system.

SoYo Leeds boasts a bold dynamic envelop design that has incorporated both fully concealed secret fixings and discrete fix colour matched fixings. This allows for individual panels to be removed in sections whilst also providing a seamless modern aesthetic.

Whitworth School
Longworth with Equitone and Gordian

Construction group Wates began work on the 750 new places Whitworth last year, involving the creation of a three-storey main teaching block with classrooms, main hall, specialist technology spaces, entrance plaza and parking.

Gordian Building Solutions supplied the striking fibre cement cladding to the school, which was installed by Longworth.

With sustainability embedded in its design, the project forms part of a Department for Education pilot scheme to deliver a building that is net zero carbon in operation.

The new school is being developed in response to the age and condition of the existing 1960s building which plays central role within the community and has now survived well beyond its life expectancy.

The new facility opened in early 2023.

Best refurbishment project

Ashburnham Court
Facade & Cladding Solutions with KeraTwin

Sequence of works on this project was to replace the existing windows with new reynaers aluminium windows followed by a structural steel framing system fixed to the outside of the existing structure. We then installed breather membrane, cavity barriers and carrier system, carried out a QA inspection before installing the rockwool insulation. We then installed aluminium surrounds and pressings to the windows before carrying out a final QA inspection prior to installing the terracotta tiles and aluiminium cladding.

Due to the constraints of the existing window sizes and locations and the weight of the terracotta tiling system the original design of the structural frame was redesigned to improve the efficiency both structurally and financially of the framing system this also had the added benefit of reducing the overall additional weight added to the structure, we believe this solution is unique to this building.

Bank House
Precision Facades with RGB Facades

This project is the result of cladding Remediation works taking place to provide a safe, non-combustible façade.

The main products used on this project was FSi Limited firebarriers and Ash & Lacy ppc Aluminium panels. These were chosen for lightweight, non-combustible and cost-effective properties.

Bishopsgate Preston
Heaton Group with Proteus Facades

Bishopsgate’s striking façade combines two signature products of Proteus Facades: Proteus HR and Proteus SP spandrel panels. Proteus HR is an integrated modular rainscreen panel system that provides large-format optically flat panels with structural supports capable of spanning floor-to-floor, while Proteus SP spandrel panels were specified for their superior fire rating and excellent thermal performance.

The combination of these two systems resulted in a striking and functional façade that perfectly complements the building’s contemporary design. The project was completed on schedule and within the allocated budget, with the cladding panels manufactured and installed by Proteus Facades and The Heaton Group, respectively.

Boundary Court
Cubic Facades with Equitone

Cubic Facades are extremely proud to have been involved in such a wonderful and creative transformation at Boundary Court in Blackpool. We are so pleased with the end result and are grateful for the opportunity to give part of Blackpool the update it deserves.

Express Networks 2, Manchester
Longworth with VM Zinc

The scope of works required for Express Networks 2 was to replace the unsafe and combustible elements of the external facade with suitable non-combustible materials including the installation of cavity fire barriers at floor levels and openings.

Longworth were contracted by Bell Building Projects to carry out the external fire remediation, which included stripping of the existing façade, making good the existing structure, installation of new non-combustible substrate and installation of a VM natural zinc standing seam, flat lock and shingle cladding system.

Four Lane Ends
Sparta Cladding with CUPA PIZARRAS

Architect Jon Moorhouse and his wife purchased a derelict bungalow in Tarporley with aspirations to keep the original eco-friendly design but bring it into the 21st century. As such, a second storey was added to the existing building and the exterior was redesigned using a recycled steel substructure, Staffordshire bricks and local green oak for parts of the cladding. Throughout the project, emphasis was placed on sourcing the highest quality materials that would blend in with the surrounding rural landscape while maintaining a contemporary design.

To this endeavor, Jon sought a natural slate cladding system for the rest of the façade. He came across CUPACLAD® slate rainscreen cladding and reached out to CUPA PIZARRAS. The team visited Jon’s architectural practice to present a CPD and discuss the project. It was soon decided that CUPACLAD® would be ideal as it could achieve all the aesthetic and sustainability requirements. Fully BBA approved, CUPACLAD 201 Vanguard is 100% non-combustible, with an A1 fire-rating, and offers a lifespan of over 100 years.

UNITE Parkway Gate
Metclad with Kingspan

The works carried out by both main contractor RG Group and façade Specialist Metclad were impressive to say the least. To turn around a project of the size and complexity in 60 weeks was a due to both the expertise and commitment of the teams involved on the project. Not only did Metclad complete a full façade upgrade, but this was also in and amongst a full refurbishment/internal fit out which makes what Metclad achieved even more impressive given the impact on logistics. From a technical stand point, Metclad were able to harvest and re-use the existing Corten steel cladding panels which not only helped from a costing perspective, but prevented a considerable wastage from disposal/re-cycling.

Will Wyatt Court – iQ Properties
Russell Roofing with BTS Fabrications

The architectural brief of this project was to provide a striking and modern appearance that would improve the urban environment for occupiers and locals alike. Vantage® IP offers clients and specifiers an incredibly flexible secret fix cladding system which achieves this. 3mm thick panels and flashings not only offer A2, s1, d0 fire classification (in accordance with EN 13501-1) as standard but also achieve an extremely flat and crisp look from both close up and from distance.

Completed in November 2022 this refurbishment successfully showcases how a once dilapidated, non-compliant building can be transformed into modern living accommodation for many generations of students to come.

The IQ Will Wyatt Court project, a shining beacon of architectural brilliance, not only met but exceeded expectations in terms of time, budget, and client satisfaction.

Best use of a brick slip cladding system

Garrets Mill
McAleer & Rushe with RGB Facades

4500m2 Natural X Brick Cladding System was chosen for this project for its non-combustible, extensive range of finishes and ease of installation.

The product was installed with fix slips to horizontal rail channels secured to vertical bracket and rails.

Kingmaker House
Rusgold Facades with RGB Facades

For this project, non-combustibility was needed, so Natural X Brick Cladding System was selected. The product was installed with fix slips to horizontal rail channels secured to a vertical bracket.

Manchester College
Longworth with Wienerberger

Longworth were contracted by the main contractor Willmott Dixon Construction to design, supply and install the roofing and external facade package on the Manchester College project. The value of the overall roofing and facade package was approximately £3m.

The main external facade for the building is a Corium Brick Slip system in a mix of blue and grey multis tiles, fixed back to a Magnelis steel rail and helping hand bracket and rail system. To the two most prominent facing elevations, one piece brick slip corners were used for all window returns, with PPC aluminium being used on the rear elevations.

Thames Park School
Bowmer + Kirkland with Stofix

Thames Park School was one of the UK’s first schools to be built through the Department for Education’s Modern Methods of Construction scheme. Using off site building techniques, the objective is to reduce construction times and carbon footprint compared to traditional building methods.

Over 700m2 of Stofix brick slip cladding was applied throughout the ground floor. Stofix was specified as our panels are pre-pointed and allow transport to site without damage to the mortar joints. Panels are installed efficiently and secured to a mounting rail only. Bricks were supplied by Feldhaus. Thames Park was constructed utilising a hybrid offsite approach incorporating Innovaré’s i-FAST panelised solution, integrating windows and external Stofix brick slips to the ground floor and cladding above.

The durable, lightweight system is suitable for new construction and renovation projects. With no height limit, Stofix is fire rated over 18m and offers the flexibility to choose almost any brick.

Best use of a composite panel system

Bishopsgate Preston
The Heaton Group with Proteus Facades

The Proteus SP spandrel panels were specified in an aluminium Alesta SD fine Cast Iron and Azko Nobel D2525 Gold Pearl Matt finish, resulting in a stunning visual contrast with the Proteus HR panels. The Proteus HR was specified in RAL 9006 Bariton finish and an Alesta SD fine Cast Iron.

Proteus SP spandrel panels were chosen for Bishopsgate Preston because it proved a highly effective method of hiding the floor slabs and other building elements on the refurbished building.

The system initially appealed to the architects as the best choice because it is tested to achieve an A2,s1- d0 fire classification in accordance with EN13501 for a variety of insulation depths and material finishes - that provided them with a spandrel panel that looked good and also performed to all relevant Building Regulations.

Storage World Middleton
Acorn Cladding Service with Kingspan and Gordian

The Storage world project is a shining example of how a well-planned and executed construction project can enhance a location's overall aesthetics and complement its surroundings. The team at Acorn construction paid close attention to detail, from the selection of materials to the installation process, to create a contemporary and harmonious scheme.

Kingspan AWP Wall panels were selected in a micro rib design for their sleek and modern look, durability, and flexibility. The sunflower yellow and anthracite colours were deliberately chosen to reflect the Storage World brand's signature colours and create a visually striking contrast that enhanced the project's overall aesthetics.

The choice of Kingspan Quadcore AWP panels also ensured that the project met the highest industry standards in terms of safety and functionality. The panels' superior environmental performance and high level of fire resistance made them an ideal choice for a construction project aiming to reduce its environmental impact and ensure the building's and its occupants' safety.

During the installation process, the project team paid close attention to maintaining the building's vertical interest and promoting the Storage World brand's identity. The two directional installation ensured that the panels were installed in a way that emphasised the building's design and captured the brand's essence.

Moreover, the installation process was carefully planned to ensure that the panels were installed accurately and efficiently, minimising the need for any additional manipulation. This ensured that the installation was completed on time and within budget, meeting the project's design specifications.

Best use of a curtain walling system

BOHO X
Galliford Try with Titan Facades

Overlooking the iconic Transporter Bridge and imposing itself within the BOHO quarter the combination of traditional brick and glass creates a stunning addition to the Middlesbrough skyline.

Titan were engaged to supply Schuco windows, doors and curtain walling to the external façade of the building, and use of high-performance glass, and thermally efficient windows achieved the required aesthetic as well as low u-values whilst keeping the natural light into the building at a maximum.

External landscaping and an open-air bar on the roof area will certainly make this place one of ‘THE’ places to work (and play).

SLAM DBH
IHP (JV between Vinci and SRM) with systems supplied by Kawneer and Aluprof

JPJ where chosen as sub contractor on this project and predominantly use the Kawneer range of products. The Kawneer curtain wall range can be used in multiple applications but one the installer struggled with was the slopped curtain wall, as this needed to be 60/60 FR. Kawneer could not achieve this with anything outside of a vertical option, hence the Aluprof product being used.

The project was completed on time. JPJ's original contracted works started in December 2021, with an original 8 months contract on site. Due to some areas not being ready but mostly down to variation works, this was extended to March 2023.

Best use of a rainscreen system using aluminium

Bishopsgate Preston
The Heaton Group with Proteus Facades

Bishopsgate Gardens is a new residential development in Preston City Centre featuring 13 units and an impressive range of communal facilities, including a rooftop garden, residents' lounges, co-working spaces, and independent retail outlets.

The building's striking façade combines two signature products of Proteus Facades: Proteus HR and Proteus SP spandrel panels. Proteus HR is an integrated modular rainscreen panel system that provides large-format optically flat panels with structural supports capable of spanning floor-to-floor, while Proteus SP spandrel panels were specified for their superior fire rating and excellent thermal performance.

The combination of these two systems resulted in a striking and functional façade that perfectly complements the building's contemporary design. The project was completed on schedule and within the allocated budget, with the cladding panels manufactured and installed by Proteus Facades and The Heaton Group, respectively.

The project's designers and developers expressed their satisfaction with the professionalism exhibited by both teams, and the facade's overall appearance earned appreciation from locals.

Buchanan Wharf, Building 6
Graham Construction with Titan Facades

Following on from Building 5 Titan were engaged by Graham Construction to look at ‘something different’. A collaboration of numerous different cladding and glazing systems combined to create the finishing touch to the multi-million pound Buchanan Wharf development on the banks of the Clyde.

The choice of the cladding systems combined numerous colours, finishes and materials to create a stunning collage of what can be done by a single façade contractor – eliminating the need for high level co-ordination the build up of layers, all working seamlessly together, was achieved in one office rather than five!

Add to those the high-performance glazing systems, bringing natural light into the building whilst being thermally efficient, this becomes a truly exceptional office space.

Coupled with the challenges of a modern-day building site, the flexibility offered by a single façade contractor, allowed easy of co-ordination with other trades and seamless collaboration ensuring the project was delivered on time and to the clients satisfactory.

A truly stunning high-quality office space completed within a year from start to finish! Soon to be occupied by the Student Loans company as their new long-term home.

Clarke Facades HQ – Raceview
Clarke Facades with MSP Facades

Clarke's newly refurbished headquarters in Country Antrim is a remarkable showcase for the aluminium façades industry. Demonstrating the complete range of MSP's capabilities - including hook-on cassettes, flange panels, perforated profile panels and flashings - this project also shows how ageing buildings can be completely rejuvenated to last for decades to come.

Lode Cottage, Fen Ditton
SSC Roofing & Cladding with 3a

ALUCOBOND NATURAL REFLECT was used on this project because of the extraordinary aesthetics. The products were bonded to aluminium sub frame.

One Ashley Road
CCS Facades with Sotech

The Sotech Optima TFC+ Rainscreen Cassette System was detailed with custom flanges and rakes to suit project requirements to the main “Internal Courtyard” elevations of Blocks 1 & 2, spanning between floors broken by a custom horizontal feature band flashing.

Additional flat TFC+ rainscreen cassettes were also provided to the main “external” elevations adjoining fenestrations, as well as within Inset Balcony Walls and Soffits, “Double-Height” Colonnade Walling, Trapezoidal shaped Colonnade & Main Entrance Soffits, to Internal Parapets and to the L00 North & West Elevations.

A highly bespoke TFC+ variant was profiled and perforated along the mezzanine plant room across the North and West elevations, and fixed back to Brise Soliel brackets over the Main Entrance Curtain Walling at first floor. The profiled panels were perforated with a 20mm diameter hole on a 29mm pitch, to allow for ventilation of the louvres behind the cladding. To provide a flat edge for cavity barriers to interface against, a rear cover plate was introduced to give a flat surface for detailing.

The internal facing brickwork columns at L00/M01 were installed with a bespoke Sotech Cladding system, combining the features of the Sotech Edge and FC+ systems. 5mm flat sheet aluminium had vertical rails installed to the back face to create a secret fix hook on system, with the vertical rails having their back face machined to provide a slot for the FC+ hook engagement. The FC+ system vertical rails & hooks were installed back to an aluminium substructure, so as to allow the 5mm flat sheet to be hooked in place.

Parliament Square
Legacie Developments with RGB Facades

A striking new presence in the Liverpool skyline, Parliament Square is an 18-storey luxury residential complex situated in the Baltic Triangle, a developing city centre area. Built in a contemporary style with strong angular lines contrasting with curved sections and rounded corners. The project reflects the surrounding context of materials within the Baltic Triangle, continuing the regeneration of this historic area with a quality scheme that enhances the district’s reputation as a thriving creative and leisure hub.

The genius rainscreen façade system was chosen as it can meet the superior quality, aesthetic and safety standards required for the project whilst remaining a cost effective solution.

SoYo Leeds
Caddick Construction with RGB Facades

Nestled in the city’s cultural district alongside the West Yorkshire Playhouse and the Leeds College of Music, sits SoYo Leeds was designed by DLG Architects for Caddick Construction and Moda Living.

The Genius Prime rainscreen façade system was chosen for this project as it can meet superior quality, aesthetic and safety standards whilst remaining a cost effective solution. The Genius Prime system utilises a unique hook on fixing method that provides greater stability, ease of installation and allows for larger format panel use. The system has been fully CWCT tested for structural integrity and can achieve a A1 or A2s1d0 fire rating, making Genius Prime a non-combustible cladding system.

Tobacco Warehouse
Cubic Facades with Aluminium flat sheet by APL

The project was in a courtyard which was also 2 stories higher than the entrance. As the project was built in 1901 and all brick build with low ceilings to accommodate more tobacco 100 years ago, the only way to get materials into the courtyard was via a crane during the six month programme.

The only access the contractor could install from was mast climbers which (with weight restrictions) proved very difficult.

Stripping the project took time also because we had to wait for the internal skip to be craned out and changed every time it was filled.

The client had only just finished the cladding when it was condemned due to the fire rating. Therefore, all the products chosen were A1 non-combustible.

Best use of a rain screen system using glass, ceramics or stone

Bridle Works
Watkin Jones with Ibstock Futures (Generix)

The panels are secured to the generix lite vertical rail using the patented one piece four way stainless steel clip attached by tekscrews. Neoprene strips are also used to eradicate wind rattle and assist impact resistance, as proven by successful tests carried out to latest CWCT standards.

The products were chosen because they were non combustible, lightweight natural stone system - significantly reducing project installation time and achieving desired finish.

Edith Walk
Claydon Builders with Porcelanosa

This design-led development of five bespoke houses, using the highest quality materials and construction techniques, sets the benchmark for projects of this nature.

The external materiality of the dwellings is designed to be robust - capable of withstanding the harsh maritime climate of the north Cornish coast.

As an alternative to traditional render, the choice of porcelain tiles and locally-sourced, natural stone ensures the houses will be low-maintenance and prolong the integrity of finish of the building façade.

The use of a porcelain rain-screen facilitated high levels of site safety as a result of rigorous installation procedures.

The client and new residents are delighted with this community of unique homes designed to embrace both aesthetic and context considerations.

Hailsham Community College
Morgan Sindall and Industrial Construction (Sussex) with Taylor Maxwell

Working alongside Morgan Sindall, ICS provided the single ply membrane Roof and Rockpanel Eternal façade cladding, including PPC Cassette panels to a new classroom block at Hailsham Community College.

The final proposals required the demolition of an existing dilapidated craft block to create a site for a new three storey teaching block with accommodated IT classrooms, seven art and graphics classrooms, four science labs, six general teaching classrooms and the relocation of the SEN facility.

The architect for the project was Miller Bourne who specified a mechanically fixed Rockpanel rainscreen cladding to give a contemporary look.

Royal Warwick Square
Berkeley Group (St Edward) with Shackerley

Recreating the traditional London garden square with a contemporary twist, Royal Warwick Square is an ambitious development of luxury apartments in the heart of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea by St Edward, part of the Berkeley Group.

St Edward selected Shackerley’s SureClad limestone façade system, with contrasting natural granite SureClad panels for the final phase of the development to deliver an authentic natural stone façade with the ease of installation and contemporary construction methods of a ventilated façade system. Manufacturing installation-ready SureClad natural stone cladding panels for a total façade area of 12,500m2 at the company’s ISO 9001 certified factories in Lancashire, Shackerley used 27,700 pieces of stone to create the façade, including custom-manufacturing of 6,800 bracketed returns. The large-format 1200 x 600mm SureClad natural stone panels were just 30mm thick, enabling design flexibility for the buildings’ structure, while providing a proven cladding system in-keeping with the façades for the previous phases of the development, as well as the architectural context of the location.

To select the stone, Shackerley took St Edward to a quarry in Portugal, allowing quality benchmarking. The developer opted for a creamy-coloured, natural limestone that articulates the prestige and quality of Royal Warwick Square, along with feature panels in SureClad natural granite. Shackerley manufactured the panels aligned to the installation schedules of the two cladding contractors and dispatched them to site on a just-in-time basis.

The Shackerley SureClad natural stone façades at Royal Warwick Square were installed using Shackerley’s SureClad undercut anchored Hang On installation system, which is ideally suited for use with natural stone cladding panels.

Best use of rain screen using specialist metal

68-86 Farringdon Road
Alufix with Spanwall

For nearly 50 years, Spanwall has invested in its people, systems, and products, to ensure it consistently delivers on its core values of innovation and quality.

By continually investing in digital software systems, Spanwall has led the way in design and development – producing the largest range of dimensionally accurate metal façade rainscreen panels in the industry and the widest range of materials and finishes. The company has delivered a wide range of signature projects in more than a dozen countries. Situated at the Northern End of Farrington Road, this is an innovative project that showcases just how far the area has come from its historic past. The recent opening of the Elizabeth line paired with the project’s proximity to the city makes it an attractive area to stay, work and live in and this project certainly taps into the vibrancy that the area is renowned for.

This project was carefully designed with the end user in mind. Sheppard Robson designed a building that transforms the landscape. This was an extremely challenging design intent and Spanwall collaborated with Alufix to bring that vision to life. Spanwall created two innovative rainscreen solutions that could be manufactured and installed in the most efficient way possible.

Spanwall manufactured and assembled the products offsite which provided a number of important benefits, not least was the ability to deliver a high-quality product within a much shorter time frame than would have been the case if the products didn’t come preassembled. As well as minimising on-site disruption, manufacturing the products offsite also minimised weather impact, keeping the products protected and enabling a rapid install.

Alder Hey - Catkin Centre & Sunflower House
Longworth Building Services with Proteus Facades

The newly erected Alder Hey Children's Hospital's Catkin Centre & Sunflower House boasts a remarkable design that's both functional and captivating.

The chosen system allowed for concealed joints and hidden fastenings, ensuring that the exterior of the building remained clean and uncluttered, with no unsightly or visible fixings.

Dyson Steam Building Gresham School
Drayton Windows with Proteus Facades

By combining the perforated copper cladding with an exposed steel structure, the Dyson Building exudes a striking molecular ambience. This is further accentuated by perforated Proteus copper panels intersperse throughout the façade. Patterns in the oxidised copper Proteus cladding panels created by the Perforations further mirror the decorative flint details on the chapel elevation.

Fulham Wharf
Winkworth Metal Roofing with VMZINC

Fulham Wharf has seen the transformation of derelict warehouses into a major retail and leisure destination, as well as providing much needed housing to the popular area. The installation of the zinc façade was a large-scale project which spanned several phases with completion in early 2023.

The architect specified standing seam zinc façades but wanted a grey colour zinc which fell between the pre-patinated light grey quartz-zinc and dark grey anthra-zinc. As a result, a bespoke pigmento grey was created for the project and due to the interest generated by its use, pigmento grey was later launched by VMZINC as part of its standard range.

The zinc standing seam cladding was chosen as a traditional form of construction and material to harmonise with the local vernacular of the area, coupled with the practical benefits of being lightweight and durable. The supermarket was ‘wrapped’ with a screen of residential townhouses with cladding which follows the form and scale of the existing warehouse buildings, rising in height toward the river, and providing a defined presence on the River Thames.

The 14,000 square metres of zinc façade was expertly installed by Winkworth Metal Roofing – traditional metal roofing contractors and a third generation family business. Coils of zinc were bent, shaped and transformed to meet the exact requirements of the job. Vertical panels were connected with interlocking seams and concealed fastenings. The bespoke nature of the installation required on site fabrication by skilled craftsmen and drew upon decades of experience and know-how.

The VMZINC has become a prominent feature of what had been one of London’s few remaining areas of undeveloped waterfront.

Lode Cottage, Fen Ditton
SSC Roofing & Cladding with 3a

ALUCOBOND NATURAL REFLECT was used on this project because of the extraordinary aesthetics. The products were bonded to aluminium sub frame.

Manchester College Theatre
Longworth with Rimex Metals UK

The Manchester College, the UK’s largest further-education college, provides courses for 16-19-year-olds, as well as older students. The £54m building gives creative-arts and digital media students access to the Jewel Box and a smaller 100-seat theatre venue, as well as film and recording studios, workshops, digital editing suites, and dance studios with sprung floors.

The client for the new building is LTE Group, an umbrella organization that operates the Manchester College as well as several other education establishments in the city. As well as the performing arts, the City Campus will provide a home for the college’s courses in computing, creative and digital media, hospitality and catering. Dedicated space will also be provided for sister organization UCEN Manchester, serving as a base for The Arden School of Theatre and Manchester Film School.

Longworth were contracted by the main contractor Willmott Dixon Construction to design, supply and install the roofing and façade package on the project, which included the cladding to the walls of the internal theatre which is also referred to as the ‘Jewel Box’. The value of the overall roofing and façade package was £3m, with the Jewel Box accounting for around £250,000.00.

Printworks Leeds City College
Marksman Roofing and Cladding with Belfry Façade System

The products used on this project were:
PERFORATED 2mm thick Corten A secret fixed "HOOK-ON" panels, 50mm deep cassette with 20mm joints in self weathering product (Euroclass A1) incorporating stiffening resistance where necessary. Fixed via black vertical FC rails using steel hooks and brackets subgrid to suit a 120mm void

SOLID 2mm thick Corten A secret fixed "HOOK-ON" panels, 50mm deep cassette with 20mm joints in self weathering product (Euroclass A1) incorporating stiffening resistance where necessary. Fixed via black vertical FC rails using steel hooks and brackets subgrid to suit a 120mm void

PPC LOUVRE PANELS - 2mm thick PPC secret fixed "HOOK-ON" panels with hole cut for louvre, 50mm deep cassette with 20mm joints in self weathering product (Euroclass A1) incorporating stiffening resistance where necessary. Fixed via black vertical FC rails using steel hooks and brackets subgrid to suit a 120mm void. Louvre supplied & fitted by others.

Rosebank Distillery, Falkirk
ISG with CGL Systems

Curtis Moore were delighted to be involved in this project working with ISG to install the Karrier panel, VMZinc roofing and cladding along with the associated cappings and trims.

The products were installed on aluminium top hats fixed to Eurobond external wall panels using mechanical access means. Certain areas were installed off scaffold.

With the restricted nature of the site and complexity of the process manufacturing equipment and reliance of other trades completing their works, programme was retracted from the initial intention however, works were completed to the satisfaction of the client and main contractor. The bulk of the installation period was during the height of covid restrictions which also had an impact on productivity.

Best use of a timber clad system

Sherborne School - Sports Centre
T. A. Colbourne Projects with Vincent Timber

The wall Cladding System of this project is composed of Siberian Larch Timber.

Products originally chosen by the architect included timber rain screen cladding, although it was originally horizontally laid in orientation with bespoke timber louvre blades at louvre inlet positions. Due to a large value engineering exercise that occurred pre and post main contractor award, the timber rain screen orientation was changed to vertically installed planks, with spaced planks at louvre inlet positions. The change of spec. meant TAC had to build a small 2m2 mock-up to present to both the client and local authority planning department for their final sign off.

Swan School
Galliford Try and Middlesex Facades with Vincent Timber

The Siberian larch was chosen due to its durability and appearance to blend in with the surrounding environment. A special treatment was applied to the finished larch which allowed the timber to weather rapidly and evenly, so that the overall look of the timber across the different elevations appeared to weather equally.

Each timber plan was pre-drilled with holes for the stainless-steel fixings, to ensure there were no splits down the face of the timber plank. The planks are prone to splitting due to their material properties. The planks were joined together by a tongue and groove edge detail. The planks were installed individually to horizontal timber battens. Care was taken to ensure a minimum ventilation gap was maintained to the rear of the façade to allow for the timber to dry out once wet.

Best use of fibre cement cladding panels

Aberbay
Aberbay DJC Habitas with James Hardie

A private holiday park leisure facility located on the sea edge in Clarach Bay, just north of Aberystwyth.

This facility supports the holiday park users with swimming pool and restaurant/bar facilities as well as Allens Caravans offices.

The building draws influence from nautical themes and its cladding is designed to provide a dynamic finish that blends in with the pebbles located on the beach adjacent.

Cloud themes influence the internal finish from the light fittings to the bespoke stretched swimming pool ceiling.

This building is a testament to full client, contractor and architect involvement throughout the process.

Boundary Court
Cubic Facades with Equitone

Cubic Facades are extremely proud to have been involved in such a wonderful and creative transformation at Boundary Court in Blackpool.

We are so pleased with the end result and are grateful for the opportunity to give part of Blackpool the update it deserves.

Stables Yard
Interco Projects with Swiss Pearl

Stables Yard is a sociable housing project located on a back land site behind terraces of Victorian houses comprises six colourful homes and a coach house. It is an exemplar low carbon, flood resilient scheme. The scheme is designed to have sociable space – valuable shared amenity which contribute to and support community.

The client wanted to create a unique scheme which was respectful, innovative and environmental. The form, which was developed in response to site constraints, flood-risk, easements, orientation, outlook and privacy, lend itself to a modern method of construction solution. This was appealing to the client/contractor as it provided the opportunity to showcase the strengths of his team in joinery and carpentry. An off-site manufactured timber frame is clad in colourful cementitious planks to a carefully coordinated, but seemingly random pattern. This playful arrangement creates a subtle play on dappled light filtered through the surrounding trees, yet with a unifying identity – it is both attractive and durable. The dining areas at the front of the homes open onto the shared access deck, a semi-private space for a morning coffee, doorstep play and incidental interaction. At first floor, the homes benefit from vaulted ceilings, which aid with passive ‘stack’ cooling, and louvres to the windows that act as privacy screens and summer shading.

By providing a more generous communal area at the entrance, known as the deck, it creates an opportunity for social interaction between residents to enhance a sense of community and belonging and contribute to well-being. This approach to communal space, coined Sociable Housing, offers collective rather than communal living, creating a set of spaces that naturally facilitate choice for families and individuals who can choose how and when they would like to interact. This sense of togetherness helps to build a resilient community.

Thames Park School
Innovaré Systems with Benx

The £24m Thames Park School in Essex, delivered by Innovare Systems through the DfE's Offsite Framework.

The external facades, from Benx, feature a combination of grey Supertech weatherboards and crystal Swisspearl fibre cement panels, chosen to provide the school with a variety of colours and textures, conducive to a modern learning environment. The smooth, flat Swisspearl panels and lapped Supertech wood-textured weatherboards on the upper floors provide a lively interaction of colours and textures to complement the brick façade of the ground floor.

The products supplied by Benx were all rated A-rated, providing the highest levels of fire safety for pupils and staff. The Supertech weatherboards were coated by Benx using its proprietary A-1 paint, unique for façade planks of this type. The facades have been tested for strength, durability, moisture control and thermal performance, achieving BBA or KIWA agreement-certification, providing assurance that they are ‘fit for purpose’.

Innovaré utilised MMC extensively in the project, installing Benx’s facade at their offsite factory in Coventry. The façade panels were fabricated by Benx at its in-house fabrication facility. The lightweight nature of the panels made them easy to transport and install on-site, reducing construction time and costs. Just-in-Time logistics, saw the Benx facade panels sequentially delivered into Innovare’s factory, integrated into the wall build-up and erected on site in just 4 days.

Ysgol Corn Hir
Wynne Construction and Kynaston Contract Services with Rockpanel

Most innovative product

Genbrix
Ibstock Futures - Generix Facades

The Generix brick cladding system combines the natural beauty of a clay brick finish, with a mechanically fixed fast track aluminium rail installation.

Extruded clay brick tiles are specifically manufactured to fix mechanically to an extruded aluminium 3 course backing section. These profiled interlocking lengths are mounted in horizontal rows onto the generix lite vertical aluminium support system, and the brick tiles are then clicked in place prior to the mortar being applied.

Finish Line Cladding Collection
James Latham

The Finish Line Cladding Collection is a result of over two years of collaborative product development to produce a sustainable, factory finished exterior cladding range with truly outstanding performance. The team at Dresser Mouldings (Latham’s in-house timber engineering facility) worked with Canadian coatings specialist Sansin and modified wood experts Accsys to bring to market a solution to the age-old issue of peeling paint and lifting finishes on timber cladding panels. An advanced combination of timber sanding, brushing and finishing, combined with a purpose designed coating allows the pigment to lock into the cells in the wood fibre, preventing lifting and peeling. Add this to the renowned minimal atmospheric movement provided by Accoya naturally modified timer, and the system is not subject to decorative cracking often experienced by timber based cladding installations.

Using sustainably farmed softwood, a natural modification process (Acetylation), water borne coatings and a factory finished end product, the system is not only significantly more environmentally sound than it’s man made rivals, but the reduced maintenance and increased redecoration windows offered mean reduced decoration materials, reduced on-site working and reduced cost. The objective for Finish Line was to achieve the ultimate in sustainable, beautiful, long lasting natural timber cladding and we think we might be very, very close.

Brixel Bricks
Ketley Brick Co

Ketley’s ‘Brixel bricks’ are an innovative solution for creating intricate custom patterns, designs, images, or logos in brickwork relief without the need for expensive customized bricks.

They are essentially a set of 5 unique pyramidal shaped clay bricks, which can be volume machine-extruded and arranged to form textured projecting façade designs and images. Each brick shape has either one, two or three pyramidal protrusions in combination with two, one or no flat sections.

Using a pioneering Brixel digital tool, any binary, two-tone image or photo can be converted into brick relief. The tool first pixelates the image, rendering it into “Brixels” consisting of three 65mm pixels. Each pixel is either a light or dark unit and is represented within the design by either a protruding pyramidal brick element or a flat brick element.

The digital tool produces a complete 3D representation of the brick image, determining the placement of each Brixel type and calculating how many of each is required. It also shows how the design will look with sunlight from different directions. Virtually any design can be converted into a two tone, binary design – the larger the façade, the more detail can be introduced.

Ketley’s Brixel Bricks are exceptionally durable with F2 frost resistance rating, suitable for tall, exposed facades in harsh weather conditions and are available in natural Staffordshire clay colours. They can be extruded as full bricks or brick slips for both traditional and modern construction methods.

To demonstrate the potential of ‘Brixel’ technology, Ketley designed and constructed a commemorative 3.5 x 3.5 metre silhouette of HM Queen Elizabeth II in brick relief. The company is making a £350,000 investment to support the production of ‘Brixel bricks, confident that it will be an industry game changer enabling more creative and ambitious textured and architectural brickwork.

Safeshield Class A2 EPDM window and door seal
Permavent

Safeshield Class A2 EPDM window & door seal has been developed to provide the first class A rated product that is self adhered for use around windows and doors in new build and recladding contracts. Safeshield Class A2 EPDM window & door seal ensures a weather tight, airtight and vapour open seal around the critical point of interface connecting the window and door to the building. Safeshield EPDM has been developed to be flexible allowing the product to move with the building. The ease of installation creating a split liner ensures the exact coverage required on the window and building are consistent and maintained. The class A2 fire rating delivers class leading and significant safety to the building and cavity which is currently not available.

Outstanding achievement

Phil Atkinson
Managing Director, BTS Facades & Fabrications

Phil Atkinson is a visionary leader in the Façade industry and has been the Managing Director of family-run BTS Facades and Fabrications for 14 strong years. Under Phil's leadership BTS has gone from strength to strength and successfully weathered Covid through investment in both employees and automation based out of its flagship offices and factory in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham.

Phil started in the façade industry aged 17 working on a press-break doing 12-hour days. It’s from these early days working overtime on the shop floor that he's learnt everything there is to know about Aluminium and Steel. Following on from this, Phil has become an expert in Rainscreen facades during his time as a business leader.

Whilst some at 54 would have one eye on retirement Phil embarked BTS and himself on a steep learning curve with regards to sustainability and ESG.

Phil has been the driving force behind BTS's recent innovative steps these at the core of its business model.

This has been achieved through introduction of sustainable technologies such as a biomass boiler, EV Chargers with PV to come. Also being an early adopter of a 4 day working week. This culminated in BTS achieving Carbon-Neutral status in 2022 with 3rd party verification with a carbon reduction plan in place to put them on the path to Net Zero.

Due to the current economic climate Phil has put employee retention and attraction and most importantly employee welfare as top priorities for BTS, this is illustrated in BTS's vision to become a B-Corp Organisation.

Through his passion for learning and work, Phil has really put his all into making BTS a market leader in sustainability and ESG and hopes to continue as a driving force in the future.

Tom Walker
Sales Director, Architectural Panel Solutions

Throughout his career, to date, Tom has worked relentlessly to advance the APS brand family and raise the profile of the company within the façade industry. Graduating with BSc Hons in Architectural Technology (Brighton University), Tom has used his specialism to inject new ways of thinking.

Not only has he had a pioneering impact on driving sales forward and a key role as part of the senior team, in propelling the company to new heights, he has also had a very positive impact in raising the importance of key topics within the façade industry. His latest initiatives include the development of a webinar orientated around sustainability and the important role the industry has to play in reducing emissions, he has also steered new informative, technical collateral which serve to inform and advise as well as ultimately augment sales.

In addition to developing the business profile within the industry, Tom has been instrumental in implementing new strategies which foster well-being and celebrate success throughout the company, with a recently implemented employee awards initiative.

Tom has an unswerving focus when it comes to achieving objectives and works tirelessly. Yet admirably, he achieves company aims whilst championing the efforts of his team. He is very selfless in that respect and this has earned him the status of 'confidante' as well as Sales Director.

Directors Pete Brough and Vince Lunn have earmarked Tom for this award as they feel that the difference Tom has made within a relatively short period should be celebrated. Often these awards go to people who have been in the industry a long time and as a company APS wanted to also pay credit to younger and influential team members who have made a great impact already.

Scott Williams
Contracts Manager, Roofcare

Scott Williams has given the highest level of dedication to the industry for over 30 years. A small family run business, is now nationwide, and has taken all the original team along through the journey. Offering services to not only the public sector, but the private sector also. Highest standard of work, and communication given at all times.