Bournemouth Gateway Building

Over 3000sqm of Sotech Optima IPC rainscreen cladding has been used in the development of the Bournemouth Gateway Building (BGB).

Working closely with anodising partner United Anodisers, the Optima Interlocking Plank finished in anodised Anolok regency gold, natural and Anolok bronze, the rainscreen cladding forms a prominent part of the building, situated on the St Paul’s site – next to the St Paul’s roundabout on the Wessex Way; a key location on the main route into Bournemouth.

Aluminium is one of the most durable and versatile of metals, anodising enhances aluminium and its environmental virtues. It is exceptionally recyclable, requires minimal maintenance and has proven lifetime performance. Due to the nature of the anodising process and the tight quality controls on both the aluminium and the surface treatment, anodising has a homogeneous (matching & consistent) appearance. Anodising enhances the natural qualities of aluminium further; it permits a strongly contemporary finish with incomparable corrosion and abrasion resistance.

At five to seven stories high, the building provides a strong visual gateway to the Lansdowne Campus and a landmark entrance to the town.

The building, which accommodates the institute’s Faculty of Health & Social Sciences (HSS) delivers a unified base for the faculty education, research and office activities and provides 10,000 square metres of space for the Faculty and the wider BU population.

The BGB is designed to be environmentally-friendly with a number of carbon-reduction measures. The full team behind the build is committed to an ‘excellent’ rating for the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology (BREEAM) certification.

The building opened officially in October 2020, but access is currently limited to staff and Postgraduate Research (PGR) students while they familiarise themselves with the building.

Special thanks to TAC Projects for choosing Sotech to deliver on this project, which was overseen by Kier Construction with architectural firm Atkins.