The recently opened Science Central, a commercial development in Newcastle, was a specified project for Sotech and uses a bespoke version of our Optima FC Secret Fix rainscreen panels, anodised in united anodisers Regency Gold 2 finish.
We worked closely with Faulkner Brown Architects and installers Charles Henshaw to produce the unique panels for the Science Central project, which has so far won awards such as the CEEQUAL ‘Excellent’ award, for being an incredible example of sustainable building, and the Legacy Sustainability award, from the 2015 Constructing Excellence in the North East (CENE) awards.
The features of the building include horizontal and vertical fins spanning out from each floor, created so that the gold anodised fins on the mid points of the panels hang over the floor below to create a picture frame effect. We also saved precious site installation time by fitting the fins onto the panels at our manufacturing facility.
We also used advanced manufacturing techniques on the tight corners of the building; as the angles were so sharp, they required bespoke bolts to ensure they could still be anodised and secretly fixed.
Graham Todd, Technical Sales Manager at Sotech, was heavily involved in the Science Central project and also conducted weekly site visits to ensure installation was proceeding as planned. He has commented: “This project was a labour of love; there were a lot of parts to this system that were out of the ordinary, but we were working with such great people and from such a strong design that the project still ran smoothly.
“There’s a wide range of techniques used on Science Central that show the level of expertise we employ at Sotech to ensure design requirements are met. The end result is fantastic, and we’re all extremely proud of it.”
Sotech are committed and have invested substantially in product authenticity by independent testing and certification.
The Optima FC Rainscreen has undergone independent testing at Taylor Woodrow Technology Centre, Leyton Buzzard and CWCT witnessed and certificated as well as extensive in house testing.
The training facility and showroom at Sotech are open to specifiers and contractors, where all of our Optima Rainscreen Systems are on display alongside the widest selection of materials and finishes, including pre and post coat aluminium, ACM, copper, zinc, stainless steel, digital print and anodised.
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