Kingspan Off-Site’s Architectural Façade System (AFS) was specified at the new Diagnostics and Treatment Centre as part of the extensive redevelopment of St. Helens Hospital.
The specification of Kingspan Metro AFS enabled each level of the building to be closed off as quickly and efficiently as possible. This allowed early access for following trades to commence the internal works while building work continued overhead.
The non-load bearing façade panels for St. Helens Hospital, incorporating a steel frame and cement particle board, were manufactured at Kingspan Off-Site’s facility in Sherburn, North Yorkshire. The panels were then loaded onto specifically designed vehicles and delivered to site ready for immediate installation by approved installer Prater. Each façade panel took just minutes to fit and fix and negated the need for waste disposal, on-site product storage and fixed scaffolding.
A range of external facing cladding options can be integrated with the Kingspan Metro AFS, allowing a flexible approach to building design. Due for completion in Autumn 2008, the Diagnostics and Treatment Centre at St. Helens Hospital will be finished in a combination of brick, render, cedar cladding, terracotta and aluminium rainscreen.
Richard Unwin, operations director at Prater, said: “St. Helens Hospital is a challenging project for us and our supply partners. Our off-site experience gained from working on a number of major projects is obviously a real benefit and working closely with Kingspan Off-Site ensured we were able to construct the external façade of the building accurately and quickly without any problems.”
Keywords: Kingspan Metro AFS
