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case-study
belmont house uxbridge
flexibility
TM
corium brick cladding
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The ÂŁ30 million grade A redevelopment of Belmont House boasts some of the largest floor plans in any Thames Valley town centre, providing more than 125,000 sq.ft of office accommodation over five storeys.
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overview / The £30 million grade A redevelopment of Belmont House boasts some of the largest floor plans in any Thames Valley town centre, providing more than 125,000sq.ft of office accommodation over five storeys. Situated in the heart of Uxbridge town centre, the new office block has a superbly convenient location with easy access to London via the nearby train and tube stations and excellent transport links to Heathrow via the M25. Notable neighbours include Coca-Cola, Xerox and PricewaterhouseCoopers
research / The tired 1980s office block façade of Belmont House was stripped back to the original concrete frame to facilitate the modernisation of the dated design and provide a fresh and efficient first class office building for the area, designed by architects TP Bennett for their client Aviva. Following the complete demolition of the buildings central core area, major strengthening works to the existing concrete frame has enabled an additional fifth floor to be added at roof level, as well as two terraces, a full height atrium, and the brand new entrance that you now see on Belmont Road. Following a change in the design, David Blair - Director at TP Bennett, worked closely with Taylor Maxwell to find a suitable façade for this premium development…
project constructors
project architects
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guide /
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“We moved away from the original design which called for a traditional brick” recalled David, “and Ian Wyatt (TM) suggested the Corium brick cladding system as an alternative.”
In order to aid a smooth installation process, Paul explained that TM arranged for the circa 2500m2 Corium brick tiles to be delivered to site pre-blended. This meant that the tiles could be selected from one pack at a time, and removed the need for blending to take place from multiple packs on site, minimizing inefficiencies in time and space.
David continued, “We didn’t want the building to look overly uniform, so we worked with Taylor Maxwell to create a blend that would give the façade a ‘multi’ type characteristic that our client was looking for in the original design.” Paul Mears, Cladding Specialist at Taylor Maxwell, explained the process of producing a bespoke blend for this project; “The team at TP Bennett were looking to create a blend that would both suit and enhance the design of the building and its surrounding area. In the first instance, we reviewed a number of yellow tiles from Corium’s standard colour range, from which the architects selected a number of tiles they liked which they wanted to develop. From here we carried out a product development process resulting in 4 ‘new’ tile colours and agreed on the percentage blend of these. Finally, we produced project sample panels which were pointed using different mortar colours, to reach a decision on an overall aesthetic that everyone was happy with”. David added, “Ian and Paul were very good in working with us through the process, providing a wide selection of potential tiles and helping to create the blend that we felt had the aesthetic characteristics we were after, which I think we achieved quite successfully.”
Project Director Peter Denness of main contractors McLaren Construction, had worked with Taylor Maxwell in the past, but explained how happy he was with his first experience of using Corium on site on this project; “It’s a joy to work with, easy to fix, and one of the biggest advantages is the flexibility it offers to a build. You don’t have to start from the bottom up, such as you would with a traditional facing brick build, you can work from the middle down or wherever you want to work. That’s the beauty of the product.” Peter continued, “We actually built Belmont House from the top down. By putting the roof on and starting on the top floor, it allowed us to get water-tight very quickly so that when the following floors were being installed, they were off the critical path and we could start the fit out process a lot earlier. This level of flexibility really suited us and the project. I’d definitely use Corium again.” “Everyone seems to be very happy with the finish of the building” David surmised, “It has met all expectations and looks very crisp. The brick cladding has rebranded the building and given it a new lease of life. There were a number of complex details and interfaces between the existing and new structures that were overcome in design through close co-operation between all involved, and the end results are quite impressive. The finished project is exactly as everyone had hoped, if not better, which is a great result.” Peter Denness agreed, “Everyone involved with the process agrees that the new Belmont House looks fantastic, and it really makes a significant contribution to the regeneration of Uxbridge town centre.”
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It has met all expectations and looks very crisp. taylormaxwell.co.uk/facades
key features / ● Unique, innovative system ● Real brick aesthetics ● Saves time and money ● Flexible, functional and imaginative ● Extensive colour range ● Extensive texture range ● Industry tested and BRE certified
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what are the benefits? Robust and durable: With a HPS200 galvanised steel or Grade 304 stainless steel backing section (stainless steel below the DPC), using frost resistant brick tiles. The system has an anticipated design life of 60 years in most applications, as stated in the product BRE certificate 082/01.
what is corium? CORIUM is a unique brick cladding system that combines the natural beauty of genuine brick with cost-effective fast-track installation. It offers a facing brick finish for projects where a cladding system is required rather than traditional masonry. The CORIUM system comprises genuine brick tiles, specially designed to fix mechanically to a HPS200 galvanised steel backing section. These profiled sections are mounted in rows onto the backing structure and the brick tiles are clipped into place. This mechanical ‘clipping’ feature is unique to CORIUM and ensures a high strength façade whilst enabling some adjustment of tile position during installation. An innovative and versatile solution, CORIUM brings exciting new colour and texture combinations to the construction industry. Patented in the UK and worldwide; and fully industry tested and approved, you can be assured of a strong, quality finish to your building project that will last many years.
Fast and simple: Building with CORIUM can be considerably faster than with traditional brickwork, and is quick and easy to install. Versatile and aesthetic: A variety of colours and textures are available, CORIUM is designed to blend with or complement most new build or refurbishment projects. With a variety of sizes and a range of specials, CORIUM enables bespoke bonding patterns without compromising performance or build time. CORIUM may be mounted at an angle to achieve a more dynamic finish. It can also be used overhead to create soffits and ceilings. Mosaic and decorative patterns are easily achieved, adding an extra dimension to any project. Cost effective and certified: CORIUM is suitable for use with a wide range of sub-structures, including concrete, timber-frame, structural steel, lightweight steel frames, masonry and structurally insulated panels. Due to the light weight nature of the system, CORIUM-clad buildings may also benefit from simpler, lower cost foundations. BRE certified and industry tested, CORIUM is provided as a supply and fix solution through our nationwide network of recognised installers.
CORIUM™ has UK and worldwide technical and patent approvals. GB Patent number 2331770 Designing with CORIUM™ can help to significantly reduce construction time.
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