News / Press
The Appliance of Science: Off-Site on Campus
12 Dec 2006
Universities across the UK have been quick off the mark to recognise the value of off-site solutions to extend campus facilities or increase student accommodation. The latest is the University of Manchester.
A four-storey new build project adjacent to existing University buildings, the AMPPS (Astronomy, Maths, Physics and Photon Science) building was designed by architects Sheppard Robson with functionality and aesthetics in mind. Construction speed, including the ability to provide the building with a watertight envelope quickly and efficiently, was also key to ensure timely handover of the new facilities. Main contractor HBG and façade installer Dane Architectural Systems decided that an off-site solution, based on a Kingframe Architectural Facade system, would meet all the criteria.
The Kingframe through-wall system had already proven a success in the construction of the Unity Tower in Liverpool, another Dane project, which demonstrated the significant time and cost savings that can be achieved from specifying Kingframe.
The unitised facade panels for the AMPPS building, incorporating Kingspan Kooltherm® K15 Rainscreen Board, were manufactured at Kingspan’s 12,000 m2 facility in Sherburn, North Yorkshire. They were then loaded into containers and delivered to site ready for installation, which took just minutes per panel by crane and/or hoist. This extremely efficient process enabled Dane to meet installation deadlines – and eliminated the need for waste disposal or onsite product storage.
A particular feature of the project was long span windows: Kingspan pre-fitted a hotrolled box section to the edges of designated panels to enable them to support the ribbon windows. The £35 million project also boasts a photovoltaic array which will save up to 17,000 kilograms of carbon dioxide each year, helping the project to qualify for a grant from the Energy Savings Trust (EST). The Kingspan façade panels support the building’s energy efficiency status, exceeding all required u-values and ensuring compliance with current and forthcoming building regulations.
Intended to encourage and inspire scientific interest and research, the completed AMPPS Building will also demonstrate to construction industry leaders the significant cost, time and quality benefits of innovative off-site solutions.
View AMPPS Project Profile PDF
