Aquarian Cladding Systems has won ‘Best use of brick slip cladding system’ at the Façade Awards UK for the second year in a row.
After winning in 2021 for its supply of Gebrik on the Better New Addington Leisure and Community Centre, the brick façade system supplier showed its credentials with another solution, MechSlip, at the awards, which celebrate excellence in façade and cladding design, this year.
Aquarian supplied MechSlip to specialist cladding contractor A2O Ltd on the Thurrock Civic Centre in Essex, which was constructed by Kier (Eastern) Ltd and is set to kick-start huge regeneration plans for the local area.
After considering several brick cladding options, LSI Architects specified the mechanically-fixed, non-combustible MechSlip clay brick cladding system to achieve a through-coloured, textured brick façade of sufficient mass to ensure a statement building.
Jazz Rigden, Aquarian Cladding’s sales director, who was at the awards evening at Manchester’s Midland Hotel, with Julian Venus, business development director and a table of invited guests, said: “We are delighted to not only win the ‘Best Use of a Brick Slip Cladding System’ at this year’s Façade Awards UK but to retain it too. It’s a team game and success not only comes from what we can do as Aquarian but also the strength of relationship with our strategic suppliers and customers.
“A20 Cladding did a fantastic job and it’s great that all the hard work paid off. MechSlip was proven to be the most effective and robust solution to achieve the required quality, performance and safety while meeting the budget and programme requirements.
“The level of attention to detail during the design and installation process by A2O was key to the success of the facades package and the result is a perfect example of the versatility of MechSlip. It’s been great to shine the spotlight on it and showcase what can be achieved with it.”
Julian added: “Thurrock Civic Centre is exemplary as a brick slip cladding project and to win this award is recognition to the effort put in throughout the supply chain. Once again this year it was a strongly contended category which demonstrated the continued evolution in the use of brick cladding to create exciting clay brick facades.
“The Judges introduced Thurrock as a contender by saying, ‘The variety of brick detailing achievable, provided the architect with design choices similar to a child in a pick’n mix sweetshop’ which to me is a good metaphor for what we’re offering in the world of brick.”
