Working closely with Dane Architectural Systems, Sotech has provided 2,300m² of its Optima TFC rainscreen to a landmark building in Newcastle.
The View at Downing Plaza offers a new concept in student accommodation for the city’s many university and college students. The building appears to be extremely reflective, replicating the look of glass due to the 70% gloss level used in the seven shades of blue ppc finish. In order to retain the flatness of the panels, 3000 series aluminium was used to provide a higher tensile strength than stock grade. 340m² of Titanium brushed Larson ACM was also supplied in the Optima TFC Rainscreen.
In addition to this, Sotech supplied 325m² bespoke profile panels to meet part of the architect’s vision of enhancing the aesthetics of the building.
One of the biggest obstacles Sotech faced on this development was the level of project management involved. The rainscreen panels needed to be manufactured and delivered in accordance with the seven shades of blue that were specified. This required Sotech to work from the project’s elevation design to ensure the panels were delivered to site in the correct order for installation. Sotech was fully responsible for controlling how the batches of panels left its manufacturing facility and were organised on site, both crucial in ensuring that successful installation was achieved.
Jamie Brown, Sotech’s estimator for the project, said: “Though this project was quite challenging from an operational perspective, it was a great one to be involved with. We pride ourselves on being able to supply a solution to an architect’s needs and we believe we have done so with The View.
“It was a pleasure to see the variation in colour come to life as the building was completed, and it may be one of our most visually impressive case studies yet.”
The View is Sotech’s third project in the Downing Plaza development in Newcastle, and it is hoping to have secured a fourth for launch at the end of 2015.
Sotech has invested heavily in sophisticated design and manufacturing technology and offers a system that is both independently tested to CWCT standards and achieves LPCB Red Book accreditation.
Sotech’s training facility and showroom are open to specifiers and contractors, where all Sotech’s 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.
