Creative thinking is enabling a £9.5m redevelopment to cost-effectively deliver striking aesthetics for a landmark building.
Marwood Tower, on one of the major arterial routes into Liverpool, is being redeveloped by Liverpool Mutual Homes in partnership with principal contractor Willmott Dixon Housing.
Designed by John McCall Architects, the existing tower block is being refurbished, and a two-storey extension built to provide 81 apartments for the over 55s, complete with courtyard garden, bowling green and outdoor gym.
A key architectural element is the mansard roof that wraps around the two-storey block round the courtyard and also provides covered walkways for the residents. It has been created, not with a conventional standing seam system, but with single ply membrane.
Sub contractor Range Roofing has used 1700m² of Protan EX-A adhered single ply membrane complimented with Protan’s Omega profile to form the roof, accommodating the 79° mansard, 11° main roof area, and the covered walkways within the courtyard area.
Peter Faulkner, of Range Roofing, commented: “John McCall Architects wanted a smooth finish, hence the choice of an adhered system. Using Protan EX-A membrane gave a cost-effective means of achieving that whilst still delivering optimum performance, especially as the Omega profile can be easily welded to it, effectively emulating a standing seam.”
Protan EX-A is a polyester reinforced PVC membrane with an insulating polyester fleece laminated to the underside. It has a unique anti-slip surface, providing additional safety if being installed in wet weather. It is the only system available from Protan that uses adhesives. Protan EX-A, as all Protan membranes, is certified to ≤ -30°C and proven in practice to last 30+ years.
Established some 75 years ago, and still privately-owned, Protan is one of the top three membrane manufacturers in Europe. A full support service, from NBS specification and in-house CAD design through to technical advice is provided from Protan UK’s Warrington office.
