Integral Management have been providing project management services to deliver the external façade package at the above new build project. Laing O’Rourke have been working on the Oxford University campus for several years delivering a number of design award winning buildings for the University over this period.The façade is an extension to phase 1 and therefore needed to match phase 1 in as many aspects as possible. This presented its own challenges as phase 1 was completed in 2008. The unitised system was upgraded to meet modern day standards and was vigorously independently tested to CWCT standards to ensure the system would perform to the project specifications.The façade consists of 550 powder coated and anodised unitised frames with low iron solar control glass sealed units. There is a two-story basement with another 2 stories of unitied frames to the north lightwell to replicate phase 1, the building then rises to 4 stories on the east and south elevations.The design includes a part fritting to the upper portion of the glass sealed units. We worked extensively with a European frit application specialist to match the semi-translucent frit colour used on phase 1.The external coloured glass fins consisting of 2 leaves of 8 mm extra clear toughened glass and 4 separate coloured Vancevas PVB interlayers have been used to achieve the various colour shades to individual fins. These were sourced from a Spanish glass supplier who Integral worked closely with, visiting the supplier facility on several occasions to inspect production and agree packing proceeded to ensure safe and timely site deliveries. The glass fins were installed to the unitised frame on site prior to the frames being lifted into position.There are also Automatic sliding door sets to the north and south main entrances, complete with anodised aluminium soffit panels, and Louvre screens to the south services area, these are all planned to be installed in the early summer.Site installation commenced in November 2019. Unitised frames were stored on the roof and lifted into place with a Self-Erecting Tower Crane provided by the Main Contractor. This allowed quick and standalone frame installation assisting the unitised frame installation programme to be bettered by several weeks.There is also a complicated roof package. A large quantity of secondary steel was required to support the 1000 m sq. rain screen system. This will be encased with a Cement Particle board and a Wraptite self-adhesive membrane. Mullion rails, insulation, coloured plastisol lining panels and finally anodised aluminium perforated rain screen panels will complete the rain screen facade. The roof also included a 100 m sq. glazed roof light and 400 m sq. of Kingspan IKO Topdeck panels.The package is planned to be completed in June 2020.We will update the news page as site activity progresses.
