Acorn Aluminium has agreed an inflation-busting contract to supply the curtain walling element of Bowmer + Kirkland’s ‘Island’ development in the centre of Manchester.
Designed by architects Cartwright Pickard, the 10-storey development will be built on a city centre site bound by John Dalton Street. Ridgefield, Bow Street and South King Street, to create new open-plan office space.
Acorn Aluminium has been appointed to design, supply and install 2,500m2 of curtain walling, windows and doors in Senior Architectural Systems SF52 Curtain Waling System and SPW600 Windows to the scheme, as well as SPW50 doors.
Achieving a u-value of 1.4W/m2K, windows doors and curtain walling will be supplied to offsite construction specialist Techrete, Lincoln and installed ahead of delivery to site.
The scheme will also feature curved glazing and anodic PPC metal laser-cut feature vent panels, also supplied and fitted by Acorn Aluminium.
The project expands on Acorn Aluminium’s expertise in supply of product to off-site programmes. This includes Torsion Group’s £65million Saxton Lane development in the centre of Leeds, which is scheduled for completion in early 2023.
Paul Stevens, Managing Director, Acorn Aluminium, said: “We’re partnering with a growing number of offsite specialists, working with them and the main contractor to maximise value in delivery.
“Our own teams will work ‘on site’ as part of Techrete’s build process. This will include the placement of a non-working ‘off-the tools’ installation supervisor to coordinate delivery and liaise with other trades in exactly the same way as we would in a traditional build.”
Read more here
In addition to being delivered off-site, the main contractor, Acorn Aluminium and its’ supply chain, have also come together early in the contractual process to control project costs and maximise value.
“This project is some way out, we won’t start until 2023, but we and our suppliers have supported Bowmer and Kirkland in controlling and establishing a clear position on costs ahead of delivery, through a shared commitment to current prices”, Paul said.
“We were able to do this because Bowmer and Kirkland involved us in the project at an early stage of the tender process, which meant that we could identify and cost a solution which we could be confident in pitching to them,
“This is an advantage to them and the onward supply chain, something which we see as effective in supporting main contractors in bringing increased control to inflationary pressures, while supporting sub-contractors in securing commitments from their own supply chain.”
The SF52 curtain walling system from Senior Architectural Systems, is defined by a consistent slim 52mm sightline.
It also offers an exceptional level of flexibility and is suitable for both ground floor and high-rise applications, with full weather testing to CWCT and EN13830.
The Senior SPW600 is a highly versatile 75mm window system, while its also available in the SPW600e enhanced thermal option, which uses additional thermal inserts on top of the latest polyamide thermal breaking technologies used across the range.
Accommodating glass units of up to 56mm, this combines to create a highly cost-effective commercial window capable of achieving a BFRC A Rating.