Luxalon finishing touch to medical centre

A new centre which is being used to research the genetic and environmental factors affecting mental health is to benefit from Luxalon's innovative QuadroClad range.

A new centre which is being used to research the genetic and environmental factors affecting mental health is to benefit from Luxalon's innovative QuadroClad range, helping to create a unique finish to the state-of-the art building.

The SGDP Research Centre, institute of psychiatry and part of King's College London is a purpose built-development that will allow researchers to investigate many common disorders that can develop early in life, including anxiety, depression, disruptive behaviour and language problems.

The five story development, based at the Maudsley Hospital campus was designed by Devereux Architects who sought to combine the practical needs of the research teams, while providing an energy-efficient environment.

The striking vista of the building was created by combining Luxalon panels alongside terracotta tiles and glass panels, allowing a contrast of materials to be achieved.

The inclusion of the QuadroClad panels, developed by Hunter Douglas Construction Elements offered a quick-to-install, modular system that enabled alternative types of materials to be integrated into the finish.

Andrew Lee, General Manager, Hunter Douglas Construction Elements said: "Over 400m2 of Luxalon cladding was used in the building, which is used alongside terracotta rendering and glass to create a very striking frontage to the building".

"The combination of materials is extremely effective and I am delighted that Luxalon was chosen".

"Capable of offering a tough, durable, long-term solution, Luxalon is proving to be a popular choice amongst architects working on hospitals and has been incorporated into a variety of developments, including Guy's, Great Ormond Street and Oxford's John Radcliffe hospital".

Darius Umrigar, Project Director, Devereux said: "We sought to create a building that reflects the high profile of the research undertaken by the Institute and it was therefore essential to project these values into the development.

The design sought to address key environmental and building performance issues and I am thrilled with the end result".

"By choosing Luxalon, we recognised that the solution not only provided a striking finish to the building, but could also contribute to the overall thermal performance of the centre." Offering extreme flatness, combined with crisp edges, Luxalon has firmly established itself as a market leader in rainscreen solutions.

In addition to its strong aesthetic properties, the system has been specifically designed to meet the low U-values specified in Part L of the Building Regulations allowing it to resemble traditional curtain walling, but crucially offering assurances on thermal efficiency, fire and bad weather.

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