Kingspan Off-Site positive diagnosis at hospital

Edited by the Buildingtalk editorial team Jun 2, 2008

Kingspan Off-Site's Architectural Facade System specified at new Diagnostics and Treatment Centre as part of the extensive redevelopment of St Helens Hospital.

The Kingspan Metro Architectural Facade System (AFS) through-wall system provided the high performance required for the healthcare facilities and the speed of build needed to meet the tight handover deadlines.

The specification of Kingspan Metro AFS enabled each level of the building to be closed off as quickly and efficiently as possible.

This allowed early access for following trades to commence the internal works while building work continued overhead.

Off-site manufacturing significantly reduces the margin for human error in the on-site construction due to the use of dimensionally accurate factory-produced panels.

The non-load bearing facade panels for St Helens Hospital, incorporating a steel frame and cement particle board, were manufactured at Kingspan Off-Site's facility in Sherburn, North Yorkshire.

The panels were then loaded onto specifically designed vehicles and delivered to site ready for immediate installation by approved installer Prater.

Each facade panel took just minutes to fit and fix and negated the need for waste disposal, on-site product storage and fixed scaffolding.

A range of external facing cladding options can be integrated with the Kingspan Metro AFS, allowing a flexible approach to building design.

Due for completion in Autumn 2008, the Diagnostics and Treatment Centre at St.

Helens Hospital will be finished in a combination of brick, render, cedar cladding, terracotta and aluminium rainscreen.

Richard Unwin, operations director at Prater, comments: "St Helens Hospital is a challenging project for us and our supply partners".

"Our off-site experience gained from working on a number of major projects is obviously a real benefit and working closely with Kingspan Off-Site ensured we were able to construct the external facade of the building accurately and quickly without any problems.".