Ceramic Granite Meets University Challenge

Shackerley Holdings Group Limited has helped Boyes Rees Architects to realise a spectacular design concept for a brand new state of the art Digital Technium building.

Shackerley Holdings Group Limited has helped Boyes Rees Architects to realise a spectacular design concept for a brand new state of the art Digital Technium building, developed to foster the growth of the digital economy in Wales.

Working closely with the Newport practice and the main contractors, E Turner and Sons of Cardiff, Shackerley procured and prefabricated 1000m2 of polished ceramic granite slabs in a bespoke colourway for this £4.3million landmark building, located at the heart of the University of Swansea campus.

Fundamental to the overall design of the hi-tech development is a dramatic 'spine wall' which acts as a central axis for the entire building.

The original material specification called for this feature to be clad in slate.

When the University called for the project to be value engineered, Shackerley proposed the use of 1200mm x 600mm polished ceramic granite slabs as an alternative way to preserve the aesthetic design concept, at a fraction of the cost of slate.

Shackerley worked with its partner, Mirage, the world's largest producer of unglazed ceramic granite floor and wall coverings, to create a black reflective slab with a dark grey vein, now known as "Swansea Black".

1388 of these hardwearing, lightweight and impermeable ceramic granite slabs were used not only on the exterior of the spine wall but also on the interior walls of the entrance hall and atrium providing a degree of visual continuity.

Before supplying the material to cladding subcontractors, William Verry (Glazing Systems), Shackerley prepared the ceramic granite slabs at its Lancashire factory, ready for affixing to a metal substructure on the Digital Technium building.

The unusual design of the building called for 500 of the slabs to be specially cut to exacting schedules.

Each slab was then predrilled four times, ready to accept Shackerley's special undercut expanding 'anchors'.

They were delivered to site complete with 3500 fixing straps in place, packed in customised protective cartons.

From conception to completion the Digital Technium building was 2 years and 3 months in the making.

It opened its doors for business in September, the latest in the pan-Wales Technium network of hi-tech business incubation centres in Wales.

Already the building has received a Lord Mayor's Design Award and two commendations from a City and County of Swansea scheme recognising architectural flair in groundbreaking schemes that contribute to an evolving and forward-looking city.

"This was without doubt one of the most enjoyable projects our architectural practice has ever worked on", said Project Director from Boyes Rees Architects, Gary Loo.

"The Digital Technium building has exactly realised the original aesthetic brief in every respect.

I'm delighted with the ceramic granite cladding on the spine wall which gives expression to the elevation and enhances the powerful architecture.

This is the first time that we have used this innovative material to clad an exterior but I'm sure it will not be the last".

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