Trent Concrete provides special precast frame & Hardwall cladding for The University of Nottingham
Trent Concrete has negotiated a £1.1m contract for a special reconstructed stone precast concrete frame and associated Hardwall cladding, on a new building linked to the main student hub at The University of Nottingham.
The four-storey new development linked to The Portland Building, a landmark building at The University Park Campus, will provide students with additional retail, social and administrative space.
It was essential for all external elements on the extension to complement the original building, and maintain its important architectural theme. Both the frame itself and the Hardwall (composite sandwich) cladding are in a reconstructed acid-etched Portland stone mix. Off-site manufacture in carefully controlled factory conditions guaranteed the quality and accurate workmanship befitting such a prominent building. The entirely precast solution was also specified for reasons of cost-efficiency and programme benefits.
The frame incorporates steel beams to the mezzanine level and a total of 760 hollow core floor planks, with a suspended floor area of 3750 square metres. Internally, the beams and columns will be left exposed to maximise the thermal capacity of the concrete, and painted white in order to maximise the light levels, both factors contributing to the building's efficient energy management scheme.
Trent Concrete was appointed based on its high quality, successful work with the same professional team on two previous projects in its home town of Nottingham: the Inland Revenue Centre and the recently completed National College for School Leadership.
Client: University of Nottingham, Director of Estate Management
Architect: Michael Hopkins & Partners PLC
Engineer: ARUP
Notes
Trent Concrete is a specialist precast concrete contractor, producing high quality bespoke architectural cladding and structures.
Providing a complete solution from detailed design development through skills-based manufacture to on-site erection using its own teams, Trent Concrete partners with leading developers and specifiers to ensure that their projects gain maximum benefit from prefabrication.
Trent Concrete's precast solutions make a major contribution to improved quality, certainty, sustainability, safety and efficiency in the UK construction industry today.
The company has worked on some of the most prestigious projects of recent years, including The Scottish Office and the Toyota GB Plc and Thames Water headquarters buildings, and the quality of its work is consistently recognised in the form of industry awards. Trent Concrete was founded in 1917 and employs more than 200 people.
Editorial contact: David Walker
Tel: 0115 987 9747
Email: lmason@trentconcrete.co.uk
Trent Concrete Limited - e-mail: quality@trentconcrete.co.uk