Belfast
Health Centre Wins Second Major Award for Architecture
A health centre in Belfast incorporating architectural aluminium glazing
systems from Technal, has won its second award for architecture.
The Arches, a £15m community health and social services centre
for South and East Belfast Trust, has been presented with a Civic Trust
Award Commendation. It has already won a Royal Institute of British
Architects (RIBA) Award.
Designed
by Penoyre and Prasad LLP in partnership with Todd Architects, the scheme
features innovative use of Technal's façade systems, including
around 100 windows in different colour combinations, frame and span
sizes. The main contractor for the project was Farrans Construction.
The scheme has remodelled and extended an existing 1950s building to
provide a larger health centre and combine a number of community and
social services under one roof. It was commended for 'its design, use
of interior space, colour and public art, and for making a positive
contribution to the social, civic and economic life of the area'.
Bob Welsh, General Manager of Hydro Building Systems which supplies
the Technal brand, said, ‘This building has a lively design theme
and the colourful windows and curtain walling were central to that.
The systems were capable of achieving the architect's requirements for
aesthetics and large spans to allow a high level of light deep into
each room, with all the low maintenance benefits of aluminium.’
Two
buildings are linked using Technal's roof glazing to create an attractive
and welcoming atrium space at the heart of the centre.
A 'stained' glass façade constructed from Technal's curtain walling
spans three storeys above the main entrance. Here, the double glazed
units are structurally bonded to the curtain walling system to give
the appearance of one large pane of glass. An abstract image of a flower,
signifying regeneration, growth and health, was printed onto vinyl film
and applied to the inner face of the double glazed units.
Dual colour tilt/turn casement windows from Technal's FXi46 suite were
finished in a variety of colours - grey, red, blue, black and purple
- contrasting with the white rendered external envelope. Internally
the frames are white, with the opening vents taken from the bright palette
of colours.
Infill panels were inserted into the window frames and were also finished
in different colours, creating an animated appearance. The windows,
which have mullions of varying sizes, were 2.4m high for the front elevation
and used as 1.5m high units in 11m long runs to the rear of the building.
Technal's Trame Verticale curtain walling encloses the three-storey
circular stairwell. The system was glazed in dark grey anti-sun glass,
with silver caps to accentuate the vertical lines, and concealed vents
to allow natural ventilation.
The Arches accommodates seven GP practices and brings together treatment,
care and information services which were previously provided from a
large number of buildings across east Belfast. These services include
speech therapy, dentistry, district nursing, physiotherapy, homecare,
health visiting and citizens advice.
Web: http://www.technal.co.uk
