Kawneer Helps Madejski Reach New Heights

When architects Alan Cotterell Practice were tasked with designing a large extension to the five star hotel at the heart of the Madejski stadium complex in Reading, they specified architectural aluminium systems from Kawneer for their quality and design capability.

Kawneer's AA(r)100 curtain walling, AA(r)601 top-hung casement windows and AA(r)605 swing doors were installed as part of a £8 million scheme to provide 56 additional bedrooms and a new reception area to the deluxe five-storey Millennium hotel which forms part of the 18-hectare complex which is home to Reading FC and London Irish RFC.

The hotel's new extension on a former landfill site features Kawneer's curtain walling on the two-storey entrance reception and to a curved glazed east gable, which is five storeys high and dominates the front elevation.

The AA(r)100 50mm curtain walling, doors and windows were supplied in blue with blue-tinted glazing for the bedrooms and installed by Kawneer-approved sub contractor Aluminium Sashes.

The design produced by Alan Cotterell Practice had to incorporate the most cost-effective layout, which would not impact on the stadium and hotel operations during the 18-month build by Moss Construction. The extension consists of a concrete frame supporting post-tensioned concrete floors with external walls finished as cladding panels supported on secondary steelwork fixed to the main structure.

The original hotel with 154 bedrooms, brasserie, restaurant, health and fitness suite and pool was built in 2000 at a cost of £15 million to support accommodation at the Royal Berkshire Conference and Banqueting Centre, which is part of the stadium.

Richard Taylor of Alan Cotterell Practice who has used Kawneer systems many times before on commercial buildings, said: 'We consider Kawneer to provide a quality product and at the Madejski Hotel it forms a strong design feature on the front elevation. It complies very well with the aesthetic and performance requirements of the project.

'The strong blue curtain walling works well with the blue tinted glazing and contrasts well with the solid silver flat panelling, while changing to a silver colour on the curtain walling frames helps to focus attention on the hotel entrance.'