Project Description

Projects Revisited: Bexhill Enterprise Park

The Bexhill Enterprise Park is a state-of-the-art business park, set between Bexhill and Hastings on the South Coast. Returning to this site recently, it was fantastic to see how the façade had weathered over time, taking on its own unique character, reflective of the conditions the building has been exposed to.

Forming part of a planned extension to Bexhill which began in 2015, the Enterprise Park project is a major development on over 40 acres of land, built with the objective of offering high-quality premises for employment, residential, retail/leisure uses, community facilities and open spaces.

The scheme was designed with the flexibility to accommodate a wide range of occupiers, aimed at attracting companies from outside the area in order to create a major new business and residential community.

We were brought in by main contractor, The Buckingham Group to work with them on one of the first stages of the development, Glovers House, in 2015. This had been designed as a contemporary, low energy building with panoramic views over the surrounding countryside.

Working in conjunction with the construction team, we utilised our internal and external designers to prepare drawings ahead of starting on site. It was our responsibility to install lightweight steel framing, standing seam zinc, rainscreen and timber cladding to the main walls, louvres to the external face of the stairwells and cladding to the canopy.

On this development, steel framing system was provided by Hadley Steel Framing. Their products are designed for flexibility and aim to reduce the overall build programme, as well as being a cost-effective alternative to traditional brick and block work.

In terms of the overall finish, the client had specified Siberian Larch timber cladding to the main walls. Due to the harsh environment the Siberian Larch is grown in, it’s one of the most durable timbers and ideally suited for all types of weather conditions. Its high-density, low maintenance characteristic makes it perfect for external cladding as it is less vulnerable to knocks and scrapes than other wood.

Not only is the timber durable, there is also minimal movement and it is naturally impervious to most infestation and diseases. Siberian Larch is good value for money, a renewable source and as it requires less energy to produce than other construction material, has a low carbon footprint.

Starting life as a pale yellow or golden brown colour, Siberian Larch adds beautiful colour and texture to a building when used as cladding and only looks better with age, as we were pleased to note when we returned to the Bexhill development earlier this year. As the wood weathers, it turns a striking silvery grey colour, transforming the exterior of a building.

Bailey Rainscreen cladding was used alongside the timber to provide a low maintenance, long-term performance in addition to creating the desired aesthetic. Bailey have developed a wide range of finishes which are available for any system, meaning they can be adapted and tailored to suit the needs of a specific project.

Using VMZinc Standing Seam continues to work well alongside the cladding, its fine lines contributing to the overall contemporary appearance of the building, and its self-protective coating significantly reducing the speed of environmental corrosion.

Occasionally we manage to get back to visit a project we completed several years before, and it’s always gratifying to see the result of the whole team’s hard work and first-class products in situ, such as at Bexhill Enterprise Park.

“We were proud to be part of this project, and with over twenty years’ experience in SFS, we were well placed to install the Hadley Steel Framing system. The package of works required at Bexhill Enterprise Park really played to our strengths, including the installation of louvres, rainscreen and timber cladding. The overall finish is a contemporary, low-maintenance building that meets the architectural design and will continue to improve aesthetically over time.” Paul Michaelson, Construction Director, Eden Facades

Email us at office@edenfacades.co.uk if you would like to discuss your next project with us.

All products used:
Main walls: Siberian Larch timber cladding; Bailey Rainscreen; VMZinc Standing Seam
Canopy: Trespa Cladding to Canopy
Louvres to External Face of Stairwells
Marley Cladding to Internal Face of Stairwells