Innovative rainscreen cladding echoes surrounding water of leisure complex
Riverside Leisure Centre, Chelmsford first opened around 50 years ago and has recently benefitted from a multi-million pound redevelopment and upgrade, with the new centre boasting a 25m x 10 lane swimming pool, 10m learner pool, state of the art gym, studios, ice rink, creche, sports hall and more. Whilst the future occupants were no doubt excited about the new facilities inside the building, it was our responsibility to ensure that the outside of the building fulfilled the architects’ vision and blended in with the surroundings.
Working in partnership with Kier Construction, we were brought on board to install lightweight steel framing, rainscreen cladding, render and insulated render. Eden Facades have worked in partnership with Kier for over 5 years now, on a number of private and public projects across the UK.
The architects of the project, Pick Everard, set out to create a building which closely mirrored its surroundings, incorporating a number of eco-friendly and aesthetically pleasing design features. To achieve this, they worked closely with suppliers, including Ash & Lacy who provided the lightweight steel framing and various forms of rainscreen cladding products for the project.
One of our key disciplines is the installation of lightweight steel framing systems, which provide the final façade with a structurally robust platform that is quicker to install and more cost-effective than traditional brick and block work. At Riverside, we used Ash and Lacy site fixed lightweight steel framing, a system that is flexible and light and works with the majority of external finishes.
In terms of the finish, Pick Everard specified Ash and Lacy’s Lingrid system to deliver the stunning ‘bubble’ look of their design. Aside from the inspired design, these systems are being used more and more frequently on prestigious new build and refurbishment projects. The benefits of this type of cladding can be seen in speed of installation as well as the wide variety of materials, finishes and colours. It is incredibly cost effective, with high levels of fire, acoustic and thermal performance as well as being resistant to all weathers – perfect for keeping a leisure centre weatherproof and energy efficient.
As with domestic housing, rising heating costs are forcing owners to re-assess energy consumption in commercial and leisure buildings. External wall insulation will achieve the same goals on these buildings, reducing heating bills, improving the environment and rejuvenating the external façade. At Riverside, we used Wetherby’s External Wall Insulation Systems (EWI). Wetherby are at the forefront of insulated render system design and as a result their systems and products are a cost-effective, environmentally sustainable method of new build development. Over the past 25 years, we have gained extensive experience in the application of EWI systems and would consider ourselves experts in this field.
The original building was not up to current building regulations and did not comply with thermal requirements. Now with the new building completed, Chelmsford City Council has a facility which is thermally suitable for its intended use. As well as the external façade, internally they have up-to-date M&E and all the correct ventilation systems, giving visitors a great user experience as well as an economically and environmentally friendly centre.
The designers and architects on this project set out to make this complex one of the most eco-friendly in the country, and through the use of specialised products and methods used in the work carried out by Eden Facades and throughout the project by other contractors, this goal has been realised. Riverside Leisure Centre have achieved a BREEAM ‘very good’ rating, placing the complex among the top 25% of new commercial buildings in the UK for environmentally friendly design. This also has an effect of significantly reducing running costs for the entire complex, thus saving the council a considerable amount of money.
Despite some delays, our on-site installation teams, project teams and supply partners all pushed really hard, and the facades aspect of the project was completed on schedule. Now that the project has finished and the new complex is open, both the main contractor, Kier, and the council are very happy with the result. Ian Gifford, Operations Director at Kier Regional Building Eastern commented,
“Kier Construction have been working with Eden Facades for over five years on various projects, and in that time they have proved to be a trusted partner who are able to match our high standards. The work carried out at Riverside Leisure Centre has given the building a sleek modern exterior to match the updated interior. In addition, the insulation, render and cladding used have ensured that the complex meets and all the thermal standards necessary for a commercial building and achieved a BREEM rating placing it among the eco-friendliest buildings in the country.”