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Rockpanel re-dresses towering tributes to Manchester’s pioneering past

Rockpanel non-combustible facades have been used to stunning effect in the complete recladding of three 1960s tower blocks, delivering a contemporary, future proof transformation for the 186 homes within.

Rockpanel continues to undertake a large number of new-build and refurbishment projects across the UK, including many key recladding schemes where non-compliant materials are removed and replaced with an inherently fire-safe Rockpanel A2 solution, in line with guidance under Approved Document B and The Building Regulations 2010.

Recladding offers an economic and efficient way of enhancing a building’s exterior whilst improving its thermal and acoustic performance and, vitally, helping to create a fire-safe environment for its occupants. The process also causes the least impact on residents in terms of noise and inconvenience.

Used products:

Rockpanel Woods, Custom

The Three Towers, Manchester.

The prominent trio of tower blocks were originally named to honour sisters Christabel, Sylvia, and Emmeline Pankhurst and in recognition of their pioneering activism as part of the Suffragette movement, which lead to women receiving the right to vote in the early 20th Century. The ultimate owners of the three blocks include multi award-winning property regeneration specialists Urban Splash and a private owner. Buttress Architects were design principle for the recladding.

Design freedom helped to match existing design.

Ben Tabiner of Buttress Architects said “…the project involved the removal of all the existing cladding elements back to the backing wall and the installation of new compliant materials. We specified Rockpanel after a lengthy design process where many cladding systems were considered. A mixture of inherent fire safety, ease of installation and a customised design, enabling a true matching of the existing veneer HPL panel, made Rockpanel Woods the obvious choice.”

Sector specialists, Clarke Facades, undertook the removal process and the installation of a complete new ventilated rainscreen system using around 9,000m2 of Rockpanel. The firm’s Project Manager James Mckeurtan spoke about the installation, “We’ve worked with Rockpanel several times, they offer a vast choice of surface finishes which meet or exceed the relevant fire safety regulations. The panels are light and easy to work with and Tom Uzelac and the team are always available to offer technical advice and help ensure things run smoothly and to schedule.

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Unique future proof properties and capability.

The super realistic A2 Rockpanel Woods façade panels installed at the three towers deliver an organic warmth thought only possible with natural wood. They additionally benefit from Protect Plus, a resilient coating from Rockpanel which further guards against dirt, graffiti and the negative impacts of UV radiation.

Tom Uzelac, Specification Manager from Rockpanel added, “We were able to match the surface design of the non-compliant panels by customising our Woods collection. They were installed in conjunction with ROCKWOOL RAINSCREEN DUO SLAB® A1-rated non-combustible insulation, which provides additional thermal and acoustic benefits. The system delivers the required fire safety charactersitics necessary to ensure complaince and peace of mind for occupants and the building owner.”

Rockpanel derives its unique non-combustible properties from the core of stone wool used in its manufacture. The compressed natural basalt is a sustainable and readily available volcanic rock, which is bonded with an organic binder to deliver a highly durable facade which is virtually maintenance-free and insensitive to moisture and temperature changes.

The breadth of design options available across the Rockpanel range allows designers complete freedom to let their imaginations run wild in the knowledge the completed facade will not only realise their creative ambitions but will also embody superior fire resilience and stay looking as good as the day it is installed, throughout its long life. And when the time eventually comes, the panels can be easily demounted and recycled in to new Rockpanel facades with no loss of quality or performance.

Rockpanel Case Study Rockpanel Woods Custom Trio towers manchester

Projectinformation:

Project location: Manchester
Building type: High-rise, residential
Project type: Reclad
Products: Rockpanel Woods, Custom

For architects & contractors: Get your Rockpanel Woods box!

Are you an architect or contractor and are you curious how Rockpanel Woods would suit your project? Contact us to receive your free Rockpanel Woods box, including a brochure and samples of our new designs Black Oak and Caramel Oak.

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*Disclaimer: Due to changes in our assortment, it is possible that the designs shown in this case study are no longer available. Feel free to contact us in case of doubt.

Used products:

20181023 RW-RP PHO 00346

Rockpanel Woods

Wood has been used for millennia to create beautiful buildings, but those with a wooden façade need regular maintenance and have a limited life before the costly expense of removal and renewal. Then stone came along, but it lacked the natural warmth that only wood could achieve. That is until Rockpanel Woods was invented. Through an innovative process the boards are almost perfect replicas of wood, with all of the long lasting benefits inherent in a stone façade. Simply put, the best of both worlds.

We manufacture board material mostly used in ventilated constructions, for facade cladding, roof detailing, soffits and fascias.