Christchurch Primary School

Project Details

Client:
Staffordshire County Council

Main Contractor:
Seddon

Installer:
Advanced Roofing

Products:
Rainscreen Panels, Perforated Screen, Support Systems

A complete and highly innovative through-wall design by Ash & Lacy played a key role in the complete redevelopment of Christchurch Primary School in Burton-on-Trent. The building’s eye-catching facade comprises approximately 900m2 of VariAL TF rainscreen cladding in a gold metallic Larson ACM finish. It also features a projective outer façade of VariAL H rainscreen in 3mm RAL 9006 white aluminium PPC with bespoke perforated patterns, meeting the requirements of client Staffordshire County Council’s architects and incorporating the slogan “Love to learn, Learn to Love”, plus other graphic elements across the building, including musical notes and a clock face.

The VariAL H panel configuration required for this project was particularly noteworthy. Rather than deploying a more traditional vertical arrangement, panels had to be laid horizontally. To achieve this, Ash & Lacy implemented a thorough engineering review of the product, devising additional reinforcement brackets specifically for this application. Ash & Lacy Steel Frame System metal was also used as secondary steelwork support for the ACM inner facade. The S150 horizontal support system was also designed in such a manner to reduce the visual impact of strengthening and stiffening elements behind the facade. Fixed to a series of unequally positioned hot rolled vertical posts, the mullions needed to span large distances without the use of anti-sag bars and keeping the connections as visually clean as possible.