An innovative and architecturally challenging feature-cladding contract on an 18 split level car park in Sheffield.

The cladding system was a striking design that incorporated 4,700 individual aluminium profiles and ventilation grills of differing sizes. We designed a bespoke panelised cladding system, consisting of polyester powder coated aluminium sheets fixed onto cold rolled steel frame panels, all manufactured off-site to exacting tolerances in our production facility in Henstridge.

The car park was constructed on an extremely compact and logistically challenging city centre site, with only 600mm clear access on each elevation, meaning that scissor lifts, scaffolding or cherry pickers could not be used. 728 panels were transported to site in stillages, before being lifted into their specific position by a spider crane located on the roof of the car park structure.

The entire system was delivered and installed in a matter of weeks, achieving an installation rate of up to 40 panels (300m2) per day. In total, 4,500m2 of cladding was erected, with the final finish providing a contoured effect around all sides of the building.