THE PRINTWORKS
This retail and leisure complex in the centre of Manchester has been clad using a panellized system manufactured off-site by S.C.C. Limited at their Stockport Factory.
The Architects choice was a brick and block solution namely Manchester Reds, that were chosen from standard brick ranges with three hole perforations, these were then cut to provide a positive key to the structural backing, with the exception of the white blocks that were reduced in thickness and provided with a dovetail slot at the rear for fixing to the panel.
Panel sizes varied from 7.5m to in some cases 10.0m long by 3m high, being fixed to the structure in four places along the length of the panel. Special lifting procedures had to be developed as the backing structure to the main panels was only 100mm thick, giving an overall panel thickness of 165mm.
In addition to the main panels, special piers panels were provided at levels one and two using cant bricks and specially fired head and cill pieces. A feature corner of the building involved the manufacture of some radial panels with these being sub-divided by some inverted channel sections, and a white dental course.
The company were also responsible for the erection of the panels, which at certain times of the day needed to be coordinated with the closure of Manchester’s Metro System.
© COPYRIGHT 2010. Registered Address: Kenwood Road, Reddish, Stockport,Cheshire, SK5 6PH. Company Registered No. 1434172
Directors: M.O'Donnell, P.A.McDaid, M.J.O'Donnell, E.O'Donnell