The Trafford Centre is one of Europe’s largest and most prestigious shopping Centres which embodies and blends new high tech Glass Reinforced Plastic cladding systems with traditional Stone and Copper materials resulting in a highly successful outcome. One of the hallmarks of the Trafford Centre Complex is the attention to detail that is clearly evident throughout the entire complex.
What we did
The Glass Reinforced Plastic element was the largest contract of its kind in Europe. Following the tender and formal selection process we were invited to provide a preliminary design concept and produce a full size mock-up of a complete elevation section comprising of Ashlar panelling, Cornice and Balustrade to demonstrate the finish and interfacing details. The lower half of the complex is predominantly constructed with a facing of Pre-Cast Reconstituted Stonework and therefore essential that the GRP cladding element matched and harmonised completely with the Reconstituted Stonework.
The mock-up was produced and assembled at our Salisbury factory and installed to a steel frame produced by our Engineering Department to represent the steel of the buildings structure with supporting secondary steel sub framing designed by our in house design team to allow the attachment of the GRP cladding elements to be carried out. The mock-up panel was produced to the full height of the upper elevation wall and three metres wide. This was transported to the Site and crane hoisted into position and attached by steel brackets, providing the client and the Architectural design team with a realistic model of the proposed cladding concept. The mock-up proved to be well worth the time and provided the client with the confidence to award us with the contract for the entire main GRP cladding works.
The 4 million pound contract consisted of supporting steel framework and cladding to the entire upper elevations in various panel arrangements consisting of reproduction Ashlar, Cornice, balustrade, Reproduction copper roof Cupolas / Dome capping and Obelisk features. The works required a high degree of interaction with other trades and design teams whilst working to a very precise works completion programme which was successfully completed on time by our highly skilled installation team.
Main Contractor - Bovis Lend Lease
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