Corian Cladding for new Menai Science Park, M-SParc Anglesey, Northwest Wales building

Corian cladding for the new Menai Science Park building

Interior and Exterior Building Product in Wales design by FaulknerBrowns, UK

31 May 2018

Location: M-SParc (Menai Science Park), Anglesey, north west Wales, United Kingdom

Corian interior and exterior cladding

Corian is ahead of the curve with impressive interior and exterior cladding for the new Menai Science Park building by FaulknerBrowns

An undulating ribbon of Corian® forms the high-impact first impression of the magnificent new Menai Science Park (M-SParc) by FaulknerBrowns Architects. The first science park to be developed in Wales, the £15.5million project aims to drive growth in knowledge-based industries, with a focus on clean and sustainable technology. A wholly owned subsidiary of Bangor University, M-SParc is working closely with the university to provide expertise and support to local enterprise.

The 5,000m² building features an Open Innovation Space offering conferencing, co-working and hospitality (both for businesses and the wider community) plus incubator and grow-on office space, laboratories, clean workshops and admin facilities. The structure is characterised by a continuous ﬂowing ribbon that forms ﬂoor, wall and roof surfaces, wrapping around the space within while also connecting the building to the exterior landscape.

“The architecture is intended to reflect the values of M-SParc,” says Leighton Cooksey, Project Director at FaulknerBrowns, “and to create a high quality, unique environment to promote energy and innovation while attracting the best new initiatives and creating a thriving community space.”

The form of the building posed a number of challenges as the ribbon needed to contain all building services, structure and waterproofing within a continuous thickness of just 850mm. A seamless finish was desired to create a monolithic appearance with minimal joints. The chosen material had to meet a variety of orientations, be formed into tight internal radii of 400mm and withstand the worst of the Anglesey weather.

“We investigated a number of alternative cladding systems including glass reinforced concrete, aluminium composites, cassette panels and high-pressure laminate, but very quickly chose Corian® as the preferred solution,” Leighton continues, “Working with Unique Fabrications, we developed the principle of a Corian® rainscreen cladding system over a waterproofed steel frame. Corian® proved to be the perfect material to deal with the sinuous form of the ribbon, with the thermoformed curved panels, preformed corners and invisible fixings and thus to meet the architectural design intent. “

FaulknerBrowns carried out extensive research together with M-SParc to assess the weathering performance and robustness of the proposed cladding, confirming that it would withstand the rigours of the exposed site. “The smooth, non-porous nature of Corian® and its ease of cleaning and maintenance made it the ideal choice for ensuring the longevity of the pristine white finish,” Leighton concludes.

Fabricated and installed by Corian® Industrial Partner, Unique Fabrications Ltd, the cladding consists of 1300m2 of Corian® in Glacier White thermoformed into sculptural panels and fitted over 15 weeks using an aluminium support system.

Corian® also makes an impressive appearance to the interior of the building, continuing the ribbon motif with cladding around varying levels of the lobby and forming the main reception desk. Both applications make the most of the material’s translucency and its compatibility with technology, by smoothly integrating backlit logos for added impact.

Operational Director of M-Sparc, Pryderi ap Rhisiart, adds “We did a lot of research ourselves before agreeing to the Corian® cladding, and we know we’ve made the right choice. The impact is exactly what we wanted from this flagship building. The public and businesses alike comment on the external and internal design when they enter, with the Corian® creating a clean, professional finish fitting to a building of this stature. It really does have the wow factor.”

About M-Sparc: www.m-sparc.com. M-SParc’s vision is based on creating highly skilled long-term employment opportunities for local people, developing a knowledge-sharing environment and creating an economic hub for companies in sectors such as low carbon, energy, environment and ICT.

M-SParc provides space for businesses of all sizes, from start-ups to large corporate companies. Everything a business requires, from outstanding facilities and bespoke business support services, to flexible office space and laboratories, are provided on site.
Dedicated Business Support is also offered to all tenants and virtual tenants, as part of the offer, to help their companies grow and develop in the region.

About FaulknerBrowns Architects: FaulknerBrowns is an architectural practice with over fifty years of experience in creating buildings and places where people do better. The practice has a reputation for applying its expertise and experience to question traditional typologies, challenging what a particular building or place may look like, how it might be used, and the ways it can impact society.

FaulknerBrowns is recognised for its work in architectural design, masterplanning and strategic thinking. A team of over one hundred architects, designers and technologists deliver projects of varying scale and complexity for clients internationally.
To learn more, visit www.faulknerbrowns.co.uk or follow @FaulknerBrowns on twitter, or contact Edward Shanks. Tel: (0191) 2683007 e.shanks@faulknerbrowns.co.uk

About Corian® for Exterior Cladding and Façades: Corian® is a highly valued solution for façade applications due to both its aesthetic versatility and long-term performance. Completely homogenous and non-porous, it is easy to clean and maintain. It is also fire rated, resistant to graffiti, UV and climatic conditions – and, should any damage occur – the material is repairable. Corian® is compatible with a ‘secret’ fix undercut anchor system and its lightweight, workable properties are a further benefit to both fabrication and installation.

Corian® also offers the broadest range of international certification for façade applications among solid surfaces and has passed a series of fundamental tests for its application to the exterior of buildings. These include freeze/thaw cycling resistance, standards proving the material’s resistance to exterior environmental substances, fire performance tests, and tests for abuse resistance. Further information and certificates are available on request.

In the UK, Corian® sponsors a RIBA approved CPD seminar on Solid Surfaces for Rainscreen Facades. To book this CPD seminar please call: 0800 962 116

Corian® is distributed in the UK & Ireland exclusively by CD (UK) Ltd. For enquiries about Corian®:
T: 0800 962 116 E: info@corian.co.uk or visit www.corian.uk

More about Corian® corian.uk – instagram.com/CorianDesign – facebook.com/CorianDesign

Corian cladding for the new Menai Science Park building images / information received 310518

Location: Menai Science Park, Anglesey, Wales, UK

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