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Unity Towers - Project Profile - Back to Case Studies
Site: Unity Tower, Charleston House,
Rumford Place, Liverpool
Construction Leaders Find Unity in Off-Site Solution
The development comprises a 27-storey residential building, topped by six cantilevered penthouse suites with views over the River Mersey, plus a 16-storey office complex - the first Grade A offices to be built in Liverpool. The primary challenge to Dane Architectural Systems, specialist façade constructors responsible for erecting the building’s residential façade, was the claustrophobic city location coupled with exposure to winds off the Irish Sea. These factors and others meant that traditional methods of construction were out of the question, and a new approach from the construction partners was necessary. Speedy Off-Site Production The obvious solution was to specify an architectural façade from Kingspan Off-Site, a through wall system manufactured at Kingspan’s 12,000 sq.m facility in Sherburn, North Yorkshire, then delivered direct to site. Not only would this vastly increase the speed of onsite fitting, but also provide the building with a watertight envelope quickly and efficiently, enabling other trades to get onsite much sooner to continue their work and accelerating overall project completion. Working very closely with Dane, Kingspan finalised an architectural façade system specifically for the Unity Tower, involving the design and manufacture of 1,500 unitised steel-based frame assemblies up to 5.2 metres wide by 3.2 metres high, incorporating Kingspan K15 phenolic insulation. Lifting points and a bracket system were also attached to the unitised frames at the point of manufacture. The Kingframe panels are loaded into containers ready for delivery direct to site according to the Approved Installer’s schedule.
The frames were loaded into containers at Kingspan and delivered to site in the order required for Dane’s installation schedule, then simply lifted into place via a crane and hoist system direct from the container (which, once empty, was returned to Kingspan for reloading). With a target of 90 panels to be fitted every week, there was little room for error or delay. The extremely efficient delivery and fitting process enabled Dane to meet installation deadlines – and eliminated the need for waste disposal or onsite product storage. Although rapid production turnaround at Kingspan normally means that any panels damaged in transit can be quickly replaced, the complete lack of returns throughout the Unity project was an added bonus, and contributed to the speedy completion of the building envelope.
Weathertight Interior
It wasn’t just speed that led Dane to specify the off-site solution: the panels exceed all required U-values, ensuring compliance with current and forthcoming building regulations. Moreover, in order to ensure the highest quality of both product and construction, Kingspan Off-Site works with a range of Approved Installer Partners and has actively sought and gained BRE certification for its Architectural Facade Systems (see back page for further details). Gaining BRE approval is dependent on being able to produce a consistent quality product to the required standard on an ongoing basis, so maintaining partnerships with industry leaders is vital. On the Unity project, aluminium windows from Schüco were integrated into the Facade System units, whilst fire engineering solutions at intermediate floors and compartment junctions utilised Firestop Systems from Hilti. Cyril Sweett Benchmark Study
The nett COST SAVINGS on prelims on Unity Tower project were estimated as:
The report also identified the following additional benefits:
For a copy of the Cyril Sweett Benchmark Study:
Kingframe is a complete through-wall system including a steel frame, acoustic/fire performance board, insulation and external facade carrier system. In effect a full wall ready for delivery to site, Kingframe was designed and developed in close co-operation with architects and building designers to ensure it met the clear demand for freedom of choice, flexibility and, of course, compliance with all applicable Building Regulations. This has resulted in an almost limitless combination of over 300 possible façade and construction method options – including conventional finish, render and ventilated rainscreens applicable to steel or concrete framed buildings. Combine these benefits with the certainty of costs, quality and timescales for delivery and completion provided by off-site solutions from market leader Kingspan, and it’s easy to understand how Kingframe is already making its mark in some of the country’s most significant construction projects. Kingframe Architectural Facade Systems feature integrated building service highways, as well as a unique, flush-faced connection method that provides a flat surface for internal linings, including plasterboard, cellulose board or other specialist fire or acoustic performance materials. The systems provide enhanced thermal performance and airtightness, reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions by up to 40% per annum. In addition, construction teams are supported by a comprehensive Design and Construction Guide, unrivalled within the sector, which incorporates in excess of 650 construction details to provide complete “floor to roof” guidance. BRE Certification
The Building Research Establishment (BRE) is the recognised authority in building and construction, encouraging best practice in construction methods and materials. Approval, through BRE Certification, is issued on products and systems that have verified performance, and is recognised by Building Control, NHBC and many other organisations as proof of regulatory compliance. The certificate endorses the products’ suitability for single or multi-storey residential, office and retail applications, and indicates that other sectors, such as education and healthcare, may also find the systems suitable.
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“Off-site construction is still the most
effective way to close off building
sections quickly and thoroughly, further
improving conditions for the following
trades. At the moment, there’s just no
other solution to compare”
Mixed use office and residential development:
The only way is up for off-site manufacturing, as Liverpool’s
£60million Sentinel Unity development starts to take shape
on the 2008 City of Culture’s waterfront, which was
recently awarded World Heritage status. This stunning office and
residential development presented any number of challenges to
contractor Laing O’Rourke - not least the cramped construction
conditions – but it was an architectural façade from Kingspan
Off-Site that ultimately came to the rescue.
Zero Returns
Dane contracts manager William Morrison explained: “Being able
to close off the façade quickly is a huge benefit – we can let
plasterboarders in, confident in the knowledge that the interior is
weathertight. For tight city centre sites like this, off-site has no
comparison.”
The Cyril Sweett study has indicated that specifying
Kingspan Architectural Facade Systems will enable
you to:
Kingframe Architectural
Facade System
Kingspan has achieved approval through BRE Certification on a
number of its Architectural Facade System configurations,
covering structural integrity, airtightness and weather resistance
along with thermal, acoustic, fire
and impact resistance
performance.
For a copy of the Kingframe Design and Construction Guide, 