FGS façades provides enhanced aesthetics for Sutton Point mixed-use scheme

FGS’s façade design was recently involved in the completion of a new addition to the skyline of suburban London, the Sutton Point mixed-use scheme.

The scheme, which saw the demolition of the existing Sutton Point Tower office blocks to accommodate the £90m development, is a mixed-use project over three tower blocks providing 332 new residential units alongside office and commercial space and a hotel.

FGS was commissioned to design, manufacture and install Sutton Point’s façade simultaneously across all three towers delivering the vision of PRC Architects.

Due to Sutton train station which is situated adjacent, restricted access was a key consideration for FGS’s installation. To ensure neither materials or workforce were standing for extended periods, manufacture was prioritised two months ahead of programme dates for installation and were held offsite until required. FGS worked with suppliers and issued bulk order phases for glass and metal profiles and bolstered orders on long lead time items in order to streamline supply.

Another challenge was the limited space of the perimeter and undertaking the works at extreme height. Therefore, FGS made full use of cranes to lift materials to loading decks on floor slabs. Working in often excessive wind conditions, FGS was able to close floors off from the elements by installing all areas per floor with fully glazed areas thus reducing the risks to other contractors.

FGS installed WICONA WITEC 50 aluminium curtain wall system which was specified by PRC for the top floors of each tower to provide the main feature glazing with spandrel glass and vision with glass to glass corners.

For the hotel front, a curved structurally glazed screen over seven floors was specified. For the residential, office, retail and health and fitness accommodation, glazing products used included COOL-LITE SKN 165 glass with a solar control coating to reduce heat transfer without compromising light transmittance; and STADIP PROTECT, laminated safety glass which retains some residual strength when broken.

In addition, FGS also provided and installed WICONA WICSLIDE 160 lifting sliding doors combining excellent thermal insulation with highest functionality and design along with WICLINE 75 EVO windows featuring a high insulation multi-chamber system in symmetric design. Seven-metre-high curtain wall screens providing a clean, professional finish to the project GIVE enhanced aesthetics to the building both internally and externally.

FGS’ contracting project manager, Jeremy Chung, comments on the project: “Sutton Point is a prestigious project for FGS to be involved in. We were tasked with having to service three towers at the same time during most of the construction phase which we addressed by manufacturing all materials per floor in advance of the actual on-site date which optimised the scheduling of both labour and materials throughout the project.

“Restricted access due to the close proximity to Sutton train station and working at extreme height were also two of the key challenges we successfully overcame. All glazing, aluminium curtain walling, doors and rooflights were well-designed and well-rounded products which suited the design criteria and architect’s specifications well.”