Sign up: 
Sign up:
Sign up:
To celebrate World Architecture Day, IG Masonry’s engineering team reflect on its favourite architectural project, with Kyle Alexander explaining how the Stonebridge Park project gave him the opportunity to push the boundaries in design when developing the curved, stepped feature entrance to the Rotunda building.
The award winning Stonebridge Park Project is £16.6 million development which created an entirely new neighbourhood, producing 117 new homes in the area. Kyle explains how his design used manageable brick slip units to achieve a complex design resulting in the impressive entrance to this 9 storey circular building.
The curved, and stepped feature entrance to the Rotunda building required a solution that would achieve the architect’s complex design in a relatively short space of time, these time constraints put additional pressure on us to provide a successful solution. Due to the complexity of this feature and the dimensions and location of the structural RC frame that we had to fix the product to, we had to overcome a wide variety of structural challenges.
To overcome the time constraints of this project, I worked in conjunction the clients Structural Engineer who designed a steel framework for us to fix our steel work onto. This allowed me time to work on the design of the building’s façade and the connection of the system to the steel frame.
My design included tall structural steel hanging brackets fixed to the steel frame which in turn allowed for a curved manufactured stainless steel angle to support brickwork.
To accommodate the underside of these steel angles, I designed a brick clad, curved stainless steel unit in small, light and manageable sections and finally bolted this to the angle above.
My final design came about by considering many aspects. The factors I needed to take into consideration included, but were not limited to; the structural adequacy of the element and how it would complement the other building techniques used in the project, the longevity of the building as a whole and the ease and speed of installation.
My favourite architectural feature is definitely the entrance to the Rotunda building which provides an outstanding feature to the project as a whole and will serve as a landmark for many years to come.
The Stonebridge Park project gave me a chance to push the boundaries in design and provide a system which has proven to be the key feature for this award winning project.
Visit the IG Masonry Support website
View the IGMS product brochure
Security expert Abloy UK is highlighting the urgent need for greater security and access control on highways critical infrastructure across the UK.
Posted in Access Control & Door Entry Systems, Architectural Ironmongery, Articles, Building Industry News, Building Products & Structures, Building Regulations & Accreditations, Building Services, Civil Engineering, Doors, Facility Management & Building Services, Hard Landscaping & Walkways, Health & Safety, Landscaping, Posts, Research & Materials Testing, Retrofit & Renovation, Security and Fire Protection
Based near the historic town of Ironbridge in Shropshire, widely regarded as the birthplace of the industrial revolution, Steel Window Fittings is a market leader in high quality steel window and door handles, fittings and accessories.
Posted in Access Control & Door Entry Systems, Architectural Ironmongery, Articles, Building Associations & Institutes, Building Industry News, Building Products & Structures, Building Systems, Doors, Health & Safety, Posts, Restoration & Refurbishment, Retrofit & Renovation, Security and Fire Protection, Steel and Structural Frames, Windows
Cistermiser, a leader in water management, has welcomed the ambitious water saving targets for commercial buildings recently set by DEFRA.
Posted in Articles, Building Industry News, Building Products & Structures, Building Regulations & Accreditations, Building Services, Drainage, Drainage Services, Drainage, Guttering, Soffits & Fascias, news, Pipes, Pipes & Fittings, Plumbing, Research & Materials Testing, Sustainability & Energy Efficiency
Associated Steel Window Services (ASWS) has built a solid reputation far beyond the capital for successfully undertaking some of the most challenging fenestration contracts.
Posted in Architectural Ironmongery, Articles, Building Associations & Institutes, Building Industry News, Building Products & Structures, Building Services, Building Systems, Case Studies, Facades, Posts, Restoration & Refurbishment, Retrofit & Renovation, Steel and Structural Frames, Walls, Windows