Lucas Furniture, Aylesbury

BuCKINGHAMSHIRE

This Furniture Showroom features a curved colonnade, with stone-clad columns and curtain walling, between side elevations, which are clad in Aerobrik brick slips and Aerolite Jura Beige stone.

External composite Rainspan panels were fixed direct to the structural steel frame, with plain panels at the rear of the building.

The facilities also contain internal offices, storage and other ancillary areas.

CADDICK CONSTRUCTION

A²0 were very helpful during our tender process and our partner of choice for the façade cladding at Lucas Furniture.

They carried out a very comprehensive design for the panels, brick slip and, in particular, the stone rainscreen which was all fabricated in China – there was little room for error!

The site management were extremely proactive in putting safe measures in place through the Covid crisis. Despite the unprecedented circumstances the key programme dates were met.

We look forward to work with A2O on future projects.

Richard Miller

Senior Site Manager

Challenges

The spreading of the loading of the stone rainscreen, Aerolite stone and Aerobrik brick slips, was an important consideration.

The curved colonnade required precision design input. The stone soffit to the curved colonnade required extra fixings and support. There was very limited space between the faceted stone on the columns and the curtain walling.

The COVID-19 crisis was a challenge, for safe working and the impact on the import of internationally sourced materials.

Solutions

The exact loadings were checked with data from supplier Eurobond. The design of the support work and access structure were engineered accordingly.

The faceted stone required a secondary support structure. Extra measures were taken to protect the curtain wall, when installing the Aerolite stone cladding to the columns.

The RAMS was completely re-written to meet all COVID-19 biosecurity requirements for safe working.