Project:South Bank University
Sector: Education
Architect: Hawkins Brown
Client: London South Bank University
Products: Rainscreen Cladding

Rainscreen cladding from Bailey has been used in the transformation of a previously underused car park into a new Student Centre at London South Bank University.

The new Student Centre at London South Bank University has been designed as a hub for social and educational interaction. The refurbishment of the external envelope was critical to the change in use. The structure of the building was changed to bring light and a modern feel to the multi-use space.

Rainscreen cladding was used on the front of the university building to add to the visual impact. The architect visualised a bespoke finish to the rainscreen cladding to resemble the bark of a London Plane tree.

To meet this design requirement Bailey created a unique finish by perforating the aluminium panels. Working from the photo of the tree, a series of perforations were designed to reflect the pattern of the bark. This was achieved using Bailey’s fully CNC turret punch machine; the pattern was programmed in and then punched out.

The Bailey Prima Rainscreen system was applied to this project with its perfect adaptability. The neat recesses of the system ensured that the fixings did not detract from the aesthetics of the perforations thus creating a firm, secure yet visually pleasing rainscreen.

The panels were coated in durable and long-lasting Bailey Anodising. With over 30 years of experience in the industry Bailey had the expertise to ensure a consistent anodised finish was achieved in terms of colour and coverage. Anodised finish can be easily damaged prior to installation. At Bailey we are committed to ensure that the anodised systems arrive on site without damage, this is achieved by incorporating unique packaging methods, individually wrapping each panel and crating the materials. Bailey’s strict quality control system ensured the optimum aesthetics were achieved on both the design and finish.