The new Conwy Culture Centre has recently opened its doors to the public, with Alumasc providing a Blackdown extensive sedum green roof, completing the low-lying, single storey centre and helping it to become part of, and give back to the natural environment.

Alumasc provided a complete roofing solution which included the waterproofing and green roof system. Blackdown’s extensive sedum green roof provides a variety of planting, generally comprising drought tolerant succulents such as sedum, rockery and alpine plants. An example of an extensive green roof, it was an ideal choice for the project as it enabled its roofing element to both blend in with surroundings and positively contribute to the natural environment.

“It was important for the Culture Centre to create a serene environment that would break the barrier between nature and building,” explained Matthew Davies, Area Technical Manager at Alumasc Roofing Systems, who specified materials for the project. “Meeting the BREEAM Excellent certification standard was paramount, and the installation of a green roof was a vital step on this path.”

“The team at Blackdown Greenroofs, an Alumasc company, were extremely diligent in ensuring every effort was made to meet and even exceed the brief. The final result has the added benefit of providing a high level of insulation; another way that a green roof can help a building become more sustainable. People using the centre will find that it is cooler in the summer, warmer in the winter and overall, less energy may be used internally.”

Beneath the greenery, Derbigum high-performance membranes were also specified to ensure a completely watertight installation. The bituminous membranes can be used with a variety of insulation choices including PIR, mineral wool, and extruded polystyrene to suit specification and U-value parameters.

“We worked with 200mm of pre-bonded PIR, which provided the flexibility and easy application we needed for the project,” Matthew said. “Derbigum offers enhanced performance properties including excellent flexibility, fire ratings, strong reinforcement and ease of application, so it’s an extremely popular choice. Critically though, they have a 40-year BBA durability approval with use at zero-falls.”

Throughout the design and construction stages Alumasc Roofing Systems worked closely with DarntonB3 Architecture, the Project Architect. “We were extremely pleased with the workmanship and overall installation of the waterproofing and green roof systems” commented the Project Architect.

Along the duration of the project, the Alumasc team paid the Centre a visit, to assist with the project’s design. “We were able to provide a cost-effective solution, whilst delivering excellent insulation standards by Alumasc,” Matthew says. Although the overall project ran smoothly throughout its building phase, Conwy Culture Centre project did come with some challenges. “The weather was our biggest obstacle,” Matthew revealed, “which slightly delayed the installation of the new roofing system.”