Solution: Elastic Bonding
Architect: Church Lukas
Contractor: Oskomera
For the creation of a new student accommodation building, architects wanted to create a building that provided visual impact. To help achieve this, they designed an impressive facade that comprised of four very different cladding materials. To ensure that unslightly cladding fioxings ditn spoilt the overall aesthetics an advanace secret fix cladding adhesive systems was specified - SikaTack Panel Adhesive from global manufacturer of building materials, Sika.
Located in on the main A1 running through Islington, London, Derwent Point features 136 studio apartments plus retail and commercial space at ground floor level. Designed by architects Church Lukas to achieve BREEAM ‘Excellent’ the building, which incorporates 20% on-site renewable, features a checkerboard facade that features an ambitious mix of four different cladding products. Built by main contractor Galliford Try, specialist contractor Oskomera was tasking with installing the complex facade.
The mix of cladding includes a FRP composite panel from Steni UK, high pressure laminate (HPL) panels from Trespa and a stone cladding system. For architectural interest Church Lukas specified Chromatics RS from Cladding Solutions. This was used to create a reflective strip that runs up one elevation of the building and round part of the top. Specified in black, it creates a reflective contrast between the biscuit and white colour of the rest of the building facade.
To hold the Chromatics RS system in place without detracting from its clean architectural lines, a cladding support system from Eurofox Engineering was chosen. This was used in conjunction with the innovative secret fix adhesive system from Sika. Together the two systems - both of which are BBA (British Board of Accreditation) - have enabled the opaque glass to be held in securely in place without any noticeable fixings or support mechanism. In addition to the Chromatics RS, SikaTack Panel Adhesive was used for bonding the Steni mineral cladding and some of the Trespa cladding.
A revolutionary elastic bonding system, it requires no screws or brackets, instead using advanced elastic bonding technology to adhere cladding panels to the support system. Sika Tack Panel Adhesive provides an immensely strong structural bond and by providing a direct bond, without the need for mechanical fixing, it aids energy efficiency. Metal bonds cause cold bridging, by conducting temperature from outside of the building envelope to beneath the insulation layers of façades. SikaTack Panel Adhesive, however, ensures optimal thermal retention.
As demonstates at Derwent Point, Sika Tack Panel Adhesive is versatile being able to be used with a variety of materials including composites, ceramics, high pressure laminates, glass, cement based material and the majority of powder coated substrates and metals. It is also especially easy to install. After the cleaning and preparation of contact points, a primer is applied to both the cladding panel and the support system. Powerful double-sided Sika Fixing Tape is then applied to hold panels in place temporarily whilst the SikaTack Panel Adhesive cures. Following this, Sika Tack Panel Adhesive is applied to cladding and supports, which are fixed in place to form a permanent bond.
SikaTack Panel Adhesive has impressive wind loading and dead weight capacities that far exceed mechanical fixings. As the bond is elastic the panels can shift in line with normal building movements and by reducing stress on them their longevity is improved considerably.
With its stunning checkerboard design and held securely in place with SikaTack Panel Adhesive systems, Derwent Point is a shining – and in part reflective – example of what can be achieved by mixing different cladding systems.