Solution: Elastic Bonding
Architect: BDP
Contractor: UNITE
Emily Bowes Court, a new student village accommodation built by UNITE Group, is the first stage in a massive mixed use development as part of the regeneration of Tottenham Hale. With an external cladding system combining Trespa Meteon and Marley Eternit Natura panels, the new building needed a robust and cost-effective fixing system. SikaTack Panel Adhesive System, from global building product manufacturer Sika, provided the ideal solution.
Part of a major regeneration scheme designed by architects BDP, the new student block will provide term-time accommodation for 687 University of the Arts’ students. Upon the whole project’s completion in 2012, the 12 acre Hale Village site will house residential units, large commercial and retail spaces, a primary school, hotel and medical centre.
Built by UNITE Group, the UK’s leading provider of student accommodation, the external cladding was selected to provide long-lasting colour quality, minimal maintenance and ease of installation as well as being chosen for its textural quality. With aesthetics and durability of utmost importance, the Trespa Meteon cladding was chosen in different shades of orange and green to create an aesthetically appealing facade, with the Marley Eternit Natura providing a complementary stone colour. To hold the cladding firmly in place, and without unsightly fixings that could diminish the architectural aesthetics, a flexible and efficient fixing system was required. For this, SikaTack Panel Adhesive was specified.
SikaTack Panel Adhesive requires no screws, rivets, clips or brackets, as unlike complex mechanical secret fixes, it relies on the exceptional adhesive power of its bonding agent. It can be used on a wide range of materials, including ceramics, composites, high pressure laminates and cement based panels. The system also works on the majority of metals and powder coated substrates to offer an unrivalled adhesive solution.
Efficient to install, SikaTack Panel Adhesive has been fully tested and accredited by the British Board of Agrément (BBA) and DiBT.It has also been through rigorous testing, monitored and endorsed by CWCT and is supported with impressive wind loading and dead weight statistics. It reduces cold bridging, and with its elastic bond also reduces the stress placed on the cladding panels by allowing them to move in line with normal building movements.
The system is further supported by an on-going development programme by Sika which sees the company work closely with panel manufacturers to undertake adhesion testing on new cladding materials to ensure suitability.
Offering the specifier and installer many distinct advantages over mechanical fixings, applying the SikaTack Panel Adhesive System is a simple process. After cleaning all the surfaces, the Sika trained operatives applied a panel primer to contact points between the cladding panels and the support system. Sika Fixing Tape was then applied to ensure the panels stayed in place whilst the SikaTack Panel Adhesive cured. Following the application of the adhesive, the cladding panels were installed, providing long lasting and seamless results.
The innovative SikaTack Panel Adhesive System allows architects and designers to consistently improve their aesthetic and technical standards within the modern built environment.
With its easy installation and outstanding durability, the exceptional adhesive system from Sika continues to set the highest standards in secret cladding fixing, with Emily Bowes Court a flawless example.