Eurobond Rainspan was specified as the supporting structure for the distinctive rainscreen veil that surrounds the National Graphene Institute a futuristic beacon of research and development in Manchester.

The client wanted the building to meet technical specification and to have a distinctive visual look, with the equations used in graphene research positioned on the side of the building.

To meet strict ISO standards, vibration controls were the key factor in determining the layout and specification of the whole project.

To achieve this, two structurally independent frames would need to fit together underneath one roof; an ‘inner skin’ would be created to sit between the outer veil and building structure.

Eurobond Rainspan was specified as the best material for the task. This versatile composite panel option would provide the necessary weather tightness and fire resistance, while also providing the perfect structural support for the rainscreen system being used.

The Rainspan composite panel was specified in Colorcoat Prisma® pre-fi nished steel in Silver Metallic as the supporting structure for the outer rainscreen veil. This specification married an aesthetically pleasing finish with support for the intricate layer of black stainless steel cassettes that would allow the display of the graphene equations on the outside of the building.

One of the most challenging aspects of the project was the meticulously planned installation of the stainless steel rainscreen, using the Rainspan composite panel as the supporting structure removed. Eurobond composite panels provided the required thermal insulation, supported the load of the rainscreen, and accommodated flush windows and other openings, meeting all the client’s visual and technical requirements.

The veil around the Eurobond cladding used hexagonal perforations to show off the mathematical formulas that helped its discoverers earn the Nobel Prize for Physics.