Kingsway Shopping Centre, Newport, Gwent

Kingsway Shopping Centre, Newport, Gwent

Client: Kingsway Shopping Centre, Newport, Gwent
Architect: Colman Architects
Contractor: BAM Construction
Type of works: Supply and installation of custom-designed barriers

Synopsis:
Custom designed safety barrier based on the use of horizontal, circular bars that empathises with the flow of the steel cladding. An internal curve to the barriers minimises the visual impact as well as inhibiting climbing and meeting pedestrian safety standards. The bars are easily replaceable in the event of damage. Flexible bollards were developed for use as intermediate mounting posts. Standard Berry spring steel buffers were used to secure the exposed sacrificial wall.

Specification:
1,465m perimeter barrier and balustrade comprising 139.7mm x 5mm CHS impact rail supported by modified Flexi-Bollards. Tubular bar and infill panels top and bottom with mesh screen. 308m Berry Beam mounted on RB1X 100 x 14mm Spring Steel Buffers with handrail and anti-climb mesh. Including ‘twice force’ performance where required.

A new multi-storey car park in Newport, Gwent was designed to link the refurbished Kingsway Shopping Centre to a new £200m Friars Walk development. Subsequently the Friars Walk project was temporarily suspended so an intended sacrificial wall became an exposed perimeter. Colman Architects decided that the style of the cladding would be vital to the overall success of the design and that the perimeter barriers would need to be an integral part of the facade treatment or their essential function could overwhelm and dominate the aesthetics.

Recognising that the performance aspects of the barriers would need to be designed into custom made solutions, Berry Systems were invited to develop barriers that harmonised with the design without compromising safety and performance. Early empirical testing revealed the need for interim posts to support the horizontal bars. Rigid posts would need to withstand high pull out loadings and therefore need deep embedments. This would compromise the thin floor profile which was a key feature of the design.

Berry’s solution involved adapting an existing flexible bollard system to create a mounting post with impact absorbing characteristics. This reduced the pull out loadings to manageable levels. Discreet anti-climb mesh was added to eliminate step up points. The car park opened in August 2009 and was shortlisted for the British Parking Awards 2010 Car Park of the Year.

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