Type of works: Reynaers' CW50 SC curtain walling used in new supermarket.

Reynaers’ CW50 SC curtain walling system has played a key part in the creation of a stunning new Sainsbury’s which is at the heart of the regeneration of Maidenhead town centre.

The £50m regeneration scheme, which has just been completed, incorporates a central public piazza, multi-storey car park, new bus waiting/changing area, residential units and improved transport and pedestrian links to other shops and businesses within the town centre.

One of the key elements of the scheme has been the demolition of the existing Sainsbury’s store and attached car park and construction of a new 80,000 square foot unit on the same site. The new Sainsbury’s store forms the lower floor of the building, whilst the upper floors are utilised for parking and the remaining floors for residential units.

The whole building features Reynaers CW50 SC curtain wall façade and roof system. The CW50 SC was specifically selected as it provides designers with unlimited creative freedom, allowing maximum entrance of light into a building. This is because the structurally clamped system permits any combination of vertical and inclined planes, together with the integration of different types of vents, creating a seamless façade with no exterior capping required.

The benefits of the system are particularly apparent in the new store itself where an expansive glazed area, stretching from floor to ceiling, allows maximum light into a unit with limited natural daylight. Moreover, the thermal properties of the system enable accurate temperature control within the store, despite the large glazed area, which is a vital requirement in a food retail environment.

Reynaers National Sales Manager, Paul Duffy commented, “We’re proud to have played a significant part in such a major project. Our CW50 SC system was perfect for the task in hand as it created a stunning exterior while maximising the light entering the building, one of the key requirements of the design.”

He continued, “The result is a striking, light, airy and modern building which is exactly what the planners had in mind for the centrepiece of the new-look Maidenhead. “