A drab 1960’s tower block has been transformed into a “building for the future” thanks to a £2.3 million pound refurbishment featuring BENCHMARK Evolution Axis premium insulated panels.
Originally clad with a pre-cast concrete system, Balaam House, Sutton, Surrey had become increasingly tired and offered residents little protection against the cold and damp. To revitalise the building, Sutton Housing Partnership the ALMO who manage Housing on behalf of The London Borough of Sutton hired architects Baily Garner LLP. The firm produced a comprehensive and dynamic refurbishment proposal incorporating 2,300 m2 of BENCHMARK Evolution Axis premium insulated panels.
The premium laser flat insulated panels, installed on the building in both vertical and horizontal orientations, enabled an accelerated build thanks to their single component installation and offered a comprehensive range of detailing options. To provide the tower block with a cheerful aesthetic, cladding contractors RKC Roofing Ltd. fitted the panels in an attention-grabbing pattern, combining Kingspan Spectrum Dark Blue and Pearl colour options with non-standard shades of light blue and grey, specially ordered for the project. The colour scheme was selected by the building’s residents who also provided input on a number of other areas of the refurbishment.
Architect Lewan Somachandra from Baily Garner LLP discussed the scheme:
“For the Balaam House refurbishment we wanted to move away from the insulated rendered systems which are predominantly used to over clad large housing blocks. The BENCHMARK Evolution Axis insulated panels enabled us to take a different approach, creating a distinctive design which will act as a beacon for regeneration in the area.
Speed of construction was another positive outcome, especially as features such as the new double glazed windows could be easily integrated within the panels. In addition, the product’s excellent thermal performance allowed us to create a much warmer and cosier internal environment for residents.”
Benchmark Evolution Axis premium insulated panels are able to achieve U-values as low as 0.13 W/m2.K, helping to greatly reduce the building’s heating energy demands, and their insulation cores are rated A+ in the Green Guide to Specification, possessing low Global Warming Potential and containing no CFC’s or HCFC’s. The premium panels are also insurer approved by the Loss Prevention Certification Board with both internal and external panel faces rated Class O in accordance with the Building Regulations, adding peace of mind about fire performance.
Baily Garner LLP as the client representative delivered the project on behalf of Sutton Housing Partnership. The overall refurbishment work was overseen by main contractors Mulalley & Co Ltd. and includes a range of new features such as enclosed balconies, audio controlled door entry, internal communal area upgrade and a new roof; designed to improve living standards for tenants.
