Architectural
glazing systems by leading UK manufacturer Kawneer feature on what is now
Hampshire's biggest building - the £30 million new exhibition centre at
Farnborough, home of the world-renowned international airshow.
Kawneer's AA®100
zone-drained and facetted curtain walling and two types of entrance doors - the
thermally superior AA®720 and heavy-duty series 190 doors - have been used on
the new Hall
1 at Farnborough International Exhibition and Conference Centre (FIECC).
The
20,000m2 facility was purpose-built as a replacement for the
temporary Hall 4 and is complementary to the existing 3,000m2 Hall 5 which was built in 2008.
Spanning
two floors, Hall 1 has a vast, pillar-free space capable of showcasing major
events. The 12,500m2 exhibition hall comprises two spacious entrance
foyers, nine dedicated and adaptable function rooms, and free onsite parking
for up to 3,500 cars.
Designed by
architects Terence O'Rourke, the contemporary new facility has attracted a host
of new launches and exhibitions, alongside a raft of major conferences, live
events and big-budget feature films.
It has
also enabled existing events to grow - Screwfix for example, a long-term
exhibitor at FIECC's Hall 5, grew from an 8,000m2 show to a
12,500m2, resulting in a rise in exhibitor numbers from 14,000
to 23,000.
Hall 1 has also
already hosted the first Global Urban Air Summit, bringing international
representatives from across the sector together with investors and regulators
to determine how this monumental transport shift is to take place. The venue is
now also host to Vertical Flight Expo and Conference which has relocated from
London.
The Kawneer
aluminium systems were installed over five months by a team of up to six from
approved specialist sub-contractor/dealer Leay for main contractor Wates
Construction.
The specification
required two different glass configurations for solar control depending on the
location of the elevation to achieve thermal modelling and U-value
requirements, with low G-value (0.18) units used on the two large screens on
the east and west foyers.
Leay also worked
alongside the brise soleil suppliers to ensure the bespoke "airplane
blade" system was adequately fixed and supported from the Kawneer curtain
walling.
Leay's business
development manager Mike Watts said: "The main point of interest was the
low G-value glazing required on the project to provide almost a mirror effect
on the glazing to make it appear like a continuation of the sky and allowing
for some brilliant reflections during the airshow.
"Kawneer was
Leay's system of choice on this project due to the unique brise soleil being
applied which imposed additional loadings onto the structural grid on the
curtain wall."
He added:
"Kawneer was used as an alternative to the specified system as it provided
the exact same structural performance and detailing but from a better cost
point. The architects over the years had used the specified system without
being aware of Kawneer's capabilities. That has subsequently changed
also."
Commissioned to
support Farnborough International's expansion strategy, the scheme has been
funded with loans from a unique consortium of lenders including the Local
Enterprise Partnership, Enterprise M3, Hampshire County Council, Rushmoor
Borough Council and Barclays.
