Dowsil Quality Bond member Architectural Engineering Ltd (AEL) helped to deliver of a unitised glazing and cladding package for, a commercial office project at 100 Embankment in Greengate, Salford.

The second phase of a joint development on the site of the city’s historic Exchange Station, the project is being led by BAM Construction and building envelope contractor Prater. The 11-storey steel-framed building has been designed by London based architectural practice, Flanagan Lawrence. 

While the structure of the podium skyscraper shows elements of rainscreen cladding and glass reinforced concrete, AEL’s curtain wall package encloses the four main elevations. A total of 1,164 panels – featuring a 350mm deep aluminium channel covering the floor zones – were installed, making a total area of 7,000m2. The façade’s assembly and installation included the use of Dowsil 993 Structural Glazing Sealant to bond the glazing elements, as well as Dowsil 791 Weatherproofing Sealant for all of the weather-sealing applications. 

All of the IGUs were assembled by sub-contractor Interpane using Dowsil 3363 Insulating Glass Sealant – formulated in response to modern architectural designs featuring larger glass areas.

Although AEL and the Sherwin Williams Company, supplier of Dowsil, have a working relationship going back to the mid-2000s, the final specification of the Dowsil products for the Greengate 100 contract rested with Prater; verified by the architects and main contractor.  As part of the Quality Bond procedures, both AEL and Sherwin Williams conducted tests, before and during the contract period, including assessment of a trial rig comprising the structural glazed units and the aluminium feature panels. The largest glass panels used measured 1,646 by 3,296 mm while the ‘bite size’ for the structural glazing was 12 by 6 mm, with individual units weighing up to 300 kg.  There was also the additional challenge of manufacturing and installing a variety of curved panels designed to different radii. 

specification.sherwin-williams.co.uk/

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