A new student accommodation development in Manchester features a glistening façade created through the use of glass and metal cladding panels from Proteus Façades.
The development features Proteus GL 5mm glass panels with a RAL 5004 Dark-Blue finish installed on the external façade of the 32-storey building and across the inner courtyards.
Based in Manchester City Centre, River Street Tower is situated in the First Street Neighbourhood, between River Street and Garwood Street, next to the Mancunian Way.
Architects Simpson Haugh also specified the Proteus GL panels as they have a EN13501 certified to A2-s1,d0 fire rating, which is in line with Downing Construction’s safety guidelines in all aspects of design and build.
Sitting alongside other buildings in the development, the glass panels also provide a contrast against Corten weathered steel rainscreen cladding which features on the external facing elevations of the connecting ten and five storey structures. These steel alloy panels, which forms a rust-like appearance over time, were chosen to provide a contextual connection with the copper shades featured on other buildings in the surrounding area.
The company also fabricated Proteus SC 3mm aluminium profiled panels in a matching RAL 5004 Dark-Blue gloss finish for installation alongside the building’s windows. These panelsincorporate hidden vents that provide a design-led way of improving air circulation within the building but without interrupting the aesthetics of the external façade.
River Street Tower comprises of 791 student bed spaces that includes a mix of studios, clusters bedrooms and apartments as well as resident amenity space. It also features state-of-the-art onsite amenities such as a cinema room, private dining area, gym and gaming zone.
At ground level, where the student amenity spaces and associated plant and back of house spaces reside, Proteus HR natural anodised aluminium cladding panels feature on the base of the building forming an external inset wall and soffit. These panels were chosen to illuminate the walkway leading onto the courtyards and off-street entrances and provide a lighter finish against the dark blue façade.
Installed by Alumet, each Proteus GL, SC and HR cladding panel is fixed to the Tower using a system of aluminium carriers and ancillary components, also manufactured by Proteus. The system can be installed on to any type of wall construction and enables the panels to be easily hooked in place. This useful feature also means that individual panels can be removed to allow access for service and maintenance if ever required once the development is complete.
