CASE STUDY:Coventry University Engineering & Computing Faculty Building CASE STUDY: Bespoke Facade & Raised Access PHONE: +44(0)1276 41 42 43 Flooring by MERO-SCHMIDLIN WWW.MERO-SCHMIDLIN.COM

The design brief from the client was very based Bespoke Facade Contractors were demanding, to create a top quality multi- called upon to offer their design capability functional facility to house lecture theatres, and bespoke engineered building envelope workshops, classrooms and combined social system. The facade was not only complicated learning areas built to the highest possible because of its geometry but also included sustainability standards achieving BREEAM the utilising of a multi zoned drainage system Excellent rating. The fundamental principal and interior engineered timber panels. was that not only does it need to be a building MSUK’s design team were able to call upon the students will learn in, but also learn from. the considerable combined Mero Group Here was a blank canvas which should allow expertise in both Germany & Switzerland the engineers of tomorrow the freedom working with the project architect, Sean to explore and interact with the building Macintosh of Arup Associates, to offer a as to, use of space, environmental control, redesign of the radical façade structure whilst sustainability and selection of materials. The maintaining the desired abstract geometric building needs to inspire and motivate the appearance. The internal support system was The glazed atrium Designed and Installed by students but also with its naturally ventilated revised to simplify the framing and some MERO-SCHMIDLIN bridges the existing ‘didactic’ skin, become a living breathing of the aluminium extrusion mullions were building abutting the very contemporary (literally) showcase for building materials and changed to steel by the design team to meet new faculty their implementation. The new faculty will fire requirements. The reassurance of working also house a £2.6m ERDF sponsored centre with the Mero design team, whose portfolio supporting the development of sustainable includes the Scottish Parliament Building, technologies. One of the main Heathrow Terminal Three and similar projects challenges was to mix these materials, design at City University and Chessington and best practise in installation without Community College, was appreciated by all the building resembling a metaphorical parties. The systems and components have patchwork quilt. This has been achieved been continually developed in Germany and externally by the use of natural anodised Switzerland since the 1930’s and are used rain screen cladding for its highly durable by all of the Mero network of production quality and aesthetics. The design concept facilities stretching from mainland Europe to was intended to push the boundaries of both , Kuala Lumpur and Dubai. Whilst materials and installation. The cladding was the first port of call for most architects are required to interact with the window hoods of course manufacturers, the added benefit and brise soleil in addition to housing the of a Bespoke System Design capability from opening windows, which form part of the experienced contractors was paramount in mixed mode natural ventilation strategy for achieving a design that met the aesthetic teaching areas and combined social - learning aspirations of the client and architects in spaces One of the BREEAM prerequisites was addition to being a value engineered solution not only the use of natural materials but also in its installation. The high performance that they should be sustainably sourced. façade achieved as a result of the redesign This resulted in a requirement for a complex was central to achieving the required mixture of engineered timber mullions and BREEAM status as well as meeting the transoms which tend to be a more common sound absorption requirements by use of One of the many complications of the design component in mainland Europe than they are integrated acoustic insulation and perforated was the fact that very little of the structure is currently in the UK. A specialist organisation, engineered timber panels internally. upright Mero-Schmidlin (UK) PLC, the Camberley

“ Mero-Schmidlin UK have helped greatly to achieve a project that is both dynamic and apparently effortless, this is a hallmark of good design and coordination”

Sean Macintosh, Arup Associates The MERO Combi T Raised Access Flooring System was used to With any other manufacturer or contractor the façade package form the tiers in two auditoriums within the complex. alone would have been a very worthwhile contribution but MSUK’s other division were on the proverbial sub’s bench awaiting their opportunity. The Raised Access Flooring division headed by Neil Burrows were called up to deal with the internal undulations within the site to continue the design and sustainability brief.

The complicated geometrics are not just limited to the outside of the building. The flooring is required to coordinate with the sloping facades requiring multiple levels throughout the faculty. This is of course an everyday challenge to a raised access flooring manufacturer and installer.

As with the façade, the combination of manufacturing and installation experience offered a great deal of technical input in both the design and fitting of the materials plus advice on their selection. In order to meet, and exceed, the very stringent requirements of the BREEAM excellent rating there was a multitude of additional demands over and above any ‘normal’ flooring installation. The Raised Access Flooring systems were required to incorporate integral under floor heating, using MSUK’s calcium sulphate hollow floor system in communal areas, plus the addition of air plenums for the passive environmental controls. In some areas of the faculty the actual flooring area was raised by as much as 500mm to allow for all of the building service functions and the raised floors panels have been adapted to suit various floor coverings including ceramic and carpet tiles plus beech veneer, some of which were factory applied for programme efficiency On the sustainability issue required to meet the BREEAM scoring system, re-used ceramic tiles were incorporated with tiles manufactured from recycled porcelain along with the multitude of other surfaces fitted on to the raised backing panels. As part of the package award criteria MSUK were required to recover over 3,000 square metres of pre-used backing panels from a refurbishment project in that might otherwise have gone into landfill. A The MERO Combi T Raised Access Flooring System in the great working example of building material reuse in action! reception area includes a wet underfloor heating system F

PHONE: +44(0)1276 41 42 43 WWW.MERO-SCHMIDLIN.COM

Raised Access Flooring In addition to under floor heating and recycled material there was an enormous amount of precision required from the MSUK installation team. The interaction involved with other trades in addition to coordinating and “As part of the package award protecting accessible areas is always a huge challenge on any building site.

criteria MSUK were required The most testing element was still to come, the construction of two to recover over 3,000 square auditoriums was to have very precise stepped levels involving meticulous setting out and installation. The whole area was to be constructed from metres of pre-used backing MSUK’s raised flooring system components to provide a stable platform for panels from a refurbishment the tiered seating, whilst also delivering air circulation via slots cut into the project in London that might fascia. otherwise have gone into landfill.

A great working example of building material reuse in action!”

Neil Burrows, Sales Manager Raised Access Floors Mero-Schmidlin (UK) PLC

MERO-SCHMIDLIN (UK) PLC Phone: +44(0)1276 41 42 43 ‘Marlin’, 459 London Road Fax: +44(0)1276 41 42 41 Camberley, GU15 3JA Email: [email protected] United Kingdom Web: www.mero-schmidlin.com