When it came to the glazing of a new retail park there was only one option.
Architectural aluminium systems by Kawneer were the default specification for Saunders Architects when it came to the glazed elements of a new retail park.
Kawneer’s AA®100 zone-drained curtain walling, AA®541 fixed light windows, AA®543 tilturn vents and series 190 heavy-duty commercial entrance doors feature on four units at Bell Green Retail Park in Sydenham, south east London.
The £19million development on the remediated former 13-acre site of Bell Green gas works comprises a total 120,000ft2 of retail plus 19,000ft2 of employment/industrial. The Kawneer elements serve as double-glazed polyester powder coated entrance screens and automatic doors, and a feature entrance lobby to the B&Q unit.
retail units and four employment units comprise portal framed steelwork structures with a minimum internal clear height of 6.5m, barrel vaulted roofs of insulated aluminium profiled built-up sheeting, and horizontal composite walls on the rear elevation.
Saunders’ senior partner Leo Poole said: “Kawneer is our office’s default specification based upon good experience in the past and their extensive technical advice.
“It is a significant part of the main elevation facing the public retail car park and complies with the aesthetic and performance requirements of the project perfectly. They were key elements to the main frontage which need to be integrated with care and to suit the modular nature of the rest of the elevation design.”
The Kawneer systems were installed over seven months by Kawneer-approved specialist sub-contractor Leay for main contractor Kier Construction. The other retail tenants were Toys R Us, Pets At Home, Currys/PC World and Next.