Structura UK Ltd
Breakspear Park
Following the Buncefield oil depot incident in December 2005, Structura UK Ltd was appointed to replace the curtain walling to the damaged north elevation of the 4-storey Breakspear Park building in Hemel Hempstead, including a new entrance façade and glazed revolving door, in a contract worth £1.2 million.
The incident caused the original frames to sheer and buckle and the glazing to substantially deflect, and in many cases to crack and break. As a result of a detailed site evaluation by Cladtech Associates, cladding consultants, in conjunction with the Chessington-based company, Structura designed, supplied and installed new, bespoke Schüco aluminium extrusions in a metallic finish to match existing, incorporating standard double-glazed units in a body-tinted green to replicate the undamaged glazing. New white internal frames provide a more modern appearance for tenants.
Structura replaced all the glass screens surrounding the imposing main entrance (which consists of an all-glass revolving door and three single doors) and the screens to many of the staircases. At Breakspear Place, an adjoining building, similar, remedial curtain walling treatment was carried out by Structura. Despite the force of the blast, the buildings required no structural work other than cosmetic and aesthetic remedial work. The main contractor was Modus Unitech.
Following a recent £10 million refurbishment, the Breakspear Park complex offers high quality office accommodation to exacting standards. It was purpose-built in 1989 for BP as its European headquarters building using a reinforced concrete frame clad in Bath stone.
Says Paul Sanders, Project Director of Catalyst Capital LLP: “The development was managed by Catalyst Capital and Structura UK was very co-operative throughout this challenging remedial project. The site was part occupied by existing tenants so some work had to be undertaken outside normal working hours and Structura worked most professionally with our in-house property team. As a result, we are working again with Structura on a major landmark building above Fenchurch Street Station, London.”
The owner of the 300,000 sq ft, 16-acre site in Hemel Hempstead is Breakspear Park Trustee Ltd. The facilities manager for the property is King Sturge Management Ltd.
Further information is available from Structura UK Ltd, curtainwall engineering specialist, Unit 1, Oakcroft Road, Chessington, Surrey KT9 1RH. Tel: 020 8397 4361. Fax: 020 8391 5805. Email: mail@structura.co.uk Web: www.structura-uk.com
PR Contact: Martin Staheli Associates, Kingston upon Thames.
Tel/Fax: 020 8974 5768. Email: martinstaheli@msa-pr.co.uk
Toshiba Tec Europe Head Office
One of the hundreds of businesses badly damaged by the explosion at the Buncefield oil depot in December 2005 was the 3-storey premises of Toshiba Tec Europe, Hemel Hempstead.
In a contract worth over £308,000, Structura UK Ltd, curtainwall engineering specialists, manufactured, supplied and installed 36 sets of new Hueck windows to a tight schedule working closely with Jomarth Builders Ltd and Savills Commercial Ltd. The aluminium framed windows are double glazed with an 8mm outer pane and a 6mm inner pane in a Sunguard silver grey colour, and comprise a mix of tilt and turn openers and fixed lights.
Above the main entrance, repairs to the curtain walling, measuring approximately 15m high x 6m wide, included deglazing, resealing of gaskets and relining. Structura repaired the clear glass to the main entrance and commissioned new automatic sliding door operators.
Five sets of Hueck aluminium framed manual doors - 3 fire exit doors and 2 loading bay doors, each glazed in a Sunguard silver grey colour - were manufactured and installed by Structura.
Further information is available from Structura UK Ltd, Unit 1, Oakcroft Road, Chessington, Surrey KT9 1RH. Tel: 020 8397 4361. Fax: 020 8391 5805.