Trent Concrete Limited
Trent Brings a touch of Italian chic to Manchester
To the master architects of the Italian Renaissance, ‘belvedere’ was a building that was partly open to the sky, positioned so those inside could relishmagnificent views of their surroundings.
It is a theme adopted by Aedas Architects and Wilson Bowden Developments
Ltd to craft a unique structure at the aptly named Belvedere office complex
in Manchester, which perfectly encapsulates this 400-year-old ideal.
The project boasts distinctive private terraces, commanding panoramas
across the modern city and now some of the finest precast concrete claddingever produced by Trent Concrete.
| Project: | Belvedere office complex |
| Client/Contractor: | Wilson Bowden Developments Ltd |
| Architect: | Adeas Architects |
| Products | Reconstructed stone cladding |
| Completion date: | November 2007 |
The Brief
To give the final touch of sophistication, Trent Concrete
designed, manufactured and installed a range of
stunning reconstructed stone cladding at this major £20m development.
Solution
Complementing the dazzling exterior glass façade, Trent’s stunning spandrel and mullion precast concrete
cladding gives a sublime, natural stone-like finish
around the outside of the development. The cladding
has been designed in close partnership with
the architect and contractor to mould the ideal bespoke solution.
Under the £434,000 contract, which began in
August 2007, the company manufactured the panels
specified off-site, so they were ready and waiting
for installation before the end of November.
Benefits
Delivered to site on a just in time basis, every
individually moulded Trent Concrete unit is carefully
craned into place. Being manufactured off-site means that time on site is reduced, avoiding any unnecessary
disruptions or delays – and ensuring that overall
efficiency is enhanced.
Trent Concrete products offer a number of benefits
over traditional stone cladding, from cost effectiveness
to speed of construction and durability. The company
has also undertaken a sustainability review of all
aspects of its work to ensure minimum environmental
impact and carbon footprint.
Mixing the old with the new
The 16,000 sq ft of office space at Belvedere
is spread over eight floors (including ground)
and, while modern in appearance, has been
skillfully designed to blend with neighbouring
buildings and streets in the Half Square Mile
business district.
Trent drew on all its precasting skills to create
a concrete cladding solution that would meet
and exceed all the architect’s desires for this
eye catching development.
