Due to the building’s age and history, all external cladding was removed back to the parent steel frame and reclad with a Kingspan system providing a contemporary look and feel while meeting current performance standards. As with many refurbishments, there was a lack of record information and, following cladding removal, a variety of structural challenges to the proposed refurbishment became evident. Numerous bays of previously unknown bracing were exposed and had to be removed, using the 100m2 extension to the front of the building to provide the ‘missing’ building stability. Detailed co-ordination with cladding and glazing suppliers ensured adequate temporary support during the fixing of the new cladding system and the eye catching, tapering glazed feature frontage.
