An unusual mixed-use building was the challenging project for Sainsbury's Supermarkets Limited and South Thames College in Tooting, London.
Designed by Aukett Europe, the complex and highly specified building project incorporates many creative design features to accommodate the needs of both its users, who each have very different requirements, one being a busy supermarket, the other a significant educational facility.
The challenge in the design was to create a multi-purpose building that would fulfil both users' requests but at the same time serve a large number of visitors, as well as fit into the neighbouring urban surroundings and contribute to the town centre's regeneration scheme.
Colour and form have been used to signal entrances and distinguish the building's different functions, and these are further emphasised with the use of innovative materials, canopies, glazing and roofscape.
In particular, Aukett sought to make a feature of the front elevation of the building, which leans over a pedestrian walkway. Gridframe aluminium curtain walling was specified because it was able to meet the design brief by way of the system's inherent design flexibilities and capabilities. An additional advantage to the system is that it provides noise reduction properties to minimise sound levels from the high street, which would otherwise affect the college.
Side and rear elevations also incorporate Proframe Window Wall system, which has been specifically developed to be cost-effective for building projects with façades of up to 2-storeys.
All fenestration was designed and manufactured using the Glostal system to meet the designs of Aukett Europe, and installed by Twide Paragon.
The building comprises a Sainsbury's Supermarket of 2,100m2 sales floor, back-up areas and offices. The 3,700m2 college occupies the first and second floors producing a total development of 7,900m2 plus a car park for 210 cars. The development is sited on an L-shaped brown field site, which has rear boundaries to residential areas and was the existing location for the South Thames College.
The Retail Specialist
Retailers need to attract customers and to present their premises in the most exciting, innovative and open way, whilst giving consideration to their security and need for low maintenance.
With the Glostal, Monarch and Dualframe ranges of curtain walling, shopfront doors and framing, all these requirements can be satisfied. Combine the inherent strength of our systems with a wide range of hinged and sliding doors and the choice of manual or automatic operation, to complete the perfect façade.
A wide range of durable and colourful polyester powder coated or anodised finishes enables our shopfronts to support whatever corporate image is demanded by your design.
Sapa Building Systems Limited, Alexandra Way, Ashchurch, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, GL20 8NB --- Company Number : 01029071
