SHINING LIGHT ON A CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE
The Foyle Arena in Derry uses large areas of Kalwall® for the pool
area and sports hall elevations in order to minimise glare and
maximise natural daylight. Designed and specified by architects
Samuel Stevenson & Sons, this centre of excellence forms part
of the North-West Regional Sports Campus. The Kalwall is a key
component of the £12.7m re-development with double indoor
swimming pool coupled with new facilities for Judo, Wrestling
and Mountaineering.
During the day, the Kalwall enhances daylight and distributes it
internally without shadows and glare while at night it creates a
welcoming glow with scallop-shaped backlighting. The unique
ability to transmit large amounts of usable light with relatively low
levels of solar heat gain means less radiant energy transmitted
and this, coupled with diffusion, does away with the hot spots
and glare. With increased natural daylight and resistance to solar
gain, energy-consuming artificial lighting and air-conditioning
costs are dramatically reduced.
Kalwall is highly resistant to impact, making it excellent for use
in schools, leisure facilities, gymnasia, offices and other public
buildings. It is particularly popular for swimming pools and
sports halls. Glare on a swimming pool surface is a common
concern with dazzling rippled sunlight bouncing off the surface
which can cause discomfort to swimmers. In addition, it can
be a serious safety concern as lifeguards can struggle to see
swimmers should they be in need of assistance. In sports halls, it
is also important that there is an even distribution of light so that
players can distinguish markings on the floor as well as easily
spotting balls and other obstacles.
Kalwall is a popular choice for projects where performance, long
life cycle and low maintenance are required, coupled with an
aesthetic finish. The lightweight system reduces the need for
supporting structures while offering the highest protection in
terms of wind-borne debris and resistance to impact, abrasion
and point loads.
Case studies and technical information are available from
Structura UK Ltd on tel: 01233 501 504 or by visiting www.
structura-uk.com/kalwall
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