canteen , parapet wall strip windows and 3rd floor balconies utilised a pressure glazed system .
The unitised system met the additional challenges of multiple curved corners and splayed façade junctions . The Solar E Plus grey fully toughened glass was retained for the upper levels and the specification varied between a double and single glazed system depending on the façade orientation . With more façade area and greater opportunities to create interest in the façade blades , the darker glass helped to create the contrast between the glass and the white powder-coated aluminium fins that was sought . The high solar performance characteristics helped deal with the high solar levels primarily on the western façades and also reduced a lot of glare into the office environment .
The darker and heavier visual effect of the upper level flush glazed façades was then offset by choosing a lighter , more see-through glass on the ground floor canteen level . The entire ground floor space is set back from the upper floor edges which provides the internal spaces with some shading from the overhangs . Due to the ground floor now operating as office space rather than the canteen in the central building , the glazing was changed from a Solar E Clear glass to a Cool-lite KN 153II double glazed specification . The increased performance over the previous specification ensured that the internal environment met all the required standards . The 4th floor balcony with its better orientated eastern sea view remained as the Solar E clear .
The central reception lobby façade , now with an additional level added , remained a key visual interface with the public . With a good orientation , and sitting nested between two dark glazed façades , this zone needed to stand out during the day and the night and ensure that the entry point into the building was clearly defined .
The Spider Glass façades in a 12mm Cool-lite ST 167 Neutral glass offered a slightly higher solar performance level than the Solar E Clear but still allowed for wonderful views both into and out of the atrium . The slight reflective nature of the external face of the glass also gave the entrance feature a bit of a silver sheen which makes it stand out from the surrounding façades .
Internal Overview The function of the building changed from the more multi-use nature of the central building to a pure office space environment . Rewarsdsco occupy the top three and a half floors with an additional tenant occupying the ground floor and half of the 1st floor .
The five level volume with the sloped feature wall draws your attention down from the 4th floor ceiling level to the reception desk . The white façade fins are integrated into the sloped wall to echo the external architectural language and also assist with the acoustic properties in the volume . A sealed white oak feature wall with aluminium linear graphics runs up behind the three suspended internal bridge links to create a warm colour pallet within the space .
The north and south wings are linked together by four linear steel and concrete walkways hung from the roof structure to ensure the visual reference of these elements remained as slender as possible . The ceilings were also floated off the steel and the linear recessed LED lighting complemented the horizontal strength of these structures . Glass balustrades also meant that when looking into the volume from the external podium area the oak feature wall was more prominent than the bridge links .
Rewardsco 73