Close to other landmark buildings on the Derby skyline like the Hippodrome, the new Quad Centre for the visual and media arts was designed by architect practice Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios. Conceived to embody the arts-led regeneration of the city, the striking architecture stands as a symbol for the innovative, interactive forms of creativity and communication developed within. With its art galleries, multi-purpose rooms, two multi-screen cinemas and meeting rooms, the centre is geared to encourage new forms of education, entertainment and participation. A major feature of the programme was the decision to use typical local material. Local stone was chosen for the façade cladding. Following problems during construction, however, segments of the cladding had to be removed and the project drastically revised. A new cladding supplier was sealected: Aliva Engineering, the international branch of Aliva Sistemi. The company was commissioned to develop its own system to meet the requirements of the original architectural brief.
Aliva installed four different products: outer filler wall, the rainscreen and insulation system, curtain walling, and copings and flashings.
Aliva’s entirely Italian team took over the whole process of re-designing, producing, supplying and installing the outer envelope.
Promatect HD concrete slabs for the outer filler walls were installed on a Metsec steel frame. For the rainscreen system, a special protective membrane allowing the passage of air was placed prior to the 5 cm Kingspan K15 rainscreen insulating layer. The variegated façade design was obtained using 850 different types of stone tile to face an overall surface area of some 1200 sq m. The slabs were placed on a 6063 T6 aluminium alloy understructure, Ali Stone 2. The system comprises U brackets, mullions, horizontal profiles and stainless steel fastening accessories. The stone slabs come with a continuous pre-cut kerf or slot on the upper and lower edges to ensure perfect fit. Each tile is secured to the support structure by nylon-lined rivets. This increases the contact surface area between structural frame and facing, distributes loading stresses, and avoids contact between stone and steel
Aliva Sistemi per facciate
(Gruppo Ivas)
Via Bellaria, 40
I - 47030 San Mauro Pascoli (FC)
Tel. +39 0541 815811
Fax +39 0541 815817
E-mail: info@aliva.it
www.aliva.it
