Securing a double environmental achievement
September 2016

Curtain walling Kawneer has played “a vital role” in the energy performance and design of a highly sustainable office building.

Kawneer’s AA®100 zone-drained curtain walling with stepped mullions dominates the four-storey façade of the 215,000ft2 CityPark1 building on an elevated position above Aberdeen, providing stunning views over Scotland’s third largest city and coastline.

One of the largest Grade A office developments in Aberdeen, CityPark1 was designed by frequent Kawneer specifiers Michael Laird Architects to BREEAM “Very good” standards and is now home to almost 2,000 employees of the FTSE 250 international energy services company Wood Group.

The curtain walling with 50mm sightlines was installed by approved specialist sub-contractor Charles Henshaw & Sons for HFD Construction who took 18 months to construct this part of the new 15-acre business park in Altens, two miles south of the city centre.

The brief from developers HFD Property Group to Michael Laird Architects was for a large, efficient floor plate capable of sub-division for future flexibility with a BREEAM “Very good” rating and an EPC “A” rating.

In addition to the curtain walling, the façade of the steel framed building also features vertical panels of rainscreen cladding in grey granite tones.

MLA associate director Stephen Brewer said: “All of the facades have Kawneer stick curtain walling with front-sealed glazing and low-iron glass specified for the main entrance.

The curtain walling plays a vital role in the energy performance and design of the building. Sustainable sourcing of materials and knowledge of recycled content of the materials were a key part in obtaining the BREEAM rating.

“The Kawneer products achieved the required aesthetic and by the use of aerofoil projecting fins set out in an apparently random manner, the large elevations were able to be given a more human scale.”

He added: “Close coordination between MLA and Henshaw ensured that details were all resolved at the design stage. By bringing curtain walling and cladding under one sub-contract order, the coordination with adjoining materials was greatly simplified.

Stephen Lewis, HFD Property Group managing director confirmed: “We are delighted with the completed development, as is the occupier.”

CityPark1 was one of the largest office pre-let deals in Scotland in the past five years. The wider CityPark development will provide a further 200,000ft2 of business park accommodation once completed.