Wadham College

Anodised façade for an award-winning building

The façade engineers were involved with the development at Wadham College from the earliest stages. The buildings were planned to have huge importance for students as places to meet friends and collaborate. They also needed to represent the openness and egalitarian values of the college to create a sense of belonging.

The façade had to reflect that high aspiration, even on a site that was modest in scale. The design turned those values and aspirations into reality with a stunning façade that incorporated aluminium, glass and stone. United Anodisers provided the anodised aluminium sections for the project which would go on to win multiple awards, including:

   
• FX Awards 2021 – Public Sector Award
   
• Civic Trust Award 2022
   
• Michael Middleton Special Award

Bespoke elements as part of the overall design

Large expanses of glazing meant the façade works could only start once the frame was complete. That required a progressive wrap in full sections as the building rose, and meant the aluminium pieces had to be integrated with glass and stone elements as the project progressed – as opposed to a building where the entire façade is aluminium.

This led to a more complicated install and required complex, bespoke aluminium parts were needed. For example, custom external fins to the curtain walling were needed in high impact areas to ensure a seamless finish. Similarly, bespoke angled aluminium coping formed a stunning feature around the perimeter of the building.

Our experience and processes allow us to provide anodised aluminium finishes which are completely uniform, even across elements which are non-standard or complex. That consistency ensures the building’s aesthetic design is not compromised, and also makes sure the aluminium façade elements do not sacrifice durability. All faces, edges and corners receive the same thickness and quality of finish, eliminating any possible areas of weakness in the overall structure – something which other types of aluminium finishes may not be able to provide.

In the end, the anodised aluminium façade elements combined perfectly with the glazing and stone to create a beautiful, unique exterior for Wadham College.

Victoria Watts, Sales Director at United Anodisers, said: “The façade always defines a building, and this one had to communicate a wide range of messages about the building and the people who would be using it. Our anodised aluminium needed to blend seamlessly with the other materials, and the bespoke elements added an additional production challenge. However, the skill and experience of our team allowed us to deliver a finish which was uniform, attractive and durable, even on the most complex parts of this build.”

Want to learn more about what you can achieve with an anodised aluminium façade finish? See our other projects here and contact the team today. 

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