Acorn Aluminium has played a key role in the successful delivery of one of Manchester’s most ambitious net zero carbon office schemes.
Acorn designed, supplied, and installed 2,500m² of glazing systems for ‘Island’, a £66m, 10-storey development in central Manchester that combines sustainability goals with advanced design and technical excellence.
Billed as ‘a home for forward-thinking businesses who care about people, place and planet’, the pioneering Bowmer + Kirkland project, designed by architects Cartwright Pickard, has created 100,000ft2 of net zero carbon workspace in the heart of the city.
Sustainability focused
Incorporating sustainability-focused features including smart technology, real-time energy consumption data screens and a traffic-light system that balances fresh air and energy efficiency, the development aims to balance environmental responsibility with optimum occupier wellbeing.
Acorn supplied and installed Senior Architectural Systems’ SF52 curtain walling system and SPW600 windows to the scheme, as well as SPW501 doors. All products were specified in an ultra-matt dark bronze powder coating; a UK ‘first’ for a major project.
Achieving a U-value of 1.4W/m2K, windows, doors and curtain walling were installed by Acorn’s expert installation teams offsite, at modular manufacturing specialist Techcrete’s premises.
Rigorous quality checks within the factory environment increased installation accuracy and control, reducing waste in the process. An ‘off-the tools’ installation supervisor was also appointed to coordinate delivery and liaise with other trades, checking each product once fitted in location, as part of Acorn’s stringent quality control regime.
Featuring curved, rolled curtain walling and curved insulated glazed units, the building’s complex façade features T4 aluminium, specifically designed for bending.
Window profile and straight curtain walling were powder coated in dark bronze, with some of the colour batch retained for application to the curved elements, guaranteeing consistency of finish.
Made by a specialist manufacturer in Spain, the insulated glass units for each curved corner of the building comprise heat strengthened 13.5mm clear laminated Saint-Gobain SKN176; a 16mm cavity; and 8mm clear heat-soaked toughened outer, with each unit totalling 37.5mm in thickness.
The scheme also features anodic PPC metal laser-cut feature vent panels, also supplied and fitted by Acorn Aluminium.
Collaboration and commitment
Standout sustainability features of the BREEAM Excellent-ranked office development include centralised air handling units providing occupants with cleaner air; lifts that move from floor to floor while reducing energy consumption; and enhanced insulation that exceeds building regulations.
Paul Stevens, Managing Director at Acorn Aluminium, said: “The Island was a challenging and complex project that demanded absolute precision. For our part, our success lies in close collaboration, a commitment to high-performance solutions, and a shared focus on environmental responsibility.
“The Island has raised the bar for sustainable office design that also prioritises the occupier experience, and we’re proud of the role we played in turning this ambitious net zero architectural vision into reality.”owing presence in the West Midlands and adds to its expanding portfolio of PBSA schemes across the UK.
For more about Acorn Aluminium, please call 0115 928 2166, email [email protected], or visit www.acornaluminium.com.