Ceramic granite complements copper at The Christie
Shackerley has supplied 1300m² of Sureclad ceramic granite ventilated cladding for the new £35million patient treatment centre at The Christie hospital in Withington, helping architects at AFL in Manchester to create a standout building.
The new three-storey development has been built to transform cancer treatment and research at the hospital. It includes the largest early clinical trials unit in the world, the largest chemotherapy facility in the UK and a new private patients unit.
AFL Project Leader David Rourke said: “Our brief was to create a World Class hospital building that would provide the highest quality patient environment. Inside and out, it had to project The Christie’s brand values and reputation as a world leader in its field.”
The building has a dramatic curved frontage featuring copper based panelling and extensive glazing. Presenting a strong contrast, remaining elevations have been clad with Shackerley’s ceramic granite ventilated facades constructed from pre-fabricated 1200 x 600mm panels with a charcoal ‘riven’ finish. These have been installed using the company’s Queen’s Award winning Sureclad Access system.
Shackerley has also helped to create an eyecatching entrance area. In gleaming stainless steel lettering ‘The Christie’ stands proud against polished black ceramic granite panelling which has also been used inside to clad part of the reception lobby.
David Rourke said: “Aesthetically, Shackerley’s Sureclad ceramic granite was an ideal cladding solution. It’s a high quality material with the visual appeal of quarried stone, and is offered in many colourways and finishes. We found two very different panel styles to complement the curved metallic panelling, one of which has also provided us with us with an impressive interior wall finish. As the material is exceptionally hard and durable, totally resistant to climatic extremes and impervious to pollutants, it will retain its appearance for the lifetime of the building.
“The ventilated facades have allowed us to install highly effective thermal and acoustic insulation on the exterior of the building, helping us to meet our sustainability objectives and target an ‘Excellent’ BREEAM rating. The Sureclad system is so flexible that we have been able to re-orientate panel courses at specific heights in the elevations, providing us with a perfect window module and adding visual interest.”
The ceramic granite facades and interior cladding were installed by Eaga Contract Services Ltd (formerly known as EJ Horrocks), for the main contractors, Interserve.
