Brentside School, Ealing

With cost parameters ruling out the use of pre-patinated copper for the Brentside School project, Sotech offered an alternative Optima TFC aluminium cladding panel with a pvf2 paint finish resembling the natural copper and with a very considerable cost saving.

The architects were delighted to have the opportunity to use a material, which allowed much greater design flexibility to cope with modular sizes, in both flat and curved form.

Pre-formed socketed window pods integrate within the façade. The detailed and accurate manufacturing techniques employed by Sotech allow the fabrication of this pre-coated material without welding.

Once again it is the consistent accuracy during manufacture that allows for the clean lines achieved during installation.

"From the very start Sotech's guidance on material selection, setting parameters and assistance with detailing helped to achieve the design intent while meeting all the standards of the Centre for Window and Cladding Technology.

Not only were we impressed with the accuracy of the system but Sotech's approach to sub-structure and building tolerances were invaluable on a project where panel alignment, both horizontally and vertically, was critical. Together with the installer and the envelope specialist Lakesmere, Sotech certainly delivered on its promise of creating a cladding package that looks fantastic and will stand the test of time."

Seymour Harris Architecture