Powdertech Corby’s Evolution shade, ‘Cracked Clay’, has been used to coat 900m2 of aluminium cassette panels for the roof and facade of phase one of new student accommodation at Warwick University. The new development, Cryfield Village, is built as a series of townhouse-style apartments and studios and will eventually house around 830 residents.
Powdertech
The new buildings are fitted with photovoltaic panels that convert the sun’s energy to electricity, supporting the university’s aim to reach net-zero carbon by 2030.
Richard Besant, Director of Powdertech (Corby), explains: “The designers were keen to make a statement with the village properties and to impart a warm and welcoming feeling for the first-year students. Terracotta has a wonderfully warm and eye-catching appeal and is a marked improvement on the outdated existing buildings.”
Terracotta shades, including ‘Cracked Clay’ have become very popular, and Powdertech Corby has a palette of similar shades in its Landscape and Evolution library of colours. Landscape also has many stone-coloured shades within its range and Evolution includes shades that give the appearance of rusted steel, ‘Corten’ and Verdigris copper. All of these shades and more can be viewed in the Colour Library on the Powdertech (Corby) website.
In line with all architectural powders used by Powdertech, Cracked Clay meets the Reaction to Fire Standards for fire classification A2-s1,d0, suitable for use on multi-storey residential buildings. The finish also has a 25-year guarantee for gloss, colour and adhesion and Powdertech’s rigorous pre-treatment system will help to keep the panelling free from corrosion for up to 40 years.
With increasing concern for the health of our environment, it has become paramount to design buildings that work with and complement the natural landscape. Combining the Landscape and Evolution ranges, which are free of solvents and VOCs, with 100% recyclable aluminium and chrome-free pre-treatments, supports an eco-friendly agenda. Architects and environmental planners are coming to see buildings and other landscape structures as organic elements of a larger ecosystem. Ecologically built structures that resonate with our ideals will create less stressful environmental footprints, promoting ecological connectivity which will enhance the quality of life and the overall look of our buildings.
The need to satisfy the growing ecological and sustainable demands of the buildings has spawned extensive research and innovative new products, together with interest in natural shades, reflecting and blending with the landscape. Powdertech Corby has close relationships with its powder manufacturers, all of which number amongst the world leaders, and the company makes it a priority to stay ahead of the colour trends. Powdertech also creates its own finishes such as Evolution, Anomatch and PWF.
