Education Projects
Quantal passes with honours at Oxford
Location: Oxford University
Products: Aluminum roofing system
The Quantal aluminium roofing system has been used in a challenging 63 sq m conservatory
installation for Oxford University.
Appointed by university’s mathematics department the building was commissioned as
an extension to the department’s restaurant – sited some four storeys up amongst
the city’s famed spires.
The project manager said: “It was a challenge, there were no two
ways about it. We had to apply for a license to bring a crane onto site and simply
gain access. “It was exceptionally complicated, we had to stock pile materials and
equipment and get it delivered and up to site within the five hour time frame.”
The new ‘high-rise’ restaurant dining area posed structural challenges in equal
number. Having identified that the original curtain walling was not structural,
the company commissioned the construction of five steel portal frames to form the
skeleton of the new building.
He continued: “The Quantal system was a good aesthetic match but more importantly
was structurally flexible so we were able to integrate it with the original system
and our own steel portals and box guttering. The fact that it’s such a highly engineered
roofing system with such high tolerances gives it that flexibility.
“The structural integrity of the wide-span heavy duty rafters also gave us greater
flexibility to match sightlines with the portals.”
Ian Cocken, general sales manager, Quantal, said: “For retail specialists the step
across to include a commercial operation as part of their offer may, as long as
they have the skill set and the right product portfolio, makes good sense.
“Most ‘commercial’ aluminium systems are relatively restricted. They aren’t usually
manufactured as dedicated roofing systems and as a consequence don’t have the flexibility
so capabilities are restricted to perhaps a lean too or gable end at best.
“The Quantal system is a full roofing system and because it’s a full system it is
far more versatile and suitable for a greater range of designs, for example variable
pitches and a valley detail design fully geared to bespoke structures – it’s a complete
glass roofing system.”
For further information or to discuss a project please contact us.