Sto’s ability to provide a bespoke package of external wall insulation, brick slips and render has been highlighted by a new £115 million mixed-use development in Kent. The company’s StoTherm Mineral M insulation system, StoCleyer B brick slips and StoSilco external render have been installed on five buildings which make up the latest phases of the Riverside development in Canterbury.
“This is an extremely high-profile development which sits on an 8.4-acre site in the centre of the historic city’s new leisure quarter,” explains Ivan Kyurkchiyski of PRC Architecture & Planning. “This exerted a considerable influence on every aspect of the project, including the selection of the materials. Sto worked very closely with us and the other parties involved to provide a large number of samples and help us select the most appropriate façade finish and colours. Their input was also very valuable when it came to designing the different insulation detailing that was required around the windows on the various buildings.”
The BBA-certified StoTherm Mineral external wall insulation system uses durable mineral-fibre insulation boards, classified A1 reaction to fire, to provide outstanding thermal and fire performance. Ideal for new-buiId developments such as Riverside, the StoTherm system can also be used on refurbishment projects due to its efficient, single-leaf construction which means that interior space is not reduced.
The insulation boards were installed to some areas of the buildings using Sto’s innovative Sto-Rotofix Plus mechanical fixings, which reduce installation times and minimize thermal bridging compared to conventional surface-mounted ETICS anchors. Designed for use on masonry and cement particle-board substrates, the fixings create a cavity behind the insulation board allowing any excess moisture to drain. They also allow the insulation boards to be adjusted both during and after the installation to ensure a perfectly level outer surface is created, ready for the final façade finish. As the position of all the fixings can be viewed during installation, Sto-Rotofix makes it far easier to ensure that the right number of fixings have been used so that long-term security is guaranteed. StoLevell Uni adhesive and dowel-fixings were used to secure insulation on other areas of the building.
Some of the new buildings feature the BBA-certified StoCleyer B mineral brick slips in a multi-blend red colour, chosen to create a striking contrast with the various façade finishes used elsewhere on the commercial units. StoCleyer B brick slips are manufactured from tough synthetic render with 90% mineral content, and feature an attractive individual pattern and texture to give a natural brick appearance. Compatible with all Sto façade systems, with both standard and bespoke size and colour options available, they allow architects to match buildings to their surroundings, or design a genuinely bespoke finish, without compromising on external wall insulation.
Other sections of the development were finished with StoSilco external render, enabling the architects for this project to extend their colour-palette and create a striking contrast to the areas finished with the StoCleyer B brick slips. All the Sto products were installed by Build-Therm Services of Hertfordshire.
PRC Architecture & Planning were supported by Bryden Wood to help finalize the façade engineering and the main contractor for this project was Bouygues UK. This Riverside development now provides a variety of leisure, commercial, residential and student accommodation buildings.