Flowers Building

Levolux creates a bespoke ‘S’ type fin!

Based on a need to reduce solar heat gain and a desire to use an aerofoil style fin profile to create a brise-soleil, Levolux worked with the architect responsible for a building at Granta Research Park in Cambridge, to design a new ‘S’ type blade for its Matrix XL system.

A Specially extruded aluminium ‘S’ shaped blade

While, by choice, an aerofoil fin would have been the solution, budgetary constraints ruled this option out so a standard ‘Z’ shape blade was considered. However, Levolux put forward the cost effective alternative of a specially extruded aluminium ‘S’ shaped blade which offers more pleasing aesthetics than the ‘Z’ profile.

The two-storey office building is curtain walled with a mix of solid panels and glazing set in a strict planning grid. With a natural anodised finish, the Levolux Matrix XL system projects horizontally from the façade by 1.5m at both ground and first floor level on two sides of the building. Normally supported at 1.5m centres it was modified to enable it to be cantilevered through the curtain walling panels at 3m centres. In addition, horizontal ties at 1.5m centres stop potential twisting of the blades while drop rods extend down from roof level to prevent uplift.

"Very helpful in the initial design development"

Lucy Britton, project architect, for Nicholas Hare Architects, comments: “We were able to achieve a very satisfactory solution and were pleased with what Levolux did. They were very helpful in the initial design development.”

Architect:	Nicholas Hare Architects
Products used:	Matrix XL

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