Reynaers on a high

Hadrian’s Tower, an 82m building located in Newcastle-upon-Tyne that has been constructed using Reynaers’ ConceptWall 65 (CW 65) unitised system, has been awarded ‘Best Tall Building Facade and Fenestration Engineering Project’ at the Tall Buildings Awards 2022. 

Home to 162 luxury apartments, a premium cocktail bar and fine dining restaurant, Hadrian’s Tower is at the heart of the city’s regeneration scheme.

The constraints of building in a city centre location led Faulkner Browns Architects to specify Reynaers’ CW 65 system, because it met both the aesthetic and performance requirements, but can also be constructed off-site in modular panels – which can then be erected in units on site, radically reducing installation time.

The CW 65 system is said to meet the highest performance requirements in water and air tightness and wind load resistance. The building has also achieved the appropriate British Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) credit.

Dan Gleeson, head of commercial sales at Reynaers, said: “We’ve been involved in iconic tall building projects across the world since 1965. We’re delighted that the ambitious architectural finish and design of Hadrian’s Tower has been recognised for its excellence in engineering in facade systems.

“The unitised curtain walling system has enabled the architects to achieve panoramic views and a distinctive aesthetic. This has been done without compromising on thermal performance, quality, accuracy, water and air tightness and strength while accommodating building movement which is a key factor in tall buildings.

“Our unitised facade systems provide slim profile designs for architects which meet the highest performance requirements. Working in city centre locations on constrained sites is an engineering challenge, so prefabrication of the systems offsite in a climate-controlled environment under strict quality assurance significantly speeded up the installation time without compromising on accuracy or safety.”