Lakesmere delivers modern façade for Factory 2050

Date: 25 February 2016

As its name suggests, Factory 2050 is years ahead in terms of both its innovative futuristic architectural design and advanced use as a state of the art manufacturing facility.

Constructed as part of the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Campus, Factory 2050 is the UK’s first fully reconfigurable assembly and component manufacturing facility and is home to the University’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing.

Lakesmere was appointed by main contractor Interserve to deliver the complex glazed façade of the new building, which has been designed by Bond Bryan Architects in a circular design to create a light and spacious interior and maximise the amount of usable floor space.

The specialist glazing team from Lakesmere North were tasked with delivering the fully glazed elevations of the main rotunda and link building, working alongside sister-company McMullen Facades who carried out the design and fabrication.

The main façade features eight metre high glazing, from ground to roof, and wraps 306 degrees around the building.

The team used a complex combination of Jansen Viss Ixtra, a steel curtain walling system spanning 8000mm, and Schueco FW50 and 60+ aluminium curtain walling systems. Lakesmere’s package also included the installation of the rooflights and balcony screen in the new conference area.