A new six-storey flagship medical education centre in Cardiff features Technal’s aluminium curtain walling and casement window systems.
Designed by Powell Dobson Architects, and built by Vinci Construction UK, the Cochrane Building accommodates the School of Medicine on Cardiff University’s Heath Park Campus at the University Hospital of Wales, one of the UK’s largest facilities of its kind. Designed around a central atrium, the building features Technal’s GEODE-MX curtain walling extensively to allow in high levels of natural light. The capped visible grid option was specified for the main entrance and top two floors. Structural glazing with a mechanical toggle for the full height stair towers at the atrium’s ends gives a seamless, flush finish, and an effective contrast with curtain walling. Ribbon glazing on some elevations, and opening vents in the curtain walling, were created from Technal’s FXi65 projecting side and top-hung window systems. These allow natural ventilation, with fresh air drawn in through the exterior façades. Another distinctive feature is bright, lime green, staggered aluminium panels fixed into the window or curtain walling frames.
