Library makeover "a first"

Published: 26 September 2013

Estates and Buildings hosted a briefing for an industry audience on the University Library cladding project. The audience heard the refurbishment was the first time that the technology has been installed using abseiling teams working hundreds of feet in the air.

Estates and Buildings recently hosted a briefing for the construction industry detailing the way in which the University Library towers were refurbished and recovered in high-tech, aluminium cladding. The cladding has transformed the appearance of the 1960s, concrete towers and improved their thermal efficiency‌.‌

The briefing was held in a University meeting area with presentations from many of the partners involved in the project including:Reclad LIbrary

  • Robert Kilpatrick, Assistant Director, Estates Operations
  • John Edwards from quantity surveyors Brown and Wallace
  • David Nimmo, Nimmo and Partners LLP, employers agent/architects
  • Cliff Woodhouse, Paul Brighty and Gerry Hughes from D&B Facades, the main contractors

Several other supply chain partners partners also gave presentations.  Cliff Woodhouse from D&B Facades told the meeting the use of abseiling construction workers was a first on a project of such a scale. He said the result was a facade that was self cleaning and maintenance free. Paul Brighty said: "A job like this does not get completed without cooperation and compromise. It involves everyone pulling together including the clients and all the contractors on site.

"Looking back, it has been an amazing success and that is because of everyone's input."

First published: 26 September 2013

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