Molecular Sciences Building

Description:

BriggsAmasco carried out a challenging multiple-roof application to enshrine the waterproof credentials of a new university building that is designed as a hub of world-class scientific research.

With capacity for 500 scientists from different sector disciplines, the University of Birmingham’s new Molecular Sciences Building will greatly transform the campuses’ research capability. It will become the site’s designated hub for its School of Chemistry, School of Geography, as well as Earth and Environmental Sciences. The new 12,790m² building’s construction is part of a multi-phased master plan that will provide the university with world-class academic facilities and accommodation in the years to come.

Selected by contractor Morgan Sindall, BriggsAmasco was required to install high-quality roofing across three levels of the 32-metre Molecular Science Building. The project involved myriad complexities. With the building designed to attain an ‘excellent’ sustainability rating, a variety of renewable technologies needed to be incorporated within the roofs’ design. These included state-of-the-art air source heat pumps and solar power systems. In addition, the installation of a green roof was required to comply with the university’s biodiversity programme.

BriggsAmasco’s expert installation team were set a tight deadline to complete the university project. They were more than ready to meet the challenge. For the building’s level 4, the team installed a waterproofing system including IKO Permatec hot melt, XPS insulation and finished with ballast and paving. In order to overcome levelling issues in external areas, IKO Permascreed was also installed.

For level 5, an IKO Permatec hot melt system was installed to 18mm plywood decking. This also included XPS insulation, and a ballast and paving finish. IKO’s fast-track Armourplan Single-Ply membrane, and PIR insulation comprised the roofing build-up for level 6. The green roof was installed to approximately 200m² of the Level 5 roof. It consisted of filter fleece, 20mm deep drainage board, 115mm deep substrate with a biodiverse seed mix.

Despite the numerous challenges, BriggsAmasco’s roofing teams were able to complete the Molecular Science Building’s roofing aspect in line with the client’s required timeframe. The highest level of workmanship was applied to each multi-discipline roof installation to ensure as-designed sustainability and aesthetic outcomes were achieved.

BriggsAmasco’s immaculate performance on this high-profile project will stand the vital new Molecular Science Building in good stead for many years to come.