Unity Place

Description:

Stunning new Banking Centre Showcases Briggsamasco’s Roofing Expertise

BriggsAmasco’s high-quality workmanship came to the fore during a multiple-roof installation which put a waterproof seal on a ‘landmark new workplace’.

A huge and challenging project, it required BriggsAmasco to deliver a complex mix of felt, hot-melt and green roofs which top the new Santander campus in Unity Place, Milton Keynes. The eight-storey building will become the company’s centre for digital banking innovation, providing 5,000 workstations across four blocks. Described as a ‘landmark new workplace’, the building’s ground floor provides space for local businesses to set up shop. Facilities are set to include an ‘urban market’, retail outlets, health centres, a community hall and an auditorium. A rooftop running track and a café/restaurant, complete with terrace, are also planned.

The ambitious project is being carried out on behalf of Santander UK by developer Osbourne + Co in collaboration with architect, LOM. For BriggsAmasco, the building’s 6,000m² main flat roof provided the greatest challenge to the team keeping pace with the strict works timetable. They were able to overcome these issues, however, to facilitate the safe delivery of a high-specification waterproofing programme.

In order to meet regulation levels of waterproofing and thermal performance and ensure the completed building achieves a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating for environmental performance, BriggsAmasco installed an IKO Permatec hot-melt system to its main flat roof. The built-up system included IKO Permascreed (a mastic asphalt levelling screed), IKO Enertherm insulation, and an IKO water control layer (WCL). The system was topped with a mixture of paving and ballast.

With the main roof offering differing height levels, to its higher aspects BriggsAmasco installed IKO’s bituminous torch-on membrane, IKO Ultra Prevent. As part of the multiple application, Briggs’ skilled operatives also completed a number of green roofs, with a plant room and lift over run roofs, innumerable penetrations and several service openings adding to the project’s diverse complexity.

Elsewhere on the 44,000m2 campus, BriggsAmasco installed SikaBit® ProMelt, a hot-applied bituminous membrane, for a ground floor podium designed to provide waterproof protection for a below ground car park.

Despite the challenges presented by the project’s enormity and the strict safety and quality standards required, BriggsAmasco’s operatives were able to deliver a roof waterproofing programme – that was notable for its first-class workmanship – to the client’s agreed timeframe and without a single accident being recorded. The project was also a triumph of collaboration, as BriggsAmasco and main contractor, Sisk, drew up a works schedule to reduce the risk of disrupting other on-site trades. All in all, as well as standing as a fine example of how modern buildings can look as spectacular as they perform, Unity Place offers a superb showcase of BriggsAmasco’s roofing expertise.