BriggsAmasco Supplies Multi-Roof Installation for Stirling Prize-Winning University Building

A landmark educational building, which was provided with a complex, multiple roof installation courtesy of BriggsAmasco, has won this year’s RIBA Stirling Prize.

The Kingston University London – Town House was named the UK’s best building in the industry-revered awards contest.

The six-storey, 9,400-square-metre building, which was designed by Grafton Architects and acts as the university’s ‘front door’, was acclaimed by RIBA judges as ‘high quality at every scale’.

Fronted by a 200m-long multi-level colonnade made from reconstituted stone, the stunning Town House comprises the university’s main library and archive, as well as a theatre, dance studios, teaching spaces and cafes. BriggsAmasco was selected by main contractor Willmott Dixon to provide a watertight finish for each of these areas in a nine-roof installation that involved a mix of green, single-ply and hot-melt finishes.

Working alongside Grafton Architects, Briggs’ teams brought all their skills and experience to the fore in this challenging project, as the range of waterproofing systems needed to be applied to roofs at various heights and levels.

Speaking of the Town House’s Stirling Prize award, BriggsAmasco Managing Director, Dave Maginnis, said: “What a thrill to have played a part in a project that has won the design industry’s most sought after honour. Congratulations to Grafton Architects, who our teams worked closely alongside to deliver the Town House’s waterproof roofing. Also, kudos to the magnificent work carried out by our installation teams for their superb workmanship and diligence on this challenging, high-profile project. They did BriggsAmasco and the university proud.”

The Town House’s multiplex flat-roof installation began in March 2018. It included BriggsAmasco applying an IKO hot-melt waterproofing membrane within a system comprising XPS rigid foam insulation, as well as paving and ballast finishes to the main roof areas. A built-up, reinforced felt waterproofing solution with tapered insulation was also installed to a green roof in order to conform with a height restriction. Additionally, IKO Armourplan PSG single-ply waterproofing, along with PIR insulation, was affixed to colonnade areas of the roof.

Despite the challenging nature of the multi-roof installation, which was heightened by the Town House’s main road location and its position adjacent to the University, thus the area was in constant use by students, BriggsAmasco competed the project’s waterproofing aspect to the contractor’s strict deadline: September 2019.

Dave Maginnis added: “The Town House building will transform students’ learning experience. Its impressive and imaginative design presents an inspiring sight for visitors; hence it is a worthy recipient of this year’s Stirling Prize.”