Case Study
Project: Chesil Beach Visitor Centre
Product: Stainless Steel 301
Location: Dorset, United Kingdom
Contractors: NVB Architects & Spiller Architectural Ironmongery
Location
Award winning architectural practice, NVB Architects worked closely with Spiller Architectural Ironmongery to specify P C Henderson's Stainless Steel 301 sliding door hardware for a popular visitors centre based at Chesil Beach, Dorset. Stretching 18 miles long the south coast of England, Chesil Beach lies at the heart of the Jurassic Coast, which is recognised UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Requirements
When the decision was made to expand the original building, the project brief demanded a low impact building that would be in keeping with the extremely sensitive ecological location-whilst also meeting budgetary constraints. A strong emphasis was placed on utilising durable, naturally finished materials that would require minimal maintenance. Along with this, the centre is heated via ground source heat pumps and there was also a stipulation for the use of locally sourced sustainable construction products, which could endure the hostile coastal climate.
Products Used
Specified and supplied by Spiller Architectural Ironmongery, P C Henderson's Stainless Steel 301 sliding door hardware was identified as the best solution to effectively move the external stainless steel and timber shutters covering each of the centre's windows and door openings. The shutters were a key part of the build as they ensure the building is protected from winter storms, particularly as waves can quite often break over the roof of the building. A number of new centre's windows are extremely large, so another important necessity was to install hardware robust enough to carry and slide the huge, heavy shutters but be light enough for the volunteers working at the centre to open and close effortlessly.
Why Henderson
Director at NVB Architects, commented "Henderson's Stainless Steel 301 hardware was the only system we found to have the duty and grade of stainless steel capable to cope with the weight of the shutters and the aggressively corrosive coastal environment. Aesthetics also played an important role when it came to the system used The specific hardware had to be sympathetic to the low key building in a prominent location. Another consideration was installing hardware that would be tough enough to resist vandalism and burglary, which the 301 system does very well."
Spiller Architectural Ironmongery, commented "We have specified P C Henderson sliding door gear for many years. The 301 system really ticked all the boxes when it came to meet the design brief provided. Working closely with NVB Architects and the main contractors we ensured that from the specification to installation we provided all the technical support and back up required."
Interesting Fact
Interestingly, the site where the visitors centre sits was the test ground for the bouncing bomb during World War Two. This meant that the site survey for unexploded ordnance had to be done before construction could begin. The building was also featured prominently in the BBC2 Horizon programme, "The Lost Tribes of Humanity" presented by DR Alice Roberts, who spent a lot of time drawing diagrams on the window.
Product Specified
