Weatherwise secured the contract for the wall cladding on the new Renal Unit at London’s famous Hammersmith hospital.

Main contractor Mansell Construction selected Weatherwise as the cladding contractor as they provided the most competitive solution to meet the stringent performance specification.

The unusual structure features a mixture of aluminium and terracotta rainscreen systems with curved feature fin bullnoses and aluminium window pods.

Part of the Dudley Hospital PFI project, Weatherwise were initially responsible for the complete envelope of Block C, which was a new administration block. It had no secondary steelwork to the walls but utilised a structural tray system fixed at alternate floors and an aluminium rainscreen and glazing system incorporated into it.

This led to a contract for the replacement and alterations to the windows and cladding on the existing block being placed with Weatherwise. The hospital was still in use whilst its internal arrangements were being completely refurbished.

The challenge was to replace windows and cutain walling in certain areas that matched the existing ones, with minimal interference to the running of the hospital. In addition to this, eight staircase pods, all similar in design were attached to the existing hospital building to improve ward access.

• Block C – Aluminium standing seam insulated roof system with Rainscreen cladding incorporating windows, curtain walling, doors and louvers
• Block B – Alterations and replacement of existing windows and glazed screens.
• Staircases – Single ply membrane roofs with Rainscreen panels and glazing to walls