The YMCA’s new Liverpool building – a flagship development which sets the trend for future YMCA hostels – has become the first major UK project to employ one of the new ranges of Metallic-finish Bauclad panels from CEP Claddings.

The five-storey building on Leeds Street, in the centre of the city, features Bauclad 156 Afro Patina panels on the full height of the stair and lift-tower, contrasting with the brick and blockwork which dominates the rest of the façade.

Approximately 500 sq m of the 10 mm thick Bauclad panels were installed using CEP’s secret fix undercut anchor aluminium support system. This is a cost effective solution for providing a mechanically based secret fix application for a rainscreen cladding system.

Bauclad is a hard-wearing, high-pressure laminate panel manufactured by Fundermax in Austria. Its combination of light weight, aesthetic appeal and durability has made it a popular choice in the UK for a wide variety of commercial, public sector and residential developments.

Used as a rainscreen cladding system, Bauclad provides an economical way of creating a high-quality façade over virtually any kind of building structure from traditional masonry to timber frame. As the product is also double sided this can be used for balcony and balustrade panels. Also the material has been specified successfully for over cladding multi storey social housing schemes.

At the Liverpool YMCA, Bauclad 156 Afro Patina was specified as an economical alternative to copper sheeting. This particular finish is one of a newly introduced range of metallic Bauclad options that is currently available in the UK from CEP.

The grained and patterned metallic green finish imitates the appearance of patinated copper. Other new finishes in the range include Brushed Aluminium, Patina Bronze and Patina Tin.

“We wanted to use something eye-catching on the stair tower, which is a prominent feature” comments project architect Colin Jones of Liverpool practice Halsall Lloyd Partnership. When copper proved too expensive, an alternative was sought and, with the help of CEP and the subcontractor installer EJ Horrocks, the Bauclad panels were selected.

Steve Philips of EJ Horrocks advised that "unlike some other manufacturers, CEP were able to accommodate the horizontal panel format with their mechanical secret fix system, and offered full technical and design back-up to ensure a successful outcome.

“CEP also assisted in optimising the panel layout, thus reducing the amount of cutting and waste to a minimum", added Mr Philips. "Once the optimum design was agreed and all drawings approved, the material procurement, delivery and cladding installation went smoothly".

Although the Afro Patina on the stair tower is the most noticeable application of Bauclad on this project, a different colour of the Fundermax material (in a wood-grain effect) was also used for the wide overhanging roof soffits.

The Liverpool YMCA building was completed last August and is currently fully occupied.

Email: lynn@tlcpr.co.uk