The Advanced Construction and Technology Centre is in the first phase of the City College’s new campus, which faces a new public square at the heart of the Swanswell regeneration area in Coventry.

Architects, Robothams Architects, reviewed various options for the most economical structural system to meet the client’s requirements and designed a steel frame building with composite concrete floors. The frame is clad in load bearing masonry and lightweight cladding.

Specialist metal cladding sub-contractors, Norman & Underwood’s, proposal of a RheinzinkÒ vertical cladding & soffit to the curved façade was accepted and 0.8mm thick Pre-Weathered RheinzinkÒ was supplied and fixed to approximately 1050m2 of vertical wall cladding to the curved façade. The RheinzinkÒ was fixed using vertical standing seams at 500mm centres and around the 23 window openings. 0.8mm thick Pre-Weathered RheinzinkÒ was also supplied and fixed to approximately 214m2 of soffit to the curved façade, also using standing seams, and included work around 11 supporting columns. The pre-weathered zinc was laid on a Vac Vac treated timber substrate, with ventilation details incorporated within the initial build up.

The end result is a striking college building for the next generation of construction, multi media and mechanical apprenticeships.