BBC Music Studios

BBC Music Studios, East Bank, Stratford, London

BBC Music Studios Headline Facts

177 precast concrete panels, covering 2,550 sqm.

Contractor : Mace / LLDC

Architect : Allies & Morrison

4 Angel Square

4, 30 Angel Square, Miller St, Manchester M4 4DY

4 Angel Square Headline Facts

602 reconstructed stone panels, covering 4,806 square metres.

Contractor : Bowmer & Kirkland

Architect : Simpson Haugh Architects

Glencar House

20 Merrion Rd, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, D04 C9E2

Glencar House Headline Facts

243 reconstructed stone panels, covering 3,700 square metres.

Contractor : Walls Construction

Architect : Reddy Architecture + Urbanism

Tottenham Court Road

Dean Street Underground Station, Tottenham Court Road, London W1D 3RB

Tottenham Court Road Headline Facts:

234 precast concrete panels, covering 1,946 square metres of the facade.

Contractor: Galliard Construction

Architect: Hawkins Brown

Gate & Stile, Meadowside

The Gate, Meadowside, Irk Street, New Cross, Manchester, M4 4JT 

Gate & Stile, Meadowside Headline Facts:

96 brick look-a-like reconstructed stone panels, constructed off-site and covering 1,242m2

Contractor: Westfield Construction

Architect: Jon Matthews and Chapman Taylor

Grace House

Grace House, Lodge Road, London NW8 7HN

Headline Facts:

1,025 precast concrete panels, covering 7,675m2

Contractor: PCE

Architect: Ryder Architecture

Osier’s Road

Osiers Road, Wandsworth, London, SW18 1NL

Headline Facts:

773 reconstructed stone and brick-facing panels, covering 9,916m2.

Contractor: Hollybrook Homes

Concept Architect: Rolfe Judd | Delivery Architect: Burwell Architects

Wood Wharf G3

Wood Wharf G3,100 Preston’s Road, London E14 9SB

Wood Wharf Headline Facts:

28 storey residential tower with 307 reconstructed stone panels constructed offsite, covering 3,857m2

Contractor: Canary Wharf Contractors

Architect: Allies and Morrison

Kings Cross P2

113 King’s Cross Rd, Kings Cross, London WC1X 9LR

Kings Cross P2 Headline Facts:

1,023 reconstructed stone panels constructed offsite, covering 9,715m2

Contractor: Kier / Argent

Architect: AHMM

Glasgow University

Glasgow University, James McCune Smith Learning Hub, Glasgow G12 8QQ

Glasgow University Headline Facts :

Subtitle for this block

354 reconstructed stone panels constructed offsite, covering 4,184m2.

Contractor : Multiplex

Architect : HLM Architects

The Temple

Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Kingsbury, Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa Complex, Kingsbury Road, NW9 8AQ

The Temple Headline Facts :

224 reconstructed stone panels, covering 2,760 square meters.

Contractor : FDL

Architect : LTS Architects

Techrete Offices

Stephenstown Industrial Park, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin, K32 W665

Techrete Offices Headline Facts :

730 reconstructed stone panels, covering 9,700 square meters.

Contractor : P. Elliot LTD

Architect : James Smyth Architects

Albert Quay

Navigation Square, Albert Quay, Cork City

Albert Quay Blocks 1 & 2 Headline facts:

543 reconstructed stone panels, covering 4,127 square meters.

Contractor : BAM

Architect : Henry J Lyons

The Finer Details:

Designed by Henry J Lyons Architects and contracted by BAM, Albert Quay, Navigation Square, is part of the largest ever office development to be undertaken in Cork. With a prime location in the city’s business district, Albert Quay enjoys panoramic views of the port at the river Lee and the entire development encompassing Navigation Square, provides over 33,000 square meters of office space.

The direction for the project from the outset was for building excellence. As the first Phase of a 2 stage process, a huge degree of coordination was required between all members of the design team, the contractor and Techrete as specialist contractor. Techrete was selected with regard to speed of erection and an ability to provide for quality control of the finishes and jointing which were all obtainable in our indoor factory environment.

The building was required to exist on its own and to then later stitch seamlessly into the larger development. This meant an increased complexity of access, structure and services due to the nature of the highly compact urban site. Regular workshops with Techrete, the full design team and contractor on site meant that a very high degree of coordination was possible.
The installation of this project posed some access difficulties for Techrete and as such, two tower cranes were required to complete the erection process.

The panels had to be lifted over the top of the building using a large tower crane, whilst a smaller mobile crane on the other side used precision handling to manoeuvre the panels into place. The precast element of this project comprised of wedge shaped mullions and rectangular spandrels supported on composite steel deck slabs which are restrained by steel beams. Bespoke steel moulds were created in preparation for the next phase of the overall project, of which Techrete have just completed the installation of the precast cladding.

The inverted ‘T’ shaped spandrels at the 2nd floor create a timeless, elegant quality to the facade. The free standing ‘goal post’ to the front of the building, is almost 10 meters high and is supported with a post tensioned 400 millimetres deep spandrel, spanning about 11 meters. This creates an impressive, grand front entrance to the building.

Techrete’s bespoke white polished panels, are aligned perfectly with the structural columns at the ground floor, also with a white polished finish and are connected to the steel structural columns above.

The project completed before its expected delivery date and allowed a partial handover to an occupier early. Overall this is a carefully considered and dynamic development. Whilst realising the full potential of this particular constrained city site, and whilst respecting the historic setting, this project greatly contributes to the surrounding neighbourhood and Cork as a whole.

Local Blackfriars

Local Blackfriars, Salford, Manchester

484 reconstructed stone and terracotta faced panels, covering 5,574 square meters.

Contractor : Domis Construction

Architect : Jon Matthews Architects

The Finer Details:

Local Blackfriars is a beautiful gated residential project, comprising 380 apartments, penthouses and townhouses across two striking towers, in Blackfriars, Greater Manchester. The Blackfriar, a Grade II listed former public house, has been repurposed to act as a gateway entrance for the development. This striking look of the towers was achieved using a combination of finishes. Throughout the buildings, the panels consist of a granite based reconstituted stone, with a polished finish and variations of green tiles cast into the panels.

An acid etched finish forms the base and crown or the top of the buildings, which provides the buildings with an elongated appearance. Techrete were responsible for the architectural precast elements of the project and for the structural columns which sit from the base of the buildings to the second floor. These were also produced in a polished, reconstituted stone. A key feature of this project from a Techrete perspective, was the fixing of the balconies directly to the panels on-site, facilitating much simpler construction and installation.

Athlone Civic Centre

Athlone Civic Centre, Monksland, Athlone, Co. Westmeath, N37 W5P9

Athlone Civic Centre Headline Facts:

270 reconstructed stone panels, covering 2,700 square meters.

Contractor : John Sisk & Son

Architect : Keith Williams

Theatre Royal

Theatre Royal, 282 Hope Street, Glasgow G2 3QA

Theatre Royal Headline Facts:

27 reconstructed stone panels, covering 340 square meters.

Contractor : Sandy Brown

Architect : Page / Park

Scottish Power

Scottish Power, 320 Street Vincent Street, Glasgow G2 5AD

Scottish Power Headline Facts:

983 reconstructed stone panels, covering 14,472 square meters.

Contractor : Laing O’Rourke

Architect : Paige Park Architects

Satellite Circle Square

Satellite Circle Square, 2 Nobel Way, Manchester M1 7FA

Satellite Circle Square Headline Facts :

423 reconstructed stone panels, covering 5,226 square meters.

Contractor : Wates Construction

Architect : 5 Plus Architects

Roches Stores / Debenhams

Roches Stores / Debenhams Henry Street, Dublin 1

Roches Stores Headline Facts:

120 reconstructed stone panels, covering 1,520 square meters.

Contractor : G&T Crampton construction

Architect : Newenham Mulligan

Victoria Gate

Victoria Gate, Vicar Lane, Leeds LS2 7AU

Victoria Gate Headline Facts:

573 reconstructed stone panels, covering 6,789 square meters.

Contractor : Sir Robert McAlpine

Architect : ACME

The Finer Details :

Victoria Gate is located in the heart of Leeds City Centre and was designed to incorporate a flagship John Lewis Store and internal shopping arcades. The architectural precast concrete cladding on this inspirational project, demonstrates how far the limits of precast concrete engineering can be pushed. Combining different acid etched and polished finishes within the various sections, a design with intricate geometry and a complex installation process, coupled with the utilisation of BIM 3D design tools, all demonstrates what can be achieved with precast facades.

The diagrid pattern was deconstructed by Techrete engineers to panelise a façade that would fit with precast manufacturing needs and yet not compromise the architectural intent. Overall, the architectural precast concrete cladding on the John Lewis store has created a unique and memorable identity and showcases just what can be achieved with such a versatile product and Techrete expertise.


Awards for this project include ‘British Precast Creativity in Concrete 2017’ and ‘Irish Concrete Society International Project of the Year 2017’