Techdek decking specified on a series on landmark bridge projects
neaco’s Techdek aluminium open grille system has been specified as decking for pedestrian or cycle ways at some of the UK’s most prestigious bridge schemes designed by WilkinsonEyre. High-profile projects include the Living Bridge in Limerick, the Peace Bridge in Londonderry, the Sterling Prize-winning Gateshead Millennium Bridge, the Twin Sails Bridge in Poole and the Media City Footbridge in Manchester. Techdek’s T-Bar profile provides a 74 per cent contact area on the surface yet drains water efficiently and its swage-locked construction between the bars enables high structural efficiency. Those qualities – combined with a maintenance-free durability and the option of a serrated anti-slip surface for increased safety – make Techdek ideal for the external conditions and high traffic demands of a bridge.
Techdek bridge decking was extensively installed on the Living Bridge, at the University of Limerick, to form a curvaceous deck sweeping across the River Shannon and its embankments in six spans between strategically positioned support locations. The bridge’s deck width pulses along its length, offering wider platforms for use as resting places or spaces for public art.
The Peace Bridge was conceived as a landmark cross the River Foyle in Derry-Londonderry linking historically divided communities on the east and west banks.The bridge deck is divided into two curved halves, each supported by the suspension system from a single inclined steel pylon. At the centre of the river, the structural systems overlap to form a ‘structural handshake.’
The choice of Techdek as cycleway decking played a part in the visual impact of Gateshead Millennium Bridge’s dramatic opening motion in which two arches – one forming the deck, the other supporting it – pivot around their springing point to allow shipping to pass beneath. Techdek’s unique profile which allowed the appearance of the bridge to change with the angle of viewing.
Techdek was also integral to the signature feature of the Twin Sails Bridge in Poole Harbour designed. Configured as a simple bascule, the joint between the bridge’s two hydraulically lifted sections is skewed across a flat deck, creating two triangular sail shapes which cross as they rise and come to rest in an overlapping composition, mirroring the shape of racing yachts passing through the bridge. Techdek grillage has been installed on both sail sections which form a sculptural piece when lifted into a vertical position.
The Media City footbridge forms a visual landmark and sculptural gateway to the Media City site in Salford Quays, connecting it with satellite developments and attractions on the southern side of the Manchester Ship Canal. The curved, 100m-long deck of the bridge responds to the radial masterplan of the site and reinforces an orbital pedestrian route around the canal basin.
neaco’s national sales manager, Peter Melia, comments: “Bridge developments have become a major market for our Techdek system and we are proud to have the product serving some of the most creative aspects of the UK’s landmark bridge projects. In addition to its many practical qualities, Techdek provides a high architectural aesthetic that is manufactured to last.”
Stylish balconies are clear choice for quayside apartments
neaco’s stylish balconies are impressing on all counts as part of an extensive specification at Hanover Mill in Newcastle, where Mandale Homes and Napper Architects transformed a 160-year-old Grade II Listed building within a prestigious quayside development comprising 134 luxury new build and conversion apartments. Hanover Mill represented the conversion element of a £30 million scheme incorporating nearby Forth Banks, a new build development featuring apartments and office units. The Hanover Mill apartments are designed to a high specification and many enjoy views across the River Tyne.
Characterized by a predominance of glass for minimalist looks and maximum sunlight penetration, Neaco’s Clearview balconies provide quick and easy installation, contemporary aesthetics and rust-free durability to ensure their polished appearance lasts in the most demanding conditions. Specification options include structural glass, Juliet and step-out designs featuring smoked or clear toughened glass combined with top rails and balustrade manufactured from powder coated aluminium in a choice of finishes. The step-out balconies are also available with stainless steel balustrade.
Napper Architects also extensively specified neaco’s products at Centralofts, a prestigious development of luxury apartments and office accommodation in Newcastle. Our balconies were installed extensively throughout the complex and our Techdek and Louvredek open grille panels are serving a wide variety of functions, including open decking within a formal pedestrianised square, vent grillage above lightwells and subterranean car parks and combined sunscreens/decking for balconies.
neaco balconies are provided as part of our acclaimed Spectrum modular handrail and balustrade range, available in stainless steel or nylon coated aluminium. Suitable for both external and interior installations,
Spectrum systems offer the durability to meet the most rigorous performance demands and the versatility to suit virtually any design permutation across a huge range of built environments. All neaco products come with our Lifetime Guarantee.
Balconies and balustrade bridge contemporary and traditional
neaco created a bespoke balconies and balustrade specification to bridge the aesthetic divide between traditional and contemporary at a new UK headquarters in Leeds for leading healthcare IT business, TPP (The Phoenix Partnership).
Purpose-built by contractors ISG, the four-storey, 85,000 sq ft structure was designed by Bowman Riley Architects to complement the existing built environment with a frontal, road-side elevation of traditional Yorkshire stone with pitched tiled roofing in contrast to a rear façade featuring a more contemporary appearance with extensive curtain walling. neaco supplied products to both sections with bespoke railed balconies to the front, bespoke terrace balustrade to the rear and internal balustrade to stairwells and the main reception area’s double-height atrium.
The balconies and external balustrade feature traditional-style railed infill combined with a contemporary twist in the form of tapered flat-bar stanchions with laser-cut holes. This combination has achieved design consistency across the entire building whilst harmonising with the contrasting aesthetics of the front and rear sections.
neaco’s National Sales Manager, Peter Melia, said: “neaco’s technical team has the expertise and experience to offer total design flexibility and over the years we have developed bespoke solutions across a huge range of projects. The new TPP headquarters is the latest example and the building is certainly an impressive sight from all angles.”
Targeting a BREEAM very good environmental performance rating, the office is mostly naturally ventilated, via roof-mounted wind catchers. It is accommodating over 600 staff and includes two levels of undercroft parking.
Industrial flooring offers stout resistance at Guinness brewery
neaco’s Techdek industrial flooring is providing stout performance at one of Dublin’s historic landmarks, having been installed on the iconic silos which help to produce millions of barrels of Guinness each year at the famous St. James’s Gate Brewery.
Founded in 1759 and located in the heart of the city, St. James’s Gate is the largest brewer of stout in the world and has become one of Ireland’s most popular tourist attractions. Specified with a slip-resistant surface for more secure footing, Techdek’s aluminium open grilles form a series of circular walkways providing maintenance access at the top of each of silo, an exposed industrial environment where the product’s durability and resistance to corrosion are vital qualities.
neaco’s National Sales Manager, Peter Melia, said: “Techdek is an extremely heavy-duty system, so it’s ideal for very demanding applications like the silo walkways at St. James’s Gate. The modular grille panels also offer versatile installation, which was a useful quality in adapting to the circular shape of the silos. The panels are 100% recyclable and offer modular construction that minimises noise, waste and energy consumption, so the product can significantly reduce carbon footprint and environmental impact.”
Design for visually impaired is a grand idea
neaco provided a bespoke modification to our Techdek aluminium decking system as part of a bridge specification at the Grand Canal Dock development project in Dublin. Using the renowned design versatility of the company’s technical team and state-of-the-art precision engineering facilities at our Malton factory, we developed a unique grille surface which features tactile strips to alert visually impaired pedestrians when they are nearing a step. We created the solution as part of our work with infrastructure specialist, Murphy Group, on behalf of client Irish Rail.
Since 2000 Grand Canal Dock area has undergone significant redevelopment as part of the Dublin Docklands area regeneration project with includes extensive commercial estates. The area has been dubbed “Silicon Docks” due to its emergence as a magnet for high-tech multinationals such as Google, Linkedin, Facebook, Twitter, Airbnb, and more. Around 366,000 square metres of office space and 2,600 homes will eventually be developed across 22 hectares of land in the North Lotts and Grand Canal Dock under the Docklands Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) planning scheme.
neaco’s national sales manager, Peter Melia, comments: “Bridge developments have become a major market for our Techdek system and we are proud to have the product specified as decking on some of the UK’s most prestigious bridge projects in the past two decades, including the Twin Sails bridge in Poole, the Peace Bridge in Londonderry, the Media City footbridge in Salford Quays and the Millennium Bridge in Gateshead. Grand Canal Dock is the latest high-profile development to feature the system and it is another example of neaco’s ability to adapt our products to meet the specific needs of clients and their projects.”
“In addition to its many practical qualities, Techdek provides a high architectural aesthetic that is manufactured to last. The system is extremely versatile and can be used in many other applications, including staging, modesty screens, solar shading, maintenance galleries and roof access walkways.”
neaco provides bespoke walnut-effect balustrade
In neaco’s experience oak is by far the most popular choice for wood-effect handrails, but one project went against the grain with a bespoke walnut-effect specification at a new £3.5m health and social care centre in Market Weighton, East Yorkshire.
Our advanced powder coating facilities can replicate the intricate detail of wood grain as a maintenance-free finish for our Timberline aluminium system. Due to mighty high demand, oak is Timberline’s standard specification, but a special request from architects Pearce Bottomley required us to branch out with a reproduction of walnut’s darker tones.
To the naked eye Timberline’s powder coated reproduction of natural wood grain is indistinguishable from the real thing. Available in a matt or gloss finish, the handrail’s timber style combines superbly with a metallic-finish balustrade, either in aluminium or stainless steel. Handrails are warm and comfortable to the touch with the superior smoothness and durability of powder coating. Timberline is non-absorptive – unlike genuine timber handrails, which require ongoing treatment to maintain their aesthetic, prevent absorption of bacteria and control infection. Timberline’s extremely durable finish is also a more practical alternative to real wood, which is vulnerable to surface damage.
Assura Group completed the 16,000sq ft medical centre in conjunction with project managers, LSP Developments, and contractors, Hobson & Porter. As well as an onsite pharmacy, the new building includes a minor surgery suite, training rooms and specialist clinics for those suffering from conditions like asthma, COPD and diabetes. Additional space for community services and visiting consultants has also been incorporated.
Amanda Roddy, development manager at Assura Group, said, “The completion of Market Weighton Medical Centre will revolutionise the quality and accessibility of care for the local community. Creating a multipurpose centre that delivers a wide scope of diagnostic and treatment services is driven towards enhancing the patient’s experience, but also for reducing the strain on local secondary care services. We hope that the staff, patients and wider community will enjoy these benefits of the new centre.”
