The concrete façade, combined with the perforated cladding and triple glazed curtain walling on the Hub fuse together to outwardly portray what this innovative research facilities does on the inside.

Aukett Swanke chose Capisco’s CAP 55 finish for the Proteus SC perforated panels early in the design process because they were looking to complement the flat bare concrete façade and glazed elements.

The CAP 55 effect was hand applied by patination specialist Capisco, which gave the Proteus SC TECU Brass perforated panels an enhanced flow, feel and texture. The appearance of the perforated and patinated panels now changes depending on the level of sunlight and the angle at which they are viewed from. The end result is a strikingly beautifully aesthetic that appears to move and shimmer across the visually flat façade beneath.

The perforated panels seamlessly transition through the entrance glazing to form a striking feature within the atrium entrance. This creates an impressive solar composition, accentuated by spotlights, when visitors cast their eyes upwards.

“The contrast between the concrete, glass and patinated brass couldn’t be more complementary and, with it, pleasing to the eye,” said Elias Niazi, Design Principal at Aukett Swanke. “The visual outcomes on this project have exceeded expectations. The perforated patterns on the brass panels with artistic patinations add a sense of mystery and mirror the innovative research works carried out inside the building.

Elias Niazi, Design Principal explained: “We specified Proteus SC because we liked the wide panels of its TECU Brass perforated system, as well as the company’s ability to work with Capisco on what is a completely bespoke cladding solution.”

Proteus Facades, again working with Capisco to create a matching patinated finish, manufactured the window flashings for the Hub. Initially conceived as a simple window flashing, Proteus had to overcome a real technical challenge – the profile of the window reveal is a narrow box that tapers across the width to make it appear as though the window blends into the concrete.

The maximum depth of the window reveal was too large for traditional manufacturing processes and so a multi piece flashing design was developed which could be stud welded and bolted together. This avoided any distortions that would have resulted from traditional welding processes, whilst creating a bespoke element that could be easily installed on site.

Proteus Facades is able to supply the CAP 55 finish in either Brass or Bronze materials. The TECU Brass Proteus SC perforated panels were developed in conjunction with the supporting composite panel behind. These had a maximum capacity to support the perforated panels, with the required cavity zone, at 750mm centres. Proteus SC perforated hock on panel system was used, set off from the company’s 125x50mm mullion.

The perforated panels encompass a PPC black stainless steel bird mesh, carefully integrated into the back to ensure there was no visual impact to the panel face.

The Molecular Sciences Research Hub encompasses technical and laboratory areas clustered around a full height atrium. The striking new hub forms the centre piece of the Imperial West campus. Laing O’Rourke commenced construction works at the end of 2014 with completion in 2016. The façade was installed by its in-house team, Laing Facades.

The architects specified Proteus SC Tray Panel system for the single skin perforated panels that form bold, sweeping diagonal patterns across the façade.

Wrapped around the entire building, the perforated ‘skin’ on West Yorkshire History Centre delivers an aesthetic like no other. Executed in polyester powder coated aluminium, the perforations give the panels various degrees of opaqueness, with back lighting in the evening accentuate the effect, forging a dramatic, changing façade.

During the day, the cladding plays with natural light, creating a sense of weightlessness that avoids the issue on some structures where a solid facade overly-dominates its surroundings.

The overall effect is one where the facade appears to ‘float’ over the underlying structure, with the diagonally-swept perforations creating a 20 metre high building that signals a modern new outlook for West Yorkshire History Centre.

In order to achieve the design requirements, each of the perforated panels had to be manufactured to a specific drawing reference and to millimetre tolerances by Proteus Facades. This involved changing the location, number and layout of the perforations on each panel. The pitch of the holes also had to vary to ensure the centres passed seamlessly over panel joints.

“Our initial design concept for this project was one that had a perforated façade to create a striking visual effect during that day and at night,” said Joanna Cebrat from Broadway Malyan. “We choose to work with Proteus because they demonstrated an ability to manufacture the panels to exacting tolerances and that was critical to creating this stunning, geometric form.”

Proteus SC is an engineered panel system that is available in either solid, perforated or expanded mesh formats, and in an extensive range of metals, colours, textures and forms. The single skin perforated panels at West Yorkshire History Centre were manufactured from 4mm aluminium sheet metal with an Alesta February 4 powder coated paint finish.

Each perforated panel was supported by the Proteus aluminium carrier system and ancillary components anchored to the underlying masonry structure. These allowed the panels to be hooked-on, accentuating the sheer, smooth façade interrupted only by the perforated design.

The rail system supplied by Proteus comprises a 125 x 50mm mullion, which was designed to span floor to floor with large cantilevers fixed from the first floor slab and connected to the bespoke designed steel work at roof level to allow the building to form the profile required.

The hanging system to support the panels at the arrow head of the building again required a bespoke design from Proteus in order to achieve the visual requirements set by the designers as well as creating a robust roofline in this elevated, exposed position.

The cladding contractor in this project was Longworth Building Envelope Services and Bardsley Construction acting as main contractor.

Proteus engineered the panels around specific budget requirements to achieve the best possible outcome for the client and the architects. The £6.4m development was jointly funded by the five West Yorkshire Councils, West Yorkshire Joint Services and with a £3.9m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

West Yorkshire History Centre now houses over 10 million historical records in an environment where there are strict controls over levels of natural light and temperature inside the building.

AWW’s design for the new-look façade posed different challenges to that of Phase 1, both in manufacturing panel lengths of up to 6.8m and in installation for the specialist sub-contractor, Massey Cladding Solutions.

Proteus’ leading-edge manufacturing process managed to produce the panels in up to 6.8m lengths while maintaining optical flatness, while Proteus’ technical team worked with Massey Cladding Solutions to deliver and install the panels to the highest possible standards of safety and quality.

AWW wanted a pronounced vertical joint to accentuate the vertical panel layout so Proteus designed the zinc panels with a “snap-in” vertical zinc feature profile that could be inserted post-panel installation.

The provision of a new air conditioning system caused issues with roof mounting and thus altering the original line of the roof. To maintain the required aesthetics the air conditioning unit was sunk within the line of the existing building and left open top with a change in façade treatment to a perforated Proteus SC Panel, providing the necessary additional free air flow whilst maintaining the building aesthetics.

The provision of a new air conditioning system caused issues with roof mounting and potentially altering the original line of the roof. The air conditioning unit was sunk within the line of the existing building and left open–top with a change in façade treatment to a perforated Proteus SC Panel, which provided the necessary additional free air flow while maintaining the building aesthetics.

Imperial Tobacco was keen there was no differential between neighbouring Phase 1 (its new headquarters) and Phase 2 (the refurbished factory) in either appearance or character. The quality of the factory’s internal environment, including open-plan offices, a multi-functional meeting suite, café and external terraces bring a consistent design philosophy and approach to that of the headquarters building.

Phase II has evolved to sit comfortably within a new era of Imperial Tobacco. The tired remains of the former factory have taken on a new lease of life to proudly stand beside the state-of-the-art headquarters. Phase II is more than just an office space. It is proud to boast elements of community benefit of which the commercial-standard nursery is just one.

An AWW spokesman said: “It was considered most appropriate that the refurbished building fitted in with the style and quality of the new headquarters building whilst retaining as much of the existing building fabric as possible.”

More than 500 Proteus panels featuring almost 500,000 perforations clad an internal freestanding structure in the Shared Services Facility where collaboration areas aligned with campus vistas symbolise the importance of interaction and collaboration among the many institutes the campus is home to.

The project brief was to totally modernise, reorganise the space functions and refresh the finishes for the next 25 years by addressing thermal and acoustic performance and solar control issues in a collaborative break-out hub for scientists and visitors.

The refurbished building provides meeting rooms on a new mezzanine area with cantilevered sections, a new café, communal classroom, Ashburner library and Sanger Institute laboratories reception.

The bespoke Proteus system on the internal freestanding double-height structure comprises four layers. The face panel of sheet aluminium, perforated to help meet the architect’s acoustic requirements then coated post-fabrication with a special paint which gave a textured sand blasted effect.

Behind this is an acoustic veil in four vibrant shades of blue and green fabric manufactured from 100% worsted wool with a flame retardant coating. The crepe binding in the fabric creates an optical depth and an expression similar to stone but with a soft touch.

Between this veil and the metal lining layer is a 25mm resin-bonded mineral wool core acting as the acoustic absorber. All four layers were assembled in the Proteus factory and secured along all edges using the Proteus panel framing system.

The DNA molecule pattern which features on the internal “twisted box” elevations was designed by Proteus software into individual panels and then pixelated onto each panel using a specific criteria. From this, shop drawings were created for client review and then seamlessly passed through the Proteus production process.

In addition to the aesthetic and acoustic performance requirements of the panels, the support system was also bespoke – shallower than usual to maximise internal floor space but robust enough to tolerate potential impact from the building’s users and with enough tolerance for to achieve a precise finish.

Located in close proximity to the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre, and the newly completed SSE Hydro auditorium, the Multi Storey Car Park forms a central hub for these two entertainment facilities with walkways linking the facilities together.

The car park is owned by Canada Life Ltd, who invested £23m into the building and lease the facility to the council owned City Parking on a 35 year lease. Completed in 2013 by SCC Ltd, under a Design and Build contract the car park utilises SCC’s patented car park system, and at the time was the third facility to do so.

The elevations are clad in Proteus HR Solid Rainscreen panels and Proteus SC Perforated Screen cladding, with materials to complement the already established Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre. The main elevations are clad with a Marine Grade Mill Finished Aluminium, as used on the SECC, but with a distinctive bespoke perforated pattern. The Proteus SC panel support system was designed with vertical mullions spanning floor to floor, removing the need for secondary steel work and structural supports, which assisted the design team in complex geometry areas like the spiral car ramps. The design process at all times remained focused on ensuring that no fixings were visible or accessible from within the car park and that all sight lines remained as clean as possible.

The entrances and main stair towers form solid entrance and protective areas for the car park users and are clad with a Proteus HR solid rainscreen panel system finished with a Tata Colorcoat Prisma Steel RAL 9006 finish. The Proteus HR rainscreen panels had an increased aluminium honeycomb core thickness to provide single spans up to 4000mm, large single spans were required due to remedy issues with the supporting structure.

Visually a striking building which complements the distinctive cladding of the Scottish Exhibition & Conference Centre during the day and as the three facilities illuminate during the night they become a landmark on the Glasgow skyline.

With work complete by Eric Wright Construction in July 2014, and cladding sub-contractor Cover Structure Ltd, the distinctive external materials provide a strong visual identity.  The main building envelope consists of a simple black composite cladding panel with large window inserts, and a Proteus SC bespoke perforated aluminium white screen to the front half of the building. Openings of various sizes in the Proteus SC perforated screen create a pattern across the elevation which animates the façade as well as providing shading and screening to the window openings behind. At night the façade is illuminated within the cavity giving the building a colourful evening identity.

Although the façade looks very simple the screen is extremely technically challenging. Fine tolerances were required at the interface between cladding, window openings and structural floor edges, to ensure the main brackets were accurately set out to receive the precision manufactured panels. The Proteus SC perforated panels were then designed to span floor to floor, by the inclusion of an aluminium box section into the vertical edges of the panel. This design made the panels extremely heavy, and required early involvement of the sub-contractor to ensure a safe construction methodology while allowing the site operatives tolerance in the installation process.

At ground floor and around the parapet of the building, the insulated panels have been finished with a Proteus HR honeycomb rainscreen panel with a Rimex Colourtex Blue Pippin Patterned Stainless Steel. This finish subtly changes with varying light conditions. In bright sunlight, the Stainless Steel Panels seem to mirror the blue skies above, while in darker conditions, the appearance is similar to that of the simple black panel on the rear elevation.

The Proteus SC panels, which were mirror polished on the face and grit polished on the rear, form a 54m long screen to the upper half of the façade of the front and side elevations of the double-height extension onto Hayes Primary School in Kent.

With the perforations reducing in size from the bottom to the top of the panels, they maximise translucency at the former and reflection of the canopies of mature trees at the front of the site, at the latter. They also act as brise soleil, providing shade from solar glare and preventing over-heating to the teaching spaces.

The Proteus SC screens also give a uniformed building elevation to what had previously been a piecemeal development, an incoherent complex of buildings which failed to announce themselves on the street front. Now the “veil” gives the illusion of a state-of-the-art new school, shielding the existing building from the road.

The new accommodation is organised around the east and north elevations of the existing school building and adds to the site four new classrooms, a small hall, ICT lab, admin area and external play spaces for more than 100 pupils.

Such is the transformation that the school has won awards including a New London Award run by London’s Centre for the Built Environment to recognise the best in architecture, planning and development in the capital and a RIBA National Award (London). Here, the judges said: “On a tight budget the architects have created a building with a clear organisation and a strong identity, with a loggia-like entrance setting the tone.”

Councillor Tim Pollard, cabinet member for children, families and learning, said: “Our main priority is to make sure we have enough places so that every child in Croydon has the chance of a good education. When we also have to ability to deliver creative schemes like this one and get such great recognition that is an added bonus.”

Proteus HR panels in varying shades of blue and Proteus SC panels in varying shades of yellow and orange feature on Phase 2 of the mixed-tenure redevelopment at Parkside which comprises 190 new homes for affordable rent, shared ownership and private sale within mid-rise apartment buildings and a landmark 17-storey tower offering residents excellent views across London.

The contemporary design adopted on Phase 2 set the precedent for appearance and material treatment for the following four phases and is characterised by contrasting Proteus HR panels with areas of brick and projecting glazed and Proteus SC panelled balconies.

On some of the mid-rise blocks the blue Proteus HR panels fixed vertically and horizontally act as rainscreen cladding, complemented by Proteus SC panels in the same colours on the balconies. On others the Proteus HR panels are vertical feature elements beside full-length glazing on a brick-dominated façade.

The high-density yet high-quality development sits within an overall outline consented £200million master plan which will deliver 512m² of retail floor space, 768m² of community floor space, an energy centre, public spaces including a square, central park green space and play facilities, and a day nursery.

The 1,000+ one to four-bedroomed residential units were designed to Code Level 4, with over 50% designed for private sale to help fund, in buildings ranging from three to 17 storeys in height.

One of the regeneration project’s key objectives was a high degree of resident involvement in both design and logistics, even down to flat layouts, the materials used, and landscaping. Existing council tenants had the option to move into the new homes once they were built.

The Proteus panels make their mark on (TFL’s) Transport for London’s new stations at Shoreditch High Street, Hoxton, Dalston and Haggerston. All of these are in the London Borough of Hackney at the heart of the £10billion project which runs partly along the existing lines of the former London Underground’s East London Line but also extends it to the north and south.

In general, the Proteus panels form decorative high-performance linings to the platforms and concourse areas.

At the multi award-winning Hoxton station, the entrance and ticket hall is formed in the refurbished brick arches of the former railway viaduct, with new platforms above accessed by new lifts and Proteus-panelled stair towers. Here, Proteus HR LU and Proteus SC acoustic-lined perforated panels and Proteus AR aluminium louvres have been used.

This station won a commendation in the Hackney Design Awards when the judges said: “It manages to accommodate all the functional requirements within the existing brick arches that are fitted out with stainless elements reminiscent of a Donald Judd sculpture.”

Weston Williamson architects also won awards for Dalston station which sits in a disused cutting and includes interchanges with a new bus station and a major residential development above. Here, Proteus HR Canvas patterned stainless steel panels were used.

The same Proteus HR panels in Canvas patterned stainless steel were used at Haggerston to line an entrance canopy featuring the bold orange branding of the East London Line and the walls of naturally-lit staircase voids in 7m-high towers at the rear of the site.

And at Shoreditch High Street, a combination of Proteus HR LU Canvas patterned stainless steel and Proteus SC acoustic-lined perforated panels were used.

The Proteus panels on the East London Line stations were installed by a number of specialist sub-contractors for the main contractor joint venture of Balfour Beatty and Carillion.

For the pewter-grey Proteus HR panel, which incorporates an aluminium honeycomb core structurally bonded between two lightweight metal skins, complemented by Proteus SC perforated panels, clad the prow of the iconic building at the heart of the site’s redevelopment.

The original concept had been for a traditional brick building but Capita Symonds’ architectural team stayed true to their fighter jet concept (originally etched on a post-it note) from day one. Their structural engineering team helped produce an innovative design that features a dramatic structure with rainscreen cladding on external walls and roof to give it a seamless skin.

The building was conceived as a folding surface and is articulated by cladding the external roof and wall elements in the same cladding material – Proteus. Contemporary detailing ensures seamless integration of wall, roof and floor elements, further strengthening the concept.

The flagship building is part of a major investment programme to provide additional manufacturing facilities, office accommodation and infrastructure developments to the site which is responsible for many aircraft manufacturing and support systems including the front fuselage and other parts of the Eurofighter Typhoon, as well as a number of other aircraft including the Lockhead Martin F-35 Lightning.

Reflecting this and with the latest audio visual facilities for viewing information about the 4,000-strong company and its products, the reception building gives a memorable first impression of BAE Systems for visitors to the site on the A59.

Dave Holmes, director of investment and infrastructure services, BAE Systems, said: “This marks another significant milestone in the transformation project. The new reception facility and improved entrance are designed to create the right image for the Salmesbury site and the business, whilst at the same time being highly functional.”

The 100% recyclable Proteus panels were installed for main contractor BAM Construction by specialist sub-contractor F Brown who have more than 40 years’ experience working on BAE sites, cladding many of the large hangars and carrying out internal fit-outs and refurbishments.

The Proteus SC panels comprise a single skin perforated panel, generally constructed in the factory from 1mm to 5mm thick sheet metal. The live loadings applied to the building, along with the amount of perforations required for aesthetics or air flow requirements, were a consideration when the final bespoke design was created.

The Proteus HR panels are available in steel, aluminium, zinc, stainless steel, copper alloys and other metal finishes, using a honeycomb core to achieve an optically flat finish and a very large panel size, allowing for large spans and stunning visual effects. Its light weight reduces the load on the building, yet it is also strong and safe.

And proven to 50 years’ serviceability, they should remain a striking entrance feature for BAE Systems for some time to come.