Challenge

The Co-operative Group commissioned a new 400,000 sq ft, 16-storey head office building in Manchester at 1 Angel Square. The vision was to provide a modern working environment that would be good for the business and staff, and a building that would benefit the communities that surround it as well as Manchester as a whole. It is part of the mixed-use NOMA development.

Demanding sustainability targets were part of the brief.

Total Vibration Solutions (TVS) was required to provide reverberation control to the coffered ceiling before air conditioning was installed in the open plan call centre offices within the building.

White was the only colour that could be used as the material would be on show in the offices. The material had to be installed whilst the building was exposed and subject to moisture and wind elements.

Solution

TVS supplied melamine foam in white, and after testing the material at Trox in Norfolk, the material was approved.

The fixings provided a challenge: standard insulation pins are galvanised and the architect specifically required white, to provide a clean, co-ordinated colour. TVS searched the market and after no suitable white fixings were found, had some special pins and washers manufactured in white.

Outcome

The vibration control provided by TVS forms part of a BREEAM 'Outstanding' building that provides a comfortable and modern working environment for staff.