Project Spotlight
It’s Destination Retail for SureClad® at Rushden Lakes
Shackerley has supplied the SureClad® ceramic granite ventilated cladding system for the innovative Rushden Lakes retail development in Northamptonshire.
Billed as a ‘destination like no other’, Rushden Lakes has been designed as a place to shop, eat and explore. Located just off the A45 at the gateway to the Nene Wetlands, it not only offers big retail brands in a spacious shopping centre but also provides waterside leisure and hospitality facilities with a square mile of beautiful lakes and meadows, where 20,000 migratory birds visit each year. Developed by LXB Retail Properties in partnership with The Crown Estate, the scheme has put environmental sustainability and the preservation of wildlife centre stage, while offering visitors an opportunity to explore the development’s paths and cycle ways or try water sports with on-site canoe hire.
HPW Architecture has been responsible for designing the scheme and the Shackerley system has so far been specified on Phase 1, which includes four anchor stores, riverside shops and restaurants, the Canoe2 boathouse and the lakeside Visitor Centre; and Phase 2, which includes a cinema, restaurants and more retail units.
A total of more than 3000m2 of SureClad® ceramic granite has been specified for the Rushden Lakes project so far, with phases 3 and 4 still to be specified. SureClad® ceramic granite panels in a creamy beige natural finish with a subtle fleck have been installed for the showpiece anchor stores and ceramic granite panels in a warm beige honed finish with marbling have been used for the shop surrounds on the development’s south terrace as part of the phase 1 programme. Meanwhile for phase 2, pale ivory beige panels in a natural finish have been specified for the Leisure block, which includes a 14-screen cinema, four additional leisure units and a variety of café and restaurant outlets.
Shackerley’s large format SureClad® ceramic granite panels were specified as part of a Kingspan BENCHMARK Karrier Panel system. This innovative external envelope solution brings together Kingspan’s high performance structural insulating panels, with the premium appearance and longevity of Shackerley’s fully-prefabricated ceramic granite cladding and the installation benefits of its SureClad® Access System.
Comments Brian G Newell, chief executive of Shackerley: “The use of the SureClad® ventilated façade system in a variety of finishes and panel sizes on this development demonstrates the versatility of the system and its suitability for an environment where suitable variation is required as part of the demarcation of different locations.
“The natural appearance and colour tones the system provides ensure they offer a look that is in-keeping with the landscaped wildlife habitats and parkland while the robust nature of the SureClad® system and resilience of ceramic granite will ensure the high end look endures.”
