New York Square
Specified by: DLG Architects
Project Overview
The New York Square build to rent (BTR) development is the first phase of the SOYO (South of York Road) masterplan for Leeds city centre, which will involve substantial public realm improvements, along with a total of six apartment buildings. New York Square has involved construction of the first two residential towers; one of 16-storeys and the other of 17-storeys, each with ground floor retail units.
Designed by DLG Architects, the high-end residential buildings include a co-working space, gym, cinema room, lounges, library, games areas and private dining facilities for residents, along with a number of outdoor terraces providing different vistas from which to enjoy the cityscape. The calibre of the central location, the accommodation, and the facilities had to be matched by the quality of the façade system, and Shackerley’s SureClad® ceramic façade system in a creamy beige colourway with dark grey/black accents provided an ideal solution.
Design Requirements
The high-rise residential towers required a non-combustible façade system and the SureClad® ceramic granite façade system from Shackerley is Euroclass A1 rated non-combustible, and was specified for the New York Square development with Shackerley’s safety back meshing, resulting in a fully-compliant A2-s1-d0 rated façade to BS EN 135001-1.
The design team was keen that the project should complement the red brick and Portland stone typical of the surrounding architecture, and considered a number of options that would provide the required quality and aesthetics, along with the ease and speed of installation requirements of the project.
With a cantilevered section supported by slim columns at ground floor level, creating a colonnade walkway, the apartment buildings required a lightweight façade system. The design team wanted to ensure that the aluminium façade support system was not visible behind the large format cladding panels, so DLG worked collaboratively with Shackerley and the cladding contractor, Axis Group, to agree the best methodologies for optimising buildability and delivering a smooth programme. Having previously used the Shackerley SureClad® ceramic cladding system on a number of projects, DLG were also confident it would offer the natural appearance and consistency to look just as good close-up at street level as it does as a whole façade view.
As the developer will retain ownership of the buildings and manage the apartments, finding a façade system that will offer ease of maintenance was also vital. The SureClad® ceramic granite façade system is resistant to pollutants, graffiti, algae and UV, which means lower maintenance and a longer service life with a luxury appearance.
Materials Used
The main façade area was specified with Shackerley SureClad® ceramic granite cladding in a creamy-beige Travertine colourway, with a honed, natural finish. This is complemented by areas of ‘Rio’ dark grey/black SureClad® ceramic granite façade panels in a textured finish. All large format 1200 x 600 SureClad® ceramic panels were manufactured as an installation-ready façade system at Shackerley’s ISO 9001 certified factories in Lancashire, and installed using Shackerley’s SureClad® patented Access mechanical fixing system, with a panel layout and fixings positioning that ensured the mechanical fixing system is obscured, even at close quarters.
The design incorporates some simple horizontal banding, which interfaces with brick elements of the façade, and the relevant panels were cut to the exact dimensions required for these areas at Shackerley’s factories.
Use of the Shackerley SureClad® Access system, which enables non-sequential installation of façade panels, allowed the installer’s team to leave areas for the electricians to fix the lighting, and return to them later in the programme to complete the façade.
