International cooperation during the construction of the Hadrian’s Tower – a topic of AlumForum 2021

A round table discussion within the business programme of the "Aluminium in Architecture and Construction" forum (AlumForum 2021) at the Skolkovo Technopark was devoted to the experience of international cooperation to create Hadrian's Tower in the UK. Several countries participated in this international project: Canada (designers), Belgium (engineering, system extrusion), Ukraine (EVB designed and produced the element facade), Poland (provided Pilkington glass) and Germany (sheet production). The Republic of Belarus was represented by LLC KTM-2000, a member of the Aluminium Association.

On the first day of AlumForum 2021, Taras Gvozdkov, CEO of KTM-2000, spoke in detail about how the facade of Hadrian's Tower residential complex located in Newcastle was created. The area of the tower's facade is 5,000 sq. metres, and aluminium cassettes with a total weight of 40 tonnes were required for its cladding.

Within the multinational team of experts, KTM-2000 was responsible for anodising and machining aluminium sheets. Work with British, Canadian and Belgian architects, designers and engineers was organised online using 3D design tools using the ArchiCAD software.

The finished modules of the facade elements were assembled directly on the building, like a Lego constructor. The facade was installed as a whole, finished block or element – an aluminium frame with a glazing unit. This feature made it possible to ensure more accurate shop assembly, offered a short installation period, space saving on the construction site, as well as the ability to mount the facade without waiting for the completion of work to construct the reinforced concrete floor slabs.

"The highlight of this project was the use of element facades. Thanks to them, everything was organised quite successfully: the finished elements assembled in Ukraine needed only to be delivered to England, and then they were lifted directly from the truck with a crane and installed in the right place on the building's facade," said Taras Gvozdkov.

The tower became the tallest structure in Newcastle upon Tyne – 82 metres. Its construction was completed in 2020. The residential complex, with a total area of 12,500 sq. metres, is integrated into the central part of the city in congress with buildings outside the protected historical area. As space in the city centre is limited, a modular facade system for the upper levels, prefabricated away from the construction site, was designed.

Hadrian's Tower is distinguished by exquisite architectural solutions. The facades, decorated with hand-moulded bricks and bronze aluminium panels, attract the attention of local residents, while the glass gives a feeling of airiness and lightness.

The Hadrian's Tower complex has become one of the architectural landmarks in Newcastle. Indeed, today, the tower is known far beyond the city limits – not least thanks to the innovative aluminium solutions used in its design.

About KTM-2000
The architectural anodising plant KTM-2000 was founded in 2000. The company specialises in unique and complex aluminium anodising technologies for architecture, design and industry. The company is based in the Republic of Belarus and has its own production premises (4,000 square metres). The quality of its products is confirmed by the international Qualanod certificate and the Sandalor license developed for architectural applications. When anodising aluminium, the company uses electrochemical, chemical and combined anodising methods, as well as its own developments – selective chemical engraving ArtELOX and HybridELOX – a combination of selective chemical engraving and galvanic printing.

ABOUT ALUMFORUM
The Second International Forum "Aluminium in Architecture and Construction" (AlumForum 2021) was held in the Technopark of the Skolkovo Innovation Center from September 21 to 23. The Forum was founded by the Aluminium Association and organized by the Union of Architects of Russia and the Union of Moscow Architects. The event was held as part of the Year of Architecture and Urban Planning in the CIS with the support of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia, the Ministry of Construction, Housing and Utilities of Russia, the Moscow Government, Research and Development Center Construction, the Russian Academy of Architecture and Construction Sciences, RUSAL and the Union of Glass-Making Enterprises. RIA Novosti (Russia Today Media Group) served as the title media sponsor of AlumForum 2021. The goal of the Forum is to expand the possible uses of aluminium in the architecture and construction of residential, public and industrial housing, transport infrastructure facilities, the subway, bridges and transport interchange hubs. The first AlumForum took place in Moscow in 2019.

All AlumForum 2021 materials are available on the website of the Aluminium Association at: https://www.aluminas.ru/events/alumforum-2021/.The Forum materials are also available on the alumforum.ru website.