Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone makes up part of a dynamic and exciting development across four development sites in Lancashire. With the development partially funded by Lancashire Enterprise Partnership's Growth Deal Funding via an £800,000 grant, we supplied several insulated panel products for the 40,000ft2 Nexus building, occupied by carbon fibre component specialists, Multi-Ply Components. The Nexus building is the first building at the eastern gateway of the £300m Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone.

Our QuadCore products ensured high levels of thermal performance throughout the building envelope, which also enabled a thinner and sleeker roof and wall construction.

With the council specifying a brief of a very good BREEAM rating as well as use of high-quality insulation, the project team selected a range of our Insulated Panel products to deliver a thermally efficient build. To address the Enterprise Zone’s sustainability credentials, QuadCore is also a low Global Warming Potential solution, offering excellent material efficiency and an ease of disassembly which helps lower the building’s embodied and operational carbon.

The project team had to overcome a few challenges thanks to the location of the eastern gateway. Construction was in close proximity to Blackpool Airport, so the project team had to liaise with Air Traffic Control to ensure that works could continue without impacting the running of the airport. The project team had to work closely with the airport and inform them of any work that was taking place at a high level, such as piling rigs and cranes. This called for building products that could be delivered in an efficient and timely manner to site, as well as ones that targeted a more efficient speed of build to keep delays to a minimum. The QuadCore insulated panels are prefabricated offsite, which makes them quicker to install than other roof and wall structures, and the straightforward installation also made the envelope instantly wind and watertight whilst also reducing construction risks from working at height.

The Nexus Building was constructed throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, which meant the project team had to adhere to social distancing and safe working practices – therefore a product supplier that could offer reliable and on-time delivery was essential for the safety of the team and the smooth progression of the project.

The steel framework and insulated gutter products that were supplied to the project provided a proven efficient and rapid build solution, faster than other comparable systems. The steel framework gives the building the strength and stability it needs, as well as longevity; and paired with the lightweight insulated gutter products that can be installed in lengths up to 8 metres, the frame of the building can be constructed quickly, enabling the next stages of work to be completed. The insulated gutters also provided insulation continuity across the whole roof, reducing the risk of heat loss, and contributing towards the building’s BREEAM rating of ‘Very Good’.

As the building made up part of the eastern gateway, it was important that the architects, Cassidy & Ashton, set the precedent for the design of the Enterprise Zone, with a thoroughly aesthetic appeal. The design needed to be attractive to outsiders and people entering the site from the gateway, as well as showcasing the building’s high specification. The landmark head office will also assist in bringing other potential tenants to the site, solidifying the Enterprise Zone’s long-term future. To create this sleek, modern façade, our QuadCore AWP Wall Panels were specified in a variety of profiles: Flat, Louvre and Plank. The distinctive building combines dark grey horizontal panels along the length of the building, with a lighter grey to signify the entrance and separate the sections of the building. Accent colours of green and orange were used to signpost the building’s entrance and office area.

Our QuadCore products are backed by our unique industry warranty – QuadCore Assured - protecting the solutions from the very first day they’re installed. Underpinned by third party independent testing, transparent product traceability and externally audited processes to ensure on-going compliance, QuadCore Assured provides reassurance that your building will perform over its lifetime across four key areas:

• Thermal Performance

• Fire Performance

• Structural performance

• Circularity

Our QuadCore Assured Panel Warranty offers 25 years of protection (up to 40 years for the coating). For full details, please refer to our QuadCore Assured Warranty Brochure.