The structure’s architectural design gained planning permission in July 2020, and the building officially opened in April 2023. It meets the needs of three inter-related project teams:

• Hydrogen-3 Advanced Technology (H3AT)

• Fusion Technology Facility (FTF)

• Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP)

The design features three equally sized ‘fingers’ running north to south to accommodate these functions, two with three storeys and the third – a research hall – having 4 levels.

The simple, contemporary principal façade features tapered panels aligning with the building’s different service zones. Cladding on the structure’s sides wraps around the building and creates an aerial ‘wing’ above to shade glazed areas. Above, a protective shell roof structure covers each building element.

The architects selected several of our systems to achieve a clean, contemporary exterior using a restrained palette of materials.

Aesthetic rainscreen panels

Dri-Design Tapered metallic rainscreen facade panels in dark grey, applied to the two office sections of the main façade, complemented the boxy, angular design of the structure’s frontage. They brought the added advantage of speedy installation with minimum components and no need for rail and bracket systems — making them twice as quick to install as comparable products.

Dri-Design Flat panels in silver provided a sleek surface for the sides of the two office buildings, while red and blue panels formed the internal linings of the wrapped form, setting off the glazing and demarcating the two office zones.

Supporting BREEAM

The Fusion Building’s design had to achieve a BREEAM Very Good rating — one element of UKAEA’s long-term sustainability goals. The BREEAM standard considers energy efficiency, sustainability during the build phase and how well the structure will respond to users’ needs.

With this in mind, specifiers selected QuadCore AWP Wall Panel. The micro-rib profile high-performance insulated wall panels combine visual and aesthetic impact with leading thermal performance. The QuadCore insulation used in AWP Wall Panel has a Thermal Conductivity of just 0.018W/m.K. In terms of lifetime thermal performance, QuadCore is more than twice as thermally efficient as mineral fibre, resulting in thinner, lighter walls and operational energy savings.

Systems with synergy

Our QuadCore KS1000RW Roof Panel was the natural choice to complete the building envelope with a protective shell, thanks to its performance credentials and speed of installation, an important factor when keeping to a tight construction schedule. The factory-engineered panels complemented the façade materials and supported the ambition to achieve BREEAM Very Good.