Design & Display Structures Scores Top Marks On Campus - modular GRP columns

Tailor made GRP columns crafted by Design & Display Structures helped a major educational project scoop the prestigious North East Landmark of the Year.

Tailor made GRP columns crafted by Design & Display Structures helped a major educational project scoop the prestigious North East Landmark of the Year.

When the Newcastle City Campus East won the accolade in October, judges heaped praise on the modern and sustainable design.

Under its almost £200,000 contract, Design & Display Structures delivered a six month design, supply and install package for Main Contractor Sir Robert McAlpine - utilising the latest ultra eco friendly GRP manufacturing techniques.

The industry expert created around 130 prefabricated, totally bespoke columns for the striking, multi-million Newcastle City Campus East development at Northumbria University. All of these were volume produced using the company’s offsite system, bringing massive labour and material savings for the client.

Providing both a decorative and durable finish (perfect for busy student buildings), Design & Display Structure’s nearly 2.7m tall and 2.5m girth columns add an extra touch of quality throughout the two building, five storey campus.

The shaped columns were made to encase exposed structural steel columns, located in the corridors and open spaces between the new Design, Law & Business classrooms.

The company’s modular offsite manufacturing offered a number of key benefits to the creators of Newcastle City Campus East.

As well as being cost effective, each column was pre-finished to the client’s exact BS/RAL colour and texture and boasts a tough, wear resistant finish that is ideal for high traffic areas.

Furthermore, the GRP moulding process meant recesses could easily be formed at the top and bottom of each column in the campus. Attractive metal skirting was then added at the base, followed by Design & Display Structures’ adjustable GRP ‘collars’ at the top. These ensure that any ceiling level variations likely to occur on large expanses are overcome and the columns will fit completely flush for a perfect finish.

Design & Display Structures also installed thermal and acoustic insulation for the columns, helping prevent excess noise travelling between both the corridors and the classrooms.

Managing Director Allan Curtis said: “By using our acclaimed one-stop-shop design, supply and install solution, Sir Robert McAlpine and Northumbria University saved a lot of time and money.

“Our GRP columns are a high quality product ensuring this campus will look stunning for decades to come.”

The Newcastle City Campus East development at Northumbria University opened in September and is now home to more than 9,000 staff and students.

To find out more about Design & Display Structure’s bespoke GRP solutions, visit http://www.design-and-display.co.uk//

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For further information please contact Allan Curtis on 07718 320184