The Business Design Centre was built in the 1860’s and is now a Grade II listed building. It has been many things over the years, including the Royal Agricultural Hall, or rather ‘The Aggie’ to the locals, as well as a parcel distribution office during WWII, and now stands as the Business Design Centre holding exhibitions throughout the year from graduate fairs and careers fairs to media design conferences and art exhibitions.

CLM were appointed as Principal Contractor to refurbish and upgrade the gable ends of the faςade both aesthetically and in thermal performance. This was achieved by using a double glazed thermally insulated Schuco FWS50+ curtain wall system. As Principal Contractor our duties under current legislation included production of a Construction Phase Health and Safety Plan, Site Waste Management Plan, both to be approved by the delegated CDM-Coordinator. As part of our Principal Contractor responsibilities we also provided office and welfare facilities. Our detailed planning ensured that over 75% of the materials removed from the existing faςade were recycled.

A large fixed tube and fitting scaffold was erected to the internal and external face of the faςade allowing access to the gable ends, the old GRP corrugated panels were removed along with all the existing guttering system, and replaced with the new curtain wall screens, gutter and drainage system. New structural steel cantilever beams were designed, fabricated, installed and tested, these were welded to the main steel support columns to hold the weight of the new screens. The original barrel vaulted roof construction is now enhanced by the glazed gableswhich, in turn brings swathes of daylight into the exhibition centre. The light however can be measured by means of the electrically operated remote controlled blinds that have been installed to the faςade, furthermore actuated louvers were also installed to the gable ends to aid building ventilation.

It was important for the client that the centre remained in full operation while works were completed. For this reason a large printed screen was set up surrounding the internal and external scaffold as well as full exclusion zones inside the centre (in order to ensure the health and safety of the public was maintained at all times). Our project team worked closely with the centre management to ensure that the disruption of the works had minimal impact on the centres daily operations and client requirements.