Project Details

Client : Arrowsmith Engineering

Value : Circa £200k

Contractor : Private Contractor

Structural Engineer : GHW Consulting Engineers – Civil and Structural

 

Project Description

Arrowsmith is a Precision Engineering company, machining fully certified and bonded components in stainless steel, exotic metal and engineering plastics. Many of these components are used in the maintenance and manufacture of aircraft all over the world. After continued success, Arrowsmith took the opportunity to move into larger premises in the area with potential for future expansion.

The brief was to adopt Arrowsmith’s ‘precision approach’ in the creation of a refurbished and state of the art Industrial Unit, with an image that reflected their technological expertise. The works consist of a new mezzanine floor for office and administration, an extension to the manufacturing area, and new facade design.

Our Practice advised that there was an opportunity to create a strong technological aesthetic through the incorporation of a highly detailed cladding system. The latter would include materials and precision engineering solutions that would directly relate to the aerospace industry in order to enhance Arrowsmith’s image of both quality and precision

In response to the brief, we created a series of 3D visualisations using computer design software in order to test different cladding systems, and create images for Arrowsmith to use in their press releases for potential customers.  The extension to the ‘factory floor’ will incorporate a number of new state of the art engineering facilities, along with an innovative new mezzanine level to incorporate both administration and a new component design space.

The new cladding system will utilise an aluminium fixing system, likely to include steel columns to support the façade structure. The design ethos here is to expose and illustrate the structure in order to showcase the specialist components and convey a ‘high tech’ image to potential clients of Arrowsmith.