Maidstone Innovation Centre

Location

Maidstone

Main contractor

Rydon Construction

Sub contractor

Southern Maze

Architects

Bond Bryan

Products

Anvil Metal Cladding Systems

Overview

Maidstone Innovation Centre is a building located at the heart of the wider Kent Medical Campus site. Completed in 2022, the facility offers state-of-the-art office space for entrepreneurs and professionals in the healthcare sector. The building was commissioned by Maidstone Borough Council as an addition to the existing campus and sits on a former arable field. It was therefore important that the design and materials used were in keeping with the rural location and other buildings on the site.

Taylor Maxwell worked with architects Bond Bryan and main contractors Rydon Construction to specify and supply Anvil metal cladding in both flat and perforated panels, alongside Rockpanel mineral fibre cladding (now supplied by SBS Cladding) to the project. These products were installed by subcontractors Southern Maze.

Concept

The architects aimed to create a building with strong architectural form, using a limited palette of contemporary materials. The products used were also to be low maintenance and selected in colours that reflected the surrounding environment. Following meetings with the design team and other stakeholders, it was decided that the design would stay away from featuring bricks and instead use more contemporary materials. These were required to be high-quality, low maintenance, and offer a minimum 30 years of design life.

Products that could be used to create a vertical emphasis to the building’s envelope were also important for the design, as the architects wanted the build to be visually striking, whilst staying within the context of the existing architectural language on site. Further interest was to be created by using varying levels of transparency with the materials, requiring a product that could offer this design feature.

Completion

A palette of four key materials were chosen for the final design of the innovation centre, including Anvil metal cladding in recessed joint fix (RJF) flat and perforated panels. Both selected in a bronze colour, these panels were installed vertically on the main bulk of the envelope to create a striking and contemporary architectural form. Alongside having a long design life, these Anvil RJF panels were able to offer a semi-concealed fixing system, with colour matched fixings seamlessly blending into the facade to create a consistent finish.

Perforated panels were selected by the architects to work in conjunction with the other Anvil panels to create a unique and interesting facade. These panels were placed over the windows to allow a view of the outside from within, whilst providing solar shading and glare control internally. This design has allowed for a building envelope that incorporates varying levels of transparency, with areas of light and shadow to various degrees.

Other materials used alongside Anvil metal cladding were Rockpanel mineral fibre cement cladding and Kentish ragstone. These products were used on parts of the building to create varying depth and architectural interest. The Rockpanel boarding was chosen in grey and black to contrast with the bronze-coloured metal cladding and buff coloured walling stone. The facade also features a living wall, offering visual benefits, alongside accommodating over 10,000 plants which attract a range of insects including bees and butterflies.

With a conscious and careful design both externally and internally, this project has been awarded a BREEAM Very Good certification and since completion has won the ‘Best Architectural Design’ award at the South East Construction Awards.

To find out more about Anvil metal cladding, click here.