One of ECL Contracts Ltd’s cladding projects, St Benedict’s School, Ealing, was a winner in the 2009 RIBA Awards.

Introduced in 1966, the RIBA Awards are given for buildings that have high architectural standards and make a substantial contribution to the local environment.

ECL was involved with the design and installation of the rainscreen cladding facade system to the exterior of the building. As a result of an outstanding performance on this project, ECL has been able to negotiate further projects with the Main Contractor within the education sector.

The rainscreen cladding system is a tough, durable material that is temperature stable and moisture resistant. It is also impact and scratch resistant and will resist weathering. The hard-wearing panels are formed from glass reinforced concrete and were provided in a Matt and Sand blasted finish to provide a contrast in aesthetics and texture. The architectural brief indicated some large panels of approximately 1200mm wide x 4000mm high and this, combined with the dense nature of the material, meant that the installation posed a challenge. ECL utilized specialist vacuum stone lifting equipment to aid with the installation and minimize the risks associated with manual handling.

ECL’s Construction Director, Dan Sillis commented “The use of the rainscreen cladding system not only improves the aesthetic appearance of the school, it also offers life cycle cost savings as the material is maintenance-free and also hard wearing which makes it ideal for the school environment.”