Bolton College has opened the doors of a brand new state-of-the-art STEM Centre to provide support for learning in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.

The STEM Centre features a futuristic angled façade, which forms a distinctive corner to the campus. This feature is articulated through the use of angled standing seam zinc cladding completed in Nedzink NOVA. Cladding and window placement work together to emphasise the building form, and whilst the glazing breaks up the elevation, the seams also change direction in the soffits, combining together to an appealing whole.

Specialist subcontractor Longworth Building Services was employed to carry out the zinc cladding and associated substrate works. The Nedzink NOVA standing seam cladding was applied to a plywood surface, brackets and rails and insulation, fixed into an SFS frame prepared by the main contractor.

The main challenge that Longworth faced was the requirement for angled, rather than vertical seams. They needed to ensure that the panels were kept at the same angle, and there was no creep with the joints.

The architect also wished to reduce the ‘oil canning’ or quilting effect on the panels. Some wobble is always present in zinc standing seam cladding, due to the way it is prepared, but this can be reduced if required by reducing the seam centres. Commonly zinc cladding seam centres will be 500-600mm but in the case of Bolton College these have been reduced to 425mm.

All the panels and flashings were manufactured on site to cutting schedules calculated by Longworth’s designers.