July 2007 

Ward DW insulated wall panels have been used to complete the exterior of a fantastic research building for Oxford Brookes University. Situated on the main Headington Campus, the £5 million Buckley Building provides facilities for the Humanities, Social Sciences and a School of the Built Environment.

Designed by Architects GSS Architecture, the three-storey, 2,500m² building has a gently curved roof and an external steel framework. It required 1000m² of Ward DW 600 and 1000 wall panels finished in metallic silver, which were 'textured' to provide a light-diffusing surface.

The internal environment of the building was carefully designed to prevent the degradation of stored archive materials, including lighting and temperature control as well as UV-resistant glass in exterior windows. There are also full facilities for the disabled throughout the building.

Peter Bromley, managing director of PJB Cladding Services Ltd, the company responsible for installing the cladding said: "The flat stucco embossed wall panels were manufactured in 600mm and 1000mm widths and detailed to co-ordinate with door window and louvre modules. We've worked closely with Wards on many projects over several years and have always been impressed with their products and service"

The Ward DW range of insulated wall panels incorporate a tongue and groove concealed fixing which can be laid horizontally or vertically and is suitable for all building applications. All DW Wall panels are supplied with a fire safe Polyisocyanurate (PIR) insulation system with zero Ozone Depletion Potential (Zero ODP) tested to LPCB standards.