Eight 160 mm thick pre-cast concrete panels are supported off a steel
frame of 150 150 10 mm angle posts with 200 90 mm channel
horizontal members. From the outside the panels interlock and appear to
form a solid mass fl oating slightly above the grass. The roof is profi led
galvanised steel decking on purlins with two aluminium framed roof lights
all hidden below the tops of the slabs. The concrete is made from white
cement with Portland stone aggregate. The surface has been acid etched,
polished and then sealed with an anti-graffi ti coating. The access doors
are 85 mm thick pre-cast concrete panels cast into a 150 75 10 mm
steel angle frame. Three 280 mm high, concealed hinges are bolted to
the doors and to the steel frame. All internal steelwork is painted bright
Crow
orange.
Photo credit: Hufton
Cast into the concrete are 456 solid 40 mm diameter acrylic rods. Millions
of different colours can be created by nine red, green and blue LEDs
mounted in a case which fi ts over the back of each rod. A computer in the
control house can be remotely programmed with changing sequences. Light
seems to glow from within the concrete as if the building is pumping with
Photo credit: Hufton Crow colour.
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Photo credit: Graham Bizley
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