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Building Envelope Overview

  • Growth drivers and strategy

    • Architectural specification
    • Building regulations relating to energy management
    • Demand for sustainable solutions

  • Operations and supply chain

    • Partial UK manufacture providing fabrication, assembly and finishing operations
    • Diversified specialist supply chain of mainly UK and European based suppliers
    • Levolux: Installation of certain systems in the UK

  • Routes to market

    • Direct to main building contractors in the UK
    • Through general contractors and installing sub-contractors in North America

  • Opportunities and potential

    • Business development opportunities arising from the new Alumasc Building Envelope specification sales approach together with Alumasc Roofing
    • Development of the UK balconies & balustrading business
    • Development of North American export business
    • Growth in operating margins through operational efficiencies and increasing the proportion of design and supply only

Wardian London case study

A development of two residential towers comprising 766 homes including suites, one and two bedroom apartments and penthouses.  Located adjacent to Canary Wharf, the inspiration behind the project was explorer Dr Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward who invented the Wardian Case, used to transport plants around the world during the times of the British Empire.  The core vision was to combine man-made design with the natural world.  Blackdown was appointed to install upgraded balcony designs to specific apartments, including the penthouses.  These installations were both direct for the developer (EcoWorld Ballymore) and also through private contracts with tenants.  Blackdown were chosen following 4 years of design/costing support provided to consultants on the project and our high-quality finish achieved on a trial installation for the sales suite.

The installation comprised paving and ground planting alongside raised planters with bespoke planting schemes depending on balcony aspect.  Each apartment also has a timed irrigation system installed by Blackdown.