Case Study:
Contemporary natural wood-effect aluminium cladding for Biggin Hill Airport
Knotwood was commissioned for works on the Bombardier aircraft hangar terminal as part of the Biggin Hill Airport expansion project in Kent.
The project
In 2020 Bombardier Aviation, a leading manufacturer of business jets, announced the expansion of its European customer support network at Biggin Hill Airport. The hangar facility would offer the space and flexibility to maintain and refurbish Bombardier jets. The hangar was designed to simultaneously accommodate up to 14 Global 7500 aircraft. The ultra-long Global 7500 is the world’s largest business jet.
The 89 metre hangar is one of three sections of the unique, tailormade facility with the other two sections, either side of the hangar, providing office space and the FBO (Fixed Base Operator).
Civils Ltd was the architect and contractor on the project. Knotwood were asked to provide batten fixtures for an external canopy soffit and an internal terminal ceiling. The design concept required a clean, contemporary finish in both spaces using battens with a natural wood-effect finish, balanced with the strength, durability, and fire safety credentials of aluminium.
The canopy soffit was to be located over the roadway in front of the entrance to the building, while the imposing internal batten feature would run through the centre of the terminal ceiling for the length of the room. The internal batten system would need to be strong enough to hold large hanging LED lighting fixtures.
The solution
The size of the project was split between the external 5m x 8m canopy soffit and the 3.5m x 15m internal ceiling.
Knotwood supplied and installed their 50mm x 50mm 2-part aluminium batten system for both applications, culminating in 135 lengths of 50mm x 50mm x 5650mm battens. The spacing between the battens was 100mm.
The 2-part batten system involves the backing being fixed to the substrate ready for the batten to be simply clipped on to the structure, concealing any fixings. Additional brackets are not required for the 2-part batten system. For this reason, the lightweight aluminium was the most suitable material for the profiles.
The versatility of the Knotwood batten system being suitable for both internal and external applications is what influenced the client to choose this product for the project. Aluminium is lightweight and deceptively strong, so it was the ideal material for the internal ceiling from which large LED ring lights were suspended
The client specified a beautiful wood grain effect finish that would look equally striking in the terminal ceiling as outside for the canopy soffit. They chose the Natural Oak colourway from our range of stock colours. The result was a stunning natural wood finish with the added value of the high performance, robust, lightweight, non-combustible aluminium of the Knotwood battens.
Benefits to the client
• Using a product that could be used both internally and externally met the client brief, giving the project uniformity and allowing the client to buy one product rather than having to source multiple products for different applications
• The aluminium battens were strong enough to hold the suspended lighting without compromising on style
• The lightweight 2-part aluminium batten system removed the need for extra brackets, making it more cost-effective and simple to install
• The Natural Oak colour, with the high performance properties of aluminium, provided the required contemporary finish without the fire concerns and weight of alternative materials such as real timber
• Aluminium is a non-combustible material which meets the safety requirements of the project
• As aluminium is lightweight and easier to transport and work with than other materials, the installation was swift and efficient
• Knotwood aluminium batten systems are stronger than real wood and don’t warp over time
• Knotwood batten systems are weather resistant, so won’t swell, grow mould or rust
• The architectural grade powder coating that is baked onto the battens is resistant to chipping, flaking, blistering and scratching
Luke Broughton, Specification Sales Manager, Knotwood UK comments:
‘The feedback from the team on site was that the battens were very simple to install and they thought they looked great. The original design brief from the client was that they wanted a product that looked fantastic, natural in appearance and could be easily installed both externally and internally, which Knotwood’s battens achieved’.
Choose Knotwood’s wood effect aluminium batten system for your project
For more information on the 2 part batten system and other Knotwood products, or to find out how we can assist with your project, contact us using our online form or by calling the team on 0800 131 3165.