This was a highly sensitive building with a high-quality finish demanded by the client and Hawkins/Brown architects.

The Feature staircase bridges had to be installed early in the project, through a roof opening and a blind lift by Mobile crane from the road side.

The design was solid clad panels to the balustrade with timber treads and LED lights to the handrails.

The atrium balustrade finish was sandblasted opaque on both surfaces to give a matt non-reflective finish around the atrium, but particular care had to be taken during the installation.

Handrail dimensions were critical to meet the architects design intents, while also meeting the increased balustrade load required for the use of the building.

Blue Chyp manufactured and assembled the staircase bridges off-site and they were delivered to site ready to be installed. The whole project had been modelled in 3D and accurate surveys carried out to ensure the first fix brackets were set out and installed correctly and the staircase bridges could be secured on the first and only visit.

Particular care and attention had to be taken when folding and welding the underside of the staircase as this was to be exposed, and in such a prestigious building was very important.

Blue Chyp designed a project specific extruded aluminium handrail capping for the atrium balustrade, to help our installation teams line and level the glass with minimal contact to the sandblasted surfaces and meet the 3k/N load required around the top of the atrium.