Cladding - Car Park Archives - Locker Architectural Mesh

Harwell Multi Storey Car Park (MSCP)

Harwell multi storey car park expanded metal mesh

Harwell multi storey car park inside view

Harwell multi storey car park decorative perforated metal mesh

Harwell multi storey car park perforated metal mesh

Harwell multi storey car park expanded corten mesh and green perforated metal

Harwell multi storey car park expanded corten mesh

Harwell Multi-Storey Car Park Corten Mesh

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Harwell multi storey car park expanded metal mesh

Harwell multi storey car park expanded corten mesh and green perforated metal

Harwell multi storey car park expanded corten mesh

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About the Project

This multi storey car park in Harwell uses two different types of metal mesh panels:

The Manhattan XL pattern expanded metal panels used for the main facades, enclose the parking areas on all floors above ground level. These are manufactured from Corten Steel, also known as weathering steel, which was designed to eliminate the need for painting and when exposed to the elements, develops a rusted appearance. The images above show how the mesh has weathered during the construction period.
RMIG ImagePerf perforated and anodised aluminium sheet is used for the ground floor facades. Some panels are embossed with the name of the facility.

There are also decorative V-shaped panels made from both materials.

The perforated metal mesh was preferred for the ground floor as it provides additional security whilst still allowing ventilation and natural light penetration.

Blackpool Multi Storey Car Park (MSCP) – Expanded Metal Mesh

Blackpool MSCP Expanded Metal Panels

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Blackpool MSCP Inside View

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About the Project

This multi storey car park in Blackpool is currently under construction. Two different patterns of expanded metal mesh are combined, to add texture to the façade:

Formby R47 has the smaller open areas.
Broadway has the larger apertures.

Locker have provided a complete design, fabrication and installation service for this project. We have also supplied and fitted the solid aluminium panels for cladding the stairwell tower.

Many, high resolution images are available for this project. Please contact us if you need more details.

Expanded metal mesh is very popular for use in multi-storey car parks, for various functional and practical purposes:

Safety and Security: as a safety barrier along the edges of ramps, staircases, and open areas to prevent falls and accidents. It offers a sturdy and durable barrier while allowing visibility and ventilation.
Façade Cladding: it provides an aesthetic appeal to the exterior of the car park while also serving as a protective layer against weather conditions and environmental elements.
Ventilation: Expanded metal mesh panels can be installed on the exterior walls or openings to promote ventilation and dissipate exhaust fumes.
Headlight Deflection and Natural Light: Expanded mesh helps to deflect car headlamp beams whilst also allowing natural light to penetrate the interior spaces, reducing the need for artificial lighting.
Shade Structures: In areas with extreme sun exposure, expanded metal mesh can be used as shading elements to provide protection from direct sunlight. This can create more comfortable parking areas for both vehicles and pedestrians.
Traffic Control: Expanded metal mesh can be used to create barriers or partitions for directing the flow of traffic within the car park, whilst maintaining visibility. This can help prevent congestion and guide vehicles to designated areas.

Overall, expanded metal mesh offers a versatile solution for various aspects of multi-storey car park design, including safety, aesthetics, functionality, and environmental factors. It's a durable and cost-effective material that can enhance the overall user experience while meeting the practical requirements of these structures.

Multi-Storey Car Park, Slough

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Sawston Unity Campus MSCP

Design challenges

Each panel had identical sinusoidal corrugations. The perforated pattern, as well as the depth and wavelength of the profile, can be varied to create a bespoke facade.
The panels were only 2mm thick but had to vertically span up to 3m unsupported. The radius profile of the panels had to be deep enough to impose the required rigidity.
The constraints of the rolling tool had to be considered when determining radii.
The panels were designed to overlap enabling neighbouring panels to share common fixings.
Wind, snow and ice forces were considered.
The design maintains rigidity whilst having a 40% laser-cut open area for air flow.
The slot centres were adjusted to take account of the sinusoidal radii.
The drawing extract below shows a typical laser-cut sheet prior to, and following radius forming:

Fabrication Challenges

Perforation slots had to be laser cut prior to forming the radii.
The slots were not to distort during the radius forming.
The perforated sheets had to be incrementally “bumped” in a break press to form the exact radii.
The sinusoidal radii had to be consistent from panel to panel.
The panels were grit blasted prior to being polyester powder-coated. The grit blasting process removes the toolmarks.
The corner panels were site measured and installed last.
The laser cut panels had to be consistently accurate to the millimetre as they could not be altered on site.
The following images show the mesh panels laser-cut in their unformed state and in their radiused condition: -

Granta Park, Cambridge

The Douglas Village Shopping Centre, Cork

Sainsbury’s, Brentwood, Essex

About the Project

Soho XL powder coated expanded metal car park façade at Sainsburys Brentwood. The main façade is designed to appear as a seamless, randomly undulating ribbon of mesh. In reality the mesh panels are carefully designed to avoid any visible panelisation or connection. Curved metal banding seamlessly holds the panels in place.

Two additional flat clad headlight screens covered in similar expanded metal bands are designed to mimic the main façades, and protect nearby housing from intrusive car headlights. The deceptive curvilinear form provides an elegant architectural screen, which economically both enhances and disguises the functional steel frame behind.

Architect: CHQ Architects

Princesshay Car Park Exeter Security Screens Gladstone PC 100/10

Princesshay Shopping Centre Car Park, Exeter

About the Project

Gladstone 100/10 architectural cable mesh and Gladstone PC 100/10 pre-crimped mesh installed as façade cladding at The Princesshay Shopping Centre Car Park in Exeter.

The Gladstone cable mesh is installed as an outer layer of façade cladding, over the pre-crimped mesh behind, creating a visual moiré effect. The internal layer of pre-crimped Gladstone mesh provides strong and effective security screening between the concrete car park levels.

View PDF Project Sheet: Princesshay Car Park

View project location using Google maps

Leeds University Multi-Storey Car Park

About the Project

Officially opened in January 2016, Leeds University’s innovative multi-storey car park features Kirkstone perforated metal panels installed as a unique cladding design, with beautiful eye-catching night-time illumination.

Each Kirkstone square panel consists of 2 high points and 2 low points on opposite corners, joined by a central node, generating a 3D relief. Adjacent corners share a node point, as one geometric template panel is rotated repeatedly through 90 degrees to create an undulating surface precisely designed to achieve the free area required for passive natural ventilation. Perforations in the hyperbolic paraboloid panels are therefore both aesthetic and functional.

The Locker team was integral to the success of the project, from start to finish. Our designers worked in partnership with architect Carey Jones (CJCT) to devise the optimum cladding material. All options were considered, including fabric tension mesh, until the final perforated metal panel design was created.

For Wates Group (Shepherd Construction) Locker delivered structural engineering, design, fabrication and installation of the Kirkstone perforated panels, plus a green wall tensioned mesh façade to the lower floors along with all supporting mullions, steelwork and bracketry.