Solinear, one of the UK’s leading aluminium louvre and solar shading suppliers, has helped transform a much-loved Edinburgh institution.
The Royal Hospital for Sick Children, affectionately known as ‘Sick Kids’ first opened its doors in 1860 and has been serving the city’s young people for 157 years.
Now, it’s in the process of relocating to a purpose-built £150m complex fit for the demands of twenty-first-century health care. Solinear was challenged to design, manufacture and install penthouse/turret aluminium louvres and ventilation products that offered outstanding performance, while blending in with the project’s quirky, child-friendly aesthetic.
The 5 penthouse/turret aluminium louvres, some of which were 4 meters long, were installed in an outside recreational area. Every aluminium louvre Solinear supplies are entirely bespoke – and this job was no different; the company designed brightly coloured aluminium louvre units that were tamper-proof and climb-proof without any visible fixings or sharp edges. The bright colours fitting the friendly, welcoming feel the architect wanted for the building’s recreational area.
Timing was another key factor Solinear had to take into consideration. To ensure ease of transportation and installation, the firm designed the penthouse/turret aluminium louvres to be modular – the component parts were manufactured off-site, then lifted into place by crane.
This meant the installation process took just a week. If done the conventional way, it would’ve taken three.
Solinear Managing Director Tony Dwyer commented:
“With Solinear, nothing is off the shelf. Every product is designed from scratch. On this project, we demonstrated the huge benefits that come from working with experts in their field, capable of designing bespoke products to our client’s exact specifications.
We were delighted to be able to contribute to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children – and we’re confident that the products we installed will continue to provide an outstanding level of performance for many years to come.”
