Projects

Take a look at the many projects that have benefited from stainless steel.

Our portfolio includes everything from the latest trends in everyday buildings to some of the world’s most aesthetically daring designs.

“Le Dôme” Amphiteatre

The «Bâtiment des Arts» has been built on the grounds of the Multidisciplinary University of Artois, in Arras.

An original urban construction programme whereby the overall building concept meshes with the existing surroundings, and gives rise to a complex with strong identity.
The building was built in the east campus, from the roundabout. Through its symbolic and prestigious character, the Bâtiment des Arts punctuates the entry to the university grounds.
The sphere, a symbolic form, provides the venue with a strong identity and visual presence. A single volumetric expression in which all the interior space is visible and clearly functional. This affords a canny and intriguing architectural space that is devoid of all aggressiveness. A veritable rotective «cocoon», the dome houses an amphitheatre. The simplicity of the spaces is dictated by a choice of typical regional construction materials. This is homogeneous to all the buildings of the university campus. The majority of the volumes is clad in brick-work while large bands of  glass seem to suspend the arched roofs over the classrooms.

The “sphere”, a unique external icon, disturbs this expression by its shape and brilliant stainless steel Uginox Bright covering in a shade of 304 (1.4301). This material makes the building appear as a living entity, reflecting the surroundings, changing colours and patterns over the days and seasons. It’s inner world breaks its image on campus and is expressed by a warm and welcoming wooden treatment. The building is near a major road, starting from the roundabout and leading to the centre of the university.

The entry to the campus is marked by a vast square, and via the visual transparency of its central hall displays and affirms its connection to the city behind it and shows a symbolic continuity.

Technical Files

Arras, France
Pierre Rousse
©Pierre Rousse

Info

304/1.4301
Uginox Bright
0.5mm

The “Jardin des Poupies”

The “Jardin Des Poupies”: a unique place for disabled children 3 to 6 years.

A pioneering social project

Since February 2007, the ”Jardin des Poupies” (or “Doll’s garden”) has welcomed 75 children, some without disabilities, of up to 3 years old, and others with disabilities of all ages up to 6. This establishment is unique in France where there is no structure to accommodate disabled children from 3 to 6 years old. It is through the combined efforts of parents and leaders of the association that this project, which is a private initiative, has been made possible and the result is the construction of a new building.

An unusual building

Sensitive to the unique nature of the project and the human adventure that it represents, the architects from Topos wanted to create a symbolic place that differs from its immediate environment (school groups) and displays a strong identity, just like the image of the project it houses.

Totally stainless steel

Located in the beautiful park of the large school group Carcouet in Nantes, and on land belonging to the city, the building is largely covered with polished stainless steel, Uginox Bright applied over grade 304. Sober and elegant lines, it reflects the surrounding landscape and affirms its presence through the brilliance of stainless steel, while blending into the surrounding natural environment. A combination of strength and discretion 

A building/garden designed for meetings

Built on the ground floor, the building is organised in a “U” shape around a large central courtyard 400, with a canopy, onto which are connected all the entrances for all the rooms reserved for the children. In addition to these, a large 400 m² hall allows families to come together. A small inner bamboo floor and a play-room dedicated to water games underscore the lively and playful atmosphere.

The spaces are not assigned, so that children may move freely from one room to another.

The diversity of interior spaces echoes the views offered: while the patio is wide open on a planted open landscape, the courtyard and the lobby overlook a pine forest near the building, and the living areas enjoy the privacy of the patio.

Priority for the children’s comfort and respect for the environment

Thermal inertia is provided by the concrete structure of the building and its green roof. This also helps to slow the flow of rainwater. A heat pump and ten Canadian wells, 100 meters deep, ensure the underfloor heating. The building is also equipped with a double flow (filtered air, heated in winter and cooled in summer) ventilation system, which reduces energy consumption and promotes summer comfort.

Technical areas have been reduced to a minimum, in order to allow as much space as possible for the children. Thus giving them a calm, spacious area bathed in natural light.

Technical Files

Nantes, France
Topos Architecture
©Stéphane Chalmeau

Info

304/1.4301
Uginox Bright

The Monolith, Lyon Islands

The monolith is a real urban ensemble sited on the C island in the new Conflence quarter to the south of the Lyon peninsula between the Saone and the Rhone.

It is part of the LyonIsland project designed to increase the housing quota in this part of the Lyon peninsula whilst at the same time trying to respect the social mix requirements and new environmental legislation. The monolith is part of the High Environmental Quality building scheme for residential, office and commercial premises. Compact, and laid out around a central courtyard with access from three monumental doors, five architectural teams each shared a part of the project.

Unlike other areas, the part assigned to Manuelle Gautrand opens onto the wooded side of the Saone valley and comprises a bridge which lowers on to the central courtyard. The gable of this overhangs the monumental porch and its beams which project a helix floral motif. The facades and soffits of the bridge are in Uginox Bright stainless steel which reflected in the garden. The stainless elements are classic blade shapes which interlock one into the other. Industrially produced they are perfectly flat with easy fixing. 

In her book « those I have (already) built Maunuelle Gautrand writes: 

The project consists of constructing a 28000m² island in the Confluence area of Lyon, with an arrangement of housing, offices and commercial premises.

We were part of a team of five distinct architects, temporarily coming together to work on this project.

The objective, faced with this powerful sought after volume was to imagine a common master plan, an urban and architectural challenge which brought us all together under one coherent building concept with a strong visual identity.

From this single volume, each architect found their inventive area and developed one of the parts from the common whole. Our part was essentially made up of offices, laid out in a sculpted  voluminous format to form a huge antagonism above the internal street which looked out onto the large central park as though to absorb it. The facades are clad in Uginox bright mirror sheets

Most of which are crafted to form large helixes which sketch out the imaginary flowers, a reminder of the park on to which the Monolith opens out. The mirror finish allows the multiple reflections of the countryside opposite, lightening the antagonistic roof which fades into the reflections and creating a kaleidoscope area, somewhat imaginary in the middle of this architectural rigour.

Advantages of Stainless Steel 

  • A bright finish which reflects the countryside, the garden as well as also expanding the area
  • Industrially produced sections at an optimal price
  • A stainless steel grade perfectly adapted to the lyonnaise environment
  • A finish bringing an identity to the whole area and an imposing size.

Technical Files

Lyon, France
Manuelle Gautrand
©Gaudin/Ramet

Info

304/1.4301
Uginox Bright
0.8mm

MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology

The MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology is one of the world’s leading research institutes. The scientists are working to advance understanding of biological processes at the molecular level providing the knowledge needed to solve key problems in human health. The £200m project forms part of the newly-expanded Cambridge Biomedical Campus at Addenbrooke’s Hospital Cambridge.

The stainless steel cladding to four services towers have created a dramatic feature for the new building. Uginox Top, a low reflective stainless steel surface was specified by the project architect.

Approximately 14,000m² of interlocking shingles clad the towers which house all heavy plant servicing the building. The towers are linked to the main laboratory building rather than attached to it in order to remove weight and sources of vibration.

Durable surface

A 0.7mm thick Uginox Top was chosen for its flat matt surface aesthetic and high corrosion resistance.  
Uginox Top has a fixed rolled on surface which requires only minimal maintenace.

The stainless steel advantages for this building:

  • A low thermal expansion coefficient
  • A high resistance to corrosion
  • A traditional work setting
  • A surface finish in harmony with contemporary architecture

Technical Files

Cambridge, United Kingdom
RMJM Architects

Info

316L/1.4404
Uginox Top
0.7mm

Milton of Leys Primary School

Uginox Top envelopes the Milton of Leys Primary School, Inverness.

The primary school at Milton of Leys has been procured through a Design & Build contract with Morrison Construction. The design incorporates 11 classrooms with provision for future expansion. The design is light and airy with each classroom having floor to ceiling glass wall looking out onto a common playground area. Access by way of folding doors onto a decked area allows thje children to work outdoors when the weather is appropriate. The school is equiped with a fantastic sports and community facilities along with a community room and outdoor MUGA, Mulit-use Games Area and equipment shelters. EBBA Consultants (who provided guidance of sustainability and BREEAM). During the material evaluation Aperam provided evidence of the manufacturing process to support the BREEAM assessment.

The project achieved a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating at 74% and forms part of a ten school project and has been awarded the best new building at the Highlands and Islands Architecture and Design Awards.

Uginox Top was specified for its highly durable matt appearance that provides low reflectivity and is lightweight at less than 4 kg/m². Suited to diverse architectural styles it offers excellent corrosion resistance, high mechanical strength, low coefficient of expansion and is fully recyclable.

Moreover, the clean lines of the stainless steel and larch achieve a virtual maintenance free envelope and a unique education facility has been created in a striking location with outstanding views overlooking Inverness and the Moray Firth.

Appromimately 6,000m2 of Uginox Top stainless steel on façades and roofs.

Stainless steel advantages for this building:

Corrosion resistance, durability and reduced  maintenance costs are some of the reasons why stainless steel is used for architectural cladding. With the increasing emphasis being placed on  sustainable building design, stainless steel is fully recyclable and contributes towards the longevity and reduced energy consumption of a building.

Technical Files

Milton of Leys, United Kingdom
Highland Council

Info

316L/1.4404
Uginox Top

Want advice? Have a question?
Need help choosing the right stainless steel for your project?

Please call us at +1908 988 0625

Whether you are an architect, roofer, designer, construction company, prime contractor, or distributor, our team of experts can help you with your projects.

Want advice? Have a question?
Need help choosing the right stainless steel for your project?

Please call us at +1908 988 0625

Whether you are an architect, roofer, designer, construction company, prime contractor, or distributor, our team of experts can help you with your projects.

Need
inspiration? 

Take a look at the many projects that have benefited from stainless steel.

Our portfolio includes everything from the latest trends in everyday buildings to some of the world’s most aesthetically daring designs.

Need
inspiration? 

Take a look at the many projects that have benefited from stainless steel.

Our portfolio includes everything from the latest trends in everyday buildings to some of the world’s most aesthetically daring designs.

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