Cardinal Newman College in Preston is one of the first colleges in the country to offer new T-Level qualifications and as a result, required a modern, fit-for-purpose college building for September 2021 intakes. In April 2021, that is exactly what K Systems, together with Ellis Williams Architects and M and M Facades delivered – a modern, three-storey campus building with attractive aesthetic, solid foundations, and outstanding thermal properties.

Architects planned for the 700 square metre building to have a steel frame construction and required a minimum 20mm drained cavity rail system with mineral wool EWI. After extensive evaluations of systems and materials in the market, K Systems Exicco Silicone exteral wall insulation was chosen due its unrivalled benefits.

Exicco is a cavity drainage external wall insulation system which ensures that any interstitial moisture escapes from the building without detriment to the performance of the insulation system itself, better than any other system on the market. It can be used on buildings of any height, is BBA certified, protects buildings from exposure to the elements, and has a A2 – s1, d0 fire performance rating – factors that all contributed to it being the EWI system of choice for the new St John Henry building on the Preston campus.

By installing the Exicco EWI system with 140mm mineral wool insulation, K Systems was able to achieve the required u-value of 0.2 w(m2K) and not just successfully meet but exceed the building regulations for buildings of any height with steel frame structures.

With the internal system covered, the focus turned to the exterior of the new building which needed to stand out as a new investment piece but complement the other buildings on campus. To achieve this, Ellis Williams Architects required an exact colour match to terracotta tiles. Another huge benefit to the Exicco system is that it can be paired with a variety of finishes in a range of colours, so K Systems was able to apply a TC15 render finish to fulfil the client’s brief and deliver their desired aesthetic.

This new-build project was scoped and underway prior to the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic but as with many other industries, works were delayed due to restrictions. However, K Systems teams remained focused on the project and, in line with Government guidance, were able to complete the project within the financial year, well in time for the arrival of new students in September and to a standard that exceeded the client’s expectations.