LONDON SCHOOL ART GALLERY CONTAINER
We supplied a high end bespoke art gallery to a London school, the brief was for the gallery to maximise space and light and be constructed from four 20ft high cube shipping containers. High quality materials were to be used throughout in order to achieve the high end finish, and provable U-Values were extremely important. The school employed the services of an architect and we worked very closely with the architect to achieve the design brief.
Four new 20ft high cube containers were linked together, to create a single storey open plan space. Apertures were later cut to join the containers together on site. Additional apertures were cut and filled with custom built aluminium fixed frame windows to allow light into the art gallery space. Apertures were cut and filled with custom build aluminium framed sliding doors to allow easy entry and exit; considerations for disabled students were also addressed. Only one set of the cargo doors were used and became the main entry doors, the remaining were for visual use only. Skylights were created in the roof, and were double glazed and toughened with a favourable U-Value. A custom built stainless steel canopy was designed and fabricated to aid protection from the elements at the main entrance doors. This was then retro-fitted to the container structure on site. A junction and gutter system was also in-house designed and fabricated, this was then fitted to the linked container structure on site. Bespoke blackout blind cassettes were procured and installed in all window and skylight reveals.
Throughout the internal structure, spray foam insulation was applied. 60mm rigid Kingspan boards were applied to the walls over the spray foam insulation, and these were then overlaid with marine grade plywood lining which was in turn painted white to provide the final finish to the gallery walls. A kitchenette was installed within the structure for the resident artist which consisted of; cupboard carcasses, a Belfast sink and worktop. All relevant plumbing works were completed along with a shoebox for the entry/exit of all services. The electrical specification for this modification was particularly complex and utilised a bespoke track lighting system selected by the architect. As well as this, a boiler system, double sockets, data cabling, telephone cabling and fire alarm systems were installed, all protected by an MCB. A bespoke underfloor heating system and manifold was installed over timber batons. This was then overlaid with 4.5mm thick alternating five bar diamond plate. At the main entry door, a coir mat was installed. Externally, all of the containers were cleaned and treated and painted with two coats of an acrylic epoxy paint system in the schools colours, wine red, RAL3005 – the custom paintwork achieved a minimum 250 micron thickness.
Once the containers were completed, we arranged delivery and off-load. Our fabricators then attended site and welded the container to the foundations provided by the customer. The gutter system was seam welded between the containers forming a water tight seal around each of the junction apertures. The interior finish was completed along with the electrical wiring. Significant project management was required throughout the modification and at point of delivery and commissioning which was orchestrated entirely by us.
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