In The News
Howe Green top choice for Barking Central development
Lying in the Thames Gateway, the Barking Central development is key to the area’s regeneration. A series of municipal buildings centred around a new town square that won a European Prize for Public Urban Space, it used Howe Green’s 7500 Series access panels to cover vital building services on a colonnade walkway.
The project features a Learning Centre, café, hotel, as well as 600 stylish apartments. The mixed use scheme has been masterplanned & designed by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, built around a square designed by muf architecture/art. Full of public art and plantings, it also features a terrazzo floor on the colonnade walkway that runs down one side of the entire development.
Specified by specialist contractors DMC Group, Howe Green’s durable 7500 Series aluminum cover plates were used to provide access to building services beneath the colonnade walkway. Widely regarded as the leading supplier of floor, ceiling and access panels, Howe Green’s products are frequently selected for their durability and the excellent service that accompanies them.
In all, seven of Howe Green’s 7500 Series access covers were supplied to the project. Exceptionally hardy, making them ideal for the expected foot traffic of the development, they are also weather resistant, crucial given their outdoor location. All of Howe Green’s access panels are bespoke, at no additional time or financial cost.
For safety, the panels sit flush with the floor to prevent slips and trips. They are also tamper proof for increased security. The connections between the panels and housing are double sealed, ensuring optimum hygiene and preventing anything falling into the service wells below.
Corrosion free – essential given their exposed location – the panels require the minimum of maintenance. There are no fasteners to rust or break and 7500 Series panels are capable of accepting heavy and sustained traffic – up to 5 tonne pneumatic tyre loads.
For an excellent aesthetic finish, DMC Group inlaid the surface of the covers with chequered tiling. Following the pattern of the rest of the walkway, it ensured an uninterrupted flooring surface.
“The panels were just the ticket”, commented James Wakeling of DMC Group. “We chose Howe Green for their reputation and they were the ideal choice for the job. We found it very easy to set tiles in the cover inlay, so the panels integrated with the terrazzo flooring really well, adding a nice finishing touch to the floor”.
Frequently specified for the most demanding schemes, Howe Green’s access panels prove a consistently popular choice with architects and specifiers alike. Their use on the award winning Barking Central development is another example of their specification on a prestigious project.
Visit our Heavy Duty Access Covers page for more information
