Wembley Alto, London

Challenge

The Wembley Alto project had an array of challenges from the long projection of the balconies to the internal fan extraction into the balconies. Other requirements included the need for top-down installation to save time, GRC effect on balconies, and balcony lighting. The Large projections with an angled soffit are intended to improve the views and usability of the balconies whilst hiding the apartment extracts within the balcony.

Solution

Sapphire’s innovative Glide-On™ connectors enabled a Rigid connection back to the building that far outperforms the British Standards L/180 structural deflection limits. With some of the balconies having a 1725mm projection from the facade, by BS EN Standards, this would be allowed to deflect by 9.6mm at the extent. The Soffits are perforated to let the extracts discharge to the balcony below. (I.e. the balcony which belongs to the apartment the extract belongs to.) These large and rigid balconies for Wembley Alto install speeds exceeded 30 in a day. Something made possible through the simplistic balcony design which simply slides into place. Watch the video below to see for yourself a day where 30 balconies were installed safer and faster than traditional methods could have achieved.

Installation process

Step 1: Using Sapphire’s own cast-in anchors, the client was able to ensure balcony rigidity and end-user experience.

Step 2: Each Wembley Alto balcony Cassette® was manufactured and stored off-site enabling quality production and program certainty.

Step 3: Factory finished balconies are delivered to the site in order of top-down install sequence enabling the balconies to be installed while scaffolding was still on the floors below, saving time and money on the construction program.

Step 4: Using Sapphire’s innovative counter-balance technology, the balconies were lifted into position and glided onto the brackets and secured.