The first phase of the Darwin Centre at the Natural History Museum benefits from solar shading, structural glazing, curtain walling and smoke ventilation schemes designed and supplied by Colt.

The stunning south facade spans some 35m by 25m, and incorporates a glazed outer wall, with automatic glass vents at high level to allow natural ventilation of the cavity, manufactured from Thermospan toughened structural glass panels, hung from large bespoke castings.

Colt also supplied a curtain walling inner skin.

Behind the Structural glazing panels are banks of bespoke perforated solar shading fins, which as well as solar protection, also provide maximum light entry and external vision.

The south facade is also topped off with a fixed external solar shading system.