TANAKA BUSINESS SCHOOL, LONDON

When the Imperial College in London asked Foster and Partners to redesign the "black tower" portion of their flagship Tanaka Business School building on Exhibition Road in London, Colt were consulted with regard to the design of a glass louvred
veil to conceal the existing concrete structure, whilst allowing daylight penetration to the fenestration behind.

The eventual design purchased by ISG ExteriorInterior plc, who was the project manager, utilised a new bracket design housing toughened laminated and fritted glass louvres with ground edges, hung from aluminium and steel supports connected to the existing concrete structure.

The Tanaka Business School at Imperial College houses teaching, research and office facilities and is a 1960s institutional building. The building has been completely refurbished with a protective envelope, creating a year round usable atrium space within.

Colt designed and installed the 24m-high glass facade which has been hung off a ring beam system attached to the roof. Wind loads are carried back to the columns via slender T-section mullions. - Colt provided adjustable mullion support brackets enabling the louvres to be accurately positioned during installation as the steel structure flexed under their weight.

The 785 m2 of glass louvres are in a 100% white frit and provide the building with a light aesthetic, whilst maintaining excellent levels of daylight to the inside.

Colt also designed and supplied 232 m2 of galvanised steel walkways behind the louvres complete with a mansafe latchway system.