Management of Prefabrication for Complex Cladding: Case Study

Abstract

It is not inconceivable that everything except the basic structure of an office building could be prefabricated in the near future. Quality and schedule are nearly always improved with prefabrication due to the simple change from an uncontrolled work environment to a controlled one. One Ludgate Place, is a 23,600 m2, £30,000,000 speculative commercial development in central London. This high quality office building has an exposed structural steel frame, within which are fitted prefabricated cladding panels. This paper combines the results from two research programs. The first in the area of prefabrication and the second in the management of high quality cladding construction. The writers describe the Ludgate Place project, incorporating the cladding design, testing, assembly, and installation. Factors that influenced the decision to use prefabrication are presented and evaluated, namely, cost; time; quality; past experience; design; weather joints; performance tests; site logistics; and safety. Construction interfaces and tolerances, particularly between cladding and structure, are discussed, and the future of prefabricated cladding is considered.