Quad

The Reynaers Aluminium Project Cell is a team of experts who, together with all stakeholders involved, create bespoke solutions for exceptional projects such as Quad Central. When standard systems do not meet predefined building requirements, the team steps up to the plate and helps find the right project-specific solution to any challenge. For example, the Quad project was challenging for several reasons.

Firstly, consider more than 33.000 square metres of high-performance façade systems, across 19 stories in total, all implemented to reach a LEED Platinum sustainable building rating. High demands for this high-rise project, indeed.

To test the unique system’s quality, we constructed two different performance mock-ups – one for the curtain wall area, another for the window wall area – at the Reynaers Aluminium Technology Centre, our very own testing and innovation lab in Belgium. To guarantee optimal performance, the subcontractor’s own fabrication and installation teams visited the Technology Centre to learn the correct fabrication techniques for all panel typologies and the appropriate installation methods.

After months of rigorous testing, it was determined that the bespoke system had exceeded all project performance needs and construction could go ahead – leading to the stunning end result you can visit today. What is more, Quad Central is currently undergoing the LEED certification process to achieve the prestigious LEED Platinum rating. It proves how Reynaers Aluminium always has a sustainable solution, even for the most challenging projects.

The final possible constraint is Quad Central’s architecture. The project consists of four individual towers, connected by bridges at the 3rd, 4th, and 5th storey levels. All four towers feature curved corner elements, which require special curved aluminium profiles and hot bent glass panes. A truly unique design, requiring an equally unique solution.

Discussing challenges early on in the design phase can help avoid a lot of trouble. That is why Avalon, our Virtual Reality Room, can be a valuable tool in large construction projects. Avalon allows you to visualise and assess projects before they are built, thanks to its advanced 3D technology. By exploring virtual versions of buildings, stakeholders can compare different solutions and make impactful decisions in real life.

For the Quad project, Avalon was crucial from the very early stages. Pitching our ideas in VR helped to convince the client of Reynaers Aluminium’s professional experience and craftmanship. Even so, additional follow-up meetings brought stakeholders together to review technical features in great detail. By discussing options in person, with the help of 3D images generated in Avalon, months of back-and-forth communication could be avoided, saving a significant amount of time and money.

Considering all the technical, architectural, and logistical challenges, the Project Team created a bespoke, structurally glued male-female unitised façade system. This system guarantees swift fabrication, easy and accurate installation, and excellent weather performance. It is the perfect solution to meet all building needs.

The first thing you will notice when you approach the Quad’s façade, is its minimalistic look. Hidden outward opening windows and elegant sliding doors are fully integrated in the building envelope to create one smooth whole. Moreover, aesthetics and quality come together as the insulated opening elements withstand even the heaviest of wind loads, all while achieving a water and air tightness of up to 1200 Pa according to EN standards.

Next, Malta is known for its powerful Mediterranean gusts of wind. In fact, a wind tunnel simulation report revealed wind pressures of up to 4.5 KPa. Wind load resistance, air and water performance, building movements, thermal performance: Reynaers Aluminium developers needed to take all these factors into account when designing Quad Central’s impressive building envelope.