DUB 089

This project involved the design, manufacture, assembly, and installation of a bespoke aluminium fin façade system for a data centre. ProCraft was appointed to deliver a solution that would provide both effective solar shading and a striking architectural feature, enhancing the building's appearance while reducing solar heat gain and the associated cooling requirements within the facility.

The façade comprised aluminium fins projecting 800mm from the building face. Each fin was manufactured from four individual aluminium extrusions, which were supplied separately before being assembled by ProCraft into complete units. During assembly, the internal sections of the fins were carefully notched where required to accommodate the support bracketry, ensuring that every fin could be installed accurately while maintaining the clean external appearance specified by the architect. Once assembled, the fins received a high-quality powder-coated finish to provide long-term durability, weather resistance, and a consistent architectural appearance across the entire façade.

Supporting the aluminium fins was a bespoke bracket system designed by ProCraft. The support brackets were fabricated from mild steel before being hot-dip galvanised and painted, providing a robust corrosion-resistant finish suitable for the external environment. The design of the bracketry required extensive coordination with both the structural steel frame and the cladding contractor. Every bracket location had to align precisely with the structural steel while also coinciding with the cladding joint layout, leaving extremely limited installation tolerances. Achieving this level of coordination required detailed design development, careful dimensional checking, and ongoing collaboration with the wider project team to eliminate potential clashes before fabrication commenced.

Given the scale of the façade and the tight tolerances involved, precision was a defining feature of the project from design through to installation. Even minor dimensional discrepancies could have affected the alignment of the fins or the consistency of the façade, making accuracy at every stage essential. Detailed fabrication drawings and rigorous quality control procedures ensured that each bracket and fin assembly was manufactured to the required dimensions before being delivered to site.

Installation commenced with the galvanised and painted steel support brackets, which formed the structural framework for the façade. Each bracket was positioned with great care to ensure it matched the design coordinates and provided the correct support for the aluminium fin assemblies. Continuous surveying and dimensional checks were carried out throughout the installation process to verify alignment and maintain the strict tolerances demanded by the design.

With the support system in place, the assembled aluminium fins were installed across the building elevation. The visual impact of the façade relied on maintaining uniform spacing between every fin, with only a few millimetres separating adjacent units across the full length of the building. This required meticulous setting out and installation, with each fin carefully aligned to achieve a consistent shadow line and uninterrupted architectural finish. The completed façade presents a clean, modern appearance while delivering the intended environmental performance through effective solar shading.

The project demonstrated ProCraft's ability to successfully deliver a highly coordinated façade package encompassing structural support design, bespoke steel fabrication, aluminium assembly, specialist finishing, and precision installation. The successful integration of multiple trades, together with the manufacture of complex components to exceptionally tight tolerances, resulted in a façade that met both the architectural vision and the functional requirements of a modern data centre.