Saint-Gobain Weber, the UK formulator and manufacturer of innovative construction mortars and systems, has taken the INCA 2011 Project of the Year award for the spectacular Cruddas Park regeneration scheme in Newcastle.

Cruddas Park also received the Domestic Refurbishment – High Rise award.

In the extensive four-year Cruddas Park scheme, the weber.therm XM EWI system was specified for the refurbishment of five eye-catching high rise residential tower blocks. Dramatic white polar dash render facades are in striking contrast to the blue detail panels coloured using a special blue acrylic finish, allowing natural light to illuminate the blocks and creating a crisp render finish. This is a far different visual landscape. These aesthetics have been complemented by improvements that deliver upgraded thermal efficiencies and reduced energy costs for the residents. These 1960’s hard to treat properties have been a long standing priority for the provision of affordable, edge of city centre living within a rejuvenated 4.5 hectare area of green space.

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The project is backed by Newcastle City Council, Bridging NewcastleGateshead and New Deal for Communities. The main contractor is Wates Living Space and the weber.therm XM EWI was installed by Astley Facades Group Limited.

Dave Woodcock, commercial manager at Wates Living Space, is proud of the complex project. "Residents now have technically advanced homes and the whole area has changed dramatically for the better. The weber.therm XM EWI system has proved the right choice and achieves good looks and a great thermal upgrade."

The U-value of walls in the 15-storey towers prior to refurbishment was in the region of 1.45 W/m2K. This has been reduced to a more comfortable 0.29 W/m²K with the application of weber.therm XM EWI.

(CD)