We’re thrilled to share Architectural Panel Solutions Petrarch reconstituted stone rainscreen facade has been shortlisted for an award at the Façade Awards 2022 – a celebration of the very best in façade design across the UK from the past year.

The Filmworks by Berkeley St. George

The shortlisted award is for our impressive Filmworks Petrarch project – the result of an exciting collaboration with Richardson Roofing, and talented architect TP Bennett for our client Berkeley Group Plc.

For a building with such status and heritage, both St. George and TP Bennett turned to rainscreen and framing solutions which would not only capture exactly the right image and retain the splendour of a bygone age, yet stand up to the most demanding requirements.

As a £100m mixed-use regeneration scheme comprising all of this: 209 new homes, a central square, lined with bars, restaurants, and featuring a double-height eight-screen Picturehouse Cinema (the biggest outside London’s West End) the demands and rigour demanded of the chosen building materials were to be immense.

Predominantly the use of recyclable, sustainable and highly durable rainscreen solutions and framing was sought. Petrarch reconstituted stone panels are created from 80% recycled by-product crushed stone and marble and have a life-span in excess of 50 years. Additionally it boasts an A2 fire rating, and high impact/ graffiti resistant qualities all of which made it an ideal choice. The fact that it blends in perfectly with heritage stone was a key contributing factor to the contractor choosing it as a preferred material.

Set behind the retained historic façade of Ealing’s former Empire Cinema, the £100m mixed-use regeneration scheme comprises 209 new homes overlooking a central square, lined with bars and restaurants, and featuring a double-height entrance foyer to the eight-screen Picturehouse Cinema, the biggest outside London’s West End. Petrarch reconstituted stone panels have enabled the contractor to achieve a striking restoration which channels the decadence of a bygone age.

In terms of the installation of Petrarch, our esteemed installer, Richardson Roofing, had this to say:

APS were very easy to deal with during the purchase and logistics process, of getting the material to site. They are very responsive to queries, helpful and went out of their way to assist in any way they could. The team really do know their products well and were very helpful. Despite this being a somewhat difficult site with delivery booking requirements, APS worked with us to optimise logistics for just-in-time deliveries.” APS were very easy to deal with during the purchase and logistics process, of getting the material to site. They are very responsive to queries, helpful and went out of their way to assist in any way they could. The team really do know their products well and were very helpful. Despite this being a somewhat difficult site with delivery booking requirements, APS worked with us to optimise logistics for just-in-time deliveries. Krissy Dawson (Contracts Coordinator)