Technology which allows building facades to be designed, engineered, manufactured and installed by the same company is helping to create iconic buildings across the UK – thanks to a business which began in Lithuania.

Some of the most famous buildings in the world are recognisable not just because of their shape but also because of the clever and innovative design of the facade which can transform the final look of a project.

Unitised facades - prefabricated panels which can be designed and manufactured to order and then delivered direct to site to be quickly installed – are becoming increasingly popular in the UK.

Staticus, one of the largest facade contractors in Northern Europe, has worked on a range of high-profile buildings across Scandinavia and the Baltic countries and is now increasing its presence in the UK, where it has already been responsible for the iconic look of new-builds in London, Manchester and Liverpool.

Privately owned, and with more than 500 employees, Staticus has been in business for more than 20 years and is Lithuania’s biggest exporter, thanks to a state of the art 14 000 sq. m. factory in Vilnius, which can operate up to 12 production lines at any one time.

With offices in Lithuania, Norway, Sweden and now the UK, Staticus aims to develop unique building facades using the most advanced research and design methods – helping to develop smart buildings where people can live and work in harmony with the environment.

The business typically specialises in buildings over ten floors and currently has six ongoing projects in the UK - with more in the pipeline.

Unusually for the construction industry it offers a ‘one stop shop’ solution which includes the design of a unitised facade, its manufacture, delivery and installation – and of course project management.

Even in the early stages of design, its product development professionals evaluate the risks in complex facade solutions, foresee and eliminate system failures, and offer advice on the use of new materials. This unique model also includes:

• Successful project implementation thanks to state-of-the-art tools for project planning, quality assurance, budget control, purchasing, communication, and managing discrepancies and risks.
• Installation by an experienced installation team, overseen by a highly skilled construction manager
• Use of environmentally friendly materials such as aluminium, glass and timber.

Some of the projects which already have the construction industry in the UK talking are:

Current UK project:

X1 Media City, Manchester

Architect: Falconer Chester Hall
Client: Vermont Construction
Type: Residential luxury T2 apartments
Scope of work: unitised aluminium and glass facades plus aluminium cassettes soffits cladding.
Works area: 9,800m²
Details: The 27-storey residential twin building is a continuation project to include 1,100 luxury apartments. It is scheduled to open in December 2018.

Completed UK project:

Alumno Tower, London

Completion date: February 2018
Size: 8500 square metres
Type: Residential 26-floor building for students’ accommodation and an art centre in Stratford, east London
Installation: Unitised aluminium-glass facade systems, windows and doors.
Details: Staticus was responsible for the full scope of facade works for this exciting project including design, production and installation.

The site is unique because of its sophisticated triangular shape and its height, which provided extra challenges. Terracotta ceramics were used for decoration giving a brick masonry effect. In total 2077 pieces of facade panels were installed

Future UK project:

Royal Mint Gardens, London

Details: Royal Mint Gardens is one of the most prestigious new residential developments in the City of London, located right next to Tower Bridge and The Royal Mint, the origin of British coin production established in 800 AD.

More than 13,000 square meters of unitised facade structures will be installed over a six-month period. Railway tracks, just outside the building, will require extra focus on safety and precise work planning.

Unique solutions for this project include frameless, full hanging (on tension rods) facade elements with horizontal glass fins and a spider glass fixing system.