The innovative building provides world-class research facilities, consolidating experimental and theoretical physicists into a single centre of excellence. In addition to a modern workplace environment that has transformed the Department’s working practices above-ground, a 16m deep complex of basement laboratories facilitates extremely sensitive experiments.
Pre-oxidised copper fins
The Beecroft Building is thoroughly modern but respectful of its highly sensitive location amongst historic trees, close to several ‘listed’ buildings and a conservation area. The rhythm, verticality and colour of the facade’s grid of naturally weathering copper fins echo William Butterfield’s Keble College Chapel opposite. The facade fins were made up from 1.5mm Nordic Brown Light pre-oxidised copper and structure the glazed curtain walling containing black glazed spandrel panels and clear glazing, some with an expanded copper mesh interlayer.
Rebecca Fode, Hawkins\Brown project Architect, said: “Nordic Brown Light was chosen as it was the most efficient way of achieving the intended design aesthetic – the fins were always shown as a dark, patinated bronze-like material. As it is a natural product the material will weather and darken over time. Nordic Brown Light is slightly darker than copper’s mill finish and was chosen to avoid a bright copper façade when the fins were first installed.”
Nordic copper performance
Nordic Brown Light is part of an extensive range of architectural copper surfaces and alloys with an unrivalled lifespan, no maintenance and full recyclability. With a melting point of 1083˚C and A1 – non-combustible material – fire classification to EN 13501-1, copper is suitable for cladding tall buildings, using appropriate constructions.
Copper’s unique architectural qualities are defined by its natural patina, developing gradually in the environment – which cannot be replicated successfully using other materials with surface coatings. The ‘Nordic Copper’ range provides all these surfaces straightaway. The processes involved are generally similar to those taking place over time in the environment, utilising copper mineral compounds, not alien chemical processes. All these surfaces form an integral part of the copper, generally continuing to change over time, and are not lifeless coatings or paint.
Extensive natural finishes
The architectural range includes Nordic Standard ‘mill finish’ and Nordic Brown pre-oxidised copper offering lighter or darker shades of brown determined by the thickness of the oxide layer. The extensive Nordic Blue, Nordic Green and Nordic Turquoise ranges have been developed with properties and colours based on the same brochantite mineralogy found in natural patinas all over the world. As well as the solid patina colours, ‘Living’ surfaces are available for each with other intensities of patina flecks revealing some of the dark oxidised background material.
Copper alloys include Nordic Bronze and Nordic Brass, which can also be supplied pre-weathered. The innovative Nordic Royal is an alloy of copper with aluminium and zinc, retaining its golden colour. Aurubis is part of the world’s leading integrated copper group and largest copper recycler.
