Brentford Hotel To Be Reclad Due To Grenfell Concerns

Work on Novotel needed to meet new building regulations

Novotel Brentford as it is now

A Brentford hotel is to have its cladding and insulation removed to meet new building regulations introduced after the Grenfell Tower fire.

Willmott Dixon Construction have submitted an application on behalf of the Novotel Hotel. In a statement that accompanies their application it is stated that concerns regarding rain screen cladding construction in the UK since the Grenfell
Tower tragedy of 2017, have accumulated in preventative measures which now form part of relevant legislation. These include restrictions on the use of certain materials forming the external envelope of a building which are now required to hold a higher level of European Classification which, it us understood, that the present building does not have. Willmott Dixon were the contractors on the original construction of the four star 202-bedroom hotel which opened in 2015. The hotel is on the Great West Quarter development, facing onto the Great West Road.

Overall the building will appear similar post cladding replacement to its existing state. The main body of the building will be clad in a dark grey, Anthra-Zinc. The zinc product undergoes a pre-weathering process which provides a stone-like texture. This is designed to give the product a closer affinity with the existing brickwork than standard metallic, textured zinc.

CGI of Novotel after recladding

The most apparent material change regards the window surrounds, which will being clad in a light grey zinc. The introduction of surface contrast will accentuate the window apertures.

March 28, 2019