Ayr Central
Client: Henry Boot PLC
Architect: I10 Design
Main Contractor: Mowlem
Subcontractor: Profile Projects
Design flexibility and speed of construction were key factors behind the specification of Knauf Drywall’s High Performance Twin Frame partitions for the stylish new shopping complex at Ayr, Scotland.
The £50 million Ayr Central, with a completion date of March 2006, has 21 retail units ranging from 80 m2 to 1,860 m2. All are of double height, with planning consent for up to 100% mezzanine trading. In addition, there is an anchor unit – for Debenhams – on two floors, totalling 7,400 m2.
Project architect Brian McFall of I10 Design, Glasgow, specified Knauf Twin Frame partitions in preference to block for the separating walls between units. He says:
“These partitions combine excellent acoustic, thermal and fire resistance properties with relatively fast installation. They also allow greater design flexibility if there is a need to subdivide or combine retail units at any stage”.
The separating walls, up to 10m high, were installed by subcontractors Profile Projects of Dunfermline. The walls used consist of twin 146 mm Knauf ‘C’ studs, sandwiching a layer of 100 mm Knauf Crown Wool insulation. On each side of the frame there is a 19 mm layer of Knauf Plank and two 12.5 mm layers of Knauf Fireshield. This 400 mm structure provides 120 minutes’ fire resistance and 74dB Rw sound reduction.