Sainsbury Laboratory
Client: University of Cambridge
Principal Contractor: Kier
Architect: Stanton Williams
Package Value: £2.5M
The Sainsbury Laboratory, winner of the RIBA Stirling Prize 2012 and numerous other awards, houses plant research laboratories at the University of Cambridge. Szerelmey installed the external and internal stonework including an art installation by Suzanne Heron.
The external facade is distinctive with its 168 yellow Jaumont French limestone columns, which are 4.5m high and provide vertical solar shading. The columns, weighing 180 kilos, required us to design bespoke lifting equipment. Each column was hand set in position by our specialist team and fitted using 22mm stainless steel dowels at the bottom and threaded stainless steel bars at the top. These were bolted through the concrete and mastic applied to the oversized holes, which allow for expansion.
Yorkstone was also used internally and externally including a feature staircase consisting of units weighing over 220 kilos each; Szerelmey designed a lifting rail to facilitate the installation of these pieces. In addition we installed Yorkstone steps, benches and copings.
