The £18.6m Bert Williams Leisure Centre is a key element of the regeneration of Bilston, and forms a focal point of the new Urban Village. The triangular 5600m 2 three storey building features Kingfisher’s KW75Z louvres finished in pastel turquoise (RAL6034) as a prominent architectural feature which simultaneously provides effective screening and ventilation to plant behind the façade.
Installed by Roofdec for main contractor Shepherd Construction, the Kingfisher louvres yield a 58% free area delivering a combination of good airflow and weather protection. Over 700 aluminium blades, ranging from 995mm to 3000mm long, have been individually engineered, and where appropriate mitred, to create a seamless join between the louvres and curved façade cladding and glazing. Shepherd Construction project manager Craig Fletcher observed, “We had to make sure each blade was in the right place so that a perfect abutment was achieved. Kingfisher fabricated each blade to exact measurements and within tolerance.”
The new Centre, described by Wolverhampton City Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure & Communities Councillor Elias Mattu as a “fantastic centre for the people of Bilston & Wolverhampton” and named after former Wolverhampton Wanderers and England goalkeeper Bert Williams, includes a 25m eight-lane swimming pool, studio pool, dance/aerobic studio, badminton courts, sports hall, squash courts, crèche and a 100 station health & fitness area.
Plant ventilation and screening louvres are just part of the range of solutions manufactured by Kingfisher Louvre Systems, which includes ventilation, weather protection, solar screening (brise soleil) and visual screening systems. Kingfisher, part of the Building Product Design group, invests in a continuous programme of research and development to bring to market innovative yet practical solutions to changing industry requirements.