Facade Awards Win

Great news – Lovelock Mitchell’s bold folded façade was shortlisted for three awards at the Façade Awards UK national ceremony, and won Highly Commended Best Use of a Rainscreen System Using Aluminium.

Well done to all involved; @lovelockmitchell @proteusfacades @sitastruct @wynneconstruction @wrexhamuni

“Wrexham University’s new Enterprise, Engineering and Optics Centre makes a confident architectural statement, with a façade that reflects the bold, high-tech ethos of the institution. At its heart is a striking composition of triangular Proteus SC Tray panels, finished in a rich PPC Tiger Drylac Gold. This warm metallic tone evokes the precision and innovation of aerospace materials, resulting in a façade that feels both engineered and refined.

The design’s geometry is central to its visual impact. Eight triangular panels are arranged to form larger square modules, creating a dynamic tessellated surface across the elevation. These repeated formations generate rhythm and depth, with sharp joint lines and crisp folds enhancing the building’s precise, technical aesthetic. The interlocking panels form overlapping details that cast subtle shadow lines, shifting with the light throughout the day.

Smaller bespoke triangles were used around the building’s perimeter to maintain the continuity of the pattern, ensuring visual consistency and reinforcing the geometric language of the façade. The result is a seamless, visually engaging skin that feels both purposeful and beautifully executed.

Inspired by advanced composites and the clean, structural language of airframe construction, the façade directly reflects themes of performance, innovation, and material science that define the centre. The gold finish adds character and distinction, catching the light and giving the building a sense of prestige. It subtly recalls the high-performance coatings and specialist alloys common in engineering and optical technologies.

Together, these elements form a façade that is not only bold and contemporary, but also intrinsically linked to the building’s function and identity.”