On August 1st, Italian-Manufacturer Permasteelisa announced an approximately $80 million contract to design, supply and install nearly 300,000 square feet of Frank Gehry’s Battersea Phase 3A located in London.
Since 2013, the Battersea Power Station Development Company has been leading an expansive redevelopment of the 42-acre stretch of relatively fallow land surrounding the eponymous power station. Approximately $14 billion is being spent to develop over 3,000 residential units, 2.5 million square feet of commercial space and the full restoration of the power station.
Designed by engineer Leonard Pearce and architect Giles Gilbert Scott, the looming Art-Deco brick power station was built in two phases between 1935 and 1955, both were subsequently decommissioned by 1983.
In typical-Gehry fashion, the design for this new phase of development consists of multiple undulating elevations with protruding and recessed windows. According to Permasteelisa, the character of the facade requires the fabrication of 3,000 unique aluminum “closed infill boxes.” The design and fabrication of the white aluminum panels is expected to take approximately 18 months, with installation estimated to begin in the first half of 2019.
This is not Permasteelisa’s first collaboration with Frank Gehry, the firm has fabricated and clad the facades of 88 Spruce Street and the IAC Building, among others.
