DuPont™ Tyvek® Advanced Building Membrane Is Fit for Purpose at New Sports Hall

The impressive new 1,435 square meters Little Venice Sports Centre in Paddington, West London (U.K.) was commissioned by the Westminster Council to provide the very best in leisure and learning facilities for the community. Designed to be as energy efficient as possible, the specification of advanced materials and systems was core to the project.

Three high-performance membranes from DuPont Building Innovations played a part in the design, both in protecting the attractive, contemporary structure, while also improving the building’s thermal performance.

DuPont™ Tyvek® UV Facade membrane was used on the rain screen walls of the facility to give vital protection against UV exposure. Robust and easy to work with, DuPont™ Tyvek® also reliably protects against wind, water, interstitial condensation and air-leakage, while allowing for vapor diffusion.

Two other products from the DuPont™ Tyvek® family of advanced membranes also offered protection to other areas of the structure. DuPont™ Tyvek® Supro was featured behind the exterior walls, while DuPont™ Tyvek® VCL SD2 was installed between the insulated steel frame and the internal linings of certain external walls.

According to architect Mark Hewitt, DuPont™ Tyvek® UV Façade was chosen because “the design preference was for an open-jointed timber cladding system [for reasons of material ventilation, solar shading, environmental material management and appearance] and so a breather membrane was required that could withstand the damaging effects of UV radiation. Guaranteed long-term performance was needed to match or exceed that of the cladding, which required no through life maintenance, and the structural integrity of the [DuPont™ Tyvek®] membrane ensures that it is difficult to damage during construction.”

“DuPont™ Tyvek® Supro was specified as the breather membrane behind the secondary steelwork and aluminum rain screen because it offers the good moisture and tear-resistance that was required and has a high vapor-permeability to ensure the external walls can properly breathe, while DuPont™ Tyvek® VCL SD2 provides further vapor control and acts as an important air-leakage barrier,” Mark said.

Users of the new center will be able to enjoy the seven game courts, multi-purpose dance studio, fitness suite, library and fully-equipped information technology skills hub in comfort, while managers can expect to keep energy costs down in this highly-efficient facility.