23rd November 2018

Academy House Shortlisted for AJ Specification Awards

JRA is pleased to announce that Academy House has been shortlisted in the AJ Specification Awards 2019. The building is one of just seven selected UK wide in the Facades and Cladding category, recognising the innovative use of external materials on projects completed in the past year.

Academy House is situated at the east end of Oxford Street and is notable for its distinctive façade, which has been designed to complement its north Soho context. Working with Darwen Terracotta, JRA produced the traditional terracotta tiles by slip casting from moulds before treatment with a bespoke chemical combination and fired in a kiln. This resulted in a profiled, ribbed tile with a blue glaze and a handmade texture, reflecting a dialogue with the horizontal fritting in the facade’s glazing panels. JRA went on to collaborate with Szerelemy to design the faience bracketry system that responds to the mix of steel and concrete substrates throughout the façade, which was essential to its functionality.

The winners will be announced on 15 February at the AJ Specification Awards ceremony.