Façade Strategy & Delivery
Project Experience
About DB3
Founded in 1883, DB3 Group is an award-winning, dynamic practice consisting of DB3 Architecture & Design, DB3 Building Services Engineering, DB3 Net Zero, DB3 Professional Services, and Formation 3D.
DB3 Group has seven studios across the UK including in Leeds, London, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Cardiff and Aberystwyth, so we are never too far away from your project.
Renowned for our quality design and technical delivery, we have long standing relationships with some of the biggest global brands across private and public market sectors.
From architectural vision to the completed build, we provide multi-disciplinary expertise aimed at meeting the diverse needs of our client base. We embrace the latest technology, including Building Information Modelling (BIM), to assist in our process and operations for design, visualisation, design team co-ordination and more.
We maintain a focus on not only delivering the project on time, with exceptional quality and within cost, but also in ensuring long term value is designed into facilities to ensure that they are easy and safe to operate, sustainable, minimise energy use and are cost effective to maintain.
Our dedicated team of experienced Architects, Project Managers, Building Services Engineers, Interior Designers and Surveyors provide a quality service regardless of project value, size or complexity, to deliver the best for our clients. Working collaboratively, we aspire to make this an enjoyable process and build relationships which result in us returning to work for the same clients on future projects.
Glasgow
SECTORS
Commercial
Conservation & Heritage
Education
Energy & Waste
Healthcare
Hospitality
Industrial & Manufacturing
Retail
Residential
Science & Labs
Sports & Leisure
EXPERTISE
Architecture
Passivhaus Design
Urban Design
Visualisation
Principal Designer
NEC Supervisor
Leeds
Manchester
Birmingham
Aberystwyth
London
Cardiff
The Full Lifecycle
We deliver façade led projects from the front, acting as architect, principal designer and multidisciplinary lead.
Our work covers the full façade lifecycle, from new façades and complex recladding schemes, to fire safety and remediation works. Across residential, education, civic and commercial refurbishment
projects, we understand how façades need to perform, both technically and in use.
We start by understanding what’s already there. Detailed investigations, clear information management, and the use of modelling and digital twins help us develop solutions that are practical, buildable and made to last.
RHONDDA CYNON TAF COUNCIL
Llys Cadwyn
Location: Pontypridd
Expertise Area: Architecture
Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council appointed DB3 as the lead multidisciplinary design team for the £38 million Llys Cadwyn redevelopment. DB3 acted as both the architect and lead consultant for all RIBA Stages. The principal contractor was Willmott Dixon, with structural and civil engineering provided by Stantec.
The scheme delivers 14,693 sqm of space across three buildings, including the headquarters for Transport for Wales (TfW), offices for around 400 staff with a café, and a civic building housing a library, council customer contact point and leisure and fitness centre. The wider public realm has also been improved, with new spaces open to the public, including a pedestrian bridge over the River Taff connecting Llys Cadwyn with Ynysangharad War Memorial Park.
The two office buildings use hand-laid Danish brick façades above fully glazed ground floors. The longer, wider brick format needed tight tolerances and careful coordination, particularly around support systems and movement joints, ensuring the façade works with the steel frame and accommodates movement.
The most complex part of the scheme is the oval building. Its curved form is created using a steel frame set around a reinforced concrete core, with prefabricated timber cassettes fixed back to the structure. These are over-clad with more than 6,000 zinc shingles, each around the size of a ceiling tile, giving the building its continuous curved finish. Inside, long span steel beams of up to 15 metres create open, flexible library spaces while supporting the gym and studios above. The structure has been carefully designed to manage vibration and sound, allowing different uses to sit comfortably within the same building.
COLLINS CONSTRUCTION
Aldercastle
Location: City of London
Expertise Areas: Architecture, Principal Designer
Collins Construction appointed DB3 as the lead designer and principal designer CDM & BRegs for the refurbishment of Aldercastle.
The project transforms a dated 1990s City office into an office space shaped around how people work today. The retrofit included the introduction of a new CAT A workspace, along with the redevelopment of the reception area, and new commuter facilities.
The reception has been extended to give the building more presence at street level. Opening up the frontage allowed the building to meet the street more openly, strengthening its connection to the surrounding context and improving first impressions. At the corner, the massing was increased to refine the building’s form while keeping important sight lines clear to the Grade I listed Church of St Anne and St Agnes. This allowed the entrance to be enlarged and created new outdoor amenity space on the upper levels.
A new structural steel frame forms the backbone of the reception extension, supporting the curved glazed façade and providing the structural base for new terraces at upper levels. Close coordination between the structural and façade design was essential to accommodate the curved geometry and terrace loading requirements. Materials including glass, metal and stone were carefully selected to complement the existing building fabric, ensuring the new elements harmonise with the neighbouring conservation area.
Delivered as part of an £11m workspace refurbishment, the external façade package was completed by SD Samuals in collaboration with Modern Facades Construction (MFC), who installed extruded aluminium tiles, SFS framing, rainscreen cladding and the canopy system. The external glazing package was delivered by Anglian Architectural, incorporating Schüco FW50 curtain walling, Schüco ADS 70 HD doors and frameless structural glazing at ground and first floor levels.
CONFIDENTIAL CLIENT
Europe’s Largest HRB Remediation Project
Location: London
Expertise Area: Architecture, Principal Designer
DB3 are leading a large scale HRB remediation programme in London, acting as Architect, Principal Designer and Lead Designer under the requirements of the Building Safety Act 2022. The project spans 66 residential blocks and was initiated following an improvement notice from the London Fire Brigade, requiring urgent upgrades to both internal and external fire safety provisions. A key challenge at inception was the consolidation of over two terabytes of fragmented data produced by multiple design and construction teams. As part of our works, we developed a structured information management system to interrogate fire risk assessments, validate existing conditions, and coordinate survey data. This allowed targeted investigations (including selective opening up works) to expose concealed defects and widespread non-compliance with the Building Regulations, particularly within façade assemblies and structural interfaces.
The core architectural and structural coordination strategy centres on façade remediation as a critical risk element. Existing external wall systems (often comprising combustible ACM cladding, insulation, and balcony decking) are being removed and replaced with compliant, non-combustible materials. The façade, structure
and fire stopping are fully coordinated so that compartmentation is maintained, preventing the spread of fire and smoke at slab edges, junctions and service penetrations.
Internally, defective cavity barriers and fire stopping are being reinstated to prevent fire spread through concealed voids. Non-intrusive surveys have been prioritised to minimise disruption to residents, while temporary safety systems (including alarms, sprinklers, and waking watches) maintain operational safety during construction.
A project wide digital model sits at the centre of delivery, bringing together spatial data, defects and the scope of remediation in one place. It combines survey outputs, façade types and structural interfaces, giving the team a clear view of risk and how construction can be sequenced.
This shared model supports Gateway 2 approvals and helps ensure that façade and structural upgrades are applied consistently across different building types. By linking design decisions with structural constraints and regulatory requirements, the approach allows works to be planned and delivered efficiently, even while buildings remain occupied.
We are currently working on a range of building remediation projects, if you would like to find out more, click here.
MCLAUGHLIN & HARVEY
Wolverhampton Central Learning Quarter
Location: Wolverhampton
Expertise Area: Architecture, NEC Supervisor, Client Advisor
The £30.57m Wolverhampton Central Learning Quarter project brings together the City of Wolverhampton College, a new sixth form centre, Wolverhampton Adult Education Service and the Wolverhampton Central Library on a single city centre campus.
We were initially appointed as architect for the scheme to RIBA Stage 3 in 2017 and were reappointed when the project restarted in 2022, acting as Client Advisor and NEC Supervisor through RIBA Stages 3-6. Delivered under the Crown Commercial Service Framework Lot 4.1 by McLaughlin & Harvey, the project involved remodelling and refurbishing existing buildings (including listed structures) alongside new build extensions to the Metro One College building. A key challenge involved extending the existing Metro One building with two new wings, forming a curved elevation. The façade concept introduced a continuous horizontal feature band across the first, second and third floors, creating a ribbon like element that visually unifies and compartmentalises the building. Delivering this design required careful structural and façade coordination due to the curved geometry, misaligned window arrangements and complex junctions between new and existing structures. Additional challenges included integrating drainage and sealing details, achieving modern fire and security standards, and managing late
stage design changes such as signage additions after the cladding installation.
The engineered façade solution incorporated a Schüco FWS50 curtain wall system, AWS 90si windows, AWS90 PAS24 doors and high security automatic sliding entrances, combined with double-glazed insulated units using SaintGobain Cool-Lite Xtreme 61/29 glass. The external envelope was completed with a Genius “Edge” 3mm aluminium rainscreen cladding system, with feature bands supported on helping hand brackets fixed back to SFS framing, alongside aluminium soffits and modifications to existing curtain walling including integrated louvres and opening vents.
To maintain the curved façade while simplifying construction, revised details such as curved coping and 50 mm cladding panels were introduced, enabling the architectural intent to be achieved using conventional manufacturing methods. Through collaborative façade engineering and structural review of the existing core, outdated materials were eliminated and the connection between the new wings and existing structure was strengthened.
ARGYLL & BUTE COUNCIL
Helensburgh Leisure Centre
Location: Helensburgh
Expertise Area: Architecture
DB3 were appointed to support Argyll and Bute Council in delivering a new leisure centre as part of the Helensburgh Waterfront Development.
Working with civil, structural and geotechnical engineers, the scheme brings together a 25 metre, six lane pool, a studio pool with a moveable floor, along with gyms and fitness spaces. The wider development also includes flood defences, improved public space and a new walkway around the pier.
Given the exposed coastal location, the building is designed to be robust, with a clear approach to materials across the façade.
A natural stone base at ground level provides a durable plinth, helping protect the building from the elements. Above this, large areas of glazing are set within dark aluminium framing, bringing natural light into the pool hall and making activity visible from outside.
Rainscreen cladding is used at upper levels, including a satin white fibre cement system to the first floor overhang and roof edges. This helps reduce the visual weight of the building while remaining durable.
Brickwork is used to add variation, with darker tones at ground level and lighter grey brickwork in more enclosed areas. Larger volumes, such as the sports hall, are finished with metal cladding to suit their scale and function.
Printworks Campus
Location: Leeds
Expertise Area: Architecture
DB3 was appointed to design a new three storey Technology Building at Leeds City College’s Printworks Campus. Sitting alongside the Grade II listed Printworks building, the scheme creates a modern teaching facility that responds to its historic setting without competing with it.
Delivered with Premier Modular, CCS Consulting and JLL Planning, the building provides classrooms, labs and teaching spaces, with undercroft parking below. Using an off-site modular system meant the programme was cut to six months, reducing disruption on campus and supporting a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating.
The façade gives the building a clear visual identity. It uses partially perforated corten steel as a simple outer layer, picking up on the industrial character of the Printworks site. Belfry Facade Systems, working with Marksman Roofing, supplied and fabricated the Belfix secret fix hook on panel system in 2mm Corten steel. A mix of perforated
and solid panels gives the façade depth and variation, while the hook-on system allowed for larger panels and a straightforward install across roughly 900m². The system is A1 rated, providing a non-combustible design in line with current safety standards. Over time the cladding will patinate to a deep orange/brown, showing the effects of the environment and in turn, maturing along with its students.
In addition to the corten steel cladding, the building features a double-height glass entrance that serves as a visually striking focal point. This entrance provides a modern and transparent aesthetic that contrasts with the ruggedness of the corten steel cladding. The use of full height, wide aspect windows also serves a practical purpose by allowing natural light to flow deep into the building’s interior, creating an open and inviting atmosphere, whilst also prompting natural passive ventilation.
UNIVERSITY OF HUDDERSFIELD
The Creative Arts Building
Location: Huddersfield
Expertise Area: Architecture
The Creative Arts Building at the University of Huddersfield is a purpose built facility for Art and Music Technology. DB3 acted as architect and design team leader, coordinating a multidisciplinary team to deliver the project on programme.
The arrival is defined by a curved stone façade that gives the building a strong, continuous edge to the campus. As an ashlar stone rainscreen system, it provides a sense of weight and enclosure, setting up a clear distinction between the outside and what sits within.
This solid outer layer gives way to a full height glazed atrium that cuts through the building. Acting as the main point of entry and circulation, the atrium works as a lobby to the performance space while accommodating exhibitions, informal teaching and events. Curtain walling and structural
glazing bring daylight deep into the plan and expose activity inside, creating an open and social environment.
Together, these elements create a clear transition from a robust outer shell to a lighter, more transparent interior, with the façade directly shaping how the building is approached and experienced.
To meet BREEAM requirements, the structure makes use of the building’s thermal mass for passive heating and cooling. This is achieved through a bubbledeck concrete frame, which reduces weight using void formers within the slab while retaining structural depth. The system enables large span, column free spaces suited to performance and teaching, while supporting the environmental strategy.
Façade
FIFE COUNCIL
Glenrothes Leisure Centre
Location: Glenrothes
Expertise Area: Architecture
DB3 was appointed by Fife Council as Architect, Lead Consultant, Contract Administrator and Principal Designer, leading a wider design team. The project came forward through a PQQ and design competition, with a £23m construction value and an 18 month programme on site.
The completed building contains an eight lane, 25 metre pool, a learner pool with a movable floor and a separate confidence water pool. Alongside that sits a nine court sports hall, a 120 station fitness suite, squash courts and a series of studios, including spin. A climbing wall and café support the main offer, with external works delivering a 3G pitch, upgraded hockey provision and improvements to the athletics track.
The façade is reflective of the rooms it houses. Larger areas like the sports hall and pool have a solid exterior, finished in insulated panels and rainscreen cladding to create a durable outer layer, perfect for spaces that don’t need much natural light.
Where light and visibility matter more, the façade opens up. Glazing is used around the entrance, circulation and public areas so you can see in and understand how the building works as you approach. Translucent polycarbonate panels sit alongside this, bringing in daylight without fully exposing the interior.
The façade is built from prefabricated panel systems, which kept construction straightforward and ensured a consistent level of quality. Materials were selected to deal with heavy public use, regular cleaning and exposure to the elements without becoming difficult to maintain. The detailing was kept simple, relying on the performance of the systems rather than unnecessary complexity.
ROYAL TROON
Crosbie Tower
Location: Troon
Expertise Area: Architecture
Crosbie Towers sits right on South Beach in Troon, Ayrshire. The original building is a late Victorian Italianate villa, most recognisable for its square tower and stone façade. Buildings like this were typically large private villas, designed to take advantage of coastal views. After purchasing the empty unit, Postage Stamp Developments wanted to adapt and extend the building, creating unique residential apartments. DB3 were enlisted to act as architects, RIBA Stages 1-7.
The façade strategy focused on creating contrast between the old and the new. The existing stone façade, with projecting bays, vertical window rhythm and detailed masonry, has been repaired and brought back into good condition. The approach is largely like for like, focused on fixing the dated fabric and tying it into the roof so the building performs as a whole.
The modern extension is positioned slightly behind the main elevation, so the original building stays at the front. The massing makes it clear this is an addition, not a continuation.
The difference in materials does the rest of the work. The villa is solid and textured in stone. The extension is lighter, using glazing and metal cladding to give a flatter, more controlled finish. That shift carries through into the openings. The original façade reads as solid wall with deep set punched windows. The extension moves to larger glazed elements, closer to the façade line. Detailing on the new build is kept tight. There is no attempt to replicate historic features. Junctions are simple and clean so both parts remain easy to read.
BEAUMONT MORGAN
Bridgewater Wharf
Location: Salford, Manchester
Expertise Areas: Architecture
Bridgewater Wharf is a major residential development in Salford, forming part of the wider regeneration corridor linking Manchester city centre with Salford Quays and MediaCityUK. Located alongside the River Irwell, the eight storey building delivers 376 homes, including studios, one, two and three bedroom apartments and townhouses. Private balconies and winter gardens extend living spaces, while floor to ceiling glazing brings in natural light and frames views across the waterfront and Manchester skyline.
DB3 led the architectural and principal designer role, carrying the concept architect’s vision through into detailed design and delivery.
The envelope covers around 14,800 sqm and uses a brick finish rainscreen system, giving the look of masonry with the performance of a modern façade. Aerobrik panels sit on the TI-DF6 flat plate system, allowing a consistent brick finish across the building. Three façade types were used to break up the massing while keeping a coherent overall appearance.
Working with M3 Build Ltd and UKR Facades Ltd, the façade package needed careful coordination between the structure, support systems and glazing. Fire performance was built into the design, including the use of the Trestard window sealing system to meet current requirements.
Architecture and much more
As a multi-disciplinary consultancy, our expertise extends beyond architecture, meaning our clients can pick and choose key areas or combine a number of our service skill sets and project management skills when selecting our single point service offer. DB3 Group offers the following four individual business units.
DB3 Architecture & Design
Providing RIBA Chartered sustainable architecture, urban design, landscape design and masterplanning, with supporting services including BIM, visualisation and interior design. DB3’s architectural team comprises 35+ architects, supported by a strong team of 40+ technologists and architectural assistants with the capacity to resource projects across all sectors.
DB3 Building Services Engineering
Offering CIBSE Chartered Mechanical and Electrical Engineering to all sectors. The team have particular experience in the leisure sector, having delivered numerous wet and dry leisure facilities across the UK. The team incorporates Building Physics Engineering, are CIBSE Low Carbon Energy Assessors and offer Thermal Modelling (DSM).
DB3 Net Zero
Drawing on the experience of our in-house mechanical & electrical engineers, architects, energy assessors, Passivhaus designers and sustainability experts. Our suite of Net Zero consultancy services is broken down into six categories which cover topics around whole life cycle. These categories include; Carbon, Efficiency, Passivhaus, Wellbeing, Performance & Compliance.
DB3 Professional Services
The team deliver building surveying, retail project management, principal designer, contract administration and NEC supervisor roles, across the UK. Working alongside DB3’s architectural and M&E teams, these roles can be incorporated into a multi-disciplinary offering or procured as an independent service.
Accreditations
AJ100 Company
RIBA Chartered Practice
Certified Passivhaus Designers
CIAT Registered Practice
CIBSE Directory of Practices & Firms
CIBSE Low Carbon Energy Assessors
ISO9001:2015 Quality Management System
ISO14001:2015 Environmental Management System
Altius Approved Elite Vendor
H&S SSIP Accredited, through Eurosafe and Alcumus
Constructionline Gold Member
Achilles RISQS Accredited
Cyber Essentials Plus
Awards
DB3 Group:
Shortlisted: Constructing Excellence Yorkshire & Humber 2026 ‘SME of the Year’; Winner - Insider Wales 2025 ‘Architectural Practice of the Year’; Shortlisted - Building Awards 2025 ‘Architectural Practice of the Year’; Shortlisted - Insider West Midlands ‘Architectural Practice of the Year’; Winner - UK Enterprise Client Service Excellence Award 2024 ‘Best Sustainable Architecture Practice’; Shortlisted - The Grafters Awards 2024 ‘Best RIBA Architectural Practice’; ’ShortlistedMMC Awards 2024 ‘Women in Modern Methods of Construction’; Winner - Build Architecture Awards ‘Best Sustainable Architecture & Design Firm 2023’; Shortlisted - West Midlands Insider Awards 2023 ‘Architecture Practice of the Year’; Winner - Yorkshire Insider Awards 2023 ‘Architecture Practice of the Year’; Shortlisted - COBBA 2023 ‘Business Development Professional’; Shortlisted - UKREiiF Awards 2023 ‘Consultant of the Year’ & ‘People & Skills Torchbearer’; ShortlistedCOMBA 2023 ‘Architecture Practice’ & ‘Business Development Professional’; Shortlisted - Grafters Awards 2023 ‘Architecture Practice’; Winner –COMBA & COBBA 2022 ‘Architect of the Year’; 2021 Digital Enterprise Top 100; Winner – Insider Property Awards 2018 ‘Architectural Practice of the Year’ & ‘Design Excellence’; Shortlisted – BD Awards 2017 ‘Sports & Leisure Architect of the Year’; RICS Design Through Innovation Award 2017; Insider Property Industry Awards 2015 ‘Highly Commended Architectural Firm of the Year’
National Library of Wales: Shortlisted - Insider Wales 2026 ‘Sustainability Project of the Year’
Woking High School: Shortlisted - Education Estates 2025 ‘Project of the Year Inclusive Design’
Printworks Campus: Shortlisted - MMC Awards 2024 ‘Project of the Year Education (Secondary & Higher)’
Helensburgh Waterfront Development: Highly Commended - Argyll & Bute Awards 2023 ‘Aesthetic Design’; Finalist - Planning Awards 2023 ‘Outstanding Contribution to Placemaking: Best Use of Arts, Culture or Sport’; Highly CommendedIStructE Awards 2022 ‘Leisure Project’
Llys Cadwyn Regeneration: Winner – Cardiff Property Awards 2021 and Ystadau Cymru 2021 Award for ‘Creating Economic Growth’; Highly Commended – British Construction Industry Awards 2021; CLAW Project of the Year Awards 2021; Winner –Constructing Excellence Awards Wales 2021 ’Integration and Collaborative Working’ & ‘Building of the Year’
Adidas Oxford Street: Gold Winner – London Design Awards 2020
Leeds College of Music: Winner – RIBA Regional Award 2015 ‘Small Project Award’; Shortlisted –Insider Property Industry Awards Yorkshire 2018 ‘Regeneration Project of the Year’, Education Estates Awards 2018 ‘Refurbishment Project’, AJ Retrofit Awards 2018 ‘Further & Higher Education’; Constructing Excellence Yorkshire & Humber Awards 2018 ‘Building Project of the Year’
Chancery Lane Residential: Shortlisted –London Construction Awards 2018 ‘London Build Excellence’ & ‘Regeneration Project’
Airedale Air Conditioning: Winner – RICS 2017 Regional Award ‘Design through innovation’
Ysgol Craig Y Deryn School: RTPI Wales Planning Award 2014
Kirkcaldy Leisure Centre: Commended – SCALA Awards 2014 ‘Civic Building of the Year’
MOMA Machynlleth Tannery Gallery: CPRW Awards 2014 ‘Special Award’
Michael Woods Leisure Centre: Highly Commended – SCALA Awards 2014 ‘Civic Building of the Year’; Scottish Property Awards 2014 ‘Architectural Excellence’
Marks & Spencer, Liverpool: Highly Commended –CIAT Award 2010 ‘Technical Excellence’
PAN Emirates, Dubai: Shortlisted – Retail Interiors Awards 2010 ‘Best International Interior’
Threeways School, Bath: BCSE Awards 2009 ‘Inspiring Design for Special Schools’
ASDA Stores Supplier Awards: 2009 ‘Best Consultant’ & ‘Best EDLC (Every Day Low Cost) Initiative’
University of Huddersfield, Creative Art Building: Bronze Awards – RIBA White Rose Award 2009; Commendation – CIAT Award 2009; Shortlisted –RICS Pro Yorkshire Awards 2009
University of Huddersfield, Milton Centre: Winner – Insider Yorkshire Renaissance Awards 2006 ‘Best Restoration Project’
Aberdovey Yacht Club: Winner – Snowdonia National Park Awards 1992 ‘Good Design in the Countryside Award’
St Giles Business Park for the DBRW: Winner –Prince of Wales Design Awards 1990 ‘Good Design’
Llwydcoed Crematorium: Winner - RIBA Wales Architecture Awards 1971