Modern coat of the orthopedic center

The center building was designed by the Warsaw architectural office a5 architekci, which aimed to cover the roof and facade with a modern, unconventional high-quality material, thus distinguishing itself from other buildings in the vicinity. Among many products, the studio ultimately chose the ductile and durable aluminum roofing elements Prefalz and standing seam shingles.



Roof and facade as a design element
The orthopedic center is located in the heart of the Legionowski district, surrounded by residential buildings with heavy roofing materials. By using lightweight aluminum products for both the roof and facade, the building of Osteon has become quite unusual in its wider surroundings. And although the object presents itself as modern, it blends perfectly into the surrounding environment thanks to the classic symmetrical gable roof.

Khrystyna Hodlevska from the a5 architekci studio explains: “Osteon was meant to have a simple yet interesting form. Aluminum products stand out in modern architecture particularly due to their design. This was fully recognized in our approach. An interesting combination of simple shapes is exemplified by the 'broken roof' effect, which sets standards for this project.”

A new face for Polish healthcare
Aluminum elements and the front glass side of the building deviate from the traditional character of Polish healthcare facilities. The windows are recessed directly into the roof and facade. To avoid disrupting the aesthetics of the object with unnecessary interruptions, the individual elements of the Prefalz facade are up to 13 m long. For this reason, special emphasis had to be placed on their safe transport and clean, precise assembly, allowing for adequate expansion. Another challenge during the design of the standing seam roofing was the connection to the facade panels. At the architect's request, the seams on the facade were to be placed on the reveals and directly in the center of the windows. The remaining panels were to be laid out in a way that small differences in their width were not visible and to minimize waste. Everything succeeded, resulting in a uniformly striking and tasteful facade.

Despite unfavorable temperature conditions
Aluminum elements not only have a number of visual advantages but also offer many other benefits. Not only is aluminum as a material naturally unbreakable and resistant to corrosion, but its ductility and processing under challenging temperature conditions are invaluable.

The installation of the roofing and facade elements (Prefalz and PREFA standing seam shingles) on the building in Jablonna had to be carried out in winter at very low temperatures. Donatu Lazarczyk, Sales & Marketing Coordinator at PREFA Poland, was unfazed by the temperature conditions: “Prefalz is softer than most comparable standing seam materials. Thus, it can be formed more easily, even at very low temperatures. The lacquered finish of these products is also well formable and, thanks to High-Tech enhancement, highly resistant to weather conditions and temperature changes.” It is therefore no surprise that a 40-year warranty is provided for aluminum elements to customers.

Simple and quick installation
Lazarczyk pointed out another advantage: “Quick and easy assembly at such low temperatures is an advantage for every roofer. Aluminum is lighter than other materials, and the individual elements do not need additional reinforcement.” This roofing system, weighing 2.3 – 2.6 kg/m2 (equivalent to approximately 10 standing seam shingles), represents just a small fraction of the weight of conventional roofing (35 – 55 kg/m2). Necessary wind resistance is provided by sliding and fixed joints on the longitudinal and transverse sides. The result is a secure joint resistant not only to wind but to all weather influences.

The primary material of PREFA aluminum products is an alloy according to the EN 1396 standard. The surface treatment of the standing seam tiles, shingles, templates, roof gutters, downspouts, and sheets is produced using the so-called Coil Coating method and is subject to strict requirements according to ECCA (European Coil Coating Association) in Brussels. Both products used in Jablonna are coated with a two-layer baked lacquer of 0.7 mm thickness. They can only be installed on solid boarding. The Prefalz coil sheet is available in unfolded widths of 500, 650, or 1000 mm and in lengths determined by expansion units, according to relevant standards. The standing seam shingle has a laid area size of 420 x 240 mm.

Architect: a5 architekci
Material: Prefalz, PREFA standing seam shingles
Color: light gray P.10
Installation company: Jacek Kupla