LSC Façades

Established in 1988, LSC Façades has grown into a company that can offer the complete external façade solution to suit creative architectural demands through to individual client and contractor needs
Facing facts

“From the initial enquiry at tender stage, we are extremely keen to assist our clients needs, be it technical advice, value engineering or product options,” says Martin Leekblade, pre-construction director. With its own 27,000ft² manufacturing and fabrication premises in Hampshire the business takes full control of all aspects of quality and delivery, from its position ideally situated to serve all areas of the UK. “Our highly experienced team can offer a quicker, safer and more cost effective way of construction, resulting in a large history of projects including Various Blocks in Hale Village, Tottenham, Isledon Road, Mayflower Halls, Walthamstow Arcade, Staplewood Training Ground and many more. Our aim is very simple, to provide high quality products and a professional service to all of our customers at a competitive price,” he adds.

As a specialist façade contractor the company offers the design, manufacture, supply and installation of a wide range of products including glazing, cladding, flashings and brackets, render, curtain walling, roof lights and steel framing systems. “The progression into the new areas of work developed as a result of being held up on site by those trades failing before us. For us it made sense to bring the specialties on board to make life easier for both our business and the main contractor,” explains Martin.

In 2011 the business made a heavy investment into the construction and development of its own fabrication facility, and although made in the heart of the recession, the investment has worked out successfully with year-on-year growth as a result. “The market today continues to improve substantially, and throughout 2013 tenders resulted in many sub contractors companies competing for the same projects, but the turn of the year signified a change, introducing contract negotiation from early stages. We believe this is a much better way of working because you can invest more time into getting the project right first time as a team, rather than working across several tenders.

“Working on a project from the first stage on the drawing board ensures the project develops as a design to build, rather than having to make last minute changes if the architects’ ideas don’t match what is possible with the material. Working together as one helps to ensure that we deliver a cost effective project,” says Martin. The core administration, estimating, buying, sales and design aspects of the business remains centralised at its head office in Romsey with strategically placed satellite offices across the UK generating new business. “All our design work is carried out in house before purchasing the various components from the most well regarded manufacturers. We have worked hard to build our reputation in the industry, it is one of the many strengths that has helped us remain successful through challenging periods and it is important that we continue to use high quality products in all our works from glazing to cladding,” he adds.

LSC Façades is currently working in Milton Keynes on a new office space development for Vinci Construction, which will become the new Volkswagen Financial Services headquarters. In the high profiled contract the business is undertaking the full façade with works including the supply and installation of the SFS framing, ACM panels and the Schuco curtain walling and glazing. “There are several different cladding types and materials being used and we are incorporating some unusual twists and turns into the design,” points out Martin.

The complexity of the project highlights the flexibility of the business that works frequently with Berkeley Group on developments across London, and is supported by a portfolio of work across all areas of the UK. Discussing the market Martin points out: “The market is gearing towards cladding, and growth of the industry is continuous as the choice of architects to design new builds with such façades really reflects the lack of bricklayers in the industry since the end of the recession. In contrast, the expanding market has resulted in us taking on apprentices year-on-year, in the factory, on-site and in the office.

“We are looking towards the further development of our manufacturing side. We manufacture our own support bracketry and pressed aluminium requirements such as copings, cills, louvres, brise soliel, flashings, etc in addition to undertaking the full on-site production of windows, curtain walling in aluminium, timber-aluminium-composite and steel. By opening up a new facility very close to our existing factory, we can get more capacity for manufacture as well as additional space for the increased fabrication demand.”

The forward-thinking business continually addresses opportunities to grow and develop by increasing the services it is able to offer. “There are several areas to branch into, from powder coating to balconies to balustrades or roofing. Our clients recognise the experience we have in the industry, built upon the core knowledge of the management that have years of experience, and by offering to our customers a complete in-house service they are comforted by our history of attention to detail,” concludes Martin.

LSC Façades

Products: Specialist façade contractor

6 October 2014 Admin 5 min read

Insights