Shopping Centre Atrium Refurbishment - Swindon

The Challenge

A major shopping centre in Swindon was experiencing widespread water ingress through its 2,400m² barrel-vault atrium roof. The glazing system, installed in the early 1990s, had reached end-of-life on virtually all sealant joints. 47 double-glazed units had failed with visible misting, and the internal drainage channels were blocked with 30 years of accumulated debris. The centre remained fully operational with 8 million annual visitors, meaning all works had to be carried out without disruption to trading or public safety.

Our Approach

Our team began with a comprehensive close-quarters survey using rope access, mapping every defect across the entire 2,400m² roof area. We developed a phased programme that divided the atrium into 6 working zones, allowing us to complete each zone fully before moving to the next - minimising the duration of any protection measures below.

All 2,800+ glazing bar joints were stripped back to clean substrate and resealed with high-performance structural silicone rated for overhead applications. The 47 failed glass units were replaced with new units matched to the original specification. All internal drainage channels were cleared, repaired where damaged, and re-graded to ensure positive fall to outlets. Corroded aluminium cappings were treated and refinished, and all perimeter flashings were renewed.

The Result

The atrium has been fully weathertight since completion, with zero reported leaks in the 18 months since handover. The centre management reported an immediate improvement in the appearance of the atrium space, with tenants noting the elimination of water staining and improved natural light transmission through the cleaned and replaced glazing. A 15-year insurance-backed guarantee was provided on all works.