University of Derby rooftop gets the Kingfisher touch
UK-based manufacturer Kingfisher Louvres has supplied a rooftop screening package for the University of Derby’s new £75m Cavendish Building, providing aluminium architectural louvres that support the building’s award-winning design.
Working closely with client Advanced Roofing & Cladding, Kingfisher delivered 154 metres of KC120 aluminium blade louvres and a louvred double door, in RAL 7015 Matt Grey with a powder coated finish, to screen the rooftop plant equipment on this purpose built seven-storey facility.
Dave Stewart, Senior Contracts Manager at Advanced Roofing & Cladding commented: “We have been working with Kingfisher for several years now and have consistently found that the team offers great support both prior to and after placing an order. As always, the louvres supplied for the new Cavendish Building are of high quality and the team has been a pleasure to work with throughout the project.”
The Cavendish Building is the new home of the university’s international business school and a centrepiece of Derby’s city centre masterplan. Designed by Stride Treglown with CPMG Architects and delivered by Kier Construction, this landmark university project brings together teaching, collaboration and enterprise spaces within a contemporary, sustainability‑focused design.
Kingfisher’s KC120 screening louvre system is designed to provide a simple and effective visual screen for HVAC and other plant equipment. The Z-profile blade can be angled upwards or downwards for screening from any angle depending on the ‘line of sight’ or aesthetic requirements of the project. The louvres are mounted on concealed mullions for a continuous appearance, helping to form an architectural feature of the building. In addition to the powder coating used for this project, there is a choice of finishes –natural mill finish or anodised – and they are available in any RAL colour.
To maintain the continuous appearance across the elevation whilst providing essential access, a Kingfisher double-door set was also supplied using the same KC120 screening louvre blade. Kingfisher’s door sets consist of an extruded head and jamb frame, threshold, leaves and furniture. As well as the double door supplied, single doors are also available in any of Kingfisher’s blade profiles and can be supplied as stand-alone doors or integrated into a louvred screen or elevation.
The project has already been recognised at a number of industry award schemes, securing the top prize in the New Building category at the 2026 Derby Civic Society ‘A Brighter City of Derby’ (ABCD) Awards and being highly Commended for Project of the Year at the Constructing Excellence East Midlands Awards 2026. The scheme has also been shortlisted at the Façade Awards UK in two categories, Best New Build – Education Setting and Best Use of a Rainscreen System Using Aluminium.
Kingfisher’s KC120 screening louvre system is available to specify through NBS Source. To view Kingfisher Louvres products on NBS, go to: Kingfisher KC120 Screening Louvres – Visual Screening Louvre System | Kingfisher Louvres | BIM Library.
To find out more, call +44 (0)1773 814102 or email admin@kingfisherlouvres.com.