Sheffield Popular Music Centre. A design problem.........

The building is situated very close to the railway station and close to some of Sheffields “Old Mesters”. Combined with the heavy flow of traffic a high level of airborne contamination deposits on the surfaces, particularly the tops.

The seams of the panels do not run vertically and the rainwater runs across the panels and not within the seam. This can be seen from the pattern of the staining on the panels.

There is also no gutter fitted on the roof edges so that all the deposits on the top get washed down the sides of the building.

No means of cleaning have been provided for to enable gantry's to be utilized.

Underneath the deposits the original polished surface is still in good condition.

This building was cleaned late in 2003 by a cleaning contractor from the Midlands (not by Vecom) and by early 2004 the appearance is nearly the same as before cleaning.