The Role of Colour in the Built Environment
18 Aug 2026
A new community hub is taking shape in the heart of Prestwich, bringing together new homes, retail and green spaces, health and community facilities, a library and a new travel hub.
The travel hub includes a 301-space car park, situated close to an attractive Victorian building in warm reddish brick. The designers wanted the new car park façade to show the same attention to detail as its historic neighbour – and, importantly, to sit comfortably alongside it rather than compete with it.
The façade comprises 632 perforated aluminium triangular panels, each with a deep angled return. Pairs of panels form pyramidal shapes, while occasional single triangles introduce blank spaces and create a more random pattern across the elevation. In addition to the 632 triangular panels, we coated more than 100 cills and flashings.
Choosing the right powder coated finish was crucial. Our client is well aware of the need to think about and decide upon the finish early on in the project stages. With access to an enormous range of colours, textures and effects – and more than 40 years’ experience of architectural powder coating – Powdertech was able to advise on suitable options and provide samples for consideration. Visit the Finishes page on our website.
The chosen finish was a pale copper (8207) with a subtle metallic effect. The warm tones complement the brickwork of the neighbouring Victorian building while retaining the contemporary character of the aluminium façade. See more on our Projects page
The finish is a Qualicoat Class 2 polyester powder coating which will provide excellent colour and gloss retention, weather resistance and corrosion protection.
Pre-treatment
Pre-treatment is critical to the performance of any powder coated finish. Where a component will be exposed to high levels of pollution, we adjust the pre-treatment chemistry accordingly, and an additional primer coat is sometimes required. On this project, the aluminium was treated with a chrome-free titanium zirconium pre-treatment with a high etch rate. You can find out more on our Pre-treatment page.
Design considerations
Good design is just as important. Well-considered details ensure edge-to-edge coverage without thinning, avoid the Faraday cage effect, where powder struggles to reach recessed areas or internal corners, and provide suitable hanging points for jigging. We cover this in our Design Guide, and we are always happy to advise at the start of a project.
Application
The final coating demands the same attention to detail. On this project, we took particular care to achieve complete coverage around and inside the perforations, and across every face and edge of each panel. This matters in a car park setting; although the environment is classified as C3 Urban, a façade can still encounter locally concentrated pollutants.
For architectural powder coating, specifying the right finish involves much more than selecting a colour from a chart. The location, exposure to pollutants, durability, texture and surrounding materials all need addressing.
Powdertech helps architects and designers navigate these choices and we can also offer bespoke shades.
Contact us to discuss your project. We are always happy to advise, visit, send samples – whatever assists you in making the right powder coating choice.
