Alpro at Brewery Square

A £100m regeneration project at a leisure and retail complex in Dorset is using overhead transom closers from Alpro. Brewery Square in Dorchester features a multi-jet fountain, an ice rink and a big-screen television which is used to show films and sporting events. The complex is on the site of a former Victorian brewery whose main building is set to be turned into a four-star hotel and spa. The overhead transom closers are a means of hydraulically controlling the opening and closing of aluminium doors. They are being used at main entrances to Brewery Square as well as on frontages for shops, boutiques, cafes and restaurants. The transom units can have light, medium or heavy spring strengths to suit type of usage, with a 90 degree hold-open option. Transom overhead door closers are designed to be contained within the transom header bar of the door. This concealed operation lends itself to period architecture such as the heritage sections of Brewery Square which date from the 1880s since the aesthetic appearance of doors is left uncompromised. There are 45 shops and terraced restaurants around Brewery Square as well as an Odeon Cinema in the adjoining Dray Horse Yard. The design is by CZWG Architects and Conran and Partners. Future phases of the project by developer the Brewery Square Development Company will include replacement of the old Dorchester South railway station with the UK’s first solar-powered railway hub and a new 400-seat theatre. Downton Abbey writer and local resident Julian Fellowes is campaigning to have the theatre named after Dorchester’s most famous son, novelist Thomas Hardy, who once worked for the original Victorian architects responsible for the brewery building. Keith Parry, Divisional Sales Manager at Alpro, said: “Given the very wide range of applications at Brewery Square, the fact that speed of closure on our transom units can be adjusted is proving useful to the end-user. Transom closers are well suited for installation at heritage sites since alternative options such as spring hinges and floor springs present problems in terms of lack of adjustment flexibility which is crucial for a leisure destination with a wide visitor profile.” The Alpro transom closers at Brewery Square were installed by Cardiff-based Denval Co Limited, a leading fabricator and installer of architectural aluminium systems, curtain walling, windows and doors. The main civils project has been overseen by principal contractor Leadbitter Group. Denval are currently negotiating to secure phase two of the project with the Brewery Square Development Company which is due to start in the spring of 2014