Opened in June 2014 of this year by Her Majesty the Queen, Heathrow’s new Terminal 2 has been regarded as a “Perfect example of cutting-edge technology, to improve the passenger’s journey and experience and to produce stunning architecture that further reinforces Heathrow's reputation as a world class airport." by Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin.
Stunning metal finishes are the norm at the new terminal, with the giant aluminium-clad Slipstream sculpture as its spectacular centerpiece.
But even the more functional elements of the terminal meet high aesthetic standards. A team from Wheelabrator Impact Finishers has just provided shot peen finishes for information “monoliths” dotted around T2B. The pieces were commissioned by Lee Warren Fabrication & Design Ltd, a specialist subcontractor who provided a lot of the architectural metalworking for T2B.
The finish is popular with architects specialising in public realm projects – for its visual appeal, but also because it’s low maintenance and less susceptible to showing up finger marks than brushed stainless steel finishes.
Wheelabrator Impact Finishers has undertaken an impressive variety of architectural work, including the specialised shot-peened finish of stainless steel cladding at London’s Wood Lane Underground Station, 1,500 sqm of precision-treated stainless steel at London’s Paddington Station, and the shot-peened surfaces that contribute to the bold architectural design of the Giant’s Causeway Visitor Centre in Northern Ireland.