The cinemas building at Sharjah Mega Mall features 4,500 sq m of Kalzip PVDF colour-coated aluminium standing seam roof. The Kalzip system was designed, manufactured and supplied by Corus Building Systems.

Corus Building Systems is part of the Corus Group (registered in the UK), formed as a result of a merger of British Steel and Koninkliijke Hoogovens in late 1999. The company offers the design, manufacture and supply of Kalzip systems amongst other metal cladding products.

Kalzip, a well-established aluminium standing seam cladding system, has been used globally and developed over the past 40 years.

The product is also available in curved and tapered forms offering architects attractive watertight metal cladding solutions for the most challenging and complex-shaped structures.

"The cinemas roof had to be durable and watertight as per client specific requirement, and Kalzip was the ideal solution," Azad Nouri, general manager for Kalzip Systems Middle East, points out.

"To achieve this," he explains, "Kalzip panels were roll-formed on site at ground level to the specified length of 32 m, lifted by crane to the roof area for installation by a specialist, thereby eliminating lateral joints in the roof."

"Another important aspect was the 21 roof penetrations for services, which had to be watertight. Therefore, pre-welded aluminium soakers were integrated in the roof design to meet this requirement," he adds.

Corus Building Systems' office in Dubai - one of 15 across the world - covers the Middle East region, and offers technical information to consultants and assistance during installation of Kalzip.

Other prestigious Kalzip projects in the region include Nad Al Sheba Millennium Grandstand, Jumeirah Beach sports pavilion and conference hall buildings, Air Show 2000 reception building, in Dubai; the Mohaleb Centre, Health Science Centre and BMW/Rover showroom, in Kuwait; Seef Mall and VIP villas for Le Royal Meridien, both in Bahrain; City Centre in Doha, Qatar; Al Dhiyafa Shopping Mall in Makkah, Saudi Arabia; and Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran, Iran.