The design of the architecture is unique, and only achieved through the simultaneous use of Mechslip and Ibstock’s Ivanhoe Cream Original brick slips. Usually 28mm as standard, 48mm brick slips were included on the civic centre’s façade, creating a series of projecting stack header bonds to relieve the building of any undesired flat-looking aesthetics. This also enabled the creation of a 20mm cavity between the building structure and façade, allowing airflow for the building to breath and generating an improved u-value you wouldn’t otherwise achieve through brickwork alone.

Furthermore, Mechslip’s use enabled an impressive number of architectural design iterations across the façade, including standard structured bonds, vertical structured bonds, vertical structure reveals into windows, and protruding vertical stretcher bond columns. The detail of architectural design on display at the Thurrock Civic Centre continues through the use of splayed window reveals, but at 45 degrees opposed to the usual 90, to help generate a sloping feature. Together, these techniques amounted to an aesthetically pleasing architectural façade that stands out from its surrounding buildings.

This architectural triumph that is the Thurrock Civic Centre, so important to the area, can be seen as the desired milestone in the regeneration plans, setting the standard both architecturally and practically, for future developments. Of course, this was achieved thanks to Ibstock, and Ash and Lacey’s adaptable mechanically fixed brick slip system, Mechslip, and the use of real Ibstock brick slips, that combined, afford architects an unrivalled variety in design possibilities alongside quality and performance.