PEARL UCL Research Facility
Synced blackout and large-scale roller blinds for a net-zero research laboratory
Blackout systems for observation labs and 8m high roller blinds installed within a 4,000sqm reconfigurable research space.
Location
Dagenham,
London, UK
Sector
Research / education
Scale
4,000sqm facility, 10m internal height
Scope
Design, supply and installation
Products
Blackout blinds, motorised roller blinds, bespoke blind boxes
Stakeholders
UCL, VolkerFitzpatrick, Penoyre & Prasad
Location
London, UK
Sector
Research / education
Scale
4,000sqm facility, 10m internal height
Scope
Design, supply and installation
Products
Blackout blinds, motorised roller blinds, bespoke blind boxes
Clients
UCL, VolkerFitzpatrick, Penoyre & Prasad
The Challenge
PEARL is a highly specialised research facility designed to simulate full-scale environments.
Observation spaces required complete light exclusion to support controlled testing conditions, particularly within the events laboratory.
Blinds needed to operate in perfect synchronisation, ensuring consistent blackout performance across multiple openings.
The scale of the building introduced additional complexity. The foyer required large-format blinds capable of spanning up to eight metres in height while maintaining smooth and reliable operation.
All systems had to integrate cleanly within a design-led, net-zero building without disrupting the architectural intent.
System Design
Built-in blackout blinds were installed within observation offices to achieve full light exclusion.
All components were concealed within the building fabric to maintain a clean and unobtrusive finish.
Integration
The system was designed for simple and reliable operation.
- Fully synchronised blinds across observation areas
- Single control interface for simultaneous movement
Bespoke Engineering
The foyer required oversized systems beyond standard specifications.
Five motorised roller blinds were manufactured to span up to eight metres in height while maintaining smooth operation and structural stability.
Fabric & Performance
A performance-led fabric specification was applied throughout.
- Blackout fabrics for complete light exclusion
- Reliable operation for repeatable testing conditions
Delivery & Installation
The Outcome
The completed system delivers reliable blackout performance for controlled research environments.
Blinds operate in full synchronisation, ensuring consistent conditions across observation spaces.
Large-format blinds provide effective solar control within the foyer without compromising the architectural scale.
All systems integrate cleanly within the building, supporting both performance and design intent.
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