Birmingham Corporate Office — Draper Motorised Solar Shades
Draper Motorised Solar Shades
2,400 sq ft
South-facing glazing covered
BMS
Integrated — automated scheduling
5% openness
Glare control with view preservation
3 days
Out-of-hours installation
The Challenge
A corporate headquarters in Birmingham's Colonnade office corridor had floor-to-ceiling south-facing glazing across the main boardroom, executive suite, and open-plan floor. The existing manual blinds were inconsistently operated — some windows were always covered, others never — creating an uneven, unprofessional appearance from the street and from within the building. The facilities manager wanted a motorised solution that could be controlled centrally, integrated with the building's BMS, and present a consistent, professional appearance at all times.
The Solution
Solar Busters specified and installed Draper motorised solar shades across 2,400 sq ft of south-facing glazing. The shades were specified in a 5% openness factor fabric — providing excellent glare control and solar heat rejection while maintaining outward views. The motorised system was integrated with the building's BMS, allowing the facilities manager to set automated schedules and override individual zones from a central panel. All wiring was concealed within the existing ceiling void. Installation was completed over three days outside business hours.
Draper Motorised Solar Shades
5-year commercial warranty
Project Gallery
"The boardroom looks completely different — professional and consistent. The automated schedule means the shades are always in the right position without anyone having to think about it. The BMS integration was seamless. Solar Busters managed the whole project from specification to commissioning."