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Beaufort
Takes a Well Rounded View
A
spectacular round window in a North London church reflects the versatility
of Beaufort's aluminium system. Part
of the major refurbishment of St Mark's Church in Barnet, the window features
an intricate design based on a traditional Victorian rose window. The
Church's stunning new addition is the work of Approved Beaufort Fabricator,
Quantum Windows based in Corby.
The
architect for this challenging project specified the slimmest possible
profile, so making aluminium an obvious choice. The finished window combines
all the benefits of 21st century design and technical performance without
compromising the original architectural style of the historic Church.
The window's complex circular pattern required extreme precision during
the fabrication process, as Tony Britten, Managing Director of Quantum
Windows explains: ‘The window has a diameter of 2400mm and comprises
four main sections contained within a specially shaped Georgian bar inside
the sealed unit. It was also absolutely vital to cut the curved profile
to exactly the right lengths in order to ensure a perfect circle once
the sections were all connected together.’ The window frames and
bar were all fabricated by Quantum using Beaufort's 70mm Classic Direct
Fix System in a brown powder coated finish.
The £2,500 window has been installed in the eastern end of St Mark's
by the refurbishment project's main contractor, Jarvis. The Vicar, Father
Mark Williams, is said to be delighted with the result and reports a positive
reaction from his congregation.
Beaufort's extensive range of aluminium window and door systems has been
developed to accommodate specific and varied needs across all markets.
The slim sightlines, elegant styling and inherent strength of the Beaufort
system made it a good solution for the window at St Mark's, says Managing
Director, Nigel Yates:
‘Successfully creating such a large, complex window is a classic
example of how much can be achieved with a versatile aluminium system
like Beaufort's, utilising the skills and experience of both ABS in Nottingham
who created the curves and, of course, one of our Approved fabricators
Quantum Windows.’
Tel: 01633 29 40 40
Web: http://www.beaufortsecure.co.uk
New
Century Windows Safely Lands Nottingham East Midlands Airport Contract
Synseal
fabricator New Century Windows has safely landed a contract at Nottingham
East Midlands Airport. The total contract for the offices of facilities
departments Units 33 and 34 included 135 Synseal Shield Windows, five
French doors and a single door.
‘New Century Windows has always been a trade fabricator,’ explains
Robert Cassidy, Managing Director. ‘But recently we have been looking
at getting into contract work. This was the first tender we've submitted
and we were obviously delighted to win the first contract we ever tried
for.’
Tel: 01623 443 200
Web: http://www.synseal.com
Pilkington
Pyrostop Provides Grade I Protection for Historic Bloomsbury Building
Victoria
House, a seven-storey office and retail development, has been completed
in the heart of Central London. The complex, designed by Alsop Architects,
is a Grade II listed building overlooking Bloomsbury Square.
A
major feature of the project are two full height atria with dramatically
suspended meeting room pods, which required high performance, laminated,
full height structural glazing glass.
Alsop Architects also specified Pilkington Pyrostop
for the fire doors and fire fighting cores throughout the building and
fire engineered glazing for the atria, to meet the rigorous safety specifications
of the project, as well as providing maximum visual clarity.
Pilkington Pyrostop provides both the integrity requirements of a barrier
to hot gases, and flame, as well as very effective insulation from the
heat of a blaze in the event of a fire. It complies with precise temperature
criteria defined in European and ISO test standards.
Considering the historical significance of this building, it was ideal
for this particular project.
Duncan Macaulay of Alsop Architects said: 'Our aim for this project was
to refurbish this fantastic building to a high standard, providing a contemporary
mixed-use space, whilst paying respect to the original art deco and neo-classical
finishes. Pilkington Pyrostop helped us to achieve this aim, as it boasts
the strength, transparency and durability needed for maximum safety, together
with a pleasing aesthetic quality.'
Victoria House has been a major London landmark since 1922, when it was
built for the Liverpool Victoria Friendly society. Today, the building
has been refurbished to house a modern seven-storey office space with
ground floor retail unit and fine dining restaurant together with a 41,390
sq ft state-of the art basement gym.
Web: http://www.pilkington.com
Brochure
Convinces Planners that Masterframe Sashes Fit in Conservation Area
York
Vale Conservatories
used 10 Masterframe Windows vertical sliders in a £30,000 new conservatory
to match timber sashes in an Edwardian-style property in Newton-on-Ouse,
a conservation area.
It
took two to three months to finally get planning permission but Jim Casey,
Managing Director of York Vale, was determined. ‘I invited the planners
to the showroom so they could see for themselves the high quality and
authentic details of Masterframe's Classic Range. But the Masterframe
brochure I sent was enough to convince them that the windows would look
good in a conservation area. You really can't tell the difference between
the original timber windows in the house and those on the new white conservatory.
Now we have had approval from the council, other planning issues should
be a lot quicker.
‘This was a big achievement for York Vale. It's the first job we've
done using Masterframe, but it’s one we are proud of and a good advert
for future works. Having Masterframe as an option sets us at the higher
end of the window market.’
Tel: 01376 510410
Web: http://www.masterframe.co.uk
Solaglas
Looks Skyways
Solaglas Contracting North has recently
completed a project to glaze the Skyways development, the new headquarters
for Littlewoods Shop Direct Group in Speke, Liverpool. The project with
a total build cost in excess of £25 million and designed by CDA
Edinburgh & Manchester, was awarded to Shepherd Construction North
West and took ten months to complete.
The project made up of 3 separate developments includes 2 new builds and
the refurbishment of a Grade ll listed aircraft hangar.
Skyways House is a stunning refurbishment of a 1930's aircraft hangar
converted to provide the new headquarter's main office space. The original
entrances have been re-fabricated by Solaglas using Technal MC curtain
wall screens glazed with an outer leaf of SGG tempered solar control glass
and inner leaf of clear tempered glass incorporating a low-emissivity
coating. Access via the north elevation is provided by an all glass, power
assisted, revolving door and glass pass doors operated by card readers.
The south screen with integrated 600mm wide solar control aerofoil fins
by Levolux, provides access to a restaurant via two automatic aluminium
sliding doors.
Skyways
2 provides new build office and storage facilities where Solaglas has
installed Technal MC curtain wall screens glazed with high performance
sealed units. An outer leaf of SGG tempered solar control glass is teamed
with clear tempered glass incorporating a low-emissivity coating.
The east elevation of Skyways 2 has been fitted with an aerofoil 'cap'
designed to provide the required solar shading and to be aesthetically
in keeping with the aeronautical flavour of the overall development. A
facetted rooflight provides natural light to the internal office space
atrium, via high performance SGG Lite-wall sealed units incorporating
a matt white pvb interlayer to minimise solar glare, structurally bolted
to exposed steel roof beams. An all glass, power assisted revolving door
& pass door with touch sensitive handles powered by compressed air,
provides access to the front of Skyways 2. Rear access to Skyways 2 and
entrance to Skyways 3 support building is provided by aluminium and glass
high security, automatic revolving doors operated by card readers.
Project Details:
Client: Littlewoods Shop Direct Group
Contractor: Shepherd Construction North West Limited
Architect: Comprehensive Design Architects
Solaglas Project Manager: Mr Gary Moylan
Providing
a focus for the regeneration of Swansea's Maritime Quarter, the National
Waterfront Museum Swansea has opened to the public, making extensive use
of the Pilkington Planar frameless
glazing system.
This
exciting new landmark for the Swansea waterfront involves the renovation
of an existing grade II listed warehouse building and the creation of
new galleries, which together house artefacts from Wales‚ maritime
and industrial history telling the story of industry and innovation.
Specified by Wilkinson Eyre Architects, Pilkington Planar was the natural
choice for this project as the architects were looking for a powerful,
narrative design to make the museum a key Swansea tourist destination
and landmark for the city.
Pilkington Planar provides a flush glass surface using countersunk holes
and stainless steel fittings to fix back the glass façade to the
structure instead of the conventional framing systems. The result is a
fully engineered system with the minimum of structure and the maximum
visual clarity.
Specialist Pilkington Planar accredited installer, Parry Bowen, installed
the Pilkington Planar system and worked closely with Wilkinson Eyre to
ensure that all technical and visual requirements of the project were
met. Not only does the system provide fantastic visual quality into the
building, but the frameless glass system also creates a stunning exterior
facade that is a welcome addition to this newly regenerated area.
Wilkinson Eyre Architects commented: 'Pilkington Planar worked really
well on this development and met all of the technical constraints of the
project. We needed a glass system that was strong and durable, yet aesthetically
pleasing and sympathetic to the re-development of a listed building.'
Further information can be obtained via the Pilkington website http://www.pilkington.com/planar
or by calling the Pilkington Helpline on 01744 692000.
A
new lively and flourishing community of fashionable restaurants, bars
and apartments has revitalised the Old Brewery Quarter, off St Mary’s
Street in Cardiff, with help from Senior Aluminium
Systems (SAS).
Working closely with fabricator, Alurite Ltd, aluminium systems supplier
SAS provided its glazed curtain walling, windows and doors to give a new
lease of life to the project. The products featured in a number of shops
and restaurants, were chosen for their durability and high performance
qualities.
At
the heart of the high profile city centre development is a cosmopolitan
open air piazza, surrounded by stylish glazed leisure space and luxury
loft-style apartments.
Strips of SW 400 heavier weight windows, specified to be thermally broken
and double glazed, bring a touch of style to the new apartments and SAS
doors open out onto individual glazed balconies. The windows were constructed
using mitred and mechanically crimped corners with support chevrons and
cleats to ensure accurate alignment.
By day, the Old Brewery Quarter is a bustling arena of shoppers and casual
diners and SAS’ SCW curtain walling and windows provide a light and
airy atmosphere. At night, the hotspot comes to life with glazing reflecting
the fluorescent lighting adding a trendy sparkle to the area.
SCW is a proven cost effective solution for low to mid-rise applications
and with a 50mm wide face dimension, the system offers a range of mullion
depths to cater for differing structural conditions.
Independently owned, Senior Aluminium Systems offers a one-stop aluminium
and powder coating service for the architectural aluminium glazing market.
Providing high performance glazing products with a responsive and personal
service, SAS operates from three service centres in Denaby Main, Newport
and Livingston.
http://www.senioraluminium.co.uk/
Clearshield Adds Value at Versatile Glass Company
Recent
contracts for P&M Dabner reflect the added value benefits of Ritec's
ClearShield glass surface protection system, especially on sandblasted
glass. The Kent-based firm specialises in sealed unit production and decorative
glass and has been applying ClearShield in its factory premises for ten
years.
Sandblasted
retail display panels for a leading London store and a glass staircase
with non-slip sandblasted treads are two of the company's latest commissions
to be surface treated with ClearShield as a protection against staining
and discolouration.
In addition to decorative items, conservatory roof units also receive
the ClearShield treatment, leaving the glass resistant to general dirt
and weathering, making it easier to clean and keep clean.
The ClearShield System has been developed by Ritec for the conversion
of high maintenance, unprotected glass into Low-M (Low Maintenance) Glass).
It features a proven polymer formulation that bonds chemically to the
glass, leaving a transparent, 'non-stick' surface. It is ideal for the
type of decorative glass techniques offered by P&M Dabner, which includes
a range of sandblast finishes, acid etching and hand ground backgrounds.
General Manager John Bonney, comments: ‘Sandblasted glass is particularly
vulnerable to stains, such as fingermarks, which are difficult to remove
because of the textured surface. We also produce decorated glass panels
for pubs, which are subject to discolouration by tobacco smoke.’
Glass treated with ClearShield protects against this kind of contamination
and marking and so retains its attractive appearance for longer. John
continues: ‘It also means cleaning time and frequency is significantly
reduced and no harsh chemicals are required, which saves our customers
time and money. And when combined with Ritec's recommended after-care
programme, treated glass can look and perform like new for years to come.’
Ritec's ClearShield system is available in the standard ClearShield Glass
Protect formula, together with specialist versions for different applications,
including ClearShield Sandblast Protect, as used by P&M Dabner, and
ClearShield Shower Protect. Ritec also offers its customers free training,
marketing assistance and technical advice.
Further information on becoming a Registered ClearShield Applicator is
available by calling Ritec on 020 8344 8210 or visit http://www.ritec.co.uk.
Express
Glazing Contractors Halts Elephant and Castle
Parking was not a problem when Express Glazing
Contractors Ltd brought the Elephant and Castle, London to
a standstill as it closed a four lane 'red route' and redirected London
Buses to park a 200 tonne crane, erected by a 37 tonne crane to reglaze
1/4 tonne glass units to the atrium of a Government Building, over 100
feet in the air.
'We
were on site from 5am to 6 pm with 20 men to replace 3 insulated double
glazed units of 3 x 1.5 metres approx. size, each weighing about 1/4 tonne
to an atrium over a Government building. The preparation took over 3 months
to organise road closure,bus diversions,police and council approval.'
said Paul Rogers of Express Glazing Contractors.
'However, the most critical aspect was the weather (we had to make a decision
48 hours prior based on weather reports which are not that accurate),
particularly the wind speed as the crane at over 200 feet in air had a
maximum wind speed above which it could not operate and we had a wait
for over 2 hours when the wind speed was too high and we nearly had to
cancel the works with resulting costs and time.The unpredictability of
the weather and size of crane made this job such a challenge.'
Tel: 020 7619 6900
Email: sales@expressglazingcontractors.co.uk
Web: http://www.expressglazingcontractors.co.uk
Coalville
Delivers the Right Concept for Social Housing
Sheerframe
approved fabricator Coalville Glass and Glazing
has completed the latest in a series of projects for one of the Midlands’
leading social housing developers, as part of a long established partnering
arrangement.
Coleshill-based
Concept Development Solutions, which is a key provider of urban regeneration
projects, affordable and purpose designed sales housing, is recognised
throughout the Midlands for its expertise and innovation. It has just
completed a development of apartments and houses which are for sale on
a shared ownership basis in New Basford, Nottingham for Tuntum Housing
Association, all featuring Sheerframe 6000 system windows manufactured
and supplied by Coalville.
Keith Merrick, Project Director for Concept Development Solutions says,
'We have worked with Coalville for a long period of time and the company
provides an extremely good product and service. The high quality of our
developments has helped us establish an excellent reputation in the social
housing market and the key to our success has been our long term partnering
with suppliers like Coalville.'
'From a production perspective, Coalville helps us hugely. Our site managers
continue to be impressed with the fact that their window opening formers
and completed profiles are always exactly the same – this means the
finished Sheerframe window slots in easily and quickly, saving time and
money.'
The new development completed for Tuntum is located at Mount Street, New
Basford in Nottingham. This provides six 2 bedroom apartments and ten
houses, two of which are 3 storey townhouses. Tuntum specialises in providing
housing and support services for people on low incomes and is one of Nottingham's
fastest growing and innovative housing associations with over 1,000 homes
in management and development.
Darby
Glass Produces some Nice Curves for Hull College
With
its sweeping curved glazing, Hull College's new Faculty of Media and the
Performing Arts is a dynamic example of exciting architectural use of
glass.
The
new faculty in the town's George Street is proving something of a showcase
for Darby Glass and its expertise
in producing curved double glazed units, in this case with silicon edging.
The units, made in accordance with Document L and with a Low E coating,
utilise 6mm Pilkington K and 6mm clear toughened glass. They have been
used in a profile something akin to the famous 'flat iron' building in
New York, called Toughbend™ with the curved units featuring 1500mm
radius pressed bends for better visual quality.
Overall, Darby Glass's Scunthorpe plant produced 53sq.m. of the Toughbend™
curved units - some 1931mm x 2m high and others 2037mm x 2m high. Meanwhile,
a further 350 sq. m. of flat units were also produced at 1886cm x 2m high.
‘This was a really nice job for us,’ said Darby's Technical
Manager, Chris O'Connell, ‘not only from a manufacturing point of
view, where it's good to be able to show what we can do, but also from
an architectural point of view.
‘So often architects can be persuaded that the adventurous route
is not feasible or is too expensive, but in this case DLA Architecture
overcame any cost worries and the end result has proved they were right
to do so.’
From an installation standpoint, James Moss of installers, Commercial
Systems International of Hull, was pleased with the quality of the units
as the installation had to be carried out to a very tight programme.
‘We've worked with Darby Glass before,’ he said, ‘and had
no qualms about quality. Darby had no problem working to an agreed deadline
with the work being completed on time.’
Tel: 01724 280044
Web: http://www.darbyglass.co.uk
Cadogan
Gardens Fitted by D R Services
When
the building at 19 Cadogan Gardens in London required conversion into
28 luxury apartments, D R Services
provided its expertise and product range for the interior fit-out.
The
conversion is in the heart of London's Chelsea area and involved the redevelopment
of a parade of shops, a former chapel, former fire station, car showroom
and workshops, to provide 28 flats of shops and a basement car park.
Cadogan Gardens is a residential development of the highest quality, set
around a landscaped courtyard. The Paul Davis Partnership were the architects
responsible for redesigning the £7.85 million development, which
included a number of retail units on the ground floor. The project involved
the retention of facades to the three buildings plus bridging over a shallow
tube tunnel. The traditional appearance of the late nineteenth century
Victorian building strongly contrasted with the contemporary approach
to the planning and detailing of the interior space.
For the 22 apartments, D R Services supplied sliding door gear for the
foyer and designed and manufactured shower enclosures, with bifold doors
and side panels. Some of the doors were 1180mm for easy entrance, with
some doors on half glass panels with 180 degree fold back.
D R Services specialises in tailor-made frameless glass shower enclosures
which are available with a complete range of clear polycarbonate seals,
towels bars, handles and knobs. The range has been designed for functionality
while providing a high level of aesthetic appeal, qualities that the designers
of the Cadogan Gardens apartments were seeking.
Tel: 01992 447122
Email: info@drservices.co.uk
Daedalian
Glass Panels say 'Thank You' to Donors
The
major donors who helped fund Roxburghe House, a new NHS 21-bed Palliative
Care Unit built within Aberdeen city centre, have been 'thanked' in a
striking manner, via three glass donor panels designed, made and installed
by Daedalian Glass.
Wall-mounted side-by-side and taken as a whole, the panels represent a
montage of the topography of Aberdeenshire. Each one has a base of pebble
shapes cast in heavy Gaffer Glass, a lead crystal from New Zealand. These
feature the names of the three main stakeholders NHS Grampian, Macmillan
Cancer Relief and the Big Lottery and are lit from behind by stainless
steel lightboxes. Depending on the angle of light striking the surface,
the glass appears either pink or green.
Also, set one behind the other and lit from below, are individual sheets
of sandblasted bullseye glass creating a sense of dimension and depth
to the designs that represent heather, fields, trees and finally, mountains.
On each front panel have been sandblasted the names of other donors. These
have been etched into the surface to be clearly legible, but not to such
an extent that they dominate the whole.
The panels were commissioned to recognise the efforts of the numerous
Macmillan Fundraising Committees, supporters and other major donors, including
The Big Lottery and NHS Grampian, who raised the £5.2million needed
for the building.
Daedalian's reputation for using glass in a series of art forms has escalated
in recent years, with clients from a variety of backgrounds contracting
Daedalian to design and manufacture a series of vastly different commissions.
A number of these can be seen on the Projects page of the company's website
http://www.daedalian-glass.co.uk
Roxburghe House is run by NHS Grampian and opened in August 2004 after
less than three years of fundraising by Macmillan Cancer Relief. Taking
a leaf out of Blackpool Hospital's book, where Daedalian was asked to
create a plaque for the same purpose, Macmillan Cancer Relief commissioned
the company to create something for them that was, as Davia Walmsley,
Daedalian's founder and chief designer says : ‘clear, positive and
legible’.
The three panels, which are in the main reception area of Roxburghe House,
complement other commissioned artworks, all of which are designed to create
a restful ambience for the unit.
Commenting on Daedalian's work, Helen Gauld, the Service Manager for Palliative
Medicine and project manager for the initiative said : ‘Throughout,
our relationship with Davia and her team was highly interactive. We built
up a great rapport, which made this particular aspect of the completed
building great fun to be part of.
‘Typically, they understood that this is something we have to live
with for a long time, and it needs to be appreciated by a complete cross
section of patients and visitors. Hence, they produced large work samples
that helped convey what the finished job would look like, which was a
tremendous help and gave us confidence that the end result would be what
we were expecting. Needless to say, the result is stunning!’
Tel: 01253 702531
Web: http://www.daedalian-glass.co.uk
CGI
International's
unwired Pyroguard Stippolyte glass provided the solution when Hanover
Housing Association was looking for ‘modern glass for a modern door’.
Hanover was replacing fire rated front doors at its sheltered accommodation
near Oldham and decided that a wired glass would not create the right
appearance aesthetically.
All 18 flats in the three blocks at Croft Head, Royton, have had new doors
installed from the Homesafe Doors range. Fire rated composite doors now
replace the original doors which incorporated Georgian wired glass and
had been there since the flats were built in 1972. With glass panels both
top and bottom, Hanover felt that an unwired glass would suit the new
look better and Pyroguard was specified cut to size.
CGI's patented process uses a resin which is injected between layers of
glass and which operates as a fire resistant pane with impact safety,
but without the need for wire mesh. CGI's Pyroguard is normally used as
clear, unwired fire glass but is also available as a Satin or Master,
as well as the Stippolyte finish chosen for the project at Royton.
Hanover Housing Association and the residents of Croft Head are extremely
pleased with the results. A spokesperson for Hanover said ‘In a brand
new composite door, we felt traditional Georgian wired glass didn't complement
the look. We wanted modern glass to match a modern door. The doors satisfy
all current fire regulations, the residents are happy with them and so
are we.’
Hanover specialises in the design, development and management of housing
for older people and those with disabilities, and manages over 10,000
rented properties throughout England. Pyroguard has proved so successful
that it may be used again at other Hanover properties.
Tel: 020 7078 6660
Web: http://www.cgii.co.uk
When
Dane Architectural won the balustrade contract for the new head quarters
of the Royal Bank of Scotland, a key element was the provision of specialist
panels from Romag.
Having previously worked with Romag
on a number of successful contracts, the company was Dane’s
natural choice for this prestigious project. The balustrades were part
of a high level walkway and staircase, many of the panels were of a complex
shape and all had holes drilled for point fixing. The designers required
a very high standard both for safety and aesthetic reasons. Romag was
chosen for the job after submitting samples of the company's glass, this
demonstrated Romag’s techniques, which helped to achieve a superior
finish.
Romag worked very closely with Dane Architectural which was the installer
on the project. Romag supplied around 1500 toughened laminated and heat
soak tested glass balustrade panels.
The new building in Edinburgh is now the Bank’s World Headquarters
providing administrative support to its network of branches and is testimonial
to its recent expansion. The whole project now comprises of the main headquarters
for 3500 staff, and associated buildings incorporating leisure, conference
and training facilities and an 80-acre parkland site.
'Once again Romag has demonstrated its commitment and flexibility with
designs in glass, the nature of design means that nearly every project
needs a bespoke solution from the team of experts at Romag, which is probably
why it is a leader in this field,' says the company.
http://www.romag.co.uk/