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Installation
27 Days: Raided 1 Day: Good As New 4 Days - That's G-Span Structural Glazing
When
Urban Splash converted St Peter’s, one of the oldest churches in
Liverpool, into a modern, sophisticated restaurant and wine bar, G-span
was selected to supply and fit the 3 storey frameless glass façade
for the entrance to the new city centre venue.
Speed was critical and from the original enquiry on the 3rd August the
structural glazing was designed, manufactured and fully installed on the
30th August. The complete façade was made up of 8 single glazed
15 mm toughened glass panels each 1185 cm x 3045 cm with a Portello frameless
glass entrance assembly. All were fixed to structure with the G-span bolting
system.
Then between Sunday 11th and Monday 12th September thieves tried (unsuccessfully)
to break in! In doing so the entrance door was damaged and one complete
glass panel was shattered above the door.
G-span received the call on the Monday, surveyed the damage, manufactured
a new toughened glass panel, repaired the entrance unit and installed
the new panel on Thursday 15th September in time for the official opening.
‘This combination of quality, flexibility and service is behind the
tremendous impact that the G-span system has had on the market in just
12 months.’ Says the company.
All G-span frameless glass structures are produced entirely in-house to
meet the most demanding specifications and have been tested to exceed
CWCT and BS EN 13830 standards and customers have the choice of supply
and fit or supply only. As this recent case study shows supply and installation
can be completed in 4 to 6 weeks and any remedial work can be carried
out within 48 hours anywhere in mainland UK.
Tel: 0151 523 3131
Email: mailto:enquiries@g-span.co.uk
Pilkington
Cleans Up with Activ™ at its Liverpool Branch
When
it came to re-glazing more than 30 windows at its Liverpool branch as
part of a £75,000 refurbishment project, Pilkington
wanted a cost effective product that would not only reduce the need for
cleaning, but would also provide clearer, smarter-looking windows, and
where better to look than to its self-cleaning glass Pilkington Activ™.
‘With
its worldwide success and excellent customer satisfaction testimonials,
Pilkington Activ™ is becoming the first choice glazing product for
many residential and commercial developments; and using its own proven
self-cleaning system to revamp its commercial office further underlines
the confidence Pilkington has in its products.’ Says the company.
Pilkington Activ™ has a dual-action coating that reacts with ultra-violet
rays and rainwater. The ultra-violet rays present in natural daylight
react with the coating to start a photocatalytic process, which breaks
down and disintegrates organic dirt. To further minimise the need for
maintenance, Pilkington Activ™ is hydrophilic which means that when
rainwater hits the surface, it is spread evenly over the pane and, as
it runs off, takes the dirt with it. Compared with conventional glass,
the water also dries off very quickly without leaving unsightly drying
spots.
All of the windows were replaced with double glazed units comprising Pilkington
Activ™ and Pilkington K Glass™, which reduce noise penetration
and increase energy efficiency, in addition to maintaining a 'just cleaned'
appearance.
Commenting on the project, General Manager George Davis said: ‘Pilkington
has occupied the building since 1976 and this is its first major refurbishment.
We are in a regeneration area and there are a lot of improvements going
on locally in anticipation of Liverpool being the European City of Culture
in 2008. Using Pilkington Activ™ for our windows has not only saved
on maintenance costs but is also the best possible way of proving to our
customers that the product works and that we believe in it totally.’
The project also included the installation of a refurbished cutting bench
and renovation of the kitchen and washroom areas. Further redecorating
is planned for later in the year.
Web: http://www.pilkington.com
Deceuninck
fabricator, Dempsey Dyer, is entering the final stage of a three-year
contract agreement with Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing to refurbish ageing
windows and doors as part of the organisation’s Decent Homes programme,
set out by the Government in 2000.
As
a result of the Government’s manifesto – that all homes meet
a ‘Decent Standard’ by 2010 - Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing
was formed during 2002 with the key responsibility of managing around
27,500 council homes on behalf of Kirklees Metropolitan Council.
Having already established a successful partnership with Kirklees Metropolitan
Council for nearly a decade, Dempsey Dyer was chosen as the preferred
partner to carry out the extensive refurbishment programme with a proposed
completion date of April 2006.
During the two years, Dempsey has successfully replaced thousands of windows
manufactured from the Deceuninck 60mm 1800 Series which was specified
to improve conditions for residents by reducing noise penetration and
heat loss while also offering low maintenance benefits.
The properties remained fully occupied throughout the refurbishment programme
that was undertaken by Dempsey Dyer’s approved fitting teams. The
company’s quality of manufacture, effective workmanship and courteous
working methods - working directly from depots to minimise tenant disruption
– resulted in Dempsey well exceeding the 90% tenants satisfaction
survey set out by the Tenants Association. As a result of this satisfaction
report, a letter of recommendation was subsequently submitted to the Prime
Minister’s office.
Director of Dempsey Dyer, Tom Dyer said, ‘Social Housing contracts
are some of the largest and most complex projects likely to be encountered
by window companies and require effective and efficient project management
throughout the whole process. We are delighted with the continued success
we have had with Kirklees and are very confident of future success.’
Dempsey Dyer manufacture 1000 windows per week from the company’s
site in South Kirkby.
Tel: 01249 816969
Architects
Choose Masterframe for Luxury Eastbourne New Build Apartments
Benchmark,
the architectural practice for new build developer Fivewalk Homes, installed
100 Masterframe sashes in a luxury
project in Eastbourne. The Victorian style properties in the Sunnymead
development are valued from £300,000 to £800,000 each. Masterframe's
Heritage range sashes were all made to specification, matching the replacement
timber windows which were part of a refurbishment of existing houses on
the same site.
Benchmark's owner, Andrew MacKelden, comments: ‘From an architectural
point of view, Masterframe's windows are the most attractive and authentic
looking PVC-U vertical sliders on the market - even the bead trims look
like putty. Detailed mullions in the top opening of the sash help make
Masterframe the market leader for vertical sliders.’
Benchmark has been using Masterframe's windows on luxury properties for
five years.
‘When we looked for sash windows we looked at all that was available
on the market as we do with each project, and Masterframe came out on
top for quality, price, delivery, service and specification design. The
project took two years to complete.
‘Using a reliable supplier is vital to meet deadlines. Masterframe
delivers the right products on time, with no damage in transit - the full
package.’
Tel: 01376 510410
Web: http://www.masterframe.co.uk
The
Salvation Army has opened its new, state-of-the-art international headquarters.
Architect Carpenter Lowings had the vision of a welcoming place designed
to be a highly modern building using North East based glass specialist
Romag to supply the glass.
The
open and airy feel is achieved by using large amounts of glass, which
was specified by the architect. Romag's toughened laminated glass was
installed by Dane Architectural onto the roof and walls of the chapel
building. The specification varied in different locations but Romag says
that its expertise in bespoke glass processing enabled the company to
take the variations in its stride. A combination of low iron glass, which
enhances light transmission and reduces the green tint which is apparent
in normal glass, as well as extensive use of Romag's California Series
solar control laminated glass, enabled effective solar control to be combined
with maximum light transmission.
As the Salvation Army's International Headquarters, the building will
act as offices, administration centre, meeting point, chapel and sanctuary.
The chapel where Romag's glass is installed is the centrepiece of the
building. It hangs over the entrance into the public space, radiating
a golden light at night when lit from the inside. Another interesting
feature is that during the day it reflects the image of the sky into the
chapel.
It is estimated that in excess of five million people a year walk between
the Millennium Bridge across the River Thames and St Paul's Cathedral
and will pass the new building. Thanks to Romag's expertise they will
be able to see clearly into the glazed structure, which has already won
two Gold awards in the City of London's Considerate Contractor Scheme.
With the vista of St Paul's Cathedral in the background standing guard,
the stunning glass and concrete structure that is 101 Queen Victoria Street
has achieved its vision of being a welcoming place where people could
immediately feel at ease.
Glass
UK Staircase Radiates Light
When
Barr Architects brought the particularly tricky concept of creating an
internal glass staircase for a three-storey town house in Kensington,
specialist glass processor Glass UK
rose to the challenge to bring the project from design through to completion
in just 10 weeks.
Being
rather tall, narrow and with very little natural light, the architect's
vision was to construct a glass staircase in the middle of the building
which would act as a prism and radiate light and a feeling of space throughout
the house.
‘We approached Glass UK,’ explains Nathan Barr, ‘and by
combining our ideas together with their engineering skills and expertise
in glass, we came up with an outstanding solution that met and exceeded
our expectations. In a lot of properties like this, the central stairwell
is often dark and dingy, so we wanted to remove the existing staircase
and replace it with a striking new one of toughened glass.’
The unique new turning staircase is a complex feat of engineering that
rises through all four levels of the house. Neil Sharda, General Manager
of Glass UK, says, ‘There is no steel in the structure. In fact the
entire staircase is made of glass, including glass risers with triple
laminate glass - three 12mm pieces - and clear toughened laminate.’
Together with the design and engineering support from its sister company,
Metal UK, Glass UK not only helped Barr Architects develop this stunning
and novel glass staircase, it was also able to take the project from concept
through manufacture to installation within the demanding timescale required
to minimise disruption to the owners.
Nathan says, ‘There is not another staircase like this in London.
I have worked with Glass UK and Metal UK on a number of projects now and
I know that if we come up with a concept, no matter how complicated the
calculations and technical details, they will find a way of engineering
it to create an exciting and beautiful result.’
As a specialist in producing oversize double glazed and laminated units,
Glass UK provides bespoke glazing solutions to the architectural and glass
trade industries. Through its parent company LMC, Glass UK can also offer
a full range of design, manufacturing and installation services to support
specific customer needs.
Tel: 01895 629940
Web: http://www.lmcgroup.co.uk
Comar
Aluminium Profiles Used at Ladram
Bay
Comar
Architectural Aluminium Systems supplied aluminium profiles
for the elegant Ladram Bay Holiday Centre. MPS Architectural Aluminium,
a Comar approved fabricator, installed glazed façades for this
complex envelope.
The
proximity to the sea presented several issues at planning stages. The
building is exposed to unusually strong elements and MPS Design Team worked
closely with Comar’s Technical Department to ensure that the correct
wind loadings were calculated. To minimise the impact of coastal elements,
the aluminium profiles were polyester powder coated to a brown RAL colour,
which was marine guaranteed.
The colour was calculated to blend the holiday centre with its natural
surroundings.
The Holiday Centre is sited next to a public right of way and it was the
legal requirement to minimise the potential sun glare. For this reason
solar-reflective glass was installed into doors, windows and window walling,
including the Balcony’s Glazed Barrier.
Comar 2 window walling, Comar’s cost effective alternative to curtain
walling, was used for the striking 25 metre long terrace façade
on the first floor. The semi-circular roof of the façade’s
top elevation, which mimics the shape of the surrounding hills, provides
an unusual feature to the terrace. Comar 2 incorporates casement Comar
5 windows for opening vents. Comar 7 swing doors are hung direct onto
Comar 2 to provide the entrance to the terrace. The same Comar 2 and 7
combination is used to create ground floor entrances and emergency exits.
Because all Comar systems are completely integrated, slim sight lines
are maintained throughout the façade.
From concept to design through to installation Team MPS Aluminium utilised
both in house expertise and the resources available via Comar.
Architect ARA Architects
Contractor FW Carter Ltd
Fabricator MPS Architectural Aluminium
Location Devon
Systems Used Comar 2, 5 and 7
Sapa
Completes £1.5M Social Housing Contract
Work
has been completed on a £1.5m glazing contract for the London Borough
of Camden by Sapa Building Systems’
fabricator, Clivnars.
The project to transform the eight 1930s buildings that make up Ferdinand
Estate involved over 1800 of Sapa’s Monarch thermally broken vertically
sliding windows as well as bottom hung windows and residential doors.
Conscious of the need to preserve the appearance of the buildings the
project was subject to careful scrutiny by the local planning department
who worked with Sapa’s Specification Team and consultants Dearle
and Henderson to ensure the design of the new windows was in keeping with
the overall building design.
The project to replace the windows of all 273 flats took nine months and
involved close co-operation between fabricators, Clivnars, the main contractor,
Concrete Repairs Ltd, Dearle and Henderson and the local authority’s
project team to ensure minimal disruption and maximum on-site security
and safety throughout the installation programme.
Sapa says that its success in securing the prestigious Ferdinand Estate
project is a reflection of the company's widely recognised expertise in
this specialist market. A long-established relationship with Camden
Council meant that the Council could be confident in Sapa’s ability
to work with them through the residents’ consultation process that
is the key to the success of projects of this type and scale. The need
to source and provide suitable samples for planning approval in conjunction
with the glass manufacturers Proto Sealed Units was also of paramount
importance with the project.
http://www.sapagroup.com
A
multi-million pound investment by Newcastle City Council’s first
Private Finance Initiative scheme is the new Heaton Manor School in Jesmond
Park West, Newcastle and one of the largest schools in the North.
Designed
to meet the changing needs and challenges of a modern school, the building
is equipped with all the latest technology and Bovis chose a glazing system
from Senior Aluminium Systems (SAS)
which was installed by fabricators Albann Architectural.
Purpose-built, Heaton Manor’s striking curved entrance comprises
SAS SD manual doors and Part L compliant SPW 600 window system. Classrooms
are also kept bright and airy thanks to the SPW 600 windows which are
used extensively throughout the school.
SAS’ SPW 600 is a high performance casement commercial window and
door system designed to meet the thermal insulation demands specified
in Part L. The range includes fixed lights, top hung, side hung, tilt
turn and overswing windows, as well as single and double rebated doors.
A range of mullions and transoms allows large composite windows to be
fabricated.
The new build also features SAS SMR 900 glazed curtain wall, an advanced
curtain wall system that is designed for site erection to create elegant
façades to the highest industry standard.
With just under 2000 11-18 year pupils, the new comprehensive community
school now encompasses state of the art specialist areas for ICT, science,
design & technology, art, music and drama lessons; and an impressive
new sports hall, gymnasium, fitness studio, tennis and netball courts
and two floodlit synthetic pitches.
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.
Tel:
01709 772600
Striking
Use of Colour for Award-Winning Mixed-Use Development in Glasgow
A
futuristic new residential and commercial development in Glasgow has been
completed, featuring the use of colour and glazing systems from architectural
aluminium specialists, Technal, to
provide a striking contrast to the city’s Victorian centre.
Designed
by Davis Duncan Architects, The Matrix has already won award commendations
in the Scottish Design Awards and the National HomeBuilder Design Awards.
The architects collaborated with the internationally renowned artist Richard
Wright to create a lively and colourful landmark building.
Technal’s MC curtain walling, which is framed by black rainscreen
cladding, carries large 2.4m high panels of glass, and spans the full
height of each storey on the south elevation to flood the living spaces
with natural light.
The glazing specification – 8mm toughened and 8mm laminated glass
– meets the required acoustic performance, and architectural interlayers
in a palette of rich colours were applied to both clear and reflective
glass, which glows vibrantly at night and complements the coloured aluminium
panels during the day.
Commenting on the design, Grant Robertson, Director, Davis Duncan Architects,
said, ‘The MC system has a slim profile and yet is sufficiently robust
to allow us to use large expanses of glass that achieved both the artistic
composition and the functional form we were looking for. We could also
fit doors, windows and insulated panels into the system.’
Technal’s FXi52 balcony doors and casement windows were inserted
into the curtain walling. All the glazing systems were finished in a dark
grey polyester powder coating for a contemporary appearance and were fabricated
and installed by Saint-Gobain Solaglas.
Web: http://www.technal.co.uk
Coalville's
Refreshing Conservatories for Lime Tree Village
Sheerframe
approved window fabricator Coalville Glass & Glazing has started the
latest phase of its contract to manufacture and install conservatories
for prestigious new homes at Lime Tree Village in Warwickshire, one of
the select developments by Retirement Villages plc, using the new Sheerlite
roof system from L.B. Plastics.
Coalville
is producing conservatories for a large proportion of the 150 properties
at Lime Tree Village, which is located close to Rugby between the rural
Warwickshire villages of Bilton and Dunchurch. Exclusive to those aged
55 or over, the village consists of privately-owned two-bedroom cottages,
bungalows and apartments set within a comfortable, tranquil and safe environment.
As conservatories become an increasingly popular option with those housebuilders
that are keen to keep in line with consumer expectations, Coalville Glass
& Glazing has developed an excellent reputation throughout the Midlands
for this aspect of fenestration. The company says that key to this success
is Coalville's use of the advanced Sheerlite roof, which it uses in conjunction
with the Sheerframe 6000 window system, both from L.B. Plastics whom it
has worked with since 1989.
Under its contract with Benfield Construction, the main contractors for
the development, Coalville has so far manufactured and installed 41 conservatories
at Lime Tree Village. All conservatories are a three-facet Victorian style
in a modern contemporary 'hooped' design.
The Sheerlite roof and Sheerframe windows combine to meet the high aesthetic
standard required at Lime Tree Village due to its historic location. At
the heart of the development is the magnificent Cawston House, an Edwardian
mansion that has been painstakingly restored to provide a focal point
for residents complete with restaurant, bar, meeting room, library and
snooker room.
Ray Whitehorn, director of Coalville Glass & Glazing says, ‘With
the homes at Lime Tree Village really setting the standard for quality
in this growing sector of the new homes market, we are delighted to have
been awarded this contract by Benfield.
We have been working in the newbuild market for many years and with our
commitment to quality and the continued support of L.B. Plastics, we fully
expect to keep increasing the number of housebuilders that we work with.’
As one of the UK's first window fabricators to switch to the Sheerlite
roof, Coalville says that it is already very familiar with the benefits
that this advanced roof system offers. ‘As well as providing a wide
selection of style options, Sheerlite is designed to be totally fabricator
and installer friendly, being fast and simple to install and universal
for use with all PVC window systems’.
Tel: 01773 852311
Web: http://www.sheerlite.co.uk
Dame
Gracie's Villa is Revamped with Stylish Steel Windows
A
large residence in a fashionable area of north London - originally built
for one of Britain's best loved singers - has been sympathetically renovated
with a member of the Steel Window Association
supplying W40 windows and doorsets, which keep faith with the property's
original styling.
Dame
Gracie Field's distinctive home in the Frognal area of Hampstead was completed
in 1935 with Universal Suite windows being chosen as the original fenestration.
Seventy years on and SWA member, NSB Casements was called upon to manufacture
new W40 system windows to match the rusting old frames.
The painstaking refurbishment work has been carried out for the new owners
under the guidance of Hatton Garden-based architects, Springett Mackay
Architecture. The main contractor to whom NSB Casements supplied some
25 steel windows and doors was J & Z Construction from The Vale in
North West London.
The partner in charge of the work for Springett Mackay, Matthew Springett,
comments: ‘Although this building isn't listed it is in a conservation
area and is quite unique, having been designed and built for Gracie Fields
during the 1930's in what could be described as 'French Mediterranean
villa style'.
‘The planners were looking for the replacement windows to be in steel
which wasn't a problem as the client was seeking to renovate the place
like-for-like. The house had the original steel windows still remaining,
but they all needed replacing, mainly using the W40 system but switching
to W20 where the turning radius for the curved heads was particularly
tight. The place looks very good now.’
The W40 windows and doorsets produced by NSB were all glazed with 26 mm
thick IG units featuring the use of low-E glass and argon gas filling,
producing a U-value of 2.1 W/m2K.
Tel: 020 7637 3571
Email: info@steel-window-association.co.uk
Metal Technology First Class at Roehampton University
Architectural aluminium systems company Metal Technology and Exterior Profiles was responsible for the design and fabrication of bespoke doors, windows and curtain walling, worth £1.8m, to Roehampton University’s relocated Whitelands College. Architects for the project were Sheppard Robson with Y J Lovell as main contractors.
Metal
Technology was asked on behalf of the architect to develop a number of new
profiles to create a bespoke pod frame for the windows. The architect wanted
these to extend past the line of the window interface and chose a range
of nine different colours to accentuate this feature on several hundred
of System 420 casement windows which are featured on all elevations of the
building. In a bold design, Metal Technology’s System 17 curtain walling and 18-30 polyamide doors have also been used on the 3 storey glazed stairwells which are adjacent to the original Grade 1 listed Parkstead House. The grey/white concrete of the accommodation block complements both the fine Georgian buildings and the contemporary architecture.
Whitelands has maintained its prestigious status by providing state-of-the-art lecture spaces, seminar rooms and laboratories and 304 new self-catering en-suite study bedrooms for resident students. Founded in 1841, it is one of four Colleges of Roehampton University and is near Richmond Park.
Metal Technology, a member of the CWCT and CAB, celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.
Tel: 028 94 487777
Email: mailto:info@metaltechnology.com
Web: http://www.metaltechnology.com