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The
new headquarters of the Diageo Group, the parent company of Guinness,
is the first of nine buildings to be constructed at the First Centre Business
Park at Park Royal in London. The building, designed by architects, RHWL,
incorporates glazing systems from Pilkington
Architectural and has been designed to form a gateway to the
park, which is undergoing a massive redevelopment to revitalise the estate
into a world class centre of business enterprise.
The building comprises six storeys of office space either side of a full
height glazed street with basement parking.
For the north and south elevations, Pilkington supplied its double glazed
Pilkington Planar™ architectural glazing system. Pilkington Planar™
is a totally frameless concept that makes use of stainless steel countersunk
bolts to connect the glass to the mild steel bowstring trusses, supplied
and erected by Pilkington’s customer, Portal UK Ltd. When installed,
the bolt fittings finish flush with the external glass surface, creating
a smooth external appearance with no unsightly protrusions to the exterior
layer of toughened heat soaked, solar control glass. This versatility
allows the designer unprecedented freedom in the design of support systems.
For the canopy, Pilkington Planar™ was also specified with laminated
glass. As no exterior framing was required, this eliminated the possibility
of future leaks or maintenance problems. According to architect, Jane
Hilling of RHWL, the overall finished result is very pleasing. ‘It
looks extremely good,’ she says. ‘It was a joint decision between
ourselves and Portal to use the Pilkington Planar™ system. We put
up the design drawings and Portal devised a solution that accommodated
the design requirements. The most obvious option was the Pilkington Planar™
glazing system.’
When finally complete, the building will provide 18,750 sq. m of high
quality office space. Scenic lifts and feature stairs straddle the bridges
linking the office floor plates to make the Diageo headquarters an innovative
and aesthetically pleasing place of work, both internally and externally.
Web: http://www.pilkington.com
Duraflex
Suits All Shapes and Sizes
Regional
developer, Knowsley Homes, has specified PVCu windows from the Duraflex
Diamond Suite for an attractive new development near Manchester. The recently
completed luxury apartments incorporate curved feature windows as part
of a striking architectural design. lnstallation on site was undertaken
by new build specialist, New View Window Systems of Wigan, while long-standing
Duraflex customer, Norvik, fabricated the units.
The
exclusive development consists of a nineteen properties constructed to
an exacting specification throughout. The choice of high performance PVCu
windows from Duraflex reflects the developer's commitment to providing
energy efficient new homes that comply with the latest building regulations.
lndependent testing approved by the BBA show that both 65mm and 70mm Duraflex
profiles achieve U-values significantly lower than even the proposed standard
under Document L of 1.8 W/m2K.
All 114 windows supplied for the project were fabricated by Norvik from
Duraflex 65mm bevelled profile in a brilliant white finish. The special
feature windows add interest to the building's three-storey facade and
consist of a series of round windows together with a large arched window
approximately five metres tall in the spacious stairwell. To improve sound
insulation, some windows facing the road have been fitted with acoustic
glazing.
Duraflex has played a key role in helping Norvik develop its new build
product and service capability, alongside the fabricator's continuing
commitment to all its customers. From just a few local contracts, Norvik
now deals regularly with more than 20 major developers and this growth
is gaining momentum all the time.
Commenting on the project's successful completion, Kevin Seddon, Proprietor
of New View Window Systems says, 'The quality of the windows complements
the exacting standards of the development perfectly. And thanks to excellent
support all round, we were able to complete the contract on time and within
budget.'
Contact: Neil Roberts
Tel: 08705 351351
Email: mailto:duraflex-info@cdw.co.uk
Web: http://www.duraflex.co.uk
Celsius
Glazed Installation for K2 Fabricator and Installer
When
one of the works managers of ICI wanted his original timber conservatory
to be enhanced with a modern day, wood-grain conservatory, K2
fabricator Crest Conservatory Roofing Systems Ltd, and installer Shire
County Conservatories rose to the challenge.
Based
in Bridgend, Crest has been a fabricator of the K2 Conservatory Roof System
for the past three years and is respected for the company's ability to
design and fabricate large span and complex structures.
Whilst Crest's customer, Shire County Conservatories, a new name within
the industry, has over the last year made its mark within both the trade
and retail markets for its competence in installing an array of prestigious
conservatories.
Both companies were jointly involved with the design and specification
of products for the project, taking into consideration the customers requirements.
As well as being a works manager at ICI, the homeowner used to be an energy
advisor for the Energy Conservation and was keen to place emphasis on
the requirement for an energy efficient conservatory.
The result, a wood-grain conservatory extension featuring a wide facet,
three-fronted 6.5m Victorian, with a projection of 3.150m, which utilised
the K2 Conservatory Roof System, K2 Glass Ltd’s Celsius+ glazing,
and a selection of sensor and manual vents.
Celsius+ glass was chosen to glaze the conservatory, because of its capabilities
which allow for better energy efficiency, through its ability to reflect
heat back into the home in winter, whilst reflecting it in the summer,
improved sound reduction, reduced glare, an easy clean coating and longer
life span.
Crest: 01656 745185
Shire County Conservatories: 01989 730203
Rankins
Secures Magistrates Court, St Peter Port, Guernsey
Rankins
(Glass) Co Ltd
has recently designed, manufactured and installed a structural security
screen within the Magistrate's Court on the Channel lsland of Guernsey,
for the States of Guernsey Board of Administration.
The brief was to provide a frameless glass security screen between the
public gallery and main court area, protecting the court personnel from
attack. The installation includes a frameless screen to the dock providing
both containment, and protection to court officers, but not obscuring
the vision of the presiding court officials.
Guernsey's Heritage Board had certified as a listed building both the
interior and exterior of the Magistrates Court building. so any alterations
or construction works must be on 'stand alone basis', and not affixed
to the fabric of the building.
The division between the public gallery and court was created by a structural
screen made up of l5mm clear toughened float glass to form a continuous
fixed glazed element across the court, approximately 8,300mm wide x 2,900mm
high to the existing floor to court area. The construction comprised of
nine panels incorporating single 800mm wide sliding door manufactured
from 12mm clear toughened glass, manually operated by a160g Haffle system,
complete with locking mechanism and top and bottom rails.
Fixed glass panels supported with 300mm wide x full height fins manufactured
from l9mm low iron toughened float using stainless steel fin housings
top and bottom, together with lOOmm high continuous stainless steel clamping
mechanism to floor. Each glass edge polished with butt joints silicone
seals.
The dock area screen constructed from 12mm clear low reflective glass
to form a continuous element along one long and one short side of the
area, approximately 5,200mm overall length x 600mm high. above the existing
timber balustrade. The glass formed four panels supported by cantilevered
stainless steel supports with bottom rails positioned centrally over existing
timber balustrade, with vertical butt joints siliconed.
Tel: 020 7729 4200
Email: mailto:info@rankinsglass.co.uk
Web: http://www.rankinsglass.co.uk
50
Years on and 'Steel' Going Strong
When
Mr and Mrs Stephen Fry decided to replace the steel windows and leaded
lights in their newly acquired house in Haslemere, Surrey, they had no
idea that the work would be carried out by the same men who installed
the original windows 50 years ago. But that was the remarkable story that
unfolded after they placed an order with local company Clement
Windows Group Ltd. Two members of the team, Roy and Peter Clement
(Snr) were young trainees when they fixed and glazed the windows back
in 1953. The house had been built for private sale by Mr Rhodes, a local
developer whom Clements supplied windows and glass for during this period.
The story doesn't end there - the two other men working on this project,
George and John Saunders, who have both worked at Clements for over 30
years, remember it was their late father John Saunders (Snr) who made
the genuine leaded lights. These are now being replaced with the latest
double glazed replica EB24 steel windows. Mr Stephen Fry, who is delighted
with the finished job, couldn't believe Roy when he told him, and said
'how many window firms are there in the country that can boast a wonderful
tale like this?'
The Clement family can trace its association with the window and glass
business back 150 years to Thomas Edward Clement (great-great-grandfather
of the current Directors) who was a glazier's apprentice on the Crystal
Palace constructed to house the Great Exhibition of 1851.
Web: http://www.clementwg.co.uk
Diners
at the Sheesh Mahal, a new Indian restaurant and nightclub in Ellesmere
Port, will feel like royalty when they eat in a ‘Glass Palace’
designed and built by WT Windowstore Ltd, using the Wendland
Styal roof system.
The
Sheesh Mahal – which actually means ‘glass palace’ in Hindi
- is based on a well known former pub built in the 1960s. The building
has been totally remodelled and renovated, featuring the restaurant and
a piano bar on the ground floor, with a nightclub upstairs.
The completed result is an impressive ‘B’ shape glass structure,
which has been constructed alongside the existing building and comprises
three linked conservatories, two Victorian and a lean-to in the centre.
The new conservatories provide additional seating for up to 100 people,
with the lean-to acting as the main entrance to the restaurant from the
road. The roof is designed with a 270 pitch to ensure maximum space and
comfort for the diners and features a complementary box gutter.
The contract also included a separate 5m x 6m Edwardian style conservatory
built inside the ‘L’, which enables access from the other side
of the building. This offers an ideal place to relax with pre-dinner drinks
or for customers using the take-away service. Each of the conservatories
is finished in clean white PVCu and the glass roofs feature low-e glazing
with an attractive and functional anti-sun bronze coating.
W & T Glazing manufactured and installed the conservatory, with assistance
from Wendland’s technical team in the design of this complex structure.
William Griffiths, Director of W & T Glazing believes that the Wendland
Styal system made the design possible without the need for additional
strengthening: ‘Large glass roofs like these require strong support
from the roof structure. Styal’s reinforced Rafters provided the
necessary strength and rigidity without having to resort to unsightly
additional reinforcement.’
Originally a glazier and then expanding into window fabrication, W &
T Glazing began selling conservatories in 1993 and currently supplies
between 10 and 15 a month. The Sheesh Mahal is one of the largest contracts
undertaken by the team: ‘Although this was a challenge, we do a lot
of commercial work and our reputation in this field certainly helped us
win this prestigious contract. Wendland’s support also proved invaluable
in getting the job completed on schedule,’ commented Mr Griffiths.
More information on W & T can be found on the company’s website
http://www.wtwindowstore.co.uk.
Tel: 08706 009600
Email: mailto:wendland@cdw.co.uk
Web: http://www.wendland.uk.com
'Added
Value' Reaps Rewards for All in Anglesey
When
developer AO Roberts decided to build
a select estate in Anglesey, he offered more than just the bungalows -
the option of a conservatory.
In
partnership with Ad Hoc PVC-U Installations Ltd, based in Flint, and Cheshire
Roof Tech, of Cheshire, AO Roberts devised a scheme whereby purchasers
of the bungalows, in Breeze Hill Benflech, could opt for 'extras', including
a conservatory.
As a result, to date seven of the new home owners have chosen that optional
extra, increasing profitability for AO Roberts, but ensuring the quality
and aesthetics ofthe estate were maintained and standardised.
Using the Aztec roof system, Cheshire Roof Tech built the roofs, to which
Ad Hoc added the frames and glass roofs, ensuring each 3m x 3m Victorian
conservatory was commissioned and completed by the time the new owners
moved in.
Tel: 01942 720044
Email: mailto:enquiries@aztecsystems.co.uk
Web: http://www.aztecsystems.co.uk
Faram
Installs Meeting Room ‘Pods’ in BDP’s New Studio in Clerkenwell
Furniture
and partition manufacturer Faram has
just installed nine self-supporting and self-contained meeting rooms or
‘Pods’ at BDP’s new studio in Brewhouse Yard in Clerkenwell.
Brewhouse Yard is constructed from load bearing brickwork with wrought-iron
compound girders and glazed brick internal walls. The ceiling heights
vary on each level with a maximum height of 7.3m on the 4th floor. BDP
wanted to retain the character of the building and create a completely
flexible space with no elements that could be perceived as fixed. The
ceiling heights made it impractical to create enclosed spaces using traditional
partitioning. Faram created a ‘pod’ for BDP as an evolution
from two earlier projects.
The
idea for the pod is a development from ceiling-less enclosures for Foster
and Partner’s Treasury project completed in 2000, then adapted for
BDP’s Jobcentre-Plus projects with the supply of 100 enclosures with
the addition of solid ceilings incorporating lighting and air handling.
For BDP’s studio this has been developed further to provide a glass
ceiling with lighting above attached to external reinforced support beams
and a concealed air-handling unit at the back of each pod. The glass ceiling
panels are hinged so that they can be opened for maintenance and cleaning.
All the glass panels are single glazed and provide the same acoustic privacy
as a single-glazed partitioned space.
The use of glass on one of the walls plus the ceiling allows the pods
to remain a part of the office, spatially defining a meeting without loss
of interaction with other staff. Of the remaining three walls, two are
internally faced with a white-board and projection finish and the other
is internally faced in coloured fabric-faced pin-up for display including
a small shelf to mount boards. Externally these three walls are clad in
a laminate of the same colour as the internal fabric. The fabric and laminate
walls are created in lively earth colours such as terracotta, ochre and
turquoise and visually define the otherwise neutral spaces.
Each pod is entered through a single-glazed sliding door. The pods are
fully demountable and re-locatable and so provide a very flexible solution
for cellular spaces with Capital Taxes advantages. They create private
enclosed 2.5m high spaces with two internal areas: 3m x 3m and 3m x 5m
to be used as meeting rooms throughout the five floors of BDP’s new
studio.
‘We were able to respond very quickly with this project. It took
three months from development through prototype to supply and installation.
We met the challenge of the time-scale without compromising on the end
product, which I think looks great in BDP’s open plan spaces and
does not conflict with the historic fabric of the building’. Says
Dino Pase, Managing Director Faram Ltd.
Tel: 020 7456 9400
The
Milestones Transport Museum in Basingstoke has uses Pilkington
Insulight Insulating Glass Units incorporating Luxaclair® Blinds.
Pilkington Insulight Units were supplied and installed by Pilkington Plyglass,
one of Pilkington Processing and Merchanting's 21 nationwide branches.
The
museum is an historic catalogue charting the development of transport
across the years. It houses a comprehensive collection of transport, technology
and everyday life, displayed in a network of 19th and 20th century street
scenes and discovery areas.
The building is predominantly located underground, with a domed roof and
transparent curtain walling running across the front and top of the structure.
The Pilkington Insulight Units and blinds were specified for installation
along this curtain walling with operation controlled by sun sensors. Because
of the sensitive composition of some of the exhibits, protection from
direct sunlight was essential and the combination of Luxaclair® blinds
and specialist glass from Pilkington offered both the necessary protection
and aesthetic appeal.
The blinds are designed to be integrated into the facade, resulting in
a smooth, high tech appearance. They offer precise light control and adjustable
sunshading and being sealed, require no cleaning or maintenance.
Used here in conjunction with 6.4mm Pilkington Optilam laminated glass
to both inner and outer panes of the double glazed units, the blinds provide
glare control as well as excellent thermal insulation, saving on climate
control measures. This allows easier internal temperature management for
the protection of the exhibits within the museum.
Milestones Transport Museum is the work of award winning Hampshire County
Council's Architects Department, and a spokesman for the council is delighted
with the finished result. 'The benefit of installing Luxaclair® blinds
encompasses a number of key issues, including heightened thermal efficiency
and greater freedom of design for architects and designers. The result
is a protected enclosed space, which has the advantage of light ingress
without the associated hazards.
'
Pilkington Merchanting and Processing UK is the specialist business of
Pilkington, merchanting bulk glass and processed bespoke products for
the industry, and is renowned for the assurance it offers in terms of
the quality of the end product and throughout all stages of the manufacturing
process.
Web: http://www.pilkington.com
SWA Member Makes an Entrance on Winchester Stage
Much
about the beautiful cathedral city of Winchester has gone unaltered for
centuries, but the recent refurbishment and restructuring of its Theatre
Royal has involved one of the Steel Window Association’s
member companies in helping to create a striking new entrance, as well
as supplying other sections of fenestration.
Bristol
based Vista Brunswick worked in close co-operation with Burrell Foley
Fischer, the architectural practice leading the project, at both the planning
stage and during the execution of its complex sub-contract.
One of the key improvements was in moving the main foyer and entrance
to a space on Jewry Street previously occupied by neighbouring shops.
This involved the fabrication of a 3.5 metre high entrance screen which
gives access to the box office, leading through to the theatre’s
newly created three-storey atrium. Glazed with 10 mm laminated glass for
security and safety, the screen is fabricated from W20 sections with Jansen
system components being utilised for the doors. All of the framing members
were hot dip galvanized and finished in a tough polyester powder coat
before being transported to site for Vista Brunswick’s team to install.
The Burrell Foley Fischer Partner in Charge, Mark Foley, comments: 'Glazing
can tend to get pretty hefty and therefore, wherever we can, we prefer
to use steel frames for their slim sections, rather than aluminium systems.
'We have been able to create a new glazed entrance in front of 22-23 Jewry
Street following the theme of the former Georgian shop windows located
in the ground floors of these buildings. A part glazed canopy enhances
the transparency and lightness of this new entrance; while the former
front elevation of the theatre building has been ‘repaired’
by filling in the entrance slot. Steel lined window openings meanwhile
match those of the ornamental openings above.'
Vista Brunswick’s involvement also required the fabrication of more
than a dozen large W20 casement windows to be fitted to the rear elevation
in a new backstage block, plus other Jansen doorsets to replace old emergency
exits.
Having begun life as a hotel and serving as both a revue theatre and a
cinema before closing for refurbishment in 1996, the building was always
limited for space but was saved from demolition by the charitable Winchester
Theatre Fund. Lottery funding and the acquisition of the neighbouring
properties finally made substantial improvements possible.
Tel: 0207 637 3571
Email: mailto:info@steel-window-association.co.uk
Web: http://www.steel-window-association.co.uk
Euro
Design Completes Harrogate Home Refurbishment
Euro
Design,
a Thirsk based window fabricator and installer, has recently completed
its latest substantial housing association project, a five storey sheltered
housing development in Harrogate. Montpellier Court was refurbished throughout
using the Sekura 70 window system from Premier
Profiles.
The
project involved the replacement of 200 timber windows and was completed
simultaneously with new roofing and re-pointing work on the building.
The property, which is owned and controlled by Northern Counties Housing
Association, now boasts new white PVCu windows in place of the previous
brown timber finish, resulting in an attractive look that has transformed
the outside of the building, and brought significant low maintenance benefits.
Nigel Rothery, director at Euro Design commented 'Our experience on this
type of housing association project and working very closely with other
contractors enabled us to complete the work without too much disruption
to the residents, and the end result is a very attractive refurbishment
which has enhanced the overall appearance of Montpellier Court.'
As a result of its ongoing relationships with housing management and local
authorities, and also its small retail operation, Euro Design continues
to enjoy success in the commercial sector.
Tel: 01302 311200
Converted
Water Tower Keeps Clean with Activ™
The
conversion of an old water tower into prestigious new offices in the town
of Hazerswoude-Rijndijk, Belgium has included the installation of 250m2
of Pilkington Activ™ self-cleaning
glass, chosen as the ideal long-term low maintenance solution for this
unusual structure.
Originally
built in 1905, the water tower – to be used as offices by customer
Hoogvliet Beheer – boasts hand decorated brickwork associated with
the turn of the century ‘Waterstaatstijl’ style of architecture,
and also retains a number of other original features. However, architects
Urban Development wanted to balance the authentic style of the original
tower with modern building solutions and, in conjunction with building
contractors J & W Verweij of Boskoop, decided to make strategic use
of glass in the re-design of the tower.
Pilkington Activ™ was first suggested as a suitable solution for
the roof glazing of the project after a representative of Hoogvliet Beheer
saw the product being shown at a European trade exhibition. The company
was impressed with the product and immediately saw the potential of its
use for the project as, having already decided to use glass extensively
in the re-design, Hoogvliet Beheer had become concerned about the costs
involved in cleaning such a large area of glass. The decision to use Pilkington
Activ™ was quickly taken as a logical solution to the problem. Belgian
glass specialist Glashandel Emmery of Barendrecht supplied all glass used
in the project.
The end result is an office building that is both utilitarian and visually
impressive. The cylindrical tower is manufactured from a high reservoir
of ferroconcrete with a flat bottom, supported by a ferroconcrete column
and couple beam frame. Open spaces between these columns and beams accommodate
glazed units within Alupool Producten BV aluminium frames. The lift shaft,
fire escape and roof construction of the new building have all been designed
as contemporary solutions that also complement the subtle outlook of the
tower. The shaft filling is constructed from fully glazed pull load steel
positioned between the pressure columns. Two glazing layers – an
inner and outer ‘skin’ – are used to produce a glass-surrounded
stairwell and partly glazed floors.
Web: http://www.pilkington.com