Windows of opportunity for students

A light and spacious living environment improves productivity, increases visual comfort and enhances the university experience for any student.

This is the case at London Metropolitan University, where students are benefiting from the highest quality in accommodation facilities, with uni_one composite windows, available from Uniform Architectural Ltd.

33-35 Commercial Road in Aldgate, East London, boasts almost 800 of these stylish and highly efficient double glazed windows, where they allow natural light into 300 student bedrooms as well as the kitchen and community areas, the corridors, stairs and landings. Some elevations are made even more striking by floor to ceiling ribbon windows extending over the full 17 storeys of the building, whilst elsewhere windows are used as automatic opening vents with electric and manual operation.

The internal Scot’s Pine timber of these particular uni_one windows is finished in a ‘light oak’ stain, giving student rooms a warm, elegant finish and a natural aesthetic, while the RAL ‘iron grey’ aluminium with RAL ‘pearl light grey’ flashing co-ordinates perfectly with the lighter grey exterior façade of the building.

The uni_one composite windows combine timber and aluminium, allowing students to experience and enjoy the comfort provided by the thermal insulation of the natural wood, whilst the client benefits from an ease of maintenance and longer life, due to the protective aluminium exterior. Those used at Commercial Road are uni_one standard tilt and turn style with a small tilt and turn side window meeting a full-size opening sash at an angle of 123 degrees. This has the effect of increasing the amount of light allowed into the room whilst giving the occupant a more panoramic view.

Selected for its flexibility and capability to meet the site specifications, the uni_one was adapted to have a restricted tilt function and the turn mode also restricted to 100mm to comply with safety requirements, although maintenance staff at the property can override these restrictions if necessary.  

The high technical specification, which required a U value of 1.4 W/(m²K), was easily achieved by the double glazed uni_one windows, which also perform to the acoustic rating of Rw 38 and meet the necessary wind speed ratings. Importantly, the windows were also able to be delivered within the required time of nine weeks.

The many alternative timber and veneer options available means that specifiers and end-users can match the windows to the character and style of the room, while options for the external aluminium range from coloured polyester powder coating in a variety of textures to real burnished bronze and weathered copper finishes.

Project manager Tony Hughes, of Mace Group, explains why uni_one windows were specified at 33-35 Commercial Road: “The product quality, delivery and service levels were all good. The build programme required a series of tight lead times being maintained, which were achieved, which helped to keep the project well on track. Altogether, I was very pleased with the overall outcome.”

Uniform is a global leader in the innovative design and manufacture of high performance composite window systems. Combining the elegance and sophistication of Italian design with the use of sustainable natural materials, Uniform Architectural supplies a product range which answers to both aesthetic and environmental needs.

Using timber from ethically managed sources and recyclable aluminium, uni_one is a long-lasting, contemporary product with high thermo-acoustic values which helps to achieve higher BREEAM and CfSH standards.