Kawneer's market-leading curtain wall, window and door products feature on University House at the University of Birmingham.
Architectural glazing systems by leading UK manufacturer Kawneer were specifically selected for a £18.5 million extension to the UK's oldest business school for their ability to meet the building's design aesthetic and high-performance requirements.
Multiple
Kawneer products, including two curtain wall systems, two door products
and three window variations, were used by main contractor Morgan
Sindall Construction for the University House project, a gateway to the University of Birmingham's city centre campus.
The
University House building is steeped in history and heritage as it was
originally established as the School of Commerce in 1902. The Grade II
listed Business School building was formerly the first halls of
residence for female students and was converted to its current use in
the 1960s.
The new 3,000m2 extension features Kawneer's AA®110 and AA®100 mullion-drained curtain wall systems with capped and capless mullions as well as AA®100 zone-drained fully-capped curtain wall. The AA®100
system, with 50mm sightlines, was used in all areas with the exception
of two full-height curtain wall screens which featured on the building's
‘social space' characteristic that utilised the AA®110 system with 65mm sightlines.
In addition, Kawneer's series 350 and AA®720 HI thermally-superior entrance doors were used alongside AA®720 HI windows as fixed lights, side-hung open-in inserts and electrically-operated bottom-hung open-in inserts.
Glancy
Nicholls Architects were appointed to design a building that provided a
cellular and multi-occupancy space for the school's academic staff,
with student break-out spaces along with refurbished professional
services, staff offices and enhanced café and catering facilities.
There
were a number of challenges on site with available space as it was
situated adjacent to the original building, surrounded on two sides by
heavy perimeter landscaping/trees and bordered by a formal lawn. Glancy
Nicholls designed and developed a series of offices located around a
central atrium space, with connections back into the existing building
at ground and first-floor levels.
Glancy
Nicholls director Simon Jesson said: "The Kawneer systems were selected
by the sub-contractor to meet the stringent thermal performance
requirements along with the high-quality detailing required by the
planners.
"To
maximise the daylighting the elevation incorporated large windows but
also required user control of the ventilation as well as glare control.
The system was able to provide the aesthetic requirements for
incorporating silicone jointing to minimise the impact of the frame on
the proportions of the windows.
"The
relationship to the brickwork cladding, the stone and the
glass-to-glass corners on the bay windows was managed efficiently with
the necessary trims and recessed details to maintain a clean-looking
façade."
The Kawneer glazing systems were installed by specialist sub-contractor and Kawneer dealer Duplus Architectural Systems.
Simon
Jesson added: "Planning sensitivities were considerable with the
massing of the building required to be sited adjacent to the listed
building without dominating the elevation, but being contemporary with
high-quality materials, in this case multi bricks and an Indiana
limestone cladding system, complemented by the anodised bronze
high-performance windows.
"The
south elevation was a considerable challenge, with projecting bay
windows that allowed daylight and a view of the formal lawn but were
screened to adjacent landowners. The triple-glazed glass-to-glass corner
projecting past the line of the cladding was a key design feature."
He
concluded: "The client is really pleased by the overall look and feel
of the building. The elevations are a contemporary aesthetic which
complement the existing listed building."
For more information on Kawneer products and how they can help benefit your next project please visit www.kawneer.co.uk.
