Metal Technology Ltd

The extraordinary, purpose built SuperLab in Oxford provides much needed lab space and fantastic facilities for the next generation of science entrepreneurs and innovators. The new state-of-the-art building is located close to the city centre and the university, which spins out around 15 science firms a year. Created and built by Oxford-based Robin Swailes Design and Development, the SuperLab offers almost 7,000 sq ft of accommodation for up to 84 staff and blends contemporary design with the latest efficiency features while meeting the needs of the modern workforce. The building is made of 95 per cent recycled aluminium and features a grey water system using collected rainwater to flush the toilets, thermal efficient panelling, air source heat pumps and solar panels to minimise its carbon footprint and keep running costs as low as possible. Metal Technology Ltd supplied a range of its high-performance glazing products for this unique development via approved fabricator Alternative Windows. Products used were: System 17 Curtain Walling, System 5-35Hi Tilt Turn Windows, System 4-35Hi Fixed Casement Windows and System 10-35 Thermally Broken Commercial Doors. Curved walls, round windows and open ceilings create a sense of space and wellbeing, topped off with advanced acoustics, quality finishing touches and a playful interior. The result is an inspiring and design-focused workplace that encourages collaboration. Outside, a roof top recreation area provides space for al fresco meetings, eating and drinking with views over Oxford’s Dreaming Spires. A fantastic project to have been involved in, which ultimately encourages young and innovative science pioneers to stay and further their career on home soil.

The £60.5m education campus project comprises four new education buildings: Winchburgh Academy – a 660 pupil non-denominational secondary school, Sinclair Academy – a 660 pupil denominational secondary school, Holy Family Primary School – a 231 pupil replacement primary school with nursery and a shared community sports block.Delivered by Morrison Construction for West Lothian Council and its development partner, Hub South East Scotland Limited, the project was built in response to a significant new housing expansion in the area. Metal Technology Ltd performed an intrinsic technical role in the collaborative design approach with both Ryder Architecture and JM Architects, supplying its high performance range of architectural glazing systems via approved fabricator Albann Limited. Metal Technology products installed were: System 17 High-Rise Curtain Walling, System 5-35Hi+ Tilt and Turn Window, System 4-35Hi+ Casement Window, System 5-20DHi+ Doors and System 22 Brise Soleil. Two of the buildings have been shortlisted in the Scottish Property Awards taking place in February 2023 – Winchburgh Schools Campus is a finalist for Development of the Year while Winchburgh Sport and Well-Being Hub is a finalist for the Architectural Excellence Award. An impressive scheme to have been involved in, delivering brilliant new educational facilities for the young people of Winchburgh. Well done to everyone who contributed. (Photography – Cadzow Pelosi)

The £29m South West College in Enniskillen, designed by Hamilton Architects LLP and built by Tracey Brothers Ltd, is the first building in Ireland to be designed to Passivhaus Premium Plus standard, delivering an average project façade u-value of 0.8w/m2K. The 8,000sqm education and community facility is situated on the prime site of the former Erne Hospital and won the 2021 BREEAM Official Public Sector Project – Design Stage Award.Amongst the most environmentally friendly buildings in the world, the Erne Campus has been recognised as a UN Centre of Excellence for High Performance Buildings. The project has joined 25 other buildings around the world as an exemplar of green construction.Metal Technology Ltd assisted approved fabricator and installer, D & K Architectural Systems Ltd, with thermal modelling of the screens and interfaces to ensure the façade’s systems complied with the stringent design requirements, using triple-glazed System 17 Curtain Walling, System 4-35Hi+ Thermal Casement Windows, System 5-35Hi+ Thermal Tilt & Turn Windows, System 5-20DHi+ Thermal Heavy Duty Doors and System 22 Brise Soleil.A challenging and rewarding project for all involved, we’re extremely proud to have played a key part in bringing this state-of-the-art, carbon zero building to life – an exemplar in sustainable innovation and design.

Castlebrae Community Campus officially opened its doors in Spring 2022. The new 700 capacity secondary school, which has the potential to be increased to 1,200, was constructed next to the East Neighbourhood Centre and Library (a project Metal Technology also delivered for Hub South East Scotland).Designed by JM Architects and delivered by Morrison Construction, this fantastic new building for The City of Edinburgh Council provides an exciting, inspirational and creative learning hub for the community. It forms one of the final pieces of a 20 yearlong regeneration project to improve housing stock and community facilities in the area. The development was very much a collaborative design, with numerous workshops and meetings to engage the community in the process.The relationship between the interior and exterior of the building was crucial, developing a holistic approach to improve the learning, attainment and health and wellbeing of the community. Metal Technology Ltd supplied its System 4-35Hi+ top hung windows, System 17 curtain walling, System 5-20D Hi+ doors and System 23 louvres and were manufactured and installed by approved fabricator Avtek Ltd.The project has been shortlisted for the following awards: Pupil/Student Experience and Inspiring Learning Spaces at the Education Estates Awards taking place on 18th Oct and Inspiring Learning Spaces at the Learning Places Scotland Awards taking place on 15th Nov.Word has it that the pupils are greatly enjoying and benefiting from their wonderful new learning space and environment – what it’s all about! We’re delighted to have been a part of this build for the Craigmillar community.(Photography Credit – Cadzow Pelosi)

Construction of Wolverhampton’s eye-catching modern office development i9 has been completed and marks a major milestone in the creation of a thriving commercial quarter at the heart of the city’s award-winning Interchange. The i9 project follows the success of the i10 complex on the opposite side of Railway Drive in the city centre. Both have been delivered by the council and leading property developer, Ion.Designed by Glenn Howells Architects and constructed by GRAHAM Group, the eye-catching i9 building pays homage to the industrial characteristics of the city’s red-brick Victorian architecture. Approved fabricator APiC UK Limited installed Metal Technology Ltd’s System 17 Capped 50mm and System 17 SP structurally glazed Curtain Walling. Opening vents are System 4-35Hi+ Casement, with System 5-20D Hi+ THERMAL Doors and 10-35 commercial framing system.i9 is already home to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government – the first ministerial office with a regular presence outside London.The new office achieves a BREEAM ‘excellent’ rating and incorporates the latest green technology and thinking to deliver low energy use, low resource use, flexibility and low impact on the surrounding environment. It is the first office in the Black Country to be awarded WiredScore Gold certification in recognition of its digital connectivity and infrastructure.

Transformation of a 1960's office block to a state-of-the-art student accommodation. Metal Technology’s System 17 Silicone pointed and High Rise curtain walling was used extensively thought-out the project. The end result is testament to System 17’s limitless flexibility and aesthetic appeal whilst meeting all structural requirements and delivering high levels of thermal and weather performance

The new three storey Madras College on the outskirts of St Andrews opened its doors last Autumn, bringing together 1,450 pupils into one single-site secondary school with 15,320sqm of new facilities, including outstanding sports provision. It’s fantastic to see these shots of the build glistening in the autumnal sunshine. Designed by AHR of Glasgow, and delivered by BAM Construct UK for Fife Council, the project incorporated Metal Technology Ltd’s high-performance curtain walling, windows and doors through approved fabricator Avtek Ltd. The college has achieved a ‘Platinum Standard’ sustainability level, measured against Fife Council’s own ‘Sustainability Checklist’, exceeding BREEAM standards. The landscape strategy incorporates the protection of biodiversity, through planting native trees, grassland and wildflowers.

Metal Technology products have been used to give a stunning facelift to an office building on London’s Edgeware Road. The refurbishment design by Architects AWW (Atkins Walters Webster) specified a high performance façade system engineered to reduce air leakage and exceed current insulation values. Commenting on the scheme, project architect Mark Alker Stone said: “AWW is refurbishing this prominent building to provide a contemporary building as a new landmark within Colindale that benefits the local area in terms of its architectural quality, energy performance and contribution to Edgware Road.”

Metal Technology has contributed to achieving the desired aesthetic for the flagship Leeds College of Building Campus designed by Fuse (Leeds). The scheme utilised Metal Technology’s System 17 High Rise capped curtain walling and incorporated manual and automatic 4-20Hi+ casement opening vents. System 5-20D Hi+ doors completed the range of products used. These systems combined to deliver complete design flexibility, achieving not only a very high level of thermal performance, but also exceptional structural, security and acoustic performance. All Metal Technology systems comply with the latest British Standards and are Secured by Design certified.

The landmark Health Innovation One building is an innovation hub offering co-location space for external organisations as well as being the new home for Lancaster University’s Medical School and Division of Health Research. The space is designed to encourage collaboration, where external organisations can draw upon the University’s expertise to address significant health challenges and improve health and wealth outcomes in the region and beyond.Architects John McAslan + Partners sought to realise the University’s ambition to establish itself as a major international presence in the field of Health and Medicine through the design of this new HIC. JMP’s campus masterplan will bring together businesses, the NHS, students and academics from a broad range of disciplinary backgrounds. Central to this campus is the Innovation Hub, representing phase one of the development.The scheme comprises a café, quiet reading areas, private meeting rooms, open breakout zones and a business lounge for more formal conversations. Close consultation with the University’s Faculty of Health and Medicine has resulted in a scheme that offers maximum flexibility, the promotion of interdisciplinary working and collaboration, the provision of exceptional working and learning environments, and a holistic building design that is sustainable and energy efficient, targeting an ‘Outstanding’ BREEAM standard.To achieve this performance for the £3M glazing package, fabricator Alucraft working to main contractor BAM Construct, utilised Metal Technology’s System 17 Curtain Walling in a bronze anodised finish and from our Thermal ranges, System 5-20D Doors and 5-20 windows.

The new Dunfermline Learning Campus will incorporate the relocation of a college and two schools: a new Fife College Halbeath Campus, St Columba’s RC High School and Woodmill High School. Due to open in 2024, the 55 acre, circa £220m ‘super-campus’ will accommodate up to 2,700 school pupils and 2,500 college students.Designed by AHR Architects, the high school development is being delivered by BAM Construction for Fife Council and is one of the largest Passivhaus buildings in the world, at 26,666m². The schools form part of AHR’s and Fife Council’s journey to reduce energy use and carbon emissions.Metal Technology has been appointed to supply its ‘next generation’ System 5-45 Hi+ Inward Opening Windows and System 17 Hi+ Curtain Walling. Both high performance products have been purposefully designed to meet the required Passivhaus energy-efficiency criteria and have been approved as Certified Components by the Passive House Institute, with System 17 Hi+ Curtain Walling achieving the highest ranking of A+.Metal Technology’s systems are designed to perform seamlessly together to deliver the desired aesthetic and performance standards. Further products to be supplied for this exemplar campus include System 5-20D Hi+ doors, System 23 Louvres and LV023 Barrier Grilles.

'The Portal' is a new £16 million public services hub in Ellesmere Port, delivered by Vinci Construction UK for Cheshire West and Chester Council. The new facility will be home to more than 500 council and public sector staff, a Job Centre Plus and a Citizen’s Advice Bureau.The building has been constructed with many environmentally friendly elements including solar panels, air source heat pump and electric vehicle charging points. The Portal’s envelope is wrapped at the top and bottom with an attractive, copper coloured metal cladding and a newly formed public realm area will surround the exterior, with bench seating and green landscaped sections.Internally, 'The Portal' consists of large open plan working areas with smaller subsection meeting rooms, break out and kitchen spaces which are present on each level and a main central staircase for circulation.Metal Technology Ltd supplied its 10-35Hi+ commercial entrance doors and System 17 capped curtain walling for the large, glazed sections of the build to approved fabricator and installer RED Systems Limited.Due to open its doors in Spring, it’s fantastic to have been involved in this state-of-the-art, commercial project, which is a catalyst for the wider Ellesmere Port Town Centre regeneration master plan.

Some recent shots of “Silk Mill”, the new purpose-built Novel Student Accommodation in Fountainbridge, Edinburgh – looking fantastic against a crisp, blue sky! Metal Technology Ltd supplied a range of high-performance architectural glazing systems through approved fabricator Avtek Ltd.The project was designed by Fletcher Joseph Associates and delivered by Watkin Jones Group. The building contains 225 rooms and includes a variety of recreational facilities to enhance student living, including a breakfast bar, gym, karaoke and gaming rooms and designated areas for dining and studying.

A beautiful combination of old and new at this Grade A office development in Manchester’s vibrant Northern Quarter. Tribeca House was designed by Falconer Chester Hall and delivered by Barnfield Construction. The original building suffered significant fire damage back in 2007 and Kamani Property Group had the surviving façade restored and sensitively combined with its new, adjoining development.A modern take on the architecture of the Northern Quarter, the new building complements the red-brick façade of the original building. Through AGF, Metal Technology Ltd supplied its high performance curtain walling systems which had a feature that enabled an interface with the striking COR-TEN (steel) vertical feature fins. The 7 storey commercial development includes high quality office and retail space, bringing further regeneration to this dynamic area of Manchester.Metal Technology products used were: System 5-35Hi Tilt Turn Windows, System 10-35 Thermally Broken Commercial Door (roof terrace), System 17 HR High Rise Curtain Walling and System 17 SP Silicone Pointed 17 High Rise Curtain Walling.We’re very proud to have been involved in this one!