Technal

The £1m centrepiece in the restoration of a historic park in Lancashire has been completed, incorporating innovative use of the MX curtain walling system from Technal. The dramatic sculptural pavilion in Avenham Park was the winning design in an RIBA competition. The building has a strong geometric design, which includes a complex zinc-clad ‘saw tooth’ roof and extensive use of timber, aluminium and glass.

A mixed use development for Leeds Metropolitan University and property group Downing, some of the building’s diversity comes from the expression of the fenestration which encorporates integrated low-energy design. The apparently random patterns were composed to ensure that the vertically modulated cuts provided an orientation-specific balance of daylight penetration and solar gain reduction. The result is a building with irregular sides which maximises natural light without creating overheating.

CZWG Architects MAIN CONTRACTOR: ISG JACKSON PHOTOGRAPHY: T. CROCKER Spearheading an ambitious programme of regeneration, Canada Water Library resembles an inverted ‘ziggurat’ – a terraced pyramid of successively receding storeys – that partly overhangs the Canada Water basin. Finished in bronze anodised aluminium, the MX SSG structural sealant glazing and CD commercial doors have been specified for the ground floor. MX Visible Grid is being used for the strips of curtain walling to the three upper floors, with MX top hung concealed vents and PXi doors providing access to the balconies.

The re-development by Liveman Properties has converted the Dock Office into a mixture of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, with an additional 14 new duplex apartments constructed on the existing building roof. DV Architects, Liverpool, specified Technal’s MX Toggle Glazing curtain walling for the steel frame extension and Technal FY65 windows. Architect Billy Hodge commented, “The Dock Office is a local heritage asset and great care has been taken to make sure that the character of the building is not altered.

Started in November 2015, the latest stage - the centre itself - was recently opened to the public, with work on the final phase recently completed. BAM Construction was the main contractor on the scheme, with architects Mersey Design Group as part of their team. Dortech was the specialist curtain walling sub-contractor. The transformational two-storey glass façade extension was built using 4300m2 of Technal’s Visible Grid and Trame Vertical MX 52 curtain walling at double height; incorporating both glass and spandrel panels.

DEVELOPER: BRISTOL CITY COUNCIL AND PARKWOOD LEISURE MAIN CONTRACTOR: KIER CONSTRUCTION FABRICATOR: GLASSOLUTIONS INSTALLATION PHOTOGRAPHY: LIZ EVE / FOTOHAUS A state-of-the-art leisure centre in Bristol designed by LA Architects features extensive use of Technal’s aluminium curtain walling to help create a vibrant new facility and encourage more local people to participate in sport and physical activity. The privately financed project is also one of the first centres in the UK with a 50m swimming pool to achieve a BREEAM ‘excellent’ rating.

Caton Court, part of the wider Lawson’s Quay site, is currently being built by Eric Wright Construction for the developer Hines UK, while Preston based LDG Contracts is the specialist fabricator which chose to utilise the Technal MX curtain wall and FY65 window systems for the first phase of the project.

Working alongside BAM Construction North East and Glasshus, Technal’s MX Visible Grid Curtain Wall, PY55 Doors, and FY65 Windows were recently specified for The University of Lincoln’s Isaac Newton Building, creating a stunning façade.

The terminal was constructed as part of the London Gateway Project, which also included the construction of Europe’s largest logistics park adjacent to the terminal. DP World acquired the London Gateway Plan in 2006 from P&O for £3.92bn ($7.3bn). The two facilities were built on the site of a former Shell oil refinery in Essex. Construction work on the £1.5bn ($2.43bn) terminal project began in 2010. It was privately financed by DP World. The two facilities together have generated approximately 12,000 direct jobs and more than 20,000 indirect jobs.

Marina Bay Sands is a US$5.7bn waterfront development in Singapore – the most expensive stand-alone integrated resort ever built, and one of the world’s most challenging construction projects.

PROMOTER: NATIONAL BREEDING CENTRE FOR GUIDE DOGS FABRICATOR: ELITE ALUMINIUM SYSTEMS PHOTOGRAPHY: BROADWAY MALYAN/DAVID COX A state-of-the-art National Breeding Centre for Guide Dogs, which features extensive use of Technal’s aluminium window, door and curtain walling systems, has won its first award. The project at Bishops Tachbrook near Leamington Spa has won the RICS Award for Community Benefit (West Midlands region). It is providing additional capacity to increase the breeding of puppies to 1,500 per annum.

Sirius and Ganton Academy is a dynamic 21st century learning environment created to accommodate state-of-the-art facilities in Hull. It is also the UK’s first academy to be constructed using Technal’s revolutionary low rise glazing system.

Advanced glazing systems from the range of Technal have been employed by Dortech Architectural Systems Ltd for the construction of the new Materials Innovation Factory (MIF) located within the University of Liverpool’s ‘Knowledge Quarter’ – helping create an important research facility for the development of new technologies.