"gx glass"

Accessible for every visitorThe landmark £78 million Darwin Centre is the most significant development at the Natural History Museum since it moved to South Kensington in 1881. With over four and a half million visitors passing through its doors every year, choosing the right door products was crucial if this popular tourist attraction was going to stand the test of time.dormakaba’s contribution to the projectdormakaba TS 92, TS 93, and ITS 96 cam-action door closers were specified due to their low opening forces in accordance with BS8300 and their aesthetical design, which is in keeping with the overall style of the Darwin Centre. The TS 92 and TS 93 cam-action closers have been installed with the electro-magnetic hold-open feature and have been designed to remain open, closing automatically if the fire alarm is triggered. Offering the illusion of an invisible closer, the ITS 96 is a concealed cam-action closer hidden within the door leaf and frame, complementing the overall modern and sleek design of the new centre.As part of the brief, a wall of glass was to surround the technology and displays within the Darwin Centre, only accessible by staff through glass doors. Due to the small diameter between the wall and the glass door, specialists in glass interior products, Harbrine, overcame this by using dormakaba’s EA pinch free patch fitting which allowed safe access with a clear view of the museum display.dormakaba BTS 75V and BTS 80 floor springs also feature at the redevelopment. These floor springs feature a hydraulically controlled closing cycle, adjustable closing speed and mechanical backcheck.Also installed is dormakaba’s ED 200 – an automatic swing door operator that offers an optimum solution for safety in high traffic areas. During an emergency, fire doors and exit doors must continue to open for people to exit, but close firmly to prevent the fire or smoke spreading. The ED 200 is particularly appropriate for internal fire door applications and has been successfully third party fire tested to EN 1634-1 on timber doors. Its unique package of safety, security and interfacing features means that when a fire alarm is actuated, or when the power is cut, the closer will revert from automatic to manual operation with a hydraulically dampened spring close action.

This Laudescher LINEA Bespoke 2.4.3 acoustic slatted panels with the purpose of managing the reflective nature of the walls within the main entrance area. The extremely specific design of the ceiling panels here where each slat cut from a glulam block so as to achieve a curve that is not stressed. The same product is used inside and outside so as to achieve a seamless finish through the glass.

Canal designed and installed and impressive steel and glass feature staircase for a commercial setting. This bespoke design comprised of four joint free, smooth helical staircases, connected by an intermediate landing fabricated from reinforced concrete. The Canal team designed each staircase to comply with BS5395: Part 2, 1984 (spiral and helical staircases) and Building Regulations Approved Document K.

1/2 million tesserae of Venetian glass and gold-faced tiles had to be fi xed to the 120m2 dome vault ceiling and supporting arches. The result was an outstanding mosaic depicting original artwork by the renowned artist Tom Philips CBE RA. Products used: ARDEX AM 100, ARDEX X 7 G, ARDEX E 90, ARDEX-FLEX FS

Installing a lift in a top floor apartment must not compromise the stability of the building. The installation of residential lift Cibes A5000 has minimal structural impact and requires very little construction work compared to a conventional lift. The lift shaft of the Cibes A5000 can be glazed on all sides, including the machinery side. Glass looks fantastic and preserves the light and airiness of the space.

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.

Moving walkway installation at 5 Rise Shopping Centre in Bingley, which provides the majority of retail for the town. All external finishes on the moving walkway had to be water-resistant resulting in a spectrum of watertight materials from galvanised and satin stainless steel to vulcanised synthetic rubber, aluminium and glass. Stannah also tailored the pallet with an anti-slip coating to maximise passenger safety.

Historic Courthouse serves now as an exclusive place of wellbeing. Designed by Garuda and Girish Sanger, along with lead architect Consarc, notable and historic features retained include the entrance doors, floors, stained glass and wooden flooring. Building utilisation: Hotel & gastronomy. Construction time/completion: 2016. Client: ALHI. Architects: Consarc. Products: Venticello Toilets. Memento Washbasins.

Unit 25 Cambridge Science Park is a state of the art facility providing laboratories and office space for Bio tech and Med Tech companies. This BREEAM Good facility was built by SDC and features an external façade of glass, metallic panels and fins for solar shading. At each corner of the building a chamfered picture frame feature of curtain walling and panels, adds to the modern design. Metalline who manufacture a range of architectural fabrications worked closely with MTW Architectural the specialist façade contractor to ensure that all materials were delivered on time and to exact specification. They supplied in excess of 1000m2 of A2 Ultima insulated panels, Unity interlocking rainscreen panels, interlocking soffits, copings, pressings and cills for the project.The picture frame finish to the corners of the building were finished in a slate grey polyester powder coating. The horizontal rainscreen panels used to break up the expanse of glass shown on the front of the building were finished in tiger drylac 068/70764 PPC This finish mimics an anodised finish and features on all four sides of the building 

Having purchased a beautiful plot in the Sussex Countryside, our client designed a luxury basement health suite with spectacular lighting effects. Sauna360 UK was invited to provide a specially designed bespoke sauna and steam room to complete this home spa.Bespoke Sauna: Our client came to us with a design idea for a modern, sleek sauna interior that did not use traditional horizontal or vertical wall panelling. Sauna360 UK was able to bring the client's ideas to life using bespoke sauna boards to create a clean, contemporary look that is just as efficient and comfortable whilst also achieving the desired aesthetic. A full glass fascia was used to complete the sauna allowing the client to enjoy a spectacular view of the indoor pool and bespoke space wall art beyond; featuring real still footage captured by the NASA Hubble Telescope!Bespoke Steam Room: Sauna360 also installed an opulent, bespoke steam room alongside the sauna. Finished in a deep blue glass mosaic with generous, sweeping roll front benches, the client is able to relax in comfort and style. 

250 Houston Street is a luxurious 13 story residential building in the vibrant Lower East Side of Houston, New York. The building is home to a number of one, two and three-bedroom residences where the occupants can enjoy a full suite of amenities including a serenity garden, fitness centre, and rooftop terrace which includes the iconic Tibor Kalman clock and offers beautiful New York views.The client was looking to inject some much needed natural daylight into their new fitness centre, and so Architects, Stephen B Jacobs Group PC, and Glazing Vision worked closely together to make sure the best rooflights were chosen to meet the brief.Considered an architectural feature as well as a rooflight, and an evolution of the traditional roof lantern, three of our Double Glazed Bespoke Fixed Asymmetrical Pyramid Rooflights were specified to help inject as much natural daylight into the fitness centre as possible. This was important to the client as natural daylight has been proven to help our bodies produce Vitamin D, improve our sleep, and help us focus.“For, Stephen B Jacobs, the inspiration for the pyramid shaped rooflights and the surrounding gravel court yard came from the Louvre in Paris.” Thorsten Foerster, Architect, Stephen B Jacobs ArchitectsThe rooflights were constructed of 4 panes with glass-to-glass silicone joints, minimising framework and therefore offering excellent light transmission. Our pyramid rooflights are straightforward to fit, and only require a raised upstand on your roof built to our standard specification. The units are supplied with high specification heat soak tested low e safety glass for optimum thermal performance and durability. The product is also robust and long-lasting, boasting excellent thermal performance and air tightness.

The monument, sited on a roundabout on Avenida Circunvalar, near the city’s industrial area, uses a huge steel and aluminium frame to support more than 2,000 m2 (21,500 ft2) of colored laminated safety glass. Arranged in a harlequin pattern, the glazed panels - in shades of red, yellow, green, blue and white - cover the entirety of the structure in a multi-colored façade that is both complimentary and contrasting to the surrounding area.

When architects Scott Brownrigg were given a brief to create a new gateway to Cambridge Science Park they knew the building had to be impressive to attract the desired high tech and research and development companies. The design features a colonnade sweeping across the front of the building echoing the curve of the spine road and a new public space. The column spacing guides occupants and visitors to the entrance – a GEZE SlimdriveSCR curved automatic sliding door. Slimdrive SCR was chosen to fit with the building BREEAM Excellent rating. The circular entrance features two sets of automatic bi-parting curved glass sliding doors, creating a lobby that minimises heat loss or gain and so helps to contribute to the building’s environmental credentialsWhen architects Scott Brownrigg were given a brief to create a new gateway to Cambridge Science Park they knew the building had to be impressive to attract the desired high tech and research and development companies. The design features a colonnade sweeping across the front of the building echoing the curve of the spine road and a new public space. The column spacing guides occupants and visitors to the entrance – a GEZE SlimdriveSCR curved automatic sliding door. Slimdrive SCR was chosen to fit with the building BREEAM Excellent rating. The circular entrance features two sets of automatic bi-parting curved glass sliding doors, creating a lobby that minimises heat loss or gain and so helps to contribute to the building’s environmental credentialsIn addition the Slimdrive SCR automatic curved sliding door provides a light and airy all-glass lobby entrance which blends into the façade and the large glass atrium; it combines high performance with unobtrusive operation. Inside the operator’s deep canopy an integrated air curtain was installed to further minimise any heat loss and maintain the aesthetics of the building. The Slimdrive SCR automatic operator also provides uninhibited access and so meets the demands of Part M, BS 8300 and EN 16005, whilst the access control system ensures security. Shortlisted for office awardsRecognising the outstanding design of the building, the Cambridge Science Park has been shortlisted for the 2023 British Council for Offices (BCO) Awards. The BCO’s primary objective is to define excellence in office space. Ross Mcwatt, associate architect at Scott Brownrigg said: "We have worked with GEZE several times, they have the same focus as we do in terms combining sustainability, accessibility and aesthetics." Richard Richardson-Derry, national specification manager at GEZE UK added: "This is an outstanding building, that meets many demands. We were delighted to play a part in creating an entrance and achieving the criteria of the brief." 

Construction company Mulalley instructed Premier Security & Fire Consultants to design, fabricate and install these main entrance doors and screens at their project at Aspen Gardens, Hammersmith.Premier utilized our LPS1175 SR2 certification to create the steel and glass installations, all achieving Secured by Design accreditation. For more information about Premier, go to our website premier-ssl.com or call us on 0208 559 8295.

With London’s new ‘Elizabeth Line’ open, Farringdon had been designed to create accessible, safe and comfortable spaces that people can move through easily and efficiently - with sound absorbing insulation playing a key role in minimising station noise for passengers and staff.The solution was the installation of ROCKWOOL RW3 Slabs 75mm thick incorporated in the perforated glass fibre and reinforced concrete tunnel linings of the platform and access areas.

Vimec, partnered with a trusted local home lift installation specialist to successfully install a home lift with 2 stops in a private home located in Johannesburg, South Africa. The project involved the integration of a white steel structure and a cabin with two glass walls, resulting in a seamless and elegant addition to the homeowner’s residence. This case study highlights how Vimec’s partner effectively addressed the client’s needs and exceeded expectations.

Rooflights deliver top class performance at new-build educational facilityBrett Martin supplied new-build Tauheedul Islam School with a combination of Marvault vault rooflight systems and Glass Link rooflights meeting no less than 2 design solutions.The Marvaults were installed over the stunning refectory in lengths of more than 15 metres and spans of 2.3 metres, where large continuous runs were needed.These vaults provide the optimum combination of light transmission and UV protection and play a crucial role in reducing demand for electric lighting as well as lowering CO2 emissions and running costs. A series of 8 premium Glass Link rooflights then, which met the requirement for high light transmission and thermal performance, were fitted to flood the multi-sports complex with natural daylight. A laminated inner pane also ensures the safety of those below.Both rooflight systems deliver exceptional levels of daylight into the school optimising internal environment conditions. They play a crucial role in both the aesthetic and thermal performance of the school whilst having a positive impact on students’ wellbeing.

Mono M311 Glass Infill Top FixMono M351 No Infill Top FixOrbis OS200 Vertical Bar Infill Side FixPart of a £71 million scheme to construct three new academy schools in the area, Oldham Academy North was designed by Manchester-based architects, Aedas and constructed by Willmott Dixon.The school features a striking glass frontage for the triple height atrium reception with a brick clad teaching block to one side and a vibrant purple frontage to the other. The feeling of light and space created by the school’s two atriums is carried through by HiBuild coated Mono system balustrades with stainless steel handrails. These enable the creation of safe viewing galleries/walkways, overlooking the open plan library mezzanine and the central ‘Agora’ theatre space.The same system was used to create the handrails for the school’s six staircases, maximising natural light and enhancing transparency as students and staff move around the building. Delta Balustrades worked collaboratively with the design team to ensure that the balustrades and handrails not only meet the aesthetic requirements for the scheme but that the fixing detail for the atriums fully comply with loading requirements.

The Silverstone Interactive Museum is a 600m­² motorsport exhibition located at the world famous Silverstone Circuit in Northamptonshire. The £22 million building, built with a contribution from the National Lottery Heritage Fund consists of a fully refurbished WWII aircraft hangar and a new two-storey extension which serves as the entrance to the exhibition. The TECHNAL curtain walling was a key part of the design and enabled large spans of glass to the front and rear of the building. This provides contrast to the iridescent finish and rainscreen cladding. This curtain wall system enabled large panel sizes of up to 2.8m high and 2m wide without additional steelwork that would have detracted from the intended design and added to the cost. The exposed location meant that airtightness and thermal efficiency were also design considerations. Our curtain walling features a thermally broken construction and high levels of wind and weather resistance. Due to the nature of the building and location close to the circuit, the goal with the acoustic requirements was to achieve a balance of reducing the sound from the track without completely eliminating it. This was achieved with TECHNAL systems using standard double glazing without the need for acoustic glass.

The States of Jersey were keen to refurbish the glazed roof at Central Market, St Helier, but had to work closely with traders to ensure the minimum of disruption. Stallholders were also concerned about solar gain during hot summers. At the same time, they were wary of the usual tinted glass options that may have cast colour onto their different food markets and flowers. The natural beauty influences customers buying decisions.

Above food preparation areas, the existing rooflights needed replacing, but it was vital no broken glass could ever enter the production chain for obvious reasons. Our PlasGard patent glazing system combined with ‘unbreakable’ multi-wall polycarbonate was the obvious solution. Ventilators were fitted with fly-screens to prevent insects entering the building as again everything had to be done to prevent contamination of the food-stuffs being produced below.

Kingspan Light + Air worked on project jewel at Changi International Airport in Singapore. One of the most innovative project features is the distinctive dome-shaped facade, made entirely of glass and steel. Our team worked with the architects and project team to specify and install over 100 Lumera ventilation windows. The Lumera ventilation windows also operate as an integral element of a wider Smoke and Heat Exhaust Vent (SHEV) system.

This Aerospace project utilised the whole Troax Commercial Partitioning offer. Utilising our Single Skin and Double skin steel partitioning. Using full steel panels, Steel glass steel panels and steel mesh steel panels, this project truly encapsulated all different bespoke offerings. Troax Lee grid ceilings were also installed on this project and half height partitioning also to section off certain areas.

The Reflections project features multiple freestanding banks of mailboxes combined with LED lighting areas behind frosted glass. The mailboxes for this project were manufactured and installed on to a sub frame which was attached to the building column and then finished in an oak cladding surround.PROJECT DETAILSProject Type: Private AccommodationProduct: COM 2 – 145 MailboxInstallation: FreestandingAccessories: Engraved writing. Surround Frame. Freestanding Support Legs

We reglazed the porte cochere at Victoria Station using our aluminium-framed Multi-Link-Panel fitted with our Georgian wired polycarbonate glazing. This virtually unbreakable glazing mimics the traditional Georgian wired glass that would have been fitted to the three roofing areas when it was first built, but it has all the many benefits of polycarbonate, as well as Heritage approval for use at this prestigious and busy London station.

Balfour Beatty approached Planet Partitioning with a high-performance refurbishment specification for the UK's largest private hospital. For all the patient and treatment rooms, Planet Partitioning used p20 demountable glass partitioning with Eclipse sliding doors. FireStop partitioning ensured that lift lobby partitioning has a fire integrity and insulation rating of EI120/120. Doors for the lift lobby are fire rated for EI 60/60 and steel framed.

Project description: 8 skylights - Repair and Re-glaze in Georgian wired obscured glass.The units were in an awful condition as you can see from the pictures, showing extensive rot. All of them were stripped back to bare wood, the putty removed and glazing taken out. We then used a Sadolin Super Dec in white to bring in the parts under the window and replaced the hooked with more tradition lead ones.  Once puttied, we removed the tape as to give it the best possible line before it dried (Timbabglaze is normally paintable after just 1 hour). Once dry we re-masked and used a Dulux UK weathershield system. This was a supergrip primer, oil based Dulux weathershield under coat and finally 2 top coats of Dulux weathershield gloss. The tape was removed and you have the finished product for the first 6 windows.The last 2 windows proved to be a problem. They had been re glazed previously but had been done very badly. The wood was rotten and had to be repaired. After struggling to get the glass out as it had been silliconed in... We used Timbabuild products again. To start with we raked out all the rotten wood back to a hardish part. We then used a Timbabuild 2 part EWS wood primer to give the wood some structure and a base for the next part. Once the EWS had gone off we applied Timbabuild EHB60 epoxy repair. This was left over night (as it was applied last thing in the day) and sanded back to an edge the following day. We then used the Timbabuild ERC10 Rapid curing epoxy adhesive over the top to fill any gaps that needed it. Then a surface layer of 2 part Timbabuild FINISH. They were sanded using a 180 grit paper and received the same paint system as the other 6 windows. The glass was replaced as well as the hooks and the finished results speak for themselves. 

Products:OS210 Orbis Glass Infill Side & Top FixV511U Vista Extended Laminated Glass Infill U-Profile Top FixContractor: Wynne ConstructionArchitects: TACP Architects – WrexhamIt’s great to yet again be helping the success of the Wrexham Yale College project with our balustrade systems. Delta have been manufacturing and installing balustrades to various phases of Wrexham Yale College over decades and are delighted to continue supplying quality products throughout the ongoing redevelopments.Most recently, we supplied and fitted:130m of Curved Vista Balustrade to the feature stair and voids, specified up to 1.5kNm of loading.160m of Stainless Steel Orbis Glass Infill systems to 5 other staircases throughout the building, including the hall, sports arena, theatre and more.14m of high loading balustrade (3kNm) in the sports hall viewing area.19m of Vista balustrade to the external balcony, 1.5kNm of loading.This new three-storey, 96,000sqft college in Wrexham is to house facilities for catering, creative arts, and sports students along with providing general teaching and IT studios, replacing the elements of the campus’ existing buildings, which will be demolished. The facility will also be home to the National Library of Wales digital archive, where members of the public can access information on Welsh culture and heritage.With construction taking place over the course of the pandemic, Wynne Construction prioritised the health and wellbeing of workers during the build and ensured minimal disruption was felt by students and staff. Additionally, there was a real focus on sustainable technologies in the construction of this building, continuously present through use of natural daylight and natural ventilation within the building – we have reviewed light considerations further in our article disclosing ‘Five Top Tips for Specifying the right Balustrade System‘.The balustrades at Yale College were a very central part of the scheme providing a high quality, contemporary feel enabling maximum daylight to penetrate through the central feature areas particularly.Photo credits: Wynne Construction

Canal were approached to manufacture and install an exclusive feature staircase for a private residence in Fulham. The staircase structure was installed from the basement to the ground floor and then leading upto the first floor and master bedroom. The staircase was manufactured in mild steel, featured oak box treads with a laminated glass balustrade and stainless steel handrail. The team added a high build deep black finish to each of the treads to blend with the contemporary and elegant staircase design.

Class A Office & Luxury Hotel Complex - creates an imposing sight on the skyline of Shenzhen in China. The development features two towers, a ballroom pavilion and a large elevated pedestrian park with walkways that connect the site’s park with two of the city’s existing parks - Lotus Hill and Beacon Hill. What is immediately obvious is the development’s application of glass, which enables to create an ultrasmooth skin on the skyscrapers thanks to a façade design that uses as few mullions as possible.

The Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa has stood in view of the famous castle at the heart of Edinburgh for over 30 years. Every one of its 269 rooms was renovated in 2010. Traditional Scottish colour tones, classic design and high-quality materials create a warm and comfortable atmosphere. Hawa's sales partner Häfele UK Limited recommended the all-glass hardware system HAWA Puro 100-150 in response to the demand for complete transparency.

"The works compromise the conversion of a former Dominican Church, a protected structure into a Town Library. Our goal was to retain the unique character, spatial and light qualities of the church while also providing a functional & comfortable library space. We chose Forbo as our flooring partners due to their great quality and durability, along with their fantastic range of colour and texture choices. The colours were selected to emulate the stained glass windows and has been very successful"

Australia House’s design is striking. Its facade combines classical and Art Deco elements, making it a unique addition to London’s architectural landscape.With a thickness of just one millimetre the translucent stone element that gives the ceiling lamps at the Australian embassy in London their mesmerizing look is highly innovative material - Fini Curve Safe with Stone Laminate - glass-stone composite bent into the desired shape.For more information on the project please feel free to contact:FINIGLAS Veredelungs GmbHWierlings Hook 548249 DülmenTel.-Nr. +49-2594-78905-137Fax-Nr. +49-2594-78905-130Andre Seifert / Sales curved glassCell: +49-172-4560654Email: aseifert@finiglas.deHilal Aksit / Sales & MarketingTel: +49-2594-78905-128Email: haksit@finiglas.deWeb: www.finiglas.deThe project was developed in collaboration with Lixos GmbH. LIXOS GMBHChristoph HoferTel + 49 7802 70 44 99 - 93E-Mail info@lixos.comKonrad Adenauer Straße 1, 77704 Oberkirchwww.lixos.comContact GlassParts for #evguard® in UK & IrelandTony Mallick +44 7392 458390tony@glassparts.co.ukwww.glassparts.co.uk

The ChallengeAs a multinational business and leading employer within the region, the telecommunications giant was keen to lead the way in India’s fire safety standards, equipping its employees with both a comfortable and safe working environment. At the heart of this mission was the challenge of balancing the practical everyday needs of employees with the safety standards required of modern offices. In solving that challenge, Pyroguard – together with local partners, Pacific Fire Controls – was able to play an integral role by providing fire-rated safety glass specifically for the project.The SolutionUsing Pyroguard T EW 120, a toughened safety glass from Pyroguard’s Firesafe range which is capable of delivering radiant heat, smoke and flame protection for up to 120 minutes, the ambition of creating a light-filled workspace for employees could be realised.The glazing’s light transmission characteristics meant natural light could be maximised, while its sound reduction reflected the needs of the busy office.Having been fire-tested by Efectis France and certified for use with timber frames, Pyroguard and Pacific Fire Controls were able to install modern dividing walls to create break-out spaces, facilitating meetings and collaborative working – while still keeping safety in mind.

At Sauna360 we were honoured to be asked by a top London architect to co-operate in the installation of a sauna and steam room in a new gym and wellness suite at his Surrey home.The client had seen our design for a large sauna in a Mayfair mansion and the brief was to replicate this to more compact size to create an intimate family cabin.Sauna: The sauna was lined in special cut Blond Aspen contrasting delicate thin wall panelling, with close fitting bench boards and subtly angled furniture. The full width, low iron glass fascia gives a great feeling of space and excellent viewpoint of those still working out in the gym!Steam Room:The steam room was designed to be more discreet and twinned with a matching luxury bathroom. Our proposal was to decorate the room using beautiful Siminetti natural shell mosaic tiles throughout. These tiles with interesting random surface are nonetheless super thin and therefore perfect to suit the many contours usual in steam room design and are both durable and efficient.To complete, we included a matching door to the bathroom with back painted glass and door lock for discretion.The result: a stunning, statement installation in manageable size for regular home use!

The Selection of a sustainable facade system from architectural aluminium specialist TECHNAL satisfies the requirement to deliver a sustainable and energy efficient building for the University of Bath's Institute of Advanced Automotive Propulsion Systmes (IAAPS) - a new, world-class automotive propulsion research facility in Bristol, constructed to achieve BREAAM Very Good standard. The 11,464 m2, two-storey building was designed by architect Stride Treglown who partnered with DKA Architects to realise this ambitious project. Main contractor Rydon constructed it as a single-stage Design and Build contract. The impressive front elevation façade features TECHNAL GEODE MX curtain wall, which is manufactured using Hydro CIRCAL® 75R recycled aluminium - a prime-quality alloy made with at least 75% recycled post-consumer scrap aluminium - the highest share of recycled aluminium on the market.  Stride Treglown Project Architect, Victor Martos, explains why this was such a smart specification choice when constructing to BREEAM standards: “Originally, we had specified another system but switched to TECHNAL as it uses CIRCAL recycled aluminium and REDUXA low-carbon aluminium, which makes the system very attractive for buildings such as IAAPS that target a high level of environmental performance.” Fabricated and installed by Bristol-based Architectural Aluminium and Glass Ltd (AAAG) to a planned eight-week delivery programme, the curtain walling combines a linear and an arc section on plan to create a striking faceted façade that runs 43m and is 10m high. The double-height curtain wall joins the rectangular arched entrance at a sliced angle. Project Architect, Victor Martos talks through the architectural intent, he said: “Aesthetically, it was important for us to highlight the vertical joints over the horizontal joints so as to emphasise the height of the glazing and maintain the architectural proportions with the main entrance arch alongside. The TECHNAL curtain walling system allowed us to achieve this. It is very flexible in terms of the design options for mullions and transoms.” Vertically, the curtain wall mullions have an additional capping piece or “fin” finished in an Anthracite Grey powder coating (RAL 7016). This extends 200mm beyond and goes all the way from the base to the head of the curtain wall, creating a vertical trame design. On the horizontal, SSG silicone sealant transom joints offer a seamless look. “The fact that the external fins could be self-supported without the need of additional structure or ties was fundamental to achieving the desired verticality,” adds Victor. AAAG Bristol Estimating Manager Richard Flicker details how the façade was constructed: “Each vertical height section is split into four panels, which alternate between vision glass and lookalike, opaque spandrel panels to conceal the M&E services behind.” The glass specification is continuous to maintain the same level of reflection and uniformity across the entire curtain wall. It also had to meet thermal requirements, as Richard explains: Thermally, the façade had to achieve low heat gains through the façade, which meant careful glass specification. “Following numerous calculations and close discussion between myself and the construction team, Saint Gobain COOL-LITE SKN 154 solar control glass was selected. This offers a low G Factor (0.28) and helps control the amount of heat that penetrates into the building by reflecting it back to the outside.” The open plan office space behind the floor to ceiling glass panes also contributes to BREEAM Very Good, as Stride Treglown Project Architect, Victor Martos explains: “Ensuring an even distribution of light entering from the north, it reduces the need to use artificial light during the daytime and reduces overall building energy consumption,”  He adds: “Engaging early with specialist suppliers to maintain momentum and quality throughout, meant we could also optimise BREEAM credit opportunities. For example, the external fin feature also assisted in achieving credits regarding the visual comfort and control of glare from sunlight as they provide shade from direct sunlight.”The new IAAPS facility includes offices, test facilities and control rooms for engines, propulsion, power trains and chassis dyno cells. The base build of this world-class facility is now virtually complete and is scheduled to open in 2021 once specialist technology installations are complete. The project will support global automotive industries to deliver future generations of advanced propulsion systems and ultra-low emission vehicles.