Month: April 2020

Sky high in architectural glazing: Liverpool’s landmark Horizon Heights

Posted on by Anna Rainey

This flagship new build student accommodation development, comprising over 1,000 bedrooms across two tower blocks of 21 and 19 storeys, is located on a cleared brownfield site opposite Liverpool’s Lime Street Station.

The development is a mixture of cluster and studio flats with communal areas and ground floor retail space. It is part of a detailed landscaping plan that will revitalise the retail area and enhance the pedestrian experience for both locals and visitors to the city.

For the client Unite Students, architects Falconer Chester Hall designed the two towers to respect the local context of both the train station and the nearby buildings in the aesthetics and materials used and specified Metal Technology for the façade. It is the largest single building completed to date by this developer and architect with a material palette which includes aluminium cladding, a series of perforated panels and curtain walling with window inserts.

     

For this project with an installed value of £7m, Metal Technology also worked closely with fabricator Walsin for main contractor McAleer and Rushe and developed a bespoke chamfered 230mm curtain wall cap which was used to create a pod around the perimeter of the glazed curtain walling.

Products used were Metal Technology’s System 5-35    Tilt turn Window suite, System 17 Curtain Walling with bespoke cap, System 23 louvres (P33) and System 5-20D  door.

This significant BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rated scheme won the Student Accommodation award at RICS Social Impact Awards 2020 and is a finalist in the Tall Buildings Awards 2020 for “Best Tall Building Architect”, which recognises professional architects or architectural organisations who offer detailed explanations into technical and creative reasoning behind the specification of particular materials and systems.

Metal Technology MD Calvin Wilson said “working collaboratively with Walsin to bespoke this challenging technical solution for such a signature building is evidence of our capabilities to deliver a project to meet advanced design demands and we are delighted to have our systems showcased in such a landmark development”.

All Metal Technology’s systems are designed to perform seamlessly together to deliver the desired aesthetic and performance standards. Used individually or together, they offer complete design flexibility for creative expression with the assurance of value engineered structural, weather and security performance.

 

Metal Technology is awarded ISO 45001

Posted on by Anna Rainey

Following on from the achievement of BES 6001 in 2018, the framework standard for responsible sourcing, aluminium systems manufacturer Metal Technology has gained certification for the new global standard for occupational health and safety ISO 45001. This accolade is recognition of our commitment to making our workplace a happier and safer place by actively facilitating continuous improvement of our employees’ morale, safety and performance.

In our continual pursuit of excellence in all aspects of our business, these achievements, combined with Metal Technology’s product quality and comprehensive testing of systems, as well as our existing accreditation to quality standard ISO 9001 and environmental standard ISO 14001, demonstrate that our company is built around best practice. Our aluminium systems can be specified with confidence for performance, structurally, aesthetically and ethically.

Metal Technology’s Managing Director, Calvin Wilson commented:

“We are delighted to have achieved this standard that validates the extent to which we have all, from management down to our manufacturing facility, concentrated on developing a robust occupational health and safety (OH&S) management system that is effective in minimising risk and proactively improving our performance in preventing injury and ill-health, both mental and physical. We have excellent staff and they have been actively engaged in implementing these stringent operating systems, systematic processes and controls and we are already seeing the benefits. Having an efficient management system that is purpose-designed to reduce health and safety risks within our workplace and puts the protection of the health of our people at the forefront, ultimately helps us underpin our competitiveness in the marketplace”.

The signature Earl Grey building adds to the regeneration of Dundee’s Waterfront

Posted on by Anna Rainey

The Earl Grey building is a £14m, five storey development offering 50,000 sq. ft of Grade A office space, with two retail units on the ground floor. Situated in a prime location with panoramic views over the River Tay, Earl Grey is part of the ongoing £1 billion regeneration of Dundee Waterfront, one of Scotland’s largest urban developments.

Part of the broader development on the site, which includes 67 apartments for private rent and a 120 bed hotel, this regeneration of the Waterfront for Dundee City Council is designed to attract more businesses and tourists to this area of the city. The building is opposite the newly opened state-of-the-art train station and visitor magnet, the V&A Museum.

Designed by Glasgow architectural practice Cooper Cromar and built by Robertson Tayside, the project utilised Metal Technology’s System 4-35 dual colour Casement Window, System 17 Capped high rise Curtain Walling and System 17 Silicone Pointed high rise Curtain Walling.

All Metal Technology’s systems are designed to perform seamlessly together to deliver the desired aesthetic and performance standards. Used individually or together, they offer complete design flexibility for creative expression with the assurance of value engineered structural, weather and security performance.