Month: May 2026

At Metal Technology, we’re delighted that our certified Passive House façade systems are playing a key role in the ambitious £400 million redevelopment of the University of Manchester’s Fallowfield Campus. This transformative project will deliver 3,300 modern student bedrooms across 23 blocks, organised into five distinct neighbourhoods, alongside 48,500 sq ft of ancillary education and retail space. Set to become one of the largest Passivhaus schemes in Europe, the development targets Passivhaus certification and BREEAM Excellent, using modern methods of construction to create genuine high-performance, low-energy buildings that prioritise student wellbeing and sustainability.

We’re especially pleased to see this scale of ambition in the student accommodation sector. The project replaces older stock while adding a net 900 beds, creating vibrant, car-free neighbourhoods themed around Manchester’s cultural heritage in music, sport, and art. With enabling works already underway and main construction starting in early 2026, Fallowfield is set to offer students exceptional, future-proof living environments. It’s fantastic to see our systems specified on a scheme of this significance, contributing to the £2.5 billion+ of projects where Metal Technology has helped deliver genuine performance at scale across the UK and Ireland.

We look forward to sharing further updates as the project progresses.

Metal Technology was a lead sponsor of the 2026 RSUA Architecture Awards, which took place in the fabulous Ulster Hall on 14th May. At the Gala Evening, guests enjoyed a pre-event tour of the iconic building, followed by a drinks reception in the inner foyer. The fantastic Boom Strutt Brass band kept the crowd entertained and during dinner, Andrew Muir, Minister for Agriculture, the Environment and Rural Affairs, was the guest of honour.

Our Business Development Manager, Tony Rosbotham was in attendance and is pictured alongside Alistair Beckett (Hall Black Douglas Architects), John Lavery (Outgoing RSUA President), Jonathan Speirs (Hall Black Douglas Architects) and Kelly McInerney (Hall Black Douglas Architects).

This year’s winner of the Liam McCormick Prize for Building of the Year is the Monaghan Peace Campus by Hall Black Douglas. The building was also awarded the Architects Choice Award, Regional Public Building Award, Accessible & Inclusive Design Award. The Public Choice Award, in which almost 4,000 people cast their vote, was won by Nest Architects for their King’s Road House project which saw a Victorian 3-storey semi-detached house in Belfast beautifully adapted and extended.

We were delighted to see a number of projects scoop awards for which Metal Technology had assisted in the design and delivery of the façade glazing packages: Social Housing Development Award – Ross Street Mews; Regional Public Building Award – Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service; Local Public Building Award – Ardnashee School & College; Community Award – Shankill Shared Women’s Centre; Work & Leisure Award – Irish Salt Mines Exploration (ISME) New Headquarters.

It’s an honour to continue our sponsorship of this fantastic night celebrating Northern Ireland’s local, architectural talent. A big congrats to all of the winners!

See a write-up on the winners on the RSUA website here.

A landmark Passivhaus-certified education development, Faifley Campus in Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire brings together multiple learning and community facilities within a single, highly energy-efficient building designed to meet the highest standards in building performance.

Expertly designed by Holmes Miller and delivered by Morrison Construction, the £34 million campus accommodates approximately 1,200 pupils and integrates Edinbarnet Primary School, St Joseph’s Primary School, an Early Learning and Childcare Centre(ELCC), Faifley Community Library, and shared community spaces.

Metal Technology Ltd’s advanced Passive House glazing systems, designed, fabricated and installed by Avtek Ltd, played a key role in achieving the stringent thermal performance and airtightness requirements associated with Passivhaus certification.

By combining high-performance aluminium systems with expert fabrication and installation, the project demonstrates how considered facade design can support low energy, future-ready education environments.

See case study >

On Sunday 3rd May, Metal Technology teams proudly took part in the Belfast City Marathon 2026, in memory of our dear friend and colleague, Timmy Cummins. This year’s event was dedicated to raising funds for Brainwaves NI, the charity that provided vital support to Timmy and his family during his illness.

The day was filled with smiles, laughter, and shared memories as we honoured Timmy’s incredible 20+ years with Metal Technology – a period marked by his outstanding technical expertise, dedication to customers, and the many friendships he built across the industry.

Our teams took on the challenge in relay format, with many stepping into long-distance running for the first time. It has been fantastic to see so many continue their running journey beyond the event, a testament to the team spirit and commitment shown throughout. With the support of our customers, suppliers, family and friends, we are proud to have raised an incredible £20,041, more than doubling our original target of £10,000! Thank you to everyone who contributed and supported us along the way.

Following the event, we were delighted to formally present the cheque to Brainwaves NI. This achievement would not have been possible without the incredible support received in Timmy’s memory, something that is deeply appreciated by both the Metal Technology and Cummins families. A huge well done to all involved. The day was rounded off with some well-earned food and refreshments as the team reflected on a brilliant achievement and a fitting tribute to Timmy.

Introducing the latest addition to the Metal Technology Hi+ range – the new System 4-45 Hi / Hi+, a high-performance casement window system designed to achieve the highest requirements in building performance.

Marking a significant milestone, this system represents the first aluminium Passive House certified casement window system in the UK, setting a new benchmark for thermal performance within the sector.

Developed with advanced polyamide thermal breaks and optimised profile design, the system delivers outstanding energy efficiency alongside proven structural, weather and security performance.

Key features:

• Achievable U-values as low as 0.71 W/m²K
• Passive House certified system
• PAS 24 tested for enhanced security performance
• Accommodates glazing units from 26mm to 65mm
• Wide range of profiles including vents, outer frames and structural mullions
• Internally glazed sash options available
• Suitable for single or dual colour finishes
• Thermally efficient design to minimise heat transfer
• Acoustically tested in accordance with BS EN ISO standards

The 4-45 Hi / Hi+ provides architects and specifiers with a future-ready window solution, combining design flexibility with industry-leading thermal performance.

Specify via NBS Source or contact your local Metal Technology representative to discuss your next project.

Brochures, CAD details, test certification and full technical documentation are available to support specification and design development.

Visit the product page on our website to learn more.

Since introducing our Passive House systems just four years ago, they have already been specified or are on site across projects with a combined construction value of over £2.5 billion in the UK and Ireland.

Standout schemes include the £120m St Columba’s RC and Woodmill High Schools in Scotland, the £35m Weaver’s Hall in Belfast (Ireland’s first Passive House student accommodation), and the £400m student development in Manchester – set to become the largest Passive House project of its kind in Europe.

On 23rd September we will be showcasing our full Passive House range at the ZEB Summit at the RDS in Dublin, including our soon-to-be launched Passive House–certified aluminium casement window – the first of its kind in the UK and Ireland.

Visit zebsummit.com for tickets and come see us at Stand 32!