architectural glazing Archives

A low carbon design approach for Queensferry High School

Posted on 11th September 202011th September 2020 by Anna Rainey

The 1200 capacity, £40m Queensferry High School was delivered by Hub South East in partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council, with Morrison Construction appointed as main contractor. Ryder Architecture has created an innovative and sustainable learning environment for the school’s students, with funding from Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) helping to ensure a low carbon design.

The building features state-of-the art heating and lighting to ensure optimum classroom performance, placing student wellbeing at the forefront of the design. Incorporating a six-lane pool, dance studio, fitness centre, larger games hall and floodlit 3G pitch, the school has also been designed to sit well within its semi-rural context.

A wide range of Metal Technology’s high performance, aluminium glazing systems were specified for this superb new education facility, and were designed to cope with the marine environment and provide enhanced security to PAS24 standard.

Curtain walling and brise soleil solutions were supplied to allow for naturally ventilated classrooms with individual MVHR (mechanical ventilation with heat recovery) units to keep carbon consumption to a minimum and meet the thermal model demands of the building.

Products used were: System 17 Standard Capped Curtain Walling, System 17 Latitude flush silicone pointed transom and capped mullion Curtain Walling, System 4-35Hi High Insulation Top Hung Windows and Automatic Opening Vents, System 5-20D Thermally Enhanced Doors and System 23 Louvres.

The complex needs of the natural ventilation strategy to complement the Low Carbon brief, necessitated detailed evaluation of the free air provision for all areas through the technical assistance of Metal Technology, working in collaboration with Ryder Architecture and Consultants.

We’re proud to have been part of the collaborative team behind this environmentally sustainable high school. This innovative build showcases how Metal Technology’s systems are designed to perform seamlessly together to deliver the desired aesthetic and performance standards.

Metal Technology launch new Commercial Door and Framing System 10-35 Hi / Hi+

Posted on 21st January 202027th May 2020 by Anna Rainey

Introducing System 10-35 Hi / Hi+, the latest high-performance architectural system from Metal Technology’s Thermal range.

Whilst providing strength and security, this innovative, commercial door and framing system has been developed to offer exceptionally low U-values, delivering as low as 1.27 W/m²K with double glazing and 0.93 W/m²K with triple glazing.

The system is ideal for high traffic locations within the commercial, health, education or retail sector and is designed to aid compliance with the latest thermal requirements of current building regulations.

Metal Technology has carried out PAS 24 testing on a full range of their 10-35 door products and framing system. With double and single doors including fan lights and side lights all being tested, in conjunction with many different ironmongery options from 3 point locking to panic gear, designers can specify security doors with confidence.

For further information, visit the System 10-35 Hi / Hi+ product page:

https://www.metaltechnology.com/products/system-10-35hi-hi/

The Maldron Hotel Belfast Uses Metal Technology’s thermal range

Posted on 25th October 201927th May 2020 by scaffold

The Maldron Hotel, Belfast, which is one of city’s newest hotels, has created an efficient and sleek construction using Metal Technology’s latest architectural glazing technology. The hotel is a recent addition by the Dalta Hotel Group, one of the largest hotel operators in Ireland. With the use of Metal Technologies products, some of which are a part of their range, the Maldron Hotel is also set to be one of the most heat efficient in the city.

Utilising Metal Technology’s thermal range has given the Maldron Hotel the advantage of polyamide thermal break technology, which means that heat transfer through each product profiles are significantly minimised. The thermal products used for the hotel were the System 5-35 High Performance Thermally Enhanced Tilt & Turn Window, System 5-20D Door System and System 17 Capped Curtain Walling.

These products in the thermal range further boost thermal performance through specially designed thermal gaskets and foam profiles. The purpose of this is to reduce radiation heat loss across the air cavities within the product profiles to provide them with additional thermal enhancement. All of this ensures that Metal Technology’s products aid the Maldron Hotel in keeping with the latest thermal requirements of the current building regulations.

The other products Metal Technology created for this project were the System 23 P33 Louvres. These were designed for the Maldron Hotel with the intent of providing a pleasing aesthetic appearance at the same time as providing natural ventilation and controlling.

All Metal Technology 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 aesthetics with the assurance of value engineered structural, weather and security performance.

Metal Technology enlightens BREEAM outstanding rated office

Posted on 16th June 201927th May 2020 by scaffold

Grade A office development, Aurora, at Bristol’s Finzel’s Reach, is the perfect example of design and sustainability working seamlessly to create a striking architectural landmark using the latest technology from architectural aluminium systems’ firm, Metal Technology. The seven storey 95,000 sq ft building features a stunning glass atrium, basement car and bicycle parking with electric vehicle charging points, plus five upper levels of accommodation.

With a key focus on sustainability, Aurora is the first BREEAM 2014 Outstanding rated office outside of London, achieving a score of 91% and one of only eight BREEAM outstanding offices in the UK.

Utilising Metal Technology’s System 17HR curtain walling on all elevations, this impressive office development not only meets high sustainability standards, it also delivers a striking aesthetic. Particular attention was paid to the south elevation where a bespoke brise soleil system was introduced using purpose designed bracketry to carry the opaque glass blades. The building also utilised Metal technology’s 5-20D Hi+ doors and 4-35Hi+ casement windows from their thermal range offering high levels of weathering, thermal and security performance.

Alex Roberts, Sustainability Manager at Willmott Dixon, said:

“A healthy building environment helps create a happier and more productive workforce. With this in mind, optimised thermal comfort, high acoustic performance and glare control which allows natural light to connect the building’s users with the outside, were all achieved within the design of Aurora.”

Maryhill Health Centre: A brand new beacon of health by Metal Technology

Posted on 29th April 201927th May 2020 by scaffold

Maryhill Health Centre is a shining example of a state-of-the-art regeneration project built to showcase the latest technology and healthcare provision in a way that is inspiring and inviting to the public. The project brings together an impressive suite of solutions from architectural aluminium systems’ company, Metal Technology.

The building was designed to replace the old health centre as part of the city of Glasgow’s wider regeneration plan for Maryhill. The new centre incorporates GP Practices, physiotherapy, podiatry, community dental services, district nursing, health visitors, community mental health services, youth health service and health improvement teams.

With a project value of approx. £12.4m, the Health Centre features a combination of Metal Technology’s System 17 SP and System 17 Capped curtain walling systems alongside a combination of System 5-35 Hi Tilt & Turn windows, System 5-20D doors and distinctive LV023 louvres.

The impressive full height atria, creates views to waiting areas and reception points across multiple floors which assists with way-finding in the centre. Additionally, the sky-facing windows flood the building with natural light, inducing a sense of calm within the space.

Metal Technology was selected for this project due to its ability to provide proprietary barrier load tested external grilles as an integrated solution onto capped / flush silicone pointed curtain walling within tight budget constraints. This fenestration configuration maximised the potential natural ventilation provision whilst using the minimal number of window openings – making the solution financially economic yet technically robust.

Jackie Kerr, Head of Operations, North West Locality, Glasgow Health & Social Care Partnership, said: “The new Health and Care Centre is a state of the art building, giving increased capacity and more services to local residents of Maryhill in a welcoming modern environment.”

Metal Technology enhances student living at Capital Quarter Cardiff

Posted on 4th March 201927th May 2020 by scaffold

Capital Quarter Cardiff student accommodation is a sterling example of premium architecture that is practical without compromising on quality. The project brings together an impressive collection of multi-functional systems from architectural aluminium systems’ company, Metal Technology.

Located in the centre of Cardiff the development spans an impressive 140,000 sq ft and consists of two multi-level blocks linked by an attractive architect-designed landscape scheme. Providing a mix of studio and cluster accommodation, the two blocks are made up of 544 self-contained rooms in total.

With a project value of approx. £1.725million the accommodation features Metal Technology’s System 17 capped curtain walling with a combination of System 5-35HI+ tilt and turn windows and System 4-35 Hi+ thermally enhanced Casement windows. System 5-20D Hi+ thermally enhanced door systems are also used alongside System 10 commercial doors.

A bespoke louvre system helped ensure adequate shading was achieved whilst providing a safe environment even when the windows are fully opened.

Andrew Stapleton of APiC commented, “Metal Technology’s state-of-the-art windows and doors were the perfect fit for this student accommodation project from an installation perspective due to the system’s ability to be quickly but efficiently designed, fabricated and shipped to site. This allows our installers to be utilised more efficiently and effectively across all of our current live sites.

“The door and window systems lent themselves especially well to this type of project where safety and security are a priority without compromising on quality.”

College Avenue: Setting the Standard for Student Accommodation

Posted on 11th January 201927th May 2020 by scaffold

Queens University Belfast’s (QUB) brand-new student accommodation at College Avenue, beautifully brings together a suite of multi-functional systems from architectural aluminium systems’ company, Metal Technology.

With an overall project value of £35,000,000, the state-of-the-art student accommodation brings together effective space optimisation and practical design to create a safe space for students in a central Belfast location with a range of purpose-built areas to facilitate a balanced approach to study, health and wellbeing.

Spanning 11 floors and an impressive 240,000ft²the accommodation features Metal Technology’s System 17 high rise curtain walling on all facades in combination with System 5-35Hi+ turn only windows, System 23 louvres and System 5-20D Hi+ doors . These purpose designed louvres have been tested to BS6180 for guarding providing a safe environment even when the full height windows are fully opened. Key considerations when choosing these products included practicality, safety, acoustics and thermal performance throughout the building.

Internally, the building features 747 student accommodation units, a gymnasium, study spaces, refreshment and recreational areas as well as dedicated IT suits.