Architecture Archives - Metal Technology

Metal Technology provides architectural definition for Bertha Park High School

Posted on 9th January 202027th May 2020 by Anna Rainey

Metal Technology recently delivered its specialist architectural aluminium systems for use at Bertha Park High School in Perth, Scotland’s first new secondary school in over 20 years. It is set to become one of the most advanced schools in the UK and beyond, due to investment into innovative technologies.

Designed by NORR Architects and built by Robertson Construction, the significant education project selected Metal Technology’s systems in order to meet the security, thermal, and airtight design requirements, as well as the desired ventilation strategy.

The state-of-the-art facility, which has been designed to accommodate up to 1,100 students, perfectly showcases Metal Technology’s striking full height System 17 curtain walling façade, as well as a range of other specialist products.

In order to fulfil the specific needs for structural integrity and comply with thermal enhancement needs, Metal Technology’s System 4-35Hi Windows and System 5-20D Doors were included in the construction. Its System 23 Louvres were also utilised in order to create the desired aesthetics whilst also providing sophisticated light, as well as natural ventilation.

As Bertha Park High School is a newly constructed school for a new catchment area, rather than a replacement of an existing educational establishment, there were no restrictions on the design of this key project. This allowed for the use of Metal Technology’s specialist products, which expertly combine aesthetic with function.

Having supplied the education sector in Scotland for almost 30 years, hundreds of schools have been completed showcasing the exceptional properties of Metal Technology’s architectural aluminium systems. Used individually or collectively, they offer total design flexibility for creative aesthetics with the assurance of value engineered, structural, weather and security performance.

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.

Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries make use of Metal Technology product

Posted on 4th October 201927th May 2020 by scaffold

The Dunfermline Carnegie Library and Galleries is a multi-award-winning building re-opened in May 2017 after being closed since Spring 2014. Originally opened in 1883, the library was the first of the 2,509 Carnegie libraries to be built by Andrew Carnegie. The £12.4million project which built the two-floor museum and three exhibition galleries was funded by Fife Council, who made use of the impressive product range from the architectural aluminium systems company, Metal Technology after they were contracted by BAM.

The products used by Metal Technology included their System 17 Capped Curtain Walling, System 17 Latitude Curtain Walling with flush silicone pointed joints. Additionally, some of the products used for this project were part of Metal Technology’s product range. These included System 4-20 Hi+ Top Hung Windows, System 5-20Hi+ Inward Opening Windows and System 5-20D Doors. The difference with these products is that they are each specially designed with thermal gaskets and foam profiles. These reduce radiation heat loss across the air cavities within the window profiles to provide additional thermal enhancement.

All of the products from Metal Technology were designed in conjunction with the required glass specification and aid in keeping Dunfermline Carnegie Library and Galleries within the latest thermal requirements of current building regulations. The bespoke glazing solutions provided by Metal Technology for this project were able to keep within cost constraints and successfully met the architectural requirements of the intricate and original, award winning design by Richard Murphy Architects.

Metal Technology completes impressive redevelopment project at Victoria Gate, Woking

Posted on 24th September 201927th May 2020 by scaffold

Leading Northern Ireland-based architectural aluminium firm, Metal Technology, recently supplied its specialist products for work on Victoria Gate, a major redevelopment project in Woking, Surrey which is owned by asset management company, Aviva Investors.

The impressive 63,375 sq ft commercial office building, which was designed by architect firm Scott Brownrigg to combine modernity and functional rationality, used a number of Metal Technology’s architectural aluminium systems as part of the the refurbishment project.

Metal Technology’s System 17 Latitude high-rise curtain walling was used extensively to create the desired aesthetic for this building. the design process also involved developing a new triangular capping to further enhance the clean horizontal lines of the building.

System 5-20D high performance thermally enhanced doors were also used throughout, both of these products offered the Victoria Gate building designers a wide and diverse range of profiles that delivered structural integrity, weather performance, thermal enhancement, and security.

Victoria Gate was re-developed by Aviva Investors to grade A space that benefits from a double height reception; fifth floor terrace; shower facilities on each floor together with a basement shower and cycle hub.

The project recently gained the BCO UK Regional Award in the Refurbished/Recycled category for the South of England and South Wales region.

Photo Credit: Hundven-Clements Photography

Metal Technology Delivers Global Standards for Local HQ

Posted on 22nd July 201927th May 2020 by scaffold

Metal Technology became an integral factor in the development of the newly constructed Cookstown headquarters for engineering firm, CDE Global.

Contracted by Felix O’Hare, Metal Technology were chosen to deliver its specialist glazing systems for the striking new building. For the impact required for this prestigious HQ, Metal Technology’s System 17 Silicone Pointed Curtain Walling was extensively used as it provided a seamless glass façade. This visually impressive system offers a diverse range of profiles that offers structural integrity, weather performance, thermal enhancement and importantly can only be seen on the inside of the building. Metal Technology’s frameless opening casement windows were also used to provide continuity in the glass façade appearance.

ARCEN Architects further enhanced the design by introducing many curved sections throughout the building. Metal Technology’s System 17 SP was a crucial product in achieving a fit between the aesthetically pleasing finished feature and the design intent.

This was an important project for Metal Technology to get involved in, as the new site will be the world’s largest campus dedicated to the wet processing of materials in the sand and aggregates, mining, construction and demolition waste recycling, industrial sands and environmental sectors.

Metal Technology Ltd is one of the UK and Ireland’s leading architectural aluminium systems companies, providing fabricators, developers and architects with glazing solutions for modern window, door and curtain walling construction. Used individually or together, they offer complete design flexibility for creative aesthetics with the assurance of value engineered structural, weather and security performance.

Photo credit: Aidan Monaghan

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.”

DAERA HQ, An Office Oasis by Metal Technology

Posted on 18th December 20184th June 2020 by scaffold

The recently completed signature headquarters for Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) in Ballykelly brings together a suite of state-of the-art systems from architectural aluminium systems’ company Metal Technology. The 3-storey office accommodation was designed to be environmentally friendly in all aspects and has a achieved a BREEAM rating of “Excellent”. The project makes history as it is the first time a government department has relocated its headquarters to a rural area in Northern Ireland.

The project design took account of functionality, appropriate build quality and impact on the environment. The impressive project circa 5175m² comprises of 470 workstations, a ministerial suite and infrastructure for expansion.

Metal Technology’s System 17 curtain walling featured on all façades in combination with System 5-35Hi+ tilt-and-turn and 4-35Hi+ casement windows. The south, east and west elevations also utilised two variants of System 22 Brise Soleil providing solar control. The 300mm continuous blade to the atrium area was designed specifically to meet the design requirements for this project.

This unique £12m office development in Ballykelly, designed by Hamilton Architects and built by Turkington Construction, has picked up a number of awards, winning CEF Construction Excellence ‘Commercial Project of the Year’ in 2018 and the ‘Design through Innovation’ award at the RICS NI Awards 2019.