Tag: System 5-20D Door System

Northern Ireland’s First Passivhaus Plus College recognised by UN

Posted on by Anna Rainey

The £29m South West College in Enniskillen, designed by Hamilton Architects LLP and built by Tracey Brothers Ltd, is the first building in Ireland to be designed to Passivhaus Premium Plus standard, delivering an average project façade u-value of 0.8w/m2K. The 8,000sqm education and community facility is situated on the prime site of the former Erne Hospital and won the 2021 BREEAM Official Public Sector Project – Design Stage Award.

Amongst the most environmentally friendly buildings in the world, the Erne Campus has been recognised as a UN Centre of Excellence for High Performance Buildings. The project has joined 25 other buildings around the world as an exemplar of green construction.

Metal Technology Ltd assisted approved fabricator and installer, D & K Architectural Systems Ltd, with thermal modelling of the screens and interfaces to ensure the façade’s systems complied with the stringent design requirements, using triple-glazed System 17 Curtain Walling, System 4-35Hi+ Thermal Casement Windows, System 5-35Hi+ Thermal Tilt & Turn Windows, System 5-20DHi+ Thermal Heavy Duty Doors and System 22 Brise Soleil.

A challenging and rewarding project for all involved, we’re extremely proud to have played a key part in bringing this state-of-the-art, carbon zero building to life – an exemplar in sustainable innovation and design.

 

Redefining student living in the historic city of Exeter

Posted on by Anna Rainey

Fantastic to see the completion of this multi-million pound scheme by UPP (University Partnerships Programme) which incorporates 1,182 student bedrooms on Exeter University’s Streatham Campus. Designed by Stride Treglown and delivered by VINCI Construction, the East Park project comprises of standard, en-suite and enhanced accessible bedrooms and represents the largest build of on-campus accommodation at the University since 2012.

The University of Exeter’s Streatham Campus is one of the greenest and most attractive university campuses in the UK. The East Park development is built into the topography of the slope and takes advantage of the fantastic views across the city. The project is targeting a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating by incorporating green materials with high environmental ratings; recycling 90% of the waste generated on site; specifying A or A+ rated appliances and low energy fittings; providing high levels of insulation, and including a combined heat and power system.

Fabricated and installed by approved MT fabricator APiC UK, Metal Technology Ltd is proud to have been a part of this major student accommodation development, providing our System 17 Curtain walling with feature capping, System 5-20D Doors SBD with electric strike locks and System 5-35Hi+ windows.

 

Unveiling a striking bronze façade for Belfast’s newly restored Grand Opera House

Posted on by Anna Rainey

The £12.2 million restoration and development of the Grand Opera House, Belfast has recently been completed. The project was delivered by specialist construction firm, Tracey Brothers Ltd, architects Consarc Design Group and more than 60 sub-contractors.

The design of the foyer and public spaces has been totally reimagined, with a new bar installed in the restored 1980 glass extension overhanging Great Victoria Street, as well as beautifully refurbished stalls and circle bars. The auditorium’s paintings and decorative and ornate plasterwork was painstakingly restored and conserved, as well as new seating, carpets, curtains and drapes installed.

The exterior of the building has also undergone a significant facelift, with extensive restoration of the beautiful 1985 listed building designed by Frank Matcham. The 2006 Baby Grand extension has also been reimagined – the new façade has a contrasting, contemporary aesthetic, while complementing the historical Matcham building. Using as much transparent glass as possible, the project utilised an Akzo Nobel Steel Bronze Anodic paint finish as well as various face caps and silicone pointing. To achieve a u-value of 1.6w/m2k across the built glazed façade, a range of Metal Technology Ltd’s systems were used in conjunction with solar control glass.

Systems used in the scheme: System 4-35Hi+ Thermal Casement Windows, System 5-20DHi+ Thermal Heavy-Duty Doors, System 10 Automatic Sliding Commercial Doors, System 17 Capped Curtain Walling, System 17 Silicone Pointed Curtain Walling.

Metal Technology systems used in landmark £41m Health Innovation Campus at Lancaster University

Posted on by Anna Rainey

The landmark Health Innovation One building is an innovation hub offering co-location space for external organisations as well as being the new home for Lancaster University’s Medical School and Division of Health Research. The space is designed to encourage collaboration, where external organisations can draw upon the University’s expertise to address significant health challenges and improve health and wealth outcomes in the region and beyond.

Architects John McAslan + Partners sought to realise the University’s ambition to establish itself as a major international presence in the field of Health and Medicine through the design of this new HIC. JMP’s campus masterplan will bring together businesses, the NHS, students and academics from a broad range of disciplinary backgrounds. Central to this campus is the Innovation Hub, representing phase one of the development.

The scheme comprises a café, quiet reading areas, private meeting rooms, open breakout zones and a business lounge for more formal conversations. Close consultation with the University’s Faculty of Health and Medicine has resulted in a scheme that offers maximum flexibility, the promotion of interdisciplinary working and collaboration, the provision of exceptional working and learning environments, and a holistic building design that is sustainable and energy efficient, targeting an ‘Outstanding’ BREEAM standard.

To achieve this performance for the £3M glazing package, fabricator Alucraft working to main contractor BAM Construct, utilised Metal Technology’s System 17 Curtain Walling in a bronze anodised finish and from our    ranges, System 5-20D Doors and 5-20 windows.

 

 

Metal Technology systems used in West Lothian schools

Posted on by Anna Rainey

This £60.5m education campus project for West Lothian Council, which will transform Winchburgh, is in response to significant new housing expansion in the area. Facilities will include the addition of a 231 pupil replacement Holy Family Primary School (including 64 place nursery), a 660 pupil non-denominational secondary school Winchburgh Academy, a 660 pupil denominational secondary school Sinclair Academy and a shared physical education and community block.

Metal Technology performed an intrinsic technical role in this collaborative design approach with both Ryder Architecture and JM Architects, to propose elements of commonality in the design of the aluminium glazing throughout the overall scheme, whilst achieving aspects of individuality across the secondary and primary education buildings.

The main contractor, Morrison Construction, and approved Metal Technology fabricator, Albann, are simultaneously collaborating on the £14m Calderwood Primary School as part of the commitment by West Lothian Council and its development partner Hub South East, to expand upon the school estate with purpose-built facilities to meet the growing demands of the local communities.

Across the buildings, Albann are utilising Metal Technology’s System 17 Capped Curtain Walling and a number of systems from their high performance low U value  range of windows and doors, to include System 5-35Hi+ Tilt/turn, System 4-35Hi+ Casement, System 5-20D Hi+ Door suite and System 22 Barrier Grilles.

Providing architectural definition for the unique City Campus at Canterbury Christ Church

Posted on by Anna Rainey

The new £64.5m City Campus for Canterbury Christ Church University, delivered by Hamilton Architects, is a 18,000 sqm state of the art STEM teaching facility dedicated to science, technology, engineering and medicine. The four-storey building will accommodate around 2,500 staff and students. This was a complex project due to the varied requirements of the academic departments.

A range of Metal Technology’s extensive architectural glazing systems were specified by Hamilton Architects, including System 17 Curtain Walling to highlight the wide expanses of fixed glazing which allows light to permeate into the building. Further products specified were Tilt & Turn windows from Metal Technology’s  5-35 Hi+ range, High insulation 5-20 D Hi+ Doors as well as our System 22 Brise Soleil solar shading system.

 

The STEM building is just one element of the overall development of the university estate, which will take up to 15 years to complete at an overall cost of more than £150m. For this project, Hamilton Architects forged a partnership with Canterbury architecture practice Hazle McCormack Young, with Gilbert-Ash as the main contractor.

Used in isolation or in an integrated scheme, Metal Technology systems provide structural integrity, weather performance, thermal enhancement and security, together with creative and design freedom to deliver superb results, as evidenced by this fantastic education facility.

 

A low carbon design approach for Queensferry High School

Posted on 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.

 

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.

 

The Maldron Hotel Belfast Uses Metal Technology’s thermal range

Posted on 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.