balustrades also help reduce the visual mass of the structure . A fritted glass roof helped reduced the heat load on the bridge and the swooping shapes created in the façades were carried through to the aluminium side cladding . The graded pattern created by the perforations in the side cladding also helped maintain a comfortable air flow across the bridge whilst shielding staff from rain during the wet days .
Fire Escape Access Another big consideration , and one which was assisted by the revised shape of the building , was to remove all external fire escape stairs from the corners of the building . To have multiple corners of the building obstructed by large , mostly unused structures was not desirable . The longer narrower structure brought these corners closer together , providing an opportunity to remove as many as four corner escape points and consolidate escape routes in one central scissor staircase . Whilst offering four separate escape points from the office levels , the double staircase also functions as a key circulation route between office levels . high solar levels on the two fully glazed façades . A double glazed system on the viewing panels on the NW façade was also utilised to further reduce solar gains within the office space .
The darker and ‘ heavier ’ visual effect of the upper level flush glazed façades was then offset by choosing a lighter more see through glass on the ground floor canteen level . The entire ground floor space is set back from the upper floor edges , which provides the internal spaces with some shading from the overhangs . The Solar E Clear glass , whilst also having good performance
The Façade There are a total of three primary façade systems which make up the various external façades on the facility . The Primary NW and SW façades utilise a unitised flush glazed system . The reception lobby employs a spider glazing system and the ground floor canteen , parapet wall strip windows and third floor balconies utilised a pressure glazed system .
Solar E Plus grey fully toughened glass was selected for both its aesthetic and performance abilities . The darker glass helps to create the contrast between the glass and the white powdercoated aluminium fins , whilst the high solar performance characteristics help to deal with the
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