ALUMINIUM
SIX WELSH COLLEGE SITES SPECIFY FAÇADE SOLUTIONS
» PROVIDING YET ANOTHER FAÇADE solution for Coleg Cambria , one of the largest colleges in the UK , TECHNAL aluminium windows , doors and curtain walling have been specified and installed at the college ’ s flagship Yale Campus – the sixth Coleg Cambria site to feature TECHNAL systems .
Assisting the project architects technically at the design stage , TECHNAL has worked alongside fabricator and installer Westmore Architectural on all of the six campus buildings . Together , the teams have partnered with Wynne Construction , the main contractor responsible for the builds , appointed through the North Wales Construction Partnership ( NWCP ).
Constructed to BREEAM Excellent standards , the prestigious Yale Campus is the most recent project the team has worked on . Located on the north side of Wrexham town centre , it is one of the largest projects undertaken by Coleg Cambria across its network of six campus sites , which has a base of 7,000 full time and 20,000 part time students .
Andy Garner , Wynne Construction Senior Design & BIM Manager , explains : “ As a framework provider , we work on a D & B basis so the initial support from our supply chain technical teams is essential . We have worked with TECHNAL Project Consultant , Mike Molyneux , and the Westmore Architectural team on many occasions to achieve the right façade solutions for the Coleg Cambria builds .
“ From an aluminium systems perspective , we only work with suppliers who have BIM product families with COBie data built-in . We also look for product quality , range of product and , importantly , at what the systems can do in terms of adaptation .”
Maximising daylight and ventilation , the glazed façade spans 1,200 sqm across the building . Specified for proven performance and thermal insulation , TECHNAL curtain walling offers a fully capped , mullion-drained solution . With an aluminium substructure width of 52mm , it creates a slim sightline while also providing the necessary strength and inertia requirements .
Contributing to higher credits for the critical Energy 01 part of BREEAM , which is concerned with the reduction of energy use and carbon emissions , TECHNAL A-rated Dualframe 75 Si windows offer exceptional energy efficiency . For the Yale campus , a U-value of 1.1W / m 2 K was achieved . As well as being inserted within the curtain walling , the windows have also been fitted in a vertical panel format to create a striking rectangular pattern within the gold cladding .
Forming the building ’ s main glazed element , the curtain wall features multiple times including to the first floor creating a cantilevered section . Glazed in semitranslucent glass for privacy , this part of the building houses the spin studio . Spandrel panels conceal structural work and the façade also includes an interesting glass fin detail to the building ’ s front and rear elevations .
Westmore Architectural Commercial Director , Robert Moreland explains how the team worked together to make this happen : “ Working to millimetre-specific tolerances , the glass fins were made by specialist subcontractor O J Taffinder Limited using
Pilkington laminated glass with an opaque interlayer . The fins sit in front of the curtain wall . Each one is vertically fitted back through the curtain walling to the steelwork , with insulated panels cut-to-fit and installed around the bracket profiles .”
Also contributing to the buildings Secured by Design certification , TECHNAL Dualframe 75 Si casement windows , which meet both PAS24 and Secured by Design standards , have been installed as opening lights within the curtain wall and fitted with hinge bolts and restrictors for safety .
As part of the fire strategy , the curtain walling at ground floor level features Colt glazed-in smoke louvres . Should there be a fire , these will open automatically to draw in oxygen and ensure the smoke rises up and out of the vents in the roof .
Seven sets of the TECHNAL 202 Commercial Door have also been installed and automated by GEZE UK to create bi-parting door openers for easy access .
All of the TECHNAL systems have been specified and finished in an Anthracite Grey powder coating ( RAL 7016 ) to contrast with the exterior pearl beige cladding ( RAL 1035 ) and coordinate with the statement entrances . Dependent on the elevation , the glass specification was designed to meet thermal requirements and comprises a combination of low-emissivity glass for energy efficiency and high performance solar control glass , from Guardian SunGuard ® SuperNeutral ® 70 / 35 , for low heat gain .
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