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Putting sustainable construction at its core , the first Enterprise Zone office development at Loughborough University Science and Enterprise Park ( LUSEP ) features TECHNAL aluminium curtain walling made from Hydro CIRCAL ® 75R , which uses a minimum of 75 % post-consumer recycled aluminium , the façade contributes to reducing the building ’ s carbon footprint and its BREEAM Very Good rating .
Designed by leading architectural practice Stephen George + Partners LLP ( SGP ), the development is being built through Major Works UK , part of the Scape National Construction Framework , by main contractor Wates Construction . The £ 22 million project began in February 2019 comprising a 7,500-square metre nett area , four-storey building , which will house the headquarters for leading software company , The Access Group .
Set to complete in November 2020 , the new office development , funded by Leicestershire County Council , is said to be the largest , single-occupier office deal in Leicestershire .
The TECHNAL team were approached by Wates Construction to offer specification solutions that would suit the aesthetics and technical requirements of the project . Designed around a central core with a linking wing either side , TECHNAL MX Grid curtain wall spans vertically . The facade also incorporates the company ’ s FY65 casement windows , and Stormframe STII doors . For optimal energy efficiency , the windows and curtain walling needed to meet specific performance requirements ,
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including a specified area weighted average U-value of 1.4W / m ² K with G-values of 0.4 and 0.3 . Designed for thermal efficiency , TECHNAL MX curtain wall offers an integrated thermal break , which , when combined with high-performance glazing means these values are achieved - reducing energy consumption for heating , lighting , ventilation and air-conditioning .
“ The façade design is a combination of metal cladding panels and curtain walling with the two and three-storey expanses of the curtain walling framed by the cladding ,” said Kanti Chhapi , Studio Director of SGP . “ The overall aesthetic objective of the building was to create a place with strong composition , clean lines , and a memorable identity .
“ All the aluminium systems were finished in RAL 7037 matt grey and one
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bespoke element was the demand for combinations of glass , glass look-a-like , opaque and louvre panels .”
The building ’ s construction brief outlined a BREEAM Very Good rating . To achieve this successfully , one of the contributing factors was to ensure that all parties involved in the project had a shared sustainability ethos . The Hydro CIRCAL ® 75R product aligned to the values outlined in the project ’ s brief .
The TECHNAL team was applauded for its joint approach on the project .
“ Chris Topp , a TECHNAL engineer , came to our workshop to update us on the systems ’ fabrication . We wanted to refresh our production staff to ensure there were no recent changes and to take advantage of any new machinery , tools and techniques .
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“ TECHNAL had a hands-on , collaborative approach that was very much appreciated when working on such a big project like this ,” said Paul Stevens , Commercial Director at Acorn Aluminium , the fabricator .
Dean Sherwood , Project Consultant for TECHNAL , commented : “ Our MX curtain walling was already offered , but the fact that we also proposed it in the Hydro CIRCAL ® 75R range was an added benefit at no additional cost . Operating the most advanced recycling technology in the industry allows us to provide the highest recycled content aluminium in the market .
“ Hydro CIRCAL ® 75R is premium aluminium that contains a minimum of 75 % post-consumer scrap , and the LUSEP project is one of the first to use it in the UK .”
TECHNAL is part of the Hydro Group , a world leader in aluminium solutions . Through its globally renowned Hydro Technology Hubs , the group is shaping a sustainable future , with innovative products that satisfy and surpass customer expectations , in line with demands of CSR and increasing environmental regulations .
For more information , please visit : www . technal . com / en / uk .
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Once , people looked at windows , doors and other home improvement products in mostly practical terms – they wanted something that was affordable , and that worked .
Since the turn of the millennium , driven in part by the rise of aspirational TV shows like Channel 4 ’ s Grand Designs , that ’ s changed – and now people are much more discerning .
They want quality products that reflect their own sense of
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style , and the look and feel of their homes and the surrounding areas .
In my view , coronavirus is only going to reinforce that trend . Even when the pandemic is over , I suspect that many more of us will be working from home than ever before – which is only going to increase demand for garden offices , loft conversions , rear extensions , and , more generally , home environments that are just pleasant to spend time in .
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Personally , I think the best way of understanding it is as an acceleration of a trend that had already been picking up pace for years now .
At Window Ware , we ’ ve worked extremely hard to supply hardware from the industry ’ s leading brands throughout this challenging year – and we ’ ve been delighted to see so many enjoying success
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after what we know has been an extremely stressful period .
We ’ re confident that 2021 will be a positive one for them and the rest of our industry – but regardless how it turns out , we ’ ll be here doing our utmost to support the brilliant businesses we work with .
www . WindowWare . co . uk
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