Excellent efficiency
A new University Technical College in the East End of London, specialising in the creative and health industries, is making full use of the performance benefits and design flexibility offered by the Elegance 52 curtain wall system, together with Dualframe Si 75 windows, both manufactured by Sapa Building System.
Mulberry UTC was constructed by Wates, with the London-based office of Scott Brownrigg responsible for the design input. Cheshire Architectural Aluminium, based in Cheshire, produced and installed the glazing package.
The project architect for Scott Brownrigg, Stuart Cudmore, said: “There are a number of strict regulations you have to comply with on an education building like this, including security and general function. The Mulberry building is on a very tight urban site so there are parts of it that have to be mechanically ventilated, but the top hung, Dualframe 75 SI casements provide good natural ventilation through the main facade, as well as daylighting.
“I have employed Sapa glazing systems, including Elegance 52, on other projects in the past and been happy with the service and the design effects achieved. While most of the design assistance on this scheme came from the fabricator, Cheshire Architectural Aluminium, Sapa was involved in providing us with information for the BREEAM application – where we were targeting ‘Excellent ’.
“As a practice we are very pleased with the outcome of the project as a demonstration of our expertise in the education sector.”
Not only do the internally beaded Dualframe 75 Si windows achieve an overall U-value of 1.4W/m2 K to offer very good energy saving performance, but the system’s aluminium construction is also highly significant from a sustainability perspective, and therefore contributes to the project’s BREEAM assessment.
In addition to being produced from bauxite, one of the planet’s most plentiful natural resources, aluminium has proved itself to be ultimately recoverable and recyclable down the decades. This fact allows Sapa to offer specifiers seeking the best BREEAM ratings the opportunity to have their door, window and curtain wall packages produced from aluminium ingots certified as 100% recycled.
Cheshire Architectural Aluminium’s package for the Mulberry UTC also included Sapa ST2 entrance doors, which are PAS 24 certified for security, while remaining fully accessible for wheelchair users and other less able students or staff. The ST2 door frames have level thresholds subtending the double rebated frames, and automatic openers.
Elegance 52 ST curtain walling is an externally capped, thermally broken system that offers many design options through the use of different mullions and cover caps. It can deliver very good energy and acoustic performance as well as the aesthetic appearance to suit different property types, from residential and retail to education or commercial.
Sapa’s Dualframe 75 Si range is proving very popular in sectors such as social housing, as well as education, the company said. Not only does the uniquely designed polyamide break help it offer U-values down to 0.9W/m2K, but Dualframe was the first aluminium system to achieve an A++ Window Energy Rating with its tilt before turn window. Additionally, PAS 24 has been achieved on every style including tilt-before-turn and pivot.
Having opened its doors to students at the start of the academic year, the Mulberry UTC in Bow, east London, provides places for some 800 students aged 14-18, offering them facilities including a 250-seat theatre as well as media suites, lecture spaces and workshop areas.
