Retains the look and loses the glare

The landmark appearance of an 85-year-old Merseyside grammar school has been retained, thanks to the close replication of more than 200 unique and distinctive timber windows in the Veka M70 system from Glazerite UK Group and local installer K2 Aluminium Systems.
The windows were very much a part of the character of the 1930s-built Wirral Grammar School for Boys and the look of the replacements was an essential factor but the specification also brought another major benefit.
“Some classrooms had a problem with both solar gain and glare, so a blue tint was specified for the glass,” K2 commercial manager Liam Bird said. “The difference was immediately noticeable – the rooms no longer overheat and the natural light is more subdued, so the use of monitors and whiteboards is much more comfortable.
“With the significantly improved thermal performance of the windows, the rooms will be more temperate in the cold weather as well as in hot sun.”
The installer could have offered an aluminium alternative but the sightlines of the original timber made PVCU a better visual match as well as the other factors such as cost and heat retention.
The contract was secured via architect/surveyor Arcadis in co-operation with the Veka UK Group, which also provided technical support such as specification, drawings and wind calculations.