Kawneer UK Ltd

A joint venture between the University of Cambridge and Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, the Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Heart and Lung Research Institute (HLRI) is a major new £45million facility accommodating Europe’s largest concentration of heart and lung medicine scientists and clinicians. It draws together the NHS and academia to create a world-leading research environment and is a unique facility of its kind in the UK.Creating the largest Biotech cluster outside of the United States meant that the specification, already approved on previous projects, had to be met. Kawneer systems were selected for this important building by the University of Cambridge.Installed by approved specialist subcontractor JPJ Installations Ltd, Kawneer’s AA®100 Zone Drained and AA®100 Structurally Silicone Glazed (SSG) Curtain Wall systems, and AA®720 Windows, feature on the main elevations, with the AA®720 Series Door Systems chosen for the main entrance area. In high access areas, the AA®190 TB Welded Door is used and on the ground floor. AA®100 Rooflights were also installed on the third floor.

The Christie Paterson Cancer Research Centre is a 10 storey, 270,000sq ft development and is the largest single-site cancer centre in Europe. The building is part of the Manchester Cancer Research Centre and will be one of the top cancer research centres in the world and was built to replace the previous building, which was severely damaged in a fire in 2017.Kawneer’s AA®110 Structurally Silicone Glazed (SSG) Curtain Wall system was used throughout the ground floor and stairwells of the centre.The upper levels of the main façade were subject to significant levels of building movement between floors. This required the system to accommodate combinations of imposed and live load deflections of up to +/-19mm. Kawneer’s major project team developed a bespoke solution using their AA®201 HI Unitised Curtain Wall chassis. The system was additionally weather tested to CWCT Sequence B including a structural movement module.

The gently curved entrance to Birmingham Symphony Hall in Centenary Square really adds to the sense of occasion as visitors approach the building.Perhaps the most striking element is the clever use of a glazed façade that further enhances the interaction between the interior and exterior, especially at night when foyer activities can clearly be seen from the Square.The entrance features two Kawneer architectural glazing solutions – the AA®110 65mm Curtain Wall System that provides flexibility of design, outstanding performance and ease of installation. Also, the AA®110 Structurally Silicone Glazed Curtain Wall System that gives an aesthetically pleasing appearance with flush glazing to the exterior. The AA®110 65mm Curtain Wall featured bespoke designed fins on sections of the fascia to provide added aesthetic enhancement and visual interest.

Architectural glazing systems by Kawneer were specified for their “robustness and quality” for two linked 16-storey apartment blocks on the last plot to be developed in one of Britain’s fastest-growing property hot spots - the £37 million BTR (Build To Rent) towers at Erie Basin in Salford Quays, Manchester, a stone’s throw from MediaCityUK.Kawneer’s AA®100 curtain walling features as strip curtain wall to copper-coloured rainscreen areas of the towers at Erie Basin. In addition, AA®110 curtain walling features on link bridges and as floor-to-ceiling screens facing the water. While the AA®100 system uses 50mm sightlines, the AA®110 system uses 65mm but both in this case were zone-drained. They are complemented by AA®541 open-out casement window inserts and AA®720 ultra thermally-efficient entrance doors.The Kawneer systems were installed over eight months by a team of up to 35 from approved specialist sub-contractor FK Group for main contractor GRAHAM and client Glenbrook, the privately-owned property development and investment company, who acquired the site from the Peel Group.The prominent dockside development is GRAHAM’s second project with Glenbrook, with work also underway on another £27 million BTR project in Ellesmere Street, Castlefield, Manchester, which also features Kawneer systems.

Cardiff Bus Interchange features a range of Kawneer architectural aluminium glazing solutions, installed by approved specialist subcontractor Dudley’s Aluminium Ltd.The AA®110 65mm Curtain Wall System includes the Large Movement Joint on this project. The joint is capable of accommodating up to +/- 15mm of differential vertical movement between the facade and the supporting structure. This is achieved through the design of an expansion joint for connecting vertical mullions.Located at each slab level and therefore concealed by spandrel or glass panels, the joint uses specialised engineering foam seals which expand and contract with the movement of the structure. In conjunction with this, a unique transom profile at each floor level provides allowance for the increased movement of the spandrel infill, whilst maintaining air and weathertightness of the facade. A breather membrane is also incorporated into the design to direct any ingress into the glazing rebates to the internal drainage channels.The project features AA®720 Open-In Windows with K-LouvreShield – a simple and aesthetic solution for providing both ventilation and fall protection.AA®190 TB Doors were also installed by Cardiff-based Dudley’s. The AA®190 TB is an all-purpose door for use in high traffic areas and automatic entrances. Its robust construction means that it is suitable for use in heavy/severe applications. It is the only door with welded construction, supported by a Kawneer Lifetime Guarantee, offering peace of mind.

Architectural glazing systems by Kawneer were specified as a “key aspect” of the new regional head office of British Sugar’s parent company, the FTSE 25 Associated British Foods (ABF), for their pedigree and quality.CPMG Architects selected products from all of Kawneer’s portfolio for the building on a 4.5-acre site at Cygnet Business Park, Hampton, Peterborough, which would enable the relocation of almost 400 people from ABF businesses locally (AB Sugar, British Sugar, AB Mauri, ABF Ingredients and ABF) with the addition of purpose-built conference and training facilities and a showcase central reception area. Kawneer’s aluminium AA®100 SSG (Structurally Silicone Glazed) curtain walling features on the ground floor reception, meeting/conference spaces and south-facing restaurant/café while AA®100 mullion-drained curtain walling has been used on the first and second floor open-plan offices of the three-storey building.In addition, the 5,755m2 (GIA) building features ultra-thermally efficient AA®720 doors, large (3m high by 9m wide) AA®3572 sliding doors and over-sized (2.4m by 0.7m) AA®720 parallel opening windows, all installed by approved specialist sub-contractor Norman & Underwood.

Explore, formerly known as Eton House, in Richmond, London is a completely reimagined CAT A refurbishment project for Barwood Capital with an additional fourth floor rooftop extension, creating a totally transformed building offering 45,000 sq ft of destination office space.Approved specialist subcontractor JPJ Installations Ltd provided a high-performance, energy-efficient curtain wall, using Kawneer’s AA®110 Curtain Wall System for a range of screens spanning from ground floor to Level 3 and for the panoramic Level 4 full-height curtain wall with bespoke ceramic infil panels at columns, accommodating building movement/tolerance.They also fitted Kawneer’s AA®720 Series Doors in a double door configuration for Level 4 terrace doors and Level 3 inset balcony doors, offering excellent thermal and weather performance.AA®190 TB Heavy-Duty Entrance Doors were selected for the high traffic main entrance, stair cores and fire escape areas, due to their robust nature and sleek design.JPJ also installed solar control glass for energy efficiency and acoustic performance and a neutral appearance.

Recognised for its outstanding environmental efficiency and sustainability performance credentials, Eclipse Leisure Centre is one of the world’s largest Passive House certified leisure centres. Kawneer played a crucial role in achieving these sustainability goals.System selection was driven by stringent U-value and air tightness targets. Air tightness was particularly challenging to achieve, especially for the doors. This led to the specification of high performing, energy efficient doors, developed in collaboration between our UK & European design teams, for which a project-specific threshold detail was developed.Active communication between the global teams at Kawneer makes these types of solutions possible for our customers, pushing the boundaries to deliver a project exceeding expectations and driving industry standards forward.