Open door to learning

Door hardware from HOPPE UK has been used to great effect on an award-winning primary school in Yorkshire.

Chosen for their contribution to the school’s striking industrial-feel design as well as their performance and longevity, the HOPPE UK hardware makes an important contribution to the style, function and safety of Sandal Magna Community Primary School in Wakefield.

Designed by Sarah Wigglesworth Architects to replace the existing red brick school, Sandal Magna accommodates 210 pupils aged 5-11 plus a nursery. It and was conceived to be a strong, integral part of the community which it serves, and whose architecture it reflects. The school is actually made up of four single storey buildings housing classrooms, nursery, school hall and admin. Brick is the predominant material and the building shapes echo local industrial forms and chimneys and natural materials have been used throughout.

The HOPPE UK hardware was chosen by Leeds-based architectural ironmonger em-b who were very much part of the brief to help give the school its characteristic utilitarian feel. Of course budget and performance were also key requirements on the Sandal Magna project. Em-b worked closely with HOPPE UK to match the tight brief, using hardware from the company’s duranorm range on many of the doors. duranorm, billed by HOPPE UK as “consistently good value without compromising on quality”, is a range of lever handles on a choice of rose or backplates.

”We had great support from HOPPE UK throughout the project,” says Lead AI on the project was Nish Mohamed. “Especially when we came across openings that caused us a problem. For instance, in one area of the school the doors were coming from Scandinavia so the fixing centres weren’t standard and the operation of the handle was different. HOPPE UK was able to produce some specials for us for those doors, and provide solutions for particularly wide openings.”

“We were able to provide the architect with a lot of guidance on how to meet the requirements of the Equal Opportunities Act, building regs, and fire safety requirements,” says Nish. Schools always have a wide and challenging set of requirements and this one was no exception.” The project, with a tight timescale typical on education projects was completed on time. “I think the hardware really does complement the architectural style in this building and it’s a project we are very proud of.”

The duranorm range from HOPPE UK is a suite of lever handles on roses and backplates for interior doors. They have been designed by HOPPE’s own in-house R&D team to offer value-for-money style with a choice of designs and finishes. Suitable for residential applications, the duranorm fittings are supplied complete with fixings and a solid spindle.

Each handle has a choice of backplates or roses and matching escutcheons, indicators and turns are also available in the range. Included on a successful fire test to BS EN1634, the duranorm handles have been assessed for use on FD30 and FD60 fire doors and all are supported by a 5 year mechanical and operational guarantee. Each product in the series is available in polished brass effect, polished chrome effect or anodised silver finishes.

Founded in 1988 HOPPE (UK) Ltd is a market leader in the field of door and window hardware. Based in Wolverhampton, where it operates from a purpose built state-of-the-art distribution centre, HOPPE UK is committed to serving customers with pride. HOPPE’s products have been tested to meet the latest European and British standards, offering quality and innovation to all sectors of the market. The company is part of the family-owned HOPPE UK group with manufacturing plants across Europe and North America and more than 3000 employees.