KAWNEER HELPS LANDMARK OFFICES BLOW THEIR OWN TRUMPET

Two types of curtain walling from leading architectural aluminium systems supplier Kawneer have helped a landmark building in Glasgow’s central business district achieve an “excellent” BREEAM rating.

Kawneer’s AA®201 unitised or off-site structurally glazed curtain walling was designed and installed by approved sub-contractor Charles Henshaw and Sons on all 10 floors of the Clarion office block, with the manufacturer’s AA®110 65mm non-unitised structurally glazed curtain walling used around the ground-floor entrance area.

The £35million Clarion project on Wellington Street (www.kawneer.co.uk/pr/c) saw main contractor BAM Construction treble the size of the original 25,000ft² pre-fabricated concrete building into a landmark and contemporary 75,000ft²  office tower for developer BAM Properties.

Architects 3DReid said Kawneer’s AA®201 unitised or off-site curtain walling had satisfied the developer’s and main contractor’s requirements for speed of erection, there being limited access for scaffolding, and attention to detail, with fabrication of glazed units being carried out off site.

But it had also “contributed to the BREEAM excellent rating as required for the completed building,” they said.

“Several unitised systems were investigated with our consultant curtain walling engineer advisor and the Kawneer system was favoured following competitive tendering and Henshaw’s expertise.

“Seventy-five per cent of the external envelope of this 10-storey office block is clad in unitised curtain walling and therefore this glass finish plated a major part in the success of the development,” added 3DReid.

The off-site system was supplied in pre-assembled panels to the respective floors of the building, then lifted into place from inside, negating the need for scaffolding that a traditional stick system of curtain walling requires.

“I would imagine for developers this system ticks all the right boxes,” added 3DReid.

3DReid have used Kawneer curtain walling before, including Princes Street, Edinburgh, and Market Street, Aberdeen, but this was their first experience of the unitised system which has helped them deliver a simple, flexible glass box solution to the client’s aspiration for Grade A office space with plenty of natural light.

As well as the BREEAM target, BAM Properties’ focus on sustainability led to the inclusion of a living brown roof and bird and bat boxes as well as passive architectural measures for reducing energy use such as zoned and controlled lighting, sub-metering to allow future monitoring, and local, occupant control of fan coil units.

During construction, main contractor BAM Construction monitored CO₂ emissions and water consumption from site activities and recycled construction waste.