ON SITE

33 Parkside Coventry featuring AluK windows, doors and curtain walling AluK Partners With EYG On PBSA Project In Coventry AluK partnered with commercial specialist EYG on a new luxury Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) development in the centre of Coventry. Aluminium windows, doors, curtain walling and entrance systems by AluK, have been installed at 33 Parkside on behalf of Prestige Student Living. 33 Parkside is aimed squarely at the luxury end of that market, with a mix of single bed studios and two bed apartments complemented by a cinema room, roof terrace, fitness suite and landscaped courtyards. The 11-storey steel framed development was a design and build project by Construction Partnership UK (CPUK) based in Skelmersdale and the architects were student housing specialists O’Connell East Architects of

Manchester.

EYG fabricated and installed windows and doors throughout in AluK’s suited 58BW and 58BD window and door system, while the entrance system is in AluK’s Secured by Design accredited heavy duty GT55 TB system. The curtain walling is AluK’s SL52 flexible capped solution.

Key to the contract was EYG’s ability to work to a tight timeframe, so AluK’s support in guaranteeing product availability and working to short lead times was an important benefit.

Stephen Watkins, AluK’s head of projects, emphasises the two companies’ proven expertise in this sector. He says: “We have already worked with EYG on similar PBSA projects at Laurence Street in York and Tate House in Leeds, supporting them with technical guidance where required and on time, in full deliveries.”

EYG’s managing director, Nick Ward adds: “We were delighted to work with AluK on this exciting project. We have carried out a number of installations in this sector, having partnered on student accommodation developments right across Yorkshire.

“Our commercial department has the capacity to take on multi-million pound projects and a proven track record of delivering complex projects efficiently and on time. We were thrilled to be asked to collaborate on such a prestigious development and it’s a pleasure to see the finished result, which is inspirational and aspirational student housing, which will be a joy to live in.” Even with a fall in the number of overseas students coming to study in the UK, the Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) sector continues to boom. The UK is now second only to North America in terms of value, with market estimates of around £50bn.

Around 25,000 new PBSA beds are still being delivered into the UK market each year and, outside of London, Coventry is one of the biggest growth areas. The tallest building in the city is a new 20-storey student complex, and student living is helping to drive regeneration on many brownfield sites in the city centre, as it celebrates its year as the UK City of Culture in 2021.

With a 4000 increase in UK and overseas student numbers being planned by Coventry University over the next five years, much of the accommodation needs of these new students will continue to be satisfied by the private sector via PBSA.

More details at: www.aluk.co.uk and www.eygcommercial.co.uk

Central Window Systems Helps To Transform Iconic Victorian Building

Fabricator Central Window Systems has partnered with commercial and domestic installer company Sutton Designs to help transform a Grade II listed building in Solihull into a full-service care home facility.

Planning permission to turn Tudor Grange House into a care home was granted in 2018, but fresh proposals have since been tabled for a more expansive care home made up of 44 residential units and 30 assisted living units.

Working closely with Sutton Designs, Central manufactured over 200 windows for the project. worked with Central Window Systems on several commercial projects. They understand the importance of meeting tight lead times, which helps ensure that the installation runs as smoothly as possible. In addition, their vast product range means we have a one-stop-shop for our installations.

“Tudor Grange is a very impressive development, and we were delighted to partner with Central and be a part of its construction.”

Tudor Grange House was built in 1887 for Alfred Lovekin, a Birmingham silversmith, and was bought by Sir Alfred Bird – of Birds Custard fame – at the start of the 20th century.

It is understood to have operated as a Red Cross auxiliary hospital during and after the Second World War, before being acquired by Warwickshire County Council.

It was used as a school for children with special needs until the mid-1970s, at which point it became part of Solihull Technical College.

Central Window Systems director of sales Martyn Elwell comments: “We were delighted to work with Sutton Designs in the redevelopment of Tudor Grange and to contribute to the complete transformation of this historic building.

“We have a strong working relationship with Sutton Designs and we look forward to working with them on many development projects in the near future.”

The Benefits Of Collaboration On Display At Westmark Tower The 110m, 29-storey curved on plan Westmark Tower was the tallest residential tower completed in central London during 2021. Part of Berkeley Homes Central London’s prestigious West End Gate development in Marylebone, it features more than 14,000m2 of unitised curtain wall, designed and supplied by AluK and installed by envelope contractors Martifer. What made the project really stand out was the collaborative approach demonstrated by AluK and the other consultants from the outset, which effectively de-risked the process for both the client and the contractor at pre-tender stage. AluK worked with the lead architect Squire & Partners, delivery architect Design Delivery Unit (DDU), façade consultants Cladtech Associates and structural engineers WSP on a RIBA 4 system design for the unitised envelope. Steven Watkins, AluK’s head of projects, explained: “AluK’s specialist expertise meant that we could create a unitised façade solution for the post-tensioned concrete frame

which easily satisfied the design intent, while making sensible savings on metal and accessory costs. As well as accelerating the design of the structural frame, this approach saved Berkeley many months compared to the normal procurement route and meant that the tender returns for the fabrication and installation of the façade were accurate and comparable. It saved the tenderers the normal costs associated with a bid and ensured that all the commercial and design iteration took place pre-bid and was not left to interpretation.” The challenge for AluK was to work with DDU to deliver a design that was true to the architect’s original intent, whilst addressing the technical issues of a curved on plan façade from the second to 29th floor. All the united cells needed to be dead loaded back to a post tensioned concrete frame with a 3-dimensional floor bracket, whilst catering for the varying facets of the façade.

The final unitised solution features more than 2200 unitised cells of three principal configurations. Each floor comprises: a vision cell, typically housing AluK’s concealed vent and full height glass panes, a panel cell, specifically designed to house specialist internal framework to carry articulated GRC (Glass Reinforced Concrete) feature piers and spandrels, and a recessed balcony cell with an integrated floating glass balustrade.

With 36 different angles to overcome in a faceted design ranging from 0° to 15°, AluK developed a series of common aluminium extrusions to close the joints and reduce the number of profiles required. The horizontal stack joint uses an aluminium profile to carry the gasket and avoid the incidence of crimping as the cells are stacked around the building structure. What is also significant is that every cell connection provides four lines of system seal to ensure that the façade meets the stringent Cladtech performance specification and the CWCT Sequence B test.

From the onset of the project, the Berkeley director team set out a time and design model of early engagement, specialist designers and fabricators all within a clear programme. This also included a series of productive workshops sharing client expectations and considerations. AluK not only facilitated these meetings but also bought into the collaborative ethos and contributed to a highly successful project for Berkeley.

The façade design meets the thermal efficiency requirements of the building at 0.95W/m2K, as a weighted average. Using a 43dB Rw(+Ctr) acoustic glass, it also meets the sound reduction targets.

Tim Gledstone from Squire & Partners added: “Working together early in the design process allowed the design intent to be generated out of the crafted AluK products and industry latest processes. We could celebrate the best of the systems and push their potential to the optimum limits. The AluK design team were exceptional; dynamic and supportive throughout.”

Profile 22’s Optima System Specified For Community Hub In Leeds

Over 200 Optima windows and doors from Profile 22 were installed in an £11 million community hub in Leeds city centre.

Westerton Walk in Leeds city centre is an extra care housing development comprising of 63 one- and two-bedroom flats with care services, shared lounges and dining facilities. It has been built on a vacant Leeds City Council-owned site and has created a dynamic community hub.

The project required 205 casement windows, residential doors, emergency doors, sliding doors and curtain walling, the system specified was Optima from Profile 22.

The contract to fabricate and install the windows and doors was awarded to Profile 22 Approved Contractor Kingfisher Windows, a manufacturer and supplier of windows, doors and conservatories for commercial and new build projects. Optima from Profile 22 is an award-winning fully integrated 70mm window and door system. The system comes with the widest range of ancillaries in the industry and a choice of colour options to support all property types. In this project, Anthracite Grey was used on external faces to provide an attractive appearance. Internally, a white finish was used to complement internal decoration.

The system offers structural strength and security. When correctly specified, Optima casement windows are PAS24:2016 approved as standard. Secured by Design requirements can also be met where required. Such assurances were important for this project because deterring crime was a fundamental consideration.

Also important was thermal efficiency and Optima meets all requirements for thermal efficiency as standard. Thanks to its intelligent design as well as double and triple glazing options, thermal efficiency can be enhanced to meet a project’s specified standards, up to and including 0.8 W/m²K or A++.

As an experienced contractor, Kingfisher Windows is used to working with new build developers on projects involving tight timescales on busy construction sites. The fabrication and installation process ran smoothly, despite the additional challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Jonny Reynolds of Kingfisher Windows commented: “We worked closely with all stakeholders and took extra precautions to ensure the health and safety of everyone involved.”

Now complete, Westerton Walk will help to meet Leeds City Council’s ambition to provide up to 1,000 new extra care housing units by 2028.

Jonny Reynolds said: “This was a great scheme to work on and the coloured frames we used have helped to create an attractive, distinctive development that is providing much-needed facilities and helping to regenerate Leeds city centre.”