Students at the University of Derby are enjoying the benefits of a
multi-million pound refurbishment. In a major regeneration project,
Pilkington Planar™ has been specified to provide a colourful
multi-storey link stairwell.
The refurbishment at the main Kedleston Road site includes a number
of new glass areas incorporating Pilkington Planar™, each needing
its own unique detailed engineering and design scheme to ensure the
utmost safety and aesthetic appeal. The flagship aspect of the
refurbishment is a vertical glass cladding of the stairwell, which
has transformed that part of the 1960s-built structure.
More than 600m² of Pilkington Planar™, incorporating a specially
engineered toughened range of Pilkington glazing, was specified for
this project to provide a flush glass surface utilising stainless
steel fittings housed in countersunk holes. These fix the façade
back to the structure instead of using the more conventional framed
systems. The refurbishment incorporates fluorescent transition
lighting technology in the Pilkington Planar™ glazed link stairwell,
to transform this structure into a highly attractive beacon for the
University. The colour-changing capabilities of the lights ensures
the stairwell will be clearly visible to the surrounding area.
Kedleston Road is the main University of Derby site, offering shops,
banking facilities and even an onsite hairdresser. As the hub of the
University it is well used by students, of which Derby has more than
20,000.
A spokesperson for Parry Bowen Ltd, the specialist façade company,
described the main challenge on the project as being the detailed
design and fitting of the large vertical glass cladding on the
stairwell. “The use of Pilkington Planar™ structural glazing meant
that we could maintain the large glass faceted front and assist the
architects with creating a focal point for the Kedleston Road site.
The high light transmission of this glazing gave the architects the
freedom to create an attractive and unique lighting feature of the
stairwell which was complemented by the use of a bespoke unitised
glazed system to the three main teaching blocks”
The Pilkington Planar™ system has given architects the capability to
create the stunning glass façades and canopies that are such a
feature of modern landscapes. With a proven track record in the most
demanding applications, the Pilkington Planar™ system enables
architects to create a complete glass envelope for buildings, with
façades on any plane.
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