The faculty of engineering at the University of Sheffield is one of the most prestigious in the world. Following sustainable modernisations, new spaces were opened in the spring of 2020, bringing together highly modern laboratories, offices, lecture halls, and communication facilities in the heart of the university.
As the centrepiece of the new Engineering Heartspace, a central atrium was created under a spectacular curved roof, impressively linking two of the oldest buildings at the university.
Wave of glass combines old and new
White steel ‘tree’ columns support the approximately 1,400 m² roof, which is made up of interlocking triangular glass and spans the space between the historic buildings with sweeping waves. It forms a new entrance to Portobello Street, connecting the faculty with other facilities on campus. The roof not only creates a clear distinction between old and new, its high-tech construction also improves the energy and CO2 balance of the renovated existing buildings by enclosing their interior façades in a protective manner.
High comfort due to solar control glass
The more than 900 glazing panels of the roof with white serigraphy of small dots were supplied by SAINT-GOBAIN GLASSOLUTIONS Austria, Eckelt Glas. Thanks to its low reflection, the CLIMAPLUS® COOL-LITE® XTREME 50/22 II solar control glass combines functionality and elegance in equal measure. Its properties guarantee ideal solar control and excellent insulation to gain maximum comfort. Therefore, the high-performance glass contributes significantly to lower energy consumption and provides at the same time an extremely bright and luminous atmosphere under the glass roof at all times of the year.
The newly designed main entrance adds another striking element to the ensemble. For this purpose, the experts from GLASSOLUTIONS Objektcenter Radeburg used 600 m2 of the high selectivity solar control glass COOL-LITE® XTREME 60/28 II. The eye-catching project made it to the finalist of the British Construction Industry Award 2020 in the category Social Infrastructure Project of the Year.
Project details
Project: HEARTSPACE UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD
Location: Portobello Street, Sheffield, London, United Kingdom
Architect: Bond Bryan, Sheffield, London
Used products Roof: COOL-LITE® XTREME 50/22 II with enameling or small white dot screen-printing on face #3
Main entrance: COOL-LITE® XTREME 60/28 II
Glass processor Roof: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASSOLUTIONS Austria, Eckelt Glas, Steyr, Austria
Main entrance: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASSOLUTIONS, Objektcenter Radeburg, Germany
Façade maker: Wagner Biro Steel and Glass, Vienna, Austria
ABOUT SAINT-GOBAIN
SAINT-GOBAIN develops, produces and distributes materials and solutions for the construction, mobility, healthcare and other industrial applications markets. They are created in a continuous innovation process and can be found everywhere in our living spaces and in our everyday lives. They provide comfort, performance and safety while meeting the challenges of sustainable construction, resource efficiency and the fight against climate change. This strategy of responsible growth is guided by SAINT-GOBAIN’s Purpose “MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER HOME,” the shared ambition of all SAINT-GOBAIN employees to act every day to make the world a more beautiful and sustainable place to live.
38.1 billion euros in sales in 2020
More than 167,000 employees, present in 70 countries
Committed to achieving CO2 neutrality by 2050
Learn more about Saint-Gobain at www.saint-gobain.com
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