20 July 2015
5,000sqm of High Specification Wicona Curtain Walling for Flagship Regeneration Scheme in Glasgow
A high specification glass and aluminium façade has been created using advanced curtain walling solutions from Wicona for a £24 million regeneration project overlooking the River Clyde in Glasgow.
The scheme is the new landmark administrative headquarters for Police Scotland, providing Grade 'A' office accommodation for more than 1,000 officers and civilian staff.
Designed by Cooper Cromar Architects and built by Morgan Sindall, Riverside East forms part of Clyde Gateway - Scotland's largest and most ambitious regeneration project which is delivering a physical, social and economic transformation on either side of the Clyde in the east end of Glasgow and South Lanarkshire.
Constructed to the highest possible technical and environmental specifications, the building's design had to respond to specific operational and security requirements and be both open and welcoming to the local community. It is targeted to achieve a BREEAM 'excellent' rating.
Riverside East has a bold and transparent appearance, created using around 5,000m2 of Wicona's WICTEC 50 structurally glazed curtain walling. This system was used for all elevations and allows impressive waterfront views.
Fabricated and installed by Glassolutions Installation, the highly glazed façade provides an effective contrast to bands of dark grey aluminium spandrel panels and white stone-clad colonnades at ground floor level. The WICTEC 50 SG curtain walling is sufficiently robust to support large spans of glass up to 3.2m high. The structurally glazed façade features 150mm deep caps for the vertical and horizontal profiles, creating a 'picture frame' appearance for the vision areas.
According to Iain Smith, Project Architect at Cooper Cromar Architects, "Wicona's WICTEC 50 structural glazing worked really well for this scheme. It met our specification requirements and gave us the benefit of a versatile façade solution with exceptional aesthetics. We are impressed with the finished building and would definitely consider using Wicona's products for other projects."
Mechanically actuated, top hung concealed opening vents were inserted into the curtain wall at first floor level to provide natural ventilation whilst maintaining a seamless, flush finish. The glazing systems were all polyester powder coated in dual colours - silver internally and black externally and glazed in clear, high performance toughened solar control glass.
Wicona also provided more than 1,600m2 of structural glazing for the internal atria using the WICTEC 60FP system to deliver a 30-minute fire rating. Also available in a 50mm profile, this option is fully compatible and indistinguishable from the standard WICTEC 50 and 60 curtain walling for a uniform appearance but provides additional fire protection for façades, stairwells, and glazed roofs.
Engineered in Germany, Wicona's WICTEC curtain walling suite has been used extensively for complex façade projects in both the UK and across the world. It has a wide range of structural aluminium profiles to accommodate vertical, angled, sloped and faceted glazing for optimum creative freedom and performance. There are options for enhanced security, fire protection and bullet resistance for visual consistency across a building envelope.
For more information about Wicona's façade solutions for complex and challenging projects, visit www.wicona.co.uk, email info.wiconauk@wicona.com or call 0845 602 8799.
Editor's Notes
1. The project team:
- Client: Clyde Gateway Developments Ltd
- Architects: Cooper Cromar Architects
- Main contractor: Morgan Sindall
- Aluminium façade systems: Wicona
- Façade development/fabrication: Glassolutions Installation
2. Wicona has more than five decades of experience in façade design and engineering, and offers a complete service from design concepts to guidance with fabrication, installation, testing and handover. Wicona and its partners will manage the full façade project, ensuring a seamless approach and complete peace of mind for architects, contractors and developers.
3. In addition to its technical support, Wicona provides a range of technology-based specification tools to assist with façade design, including BIM components for its product portfolio, downloadable technical information, an 'ideas' app, and Wicona Finder - an architectural database and invaluable source of innovative design solutions for curtain walling, windows and doors.
