Product category:
Glass
News Release from: Pilkington Building Products UK | Subject: Planar
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 12 November 2003
New Heights For Pilkington In Edinburgh
Pilkington Planar frameless glazing system has now played a significant role in the redevelopmentone of Edinburgh's more celebrated Georgian squares.
The renowned Wilkies Department Store in Edinburgh finally closed its doors to the public at the beginning of the Millennium With frontages in both Shandwick Place shopping area and Rutland Square, one of Edinburgh's more celebrated Georgian squares, the building was subsequently part demolished and a brand new office complex erected on the site
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 17 Aug 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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Pilkington Planar frameless glazing system has now played a significant role in the redevelopment.
Many design considerations had to be taken into account including the preservation of the existing adjoining frontages of Rutland Square and the retention of the 1930s Art Deco facade of the original store.
Architects, Patience and Highmore of Edinburgh, specified the Pilkington Planar system for the atrium of the Rutland Building, as it is now renamed.
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The Gallery Of Glass
A new gallery featuring specialist Pilkington glass products has been built at the Fitzwilliam Museum, which houses the renowned art collection of the University of Cambridge.
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Pilkington Architectural has extended still further the flexibility of its tried and tested structural glazing system with the introduction of new Blast Resistant Pilkington Planar.
The installation comprised of 10mm Pilkington Optifloat green vertical glazing supported by 19mm Pilkington Optifloat fins.
Over 290 sq.
m of Pilkington Planar was required for the 20 metre high atrium.
"On this south side, it was essential to provide light and an outlook for the relatively deep floor plates," explains Derek Patience of the architectural practice.
"This was achieved using the Pilkington Planar concept for the five storey high glass sided atrium.
Through the use of Pilkington Planar glass, the street walls are continued from the existing stone frontages into the atrium itself, enabling the entrance area to become part of the street and the atrium edge to become the interface element, fulfilling the same functions as the original facade." For the roof, Pilkington Planar was again specified, using 12/2/6mm clear laminated glass for safety, extra strength and durability.
"We wanted no unsightly mullions or transoms," continues Derek Patience.
"By using Pilkington Planar with its smooth, flush surface, we were able to make the internal architecture a continuation of the historical street on which the building is located." The Pilkington Planar concept provides a flush glass facade in a continuous form with no obtrusive mullions or transoms.
Being a frameless concept, Pilkington Planar offers an unprecedented visual appeal combined with safety, strength and durability.
The panels are fixed together using four point stainless steel Pilkington castings together with 902 stainless steel fittings providing the extra strength and durability required for such a tall facade.
Patience and Highmore designed the glazing in close co-operation with Charles Henshaw designers, with Henshaw installing the glazing as well as the structural steelwork frame.
The Grade A listed office building was completed in 2002 and is now fully occupied.
The contemporary design presents an open atrium and full height glazed frontage that complements the original architecture and the surrounding environment.
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