Leisure group giant chooses Solaglas

Solaglas Contracting Midlands have recently completed a substantial project to glaze the new Marriott Hotel in Grove Park Leicester.

Solaglas Contracting Midlands have recently completed a substantial project to glaze the new Marriott Hotel in Grove Park Leicester, a landmark building in a prime position close to the M1 motorway.

Designed by EPR Architects of London and built by Kier for Whitbread/ Marriott International at a cost of £22 million, the hotel consists of 227 air-conditioned bedrooms as well as public facilities.

These include a function/conference centre, meeting rooms, lounge, restaurant, bar and health club.

Complex glazing forms a focal point throughout the six-storey hotel's design and was a major factor in seeking out Solaglas to handle the project and provide the expertise needed.

To the front elevation a full height atrium was installed forming the imposing bolted glass and steel entrance.

This consisted of 2m x 70cm panes of SGG Planilux and SGG Planitherm Low 'E' glass.

To provide weather protection for guests, Solalas Structural Contracting has supplied a complementing low level 8m x 8m glass canopy.

Double glazed panels consisting of 12mm clear SGG Securipoint to the outer and 6mm clear SGG Planidur to the inner pane have been bolted to a perimeter steelwork.

To the lower floors, Technal curtain walling has been fitted along the full length of the building using a combination of 6mm SGG Securit toughened, SGG Stadip laminated safety, SGG Seralit, screen-printed toughened and SGG Emalit colour enamelled obscuring glass.

The architect's design for the unusual bay windows projecting from the brickwork to the bedrooms of the upper storeys posed a particular challenge and called upon the expertise of Solaglas to liaise closely with the architect.

They assisted with the final specification and even prototyped a sample window for client approval.

In the final execution, the projecting bays were supported by a series of purpose-made U-shaped frames of powder-coated aluminium and pressed metal cloaking panels which also contained insulation material to reduce sound transmission and heat loss.

The double glazed units incorporated panes of 6mm clear SGG Planilux.

To the hotel interior, function rooms have been fitted with folding and sliding Comar aluminium framed glass doors.

These enable the rooms to open out completely to accommodate large items for exhibition and promotional purposes.

Kier's Project Manager Neil Trulove reports that the project was very well co-ordinated with good communication throughout.

This resulted in all phases flowing smoothly from start to completion and an excellent working relationship maintained between both contractors.

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