Solaglas 'floating' contract secured

Solaglas' Contracting Division has secured a contract to supply and install the structural steel and the all glass facade to a floating marketing suite.

Mill Harbour is a prestigious project under development in London's Docklands, which will include the tallest residential apartment block in Europe at 50 storeys high.

Residents will be able to experience luxurious living accommodation whilst witnessing some of the most spectacular views across the City and Docklands.

Conveniently sited just 500m from the heart of investment banking, Canada Square in Canary Wharf, developers are expecting particular interest from city professionals when marketing commences in September.

Solaglas have won the contract to supply and install the structural steel and the all glass facade to the 2 storey sales marketing suite which will be constructed on a floating 21 metre square pontoon sited in the harbour adjacent to the development itself.

The contract was won by the team at Solaglas Structural Contracting, based at Herald Way, Binley in Coventry.

John Harvey, the Business Manager for Structural Contracting, stated "Because we are supplying the complete package of steel structure and glass facade, it gives us total control over the design, programme, production and the finite installation tolerances necessary for this form of hi-specification glazing which in turn allows us to be very competitive in today's market."The project began in April and is due for completion in June this year.

Solaglas' remit is to supply and install the supporting internal steel structure with a mezzanine level and stairs using the pontoon as a foundation.

Solaglas will then clad the 4 vertical elevations and roof in SGG LITEWALL, a frameless system that allows large hi-spec double glazed units to be point bolted to the host structure via architectural stainless steel brackets and bolts.

The joints between the units are then silicone sealed to give a totally flush finish to the facade.

Automatic glass doors mounted into stainless steel outer frames to both the entrance and exit points complete the streamlined look.

From an architectural point of view, this high tech system accentuates light, transparency and visibility through the glass, and complements the waterfront environment perfectly.

Two gangways take potential viewers to and from the harbour side onto the floating structure, secured to the dockside by weighted chains and mooring arms.

As a further element complemeting the nautical flavour of the development, the developers have commissioned a glass roofed launch to take viewers on tours around the Docklands before berthing adjacent to the marketing suite's landing platform.

The pontoon foundation was launched in two parts from Kent on 20th March arriving at site 5 days later.

The hulls of the structure were then bolted together with over 700, 25mm bolts.

From there it was ballasted for stability.

Solaglas' first delivery of steel arrived on April 7th.

Once the steel structure is completed, the double glazed panels will be craned and bolted into position.

The double glazed panels used comprises 10mm toughened glass with an SGG PLANITHERM FUTUR N low emissivity coating to the outer leaf, and a 16.8mm laminated toughened glass to the inner.

The roof panes have been further treated with a white enamelled frit to provide solar reflection and an easy clean surface.

Following removal of the internal scaffold in June, interior designers will take over the internal fabrication of the project installing typical apartment suites for prospective viewers, alternating according to the phase of development being marketed.

Marketing of the apartments is scheduled to commence in Autumn of this year, with selling completion anticipated during 2009.

On completion, there are a number of long term plans to re-use the marketing suite, one of which includes conversion to a floating restaurant.

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