img(height="1" width="1" style="display:none" src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=2939831959404383&ev=PageView&noscript=1")

University of Cambridge chooses Xtralite rooflight

Bespoke X-Glaze walk-on design provides daylighting solution at Grimshaw's Civil Engineering Building

In association with
Xtralite at the University of Cambridge Civil Engineering Building. Glass walk-on rooflights fit flush to the exterior roof surface and are supplied in toughened, laminated glass enabling them to be walked on.
Xtralite at the University of Cambridge Civil Engineering Building. Glass walk-on rooflights fit flush to the exterior roof surface and are supplied in toughened, laminated glass enabling them to be walked on.

The University of Cambridge, founded in 1209 and the second oldest University in the English-speaking world, has unveiled its new Civil Engineering Building: an architectural masterpiece by Grimshaw architects featuring glazing solutions from UK-based manufacturer Xtralite.

Situated on the West Cambridge campus, the facility was officially opened in September 2019 and has since welcomed its first students. It is home to the new National Research Facility for Infrastructure Sensing and has 12 state-of-the-art laboratories for civil engineering disciplines including sensor development, structures, geomechanics and construction.

Assessing the natural daylight requirements of the site and delivering them to meet EN 17037 recommendations while ensuring optimum levels of health and safety were essential requirements of the project.

Xtralite supported the engineers in assessing natural daylight requirements while optimising building efficiency and health and safety. The resulting rooflight solution illustrates how glazing can be used as an architectural feature - rather than just a practical one - in 21st-century building design.

A bespoke, X-Glaze walk-on rooflight was designed within 10 equal bays and measures 12x1.5m. The triple glazing is 90.5mm thick to enable the rooflight to be walked on for access. The units each comprise an outer leaf of 39mm clear toughened, laminated and fritted glass with a black border, a 16mm argon-filled cavity, a mid-leaf of 6mm Guardian Sunguard (solar controlled) toughened glass, a further argon-filled cavity of 16mm and an inner leaf of 13.5mm clear acoustic, heat-strengthened laminate. 

All combine to provide a high-performing, efficient rooflight that delivers a 4.0kN/m2 uniform distributed load and 3.6kN concentrated load. Each triple-glazed unit weighs 280kg, giving a total rooflight weight of around 2800kg.

  • Made-to-order Xtralite glass walk-on rooflights are ideal for modern, flat roofed extensions.
    Made-to-order Xtralite glass walk-on rooflights are ideal for modern, flat roofed extensions.
123

For more on this case study visit, xtralite.co.uk/university-of-cambridge

For more information and technical support, visit xtralite.co.uk

 

Contact:

01670 354157

sales@xtralite.co.uk


 

Latest

Wednesday 13th November, 13:00-15:00

RIBA Autumn Economics Panel: Preparing for growth in 2025

Learn more about the balance between openness and protection when it comes to BIM assets and intellectual property in a new era of sharing

Learn more about the balance between openness and protection when it comes to BIM assets and intellectual property in a new era of sharing

In 2022 the Irish city got its first blue roof, a sustainable drainage system that temporarily stores rainwater and releases it slowly to control flooding

City's first blue roof temporarily stores rainwater and slows its release to control flooding

Dyslexia has never felt like a weakness, says architect Robert Cox, who has found that being forced to express concepts more visually has proved something of a gift

Dyslexia has never felt like a weakness, writes architect Robert Cox

Venturi Scott Brown’s National Gallery extension and Neave Brown’s Alexandra Estate are among the 19 projects featured in an RIBA exhibition, Difficult Sites: Architecture Against the Odds, celebrating architects’ ability to unleash their creativity when faced with a challenging site

An RIBA exhibition celebrates architects’ ability to unleash their creativity when faced with a challenging site