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

Composite windows for education projects

Two case studies reveal how Velfac aluminium and timber glazing can bring light, air and inspiration to schools

In association with
From a single classroom extension to a new-build school, Velfac composite windows and doors offer a competitive alternative to all aluminium systems.
From a single classroom extension to a new-build school, Velfac composite windows and doors offer a competitive alternative to all aluminium systems.

Promised government investment in education facilities is prompting renewed assessment of product specification. While better quality and more robust building products may initially cost more than budget alternatives, they do deliver better whole lifetime costs because they are less expensive to maintain.

This is especially true for glazing, where maintenance costs can be significant across the lifetime of the product and, for longer lasting systems such as Velfac composite wood/aluminium windows, that can be 40 years or more. 

The ability of modern building products to transform an indoor climate is particularly relevant for education settings. Window units featuring slim frames can increase natural light and reduce the need for artificial internal lighting. High performance windows delivering low U-values allow the installation of much larger windows and glazed screens, without compromising internal temperature.

Light-filled, well ventilated school buildings promote a healthier indoor climate, supporting pupils' enjoyment of their studies.
Light-filled, well ventilated school buildings promote a healthier indoor climate, supporting pupils' enjoyment of their studies.

Velfac can help architects develop ventilation strategies for facades by undertaking opening area calculations. It can then advise on the ideal combination of manual or mechanically controlled opening units, ventilation louvres and trickle vents.

Durability is essential to keeping maintenance costs low, but not at the expense of style or design. Velfac external aluminium frames need minimal maintenance and deliver a clean, contemporary facade finish and uniform sightlines.

The internal timber frame can be factory painted, but clear lacquer is often specified as it provides a natural and welcoming finish, often complemented by a more adventurous exterior for greater design impact.

The two case studies, below, illustrate how good glazing design can help create healthy, enriching learning environments.

123

Bohunt School Worthing

Velfac glazing ensures impressive design impact, maximum daylight and low maintenance performance at Bohunt School, designed by ECE Architecture.

The windows deliver natural light and efficient ventilation across the school, while the striking monochrome exterior features ribbon-runs of full-height Velfac windows, with large units also combined to create the fully glazed ground floor entrance.

The slim Velfac frame increases daylight throughout the school, especially in the sports hall and atrium where large, high-level windows flood the interior with natural light. Motorised and manual window units are combined (all retaining identical sightlines) to provide precise, easy to use ventilation.

For more on this case study, visit: velfac.co.uk/bohunt-school

123

The Merlin Centre at The Marlborough Science Academy, St Albans

Designed by Elbourn Architects, The Merlin Centre features over 120m2 of Velfac windows and doors in a compact building designed to emphasise daylight, natural materials and high quality workmanship.

Slim framed Velfac windows maximise daylight throughout the interior, together with small Velfac units installed around the ground floor. Larger units are combined to create generous first floor window runs and distinctive glazed bays, which form part of a cafe area.

A two-storey fully glazed entrance surrounds the heavy duty aluminium Velfac door and an additional run of smaller units creates a clerestory window incorporating motorised vents as part of a natural ventilation system.

For more on this case study, visit velfac.co.uk/the-merlin-centre

For an education brochure outlining the benefits of Velfac glazing, plus showcases of inspirational projects and a fully costed typical classroom screen, visit velfac.com/education-projects

For more information and technical support, visit velfac.co.uk/commercial

 

Contact:

01223 897100

sales-support@dovista.com

 


 

Latest

In an Olympic year and with a Commonwealth Games due to be staged in two years’ time, impress us with a bold, temporary sporting arena in Edinburgh or London for a chance to win a £2500 prize

Win up to £2500 in our design ideas competition

Guidance from Purcell stresses the need to use heritage-trained architects, spend time and effort on detailed design, and collaborate with council conservation officers

Purcell guidance advocates heritage-trained architects and collaboration with LPA conservation officers

Our role as architects encompasses much more than design alone, says Muyiwa Oki. Reassuring our clients is an essential part of the service

Reassuring our clients is an essential part of the service

Amin Taha’s Groupwork has thrown a light, nostalgic cloak over a central London office block in a playful upgrade and extension

Amin Taha’s playful upgrade and extension of a city block

Light industrial unit design in Sevenoaks, a daylighting contest for architecture students and a new home counties planning/design framework: these are some of the latest architecture contracts and competitions from across the industry

Latest: £2.6m commercial development, Kent