Thermal upgrade for iconic Edgbaston
office building
3rd July 2012

One of Birmingham’s Grade A office buildings is currently undergoing a major window replacement project. GLASSOLUTIONS – formerly known as Solaglas - is significantly upgrading the thermal performance without altering the external appearance of the building while business continues as normal for its occupiers.

Fifty4 Hagley Road comprises two tower blocks which are linked at ground level with a communal reception, services such as a café and main entrance doors. The taller of the two towers is 17 storeys high and the other is eight storeys.

One of the key strands of the current refurbishment work, due for completion in September 2012, is the replacement of 1600 windows to the two tower blocks. The existing windows were installed when the building was constructed in the 1970s so offered enormous scope for thermal improvement given the advances in glazing technology over the last four decades.

With the refurbishment work being carried out while the building remains fully operational for existing tenants, it has been vital from the outset to ensure the safety and security of building users and keep disruption and noise to an absolute minimum.

GLASSOLUTIONS was awarded the fenestration contract by construction project management consultants Buro Four. Its brief includes acting as principal contractor and providing full site management duties including risk assessments, liability insurance, provision of all safety fencing and signage and operation of plant and such as cranes and mast climbers.