‘Robustness and aesthetics’
15th October 2019

Products from Pilkington installed by Vitrine Systems were used in the development of Abbey Wood station by Network Rail as part of the Crossrail project.

Travellers enter the new station though an entrance lobby with a double-height glazed entrance façade which includes both flat and curved glass. To maximise sightlines and minimise framing, the designers specified the Pilkington Planar structural glazing system with 21.5mm laminated units. The glass features a SentryGlas interlayer by Kuraray to deliver stronger and lighter laminated glazing compared with traditional polyvinyl butyral (PVB)-based systems.

The units have been curved to complement the lines of the station roof and an acid-etched frit was applied to some units to further enhance the design and make ground-level glass visible to pedestrians where appropriate.

Pilkington Optiwhite low-iron glass was used, giving a natural clarity colour balance to the light passing thorough.

Elsewhere, laminated glass fitted using the Planar system was used to create balustrades and bannisters for stairways and exposed edges.

Paul Williams, managing director at Vitrine Systems, said: “The Pilkington Planar system has a number of big advantages when creating projects like this, where outstanding standards of robustness and aesthetics are required to achieve the dramatic feature glazing.”

Jason Eggerton, Pilkington UK specification manager, said: “Testing and development of the Pilkington Planar system using SentryGlas interlayers has helped to provide a structural glazing system that delivers unrivalled strength. It uses thinner substrates than previously possible meaning lighter structures, larger glass panels and potentially fewer stainless steel fittings.”