Fit for a king
26th May 2015

Visitors to the £4 million visitor centre at the site where the remains of Richard III were discovered will be shielded from the elements by PILKINGTON Planar structural glazing.

At the award-winning centre, designed by Maber architects, is an entryway glazed floor-to-ceiling in high clarity Pilkington Optiwhite glass, held in place by the Pilkington Planar glazing system.

The double-glazed system features units composed of two panes of glass 10mm and 6mm thick, separated by a 16mm airspace; it is supported by 15mm-thick vertical glass fins and is bolted to the structure of the building with moulded stainless steel fittings. The result is a wall of glass that provides almost completely uninterrupted sight lines through the building while also delivering high levels of thermal insulation.

Chris Barr, design engineer at Pilkington Architectural, said: “The council and the architect wanted to create a world-class visitor centre befitting of the historical importance of the find that was made in Leicester.

“The unobtrusive and very clear nature of the glass creates a very open and inviting space for visitors to the centre, while the thermal insulation it offers will keep the cost of heating the building down.

“Planar structural glazing has played a leading role in some very high profile public and cultural buildings, including the new visitor centre at Stonehenge and the modernisation of Dragon Hall, the Grade 1 listed medieval trading hall in Norwich.”

The centre won the RIBA East Midlands award and is currently shortlisted for a number of national awards.

www.pilkington.com