Sunderland College
29th August 2017

BAM CONSTRUCTION has designed, manufactured and installed a glazing package for Sunderland College along with locally based fabricator Glasshus Ltd, including a double-storey façade using Technal’s MX SG structural glazing system.|

Simon Tuckwell of Glasshus said: “There were a number of Technal FY Top Hung Open Out windows produced for the link bridge, as well as a variety of PY door types supplied, but the main part of the package involved use of the MX structural glazing for the curtain wall; all designed in house by ourselves to meet the aesthetic challenges of the original design. It is in effect a dual height, three-sided shaped screen, some 40 metres in width.”

BAM design manager Mark Farnell added: “This was the first time that Glasshus had worked for us, though since the successful completion of the Sunderland College contract, they have won three more jobs including a student accommodation building in Newcastle and a school in Sheffield.”

Energy performance was a key issue in the specification of the MX SG screen, involving the selection of special IG units. These featured an argon filled 18 mm cavity, with a 12.8mm laminated inner leaf and a 6mm toughened outer: offering a centre pane U-value of 1.1 W/m2 K.

The PY 55 doors produced for the project included both automatic sliders and side hung sets for access compliant with the equality act, as well as some manual opening doorsets. In common with the top hung FY 65 windows, the frame elements were all finished in a RAL 7036 light grey polyester powder coat.