Deceuninck fabricator Dempsey Dyer played a significant role in the completion of The Pastures, a £168m student accommodation project in Colchester.
Thanks to the fabricator’s ongoing working relationship with client Bouygues, it was invited in at the design stage to offer meaningful advice on the project’s product specification and installation.
“We contributed positively to the windows’ design – switching from aluminium to PVC-U – adopted new ways of interfacing with the buildings’ structure, switched to new installation methods as work on site began, and provided on-site management to ensure the project ran smoothly,” said managing director Peter Dyer.
“We believe The Pastures is the culmination of many years of close working with Bouygues, winning a Supply Chain Award from the main contractor in the project’s closing stages.”
Dempsey Dyer designed, manufactured and fitted 2015 frames – the equivalent of 4,300m2 of window area – in the project, which brings an additional 1,262 student bedrooms to the Colchester campus, split across five new buildings.
Early in the project, construction shifted from a modular build to a reinforced concrete (RC) design, with windows installed within an SFS (Steel Frame System) frame.
Peter continued: “Our positive relationship with all stakeholders allowed a smooth transition to this very different construction method without any delays to site.
“Windows for this type of project are typically aluminium, but we successfully proposed a PVC-U alternative. This involved overcoming an issue of fitting external aluminium louvres to the PVC-U frames, which is unusual because this is typically aluminium to aluminium. We also had to demonstrate that these windows would also interface seamlessly with facade by using a breathable membrane applied by us to the perimeter of the window creating an airtight line back to the facade.”
The fabricator worked with its systems supplier Deceuninck to calculate wind loads and U-values – a vital requirement for commercial projects like The Pastures, according to Peter: “All product designs and structural calculations to evidence our compliance were presented early to the client, along with samples.
“Despite the fact we were outside of any contractual agreement at this point, we were committed to the partnership ethos of design and build. And because this was still an exclusive relationship, we could go back to our supply partners to develop the best product for the job.”
The tilt and turn windows were made using Deceuninck 2500 profile in RAL 7016 Anthracite Grey, chosen to replicate aluminium for planning purposes.
The units were made by Euroview. They were double glazed using SKN175 Cool-Lite from Saint-Gobain Glass, which has a g-value of 35 to help prevent overheating. The internal pane included an 8.8mm acoustic interlayer to help achieve a sound reduction of Rw40. U-value required was 1.4W/m2K.
Tilt and turn hardware from Maco was used, marine grade stainless steel fixings were specified, and illbruck sealing tape was used as part of the interface between window and structure.
Dempsey Dyer also supplied two full-time employed senior site supervisors to site, primarily to support its installers, and help meet commitments, but it also provided the overall site with two experienced individuals who ensured quality standards were maintained.
