It’s a Gas, Gas, Gas

• Content
• Building, Refurbishment & Fit-Out
• It’s a Gas, Gas, Gas

27 June 2014 | Updated 01 January 1970

Curtain walling from architectural aluminium systems supplier, Kawneer, has helped a new regional headquarters for up to 1,000 British Gas Business staff achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating.

Kawneer’s AA110 zone/mullion-drained curtain walling with 65mm sightlines features on the two wings of the £19 million state-of-the-art office building on Oxford Business Park, part of the former Austin Rover works at Cowley. It was specified by architect, Frank Shaw Associates, that has specified Kawneer systems on commercial and industrial projects for the past 20 years.

Frank Shaw Associates detailed the building to allow a very simple interface with the construction of the external envelope generally. The typical interface detail comprised a DPC dressed into the curtain walling, with a packing piece glazed in and perimeter mastic sealant applied. They used two curtain walling face cap profiles to allow the transoms to have greater definition than the mullions.

As well as the BREEAM Excellent rating, the building achieved an EPC rating of ‘A’. It comprises the two three-storey wings, separated by atria and core, aligned to maximise the effectiveness of both passive solar shading via brise soleil and the LZC (Low or Zero Carbon) equipment (photovoltaic panels and solar hot water).

Built of traditional construction, using an in-situ concrete frame with post-tensioned concrete slabs, it was built on a four-acre site by Kier Construction (Central) for client developer Goodman, with the Kawneer elements installed by Aluminium Sashes. The 81,000ft² building features formal and informal meeting and conference facilities, an on-site restaurant with dining for around 200 people, training rooms and an innovation centre showcasing new green technology.

Article written by Mike Gannon | Published 27 June 2014

Share

Related Articles