Steel Award Winner. Entrant: Propak Architectural Glazing
This quirky redevelopment of a Mayfair office building utilised many systems within the Schueco Jansen steel range.
Designed by MJP Architects and Short & Associates for Berry Bros & Rudd Wine Merchants on the corner of Pall Mall and St James’s Street, the project retained the front facade but introduced a more adventurous rear composition incorporating arched, curved and circular screens.
As well as negotiating the strict planning and heritage requirements of the surrounding grade II* listed buildings, specialist contractor Propak dealt with high fire ratings and acoustic insulation requirements.
‘During design it quickly became obvious that steel was the only option,’ said managing director Lloyd Bennett. ‘No other material was capable of offering the optimal combination of high fire ratings, larger panes and minimal, “heritage window” type sightlines. Using the same Schueco Jansen family of systems throughout helped provide a seamless integration of profiles, systems and finishes.’
At the front, the original intention had been to refurbish the windows and add secondary glazing. Propak instead suggested Schueco Jansen Janisol Arte to mimic the existing sightlines as well as provide improved thermal and acoustic properties.
To the rear, the same system was used in combination with a Schueco Jansen VISS curved curtain wall to create the array of window shapes. This required a large amount of bespoke design and particularly close collaboration with the brickwork specialists to achieve the recessed Schueco Jansen Janisol Arte profiles. Propak provided them with templates so that the brick apertures matched the Jansen system within the 1mm tolerances. It then used its own templates to manufacture the system to fit.
To complement the window finishes, Propak manufactured matching window reveal flashings. This, along with the concealed fixings, gives ‘a really nice crisp finish’, Bennett said. Propak also made roof parapet flashings to match the louvered Schueco Jansen steel systems doors on the rooftop and insulated spandrel panels for the fire-rated curtain wall. The project included internal fire-rated doors and curtain walls and a walk-on glass roof.
The tight site made this project particularly challenging logistically – larger units had to be lifted over the building by tower crane for installation at the rear.
Judges admired both the novelty of the rear elevation and the technical achievement of realising it, especially the use of curved fire-rated systems. ‘There’s no doubt that it’s a complex and good use of the systems,’ commented Louise Cotter.
Client Berry Bros & Rudd Wine Merchants
Architects MJP Architects, Short & Associates
Structural engineer Civic Engineers
Main contractor Galliford Try
Specialist contractor Propak Architectural Glazing
Commended
23-27 Hatton Wall, Shoreditch, London - Entrant: Roz Barr Architects