Everyone setting foot in the new extension of the historic John Rylands Library in Manchester will be enjoying the surroundings with added clarity, thanks to glazing from Pilkington. The extension to the original building, which was built in 1900, features 512 m² of the Pilkington Planar™ structural glazing system incorporating Pilkington Optiwhite™. Pilkington glass was used extensively in the exterior of the newly added structure, and also features in the interior in the stair balustrade within the atrium and the glass bridge which connects the new building with the old.
More than 300 m² of 19 mm toughened Pilkington Optiwhite™ and 100 m² of 19.5 mm Pilkington Optiwhite™ laminate is used on the project. Insulated glass units (IGUs) in the atrium roof are made up of 10 mm Pilkington Optiwhite™ THS with a 16 mm cavity and internal laminate leaf of 13.5 mm Pilkington Optilam™ OW. All glazing was fitted with Pilkington Planar™ Nexus cast stainless steel fittings and Pilkington Planar™ bolts.
The library is part of the University of Manchester. Construction of the new building on Spinningfields, which began in 2004, has been made possible thanks to an £8.5 million pound grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund and over £3 million from the European Union.
Photography by:
Inside Out Photography Manchester -info@insideoutphoto.co.uk