City Quay, a new five storey office and retail complex, has just been completed on the banks of the River Liffey in the heart of Dublin’s business district.
With such a picturesque urban setting, KMD Architecture of Dublin needed a glass system that would enable spectacular and unhindered views across the river and city. Pilkington Planar™ was a natural choice.
Pilkington Planar™ provides a flush glass surface using countersunk holes and stainless steel fittings to fix back the glass façade to the structure instead of the conventional framing systems. The result is a fully engineered system with the minimum of structure and the maximum visual clarity.
KMD Architects used 3 different types of Pilkington Planar™ to achieve their requirements;
- 15mm Pilkington Optifloat™ Clear THS fixed back with Nexus casting and 902 bolts to structural steel in the external lift shafts,
- 12mm Pilkington Optifloat™ Clear THS fixed back to 19mmm Pilkington Optifloat™ Clear THS fins with 905j Pilkington Planar™ bolts in the ground floor retail areas and
- Pilkington Planar™ insulating glass units comprising 12mm Pilkington Optifloat™ Clear THS outer, 16mm airspace and 6mm Pilkington K Glass™ THS toughened inner fixed back to 19mm Pilkington Optifloat™ Clear THS fins in the upper floor office development as this meets the U-value and sound reduction requirements of this area.
Glass supplier Dunnes, an accreded installer of the Pilkington Planar™ Structural Glazinfg System, worked closely with KMD Architecture to ensure that key visual requirements were met as well as meeting commercial property building regulations. Not only does it provide fantastic views from inside the building, but the frameless glass system also creates a stunning building that is a welcome addition to the Dublin skyline.
The majority of this state of the art development will house a large accountancy practice with the ground floor retail area being let to an art gallery and coffee shop.