Founded in 1992, Moscow International University is the first Russian non-state educational institution. It has six faculties, four higher education and two post-graduate schools, catering for approximately 1700 students.
Reconstruction – Glass Roof for the Atrium
Some years ago, a decision was made to reconstruct the old building and build a new one adjacent to it. This increased the university complex area to 14,800 m². To connect the two buildings and benefit from the open space, an atrium with a glass roof was built.
Electrically-heated roof glazing was selected for two main reasons. First, the roof is at an angle of 1.5 to 5 degrees horizontally. Secondly, the snow load was calculated as 720 kg/m². Therefore, the heated roof was designed to melt the snow, enabling natural daylight to still flood into the atrium during winter.
Specially designed insulating glass units (IGUs) incorporating Pilkington K Glass™, low emissivity glass with hard conductive coating, were produced to meet the design and functional challenge.
Approximately 400 IGUs totalling 700 m² of different sizes and forms (trapeziums and triangles) were produced. Each IGU was unique, to accommodate the curved form of the roof. The IGUs with electric heating incorporated consisted of an outer pane of laminated 6 mm Pilkington K Glass™ T (toughened) with 10 mm Pilkington Optifloat™ Clear T (toughened) and inner pane laminated from two panes of 3 mm Pilkington Optifloat™ Clear.
Bright sunny courtyard for the students
When Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov, who is an honorary professor of the University, first visited the newly built atrium he was impressed with the functionality and space available for students to use all created by using glass.
With the new atrium, the University now has a modern look and a bright sunny area for students to either study or rest.