A large quantity of Pilkington
Optitherm™ SN glass from Pilkington Building Products - UK, has been used to stunning effect at the Royals Business Park, which has recently been completed at the Royal Albert Dock, London.
Representing the first major office building in the Docklands outside Canary Wharf in ten years, the Business Park is the capital's largest to date.
Named "Building 1000", the striking design encompasses two huge glass-walled wings and has been designed by award-winning architects, Aukett.
The wings are linked by a spectacular five-storey winter garden and overlook the Royal Albert Dock and the conveniently close London City Airport. Providing some 22,017m2 of office space, the project is the first stage of a £500m overhaul of the entire area that will eventually see the 50-acre site provide 148,640 square metres of offices and 9,290 square metres of ancillary retail and leisure accommodation.
Constructed by façade engineering specialists Pluswall, the stunning glass wings and external glass envelope utilise over 10,000m2 of Pilkington Insulight™ units incorporating toughened Pilkington Optitherm™ T. In addition to this, 1,500m2 of single toughened Pilkington Optifloat™ T is used throughout the building to create the unusual structure.
Pilkington Optitherm™ is a low emissivity coated glazing product that has been specifically developed for advanced insulation performance. The special coating, by reducing the level of heat loss through the glass, allows for a substantial reduction in energy consumption and promotes more efficient energy management.
As the first building in an ambitious and prestigious development plan for the area, the project, which also includes an undercroft car park, external landscaping and dock edge works, has already become the latest landmark in London's Docklands, with the unique glass envelope operating as the focal point of the structure.
Bill Peek, Sales Director at Pluswall, commented: "Pilkington Optitherm™ was specified because it met the exacting requirements set out by the architect. A glass wall system was required that would offer excellent standards of quality and meet the specific thermal efficiency targets, whilst also adding to the overall aesthetic quality of the structure."
NB The product featured, Pilkington Optitherm™ SN, has been discontinued since supply of this project but alternative products are available - for more information on low emissivity glass please call the Pilkington Technical Helpline on 01744 692000.