Brighton University Contract
March 2016

Window, door and curtain walling designer, manufacturer and installer CMS Window Systems has secured a comprehensive building envelope contract for the University of Brighton’s new state of the art £14m Advanced Engineering Centre (AEC).

Working here for main contractor Graham, CMS will deliver high performance fenestration for the part two and part three storey building which is set to provide specialist science-led teaching and research facilities for advanced automotive engineering.

The AEC building, designed by international design practice Hassell, will provide new accommodation including laboratories, tutorial rooms, meeting rooms and exhibition spaces – all of which will offer capacity for 300 students, along with 35 academic staff and 35 research posts.

Located on the University of Brighton’s Moulsecoomb campus, the AEC will support the expansion and enhancement of a partnership between the university and global engineering, consultancy and specialist manufacturer Ricardo. This partnership aims to advance the design and development of novel low-carbon internal combustion systems, with the wider objectives of advancing technological knowledge and supporting the advanced training needs of the next generation of engineers.

The thermally broken aluminium windows, doors and curtain walling manufactured and installed by CMS using Metal Technology systems are part of an innovative building design planned to minimise energy use.  CMS will fabricate and install more than 380m2 of curtain walling to suit the client’s vibrant design. Windows with a typical U-value of 1.3 W/m2K, plus doors created using Metal Technology’s System 5-20D Hi+ will complete CMS’s involvement in the project.

Significant for the region, the AEC was described earlier this year by Councillor Julie Cattell, chair of Brighton & Council’s planning committee as “an exciting, state of the art, new development which will deliver advances in research and technology in automotive engineering and bring benefits for the local economy.” She also praised the design of the building, “especially the innovative use of materials.”

The AEC’s development has been funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England and the University of Brighton, with a further generous contribution of £7m from the Government’s Local Growth Fund.

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