The Shield, Newcastle
May 2019

Curtain walling and door systems, from the TECHNAL brand have been installed at The Shield, an £18.4m student accommodation development close to Newcastle city centre.

Designed by Newcastle-based xsitearchitecture, and developed and constructed by BAM, the building features a palette of external materials including brick, aluminium, bronze coloured cladding and standing seam.

Technal’s FY Visible 65mm windows was installed in a vertical configuration to contrast with the cladding’s horizontal line; side hung open out windows were mainly used across the project, with some top hung open out vents also featured – all fitted with standard Technal-exclusive hardware including locking handles and releasable restrictors.

To achieve optimum U-value, approximately 70% of the windows on the building included spandrel glass, a ceramic toughened glass with foil-backed insulation to surface 4 of the unit. Each configuration was carefully designed to avoid disrupting outward views.

At ground floor level for security, any fixed light or fixed light with vent windows had to be Secured by Design so were fitted with security clips. Also, due to their size, some corner windows high up on the building used reinforced mullions.

Technal’s MX Visible Grid curtain walling system was installed at ground floor level alongside its PY 55 doors, and at height alongside the FY 65 windows - visually zig zagging on alternate floors to add interest.

All of the systems have been finished in a contrasting black powder coating.

In walking distance of Northumbria University’s City Campus East and the main Newcastle University Campus, the new accommodation offers a mix of self-contained studio flats and en-suite bedrooms with shared kitchens, housing up to 400 students.

www.technal.com/en/uk