Post 16 Education Centre
November 2016

The development of a sustainable education facility in Flintshire, intended to support courses for students age 16-19, has made extensive use of glazing by SAPA BUILDING SYSTEMS, including doors, windows and curtain walling.

The £13.75 million Post 16 Education Centre at Connah’s Quay has been constructed as a joint development by Coleg Cambria and Flintshire County Council. Ainsley Gommon Architects were first appointed by Coleg Cambria in 2013 and worked closely with the College’s commissioning team to define their initial requirements and Client aspirations.

Wynne Construction was the main contractor for the project: taking responsibility for the design work after the planning stage and appointing Westmore Architectural Ltd as the specialist sub-contractor for the fenestration.

Westmore Architectural subsequently undertook the design, fabrication and installation of the Sapa systems: its package encompassing both manually opened windows and electric window actuators as well as multiple sets of automatic sliding doors and a swing door for compliance with approved Document M.

The centre has been designed and built to exceed BREEAM Excellent standards: including promoting the use of natural daylighting and ventilation.

The building uses a mix of Sapa’s Elegance 52 ST curtain walling, and the manufacturer’s Dualframe 75 Si windows, as well as its ST11 commercial doors.

Elegance 52 ST curtain walling is an externally capped, thermally broken curtain wall system that offers many design options through the use of different mullions and cover caps. Several special locations such as 90° angle mullions or variable angles have been designed with a minimal use of material; resulting in slim sightlines.

Sapa’s Dualframe 75 Si range, with its polyamide break help it offer U-values down to 0.9 W/m2 K. Dualframe is said to be the first aluminium system to achieve an A++ Window Energy Rating. Then, in line with the spec’ for the new Post 16 centre, PAS 24 has been achieved on every style including tilt-before-turn and pivot.

A drained low profile threshold and bottom rail adaptor ensure that disability access under BS8300 and Part M of the Building Regulations is fully accommodated across the wide range of options available.

http://www.sapabuildingsystem.com/en/uk/