Aluprof solutions, aluminium construction materials
Aluminium in the service of sustainability. How Aluprof solutions have had an effect on the architectural landscape of Glasgow
19 November 2024
Lightness, plasticity, durability and full recyclability – these are the qualities of aluminium that cannot be overestimated. They are the reason why it has become one of the most important construction materials in modern buildings. Let’s have a look at how modern aluminium systems are being used in Glasgow.
Pacific House, Glasgow, Great Britain:
Glasgow’s most iconic buildings have all been built using aluminium
Both new buildings and those requiring renovation face challenges in terms of energy efficiency. At the same time, investors want these buildings to be visually attractive, aesthetically pleasing, durable, safe and comfortable for their users.
– These are ambitious goals for which aluminium windows, doors and facades are perfectly suited. Aluminium is characterised by its high strength and resistance to mechanical loads, which makes it ideal for creating heavy structures. The use of aluminium systems in façades makes it possible to create panoramic glazing to achieve a modern effect and to flood the interiors with natural light – explains Wojciech Brożyna, the Managing Director of Aluprof UK. – At the same time, these constructions are characterised by high thermal insulation properties, as shown by the Passive House certificates awarded to selected Aluprof solutions – adds Brożyna.
Aluminium systems are ideal both for modern architecture and for the renovation of existing buildings. Windows in the MB-Ferroline or MB-Slimline system perfectly imitate traditional steel joinery while ensuring optimal insulation parameters, ideal for retrofitting heritage buildings. At the same time, aluminium windows in the MB-79N system, doors in the MB-77HS system or MB-MM50N facades, introduced to meet increased thermal insulation requirements and to ensure modern visual qualities, can be used in the most daring of projects.
Modern aluminium solutions can be found in Glasgow in buildings such as the Maldron Hotel on Renfrew St., North Hanover Street and Athletes’ Village.
Maldron Hotel, Glasgow, Great Britain. Systems used: MB-SR50N
Expansion of student facilities in Glasgow
For the youngest adult generation in Britain, caring for the environment is of paramount importance. They pay more attention than others to whether or not companies are sustainability-oriented. They want to live and work in harmony with nature and the environment because they have come of age in a world that has been abused by previous generations in this respect. The windows and doors of the Aluprof systems have been fitted in a number of buildings providing accommodation for students in Glasgow.
Boyce House Student Accomodation – modern flats in an industrial setting
Boyce House offers a unique combination of student accommodation and an area for living and socialising. Areas for common use, landscaped terraces and a courtyard garden make student life flourish. All this in a former industrial area, just minutes from the bustling centre of Glasgow and world-class universities and colleges.
The Boyce House Student Accomodation uses MB-70HI aluminium windows and doors in the MB-70HI system, which, in combination with MB-SR50N facades, ensure extremely high thermal insulation.
Boyce House Student Accomodation, Glasgow, Great Britain. Architect: Fletcher Joseph Associates, Fabricator: Marshall Brown, Contractor: Watkin Jones Group Systems used: MB-70HI, MB-SR50N
Prestige Student Living Base with casement windows
A very similar solution has been used in the Prestige Student Living Base. In addition to this, the facility has been fitted with tilt and turn windows in the MB-59S Casament system with increased sound insulation. Located between the B-listed Piping Centre and the A-listed Scottish Ambulance building in Cowcaddens, the building provides accommodation for 301 students, with a mix of studio and cluster flats arranged around a U-shaped plan.
Prestige Student Living Base, Glasgow, Great Britain. Architect: Mosaic Architecture and Design, Fabricator: Marshall Brown, Contractor: Graham Construction. Systems used: MB-59S, MB-70HI, MB-SR50N
St Mungos – student accommodation in the heart of Glasgow
Opened in 2018, this student dormitory offers en-suite rooms located in the heart of the city, just a 3-minute walk from the University of Strathclyde. Featuring an on-site air-conditioned gym, cinema room and a fully equipped kitchen, it is an ideal place for students.
The building uses the aforementioned MB-59S and MB-SR50N aluminium systems to provide not only thermal protection, but also the acoustic insulation that is so important in a fun-filled student world.
St Mungos, Glasgow, Great Britain. Architect: Fletcher Joseph Associates, Fabricator: Marshall Brown, Contractor: Watkin Jones Group. Systems used: MB-59S, MB-SR50N
Bridle Works – dormitory with a roof terrace
The 20-storey dormitory with 422 rooms is famous for its rooftop terrace and its convenient location. As one of Glasgow’s tallest buildings, it reached the final stage of the Mixology North22 Project of the Year Awards competition in the Living Interiors Category.
The building uses MB-86 windows and doors. This is a solution with excellent thermal and airtightness parameters and very high durability, which is of great importance in a place where accommodation is rented out.
Bridle Works, Glasgow, Great Britain. Architect: Manson Architects, Fabricator: Marshall Brown, Contractor: Watkin Jones Group. Systems used: MB-78EI, MB-86, MB-SR50N EI
The use of aluminium facades in dormitory-type buildings also makes sense for economic and ecological reasons, making it possible to further optimize energy costs in an environment where the occupants of the building are not focused on reducing energy consumption on a daily basis. Despite the popular all-inclusive pricing model (which leads to a lax attitude among student renters regarding efficient energy use), the investor can be certain that the building maintenance costs incurred by the investor will not be excessive.
Control the climate, control the costs
Modern, energy-efficient aluminium joinery which is both aesthetically pleasing and environmentally friendly is the key to modern construction. Aluminium windows and doors with thermal insulation meet the highest standards of energy efficiency. The material itself is fully recyclable to make it as environmentally-friendly as possible.
The windows are additionally equipped with external roller shutters (e.g. SkyTwin roller-screens), which protect against heat gain and heat loss and ensure a high level of thermal insulation in a way that is beneficial for the climate as well as for the wallets of residents and investors. According to Guidehouse experts, the use of intelligent, dynamic sunshades in Europe could reduce CO₂ emissions by 100 million tonnes by 2050 and generate savings of up to EUR 285 billion.
This comprehensive approach to sustainable construction, as outlined in Aluprof’s latest “Control the Climate, Control the Costs” campaign, provides both environmental and economic benefits.
Article sponsored by Aluprof
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