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trio of architectural aluminium systems from leading UK
supplier Kawneer proved a “key element” to the redevelopment
of a city college for a multitude of reasons including
sustainability, robustness and aesthetics. |
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Kawneer’s AA®110 curtain walling was used on the student
refectory that provides panoramic views of Sheffield as well
as the walls of the flagship atrium. Glazed strip sections
were also used on the atrium’s curved roof, complemented
elsewhere by AA®601 top/side-hung casement and AA®602 pivot
windows and series 190 heavy-duty commercial entrance doors. |
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Winner of a regional award for outstanding contribution to
improving air quality, the £60 million Sheffield City
College is home to 6,000 students, 600 staff and a host of
sustainable features including a trio of roof-mounted
15m-high wind turbines, the first of their kind to grace the
city skyline. |
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As well as these, the iconic
purpose-built college also features photovoltaic panels, a
rainwater recycling system, green sedum roofs, a balancing
pond to channel water for re-use, natural ventilation of all
rooms, high-efficiency light fittings and an additional
turbine at ground level. |
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The final phase included a
sports hall, outdoor sports pitches, landscaping and new
college entrance, with students moving into each new phase
to allow demolition of the old buildings. |
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Architects Jefferson Sheard have
used Kawneer before, on numerous education and transport
projects. In the case of Sheffield City College, where the
Kawneer systems were installed by specialist sub-contractor
Drawn Metal, theirs was a performance specification that
also had a contractor design element. |
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Architect Mike Hall said: “We
did work closely with Kawneer and produced our details in
accordance with the Kawneer system as we have used Kawneer
products in the past with great success and Kawneer were
extremely pro-active in helping us produce the details and
input into the spec. We had no issues in accepting the
Kawneer product as a contractor’s proposal.” |
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He added: “The Kawneer systems
are a key element, providing natural light into the atrium
space and integrating smoke vents, providing a fantastic
panoramic view of the city from the refectory. |
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“The college, with its use of
sustainable building techniques and renewable energy
technologies, is high on the sustainability agenda and it
was extremely important that the building materials were
reflective of this. The use of an aluminium system with high
recyclable properties was important. |
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“The Kawneer system complied
with the aesthetic and performance requirements of the
project extremely well, providing a robust yet elegant
solution.” |
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He added: “The interface details
were developed in conjunction with Kawneer, ourselves and
the contractor and interfaced extremely well with the
adjacent standing seam, rainscreen cladding and composite
cladding elements.” |
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Sheffield City College principal
Julie Byrne said: “We are incredibly proud of our
inspirational new building and its green credentials and
would like to thank all the partners involved for doing such
a fantastic job.” |
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