Selectaglaze’s secondary glazing solution creates a warm, quiet and safe learning environment at Harris Manchester College
From primary schools through to universities, we all learn better in a quiet and comfortable environment. Many schools and colleges occupy traditional buildings in noisy locations, with original single glazed windows, which can have an adverse impact on the learning environment.
Secondary glazing can help resolve these distractions, simply and effectively. It can also significantly improve a building’s energy efficiency, which improves comfort during winter months and increase window security as educational buildings are often targets of theft and vandalism.
Secondary glazing offers an essential option to help educational institutions decarbonise their heritage estates as it is particularly suited to traditional buildings, those in conservation areas or listed buildings with preserved facades.
The solution
Selectaglaze provided a solution with secondary glazing at Harris Manchester College, one of the constituent Colleges of the University of Oxford. Late Victorian, the buildings contain ornate wooden panelling, gothic revival architectural detailing and large stained glass windows.
With a new construction site opposite the north side of the main building, the fragility of this Grade II listed building and its original features became apparent and noise and dust ingress an issue. Four rooms were affected: two meeting rooms, a student common room and the Tate Library.
This project, part of the college’s larger greening plans, was to help reduce the noise breakthrough and to make the building more energy-efficient and reduce wasted heat through the draughty single glazed windows.
Selectaglaze was contacted to provide advice on treatments and support in gaining Listed Building Consent by producing the application drawings. Twenty-eight windows across four different rooms required secondary glazing; each room had their challenges and specific requirements.
In the two meeting rooms: Series 20 slimline vertical sliding units were installed, colour matched in a wood grain finish to complement and blend in with the wood panelling and reveals. They were glazed with 6.8mm acoustic glass and positioned to optimise the cavity, ensuring high levels of acoustic reduction, as well as providing access for cleaning and maintenance.
The primary windows in the Tate Library are tall gothic arched windows, with three stained glass windows forming a main bay. They all had single glazed openings which did little to prevent draughts or keep the noise out. To complement the interior décor and leaded casings, the timber sub-frames and secondary glazing profiles were colour coated in 9005 Jet Black Matt.
The timber was scribed on site and installed prior to the manufacture survey to ensure exact measurements were taken. The portion of the window below the mezzanine was a Series 10 horizontal sliding unit. Stacked on top, in an area not requiring ongoing access, were two series 42 fixed lights.
Above these up to the spring point was another Series 10, followed by three Series 42 curved fixed lights, including reverse curving to follow the lines and details of the tracery at the head. Installed with 6.8 laminate glass and a generous cavity the space is quieter, warmer and provides some UV protection to the books and manuscripts in the library.
The student common room required a solution to stop noise from the neighbouring construction site and to stop noise escaping from it and disturbing local residents. Series 20 slimline vertical sliders were installed in white to match the interior design.
A quieter and warmer environment
Selectaglaze assisted in creating a warmer and more energy-efficient environment at the Francis Holland School, Regent’s Park, London, premises. Built in the 1900s, the purpose-built Grade II listed building has been extended over the years to accommodate the changing needs for modern learning.
This included buying the nearby Gloucester Arms when it went up for sale in 2005. The pub dates back to 1880 and has been converted with care, retaining many of its historic features. It is now used as classrooms, which connect two ends of the building in what was originally a V-shape.
As with many older buildings, the timeworn windows were thermally inefficient and draughty. The old existing secondary glazing was unfit for purpose allowing noise to come in from outside. The need to create a quieter and warmer learning environment to aid better concentration was essential. Selectaglaze worked alongside the building consultancy team at Daniel Watney to create a solution by using secondary glazing.
Thirty-five units were installed in four different styles including the Series 15 horizontal sliding unit, which has a more robust, yet still slender frame, allowing for the discreet treatment of larger windows.
Selectaglaze’s purpose made systems arrive fully assembled to allow rapid installation with minimum disruption but where work could impact on staff or students it can be programmed to coincide with holiday periods.
Founded in 1966, Royal Warrant Holder Selectaglaze has a wealth of experience working in schools, colleges and universities. A wide range of extensively tested products and fully bespoke manufacture allows sympathetic designs to be created for all types of window.
For further details, visit: www.selectaglaze.co.uk, T: 01727837271, email: enquiries@selectaglaze.co.uk
Zoe Williams
Head of Marketing
Tel: +44 01727 837271
Selectraglaze: Education learning environments
Twitter: @Selectaglaze
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