BWF Project of the Year 2008
McAteer photography
The substantial building at 206 St Vincent Street, Glasgow, owned by Royal Insurance Ltd., is a refurbished property providing 3,488m2 of flexible, Grade A office accommodation arranged over six floors. The property consists of a retained, B-listed Georgian-style façade constructed in the mid 19th Century, with a contemporary structure developed behind this façade in 1988.
The building, which was a vacant property awaiting refurbishment, was completely stripped out in 2006 to leave an empty shell. The existing windows – both sash and casement – were single glazed and had been installed in 1988. This high-specification refurbishment included the cleaning and restoration of the historical façade which now incorporates high performance, modern double-glazed sash and casement timber windows made by Mumford & Wood. The building achieves a high BREEAM rating.
G D Lodge Architects of Glasgow and F&C Property Asset Management of Surrey, a commercial refurbishment specialist, were responsible for the application of four separate planning and listed building consents to the local authority and Historic Scotland of which a major element involved the replacement of single glazed windows with double glazed products. Both the local authority and Historic Scotland showed resistance to this proposal primarily citing the onerous width of astragals, or glazing bars, necessary to facilitate double glazed units.
McAteer photography
GD Lodge and Mumford & Wood worked closely with the local authority who themselves argued the case for double glazed windows which would contribute to meeting the increasingly challenging targets of reduced energy consumption, and in doing so respond to government requirements in the reduction of carbon emissions and to meet the requirement of BREEAM assessment.
Clearly the commercial gains of providing double glazed windows rather than installing secondary glazing to the existing 1980s windows, which was a strong alternative solution, improved the letable attraction of the property allowing the building to retain the integrity of its historic detail.
Mumford & Wood satisfied the brief by designing a double glazed product with infinitely slim, elegant 17mm glazing bars to match the original window, and provided a full size sample which was installed for inspection by the local authority and Historic Scotland. The product supplied met all the requirements of performance and sustainability while achieving the traditional appearance and sightlines of the original windows in this period property.
Chris Wood, Managing Director of Mumford & Wood Ltd., comments: "This once again proves that today's performance criteria can be met with the well designed timber products while reproducing period sight lines."
Mumford & Wood produce energy rated, made to order, wooden windows to suit both traditional and contemporary designs. These products promote the elegance of timber which is a truly sustainable material and widely used on listed buildings and within conservation areas when a sensible and informed approach is taken.
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