GLASS BANISTER TO MAXIMISE DAYLIGHT

Bentley Works, one of Skanska’s main sites in the UK, recently underwent a major redevelopment. The world-renowned contractor gave its engineering and manufacturing facility near Doncaster, South Yorkshire, an impressive €15 million make-over. All of the existing structures on the site were completely demolished. In their place, 1,800 square metres of office space and 3,100 square metres of workshop space were constructed. In the new 3-storey office building, a Q-railing glass banister took centre stage, providing protection around a light well.

Going green and state-of-the-art

With the help of architect Alistair Gardner and his team at IBI Group, Skanska have transformed the historic site. It now fully serves company strategy by providing first-class facilities for engineering, manufacturing and pre-fabrication. Challenging goals for sustainability and energy-consumption are an important part of that strategy. Accordingly, the new buildings are designed to make best use of daylight, reducing the need for artificial lighting.

Letting in sunlight

Large windows and skylights bring huge amounts of sunlight into the office building. This natural illumination is allowed to flood throughout the architectural space, passing through a light well at the centre of the structure. A Q-railing’s balustrade provides protection at the edges of this dramatic aperture between floors.

Stylish glass banister

Skanska contacted Q-railing in the early stages of the project. Working closely together, the 2 companies agreed that the Easy Glass Slim system perfectly answered the requirement. This highly-affordable glass railing solution offered near-total transparency – an essential feature if the building was to maximise the use of daylight. It also promised ease-of-installation and excellent safety levels. Infills of 19 mm-thick, toughened glass were specified.

Q-railing were quick to recommended the installer Patera Engineering Ltd. The project architects readily agreed, and Patera were engaged to mount railings throughout the site. That included the Easy Glass Slim glass banister, with its 42.4 mm cap rail.

BREEAM certification

The office building and the workshop were both awarded BREEAM certification – an influential benchmark for environmentally friendly design. In fact, BREEAM recognised both structures as ‘outstanding’ examples of sustainability.