Technal Supplies 5000 Windows For UK's Largest PFI Student Accommodation Project

Architectural aluminium glazing specialist, Technal, in partnership with East Yorkshire Aluminium and Glass, is supplying more than 5,000 windows to Bovis Lend Lease for one of the UK's largest privately financed student accommodation schemes.

The £163m PFI project undertaken by Catalyst Higher Education (Sheffield) plc is for the construction and management of a new student village at the University of Sheffield.

Built by Bovis Lend Lease, 34 blocks of residences will provide state-of-the-art accommodation, and, with the refurbishment of existing buildings, the village will cater for up to 4,200 students and create a vibrant new community.

Designed by architects FaulknerBrowns and Halliday Meecham, the first two phases of this ambitious development have already been handed over, with the final phase due for completion in autumn 2009.

Technal is supplying casement windows from its FXi46 range, which have been used for the traditionally constructed earlier phases and inserted into concrete pods for phase three, which is now under construction. Its windows for the final phase will be pre-installed off site into steel-framed modular units at modular manufacturer Caledonian's production centre in Newark. The completed building units will then be craned into position on site in Sheffield later this year.

Fabricated and installed by East Yorkshire Glazing, the FXi windows have been finished in white internally and charcoal grey externally to complement the contemporary palette of claddings and finishes which includes terracotta, timber, zinc, brick and stone.

Technal is also supplying its PXi commercial door and GXi sliding patio door for the student accommodation.

Commenting on the window specification, Tim Farnworth of Halliday Meecham said, 'Technal's window system met the planning requirement for slim sections, and also allowed us to achieve a special glass to glass cathedral cap feature for the transoms. This successfully breaks up the verticality of the glazing.'

The design of the PFI scheme was subject to a thorough environmental assessment, which resulted in extensive use of solar control glass to all south and east elevations.

Technal's FXi range is a fully integrated window suite which uses a technically advanced framing system with clean, narrow site lines. It is available in three module sizes - 46mm, 52mm and 65mm, giving architects and contractors the flexibility to deliver enhanced thermal efficiency and meet project-specific requirements for aesthetics, performance and durability.

www.technal.co.uk