Birchdale Glass deliver top class structural glass

Working to a brief from Dale Venn Architects, Birchdale Glass has just completed a challenging commission on a Grade II building in Uxbridge.

The Market House in Uxbridge dates from 1789 and is a Grade II listed building in the heart of the town´s Conservation Area.

Its long frontage on the high street has Tuscan columns which support the upper floors and open up the retail units.

In order to make the building more suitable for retail and commercial use it is being redeveloped and in order to preserve its character and appearance the architects received planning permission to replace the existing ground floor shop fronts with a full-height recessed glazed screen.

Middlesex based Birchdale Glass, was commissioned to design, manufacture and fit the structural glazing for the retail units and first floor office entrance.

One of the stipulations of the contract was that the new glazing should not rely on the building for support.

Ground based toughened glass fins set at 90 degrees to the facade glass were therefore used, and with the facade finishing flush with the internal and external floor finishes, a near transparent long glass screen was created.

110 square metres of 12mm clear toughened glass was used in the faandccedil;ade and 25 sq metres of 15mm toughed glass for the fins.

The glass was supported in extruded aluminium glazing channels, with specially designed stainless steel disc and bolt assemblies and fin root angles completing the furniture.

In order to maintain site lines, levels and squareness, accurate manufacture and installation to close tolerances was paramount.

This was made possible by detailed site surveys undertaken by Birchdale Glass and incorporated into the design work with all of the glass processed and toughened in house.

Said a spokesman for Dale Venn Architects: "The contract was awarded to Birchdale Glass because we knew they would meet the tight specification and performance requirements of the structural glass".

"We are delighted with the way the project has turned out.".