Clearview North October 2013 - Issue 143 | Page 11

industrynews Helping university business school to the next level Curtain walling, windows and doors by leading architectural aluminium supplier Kawneer are to feature on Cardiff University’s new Business School. Designed by Boyes Rees Architects to achieve a BREEAM “Excellent” rating, the £10million Postgraduate Centre is proposed as a modern and contemporary landmark building that pays due respect to the local existing materials and reflects these throughout. The two wings of the building, being of different heights, will also be treated in different fashions to reduce the mass and break up the elevations. Materials include Kawneer’s AA®100 zone-drained capped curtain walling linking two curved terracotta-clad elevations and Structurally Silicone Glazed curtain walling to an external twin-wall façade with internal walkway. In addition, Kawneer’s AA®541 top-hung casement windows feature as insert vents in the curtain walling, complemented by AA®605 low/medium-duty swing doors, AA®3720 folding/ sliding doors to the rear of the link atrium and series 190 heavy-duty commercial entrance doors. These will be installed by Kawneer-approved specialist sub-contractor Dudleys Architectural Aluminium for main contractor ISG Construction with completion due in August 2014. CUSTOMERS INVEST IN NEW SHOWROOMS In recent months, REHAU fabricator Shepley Windows has supported three of its customers in setting up impressive new showrooms to showcase its Visage product range. Whilst retail companies continue to invest in online marketing to help generate enquiries, there remains no substitute for face to face interaction To read more, visit www.clearview-uk.com with homeowners, and all three are reporting very positive returns from their investments. Lostock Hall Glass Limited’s new showroom in Preston features stunning full height house elevations so visitors can get a real street side view of how the windows and doors will look in their own house. Coupled with a long wall full of window styles and options, homeowners can choose the exact products they want whilst in the showroom. Mountwood Windows and Doors in Oxton on the Wirral similarly picked up thirty enquiries in the first two weeks of opening their showroom from people just walking in off the street. Home Improvements of Brighouse has created what is almost certainly a unique showroom combining windows, doors and roofline with bathrooms. MD Mark Mitchell said: “Our new showroom is already attracting customers.” Ian Griffiths, Sales Director at Shepley Windows, says: “We’re helping our customers to deliver what buyers want, as well as helping them to increase passing trade.” OCT 2013 11