St. Helens College gets a makeover

The Pilkington Planar™ system has been specified for the impressive glass atrium in an extensive redevelopment project at St. Helens College.

The new Pilkington Planar™ glass atrium at St. Helens College

The Pilkington Planar™ technical and design team worked closely with the client and its design team to develop a modern innovative building to reflect the forward looking ethos of the college. The College’s ageing town centre campus had to be demolished to make way for a new state of the art learning complex, while the existing Smith Kline Beecham buildings were refurbished. The resulting Pilkington Planar™ façade is functional, aesthetically pleasing and creates an excellent internal working environment. It maximises the natural light which adds an environmentally friendly dimension to the new build, and it incorporates innovative, energy-saving sustainable technologies through passive rather than engineered solutions.
 
Phil Savage, Pilkington Architectural, said: “We are proud to be associated with this development which demonstrates the use of modern glass technology in a well designed project. The refurbishment makes a bold statement about the future of St Helens and the use of innovative glass solutions acknowledges the local glass making heritage.”
 
The new facility includes a spacious reception area, light and airy study and dining areas, safe and secure user-friendly environments and landscaped social gathering areas for students.
 
Pat Bacon, Principal, St. Helens College, said: “The new development will be an inspiration to students and staff alike. The use of open spaces incorporated into its design will also help to make the town centre a safer place.”
 
“We are delighted to have been commissioned on behalf of St. Helens College to design their new flagship campus. The proposals seek to embrace the vision and aspirations of the College in a forward looking and contemporary design that reflects the dynamics of delivering further education in the 21st Century. The landmark design is seen as a catalyst for future regeneration within the town.” commented Mark Evans of Ellis Williams Architects.
 
Across all three phases of the development Pilkington Insulight™ high performance insulated glazing units were also supplied, totalling in excess of 3000m2. This glass was incorporated into the design of the building to assist the client in achieving their design goals. In addition the Brook Street (East elevation) and Court Yard (West elevation) main entrances to the new development were glazed using the Pilkington Planar™ structural glazing system providing  striking facades to the building whilst incorporating high performance energy- management glazing, ensuring that the building is aesthetically pleasing  but also energy-efficient.
 
The Pilkington Planar™ system has provided architects with the capability to create the stunning glass façades and canopies that are such a feature of modern landscapes.  With a proven track record in the most demanding applications, the Pilkington Planar™ system enables architects to create a complete glass envelope for buildings, with façades on any plane.

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