Architectural aluminium glazing by Kawneer was chosen by Halliday Meecham Architects for the £65m flagship new Spire Hospital in Manchester.
Kawneer's AA100 SSG (Structurally Silicone Glazed) mullion-drained curtain walling, some of it curved on plan, features on the third-storey conference suite and is complemented by the AA100 zone-drained capped system used elsewhere, including internal screens around the reception areas.
These are additionally complemented by Kawneer's AA720 top-hung casement windows as courtyard windows, AA720 doors as internal doors at upper levels, and series 190 heavy-duty entrance doors at ground level.
The systems by Kawneer, part of the Arconic group, were installed by approved specialist sub-contractor, APiC UK, for main contractor, VINCI, Construction, with the building receiving its first patient in January.
The new hospital, which is BREEAM ‘Very good’ rated, replaces Spire Healthcare's old facility in Whalley Range and aspires to provide an international centre of excellence in the delivery of private healthcare and medical innovation.
Situated on the Siemens UK campus, the development is a key component in the regeneration of Manchester as an international hub renowned for science and innovation as well as medical excellence, education and conferencing.
Facilities include six operating theatres, including a specialist hybrid theatre, an endoscopy suite, four minor treatment rooms, and a full suite of diagnostics including MRI and CT scanners, X-Ray, mammography, fluoroscopy and ultrasound.
More than 40 inpatient bedrooms are provided along with 29 day care bedrooms.
In addition, an international conference space, where the Kawneer curtain walling is curved on plan, provides high-quality and flexible facilities for learning and innovation within a 15-minute transfer from Manchester international airport.
To rationalise the complex programme of accommodation, the elevations are designed around a regular grid and a limited palette of materials including textured concrete and aluminium panels and Western Red Cedar louvres.
A fundamental consideration of the design team was to deliver a building with strong sustainability credentials.
The envelope was designed to minimise energy usage and CO2 emissions, with the scheme featuring sedum and wildflower roofs and walls, Kawneer high-performance fenestration, and photovoltaic panels.
The building is defined by two principle blocks of accommodation separated by a central courtyard and feature circulation spine that forms the main distribution route within it.
This element is fully glazed at both ends and forms a physical extension of the north-south pedestrian access linking to Sir William Siemens House.
The south and west elevations have been carefully layered to respond to the sun path and provide solar shading and privacy where required.
Mike Wakeman, an associate with Halliday Meecham who regularly select Kawneer, said: “We wanted something with high transparency, like fully-glazed bedroom walls and meeting spaces, but also something flexible for plugging things in such as spandrels and louvres so the building is futureproofed.
“This was a difficult balancing act with the Part L requirements and meant the glass was carefully chosen with good ‘G' value while maintaining as much transparency as we could. Several glass samples were sought and reviewed prior to final specification.
"We designed it around the curved glass in the first place, developing early sections looking at how curtain walls passed floors and maintained fire and acoustics but also buildability given our tight programme.
"The Levolux interface with Triniti brackets was a real success of the project and the SSG system on the conference suite especially looks really good.
“Secured By Design played a part and double-glazed units with integral blinds were vital for areas such as recovery rooms and the critical care rooms."
“The external envelope of the building has been really well received by the client."
