Works at London’s Barts Hospital have reached the half-way stage of an ambitious 10 year plan. Many of the existing buildings are being sensitively refurbished with specific focus on restoring them to their former eighteenth century glory. Others have been demolished to make way for new facilities, including light and airy four-bedded single-sex Wards and others consisting of single rooms with en-suite facilities. But perhaps the crowning glory of the development is the creation of a state-of-the-art Cancer and Cardiac Centre of Excellence, which is scheduled to be opened later this year.
Selectaglaze, the UK’s leading designer and supplier of secondary glazing initially became involved at the onset of work. Working closely with main contractor, Skanska, their first task was to provide acoustic insulation to eradicate external site noise and to prevent ingress of dust from the demolition work into the remaining buildings, particularly those accommodating Wards.
The Wards provided a particular challenge as it was essential they remain fully functional at all times. To resolve problems associated with masonry drilling Selectaglaze and Skanska devised a system of wedging and bonding timber sub frames into the window reveals which supported Series 46 fixed glazed panels. Having successfully completed this part of the project Selectaglaze has now supplied and fitted their new flush faced Series 41 Side Hung Casements in a total of ten Operating Theatres in the new King George V Building. Secondary glazing plays a critical part in ensuring that these state-of-the-art Theatres maintain the very highest standards of sterile and controllable conditions. The units were installed within the reveals encapsulating a complex combination of specially developed powered roller “privacy” blinds together with “blackout” blinds, which were deemed essential in order to contain lasers used within the Theatres.
Another project within the Healthcare sector recently completed by Selectaglaze involved the design and installation of secondary glazing within the Critical Care Unit at St. Mary’s Hospital, Paddington where the requirement was to provide a sterile and controllable environment with the ability to vary the internal pressure of individual rooms (negative and positive) to help combat the spread of infectious diseases. It was also required to eradicate dust incursion and significantly reduce unwanted noise from the busy London environment.
Selectaglaze