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FAKRO FTT U6 and FTP U5 Electro triple-glazed roof windows were used on Carsluchie Croft, a Passivhaus project which maximises controlled solar gain The compact 1½ storey form reflects local vernacular architecture, with the angled bay on the south side designed as a dynamic element to contrast with the compact solid stone-clad form of the majority of the house. The FTT U6 has an exceptional U-value of 0.81W/m2K while the FTP U5 windows also had Z-wave connectivity enabling them to be operated from a laptop, mobile or tablet. All windows were also fitted with thermal flashings to enhance airtightness.
 
 

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New York City’s newest boutique luxury hotel makes a bold statement in upper midtown Manhattan, thanks in no small part to the extensive use of Crittall steel windows, doors and internal screens and partitions.

The Whitby is the second in New York opened by Firmdale Hotels whose owners, Tim and Kit Kemp, have already made a big impression back across the pond with several stylish and luxurious properties in central London including Ham Yard and Soho that also exemplify the use of fenestration by Crittall.

Opened in late February, The Whitby is described as a celebration of contemporary art and design boasting a stylish restaurant, bar and conservatory as well as a colourful library, several private event spaces and a state-of-the-art cinema. Each of the 86 bedrooms has been individually styled with Kit Kemp’s world-renowned mix of colour, pattern, texture, and art.

Located on West 56th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues, The Whitby is just two blocks from Central Park. It is surrounded by world-class department stores, luxury designer boutiques and is a short walk to Broadway.

Its location informed the specific choice of glazing. At Firmdale’s other NYC hotel, on Crosby Street, W20 steel windows were used. The Whitby’s position called for even higher acoustic attenuation and so Crittall MW40 fenestration was selected. These windows can accept up to 30mm thick glazing providing excellent acoustic as well as thermal performance.

Nevertheless, the sight lines are virtually the same as with the Corporate W20, that is to say the slender frames provide for maximum daylight while ensuring strength and security. All The Whitby’s guest rooms have floor to ceiling windows as a principal feature.

The ground floor meanwhile (the first floor in American parlance) also features interior screens and lobby doors by Crittall employing a single-glazed W20 profile. These are especially versatile for use in association with door hardware, closers, card entry equipment and so forth, dependent on their use. Facing the streetscape at ground level are Corporate 20 windows; large full panewindows that are even more robust than MW40s and which accept up to 28mm glazing.

The Whitby has been designed by New York architectural practice Stonehill &Taylor, which also designed the Crosby Street Hotel. The Whitby presents an elegant limestone façade rising 18 storeys and featuring several balconies and terraces that create a distinctive shape, stepping back as the building rises from street level.

The building harmonises with the architecture of the immediate neighbourhood, particularly Fifth Avenue. Says Paul Taylor, lead architect on the project, and president at Stonehill & Taylor:

“The Crittall steel windows are imbued with old world craftsmanship

and have the narrow sightlines that architects wish for.”

Contractors for the project were Flintlock Construction Services LLC.

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Bona, the wood floor experts, has launched Bona Titan, a new supreme performance, silane- based adhesive for high value projects, very wide or oversized solid wood boards – or any installation where the quality of the bond has to be guaranteed.

Bona Titan contains Titanium Technology – a revolutionary new formula comprising quadruple crosslinking that delivers superior durability and an unbeatable initial bond speed – even under challenging subfloor conditions.

Bona Titan can be specified with confidence to bond all types of wood flooring. Its superb shear strength makes installation easy and keeps even the largest, solid boards securely in place. If the subfloor is sound and dry, no primer is required.

The hard, silane-based formula contains no ingredients that can migrate after curing, which eliminates all risk of discolouration at the joints. The smooth, thick consistency makes it easy to use and produces stable ribs, an extremely high initial grab and zero risk of hollow spots.  The bond strength of Bona Titan will not diminish over time so the stability of the floor is guaranteed for the long term.

Bona Titan meets ISO 17178 standards and, in line with Bona’s environmental strategy, is a safe, clean formulation which also carries EC1-R Plus, DIBt, Greenguard and A+ low emission certifications.

Bona Titan is compatible with underfloor heating and can be used directly on metal or tiles. Floors bonded with Bona Titan can be sanded after just 12 hours.

Further technical information is available at bona.com or from Bona’s technical department on 01908 525 161.

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Global humidifier specialist, the Condair Group, has recently opened its newly built production, logistics and sales facility in Hamburg, Germany, marking a milestone in the company’s development. The state-of-the-art 13,000m² building centralises Condair’s European manufacturing operations, previously carried out in four regions across the continent.

Situated next door to Hamburg airport, the new Condair facility is also close to the motorway and harbour, and incorporates the latest in energy saving building services technology.

Oliver Zimmermann, Condair’s CEO, explains, “Norderstedt in Hamburg offered us the perfect logistical location. Placing our production facility close to our core central European markets, with such convenient transport links, shortens our delivery channels and results in quicker delivery times. The consolidation of four different European production centres into a new high-tech facility not only makes Condair more streamlined and cost-effective but also enables us to improve our processes and quality.

“The excellent opportunities offered by the new location are essential for the far-reaching restructuring of the company and it is with great pride that we open this new chapter in the Condair success story.”

Central to the design of the Condair building was a focus on energy saving technology. The German Energy Saving Ordinance (EnEV) 2014 and a maximum heat demand of just ≤35 kWh/(m²·a) were selected as minimum standards for the building. Once completed, the building actually performed 50% better than the target standard and almost achieved Passive House standard at full capacity, which is an outstanding result for a production facility with offices.

Geothermal power is harnessed through the use of two 28m high-performance energy piles, and roof-mounted photovoltaic panels generate nearly all the required electrical energy for the site. A hybrid ceiling system, from the sister company Barcol-Air, provides cooling and heating, as well as acting as a thermal storage system in combination with the building shell.
Being the world leading humidification specialist, maintaining a healthy indoor climate of 40-60% relative humidity at 22-26°C was of utmost importance for the Condair development. Humidity control is primarily delivered using a Condair GS, gas-fired steam humidification system, with energy being transferred from its flue gases to the incoming fresh air via a heat recovery system for improved efficiency. A Condair ME evaporative humidifier is providing indirect evaporative cooling by humidifying the exhaust air and pre-cooling the incoming fresh air by several degrees with a heat recovery system. Other direct room humidifiers are also providing localised humidity control and evaporative cooling around the building.

The current internal conditions are presented for all to see on a digital wall display, which also shows the atmospheric conditions at all of Condair’s 16 other international offices around the world. This is part of the “learning zone“ at the facility that allows visitors to explore the complex nature and importance of humidity control within the modern indoor environment. Alongside video walls and demonstration areas there is a full size air handling unit with internal holographic representations, showing how each type of humidifier technology operates and conditions the air stream in various HVAC scenarios.

Condair Group is the world’s leading specialist in humidification and evaporative cooling, with energy efficient, hygienic and innovative technologies for commercial, industrial and heritage applications. Condair is acting directly in the UK through Condair plc, which offers system design, manufacture, supply, installation, commissioning, maintenance and spares. Condair in the UK is the new name for JS Humidifiers following the organisation’s rebranding in October 2014.

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Liam Williamson is Marketing Manager for Guardian Glass. In this interview at Materials 2017, he explains why Guardian Glass chose to exhibit at the show and what visitors to the Guardian Glass exhibition stand could expect to see plus how specifiers viewing this podcast can easily contact the brand for more information. The interviewer for BusinessNet Explorer is Mick de Leiburne.

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William Rodriguez-Lopeth is Sales & Marketing Representative for Cromocon. In this interview at Materials 2017, he explains why Cromocon chose to exhibit their portable meter for Colour Measurement and Light Reflectance Value (LRV) at the show and what visitors to the Cromocon exhibition stand could expect to see plus how specifiers viewing this podcast can easily contact the brand for more information. The interviewer for BusinessNet Explorer is Mick de Leiburne.

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Jason Hughes is MD for Imperial Bricks. In this interview at Materials 2017, he explains why Imperial Bricks chose to exhibit at the show and what visitors to the Imperial Bricks exhibition stand could expect to see plus how specifiers viewing this podcast can easily contact the brand for more information. The interviewer for BusinessNet Explorer is Mick de Leiburne.

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Alex Patrick-Smith is MD for Ketley Brick. In this interview at Materials 2017, he explains why Ketley Brick chose to exhibit at the show and what visitors to the Ketley Brick exhibition stand could expect to see plus how specifiers viewing this podcast can easily contact the brand for more information. The interviewer for BusinessNet Explorer is Mick de Leiburne.

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Jeremy Milbank is Technical Consultant for Kallisto – a dedicated division of Milbank Concrete Products which offers bespoke spiral and helical stairs. In this interview at Materials 2017, he explains why Kallisto chose to exhibit at the show and what visitors to the Kallisto exhibition stand could expect to see plus how specifiers viewing this podcast can easily contact the brand for more information. The interviewer for BusinessNet Explorer is Mick de Leiburne.

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Duncan MacKellar is the founder of Armourcoat plus technical and creative director for the brand and also a guest speaker at Materials 2017. In this interview at the show, Duncan explains why Armourcoat chose Materials 2017 to showcase their interior and exterior decorative solutions that include polished plaster, sculptural effects and innovative surface finishes plus how specifiers viewing this podcast can easily contact the brand for more information. The interviewer for BusinessNet Explorer is Mick de Leiburne.

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