Sage, Newcastle

The buildings were designed and constructed by architects Ian Darby Partnership and accredited installer Portal Ltd, who used Pilkington Planar™, the world-market-leading bolted glass system, to create six separate vertical glazed screens, forming one huge T-shaped glazed atrium.

The scheme - which necessitated the use of the largest mobile tower crane in the UK during construction - is based on a collection of office pavilions linked to a central atrium space. The pavilions are said to have separate identities yet still fit into the Sage family of buildings. Designed to act as an environmental buffer between each of the adjacent office pavilions, the atrium provides a vast communal space. The impressive structure forms the hub of the complex, opening onto two external courtyards in addition to accommodating staff facilities and a cafeteria.

David Shorey, Sales & Marketing Director, Portal Ltd, says: “We specified Pilkington Planar™ because it could be easily installed and met the stringent performance criteria required. The design utilised numerous specially-incorporated vents in the floor and within the glazed area to draw in fresh air and push stale air upwards, helping to create a temperate working environment in what is called the 'stack effect'.”

Pillkington Planar™ structural glass can provide a complete glass envelope for building structures without the need for conventional frames or mullions. It works in the same manner as a traditional domestic conservatory - by reducing the heat loss from workspaces to the outside in winter, while buffering them against solar heat gain in the summer. In the summer months of the year, the atrium is heated by solar gain, whilst being cooled thanks to the high level vents.