Poole Gateway, Bournemouth University
March 2020

Frequent KAWNEER specifier Atkins has used the manufacturer’s architectural aluminium glazing systems again, on a unique building which forms a new £27 million gateway to Bournemouth University.

The manufacturer’s AA100 zone-drained and capped curtain walling forms triangular screens 25m wide and 15m high for the main atrium at the university’s 5,000m2 Poole Gateway Building, while its AA720 entrance doors were used throughout the building and its AA190 TB automatic sliding door was used at the campus side entrance lobby.

In addition, its AA541 fixed-light windows were used to create openings within both the rainscreen and masonry facades while thermally-broken AA543 tilturn windows were used alongside aluminium spandrel panels as insertions to the curtain walling.

Kirsty Pesticcio, senior architect at Atkins, said: “The glazed elements have a significant impact on the building and the Kawneer products interfaced really well with the masonry and rainscreen façade.

“The triangulated gateway form was very complex in nature so we had to ensure fixings were angled with precision to tie into the structural members. Kawneer-approved installer Leay were engaged early within the design process to ensure the developing design met both our design concept and technical constraints of the products chosen.”

The two-year build by main contractor Willmott Dixon comprises a steel frame, SFS infill and composite concrete decked floors. Although the building is primarily divided by internal stud partitions, there are many technical studio spaces which had to be designed and installed as a ‘room in room’ construction using timber frames.