Product: Glass Shopfront
Application: Commercial
PROJECT OVERVIEW
PROJECT DETAILS
The beautiful shopfront of the Smiths Building, Great Portland Street, London is the result of a successful partnership between Architect, Builder, Client and Glasstec Systems. Structural glass specialists Glasstec Systems relished the opportunity to work in the collaborative Smiths Building team, providing welcome knowledge and guidance on structural glazing and metalwork to refine a successful design solution.
Glasstec Systems were involved in the design process from an early stage, having worked from initial concept drawings to final design. In addition to assisting with the design process Glasstec Systems were solely responsible for creation and installation of the complete glass shopfront and metalwork with corresponding door entrance and feature door canopy.
Central to the overall success of the design was the metalwork and its intricacies. The feature metal panel work below the large glass windows was fabricated from component pieces, welded together to form distinctive large panels, before being powder coated.
The ‘minimal look’ shopfront design features large glass panels, each weighing a considerable 322kg. The glass panels were set and secured into bespoke steel frames with structural mastic. The structural steel work, feature panels and feature canopy with ‘THE SMITHS BUILDING’ lettering were all individually site surveyed, manufactured and powder coated off site before being brought back to site to be installed by Glasstec Systems
Martin Burke, Managing Director of Contrada Group LLP, Contractor, commented;
“The shopfront at The Smith Building was a difficult undertaking. We wanted to work with someone we knew and trusted and Glasstec were the obvious choice. Initial workshop meetings with Glasstec and the Architect enabled working drawings to be produced and manufacturing underway quickly.
Installation was also difficult in a full site working environment but the team worked through all hours to get it done. Laurence Cass (Glasstec Systems) is very much a man of his word and looks for the solution in everything. The client was very happy with the end result.”
Laurence Cass, of Glasstec Systems, commented;
“We really enjoyed working on this project, working in a collaborative team and providing advice and guidance on structural glass is what we are all about. We’re happy to work early in the design process with the designer or Architect to iron out any problems that might arise further in the design and build process, but also to provide advice on what can and can’t be done so that creatively, designs look great and work successfully.”
