A trio of high-performance aluminium fenestration solutions from Senior Architectural Systems has been put to the test at the new Dixons Trinity Academy in West Yorkshire, which is set to become a new all-through primary and secondary school.
Located in the Chapeltown area of Leeds, the new educational facility has been designed by Faulkner Brown Architects and built by Willmott Dixon, with Senior’s long-term supply chain partner Aire Valley Architectural Aluminium Ltd undertaking the fabrication and installation of the fenestration package.
With sustainability a key part of the envelope design, Senior’s patented PURe® aluminium windows have been used to provide the required low U-values and help future-proof the building for the pending changes to Part L of the Building Regulations. The energy-efficiency of the façade design has been further strengthened by the use of Senior’s thermally-enhanced SF52 aluminium curtain wall system which also maximises the use of natural light. Providing safe and secure access, Senior’s SPW501 commercial doors were specified throughout, with the robust design of all the aluminium fenestration systems providing a low-maintenance and highly durable solution that is perfect for use in a busy school environment.
The unusual design of the new Dixons Trinity Academy sees the facilities divided into two parts by the A58 highway, with the north site encompassing the main school building and playgrounds. Located across the road is the south site comprising the main site car park and a number of new sporting facilities including a 4G all-weather pitch, games court and multi-use games area (MUGA). A 26m long steel Vierendeel truss bridge spans the road to link and provide access to the two sites. The school first opened in September 2017 in a temporary site, when it took on 30 reception pupils, and aims to be an all-through school by 2023.
Senior’s commitment to engaging early with specifiers to devise the most appropriate fenestration package has led to the manufacturer securing numerous contracts in the education sector, many of which are part of framework agreements. As well as providing detailed technical guidance and support, Senior’s continual investment in its product range has led to the development of its patented PURe® range of aluminium windows and doors which offer exceptionally low U-values that exceed current regulations and provide greater flexibility to meet the expected changes to Part L.
The unique construction of Senior’s UK patented PURe® system features a high-performance expanded polyurethane (PUR) thermal barrier to give exceptional thermal performance, with the PURe® window system having the ability to achieve U-values as low as 0.71W/m2K when calculated as a commercial CEN Standard window. As well as helping to prevent heat loss to reduce energy consumption, the PURe® system also offers ‘cradle to cradle’ recyclability, with even the PUR thermal barrier able to be reused with no requirement for landfill. The impressive environmental credentials of the system have led to it being widely specified across various sectors, including on a large number of educational buildings where the need to reduce carbon calculations and improve efficiency is paramount.