Client: 1000 Lakeside
Contractor: Ide Contracting
Architect: Mark Amey, SMC Charter Architects
Type of works: Pilkington Planar™ frameless structural glazing system used to create new atrium.

Pilkington Planar™ glazing was chosen to help give a 1970s office block in Portsmouth a contemporary face lift. Situated on the office campus Lakeside North Harbour, 1000 Lakeside has 26,556m² of office space spread over four floors. The Pilkington Planar™ frameless structural glazing system has been used to create a stunning new atrium, which spans the entire width and height of the building, enveloping its previous façade.

Constructed over 3 months, using a 50 tonne all-terrain crane and scissor lifts, the atrium takes full advantage of the design flexibility offered by Pilkington Planar™. The system allows the creation of complete glass envelopes for buildings, with frameless façades on any plane. In this project Pilkington Planar™ helped make a bold architectural statement, giving the building a modern look whilst creating a new space for employees and visitors. Pilkington Planar™ accredited installer Ide Contracting worked jointly with Pilkington Architectural to develop the specification of 1,113m² of Pilkington Planar™, including some of the largest units available.

David Hall, the managing director of Ide Contracting, said: “The architect wanted glass panels with the maximum span possible to minimize the number of support mullions needed.  Pilkington Planar™ is the ideal solution, being able to span between mullions spaced at an impressive 4.5m apart.  To control deflection under windload, each panel was held by eight 902 heavy-duty fittings on Nexus castings, thus producing an elegant solution to the design problem.”

Pilkington Planar™ Specification