FGS' VS-1 helps deliver landmark vision for Hiscox Building

FGS' VS-1 helps deliver landmark vision for Hiscox Building

FGS’ (formerly GLASSOLUTIONS) VS-1 structural glazing system helped BAM Construction deliver Hiscox’s new landmark underwriting and customer experience centre in York, part of the insurance company’s £19 million investment to create its largest office outside London.

The VS-1 mullion-only system eliminates the need for horizontal framing members, enabling Make Architects to achieve the clean viewing lines on the curved atrium screen which forms a key feature of the new building.

The Hiscox Building has established itself as a new focal point for the Hungate area of the city. The four-storey building houses around 500 employees with open, flexible floor space. The light airy interior effect is created by the extensive use of the VS-1 curtain walling.

FGS supplied and installed the curtain walling structure for main contractor BAM Construction as part of a £1.8 million contract. VS-1 is a new type of curtain wall which holds the glass away from the mullion so the glass wall visually ‘floats’. In this project, the mullions are fixed back directly to primary structural columns without the use of obtrusive bolt fixings or transoms.

The installation at The Hiscox Building in York features Wicona curtain walling to the punch hole windows and louvres, roof terrace curtain wall, a bespoke structurally bonded rooflight and FGS’ patented VS-1 glazing system to form the main atria screen and terrace parapet. The VS-1 system façade is articulated with both convex and concave curved insulated units, the largest of which is 2.0m wide x 4.2m high.

The argon filled laminated heat strengthened units have high performance coatings to limit solar gain, achieving g-values as low as 0.34. To meet internal thermal comfort targets, glass units with centre pane u-values of 1.1 W/m2K have been used. Combined with the thermally efficient frames, this creates screens with weighted average U-values of 1.3 W/m2K.

Says Make Architects’ Jason Parker, partner and the project lead architect: “The building has been designed to complement York’s rich architectural heritage whilst providing a new home for Hiscox in the heart of the city. It has been a fantastic collaboration between York, Hiscox, the designers and contractors – each contributing to a building which conveys a sense of joy from both inside and out. The incorporation of VS-1 into the design creates a light and airy space and reinforces the openness and the friendly face of Hiscox.”

For more information contact FGS on 0333 00 333 88 or visit www.fgs-uk.co.uk

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