Located in Westminster, this beautiful Grade II Listed building has been a place of learning and hosted many historical events over the last 100 years. It first opened in 1913 and was designed by James Miller to be the headquarters for the Institution of Civil Engineers, the world's first professional engineering body. In 1945 the UNESCO Charter was signed in the Great Hall and in more recent times the grandiose room was used as a location for a ball scene in the well-known film; 'Bridget Jones' Diary The Edge of Reason'.
The Great Hall is on the first floor and is the most impressive space within the building, with marbled columned walls, embellished plaster and delicate gold leaf details. It features a painted ceiling along with two large chandeliers, which are visible when you look up from outside of the building.
Based in a bustling area of London, noise ingress was an issue, as well as heat loss from the single glazed primary windows. To negate these issues, Selectaglaze proposed the installation of secondary glazing, an ideal solution for Listed buildings as it is a fully reversible and discreet adaptation.
Seven large openings were treated; the original iron windows had narrow sightlines so it was important that the secondary glazing reflected this whilst still retaining functionality and access for ventilation, cleaning and maintenance. The largest of these openings also featured a full roman curved head and stood in at nearly 7m tall and 2.5m wide. In total 22 units were installed in coupled combinations finished in an off-white powder coat to match the primary glazing, creating an unobtrusive treatment.
The installation was carried out to meet a specific programme date, due to a high profile wedding that was to take place in the Great Hall. Selectaglaze worked closely with clients to ensure requirements were met.
"Selectaglaze came highly recommended and the service and end-product we received at One Great George Street exceeded our expectations. Our historic Great Hall now benefits from discreet secondary windows which minimise noise and provide insulation to the room - all complete on budget and to programme. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the company to others"
Phil Ackers, Head of Building Services, One Great George Street
Secondary glazing is the most effective method of noise installation, when there is a gap of 100mm or more, 45dB is readily achievable. Each unit is bespoke to each opening ensuring the tightest fit, reducing unwanted draughts and reducing heat loss by up to 50%.
Established for fifty years and Royal Warrant Holder since 2004, Selectaglaze is the specialist in the design manufacture and installation of secondary glazing, working on a range of building styles from listed museums to high end properties.