One Albert Quay
Location: Cork City, Ireland
Architect: Henry J Lyons Architects
Summary
A key part of the project’s aesthetic is the full height structural glazed facades on all sides, which allow it to reflect its striking surroundings at the same time as flooding interior spaces with natural light and letting occupants enjoy stunning views across the city in all directions. Because it forms the whole envelope, glazing was critical to the energy performance of the building as a whole.
This meant specifying a system that would provide insulation to help prevent warmth escaping during the winter, but which would also control the levels of solar energy entering the building during the warmer months.
Glass
Exterior: large-format structural glazed curtain wall capped with a glass parapet and incorporating a glazed spandrel panel and architectural louvre panels, upper set-back penthouse with projecting canopy.
Interior: glazed aluminium toggle systemn order to deliver the required U-value of 1.0 W/m2K,
In order to deliver the required U-value of 1.0 W/m2K, two panes of glass were incorporated into the system, a toughened and laminated inner pane of two 8mm-thick sheets and a 10mm-thick solar controlled outer pane, sandwiching a 16mm argon-filled gap.The Solar Controlled glass reduces transmission of energy from the sun to just 25 per cent, while allowing 50 per cent transmission of daylight.The combination of toughened and laminated glass also ensures the system meets the requirements of building regulations for high-level, full-height glazing, ensuring it is structurally strong enough to stand up to high wind and mechanical loads that may be placed on it.
Details
Set at a transitional point between the City Centre and South Docks, One Albert Quay serves as a key piece of infrastructure in the ambitious and highly anticipated revitalisation of the city’s Central Business District—with a design worthy of that vision. The dramatic seven-storey flush glass façade and creative set-back top floor announce a modern move forward for Cork City and offer occupants a unique visual connection with their location. A naturally lit glass-enclosed atrium centers the structure, while glazed cantilevered walkways unite people with the space.
“This is a flagship scheme, not only for Cork but for Ireland as a whole and we are proud to have supplied a cutting edge glazing system via our long standing customer Carey Glass International, to ensure it looks stunning and delivers in terms of sustainability.
“In a building like this, where glass forms almost the entire boundary between the internal and external space, the choice of glazing makes a big difference – so being chosen for this project is testament to the excellent performance and value our products offer.”
Paul Bowtell of Pilkington
Awards
Commercial Project of the Year – Irish Construction industry Awards 2016
LEED Gold Certification