Schueco Awards 2018 Steel Project Award: Optima Building, London, by Stiff + Trevillion and Propak Architectural Glazing

Architect: Stiff + Trevillion

Main contractor: Crest Nicholson

Specialist contractor : Propak Architectural Glazing

Client: Deal First

Schueco systems/products: Janisol Arte thermally-broken steel windows, VISS 60:60 fire-rated curtain wall, C4 Profile 60:60 doors and smoke-vent actuated windows, VISS faceted steel curtain wall, Janisol glazed entrance doors and screens, Janisol 2 30/30 doors and screens, Economy 60 glazed fire-rated core doors, Janisol thermally-broken frame to curved sliding doors

Photos: Killian O’Sullivan

The Optima Building at 3 Valentine Place in London’s Waterloo district forms the centrepiece of a mixed development of office and retail space. Architect Stiff & Trevillion adopted a warehouse idiom in keeping with the conservation area, and incorporated the retained facade of the former Maltina bakery. Planning requirements dictated a match for the original steel windows, so Schueco Jansen Arte profiles were specified for their 40mm  sightlines and U-value of 1.3.

From the street, 3 Valentine Place retains its previous character, but from the back it now overlooks gardens from three-metre-high floor-to-ceiling glazing made from Schueco Jansen profiles. Propak designed, manufactured and installed a range of glazing systems for the project, employing much of the Schueco Jansen Steel range, from thermally-broken door systems to fire-rated doors, and thermally-broken slimline steel heritage style windows, through to a fire-rated steel curtain wall. The suite of profiles offered was well matched for the project, according to Propak, as it could accommodate the diverse specification of high fire-ratings, large glass panels, thermal performance and minimal, ‘heritage window’ type sightlines.