Bright, spacious interiors that are also quiet, comfortable in temperature and efficient to heat. These are properties that often differentiate modern buildings from their historic counterparts, and this is largely thanks to advances in glazing technology. A good example of this came recently with the opening of the David Attenborough building in Cambridge in March 2017. The building is owned by the University of Cambridge and houses the Cambridge Conservation Initiative and the Museum and Department of Zoology. Originally completed in 1971 the building has been celebrated by architects as an outstanding example of the period. However, it was also one of the poorest energy performers in the university’s estate thanks to single-glazing and a lack of insulation. When refurbishing the building, the main goals of the architects were to improve the accessibility, openness and energy performance of the space. Glazing played a key role in achieving these aims. To read how Pilkington helped transform the building into a cutting-edge facility, please visit the above-mentioned website.
