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Overview
Breakspear Park is a prominent office development located in Hertfordshire, designed to provide modern commercial workspace within a landscaped business park environment. As part of ongoing improvements to the building’s entrance and façade, the project focused on upgrading the main entrance atrium to deliver a cleaner architectural appearance and improve the flow of natural daylight into the internal space.
The existing entrance system had reached the point where refurbishment was required. The objective of the project was to replace the main entrance façade with a modern structurally glazed screen incorporating automatic doors and pass doors while maintaining a refined architectural appearance that complemented the building’s design.
Structura was appointed to survey the existing structure and deliver the design, manufacture, and installation of the new entrance façade system. The project focused on improving visual clarity, increasing natural daylight penetration, and delivering a durable glazing solution suitable for a high-traffic commercial building entrance.
The result is a contemporary glazed façade that enhances the building’s appearance while improving the user experience for employees and visitors entering the office building.
Details
Client:
Columbia Threadneedle Investments
Location:
Breakspear Park, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
Architect:
Morgan Lovell
Main Contractor:
Morgan Lovell
Project Metrics
While entrance façade projects vary depending on building size and structural requirements, the Breakspear Park project included the following key parameters:
Project Type: Commercial office building entrance refurbishment
Scope of Work: Design, manufacture, and installation of a new structurally glazed entrance façade
Primary Outcome: Increased natural daylight within the entrance atrium and a modernised building entrance appearance.
Key Components Installed:
- Structurally glazed entrance screen
- Large double-glazed façade units
- Automatic entrance doors
- Pass doors for building access
The Challenge
Entrance façades play an important role in commercial buildings. They must provide a welcoming architectural statement while also delivering practical performance in terms of access, durability, and environmental comfort. For the Breakspear Park project, the primary challenge was to replace the existing entrance system with a new structurally glazed façade that would modernise the building entrance without compromising the existing building structure. Several key factors influenced the design and delivery of the project.
Upgrading an Existing Building Entrance
The existing entrance façade needed to be replaced with a new glazing system that would improve the visual clarity of the building frontage while integrating with the surrounding architecture. Working within an existing building always introduces technical considerations. The new façade system had to align with the existing structure, ensuring that the glazing installation integrated correctly with the building frame while maintaining structural stability and long-term durability. This required careful measurement and surveying of the existing conditions before the new façade could be designed.
Improving Natural Daylight
One of the key objectives of the project was to increase the amount of natural daylight entering the building’s entrance atrium. Natural light is an important design element in office buildings. It contributes to a more welcoming interior environment and improves the overall experience for building occupants and visitors. The existing entrance configuration limited the amount of daylight entering the atrium. The new façade therefore needed to maximise glazing area while maintaining structural integrity and performance.
Delivering a Clean Architectural Appearance
The design brief emphasised clean lines and a contemporary façade appearance. Structurally glazed systems are often chosen in these scenarios because they allow large glass panels to be installed with minimal visible framing. This creates a visually smooth and modern façade while still providing the structural support required for commercial building entrances. Achieving this aesthetic required careful façade design and precision installation.
Integrating Modern Access Systems
The new entrance system also needed to incorporate automatic doors and pass doors to improve access for building occupants and visitors. Entrance doors in commercial buildings must balance several functional requirements, including smooth and reliable operation, accessibility for users, integration with building security systems, and durability under frequent daily use. Ensuring that the automatic door system integrated seamlessly with the glazing façade required careful design coordination.
Structura’s Solution
Structura delivered a comprehensive façade solution that included surveying, design development, manufacturing, and installation of the new structurally glazed entrance façade. By managing the entire process from assessment through to installation, the project team ensured the finished façade aligned with both the architectural vision and the practical requirements of the building.
Detailed Building Survey
The project began with a full survey of the existing entrance structure. Accurate surveying is a critical step when replacing façade elements in existing buildings. The survey allowed Structura to assess the current structural conditions and determine how the new glazing system could be integrated effectively.
The survey process identified the structural dimensions, fixing points, and installation requirements needed to design a new façade that would fit precisely within the building envelope. This stage ensured that the new façade system would align correctly with the building structure and perform reliably once installed.
Entrance Façade Design
Following the building survey, Structura designed a new structurally glazed entrance screen tailored to the building’s architectural style and functional requirements. The design focused on several key elements:
- Large double-glazed units to maximise daylight
- Clean façade lines with minimal visual framing
- Integration of automatic entrance doors
- Additional pass doors for building access
- Structural stability suitable for a high-traffic entrance
Structurally glazed systems provide a refined architectural appearance while still delivering the strength and durability required for commercial building façades. The design ensured the entrance façade would present a modern visual identity while remaining robust and reliable in daily operation.
Manufacturing of the Glazing System
Once the design was finalised, the glazing components were manufactured to the required specifications. The façade incorporated large double-glazed units designed to maximise transparency while maintaining thermal performance suitable for a commercial building entrance. Manufacturing the glazing elements to precise tolerances ensured the system would fit accurately within the building structure during installation.
Installation of the Entrance Façade
Structura then carried out the installation of the new entrance façade. Installation works included:
- Removal of the existing entrance system
- Installation of the new structural glazing framework
- Placement of large double-glazed units
- Integration of automatic doors and pass doors
- Final alignment and finishing of the façade system
The installation required careful coordination to ensure the new façade integrated seamlessly with the existing building structure while maintaining clean visual lines across the entrance elevation. By managing the design, manufacture, and installation phases of the project, Structura ensured consistent quality throughout the process.
Project Results
The completed Breakspear Park entrance façade delivers a modern architectural appearance while significantly improving the quality of natural daylight entering the building’s atrium. The project successfully transformed the entrance area into a brighter and more visually striking feature of the building.
Increased Natural Daylight
The introduction of large double-glazed units allows more daylight to enter the entrance atrium. This creates a more open and welcoming internal space while reducing reliance on artificial lighting during daytime hours. Improved daylight levels also enhance the overall experience for employees and visitors entering the building.
Clean Architectural Lines
The structurally glazed façade delivers a modern and refined architectural appearance. Minimal visible framing allows the glass panels to form a clean and uninterrupted entrance screen, creating a contemporary look that complements the building’s design. This visual clarity was a key objective of the project and has been successfully achieved through the use of structural glazing.
Improved Building Entrance Experience
The integration of automatic doors and pass doors improves the functionality of the building entrance. Users now benefit from smooth, convenient access while the glazing façade creates a more impressive and welcoming first impression. Entrance façades often serve as the visual focal point of office buildings, and the upgraded entrance at Breakspear Park now reflects a modern commercial standard.
Durable Long-Term Façade Solution
The new glazing system provides a durable and reliable entrance façade designed for long-term performance. Commercial building entrances experience frequent daily use, making durability a critical factor. The structural glazing system installed at Breakspear Park is designed to withstand these demands while maintaining its visual clarity and structural performance.
Structura’s Experience in Glazing & Façade Engineering
Structura specialises in the design, manufacture, and installation of glazing systems for commercial buildings across the UK. Projects range from entrance façades and curtain wall systems to specialist structural glazing installations. By combining technical expertise with careful design coordination and high-quality fabrication, Structura delivers façade systems that improve both the visual impact and long-term performance of buildings. The Breakspear Park project demonstrates how targeted façade upgrades can transform the appearance and functionality of commercial building entrances while maintaining architectural clarity and structural integrity.