Sapa Building Systems’ Elegance 52SX curtain walling has been used to stunning effect at the heart of Sheffield’s city centre regeneration scheme. Leopold Square effectively blends existing heritage Grade II listed buildings with 21st century design.

The former Sheffield Boy’s School has been redeveloped in a £25m mixed use landmark scheme that sensitively combined the Victorian school buildings with new-build contemporary design to create a 90-bed hotel as well as bars, restaurants and retail units around a new public area.

The centrepiece of Leopold Square features an angled façade that cantilevers out from an existing building. The structural glazing of Elegance 52SX curtain walling emphasises the contrast between the existing stone clad architecture and the new, minimalist style with its sleek glass panels.

Weather tests indicated that exceptional performance would be required as the area is susceptible to high winds. Elegance 52SX was deemed to be suitable for the design wind loading of 2400 Pascals. An informal test of the installation took place during the construction programme as a stormy winters night saw gale force winds funneling through the partly completed shell and hitting the inside of the façade. Contractors arriving on site the next morning were relieved to find no serious damage to the glazed units, some of which are up to 1700mm wide.

Sapa’s specialist subcontractor, North Cheshire Windows, was heavily involved with the building designers at the outset of the project and developed a unique solution for the apex of the façade. A full height steel torsion bar transfers the load from the transoms, thus allowing a glass to glass joint uncluttered by mullions.