CMS Window Systems has completed a major fenestration contract as part of a project to create a new primary school in the Scottish Borders that has brought new life to an unused B-listed former high school.
The new £8.6m Duns Primary School and educational campus, designed by Aitken Turnbull Architects and delivered by main contractor GRAHAM Construction, provides a high quality learning environment for over 450 pupils. It is also home to the Berwickshire Locality Support Centre which assists children with additional needs by providing access to a wider range of staff expertise and integrated services.
The project enabled the school to move from its existing premises in the town, which were no longer suited to the needs of modern education. Scottish Borders Council and Hub South East Scotland initiated the project, with part funding from the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT), to relocate to the former Berwickshire High School site that had been unused since a new purpose-built school was developed in 2009.
An extensive refurbishment programme was agreed which involved the complete replacement of the windows, doors and curtain walling throughout the two-storey building. Key to the success of transforming the school building was to preserve as much of the existing school as possible.
CMS Window Systems was appointed by GRAHAM to manufacture and install 223 windows, 14 doors and 125m2 of aluminium curtain walling. All were created using Kawneer systems to deliver slim profiles whilst maintaining strong thermal and acoustic performance.
The windows, doors and curtain walling feature 28.6mm double glazed units which are manufactured using an external 6mm Planiclear Securit COOL-LITE SKN174 II pane, a 16mm black warm edge spacer bar and a 6.8mm Planiclear laminated inner pane — with the cavity being a 90% argon fill. This makes an important contribution to a low overall U-value for the fenestration, with an optimum balance of solar gain and natural light transmission to help provide a comfortable, productive learning environment.
