Building work has begun on a futuristic extension block at an Essex school featuring a timber/aluminium composite curtain wall.

Supplied by AM Profiles, the laminated timber beam curtain wall structure at Northbury School, with aluminium capping and sophisticated gasket design, has a contract value of more than £500,000.

The 56mm wide by 260mm and 220mm deep laminated timber mullions and transoms are being factory prepared on AM Profiles’ recently commissioned SCM machining centre to ensure precision engineering of all components.

The aluminium front sections are also precisely machined and joined to the laminated timber before the ready to erect profiles are delivered to site in stick form.

All sections are supplied by AM Profiles fully finished, so, for the installer, the ‘build’ of the system is very similar to an aluminium curtain wall. The advanced hidden connection method between transoms and mullions ensures accurate and neat completion and will facilitate glass loadings of up to 450kg per panel area.

The external aluminium sections are different depths on mullions and transoms on this project, as well as being different shades of anodised grey, so enhancing the façades appearance.

The supply and installation of the laminated pine curtain wall is expected to be completed on time in November 2008.

AM Profiles was approached by Neilcott Construction to supply the 900m2 of aluminium/timber composite curtain walling for two key reasons, firstly to ensure continuity of supply through a UK based manufacturer and, secondly, the system had to be fully tried and tested and be engineered to meet the large unsupported spans and significant sealed unit weights.

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