41827t
12 May 2025

ASWS assists in BREEAM Excellent journey for ‘The Harrison'

Pictured is The Harrison, on Curtain Road, London

Image credit CGI by Hut Architecture

The restoration and conversion of a former Victorian furniture warehouse into a modern and flexible commercial property, offers high standards of energy performance as well as contemporary facilities.  Associated Steel Window Services (ASWS) is a key member of the team as the heritage window specialist tasked with the restoration of the original large-scale steel and timber frames. 

The London-based company was awarded the contract by RED Construction under competitive tender, with work on all four elevations and a large lightwell due to be completed in Summer 2025.  When finished, the Grade II listed structure will offer circa 40,000 sq. ft. of space for rent across five floors; and an accreditation of a BREEAM Excellent achievement and a top EPC rating of ‘A'.

In order to achieve this, both the insulation values and airtightness of the predominantly glazed elevations will have to be drastically improved.  With decades of experience, ASWS has deployed window fixers, service engineers, glaziers and silicon applicators to repair and realign failed lights and replace missing ones.  In total, 26 of the composite steel windows, the largest of which measure 2.5 x 5 metres, are being replaced, along with 15 timber windows.  Working in coordination with sub-contractors repairing the old London stock brickwork and areas of concrete masonry, ASWS is also tasked with replacing the timber sub-frames to the steel windows; which requires the jambs and sills to be cut out piecemeal, with the carpenters fashioning mitred and overlap joints as new lengths are let in. 

The Operations Director for ASWS leading the detailed work, Kris Bennell, comments: "Not only were there variations in dimensions right across the façades, reflecting the trade practices of the era, but the windows around the top floor also feature semi-headed, radiused tops.  And, while we are utilising W20 sections to manufacture the replacement windows, for the repairs to many of the old steel frames in the Curtain Road front façade, our engineers are having to weld in lengths of the old F7 profiles due to the extent of the corrosion. Then across large areas, the windows are being completely deglazed so new high-performance double-glazing units can be installed, along with new seals and draught-stripping. It is a challenge to bring century-old fenestration up to contemporary levels of energy efficiency, but it is more than achievable."

ASWS offers a full range of survey, repair, replica replacement and maintenance services for all ages and types of metal and timber windows.  For more information on ASWS, please visit asws.co.uk.

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Note to editor

ASWS is a long-established member of the Steel Window Association and well-recognised expert in the repair of metal windows, from the earliest wrought iron examples through to contemporary curtain walling. ASWS also undertakes full restoration works to all timber windows and doors, architectural metalwork, specialist glazing, bronze windows and shopfronts. As well as in-situ servicing and restoration, the company frequently removes frames back to its London workshops for repair, or to produce replica replacements.  Further services include carrying out full condition surveys, retrofitting thermal glazing upgrades and enablement works for demolition and other contractors, where fenestration can be documented and removed to secure storage for the duration of a project.

With compliments:
Taylor Alden Ltd
media@tayloralden.co.uk