Curzon Circle
At key gateway location Curzon Circle (Birmingham), stands Compass. With 290 high quality studio apartments and top-notch amenities, the student accommodation project is just as ambitious as the students it houses. Key words for this housing project? Sustainability, community and privacy. Architectural firm Glancy Nicholls Architects and Reynaers Aluminium accomplished exactly that. Mark Rossouw, International Projects Manager at Reynaers Aluminium, explains: “Integral to Compass’s appearance and functionality are our state-of-the-art bespoke window solutions.”
Sustainable from top to bottom
Starting from the bottom of the landmark structure, we see an entrance framed in a set-back glazed façade, bringing movement to and from the surrounding streets. Going up, we can admire the Reynaers Aluminium ConceptWall 65-EF façade system. “This highly insulated element façade is very well-suited for high-rise constructions such as Compass, while profiles can be adapted to project requirements. Because sustainability was a big topic, we matched it with a bespoke variant of our MasterLine 8 High Insulation bespoke window solution”, Mark adds.
The result? Compass is an impressive contemporary addition to the Birmingham Eastside skyline, and thanks to our highly energy efficient window solutions, completely in compliance with the highest standards of sustainability.
A peek inside
Let us take a look inside the lifestyle-oriented student apartments. The design of the high-quality studios and advanced amenities were focused on enhancing and enriching the students’ university experience. Both Birmingham City University and Aston University are only a short walk away from Curzon Circle. As described by Glancy Nicholls Architects: “Maintaining a balance between privacy and community was essential, allowing students to unwind in their own stylish, comfortable studio apartments and study areas, while also offering communal spaces such as a gym and dining rooms for socializing and co-working with friends.”
CWCT testing from a (social) distance
The integration of Reynaers Aluminium’s glazing systems into Curzon Circle was met with rigorous demands, including compliance with the Centre for Window and Cladding Technology (CWTC) standards. Curzon Circle started construction during the Covid-19 pandemic, so coincidentally, the CWCT testing phase coincided with unprecedented restrictions and adjustments in project management processes. “One significant change was the necessity to conduct testing observations remotely. Our team at Reynaers Aluminium adapted swiftly”, says Mark proudly, “By setting up livestream video feeds, we enabled stakeholders to view real-time testing remotely and in doing so, we were able to maintain project timelines without compromising on thoroughness and accuracy of the testing process.”
The glazed area of approximately 600 square metres was thoroughly tested and approved for typical climatic levels of water, air and solid object impact.
Regeneration efforts
As façade fabricator EVB was originally based in Kyiv, Reynaers Aluminium UK received excellent support by our Ukrainian team to smoothen processes and communication. It comes to show that cross-border collaboration, even during the pandemic, is a challenge we can overcome together with our partners.
In the end, Compass is seamlessly integrated in the Curzon Circle regeneration efforts, leveraging the upcoming development and amenities surrounding Birmingham’s forthcoming HS2 station. The regeneration project aims to transform the area into a bustling, active and genuinely inhabited part of the community. The student apartment tower is definitely an excellent start to the enhancement and appeal of the area, and will guide – as a compass – the neighbourhood towards a more vibrant community.
Used systems
- CW 65-EF
