Case Study: Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts
Enhancing Education Spaces with Rooflight and Smoke Ventilation Design
One of the UK’s leading drama schools, Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, opened its doors in September 2018 for use to its 400 students, 100 members of staff and up to 800 community users. LAMILUX designed, manufactured, and installed a range of rooflights, smoke ventilation solutions and roof access hatches to the main atrium, theatre, and staff offices of the educational building.
Architect: Turner Works | Contractor: Gilbert-Ash
Continuous Self-Spanning Mono Pitch Rooflight
The LAMILUX continuous self-spanning mono pitch rooflight construction works as a vital part of the central street atrium area, interlocking two buildings and allowing students to gather and informally rehearse in a naturally lit environment. With thermally separated aluminium profiles and toughened neutral 50/27 outer glass over clear laminated inner double glazing the system provides a Ug value of 1.10 W/m²K, and Uwindow of 1.20 W/m²K. The LAMILUX Glass Roof PR60 measures an impressive 43.47m long x 3m wide and incorporates a one-meter high LAMILUX G-air vertical glazed louvre structure along both long edges of the rooflight, which achieves a total 44.24m2 aerodynamic free area for the atria. As standard with the LAMILUX PR60 system, the system boasts exceptional certified watertightness and airtightness results and benefits the building with a sound reduction value (Rw) of 38dB.
Daylight and Ventilation Working in Harmony
In addition to the natural daylight requirements, the building and its users benefits from both natural ventilation, and certified smoke and heat ventilation in the event of a fire. During planning stage, LAMILUX worked with the architect and main contractor to agree on a range of products, each designed to serve various areas of the building with the required LUX and ventilation levels.
Above the staff offices four bespoke Glass Roof PR60 rooflights, each split in 3 glass panes and measuring approx. 3mx3m, were designed to bring in an abundance of light. With integrated vents, the offices also benefit from natural aeriation, which amongst many benefits is a key public health measure proven to reduce the risk of airborne viruses spreading, whilst aiding a boost in productivity and assisting in significantly better decision-making.
Enhancing Fire Safety with Advanced Smoke Ventilation Design
Throughout the theatre area, two 2m X 3m EN12101-2 certified LAMILUX Smoke Lift Twin Vents, each with a solid insulated top, and two 1m X 1m glass versions were installed to give the required aerodynamic free area. One manually opening LAMILUX F100 Roof Access Hatch measuring 1.5m X 1.5m was also installed to offer quick and convenient access to the roof for repair and maintenance purposes. All these products were delivered pre-assembled to a 300mm high fully insulated GRP upstand - removing the need for creating timber upstands and providing an airtight and watertight join thus removing interface problems which cause air and water leakage. The supply of a EN12101-2 compatible control panel for operation of the dual-purpose glazed louvres for smoke and heat exhaust ventilation and natural daily ventilation and other smoke ventilation units were supplied complete with wind sensor, rain sensor and a control signal link for use by a BMS system.
Offering a multitude of state of the art performance and education amenities and training programmes, the London based school was made possible with the funding support of Southwark Council, a range of fundraising, and a substantial donation from the Mayor of London’s ‘Good Growth Fund’ which focusses on rethinking how educational buildings are funded.
