In a £2.2 million contract, a specialist high security psychiatric facility, said to be the only one exclusively serving Scotland and Northern Ireland, has been fitted with new aluminium windows, screens, and louvres, as well as the company’s “unique” Anti Contraband Secureline SwingVent window system, from Fendor UK.
The State Hospital in Carstairs, Lanarkshire is seeing a complete transformation of the existing campus in a £65 m refurbishment programme. A safe, secure environment was paramount when it came to the design, which was undertaken by Macmon Chartered Architects. Main contractors are Skanska. Fendor liaised closely with the client, the State Hospitals Board for Scotland, and the architects, to devise the best window and door solution, making full use of both the steel and aluminium profiles within its portfolio. The environment had to be clinically safe to accommodate the solely male patients. Fendor, Skanska, and the client, rigorously tested all windows to ensure all the criteria regarding safety, security, and environmental compliance, were achieved, testing both the internal and external sides, and a variety of single and doubleglazed security glass. The specification changed until all parties were happy with the final, bespoke, solution. Fendor MD Chris Duffy said: “Security was uppermost, but comfort was also a consideration, as the hospital houses a number of longer-term patients. For example our windows allow patients to control their own environment without any risk.” Windows were thermally broken, and supplied with solar control glass to prevent heat gain, and Low E coated glass to stop heat loss, maximising occupant comfort, and reducing supplementary heating and ventilation requirements. The aim of the design was to provide a non-institutionalised living environment where possible, to help facilitate the patient rehabilitation. Importantly, the windows’ performance has not compromised the aesthetic appeal, with the inherent strength of the profile materials allowing for use of larger glazing spans. All windows, apart from those in patient bedrooms, where a dual grey/white scheme was applied (white to the room side), are grey. The bedroom windows also feature a “unique” continuous turn open/close mechanism that allows patients to open or close the vent themselves, but not force or damage the mechanism, as it does not have a full open or closed end position. The entire 19,000 ft2 campus contains over 140 high secure beds, and a range of administration rooms. Refurbishment is expected to be complete by next year, with final landscaping due to be finished by early 2012.
