White Rose Park ABC Building
Improving aesthetics, tenant comfort and energy performance through specialist reglazing at White Rose Park in Leeds.
Improved aesthetics
A cleaner, more consistent glazed facade replaces old, damaged and inconsistently filmed units.
Better working environment
Reduced solar gain and cleaner internal views support a more comfortable office setting.
Reduced energy costs
Improved U-value and lower g-value reduce heating and cooling demand.
Project overview
Dortech Maintenance is helping Munroe K upgrade the ABC Building at White Rose Park through specialist replacement glazing. The works retain the existing MAG Presslock Curtain Walling System while improving the building’s aesthetics, internal comfort and energy performance.
The ABC Building at White Rose Park in Leeds had a long-standing glazing performance issue. The building was originally constructed in 1983 for Systime Computers, and many of the insulated glass units had been in place since the original installation.
The challenge
Building users and tenants had experienced a poor working environment, tired and inconsistent external aesthetics, and high energy costs linked to heating and cooling demand.
During warmer months, parts of the building became uncomfortably hot due to solar gain through older glazing. In colder months, weaker thermal performance meant the building became too cold, making heating and air-conditioning systems work harder to maintain comfortable temperatures.
Reflective film had been applied to some existing panes over the years. This created a patchy and dated facade appearance, did not resolve winter heat loss, and did not address ageing, damaged or failing glass units.
Specialist reglazing approach
Dortech worked with Munroe K and Think Architecture Ltd to develop a practical and commercially sensible solution. A key technical constraint was the existing MAG Presslock Curtain Walling System, which incorporated a hard rubber retaining facecap.
The glazing cavity had to be restricted to 12mm to suit the existing system. Dortech developed a specialist reglazing solution, including replacement hard rubber retaining facecaps specially extruded for the MAG Presslock system, so the existing facade could be retained rather than fully replaced.
Glazing specification and performance
| Performance measure | Existing glazing | Replacement glazing | Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light transmission | 0.79 / 79% | 0.346 / 34.6% | Reduced glare and excessive brightness |
| g-value / solar factor | 0.63 / 63% | 0.266 / 26.6% | Reduced solar heat gain |
| Centre-pane U-value | 2.8 W/m²K | 1.3 W/m²K | Improved winter insulation |
Dortech is replacing the existing units with Guardian SunGuard Silver 35/26 glass units. The reduction in g-value from 0.63 to 0.266 represents approximately 58% less solar energy transmission compared with the original clear units.
Tenant comfort and visual improvement
The upgraded glass addresses comfort issues for tenants and building users while transforming the quality of the internal visual environment. In summer, the lower g-value helps reduce solar heat entering the building. In winter, the improved U-value helps reduce conductive heat loss through the glazing.
Simon Smithson of Think Architecture described the internal visual difference as “literally night and day”.
The new glazing provides a cleaner and clearer appearance from inside the building, replacing ageing, filmed glass with consistent glazing and clearer views.
Indicative energy saving
| Saving category | Indicative result |
|---|---|
| Heating-side useful heat reduction | Approximately 53,856 kWh per year |
| Avoided gas input | Approximately 63,360 kWh per year |
| Indicative heating-side saving | Approximately £3,269 per year |
| Avoided cooling electricity demand | Approximately 12,517 to 33,797 kWh per year |
| Indicative cooling energy saving | Approximately £2,777 to £7,499 per year |
Conclusion
The ABC Building at White Rose Park demonstrates how targeted reglazing can solve multiple issues at once: improving aesthetics, improving the working environment, and reducing energy demand.
By understanding the constraints of the existing curtain walling system and retaining the facade, Dortech was able to offer a lower-disruption and commercially valuable route to improved building performance.
Calculation assumptions
| Assumption | Value |
|---|---|
| Glazing area replaced to date | 748m² |
| Existing glass light transmission | 0.79 / 79% |
| Replacement glass light transmission | 0.346 / 34.6% |
| Existing glass g-value | 0.63 / 63% |
| Replacement glass g-value | 0.266 / 26.6% |
| g-value reduction | 0.364 |
| Existing centre-pane U-value | 2.8 W/m²K |
| Replacement centre-pane U-value | 1.3 W/m²K |
| U-value improvement | 1.5 W/m²K |
| Heating degree days | 2,000 K-days/year |
| Assumed heating efficiency | 85% |
| Assumed gas rate | 5.16p/kWh |
| Assumed electricity rate | 22.19p/kWh |
Disclaimer: This case study is provided for general guidance. Performance data and energy savings are indicative only and should not be relied upon as guaranteed performance, EPC outcome or financial return.