A new office and factory for Metro Performance Glass showcases specialist glass solutions

Property Council New Zealand awards aren't given out lightly, so when Metro Performance Glass (Metroglass) received the Excellence in Industrial Buildings award for its new head office and manufacturing facility in Auckland, the best in class accolade was well earned.

The building, driven by developer Goodman and designed by Williams Architects, replaces Metroglass' four existing buildings and plant with one large facility, using its own products throughout both for practical reasons and to show off its broad range of glass products.

Williams Architects' design includes a flexible layout to accommodate the manufacturer's new plant and uses efficient planning on the long, narrow site to allow for future expansion, says Nigel Rigby, chief executive officer at Metroglass.

"While the factory layout is optimised for the glass production process, it can easily be reconfigured into two separate, high-stud warehouses down the line future-proofing the building."

The open-plan offices are orientated to the street approach at the same time making the most of the water views for customers and staff.

Sustainability was a factor in the award result, too. A series of passive solar and energy saving features were introduced. These include high efficiency LED lighting to supplement the extensive daylight flooding through roof lights; passive roof ventilators for optimum air quality without energy use; thermal mass and stability from exposed precast concrete walls; and rainwater harvesting using four 30,000L rainwater tanks, which together bring considerable savings in potable water demand.

In the factory, the glass production process is set up to occur linearly, with inwards loading from the southern yard, production process through the length of factory, and dispatch at the northern yard. Vertical clear cladding is utilised to maximise daylight levels for safety and visual comfort while at the same time reducing operational energy use.

"The entrances to the site, factory and office are easily identifiable from the street," says Rigby. "The office entry directly facing the road has an eye-catching glazed double height atrium stair and red-glazed lobby made using Metroglass' own advanced glass products.

Metroglass products featured include low VLT glass to control the western sun and water glare, high-quality light and thermal performance glass for interior staff comfort; glass with an STC/Rw 34 to 40 rating for noise control, and medium toughened and laminated glass for security.

"Our development team has delivered a design-build property solution that maximises the production and distribution efficiency of Metro Performance Glass, New Zealand's largest glass processor," says John Dakin, chief executive officer for developer Goodman New Zealand.

For details, contact Metro Performance Glass, phone (09) 927 3000, 5 Lady Fisher Place, Highbrook, Auckland. Email: akl@metroglass.co.nz, website: www.metroglasstech.co.nz

Story by: Trendsideas