Transformation of school building into Zorgstroom residential care center

ONE UNIFORM FRAME SERIES FOR THE ENTIRE PROJECT

More and more inner-city construction is taking place in our country, with buildings seeking the edges of their (small) lots. “This places new demands on fire safety,” knows Marc Mulders, Sales Manager Netherlands at Aliplast Aluminium Systems. “For example, to prevent fire spread through the building facades and into adjacent buildings.” But fire safety is also a hot topic in renovation and transformation projects. “As a result of progressive laws and regulations, but also with changing building layouts and building functions, additional fire safety measures may be necessary. For example, with regard to frames, windows and doors. Our Star75 series offers a stylish, functional and safe solution for this, with architects and end users benefiting from numerous advantages.”

In forty years, the Belgian company Aliplast Aluminium Systems has become one of the most important international players in the development and production of aluminum systems for windows, doors, verandas, sliding doors and curtain walls. “From idea to mold drawing, from press post to surface treatment and from coating to insulation and transport to our manufacturers: at Aliplast everything happens under one roof,” Mulders says. “Following on the heels of the Max Light, Star90 and Star65 series, the Star75 series of windows and doors is also garnering high praise from architects and end users. Not surprisingly, because with this series functionality,
safety and aesthetics go hand in hand.”

One series for the entire building

“Our Star75 series includes a complete range of fixed frames, tilt and turn windows and doors. The series is characterized by a built-in depth of 75 mm for the outer frame and 84 mm for the sash. With a Uw-value of 0.94 W/m2K, an airtightness class 4, a burglary class RC2/RC3 and an acoustic value of 47.1 dB (-1;-4), this solution fits perfectly in buildings with strict requirements in terms of thermal and acoustic insulation. Because the series is also available in a fire-resistant variant (EW30/EI30), buildings can be completely designed in our Star75. This ensures a uniform building appearance, optimum production and less waste.”

From educational complex to residential care center

A nice reference for the Star75 series can be found on the south side of Middelburg, where Stichting Amarijn recently transformed a former Scalda educational complex into a modern and sustainable residential care center for intensive elderly care. Hof Ravensteijn has 95 places for nursing home care, 20 rooms for temporary residence and 22 rental apartments, as well as the new headquarters of Stichting Zorgstroom. Rothuizen Architects produced the design for the transformation, with an explicit focus on sustainability and reuse. The structure from the 1990s was largely preserved and supplemented with new building parts. Moreover, during the demolition of the interior, as many materials as possible were harvested for reuse. For example, various ceiling tiles, window frames and doors were given a second life. Both in the project itself and elsewhere. The facades were also cleaned, fitted with new insulation and finished with wood frame elements and new window frames.

Custom sizing

For the new frames, windows and doors, Rothuizen Architects and contractor BouwmeesterPro contacted Serko Geveltechniek at an early stage, Mulders knows. “A challenge in this project was particularly the large window frames of 3 meters high, which had to be fire-resistant in the new situation. However, there are no systems available in the Dutch market for this. Therefore, Serko Geveltechniek was asked to think out an alternative solution, which was quickly found in an alternative size of 2.50 meters high and in our Star75.”

“A total of 510 window frames with fixed glass, tilt-and-turn windows and doors were installed in Hof Ravensteijn, based on our Star75 series,” says Mulders. “Of these, 41 window frames are fire-resistant. Just before completion, a building inspection was also conducted by the fire department, during which the chief of police indicated that a door to the mobility scooter room also had to be fire-resistant. This too could easily be addressed with our Star75 series, which meant that Serko Geveltechniek did not have to switch to an alternative system for one door.” All frames, windows and doors in Hof Ravensteijn are finished in our standard color Omberg gray (RAL7022), on which we give a fifteen-year paint warranty.”