Laidlaw goes top of the class with university balustrade installation

The Cadman Building in Stoke-on-Trent is undergoing a series of improvements as part of a wider £40 million overhaul of the university’s main campus to accommodate up to 2,000 extra students.

Laidlaw supplied and installed an impressive continuous structural glass balustrade for an accessible walkway outside the building’s main entrance.

It comprises an aluminium base track with brushed stainless steel cladding with 900-1100mm high, 15mm thick, clear glass, toughened to EN12150.

It was fixed via a U-shaped channel to achieve 0.74kn loading and the installation was completed with satin-brushed grade 316 stainless steel handrails.

Altogether, 40 linear metres of balustrade and handrails were installed and the result is a sleek, uncluttered modern look that complements the ornate 102-year-old red-brick building.

Jonathan Hough, Technical Sales Manager at Laidlaw, said: “Our Structural Glass Balustrade range is extremely durable, making it ideal for even the most demanding environments and heavy-traffic areas.

Installing it outside of a busy building at a university campus, used by thousands of students and staff every day, is the perfect choice.

“The continuous glass structure also looks very elegant and because the glass is transparent, it doesn’t detract from the beauty of the building but provides the necessary safety.”

Laidlaw prides itself on its reputation for delivering outstanding quality and its expert team ensures that every project is tailored to suit the exact requirements of the scheme.

As one of the country’s leading specialists in architectural handrails and balustrades, the Laidlaw team works with architects and contractors across myriad sectors – from large corporate environments to community churches and schools, and from health centres to residential developments – delivering outstanding quality even in the most challenging of designs and specifications.