Project
Architectural wrapping film and window film
At the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, Lustalux combined solar-control window film with a lighter architectural finish on dark window frames.
project details
- Location
- Manchester
- Sector
- Architectural film
- Film type
- Architectural filmCommercial solar-control filmWindow film for education buildingsManchester architectural film
- Timeline
- Project phased
the challenge
Extensive glazing at RNCM created solar heat build-up. Dark grey window frames absorbed additional heat, making rooms uncomfortably warm and the frames hot to the touch.
our solution
Lustalux installed heat-reflective window film on the glass and wrapped the dark frames with white architectural film, treating glazing and frames as one building problem rather than two unrelated finishes.
key outcomes
- Solar-control film applied to extensive glazing.
- Dark frames wrapped with a lighter architectural finish to reduce heat absorption.
- Glass and frames specified together around the same building problem.
project details
Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester
The Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester is housed in a modern building with expansive glass. Those windows bring daylight, but they also created solar heat build-up. Dark grey window frames absorbed additional heat, making rooms uncomfortably warm and the frames hot to the touch.
Lustalux installed heat-reflective window film on the glass and wrapped the frames with white architectural film. The glass treatment is intended to reduce solar gain. The lighter frame finish is intended to reduce heat absorption compared with the original dark colour. Together they can improve thermal comfort and may reduce cooling demand. This page does not claim measured energy-cost or carbon-footprint results.
The value of the project is that the building issue was looked at holistically — film and surface finish specified together. For other commercial window film, signage and architectural film across the city, see Manchester architectural film. For the product systems, see commercial solar-control film and architectural film.
our approach
Look at glass and frames together
Heat build-up came from solar gain through the glazing and from dark frames absorbing heat.
Specify two film systems
Heat-reflective window film on the glass and white architectural film on the frames.
Install without replacing the glazing
Both systems were applied to the existing building rather than replacing glass or frames.
project faqs
Q: Was this a Manchester project?
Yes. The Royal Northern College of Music is in Manchester. Lustalux delivered solar-control film and architectural-film wrapping as a combined installation.
Q: Did this project measure energy or carbon savings?
No published before-and-after measurements are attached to this case study. The specified systems are intended to reduce solar gain and frame heat absorption and to improve thermal comfort.
project gallery
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