Retail/shopping malls

Metrocentre

Installation of VELUX Glazing Panel rooflight solutions enhance busiest hub at the Metrocentre

Shopping mall interior with skylight and dining options.

Gateshead, Newcastle,
United Kingdom

Location

Replacement

Project type

CDA Group

Architect

Sir Robert McAlpine
(main contractor)
Roofglaze
(installing contractors)

Further participants

2016

Project year

Shopping mall interior with VELUX roof window and dining options.

Shopping mall interior with VELUX roof window, bright and spacious.

Spacious shopping mall interior with elegant lighting and polished flooring.

Circular skylight with geometric design and VELUX roof window.

Circular skylight with VELUX roof window in a modern interior space.

Exterior view of intu Metrocentre shopping mall with modern design.

Vitral, now part of VELUX Commercial, manufactured and delivered a number of its bespoke daylight solutions to the intu Metrocentre in Gateshead

Vitral, part of VELUX Commercial, manufactured and delivered several bespoke glazing solutions to the iconic intu Metrocentre in Gateshead as part of multi-million-pound investment programme by the operator.

intu appointed Edinburgh-based architects, CDA Group, to undertake the re-configuration of the former Mediterranean Village.

The operator’s brief to the architect was challenging on two counts: the mall had to retain as much of the existing shell construction as possible to deliver cost efficiency, and construction had to be managed to avoid interruption to trade or to public access between the mall areas.

Seeking to maximise the daylighting potential, CDA considered the VELUX Glazing Panels, previously known as Vitral A74 roof glazing, the most appropriate solution as they could be tailored to suit the project. They offered several key benefits, which included their suitability to be self-supporting, thereby reducing the need for additional structure.

Products used in project

6 VELUX Glazing Panel solutions:

3 × 30° supported, stepped pyramids comprising multiple modules to create varying sizes
2 × 30° dual-pitched solutions comprising 40 modules, varying in width between 700-900mm
1 × 30° 2-tier pyramid rooflight, over 20m long and 6m wide

Total quantity of modules: 120

Internal profiles for all rooflights were finished in a matt white polyester powder-coated finish.

Cityscape with modern buildings and glass roofs, reflecting the blue sky.

Glazing panels

VELUX Glazing Panels can be configured in multiple solutions, by combining the various installation options with gable and corner solutions. The bespoke nature of the system enables you to design almost any daylight solution for public and commercial buildings.

Glazing panels

"intu sought to provide an attractive contemporary environment to meet the heightened expectations of the public and the top catering operators, who were not previously represented at Metrocentre. [...] The experts at VELUX Commercial provided technical guidance and drawings for this daylight solution, as well as comprehensive advice on how to successfully incorporate the very stringent requirements for mall glazing, laid down by intu."

Graham Watson, Project DirectorCDA

VELUX Glazing Panels offer quick installation with increased safety in mind

The VELUX Glazing Panels, together with core parts of the accessories, are pre-fabricated, thus facilitating a quicker and safer installation on site.

VELUX Glazing Panels also provide the reassurance that any future roof maintenance and cleaning could be undertaken safely in the knowledge that the rooflights are impact tested as standard to CWCT TN66/67.