Luminatriums Go Public

Luminatriums? They are conservatories, but not as we know them... Continuing the theme, space is indeed the final frontier for many public sector landlords; largely how to add more without breaking the bank. But just as conservatories have become the means to add bright, attractive space inexpensively for many private homeowners, then so too do glass-based structures offer similar benefits for many commercial landlords and public sector property managers.

So what, you may ask, is a Luminatrium? The term is used by Sash UK Ltd, one of the country's leading window, door and conservatory manufacturers, to identify a type of large glass structure that the company has been instrumental in developing over the past 15 years. It may have a conservatory-style appearance and indeed, it can use many conservatory components. But a Luminatrium is based upon advanced engineering calculations and structural techniques that have little to do with the structures installed in thousands of homes throughout the UK. Coupled with often complex contractual and regulatory issues, the planning, design, engineering, manufacture and installation of Luminatriums are way beyond all but a handful of operators, with Sash UK the clear market leader.

Luminatriums are installed increasingly in hotels, restaurants and pubs to offer bright, airy and attractive space for customers as a matter of choice; the fact that they are often considerably cheaper and faster to install than other conventionally built structures is often a bonus, rather than the reason for the choice in the first place.

Sash UK is certainly the UK market leader in the design, manufacture and installation of Luminatriums, and in fact is a world authority, having been a leading supplier and installer of such structures for several years now in the United States, where there is an extraordinary demand for these structures which inevitably feature large unsupported roof spans, a large part of their appeal. Many are emphatically styled with an 'English' flavour and have become upmarket-desirable, an essential addition to many luxurious American homes. The largest Sash UK has installed is 3,300 feet².

In the UK there has been an increase in the number of public sector landlords, including those responsible for health and education estates, to utilise Luminatrium building techniques to improve and extend properties in their care. These have been applied for a wide range of uses ranging from simple extensions for use as lounges and dining areas for residential homes, and reception and registration areas for clinics, hospitals and colleges. The ability of the Luminatrium system to offer large unsupported roof spans has also allowed the conversion of under utilised outdoor quadrangle areas in schools to provide attractive and light internal areas for a wide range of uses. Insulation and building standards comply or exceed all current and anticipated regulations and indeed, may be varied easily according to the specifier’s wishes, including solar control which should rank highly in any glass structure, whilst safety is covered emphatically in the Building Regulations. A range of glasses may be chosen, including the latest self-cleaning products for reduced maintenance. Every Sash Luminatrium is factory-built and pre-assembled.

The key to the structure is a system of specially designed and manufactured hollow sections of architectural grade aluminium which has been specially developed for its lightness but superb structural strength and integrity, and which is easy to handle and install. The structural 'skeleton' is clad with conventional conservatory components, which rely on the Luminatrium system for support. The frame can be used with virtually any system in any material, and Sash has ties developed with a number of UK suppliers to ensure total compatibility with most products. The key to a Luminatrium is, however, its versatility, allowing enormous freedom in design both for aesthetics, and to provide solutions for complex building problems. There is no standardisation: every Luminatrium is surveyed, designed, manufactured and installed to order. However, the pre-fabricated construction allows installation periods of days rather than weeks for conventional building techniques.

Luminatriums have now been proven sufficiently in public sector applications and, if there is anything against them it may be that such structures may appear a little too ostentatious, something that is quickly redressed by the figures. Perhaps more estates managers should 'boldly go' along the Luminatrium route...