The History of Crittall Windows in a Timeline

Announcing The Crittall Prize

US Architects can win a trip to the UK by winning the prestigious new annual award

Crittall Steel Windows are delighted to announce The Crittall Prize, a prestigious new annual award for best use of Crittall steel windows in a North American construction project.

A distinguished panel of judges will be convened to decide the winner of the award, who will receive a specially commissioned Dartington Crystal bowl, and a trip to London, including a visit to Crittall Windows headquarters.

For more information see Guidelines and Terms and Conditions

The Crittall Prize Brochure is available to download here

Iconic University Restored

When a replacement fenestration programme was proposed for the iconic Falmer House at the University of Sussex, Crittall was contracted to supply a selection of its Corporate W20 profiles and Corporate 2000 cold form doors for the project.

The building, which houses various University services and the University of Sussex Students’ Union, was designed by famous architect Sir Basil Spence in the 1960s. Brick faced with a vault and column structure and extensive glazing, the unusual building is the first to be seen when entering the campus.

The window replacement scheme is part of a multi mullion pound venture to upgrade the self-contained site, which was awarded a bronze medal from RIBA for its design and architecture and which enjoys a Grade I listed status for a development of exceptional interest. It is also one of the most beautiful campus locations in Britain, being situated in rolling parkland on the edge of Brighton and bordered by the South Downs National Park. The window specification therefore had to be sensitive to the original design criteria and not detract from the visual appearance of the building.

Crittall supplied its Corporate W20 profiles as a like-for-like replacement. English Heritage-approved, the W20 profiles were the ideal choice for the replacement scheme, with the narrow sightlines minimising any obtrusive mullions and transoms, and allowing the glazing to blend unobtrusively into the existing architecture, enhancing its aesthetic value.

In addition, a number of Corporate 2000 windows also being used in Mandela Hall in Falmer House. These were selected as they offer larger panes, meeting the structural requirements for the double glazing.

With Phase 1 of the project completed and Phase 2 already under way, Falmer House is being restored to its former glory with the new windows and doors enhancing the original and innovative Spence architectural design.

In total, the university is investing £100 million through a campus-wide capital programme lasting three years, which will see the University’s facilities and buildings fully rejuvenated.

Steel Windows - Repair or Replace

Windows are that part of a building's fabric that so often defines the character and aesthetic of the property.

In many early-to-mid 20th Century buildings, across both public and private sectors, those windows are made of ungalvanised steel, and the passage of years may have taken its toll, in terms of corrosion, failing paintwork, broken or bent hardware. The glass and glazing compound may also have suffered.

Faced with ever more stringent Building Regulations, the owners of such properties need to decide how to proceed with improvements. They can be reassured that excellent opportunities exist for either improving the condition of what is already there, or replacing them with modern equivalents.

Crittall is the UK market leader, with 150 years' experience in steel fenestration, and has a long history of involvement in repair and replacement of windows, working closely with local authority planning and conservation officers, with architects, and with conservation bodies, such as English Heritage, to repair or replace windows installed from the early 1900s. Over 70 percent of the company's UK work falls into this category, with Crittall providing a survey, design, manufacture and installation service, acting, in many cases, as main contractor.

The decision to repair or replace depends on many factors, not least, the amount of maintenance that has been undertaken on a property. Before 1947, steel windows were only zinc sprayed, rather than hot-dip galvanised as they are today. So, pre-war fenestration may be deeply corroded.

Successive layers of paintwork, bowed or misaligned sections, missing putty, and broken handles or stays are also likely to be factors.

Repair work can be of a limited nature, performed on-site to tackle light corrosion, remove minor frame distortions, and re-glaze, with perhaps the addition of draught-proof gaskets and secondary glazing. Costs can be relatively modest, but, of course, the improved windows will not conform to modern performance requirements, especially in respect of energy efficiency.

An alternative approach is to remove the units, and return them to the factory for total refurbishment, where the frames are grit-blasted back to the bare metal, damaged units repaired, with new sections welded-in, hot-dip galvanising takes place, and the frame is polyester powder-coated providing 15-20 years' protection before any further painting is required. Draught-proofing and secondary glazing can be added, and new hardware fitted to match the original.

All this can be costly, and the windows will still not meet modern performance standards.

However, both the current, and forthcoming amendments to the Building Regulations Part L on energy efficiency make allowances for buildings of historical or architectural merit, covering a wide range of properties, either as individual structures, or within the context of their neighbourhood. So, this level of repair, may be adequate to satisfy the requirement of Part L.

The aim, however, should be, both to preserve, and to achieve betterment wherever possible.

The answer is replacement steel windows which may be deemed a more economic solution, in view of the findings of a condition survey, and a desire to achieve modern performance standards.

New steel fenestration will allow for double glazing that meets either a 2.2 W/m² whole window U-value, or a centre-pane U-value of 1.2 W/m²k. This will contribute towards the new requirements for reducing a building's carbon emissions total, as spelled out in the revised Part L. Weatherstripping, trickle ventilation, corrosion protection, and polyester powder coating are also part of the solution, while at the same time, replicating the visual effect of the original windows.

Examples of this abound. Look at the new facade of the Boots Company's D10 Building in Nottingham. This is a Grade I listed building dating from 1932.

Working with the original firm of architects, and, in consulatation with English Heritage, Crittall supplied and installed its Corporate W20 windows to recreate the curtain-walling effect for which this exceptional modern movement structure is famous.

Social housing refurbishments include the high-rise Avondale Tower for the Corporation of London, and Northwood House for Lambeth LBC. Then there is the neo-gothic Crown Court building at Wood Green in North London, the celebrated Hoover Building alongside the A40 in West London, and the Grade II listed Viceroy Court, a private residential block with curved fenestration overlooking Regents Park.

Crittall's current range of windows provides modern, high-performance replacements for the Universal range first seen in 1909, and the imperial SMW introduced in the 1920s. The original fenestra joint, patented in 1905, is still available. Bespoke solutions can be created as required.

Experience shows that each project must be reviewed on its own merits, and that repair, where possible, is the first option, and is preferred for aesthetic reasons. If, however, replacement is chosen, to meet cost, or performance requirements, then this can be done sympathetically, with modern steel products, that satisfy the regs and aesthetic appeal of a project in equal measure.

The Old Pump House, London, England

A listed building in Hooper Street, on the fringe of the City of London, has recently been transformed with Crittall Windows supplying a variety of its steel profiles for the project.

Developers, City North plc acquired The Old Pump House, and the company's development division undertook the challenging task of restoring the Victorian structure to its former glory.
The existing steel windows had deteriorated, and the decision was made to replace them with Crittall's Corporate W20 profiles. Because of the location of the building, and its Grade II listed status, meticulous care had to be taken, in the specification and the installation processes. This involved the architects and project manager working closely with the suppliers to ensure minimal disruption to the street below.

"This is a stunning transformation of a building that has lain derelict for over 40 years," comments architect in charge of the project, Andrew Yelland. Crittall's task was to create a range of windows that fitted the character and style of the original, yet provided the performance quality demanded of today's profiles.

"The building style required a number of different shaped windows," continues Yelland. "We specified straight, semi-circular, and arched profiles all with the distinctive slim sections that the Crittall W20 option provided. In addition, we also constructed a 60 minute, fire-rated compartmentalisation between the 1st and 2nd floors. Crittall was able to supply speciality steel and glass windows cills to complete the detailing."

The Old Pump House is now completed, and its architectural merit restored. Crittall Windows not only contributed to the external aesthetic appearance, but also met the criteria for the thermal energy efficient performance of the building as a whole.

Crittall steel windows not only provide exceptional strength and durability, but also offer an aesthetically pleasing, minimalist appearance. Because of the material's strength, sightlines can be narrowed, ensuring that the windows do not dominate the appearance of the architecture. Crittall's extensive range of steel profiles are suitable for any building, either traditional or contemporary modern, providing protection and appeal for any sized project.