Hundreds of windows from a London building that dates back to the 1800s have been shipped to Leeds to be given a new lease of life.
Manufacturer Diamik Glass has highlighted its work in recycling 360 windows from The Waterman building in Farringdon, which has been redesigned by Fathom Architects. The glass, which together weighs more than three tonnes, will be turned into Diamik's ecorok product and used as worktops in tea points and other spaces within the building.
The Waterman will then receive double glazed units designed to reduce unnecessary heat loss. It is said the move will pay back the embodied carbon from replacing the units within six years.
Read more: Wakefield packaging site hosts sustainable fuel trial for Coco-Cola bottler
Read more: Chamber and MPs seek urgent meeting with rail chiefs over northern connectivity for Hull
Michael Pickup, managing director at Diamik Glass, said: “We’re thrilled to receive the glass from The Waterman’s previous windows. This is a great opportunity for us to manufacture a unique product that gives back to the original building in a very exciting renovation project. We’re passionate about working with partners to find bespoke solutions to avoid sending any glass to landfill.
"At Diamik Glass we know how important sustainability credentials are to businesses working with older building stock, and we’re delighted to be chosen by Ambit as a delivery partner. Once recycled, crushed and produced into hard wearing surfaces made to measure, each square meter of the ecorok surfaces will consist of 85% window glass."
Matt Robinson, sustainability manager at contractor Ambit Moat, which is carrying out works on The Waterman for owner BGO, added: "Maintaining heritage materials within the building was something that both the developer, BGO, and Ambit were keen to achieve. We knew the windows could never be kept as is, due to their poor insulating performance, the next best thing was to see where we can introduce the material back into the building, reducing waste, and furthering the materials lifecycle.
"Ambit is always looking for innovative ways to reduce our carbon footprint and introduce a circular approach to our fit outs. Working with Diamik on a project like this is a great example of some of the interesting forms materials can take on after their intended life."
