Midlands education project
Specialist glazing for a calmer, brighter SEND environment.
Dortech Architectural Systems Ltd has commenced installation works at Baskerville SEN School in Harborne, Birmingham, delivering a specialist glazing package designed to support daylight, comfort, acoustics, energy performance and secure access in a modern specialist education setting.
The project also marks an important first scheme with Tilbury Douglas in the Midlands, building on a long and successful working relationship in the North West.
429m² glazing package
Triple-glazed performance envelope
Technal + SAS system stack
Baskerville SEN School is being redeveloped to create a more modern, purpose-built environment for specialist SEND education.
Package size
429m²
Approximate area of curtain walling, windows and doors in Dortech’s glazing package.
Target U-value
1.1 W/m²K
Lower heat transfer helps the school stay warmer in winter and supports lower heating demand.
Solar control
g-value 0.35
Helps limit excessive solar heat gain and reduce overheating in teaching spaces.
Acoustic rating
39 RwdB
Supports calmer internal conditions by reducing the transfer of unwanted outside noise.
Why this project matters
A building envelope that supports learning, comfort and everyday usability.
The Baskerville project forms part of the redevelopment of a specialist education setting for pupils with autism and additional needs. The new building is being delivered to create a brighter, calmer and more practical environment than the ageing accommodation it replaces.
Large windows and views toward the surrounding trees and grounds are an important part of the design. That means the glazing package has to do more than look strong from the outside. It has to help the school feel comfortable, welcoming, secure and easy to use every day.
Street-level visual of the proposed school building in Harborne.
What Dortech is delivering
Curtain walling, windows and doors designed around performance.
Dortech’s package includes approximately 429m² of new curtain walling, windows and doors. In practical terms, these are the elements that bring daylight into classrooms and circulation spaces, help control heat loss, reduce overheating, manage secure access and contribute to the overall quality of the internal environment.
That is especially important in an SEN school. Glare, draughts, overheating, noise and uncomfortable temperatures can all affect how a space feels. For pupils with autism and additional needs, the building envelope plays a direct role in creating calmer, more supportive places to learn.
Triple glazing explained in plain English
One of the key technical elements at Baskerville is the use of high-performance triple-glazed windows. Triple glazing uses three panes of glass rather than one or two, with argon-filled cavities that help slow down heat loss. Warm-edge spacer bars reduce cold bridging, while specialist coatings help balance heat, light and solar gain.
01
Better insulation
The glazing is designed around a target U-value of 1.1 W/m²K, with centre-pane performance of 0.5 W/m²K, helping the school retain heat more effectively in winter.
02
Smarter solar control
A g-value of 0.35 helps reduce overheating during warmer periods, while light transmission of 0.66 still supports strong levels of useful natural daylight.
03
Quieter learning spaces
The units achieve an acoustic rating of 39 RwdB, helping reduce the transfer of unwanted outside noise into classrooms and other learning areas.
System stack
Aluminium systems selected for thermal performance, durability and secure everyday use.
Curtain walling
Technal Tental 50TT
Specified for the main curtain walling package to support a robust, thermally efficient external envelope.
Windows
Technal FY65
Thermally broken window suite designed to reduce heat transfer, improve comfort and avoid colder internal surfaces.
Circulation doors
Technal Titane NEXT
Thermally broken circulation door system selected to support secure, durable use in a busy education environment.
Classroom doors
SAS PURe
Thermally broken rebated suite with robust, secure hardware suited to modern specialist education spaces.
Why glazing performance matters in a SEN setting
For Dortech, Baskerville is a strong example of how architectural glazing supports far more than a building’s external appearance. In the right environment, the facade, windows and doors shape how a building feels and performs from hour to hour.
Reduce glare and overheating
Solar-control glazing helps avoid spaces feeling too bright or too hot during warmer periods.
Support thermal stability
Lower heat loss and thermally broken framing support more comfortable internal conditions through the year.
Create calmer acoustics
Better acoustic performance can make a real difference to the quality of the learning environment.
Deliver secure, durable access
Door hardware, framing strength and everyday usability all matter in live education buildings.
Experience and context
A strong education-sector fit and an important Midlands milestone.
Dortech can draw on previous experience delivering specialist glazing packages for SEN and education environments, including projects such as Seashell, Hawthorn and Rochdale. Those schemes reinforce the importance of balancing daylight, thermal performance, solar control, acoustics, safety, durability and everyday usability for pupils and staff.
Baskerville SEN School also represents an important first project with Tilbury Douglas in the Midlands. It is a strong example of Dortech’s continued commitment to high-quality architectural glazing for education, healthcare and specialist environments where performance, safety and user comfort all matter.
Approx. 429m² package
Triple glazing with argon-filled cavities
Target U-value 1.1 W/m²K
Centre-pane performance 0.5 W/m²K
g-value 0.35
Light transmission 0.66
Acoustic rating 39 RwdB
Sources referenced: Baskerville School project updates, what the new school will look like, and local planning coverage.
