Case Study: Market Hostel, King’s College, Cambridge

Project Synopsis: Dating back over 400 years in parts, Market Hostel is sensitively restored with 21st century windows

An exciting design brief for any architect or construction company…being responsible for the refurbishment of Listed Buildings within one of the country’s most famous historic squares! Clement were thrilled to win the job of manufacturing and installing their windows into the remarkable Market Hostel which occupies a position on the edge of Market Square, Cambridge.

This was an interesting project which united three different buildings dating from the seventeenth century to the 1960s, all located within the City of Cambridge Conservation Area. The brief was to bring together these buildings in a sensitive refurbishment to create new student accommodation for King’s College, Cambridge University.

John Cole of Architects Bland, Brown and Cole personally supervised the design and restoration of the buildings. Having interviewed a number of selected steel window companies, the client, in consultation with the professional team, chose Clement’s EB24 window range for the Market Hostel. The versatility of EB24 meant these windows could be used for the project in two completely different styles. EB24 with clear glass,single point locking and top hung vents was specified for the more recent parts of the building, whereas EB24 and genuine steel T bars were specified to replicate the original design of windows in the most ancient parts of the building.

In detailing the windows for this project, as well as architectural sensitivity, safety was an important factor since the building is used first and foremost as residential student accommodation. The more exposed windows were therefore specified with multi point locking and restrictors for enhanced security.