Selectaglaze helps a charity transform two old council buildings into a new high spec Children’s Hospice providing respite care for families supporting a child/children with a life-limiting or life threatening condition. The origins of Julia’s House Charity is a truly heart-warming one and shows how a person’s dream can become a reality and even exceed expectations.
Well over a decade ago, Julia Parks, who was a paediatric nurse at Poole Hospital had a wish to open a centre to help support these families. Starting small, a charity was set up which provided care and support in the community. However, as demand grew, Julia wanted to take the Charity one step further and open a Hospice for families to visit, which gave them a change from their ‘normal’ surroundings. An old property in Poole was acquired and converted for use, but unfortunately she passed away from cancer and never saw her dream executed. Her friends rallied around and launched the charity in her name.
Julia’s legacy lives on and is expanding. Word of mouth about the Charity led to outreach work being carried out in Wiltshire which over time saw demand escalate, so a second centre has been opened in her name based in Devizes.
Andy Munn, Facilities Manager for the charity went on to explain; “At one point we considered buying land and building from scratch, but these two old council buildings were in a great location and had the potential to be a really flexible space. It felt more environmentally friendly to recycle disused buildings, too. We are thrilled with how the hospice has turned out.”
A huge amount of work needed to be done; internal reconfigurations, extensions added and the two buildings being joined to make the space fit for purpose. A three year plan to raise £3.5 million to cover the works began. With supporters such as Robert Downey Jr, Martin Clunes and Guy Ritchie; as well as numerous other initiatives, the target was reached in just a year and half.
Wates, the project manager, approached Selectaglaze about providing secondary glazing for some office rooms in the Grade II Listed building – wanting to create a nice working environment for the staff. As the original windows were old and draughty, Architect Hill Design specified thermally insulating secondary glazing to 4 box sash windows, as well as adding internal and external insulation to the whole of building to raise the U-values. Selectaglaze Series 25 vertical sliders provided the best option to match the existing sightlines and comfortably operate to the sizes specified.
Selectaglaze has a range of tested products that can reduce U- values to around 1.8 when coated in low emissivity glass. With the Pilkington Spacia glass in the Series 25 unit, it can be reduced down even further to around 0.8. All units are designed and expertly installed with high performance brush or compression seals, to ensure the tightest fit - dramatically reducing air infiltration to help eliminate uncomfortable drafts.
Selectaglaze employed regional partner Techniglaze to undertake the role of surveyor and installer, ensuring that the most cost effective price could be given, keeping overall build costs down for this charitable project.
“Visiting the centre, despite it still receiving its final touches prior to the opening, was awe inspiring and emotional. The dedication and care that the staff have – which they exude when talking about the journey they have been on to get the centre in a state fit to receive its first families, is heart-warming. They love the new spaces available for them to use and feel nice and cosy in the new thermally enhanced offices.” says Zoe Williams, Selectaglaze.
Selectaglaze wishes Julia’s Centre well in the next phase of its journey and feels proud to be supporting projects like this, which enhance the lives of so many.
Royal Warrant Holder Selectaglaze has been established for fifty years and in that time gained extensive experience working on all building types. The secondary glazing units are fully reversible, so are approved by most Heritage bodies for use on Listed buildings. Selectaglaze works meticulously with clients to ensure their buildings are warmer, quieter and safer.
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