Brighton MET

Brighton MET have redeveloped their city centre campus in Pelham Street, Brighton, converting the site of an old car park into a 3,000 square metre extension to the existing tower block, creating a new Centre for Creative and Digital Industries and including a new public outdoor space.

The extension, sensitively designed by ECE Architecture, has created a smart new entrance set within a large plaza with secure bike storage, which is open to the public during the daytime, starting an exciting new chapter for the College.

The Requirement & Challenges

We were contacted by the Head of Estates & Facilities at Brighton MET to price for blinds to the new building in 2020.  As well as blinds to all the learning spaces, shading was needed to the entrance atrium which is approximately 7 metres high.  Heat and glare needed to be reduced to the upper section of the facade in particular, and we were invited to put forward our proposals.

In the classroom areas, there were requirements for blinds in both blackout and screen fabrics.  In the high glazed atrium area, we put forward our ShadeTech motorised RBXXL-E blinds in a screen fabric.

Once the order was confirmed, we carried out a check measure on site to confirm measurements, and we also met to finalise the fabrics.

The Outcome

We supplied and installed five motorised atrium blinds (our ShadeTech RBXXL-E) to the new reception area and over 130 no. ShadeTech RBL-C chain operated roller blinds throughout the rest of the new college building.

Blinds to the classrooms were in BetaScreen 90 3% screen fabric or corresponding blackout fabric.

Pictured below are blinds to the student-run hair and beauty salons, which now have improved access for public clients with a new reception area by the main college entrance.

Installation was completed in January 2021.  Fitting the atrium blinds was a challenge as we were working at height and the blinds – being very large – were around 65kg in weight!

The blinds to the atrium are a success, reducing heat and glare to the reception area.

What They Say

“The College is delighted with the new campus which will transform the student experience at this site. The design and construction teams have more than delivered on all of our requirements” – Brighton Metropolitan College