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Originally acquired by CERT Property in 2018, Centric House has been repositioned as the company’s first residential development in Liverpool. The building has been carefully transformed to deliver 46 one- and two-bedroom apartments designed for modern urban living, offering high-quality accommodation in a well-connected city centre location.
The conversion of a former office building into a residential scheme brought with it a distinct set of challenges, particularly in relation to noise from the adjacent Moorfields Station, fire safety compliance, and achieving the thermal standards expected of contemporary residential development.
A New Chapter for Centric House
Working across a 36-week programme, TRC Contracts were responsible for the design, supply and installation of over 265 alu-clad timber windows across the development. The project was designed by Architectural Emporium and represents CERT Property’s commitment to delivering a high-quality residential scheme within an existing building envelope.
With a contract value of £419,000, the scope demanded careful coordination between design intent, regulatory compliance and the practical requirements of a live refurbishment project in a busy urban environment.
Architectural Intent and Strategic Window Specification
Designed by Architectural Emporium, the scheme places a strong emphasis on maximising natural light throughout the building. A defining feature of the architectural approach is the incorporation of arched and circular windows, which give the development a clear visual identity while improving the quality of light within individual apartments.
To realise this vision, a performance-led approach to window specification was adopted. Alu-clad timber systems were selected as the primary solution, offering the ideal balance between thermal performance, acoustic control and architectural character. While aluminium systems were considered for their structural advantages, alu-clad timber proved the stronger choice for this refurbishment, delivering the durability of an aluminium external face alongside the warmth and residential quality of a timber internal finish.
Meeting Stringent Performance and Fire Safety Requirements
Given Centric House’s proximity to Moorfields Station and the surrounding commercial activity, acoustic performance was a central driver of the window specification. Glazing configurations were carefully developed to achieve the required sound insulation levels, with units specified to achieve Rw+Ctr 38 dB using 10/16/8.8mm acoustic double glazing, and Rw+Ctr 35 dB using 6/16/8.8mm acoustic double glazing.
On thermal performance, the window systems were designed to achieve U-values of 1.4 W/m²K or better, in line with current UK Building Regulations and the wider energy performance strategy for the refurbishment.
Fire safety was also a key consideration throughout the façade strategy. Materials were specified to comply with A2-s1, d0 classification under EN 13501-1:2018, ensuring limited combustibility, no significant smoke production and no flaming droplets. Aluminium Composite Panels with mineral-filled cores were incorporated to satisfy the stringent fire safety requirements associated with high-occupancy residential buildings.
A High-Performance Result with Lasting Architectural Value
The completed scheme demonstrates how the right window specification can do far more than satisfy regulatory requirements. The alu-clad timber windows have allowed the project to achieve its architectural ambitions while delivering a building envelope that performs to the highest standards.
Internally, the timber finish brings a warmth and residential quality that complements the character of the apartments, while the aluminium cladding externally provides long-term durability and a coherent appearance within its urban context.
On the Centric House project, the window specification was not simply a material choice, but a considered response to the particular demands of urban refurbishment, balancing performance, design quality and long-term asset value in equal measure.
