Brighton Schools: Downs And St Luke’s Junior Schools

Key features: Commercial, Grade II Listed, Conservation, Sash Windows, Education, Schools, Renovation, Ventrolla Perimeter Sealing System (VPSS), Georgian.

Ventrolla have successfully renovated and upgraded 60 sash windows in two Brighton junior schools.

With 573 pupils, St Luke’s Infant and Junior School is a striking building in St Luke’s Terrace, located in the Queen’s Park area of Brighton. It was built in 1903 and designed by prestigious local architect for the Brighton and Preston School Board, Thomas Simpson.

Downs Junior School, on Ditchling Road, has 501 pupils. The school was built in 1890 and sits within a conservation area.

Ventrolla was specified by NPS Property Consultants Group due to its vast experience in providing professional and long term solutions to the problems associated with weathering and ageing of this classic style of window.

The project at St Luke’s included removing four plastic arch sections and replacing with timber to be in keeping with the character and style of the Grade ll listed building, a task which demanded skilled craftsmanship and expertise.

The work at St Luke’s involved 35 windows, 34 of which required new sills and 20 needed replacement sashes. At Downs Junior, there were 25 windows with 22 replacement sills and five new sashes. Where the wood was beyond repair, the replacement work was carried out so the windows match the original design to retain the appearance of the historic buildings. Sales Director for Ventrolla, Jim Neale, said:

“There were issues with the operation of the windows in both schools, with some of the top sashes having been painted shut, which were rectified as part of the service.”

“A traditional sash window requires a minimum 3mm gap around the sashes, which can cause draughts, dust ingress, rattling and increased noise levels from outside. However, after
installing our patented Ventrolla Perimeter Sealing System these problems have been eradicated and the sliding action of the windows is now incredibly smooth.”

Ventrolla offers a bespoke renovation service for timber sliding sash and casement windows as well as timber doors. The central office is in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, with additional offices located throughout the Ireland and the UK.