The Pitt Building is a landmark academic and civic building located on Trumpington Street in central Cambridge. Completed in 1833, the building is deeply embedded in the city’s publishing, academic and cultural history and today operates as a prestigious conference and events venue. As part of a sensitive refurbishment led by Allies and Morrison, IQ Projects was appointed to design, supply and install specialist internal glazing at the building’s primary entrance and circulation spaces. Central to the upgrade is the introduction of a frameless glass draft lobby in Cambridge, designed to improve environmental performance and accessibility while restoring the original sense of arrival within the historic interior.
Products Used
Credit
Architects: Allies and Morrison
Builders: Regent Construction
Location
Cambridge
Historic Context and Design Challenges
Working within a nineteenth‑century building of institutional significance presents unique architectural and technical challenges. The Pitt Building is subject to strict heritage considerations, requiring any new interventions to respect historic fabric, materials and proportions. At the same time, the building operates as a live public venue hosting conferences, exhibitions and formal events, placing high demands on environmental comfort, accessibility and durability.
The original entrance suffered from heat loss, drafts and operational inefficiency, but introducing conventional door systems or framed enclosures risked disrupting the spatial clarity of the reception area. The brief therefore called for a solution that could provide effective environmental separation without visually subdividing the space or obscuring original stonework and architectural details.
The Main Double‑Height Frameless Glass Draft Lobby
IQ Projects designed and installed a double‑height, three‑sided frameless glass draft lobby positioned immediately inside the main entrance. This internal glass box acts as an environmental buffer, reducing heat loss and controlling air movement while remaining visually transparent.
The lobby is formed from laminated structural glass panels connected together using frameless glass‑to‑glass silicone joints. The side elevations are fixed, while the front elevation incorporates a double‑height glass screen with an integrated double pivot door. All glass was carefully notched to accommodate existing internal stone features, ensuring the historic fabric could remain fully visible and undisturbed.
The integrated Mondrian internal pivot door in patinated bronze provides generous access for high‑footfall use and formal events, with concealed hold‑open hardware and electronically operated locking activated via internal controls. The result is a frameless glass draft lobby in Cambridge that delivers modern performance standards without compromising the architectural integrity of the building.
Secondary Internal Draft Lobby and Automated Access
A second internal glass draft lobby was installed deeper within the building to further regulate internal environmental conditions and support circulation flow. This three‑sided frameless glass enclosure combines fixed structural glass panels with an automated frameless sliding glass door on the principal access elevation.
The sliding door system is top‑hung, with a discreet floor guide rail to maintain a clean threshold. Automation is concealed within bespoke metal housings finished to complement the interior, ensuring the mechanism does not detract from the building’s refined aesthetic. Sensors and push‑button controls provide intuitive access for staff, visitors and event delegates, meeting modern accessibility expectations within a historic context.
Together, the two glass lobbies create a layered environmental strategy that enhances thermal comfort and usability while remaining visually recessive.
Performance, Access and Heritage Integration
The introduction of frameless glass draft lobbies has had a significant impact on the daily operation of the Pitt Building. Draught control and thermal buffering improve comfort for occupants and visitors, particularly during large events, while clear sightlines preserve the openness of the reception spaces.
Crucially, the glazing interventions are fully reversible and structurally independent, an important consideration in heritage environments. By using frameless structural glass fixed with minimal intervention, the project demonstrates how contemporary glazing can be integrated into historic institutional buildings without erasing their character or narrative.
Technical Details
- Two internal frameless glass draft lobbies installed within a Grade I listed historic building
- Main entrance lobby formed as a double‑height, three‑sided frameless glass box measuring approximately 4.1m tall x 3.0m wide x 1.3m deep
- Fixed glass panels manufactured from 2 x 10mm toughened laminated glass, heat soak tested and connected using frameless silicone joints
- Front elevation incorporating a Mondrian internal double pivot door measuring approximately 1.9m wide x 2.2m tall
- Double pivot door with concealed hold‑open pivots and integrated electronic locking
- Secondary internal frameless glass lobby measuring approximately 2.8m tall x 2.5m wide x 2.3m deep
- Automated frameless sliding glass door with concealed drive mechanism and discreet floor guide rail
- All visible framing finished with brass and bronze detailing to complement the interior
- Glass‑to‑glass junctions used throughout to minimise visual impact
Begin Your Frameless Glass Draft Lobby in Cambridge Project
For architects, project teams and institutional clients considering a frameless glass draft lobby in Cambridge, The Pitt Building demonstrates how specialist glazing can improve environmental performance and accessibility within historic buildings without compromising architectural character. IQ Projects provides technical design, engineering coordination and specialist installation expertise for complex commercial, educational and heritage refurbishments. Contact our team to discuss your project requirements.
