Navi Mumbai : Alumil India, the fully-owned Indian subsidiary of Alumil Group, has successfully delivered advanced fenestration solutions for NICMAR University in Pune, transforming a precast campus vision into a functional, durable and future facing learning environment. The project required approximately three hundred windows within a tight timeline which was successfully delivered by Alumil India. The project deployed Alumil’s top-hung window systems combined with sleek mullions and glazing.
As an institution dedicated to construction management and evolving building practices, NICMAR University sought to make the campus itself a living example of construction innovation. Designed by TDC Architecture and Design, Phase 6 was conceived as a completely precast building extending from the service basement to the terrace. Its façade brought together precast concrete, aluminium and glazing, with concrete representing precision and construction methodology, while glazing reflected the future of the built environment.
“NICMAR University presented an opportunity to demonstrate how fenestration can become an integral part of both a building’s architecture and its performance. The project required us to respond to large openings, intensive daily usage, acoustic and weather considerations, safety, and the specific challenges of precast construction, all within a demanding timeline. Our engagement went beyond supplying a window system; we worked closely with the design and project teams to adapt the solution as requirements evolved on site. We are pleased to have contributed to a campus where the building itself becomes part of the learning experience and reflects the innovation that NICMAR seeks to impart to future construction professionals,” says Mr Theodoros Axouristos, Managing Director, Alumil India.
The design called for larger openings that could provide classrooms with natural light, visibility and a stronger connection with the surrounding environment, while maintaining safety, usability and architectural character. Alumil’s top-hung window systems combined with sleek mullions and glazing, helped achieve this balance while giving the fenestration a more integrated façade like appearance.
“Several systems, ranging from local to international offerings, were evaluated through several mock-ups. Alumil India’s solution met the project’s requirements for larger glazed openings, slimmer profiles, robust hardware and a top-hung configuration that complemented the overall façade design. A key differentiator was Alumil’s technical involvement throughout the project. The team worked closely with us on design alterations, technical inputs and detailing. During execution, changes in dimensions resulting from grouting and alignment issues in the precast construction required adjustments even after the window order had been placed. Alumil’s technical team revisited the drawings and worked with the project team to resolve these challenges. The system’s modular flexibility also proved valuable when the design team decided to realign the top-hung panels from top to bottom at a later stage. The ability to interchange fixed and top-hung panels helped accommodate the change without disrupting the broader design,” says Mr Pankaj Nande, Principal Architect, TDC Architecture and Design.
“Given that NICMAR is a functioning education campus, project timelines were particularly critical. However, we were confident in our ability to execute the project and are happy to have completed the window installation in approximately two and a half months, meeting its demanding schedule,” concludes Mr Axouristos.
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