A Window Into SWA Commercial Project Winner 2025, West Leigh

At the 2025 Steel Window Association awards, the Commercial Project winner was West Leigh’s Len House project. Andy Bawn, MD of West Leigh, tells us all about the company today.

Len House, Maidstone – West Leigh’s meticulous restoration of this Grade II listed Art Deco landmark, featuring like-for-like W20 steel windows and doors, curved frames, and bespoke detailing to preserve its historic character

What is your core business?

Andy Bawn, Managing Director for West Leigh

West Leigh has been a steel window and door manufacturer for over 75 years and, today, the team provides highly specialist bespoke steel window services; from curtain walling to heritage and refurbishment projects. The advanced approach and specialism in the thermally broken product range makes West Leigh the perfect partner for architects and contractors across the UK.

What are the target markets for West Leigh?

Architects, main contractors and property owners.

Why is West Leigh a member of the Steel Window Association?

The benefits of being a member of the Steel Window Association is the sharing of pooled resources, while the years of experience and expertise throughout the association allows the development of new products for the ever-evolving requirements of the building regulations. The marketing reach of the association is a great benefit to all.

What sets West Leigh apart? What do you see as a competitive advantage you offer that other companies do not, for London-based projects?

As the company is based in London, we are able to offer a totally local service encompassing the design, manufacture, and project management our clients need. At West Leigh, everything is bespoke and handmade to the clientele’s specifications. We, therefore, pride ourselves on quality which led us to be certified with ISO 9001.

Are there any key projects you would like to mention?

We recently completed the installation of 464 new windows and doors at the New Chancery Rosewood Hotel in Mayfair. The building was the old American Embassy, so we had to take a careful approach for the replacement windows to align with the requirements of Listed Building status as well as providing enhanced thermal and acoustic performances. Similarly, West Leigh is currently engaged with Sir Robert McAlpine on the site of the old Smithfield’s meat market; another listed building to be suitably refurbished for new occupants, The Museum of London.

Both projects incorporated Ottostumm’s W50TB thermally broken steel window system. Designed to match the sightline profiles of the old W20 and Universal sections, W50TB is a great system for both heritage and new build projects alike. The Chancery Rosewood also had Shueco’s thermally broken Janisol HI steel doors to all the balconies.

Pictured above is Voysey House, Chiswick, West Leigh’s award-winning restoration of a former Victorian wallpaper factory, featuring bespoke steel windows and doors using rare Series 200 profiles and Fineo vacuum glazing for exceptional thermal performance and heritage detailing.

What do you see as the biggest challenges to the steel window industry in the UK today?

The biggest challenge to the steel window industry is the lowering of u-values and the far higher performances required. Fortunately, we have the benefit of system specific applied glazing bars replicating the welded glazing bars of the old steel window profiles. That, along with the vastly improved glazing options available to us, allows for the steel window industry to keep moving with the times, whilst still offering the traditional slimline and robust aesthetic steel windows are renowned for.

What are the company's top priorities over the next few years?

Over the next few years, the company's top priorities are centred around strategic product innovation and portfolio expansion. A major focus will be the development of our thermally broken windows. These are designed to significantly improve energy efficiency and thermal performance, aligning with growing demand for sustainable building solutions. We're investing in advanced materials and manufacturing techniques to ensure these windows meet the highest standards of quality and performance.

In parallel, we're committed to broadening our product offering. This means identifying complementary products that enhance our existing lineup and meet evolving customer needs. Whether it's through in-house development or strategic partnerships, adding new products will allow us to serve a wider market and strengthen our position as a comprehensive solutions provider in the fenestration industry.

Together, these initiatives reflect our long-term vision: to lead with innovation, respond to market trends, and deliver exceptional value to our customers.

How long has your oldest member of staff been working at West Leigh? What makes an employee want to stay with the company? Any other key members?

We have a great history of long-serving staff in both the factory and office, so we are obviously doing the right thing by our employees. Our longest serving members have been at the company for 49 and 51 years. For the last few years, we have had yearly get-togethers with the current workforce and those now retired (many of those retired were with the company for over 40 years). We all have a good work ethic, and we know how to work together and build trusting, long term relationships.

For further information on the Steel Window Association or if you’re interested in becoming a member, please visit www.steel-window-association.co.uk

New Urban Oasis Created At The Natural History Museum

The previously underused 5-acre gardens around the Natural History Museum in London have been remarkably transformed in a scheme by architects Feilden Fowles. Working closely with landscape  architects J & L Gibbons, and a design team including Gitta Gschwendtner, engineers HRW and Max  Fordham, a new urban oasis has been created alongside a Nature Activity Centre supported by AWS  and Garden Kitchen café.

The project rejuvenates the grounds of this well-loved museum and creates  an immersive timeline of the evolution of the earth which is now fully accessible for the first time.  Geological eras are represented in banded strata of rock and the garden now features a full-size  bronze Diplodocus called Fern. The result is a tactile living laboratory called the Urban Nature Project.  

The Nature Activity Centre and Garden Kitchen blend in harmony with the green space and have  been designed in close association with the museum’s scientists with thought and care, using natural  materials with low embodied carbon. The frame is created from UK limestone under a Douglas fir roof  with cedar shingles. Douglas fir doors, windows and columns adorn the inside. Working with acoustic  consultants Max Fordham, Troldtekt wood wool acoustic panels have been utilised through the  ceilings to help combat reverberating sound and create a calm and welcoming atmosphere.  

Troldtekt’s wood wool acoustic panels are Cradle to Cradle Certified® at Gold level and manufactured  using wood from certified forests (PEFC/09-31-030 and FSC®C115450), positively contributing to a  building’s BREEAM, WELL or LEED points. Panels can also be manufactured with FUTURECEM®  which achieves an approx. 30 per cent lower carbon footprint than that of Troldtekt based on white  cement. Depending on the panel specified, reaction to fire is classed in accordance with EN 13501 as  B-s1,d0 or A2-s1,d0 respectively.  

Available in a wide variety of different structures and colours, they combine optimal sound absorption  with an award-winning design. The Troldtekt range has a minimum expected life cycle of 60 years  coupled with excellent resistance to humidity and tested to meet ball impact standards. Panels can be  supplied as natural wood, unpainted based on FUTURECEM™ offering a reduced carbon footprint or  finished in almost any RAL or NCS colour.   

Samples, case studies and technical guidance are available from www.troldtekt.co.uk or see our  product listings on NBS (https://bit.ly/3vxoTfq) or Material Bank (www.materialbank.eu). 

SterlingOSB Zero Is A Picnic For Architects

As the annual SterlingOSB Zero/RIBAJ competition celebrated its 10th anniversary, the 2025 competition entitled Powers of Ten, challenged architects to explore the principles of scale. Entrants were unrestricted by building standards and were free to play with the concept of scale and design a structure from competition sponsor West Fraser's SterlingOSB Zero.

  Pictured is West Fraser's marketing manager, David Connacher, and Steve McCloy

This year's commended winners, Steve McCloy and C J Lim of McCloy + Muchemwa Architects, created a giant picnic table complete with deckchairs, cakes, and teapots as a memorial for the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. The architects imagined the children's play structure as a permanent fixture in the grounds of Buckingham Palace. Here Steve McCloy talks about the commended winning entry and what SterlingOSB Zero provides architects.

Q. What inspired your design for the competition?

Our design was inspired by children's books and literature. We looked at the way that, in stories such as Alice in Wonderland, the change of scale is the moment where the child enters a new world of imagination. We find, as architects, that shift of perception or that imaginative leap is most inspiring for our work. So, whether we're designing a house or a public building or an installation, imagination is the most important point.

Q. What do you like about SterlingOSB Zero?

Something that we've noticed that is really important compared to other materials like plywood, is that OSB is extremely durable and resilient for outdoor installations, public artworks, and temporary purposes, so it's been really useful for us, doing budget projects.

For further information, call 01786 812 921 or visit https://uk.westfraser.com