The East Yorkshire company had to overcome a number of challenges during the project
EYG has been shortlisted for a national industry award for its work on Hull Monacle building(Image: EYG/Arrival PR)
Hull-based glazing specialist EYG has been shortlisted for a national industry award for its work in helping to transform one of the city’s most prominent buildings – and overcoming numerous logistical and installation challenges in doing so. The glazing installation on the curved façade of the ‘Monocle’ development by EYG Commercial – a specialist division of EYG which works on large scale commercial projects – has left judges at the 2026 Glass & Glazing Products Installer Awards suitably impressed.
It has seen the business, established in Hull for more than 50 years, named a finalist in the category for the UK’s best installation on a commercial single building. As the leading UK awards event for the window, door, and glass industry, they celebrate and recognise excellence nationwide, covering a wide range of projects and products, from home extensions to heritage installations and commercial developments.
In the category of best installation on a single commercial building, judges were looking for examples of projects which not only looked impressive when completed but demonstrated the ability of businesses to overcome unusual challenges and comply with the highest industry standards.
“To be shortlisted for the best commercial glazing installation in the UK last year on an individual building is a fantastic accolade when you think of the thousands of projects which will have been completed,” said Richard Saunders, sales and estimating director at EYG Commercial.
“When we were first awarded this contract by Allenby Commercial, another Hull firm, we knew it was a project on which we could demonstrate our industry leading knowledge, products and skills. It now stands as very visible example of our work, in our home city, and we are exceptionally proud of how we planned and managed the installation, and how it looks.”
EYG used a high-performance curtain walling system from suppliers AluK to create the impressive façade, which not only enhanced the aesthetics of the building, but also provided the functionality and performance levels required to ensure the glazing installation exceeded current standards.
Mr Saunders says EYG was able to demonstrate how the project posed many challenges, which its experienced team was able to overcome. “The age of the building was a major challenge in itself, as we found new issues which needed overcoming once the old glazing was stripped out.
“This included each floor previously having a small internal wall below the glazing which needed removing, and then we found the floors were not level,” he said. “This had to be taken into consideration, alongside the curved nature of the building, which meant the surveying and planning of installation had to be extremely precise.
“There were also many logistical challenges. The sheer size and weight of the 400 1m x2.6m glazed units meant they had to be lifted by crane to each floor, and then individually fitted, one at a time, from the outside, as the curtain walling sections were too small to fit them conventionally from the inside.
“With limited space outside due to scaffolding, each glazing unit had to be picked up by a specialist glazing robot from inside the building, lifted through the widow spacing at an angle and then pulled back into the glazing rebate and fitted.”
Also highlighted as part of EYG’s work was how the project replaced single glazing with high- performance double-glazed units, each laminated in a neutral solar control finish to provide excellent solar protection, while reducing the need for artificial light inside.
It was also highlighted to judges how each glazing panel was heat-soaked toughened to add extra strength and reliability, with the window frames manufactured to help reduce heat transfer, prevent condensation and create a more effective insulating barrier.
In total, more than 66,000kg of glass was installed, all complying to barrier-loading regulations to ensure the safety of all using the building, with firestopping products also installed between the flooring and façade to prevent the vertical spread of fire, smoke, and heat.
“This really has been a job where we have been able to demonstrate our 55 years of experience and expertise as a business,” added Mr Saunders. “It’s a great testament to our team, our products, and our partners to be shortlisted for this award. Hopefully we’ll see a Hull company walk away with the prize for best UK glazing installation, on a Hull building. That would be special.”
The Monocle, formerly Europa House, is a five-story office complex which provides new modern workspaces, offering everything from small studios to large company headquarters. As well as having space for up to 700 workers, it is also now home to a new coffee house called Daze, which is open to the public.
EYG is hoping the awards event, at the Midland Hotel in Manchester on March 19, will bring its third success at the annual awards. The commercial team won the ‘Best Commercial Installation’ award in 2024 for its work on the Tree Tops development, at Hesslewood Business Park, in East Yorkshire for Brooklands Property Holdings, a unique collection of woodland pods nestled among the trees in the scenic parklands to house commercial and retail businesses.
In 2023, its domestic division was named winner of the ‘Best Conservatory or Orangery Installation under £35,000’ category for what judges called an ‘outstanding’ conservatory at a customers’ home in East Yorkshire. The awards act as a benchmark for high standards in the UK fenestration sector and are judged by an impartial panel of industry experts, whose background and experience cover the full spectrum of the glass and glazing sector.