Slim aluminum windows with steel look enhance aesthetic of new child center

In the Emmen district of Bargeres (NL), a brand new child center opened in the spring of 2025. Under the name Together under one roof the building brings together several educational and care facilities: elementary school De Barg, pre-school Bargeres, the expertise center for foreign speakers, the Kentalis Tine Marcus school and the Taaltrein for children with a language development disorder. Architectural firm DAT designed a future-proof building that is not only functional, but also excels in appearance. Slender Max Light Steel windows from Aliplast Aluminum Systems were chosen for the facade, finished in cement gray (RAL 7033).

Safe and inclusive education

The new child center replaces the outdated school buildings and creates an inspiring place where children in diverse forms of education and care come together. This pooling of expertise provides a safe and stimulating environment where cooperation and child development are central. The building was realized by Hesco Bouw and officially opened on March 6, 2025.

A major design concern was safety. Therefore, instead of standard tilt-turn hardware, they chose tilt-turn hardware. This allows windows to be opened by children only in the tilt position, thus avoiding risks of accidents.

Aluminum with the look and feel of steel

In 2022, the architect approached us for specific window systems as he envisioned them. Thanks to our vertical integration, we were able to quickly propose type Max Light Steel as a solution. This range combines the industrial look of steel profiles with the advantages of aluminum: light, strong and easy to maintain. "Thanks to the ultra-slim profiles, large windows could be realized that let in a lot of daylight," says Marc Mulders, sales manager at Aliplast. "In addition, aluminum is durable and ideal for intensively used environments such as schools."

The performance of the system is high: a Uf value of 1.8 W/m²K, air tightness class 4, water tightness class E1650, impact resistance class C5 and burglar resistance class RC2. Acoustic comfort (up to 47.2 dB) and fire resistance (certificates EI30 and EW30/60) also make the system very suitable for educational buildings.

Durable and colorfast

In addition to safety and performance, aesthetics also played a role. Although steellook is often used in black, the architect chose cement gray with a glossy finish. "Our color range is very extensive and available with guarantees of up to 25 years," said Mulders. "The paint meets the Qualicoat Seaside label, which offers extra protection against corrosion. In addition, the profiles are fully recyclable and Cradle-to-Cradle certified which underlines the sustainable nature of the project."

With this combination of design, safety and sustainability, the new child center not only contributes to the development of the children in Bargeres, but also to the renewal of the neighborhood. The project illustrates how aluminum window frames with steel look can give a building extra allure, without compromising on comfort and safety.