A new bird viewing hide has been built at the RSPB Freiston Shore reserve, near Boston in Lincolnshire.

The RSPB Freiston shore bird hide project was designed by Norwegian bird hide Specialists Biotope . Biotope provided a finished design for birdwatching, combining architectural design alongside caring for nature. The new hide creates an open and inviting architecture aimed at connecting people with nature. This hide achieves the careful balance between the need for visibility and shelter to attract visitors, whilst blending into the landscape and remaining sympathetic to the sensitivities of the birds and their habitats.

ATL was appointed to the project by principle contractor Walker Construction Ltd. Faced with some of the harshest Lincolnshire ‘Wash’ weather, Walker Construction battled through it all to deliver the building shell.

Construction of the hide was undertaken by Walker Construction in very challenging weather conditions

ATL provided design input and the specification and production of the heat soak toughened and laminated glass viewing panels. As ever our technician team carefully completed the installation and sealing of the viewing panels on site.

The view across the lagoon at low tide

The ATL viewing panel installation at RSPB Fresiton shore

RSPB Freiston Shore is an internationally important saltmarsh lagoon habitat. This new bird hide will provide a unique outlook over the lagoon. The hide will be partially submerged underwater so visitors to the hide will have the opportunity to view through ATL’s viewing panels and be eyelevel with the birds sitting in and around the water.

This is just another example of the breadth of ATL’s project experience. We wish the RSPB Freiston shore project every future success. You can view more details about Freiston shore here

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Its nearly 25 years since the ATL team originally installed the SEALIFE aquarium in Helsinki, Finland. Situated a 10 minute tram ride from the metropolis of the city and adjacent to the historic Lina maki amusement park, Sealife Helsinki has attracted millions of visitors since first opening its doors. It was therefore decided that now, was the right time to refurbish and upgrade the large ocean tank feature to provide an enhanced visitor experience.

Once again ATL was Merlin Entertainments chosen partner to undertake the specialist works for the Sealife Helsinki ocean tank refurbishment. Back in the late Autumn specialist Sealife teams ensured the fish were carefully removed and rehomed before the ocean tank was drained down. Our team then undertook removing the large theatre window which allowed safe, low level access into the tank for the local demolition contractors to begin removal of the outdated tank decor. With the window removed and the tank empty of debris our technicians set up and painstakingly prepared the tank for the application of a new water proof lining system.

ATL team painstakingly preparing the Sealife Helsinki ocean tank for lining

This time around we offered our bi colour GRP composite waterproofing system with ocean blue walls and sand coloured floor areas.

Finishing touches to the ocean tank waterproofing process in Helsinki

ATL’s bi colour GRP lining system

After 25 years of trouble free service the acrylic viewing panels were in need of some care. Once all of the original sealants were removed, the walk through acrylic tunnel sections, portholes and vertical cylinder panels were all cosmetically polished inside and out returning them to new condition.

Cosmetically polishing the ocean tunnel

A new formed acrylic ocean theatre window was produced and delivered to site. On arrival this presented us with the usual tight access challenge starting with getting it physically into the building in -10C with snow on the ground! As ever the ATL installation team worked their magic and the panel was safely installed.

Installing the new theatre window into the building

There had been a number of historic modifications made to the original LSS filtration system set up. These modifications had not all necessarily resulted in improved water parameters. So it was decided that whilst the tank was empty to suggest and make some ATL improvements to the filtration system. ATL’s technicians revaluated all of the system equipment and made changes that have now resulted in major improvements to water flow and resulting clarity. We also installed new full flow ultra violet disinfection to the different systems. All of this work delivers the water parameter improvements needed and equally important ensures the LSS systems are easier to monitor and maintain by the on site team.

Full flow ultra violet disinfection units were added to the LSS system

ATL improvement works in the Helsinki plantroom

Seizing the rare opportunity to have the ocean tank emptied presented a blank canvass, so the SEALIFE Helsinki team deigned a new aquascape they wanted to achieve. Once again ATL worked closely with their specialist partners Koda Creative . Together we delivered amazing new theming concept with realistic tropical reef scenery, including swim throughs and two large totem head iconic features. A selection of ATL’s own artificial corals were installed to really bring the scenery to life.

Koda creatives Iconic feature totems in Sealife Helsinki

Theming features in Sealife Helsinki

view from ATL’s vertical cylinder viewing panel

Black tipped reef shark enjoying the newly decorated tank

Once completed our technician team installed and sealed into place a new 3m x 2m formed acrylic viewing window into the newly renovated ocean tank viewing theatre and the tank was finally ready to be filled.

During refilling our team returned to site to commission the new life support systems and to conduct final inspections and checks. Everything pleasingly worked to plan and the tank restocking completed successfully.

A black tip reef shark cruising across the ATL renovated underwater tunnel in Sealife Helsinki

The exhibit officially reopened last week. We are all really pleased with the end result and this successfully concludes another amazing aquarium refurbishment project that ATL the leaders in aquarium technology team has delivered. I have no doubt that the SEALIFE Helsinki ocean tank refurbishment will ensure it remains Finlands premier tropical aquarium attraction. More details can be seen here

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For over 30 years architects, pool designers and contractors have relied on us to design, supply and install underwater viewing panels into their luxury swimming pools and spas. Our experience of specialist underwater glazing is more normally associated with deep aquarium construction. This unrivalled experience has enabled ATL to position itself as the go to, industry trusted installer of underwater viewing windows. The demand for incorporating underwater viewing panels into swimming pools and spas has grown dramatically over recent years with more and more ambitious projects now being conceived. ATL are able to design swimming pool windows in flat glass or acrylic or curved or hemispherical shapes in acrylic.

ATL glass swimming pool viewing panel

Whilst theres been a recent trend towards using acrylic for submerged viewing panels there are also many examples where glass viewing panels are still preferred by some designers. Ultimately its really down to personal choice. For every designer wanting acrylic theres another specifying a glass product. Understandably an acrylic producer will only ever specify acrylic products and a glass producer their glass products but thats where ATL differs. We are equally comfortable designing and correctly specifying either medium in submerged scenarios. Low iron glass is increasingly popular option for some designers as it provides improved transparency and less of the ‘green tinge’ typically associated with multi layer laminated float glass.

ATL central London pool view in glass

When considering swimming pool windows in glass or acrylic, ATL is the genuine ‘one stop shop’ from initial design including rebate support detailing, manufacture, installation and sealing. Traditionally pool viewing panels are installed in vertical attitude either as a 4 edge supported fully submerged view or a 3 edge supported view such as an infinity edge panels. 3 edge supported panels are used extensively to create seemingly endless pool views.

Central London pool window sealing by ATL

ATL 3 edge support acrylic pool panel- central London

Acrylic weir edge glazing

Horizontally installed windows are becoming popular. Recently our team installed a large acrylic viewing panel into the pool base of a London penthouse. This required a crane to lift the panel from the transport up onto roof level before lowering it into the rebate, ready for our technicians to seal.

Craning ATL’s acrylic viewing panel into the London penthouse pool

ATL acrylic pool base viewing panel installed

Looking up from underneath the ATL pool base panel

We have extensive worldwide underwater viewing panel project experience. Whether its a single view or multiple swimming pool windows in acrylic or glass, please contact ATL for reliable friendly advice, a competitive quote and of course our ability to deliver the quality end product your project deserves.

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