With the horizon for mandatory BIM on government procured projects looming ever closer, the seminar programme for the BIM Prospects Theatre at the Build Show, is going from strength to strength.   Taking place as part of UK Construction Week at the Birmingham NEC this October, the BIM Prospects Theatre has been curated by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) and promises to deliver the most comprehensive BIM education programme seen to date.   Miles Watkins, BRE’s Group Business Development Director commented: “Our key focus at BRE is on helping industry and government meet the challenges of the built environment.  The BIM Prospects Theatres at UK Construction Week will provide a unique chance to interact with professionals from all sectors, giving us a fantastic opportunity to engage, share best practice and help move the industry forward.”   Delivered by different clients, developers and software manufacturers each day, the packed schedule of content has been carefully designed to explain why industry professionals need to understand and adopt BIM in order to stay competitive, increase efficiencies, save time and reduce costs on their construction projects.   Speakers have been carefully chosen from around the industry, each one bringing a unique perspective and insight to this important topic.  Among the figures taking to the stage will be: Andrew Carpenter chair of BIM4Housing, a cross-industry group open to all organisations involved in the design, construction, management and delivery of housing and Nick Tune, CEO of CoBuilder UK, which supports manufacturers, contractors and facilities managers to produce and use accurate built environment data.   Other speakers include Dr Sarah Graham, UK division Hhead of global integrated 3D software supplier, Integrated Environmental Solutions Ltd and David Jellings, managing director of BIM validation leaders Solibri UK.   A key area to be covered in the seminar programme is practical delivery of COBie, which is central to meeting the 2016 target.  During 2013, 11 major contractors took part in stage two of COBie trials in order to test different technologies and workflows that produce COBie outputs and identify potential issues. The seminars will examine the solutions to some of those issues in order to successfully deliver COBie, including case studies from the trial and best practice perspectives from the USA.   Another major focus will be practical delivery of International Foundation Class (IFC), the industry standard open data model.  These seminars will explain IFC, as well as when, where and how it should be used effectively, incorporating practical examples by practitioners on how they use IFC to deliver integrated BIM.   Other subjects under the microscope include making BIM work for construction product manufacturers, which will take a closer look at the various software programmes and BIM libraries that enable manufacturers to make their products easily available to architects, designers and contractors. Finally, each day of seminars will finish off with a session looking at what is needed to ensure businesses are BIM Level 2 ready, ahead of the legislation changes next year.   Nathan Garnett, show director, commented: “BIM is a massive topic for the construction industry but there is still a huge amount of confusion and uncertainty surrounding it.  In fact, we completed some research earlier this year, in which 96 per cent of respondents felt there was a need for greater training and support around BIM.  We believe that the seminar programme the BRE has put together will go a long way towards addressing this need and will provide useful insights and advice for all concerned.”   Bringing together nine shows under one roof, UK Construction Week will be the biggest construction trade event the UK has seen in years.  Taking place at the Birmingham NEC from 6 – 11 October (with the trade only days from 6 – 8 October) the event will unite 1,000 exhibitors with an expected audience of 55,000 visitors.   Visitors will be able to attend Grand Designs Live, the Build Show (incorporating Civils Expo), Timber Expo, the Surface and Materials Show, Energy 2015, Kitchens & Bathrooms Live, Plant & Machinery Live, HVAC 2015 and Smart Buildings 2015.

ISG has been awarded the prestigious fit out scheme for Royal Institute of British Architects’ (RIBA) first office and exhibition space outside London at Liverpool’s Mann Island. The new architecture centre is the latest win for ISG on the renowned Liverpool waterfront, with the contractor currently delivering the final elements of the £66+ million Exhibition Centre Liverpool and Pullman Hotel development. Commencing on site in September, RIBA’s new northern base is set to become a key destination for everyone inspired by the built environment. The visitor experience will showcase RIBA’s world-class collections and become a focal point for those interested in the development plans of Liverpool and beyond. ISG will undertake significant alterations to the existing internal layout of the striking Building Two structure at Neptune Development’s Mann Island site, and create a new dedicated entrance for RIBA staff and visitors. Occupying two floors of the building, which sits within a Unesco World Heritage Site, the contractor will install a new passenger lift and feature staircase to link the ground floor and first floor mezzanine level, which will also be extended to provide additional office space. Inspirational design and high-quality execution is a key theme of the fit out programme, and the ground floor transformation includes the installation of a six metre tall seamless spine wall in RIBA’s ‘blaze red’ brand palate. This will define the route to the first floor and the high-specification ground floor café area, which will help drive additional footfall into the building. In addition to the creation of museum standard exhibition space, ISG will deliver a City Gallery, which will become the permanent home for the Liverpool City model and a venue showcasing development plans for the region. The facility also includes lecture and conferencing facilities, majority open plan office accommodation and a retail outlet. Danny Murray, ISG’s Northern regional managing director, commented: “It is fitting that RIBA has chosen such an iconic location for its first architecture centre outside London. As a business, we have a strong pedigree creating innovative spaces that encompass multiple activities, and just like The Crystal in London’s docklands, RIBA’s Mann Island base will perform perfectly as an office, leisure destination and location for public engagement.”

  With UK property prices soaring and moving house incurring additional costs, many people are looking at other ways to gain more living space. The result is a growing trend for a basement conversion. Rather than looking upwards to the attic or outwards to the garage or a side extension, the trend now is to go underground. This has the advantage of gaining up to 50% more space without increasing your property’s footprint. Many homes, especially terraces and mews houses, do not offer the option to expand outwards. With help available from specialists such as basement 2 rooms, converting your cellar or basement could be the ideal solution. The benefits and opportunities are impressive. Often the conversion does not need planning permission, it is relatively inexpensive and can add 11% to the value of your home, according to a Policy Expert article. Conservative estimates suggest that a property owner will recoup the cost of the basement conversion plus half as much again. It can therefore be very lucrative to look at improving and extending your existing home rather than going through the stress and expense of moving. The old mantra ‘Improve don’t move’ seems to be on many people’s lips, and it is not just in major cities such as London that basement or cellar conversions are popular, as Basement 2 Rooms can vouch for. They started the business as a result of spotting early on the rising demand for basement conversions. People all around the country are realising that there is real value that can be added to converting the basement and creating a whole new space within their existing home. Another reason why they are becoming increasingly favoured by homeowners, is that a basement conversion can add up to 50% more liveable space, often without the need for any planning permission. Therefore, it offers a fuss-free solution compared to months of submitting documents. Also, the cellar is often a pretty large area compared to the overall size of the house and there are so many options when it comes to deciding what sort of room to create. Many underground rooms have been converted into family rooms, cinema rooms, gyms or offices, or into an extra bedroom to rent out to earn an income. Looking down instead of up or away could be the way to go, especially considering that a basement is often underutilised but structurally sound.