This year, it has been announced that Dudley’s Aluminium, a leading fabricator of aluminium, will be commencing on a brand new project at Gatwick Diamond for new office space. With the development looking to create revenue for emergency services on the front line, the offices are to be positioned on
Although the overall rate at which the sales of construction-related products is increasing has slowed down, the overall sales figures of such products are still on the rise for the eleventh year running, says a report by the Construction Product Association. The report highlights that over the final four months
A few days ago, RIBA North East announced that it has shortlisted eleven new and exciting projects which will compete for a coveted RIBA North East Award in April. Over the coming weeks leading up to the cermony, RIBA’s judging panel will be stopping by at a host of the
As we move towards a more sustainable economy, our goals have rightly shifted, as has our long-term ambition. With the latest development in window technology revealing the potential to cut cleaning costs and a reduction in heating bills, it is unsurprising to see builders, architects and estate managers eagerly eyeing
There are a number of drainage myths which have been circulating as to what is, or isn’t suitable for going down the drain. Some of these myths are founded on a bedrock of understanding as to what may or may not clog or damage drains, however, to simplify things for
For the public sector, budgets have been ever-tightening, which is, as one would expect, a worrying trend for those providers of integral services such as education. Yet, whilst the picture does indeed look bleak from a funding perspective, there is always a way in which organisations can look to maintain
This year, it has been announced that Dudley’s Aluminium, a leading fabricator of aluminium, will be commencing on a brand new project at Gatwick Diamond for new office space. With the development looking to create revenue for emergency services on the front line, the offices are to be positioned on brownfield land, effectively allowing for the land to create new streams of revenue for important emergency operations and to effectively minimise the impact of budget cuts on the provision of service. With the Gatwick Diamond possessing what may be some of the strongest commercial prospects of any local economy in the UK, the area plays host to around forty five thousand organisations already, with the new office space looking to create a further influx in employment opportunity for the local community. As such, the development is greatly anticipated as, not only supporting core essential public services, but also in expanding the commercial traffic through the area. As for the project, the organisation has been able to confirm a £670k contract where it will see the provision of much-needed facade and glazing across the development, working alongside Metal Technology to develop curtain walling solutions for the property. These solutions are then to be integrated alongside automatic smoke vents and sliding entrance doors, providing not only a pleasant, but also efficient office environment for those working there. The project itself is expected to reach completion at a later point in the year and also serves as one of the most integral projects for Dudley’s Aluminium in the area this year. In addition to this project, however, it will also be continuing to work on its £300k project in support of the upcoming Acorn Retail Park which will, once again look to create vast amounts of employment and jobs in the area; leading retailers such as M&S and Aldi also playing a role in the development.
Although the overall rate at which the sales of construction-related products is increasing has slowed down, the overall sales figures of such products are still on the rise for the eleventh year running, says a report by the Construction Product Association. The report highlights that over the final four months of 2015 overall sales have risen at a slowed rate than previously, yet manufacturers of such products still remain very positive as to the future of the industry over the course of 2016. Another positive aspect of the report was that many UK manufacturers have, in fact noticed a notable reduction in costs associated with energy, fuel and even on the exchange rate. However, on the flip side, the costs associated with staffing organisations has been noted to rise somewhat, which, while a very positive figure for employees in the sector, will also be reducing the benefit employers are seeing from the decreased operational costs. As Rebecca Larkin, Senior Economist for the CPA explains, the figures do highlight positive growth for construction-related products yet, with regard to heavy manufacturing, the figures actually highlighted the lowest balance within a quarter over the past 3 years. She commented that this: “Echoes weakness in overall construction output data for the closing months of last year.” Yet, those operating within the sector do seemingly remain confidence of its success. One of the key factors to which we can attribute the lessening of energy prices is the oft-reported fall in oil pricing around the world, which has greatly assisted manufacturers in maintaining commercial growth despite relatively shaky economic climate. With regard to the change in employment costs, the rise in pay did not, in fact show up the figured expected by inflation and recognition for performing employers, but the widely-reported skill shortages have acted as a catalyst for employees demanding increased wages which have consequently increased bills.
A few days ago, RIBA North East announced that it has shortlisted eleven new and exciting projects which will compete for a coveted RIBA North East Award in April. Over the coming weeks leading up to the cermony, RIBA’s judging panel will be stopping by at a host of the North East’s highest quality buildings in the hope of finding the region’s best. Buildings are marked against a number of criteria from interior design to environmental performance. Properties selected vary widely and include: a redevelopment still in its infancy which will house Blyth Workspace, and the new Ashington Community and Leisure Centre at the heart of Ashington town centre’s strategic regeneration. Alongside the much-revered Building of the Year Award, the shortlist will also produce a Small Project of the Year Award for a project costing less than £500,000. The jury panel will also be on the lookout for Project Architect of the Year, which is awarded to the architect who stands out as having significantly contributed to an award-winning project. Several North-East based architects are vying for the prize with a range of period, Grade II Listed developments, though they face stern competition Edinburgh-based, Sutherland Hussey Harris’s Edge Hill home renovation. The RIBA Awards have been running for 50 years, and continue to champion and celebrate the best and most progressive architectural feats. Despite being known for setting the aesthetic standard, the association prides itself on handing out gongs to those who effectively improve the lives of residents and tenants, and RIBA demands that functionality and operational afterlife be taken into account. Accolades are available for buildings in the UK by RIBA Chartered Architects and International Fellows. The RIBA North East award winners will be announced at an evening event at As You Like It in Newcastle upon Tyne on Friday 22nd April 2016.
As we move towards a more sustainable economy, our goals have rightly shifted, as has our long-term ambition. With the latest development in window technology revealing the potential to cut cleaning costs and a reduction in heating bills, it is unsurprising to see builders, architects and estate managers eagerly eyeing the true benefits of “smart windows”. Believed to be on track to hit the market within five years, University College London (UCL) has produced a prototype that confirms three major benefits. Firstly, the windows offer “self cleaning”. It accomplishes this by being ultra-resistant to water, the material making any moisture hitting its surface form spherical droplets that roll away. As they do so they pick up dirt along the way, removing dust, debris and other contaminants. This is achieved through a conical design; a pencil-like nanastructure etched on the glass which enhances the smart window’s abilities by trapping air and thus allowing only a small amount of water to settle on the surface. This is in comparison to traditional glass which allows rain to settle on the surface and stay there, leaving streak marks as it rolls away. Crucially, the glass also saves energy. Utilising a tiny layer of low-cost vanadium dioxide the glass is capable of stopping thermal radiation from escaping during cold periods preventing heat loss. Meanwhile, when the season changes, the glass stops sunlight radiation penetrating the building. The value and size of vanadium dioxide makes it ideal and a better, more sustainable option over other glass coatings like silver or gold based layers. UCL believes it will enable the glass to help reduce heating costs by up to 40%. In addition, the structure offers anti-glare capabilities – dramatically cutting light reflection internally – that has been estimated to have the anti-reflective capabilities of moths and such creatures that have evolved to evade predators. Dr Ioannis Papakonstantinou, UCL project leader, noted the innovative characteristics of the smart window calling the product a “self-cleaning, highly performing” piece of technology. Discussions are currently underway with glass manufacturers in the UK. Key ambitions going forward involve scaling up the nano-manufacturing methods.
There are a number of drainage myths which have been circulating as to what is, or isn’t suitable for going down the drain. Some of these myths are founded on a bedrock of understanding as to what may or may not clog or damage drains, however, to simplify things for the average user, Lanes Group has recently published a study to highlight the dos and do nots for drains. In the study, it is explained in a simplified manner that anything beyond human waste, toilet paper and water should not be going down our drains whatsoever. The report, which incorporated involvement of over one thousand adults in the UK, looks to highlight what people think is OK to go down the drains, and convey feedback on the actual suitability of such items. Overall, it was Birmingham which has been reported to have the worst understanding of what can, or cannot go down the drains, sporting a startling 87% of items which are flushed down the drains, actually not being suitable for those drains. Of course, some of this can be attributed to incorrect labelling on products, with items such as “flushable wipes” actually not being suitable for down drains, as well as other common bathroom products such as cotton pads, buds, balls and more. And while it may seem that the very nature of the report is highlighting a concern which many individuals don’t see as important, the relevance comes from the sheer impact of improper drainage use when looking at maintenance and cleaning costs incurred. In total, some £15m is spent each year on cleaning and maintaining drainage networks. Of this, up to ¾ of the blockages caused over the course of the year are actually caused by oils, grease and fat which have then subsequently been emptied down the drains.
For the public sector, budgets have been ever-tightening, which is, as one would expect, a worrying trend for those providers of integral services such as education. Yet, whilst the picture does indeed look bleak from a funding perspective, there is always a way in which organisations can look to maintain the level of service they are able to deliver in a more efficient and cost-effective manner. On-site Power Generation Through systems such as Combined Heat and Power (CHP), organisations, especially those with large, spanning estates, can look to reduce their energy costs considerably through the incorporation of power generation techniques on-site. But this isn’t limited solely to CHP, as, with the increased popularity and recognition of renewable generation surges, additional options are also available, most notably solar PV. And while pursuing this course of action would indeed trump up an initial cost, when looking at the traditional energy usage of say, a university campus, the savings per year through pursuing such power generation techniques is substantial. While today, such schemes won’t bring about any relief from budgetary cuts, tomorrow perhaps, they just might. Energy Reduction Techniques When looking at methods to reduce energy consumption, suffice to say that the best method to pursue depends most aptly on the primary activities and energy use of any given organisation. That said, there are still a few simple, tried-and-tested ways to reduce energy use for most organisational archetypes. One such method is through the usage of motion-sensor LED lights. Though lighting might initially be considered quite a small cost on a day-to-day basis, organisations have increasingly found that, with expanding estates, the costs associated with keeping premises properly lit to be quite costly in the long-term. Through the usage of motion sensing LED lights, organisations can not only improve the efficiency of their lighting solutions while in use, but can also improve larger-scale efficiencies within rooms not in use all day, every day. Procurement Channels While, for the public sector, there are always frameworks abound for organisations to tap into as a source of supply chain developments, this often isn’t the only choice available. Specifically for universities, buying consortiums and groups such as TUCO, ESPO, LUPC and more, offer a range of contractor archetypes, each procured from a value-for-money perspective. This means that, while services may be procured at a more manageable value with budgeting in mind, the level of quality and service remains unquestioned. Arguably, these groups offer an unquestionably essential service for those looking to find best-value within the supply chain. Regardless of method, however, the importance of refining day-to-day organisational efficiencies and costs is paramount. With an increasing number of organisations also offering services for companies to pursue power generation and energy use efficiency techniques, there’s also no excuse not to.
