THE £15m relocation of the East Midlands Congenital Heart Centre from Glenfield Hospital to its new city centre home at Leicester Royal Infirmary (LRI) has now completed. National independent property, construction and infrastructure consultancy, Pick Everard has worked in close cooperation with the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust to
New Model in Award-winning DL-7 Series Features Fuel-Saving CVT System As part of the company’s award-winning DL-7 series, Doosan has launched the new DL420CVT-7 Stage V compliant wheel loader equipped with a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). With a maximum bucket capacity of 4.5 m3, the Doosan DL420CVT-7 wheel loader is
A new, national, engagement programme supporting communities across Scotland to recover from the COVID pandemic through heritage, has been launched by Historic Environment Scotland (HES). Community Connections is a new unified framework working with community groups and organisations across Scotland todeliver a range of collaborative projects through sharing resources, networks, knowledge, and expertise. The aim is to show how the heritage that matters locally can play a vital role in supporting the post-pandemic recovery – often in surprising and creative ways. The programme’s initial focus is to develop projects around the following key areas: health and
Commercial and industrial buildings are often designed with flat roofs. One of the reasons for this is its easy access and replacement. When it’s time to replace your roof, you will be faced with the dilemma of choosing the best and most affordable roofing materials and systems. There will be
Designing successful interior spaces for commercial environments is arguably both an art and a science. While the space should be cost-effective and work efficiently in terms of layout and traffic flow, it also needs to capture the imagination of the customer, reflecting the ever-changing expectations of your target audience and
THE £15m relocation of the East Midlands Congenital Heart Centre from Glenfield Hospital to its new city centre home at Leicester Royal Infirmary (LRI) has now completed. National independent property, construction and infrastructure consultancy, Pick Everard has worked in close cooperation with the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust to co locate children’s Congenital heart services in the region within a state-of-the-art setting. The children’s congenital heart service department was previously centred at Glenfield Hospital but has been moved to be part of the larger Leicester Children’s Hospital within Leicester Royal Infirmary. The move is part of the enabling works for the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust plan to transform healthcare in Leicester after winning £450m from the government to build a maternity and children’s hospital. The relocation has taken place over three phases of construction, with the first and largest element being a new-build extension to the Kensington Building to house the cardiac outpatient’s department, new cardiac theatre and new hybrid catheter lab. This extension is an innovative three-storey modular design including a basement level and is designed to achieve BREEAM ‘Very Good’ certification. Pick Everard provided principal designer services for all works, and electrical and mechanical design services for the PICU and cardiac ward. These services were also provided for work on the Kensington Building infrastructure, including phased strip-out, refurbishment and replacement of various features. Our designs also provided new domestic hot and cold-water plant and risers to serve the new extension and new wards, as well as having capacity to serve any future wards that would be accommodated within the building. Joshua Sandbach, project manager at Pick Everard, who was seconded to the client to provide internal support and ensure smooth delivery of the project, said: “We’re really proud to have facilitated such an important project, ensuring a high-spec central treatment centre for congenital heart services. Working within the client’s team has been a real key to the successful delivery of this project due to the pressures and unpredictability brought on by the pandemic and Brexit. “There have, of course, been a number of challenging points, but we have now created a truly considerate facility that meets the users’ needs and exceeds their expectations.” The second phase of work included a new cardiac ward situated on the first floor of the existing Kensington Building. This new ward has been designed with its end users in mind, considering the fact that many parents will wish to remain close to their children during treatment and hospital stays. To facilitate this, the design includes [four] of bedrooms for parent use to make their time at the hospital as comfortable and stress free as possible as well as the provision of fold down beds in patient side rooms. The final phase of work saw the installation of the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU), brand-new to fifth floor of the Kensington Building. As the new heart facility centres around the existing Kensington Building, it was necessary to relocate the services previously housed in this area of the hospital. In order achieve this, a compelling business case had to be created and Pick Everard consequently worked to refurbish two existing clinical areas on the LRI estate to re-house the maternity department and the gynaecology assessment and outpatients’ services. Nigel Bond, deputy director of estates and facilities at the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, said: “The relocation of EMCHC to the LRI secures this fantastic service for the people of Leicester and the East Midlands area. It also represents the first phase of what will become a standalone Children’s Hospital on the site. The people of Leicester fought a hard campaign to retain the service in this region, they can be proud of what has been achieved. “Having Josh from Pick Everard embedded in our delivery team has been a delight and a significant contribution to the quality of the outcome. He has worked tirelessly with the clinical team, my staff and the contractors to ensure we got the building this service needs and deserves.” Adrian Ceney, partner at Pick Everard, said: “The importance of a healthy and supported start in life for children cannot be understated. We are really pleased to have delivered this particular project, which will provide that all-important start in life for those children born with health conditions, as well as ongoing support throughout their lives. “Given that our head office is based in Leicester city centre, it is with tremendous pride that we have worked with our local NHS Trust to provide the highest quality of heart healthcare in the region, while also improving the environment that our healthcare heroes work within. We are confident that the new-look departments will serve their purpose for many years to come, and we look forward to seeing the services get up and running in the coming months.” Alastair Hamilton, partner at Pick Everard, added: “We’re especially proud of the work we have delivered on this scheme, especially as the Leicester Hospital’s Charity is our head office’s charity of the year. Improving lives in our local region is incredibly important to us as a business, so we’re pleased to be supporting the charity, local health provision and the local business community, being an inaugural member of the charity’s business club, Friends of the Fox.” All works have been delivered following a direct appointment via the NHS Shared Business Services framework, a vehicle that provides business support services to the NHS and public sector. For more information, please visit https://www.pickeverard.co.uk/
New Model in Award-winning DL-7 Series Features Fuel-Saving CVT System As part of the company’s award-winning DL-7 series, Doosan has launched the new DL420CVT-7 Stage V compliant wheel loader equipped with a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). With a maximum bucket capacity of 4.5 m3, the Doosan DL420CVT-7 wheel loader is intended to meet a wide range of material-handling needs from loading and transporting granular material (such as sand or gravel) to quarrying, mining, construction, demolition, industrial, waste and recycling applications. A CVT transmission is the result of a permanent combination of a hydraulic technology and a mechanical technology which provides a smooth and continuous speed variation. The CVT design combines the benefits of a hydraulic mechanical transmission and a hydrostatic transmission in the same machine. It allows the DL420CVT-7 to automatically transition from hydrostatic power at low speed to the mechanical system to operate at higher speeds. By combining the two types of transmission, the CVT technology ensures high loads can be carried at low engine speeds with high dynamics for an optimum wheel loader operating cycle. The DL420CVT-7 therefore provides an increase in machine performance for operators working in digging, loading and lifting applications. For most tasks, operators will utilise the hydrostatic part of the transmission, which offers greater fuel efficiency in low-speed applications. The combination of the two transmissions is automatic and fully transparent for the operator. Up to 15% Additional Fuel Savings The complete driving range, forwards and in reverse, is controlled by the CVT system. Low engine speeds ensure a high efficiency and the highest driving comfort irrespective of the traction speed. The power splitting continuously variable technology facilitates moving off softly and hydraulically. Furthermore, with the CVT, a fuel saving of up to 15% can be achieved. With an output of 240 kW (326 HP) of power at 1800 RPM, the Scania DC09 engine in the DL420CVT-7 provides generous torque at low RPM and meets Stage V emission regulations without the need for exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), through the use of selective catalyst reduction, diesel oxidation catalyst and diesel particulate filter (DPF) after-treatment technologies. The soot cleaning cycle on the DPF has been improved to over 6000 h and the operator is fully informed about the status of the DPF via a soot level indicator on the new touchscreen display in the cab. New Award-Winning Design The new DL420CVT-7 features the same award-winning external design common to all models in the DL-7 series, creating a three-dimensional effect with an innovative cover shape and a vibrant, dynamic image for the range. It has already received great acclaim globally, winning Germany’s 2020 iF Design Award, one of the world’s top three design awards and the ‘Best of the Best’ category in the Korean PIN UP Design Awards. Increased Productivity and Versatility The Z-kinematic lift arm on the DL420CVT-7 delivers high breakout forces and lifting capacities, especially for heavy materials, and a large dump angle for efficiently unloading sticky materials. An optional high lift arm is available where higher dump heights and increased versatility are required. Doosan is also offering a wider choice of options to provide more work tools for a better match with applications, further increasing output. Like all DL-7 wheel loaders, the DL420CVT-7 loader has smooth and responsive hydraulics and auxiliary hydraulic connections. It is equipped as standard with a 3rd spool valve with settable flow and detent function, providing a constant flow for hydraulically driven attachments. Operators can easily and comfortably control hydraulic attachments via the proportional switch on the joystick. Various bias and radial tyre options are also available from leading global manufacturers, to cover the widest possible range of conditions and applications. In addition, the new wheel loader can be ordered with a heavier optional counterweight, depending on the application. Excellent Operator Visibility The new cab on the DL420CVT-7 offers a greatly improved field of vision for the operator, with blind spots around the cab minimized and a 14% larger glass window area compared to the previous DL-5 model. The DL420CVT-7 wheel loader also offers the option of electrically adjustable rear view mirrors for added safety. Full LED working lights are installed on the cab (four on both the front and rear as standard, with the option of six each at the front and rear). For higher pedestrian safety, the LED lights on the rear bonnet have an automatic strobe function to indicate when the wheel loader is reversing. An air compressor with air blower is available as an option – fitted in the cab for easy access, this is a powerful tool that can be used to clean the cab whenever necessary. New Spacious Ergonomic Cab Design Inside the cab, the DL420CVT-7 provides significantly enhanced operating comfort, an enhanced steering system and advanced electronic controls. Using the new Doosan Smart Key system on the control panel in the cab, the operator can start the machine using a keyless device, helping to prevent machine theft. The Smart Key system provides remote door control, door lock and unlock, door release, searching and other functions. The control panel also includes two USB sockets. The new cab has a Grammer Actimo XXL seat with fully adjustable horizontal and vertical suspension settings, a pneumatic lumbar function and seat heating as standard. There is a 3-point safety belt with alarm icons on the new Doosan Smart Touch 8 inch touchscreen monitor and on the gauge panel, which features a new layout and anti-reflective glass. The new EMCV (Electric Main Control Valve) joystick fully integrated in the armrest is another standard feature in the cab, providing the operator with smoother and precise controllability of the lift arm and attachments on the wheel loader. Features available via the EMCV system include Automatic Return-to-Dig, Bucket Tilt Kick-out and the Bucket crowd stop position and shock prevention for higher operator comfort. Designed to give the operator more precise control with a shorter lever stroke, resulting in less fatigue, the sensitivity of the ergonomic joystick control can be set and altered
A new, national, engagement programme supporting communities across Scotland to recover from the COVID pandemic through heritage, has been launched by Historic Environment Scotland (HES). Community Connections is a new unified framework working with community groups and organisations across Scotland todeliver a range of collaborative projects through sharing resources, networks, knowledge, and expertise. The aim is to show how the heritage that matters locally can play a vital role in supporting the post-pandemic recovery – often in surprising and creative ways. The programme’s initial focus is to develop projects around the following key areas: health and wellbeing skills and volunteering creativity climate change community and destination regeneration In addition to exciting opportunities to develop fresh ideas under the programme, participants can also gain access to HES’s vast network of professionals across Scotland who are looking to help communities recover and thrive. As well as devising and delivering a range of future collaborative projects, the new, dedicated HES programme will also provide a range of supporting initiatives to benefit local communities. These include a new online ‘Community Connections Forum’ hosting discussions, workshops, and events with HES employees and communities. This will provide an interactive platform for inspiring opportunities and growing collaborations. The programme will also feature regular online discussion events entitled Scotland’s Community Heritage Conversations, bringing together volunteers, community groups and heritage professionals. The discussions among a partnership featuring HES, Archaeology Scotland, The Chartered Institute for Archaeologists, Scottish Council for Archives, and the Scottish Community Heritage Alliance, will aim to celebrate resilience within community groups and examine the connections between heritage and wellbeing, arts, and culture. Elsewhere, Community Connections will also include HES employees delivering interactive talks to community groups, as well as encouraging partnership initiatives, volunteer engagement and community events. Commenting on the programme, Alison Turnbull, HES Director of Development and Partnership, said: “Although the initial focus will be on helping with COVID recovery, as the prorgramme develops it will be about ensuring communities can confidently and easily access our knowledge and expertise, so we can prioritise our resources to make a positive difference - connecting and collaborating and using local heritage to have a positive impact across the country. “ Stephen Duncan, HES Director of Commercial and Tourism, added: “Our new programme is not just about the heritage sector, as we are looking at how we can provide a contribution to community recovery across a range of different sectors as well as different themes, such as health and wellbeing by using our Properties In Care and sites to inform and deliver activities, such as organised health walks around our green spaces for example.”
Commercial and industrial buildings are often designed with flat roofs. One of the reasons for this is its easy access and replacement. When it’s time to replace your roof, you will be faced with the dilemma of choosing the best and most affordable roofing materials and systems. There will be lots of considerations and roofing systems to choose. A wise way to resolve your roofing issue without going overboard on your construction budget is understanding the benefits and strengths of each roofing material and coating options. To ensure you get the best results, explore all possible roofing systems, the available materials and coating products. For a start, here are some considerations: Modified Bitumen Roofing Modified bitumen roofing is a single-ply roof system that is simply rolled on top of the roof surface. This is different from the conventional laying and heating of the roof with a blow torch. Installation of modified bitumen is no longer dangerous as it used to be. The new roofing system is simply done by peeling off the protective layer and sticking the material to the flat surface. This is even tagged as environment-friendly material as it cuts energy costs. The sun reflects on it so solar energy is contributing to the light inside the building. This is, so far, the most preferred roofing installation option. This is called by roofing construction experts roofing asphalt. It contains polyester and fiberglass. Mixing them with asphalt guarantees you good quality and strength to your roofing system. All the materials are held together in sheets with refined crude oil. The finished product is normally 39 inches long mod bit sheets. Built-Up Roofing The main material used for this type of roofing is gravel. This is pleasing to the eye though. The price for this type of roofing system is a bit lower compared to the other roofing installation works. The top layer of your roof will be heavy as it would carry the whole weight of the gravel. For this reason, joists will be required. It must be installed alongside the existing roof as a reinforced foundation. Otherwise, the roofing might collapse and can cause more damage. Building contractors are not fond of this as this would require more manpower. While you save from the cost of the materials, you will be paying more for labor. This flat roof option is best for structures that do not have occupants yet. That means closing the building temporarily while the installation is going on. Plus, it requires a healing or drying period. Business owners look at it as business downtime. They would rather look for another option. Something that would not hamper the business. A choice that can keep going even when flat roof repair or installation is going on. Ethylene and Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) Roofing Rubber roofing is the other term for EPDM Roofing. This type of roofing system is lighter compared to the other flat roof replacement systems. When you choose this type of roofing work, you need not install roof deck reinforcements. The byproduct of ethylene and propylene mixed with natural gas is a single-ply rubber sheet which when installed are tucked with adhesive by the seams. As time passes by, seams would require maintenance as this is where the leaks start to develop. Thus, this is not the most preferred option among roofing contractors. EPDM Manufacturers are in the works to develop a leak-free sealing system along with the sheets to avoid cumulation of running water on the sides. EPDM roofing comes in 4 layers – Elastomeric Base, AFR Fire Retardant, Polyester Reinforced Fiber, and EPDM Top Layer, which is sometimes optional. Due to the tough layering, this type of roofing can withstand strong winds and heavy rains. The material may be cost-effective. The long-term roofing goal is something that holds up building owners in choosing this. Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) Roofing Insulation boards are installed over roof decks’ membranes. This is the typical installation of a PVC roofing system. Flat roofs are not supposed to be complicated. If it can overcome rooftop hazards, that will be good to go. The cons of PVC materials primarily include the cost. This requires the initial roof removed and that would mean additional cost to the building owner. This option is perfect for structures that must be highly resistant to fire, grease, and other harmful chemicals. PVC is favored over EPDM among contractors. It has a life expectancy of around 20 to 30 years. Clients can pick from varied thickness options for much better quality. The thicker the PVC boards, the more likely they can withstand stronger roof dangers. The seams of PVC roofs are welded so it is great in keeping the water out. No leaks for years. That is when seams are properly welded. Professional repairmen are the best go-to installers to ensure quality work and fewer chances of poor installation.
Designing successful interior spaces for commercial environments is arguably both an art and a science. While the space should be cost-effective and work efficiently in terms of layout and traffic flow, it also needs to capture the imagination of the customer, reflecting the ever-changing expectations of your target audience and the commercial interiors trends of the moment. That said, unique interior design for offices, shops or restaurants is about more than delivering kerb appeal. While the exterior is obviously an important element, it’s all about creating curiosity and enticing people to come in. A positive first impression of your business can go a long way in establishing your brand authority in today’s competitive world. Here are four practical tips to achieve this. 1. Create engaging spaces Interior design should be engaging – you want those who use the space to be uplifted and inspired and to love spending time there. What exactly this means depends on your business characteristics and values, and the tastes of your customers and staff. Take the example of a company with modern eco-friendly values. Deep, cool tones such as greys and charcoals, perhaps with a hint of green, could be a suitable colour palette. Add lighter neutrals such as taupe, stone and ivory to create balance and to keep the space both contemporary and relevant. Ideally, use colours that reflect your business brand to enhance its visibility. Use patterns to add visual interest to your commercial interiors. Large-scale geometric patterns on hard wearing luxury vinyl flooring, for instance, combine both practicality and style. For inspiration, take a look at this great selection. Making a striking impact on anyone who walks in through the door, it’s a great way to make a statement and give your business a strong personality. 2. All eyes on your products and services One of the key reasons why the interior design of commercial spaces is so important is because it needs to satisfy the needs and wants of your (potential) clients. Showcase your product or service offering and use design to emphasise what your company does. Give your business environment the voice to speak directly to the customer and place your business ahead of the competition. There’s a whole arsenal of tools at your disposal to create the right interior design vibe. From colour schemes, patterns and fabric choices to furniture, fixtures and fittings, every design choice should focus on the client and the product. Without that key connection, your customers will lose focus and sales will drop as a result. 3. The importance of space and layout While maximising the available space used to mean making your square footage work hard, in these pandemic-driven times it is more likely to mean spacing out your employees, your products and service offerings, and your customers. Reconsidering the existing layout could mean being more creative with storage units and organisation of the workspace and workflow. For instance, you could remove tall floor cupboards and install wall cabinets instead, using the floor space thus freed up to position extra desks for your staff to work from. Think multifunctional or modular furniture such as cabinets with slide-out seats, handy for impromptu business meetings. Chairs with tablet arms are another nifty idea to help space out employees and minimise congestion. 4. Make your design accessible and inclusive Gone are the days when accessibility in building design was added as an afterthought, with features such as removable wheelchair ramps or special disabled toilets. Today’s commercial spaces have inclusivity at the core, meaning successful business interiors must be accessible to everyone in your target audience, able-bodied or not. The principles of Universal Design anticipate problems and eliminate them. Creating a space where everyone feels comfortable and their needs catered for may involve flexible office furniture and technology that can be tweaked and adjusted as necessary to suit the user, including height-adjustable office desks and moveable monitor arms, accessible plug sockets and underfloor cable management. For commercial buildings with multiple floors, it should go without saying that multi-level mobility should be your top priority. Have lifts in place so that older people or differently abled people can comfortably move around the building, and avoid steps and thresholds between different areas of the building as well as at entrance and exit points.
