British Gas has become the latest organisation to sign up to the UK’s main F-Gas register REFCOM as it seeks to keep pace with growing demand for heat pump installations. The energy giant’s social housing subsidiary PH Jones maintains more than 195,000 homes across the UK. It supports 23 social
North West Leicestershire District Council Leaders visit to see employment and skills initiatives in action Following the launch of the on-site ‘Future of Construction’ Training Centre at Mercia Park, Winvic Construction Ltd – a leading main contractor that specialises in the design and delivery of multi-sector construction and civil engineering
The Lord Mayor of Plymouth, Councillor Mrs Terri Beer, was among those celebrating the achievements of a group of veterans who have retrained in construction thanks to a partnership between City College Plymouth, Sherford Skills Training Centre, and Building Heroes. The veterans were joined by College staff and local dignitaries
In the Czech Republic, refurbishment of family houses dating from the 1970s is often not worthwhile and a good number of these properties are demolished. This was the case with a house in Rudná near Prague, which the owner had decided to demolish. However, quotes from companies to do the
Europe’s leading provider of low carbon cement solutions, Ecocem, has opened a world-class innovation centre in Paris to accelerate the development of new technology and products that will help the cement and construction industries decarbonise more quickly. The dedicated centre, known as the Centre of Excellence, will enable Ecocem’s innovation
Daniel May, Director at Consort Architectural Hardware, discusses the role door hardware plays in improving hygiene within public building environments. Health and hygiene are delicate themes, particularly in today’s settings. Both our homes and public building environments can have a huge impact on our wellbeing, and over the past few
Locatee, the leading workplace analytics solution, has raised 8.4m USD (7.7m CHF) in a Series B growth-financing round led by the European growth equity fund SmartFin. The funding will underwrite the further innovation of Locatee’s platform that leverages existing IT infrastructure for office occupancy data utilization and management support of
In September, The Q Living luxury apartment brand began implementing Experience by Alfred into its two current properties, The Q Variel and The Q Topanga. These apartment communities are located in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles and The Q Living collection of apartments plans to expand its portfolio to other communities
Rosendin, the nation’s largest employee-owned electrical contracting company with a regional office in Tempe, has been selected as the electrical contractor for Facebook’s Mesa Data Center project. Rosendin will work with general contractor DPR Construction to build the data center building and site infrastructure located 20 miles east of Phoenix.
December 2020 was the busiest month for moving home, with every Friday in December among the top ten busiest days to move for the first time, and 2021 looks set to tell a similar story. Now that long-awaited holidays have taken place and schools have returned, homebuyers wanting to be
British Gas has become the latest organisation to sign up to the UK’s main F-Gas register REFCOM as it seeks to keep pace with growing demand for heat pump installations. The energy giant’s social housing subsidiary PH Jones maintains more than 195,000 homes across the UK. It supports 23 social housing providers, has carried out almost half a million service calls and installs more than 11,000 heating systems and 850 renewable projects annually. A growing number of these installations now involve renewable systems with noticeable growth in heat pumps. It is actively recruiting to increase its team of skilled engineers and grow installation work backed up by ongoing expert service and maintenance. With the social housing sector moving more quickly towards low and zero carbon targets than other parts of the residential market, British Gas said upskilling the PH Jones workforce was a priority. “The industry is clearly suffering from an acute skills shortage, and it is crucial that large employers like us step up to address it,” said PH Jones director Matt Isherwood. “As well as bringing new engineers into the sector, we also need to upskill our existing workforce, particularly those already involved in boiler installations and other ‘traditional’ heating projects. “They will be crucial to delivering high performing heat pump systems in line with the government’s ambitions, but the technology does require specialist skills. We recognise the importance of making sure everyone working for us is properly trained, accredited, and able to comply with legislation. Credentials “That is why we were very keen to become REFCOM members as it is the best way to demonstrate our credentials and support higher standards across the sector,” he added. The government has set the industry the challenge of installing 600,000 heat pumps a year by 2028 – an almost ten-fold increase on current rates – and the Climate Change Committee believes 19 million will have to be installed to meet the country’s net zero carbon emissions target by 2050. PH Jones already has 11 F-gas qualified engineers and a larger team specialising in its renewables work. The agreement it has signed with REFCOM will allow it to eventually register many more certified operatives in line with its plans to expand its workforce. Founded in 1963, it now employs around 600 staff. Its social housing and facilities management business was acquired by British Gas in 2011. It received a ROSPA gold medal in 2019 following five successive years of receiving the prestigious health & safety initiative’s gold award. REFCOM is celebrating 25 years of helping refrigeration and air conditioning companies demonstrate their business and technical credentials and promoting higher professional standards of refrigerant management. Originally set up as a voluntary scheme in 1996 by a group of contractors who wanted to demonstrate their commitment to high professional standards and responsible refrigerant handling, it became the mandatory register for compliance with the European F-Gas regulation in 2009. It recently recorded its 7,000th company membership, which represents an estimated 90% of the total number of firms operating in the refrigeration and air conditioning sectors. The UK continues to ‘mirror’ the F-Gas Regulation despite its departure from the EU, which means that all personnel carrying out installation, commissioning, decommissioning, repairing, maintenance, or servicing of stationary refrigeration, air-conditioning or heat pump equipment that contains or is designed to contain F-Gas refrigerants must hold the relevant designated qualifications.www.phjones.co.uk/www.refcom.org.uk
North West Leicestershire District Council Leaders visit to see employment and skills initiatives in action Following the launch of the on-site ‘Future of Construction’ Training Centre at Mercia Park, Winvic Construction Ltd – a leading main contractor that specialises in the design and delivery of multi-sector construction and civil engineering projects – and its client, IM Properties (IMP), has unveiled a Sustainability and Innovation Hub (SIH) at the same Leicestershire site. The Leader of North West Leicestershire District Council (NWLDC), Richard Blunt, Deputy Leader, Richard Ashman, and Chief Executive, Bev Smith, visited the site to see first-hand the progress of the 238-acre employment park, and experience some of the training taking place as part of the scheme’s employment and skills commitments. The visit included the impressive civils and infrastructure works that Winvic has delivered, the recently handed-over 550,000 sq ft facility for DSV and the progress of Jaguar Land Rover’s 2.94 million sq ft global parts logistics centre, as well as Winvic and IM Properties’ commitment to sustainability and innovation that has culminated in the opening of the first satellite Sustainability and Innovation Hub. The Hub comprises three zones – Sustainability, Innovation and Learning – which provide areas to showcase Mercia Park’s sustainability credentials, demonstrate Winvic’s digital advancements, train Winvic’s staff and supply chain more creatively than ever and inspire young people through educational visits. Its proximity to the ‘Future of Construction’ Training Centre also means both facilities can be used for linked training activities. One key feature of the SIH is a 360-degree BIM CAVE area, which will aid the BIM design process in a real-time scenario by facilitating design team meetings and workshops and help develop VR imagery for health and safety training. Unlike the BIM CAVE located at Winvic’s Centre for Innovative Construction, it is a 360-degree resource where Virtual Reality (VR) 3D design models can be viewed as an immersive room experience, without a headset. Members of Winvic’s supply chain have partnered with the main contractor to bring the SIH to life, while IMP has provided the land. Carter Accommodation has supplied the cabins, Bespoke Construction the internal partitions and glazing; the PV and battery storage has been provided by Ivegate and the interactive screens by Walter Miles Electrical, while A & L Block Paving has undertaken all works to the external areas. Winvic has also sourced all the internal and external wall graphics and signage for the Hub through local social enterprise Nuneaton Signs. Also found within the SIH, there is an interactive meeting room, training and learning space and an area with a 3D printer. Visitors, such as school, college and university students, can also get hands on with Winvic’s digital Operation and Maintenance Manuals, whereby they can access sections of a design manual, maintenance guidance or 360-degree photos by using QR codes, in the same way end-users can within their finished building. Not only did the visiting party from NWLDC get hands-on, enjoy a demonstration of the BIM CAVE and see the facilities, but they also witnessed PGL Midlands delivering Face-fit training for Bespoke Construction, onsite and classroom IPAF Training being delivered onsite by Nationwide. Activities also included an interactive demonstration at the Sika Concrete Mobile Training Laboratory and a tour of the on-site concrete batching plant as part of Hanson’s concrete sustainability CPD training. To end the visit, Winvic and IMP took the NWLDC Leader, Deputy Leader and Chief Executive on a Mercia Park site tour where they saw the progress of the Jaguar Land Rover project. Winvic’s Technical Director, Tim Reeve, who sits on the company’s Sustainability Leadership Team, commented: “The Sustainability and Innovation Hub – the second facility we have launched with IM Properties at Mercia Park in a matter of weeks – is testament to both company’s commitment to the future of construction, which has sustainability and innovation at its very heart. We can’t thank IM Properties – and our suppliers – enough for their willingness to drive this initiative in partnership with us. “Mercia Park’s green and state-of-the-art digital credentials make it the ideal location for the facility. It’s not only an operational digital design centre for Winvic, IM Properties, consultants and suppliers to utilise, but it also showcases the scheme and our team’s innovative initiatives and acts as an education and training centre for young people in the community. The value of such a facility and the broader was clearly seen by the visitors from North West Leicestershire District Council who were enthused all day, and we’re now looking forward to welcoming schools, college and universities, as well as more companies in our supply chain, to the Hub.” David Smith, planning director for IM Properties added: “It is great to see the commitments we made at the planning stage of the project, being turned into reality. It has been an incredibly difficult period in which to mobilise these activities, however our creative thinking, partnership approach, persistence and passion to maximise the employment and skills outcomes associated with the project, is beginning to yield some very positive outcomes. “Winvic is particularly proactive and we are delighted to be able to host their first Sustainability and Innovation Hub to showcase our joint ambitions to deliver net zero in construction on site as part of our overall commitments as a business to achieve new targets for improving our carbon footprint over the next decade.” Councillor Richard Blunt, Leader of North West Leicestershire District Council said it was great to see first-hand the approach to zero carbon and sustainable development Mercia Park was championing. “Mercia Park is an example of how a development can make a range of significant contributions to an area, both in terms of employment and community infrastructure. The green credentials of the development are very positive. As a council we are committed to being Zero Carbon by 2030 and we want others to follow our lead. To see the sustainability at Mercia Park is very inspiring.” For more information on Winvic, the company’s latest project news
The Lord Mayor of Plymouth, Councillor Mrs Terri Beer, was among those celebrating the achievements of a group of veterans who have retrained in construction thanks to a partnership between City College Plymouth, Sherford Skills Training Centre, and Building Heroes. The veterans were joined by College staff and local dignitaries for the Building Heroes graduation ceremony on Friday 15 October. The ceremony took place at Sherford’s revolutionary £370,000 Skills Training Centre, which was created to address the region’s skills shortage. It was funded by the Sherford Consortium – a partnership between Taylor Wimpey and Vistry Partnerships – and opened its doors in 2018. The centre has supported the training and development of hundreds of apprentices and armed service leavers, created hundreds of jobs, and enabled users to retrain and upskill across trades. The Building Heroes course teaches construction skills to veterans, service leavers and direct family members, offering them the training they need to start new careers whilst also providing new talent to an industry that is experiencing a shortage in new workers. Steven Ricketts, Sherford Skills Training Coordinator, said: “I would first like to congratulate all of the students who have worked extremely hard to complete their course. It is never easy to start over, especially for those whose previous careers were in the Armed Forces as it can sometimes be challenging to adjust to civilian life. “They have all excelled in their training and shown real dedication to learning the skills that will help them start new careers. I’m pleased they are able to mark their achievements with their families as it is the first graduation ceremony we have been able to hold since the COVID-19 pandemic.” The students – a combination of military personnel in a resettlement period and unemployed veterans – took part in the fully-funded construction skills course over five weeks, with the aim of securing future careers in construction. They received tuition and hands-on instruction in various areas of construction and safety and can now progress to a higher level of study or find employment working on construction sites. The Lord Mayor of Plymouth, Councillor Terri Beer, said: “It was a real joy to preside over today’s celebrations and acknowledge the achievements of a group who have a genuine determination to learn new skills. “Construction is such a vital industry for Plymouth and a pillar of resurgam; all those who complete a Building Heroes course will be essential to our city’s development and growth. I wish them all every success in the future.” Karen Jefford, Chief Operations Officer of Building Heroes, said: “The charity’s focus has always been to support these men and women by offering them new opportunities for successful, long-term careers. “Building Heroes is also helping to meet the local skills shortage in construction, so it is great to know we are also supporting this essential industry.” Building Heroes first started delivering the courses at Sherford in 2019 and it was the first in the country to run on a live construction site. City College joined the partnership in 2020 when its staff took over teaching the students, in line with the College’s strategic plans for supporting the local construction industry through training new tradespeople, and also improving health and wellbeing by providing routes into fulfilling careers. The charity reports that there are around 120,000 unemployed military veterans of working age in Britain today. Figures also reveal the UK construction industry is facing a massive skills shortage, with 217,000 new construction workers needed by 2025. With Plymouth known for its considerable military population; this is an especially appropriate place for veterans to be given a new opportunity. For more information about Building Heroes and how to register for a Building Heroes course, please visit www.buildingheroes.org.uk.
In the Czech Republic, refurbishment of family houses dating from the 1970s is often not worthwhile and a good number of these properties are demolished. This was the case with a house in Rudná near Prague, which the owner had decided to demolish. However, quotes from companies to do the work were very expensive, so the owner decided to investigate other methods for carrying out the project. Other factors to consider included the relatively small plot of land on which the house was built, with the neighbour’s fence in close proximity and also the presence of a beautiful walnut tree, which needed to be protected during the work. In the end, the owner chose to carry out the work themselves with the help of a friend, Jiří Vrzáček, who is an industry expert, who regularly reviews machines and methods for this type of work and has carried out other demolition projects of this sort in the past. Jiří approached the project very analytically and found out which demolition solution would be the most effective, in terms of speed, overall costs and the lowest possible risk of damage to the environment. He considered three approaches – comparing the use of a large 22 tonne excavator, a classic backhoe loader or a combination of a compact excavator and a compact loader. Compact Demolition Solution Wins Out Demolition with a large excavator would be very fast, but spatially, this solution proved unrealistic and working with a backhoe loader would take too long. In the end, they chose to use a pair of machines with precisely divided tasks: the demolition work was undertaken using a new Bobcat E55z mini-excavator and the loading of debris by a new Bobcat T76 compact track loader. This combination, together with the use of specialized attachments, proved to be very effective: in just six hours, the house was completely demolished to ground level. Overall, the demolition and complete removal of debris was completed in a record two days and it was only the delays in trucks arriving at the site to take away the spoil that meant a second day was needed. Jiří Vrzáček said: “We started the demolition very carefully – we tore down the chimneys and gables by hand, due to the proximity of the neighbour. This was followed by lightning-fast demolition, which we actually had done in six hours. Next in line was the loading of 400 tonne of material, where we were mainly limited by the speed of debris removal from the site. “Here the power of specialized technology was fully demonstrated: the E55z excavator with a hydraulic grab gradually dismantled the house and piled the debris to one side at the same time as sorting through the material rather than by hand. The T76 compact track loader was then able to load 32 tonne of debris in 15 minutes. Thanks to quality planning and a really careful selection of equipment, including the attachments, we managed to reduce costs by almost half.” The Bobcat Machines Used in the House Demolition An E55z mini-excavator, which features Bobcat’s unique Zero House Swing (ZHS) feature, adding another level of protection to the standard zero tail swing design, providing full peace of mind when operating the machine near walls and other obstacles. The E55z has an operating weight of 5346 kg and offers a maximum reach at ground level of 5843 mm. The T76 is the largest of the new R-Series compact track loaders that Bobcat began manufacturing at the end of 2020. The T76 has a tipping load of 4050 kg. It can lift a load to a maximum height of 3.20 m. Attachments – they included a hydraulic sorting grab, hydraulic hammers, grapple buckets and standard buckets and others. For more information about Bobcat and Bobcat products, visit www.bobcat.com
Europe’s leading provider of low carbon cement solutions, Ecocem, has opened a world-class innovation centre in Paris to accelerate the development of new technology and products that will help the cement and construction industries decarbonise more quickly. The dedicated centre, known as the Centre of Excellence, will enable Ecocem’s innovation team to focus on testing, evaluating, and improving its new ultra-low carbon solutions which reduce the carbon footprint of the traditional cement manufacturing process by half. Ecocem has always been a first mover. For more than 20 years, the company has led the development of cement which emits just 200kg of CO2 per tonne, compared to the more than 600kg of traditional cement. It currently provides the lowest carbon cement ever used in Europe at scale, reducing the CO2 footprint by over a factor of eight. At the new Centre of Excellence, the Ecocem innovation team will run industrial-sized trials in collaboration with trusted industry partners and universities including Paris-Saclay University and The University of Toulouse. Located in France’s largest research cluster, the Centre’s opening follows recent backing of Ecocem from Breakthrough Energy Ventures – a coalition of private investors led by Bill Gates, supporting innovations that will lead the world to net zero emissions. Laurent Frouin, Ecocem’s Innovation Director, said: “Ecocem is committed to the deep and rapid decarbonisation of the global cement industry. It is essential for the planet and future generations, and it can be achieved through innovation and technology. “The cement and construction industries are developing and deploying a range of emission reduction technologies – Ecocem and our new Centre of Excellence will add a further dimension to these efforts.”
Daniel May, Director at Consort Architectural Hardware, discusses the role door hardware plays in improving hygiene within public building environments. Health and hygiene are delicate themes, particularly in today’s settings. Both our homes and public building environments can have a huge impact on our wellbeing, and over the past few years, this fact has only been exemplified. Eighty percent of common infections are spread by touch and every 30 minutes, the average person is said to touch surfaces that expose them to 840,000 germs. These germs are prevalent in buildings too, where touchpoints are areas or items that are used by several individuals. Within workplace environments for example, door handles are the most touched surface and can be associated with cross-contamination and health risks. At present, the need to improve hygiene within our building environments, understandably, carries a greater significance than it maybe once did. But in truth, when it comes to building design, the process of protecting occupants and visitors against infection – especially those most vulnerable – should never be overlooked. Design for Bacteria Control Over the past two years, we’ve seen building environments closed, reopened and the process repeated. The idea of reducing footfall in facilities was key in fighting the rising infection rates associated with the coronavirus. But now, that footfall has returned. Once again, those critical touchpoints such as door handles are harbouring germs. In fact, research has shown that the coronavirus can survive on surfaces for hours, and even days on metal door handles – and the same can be said for the common flu. In response, we’ve seen government campaigns promoting hand washing, sanitising and distance-making in the wake of a return to public facilities. Undoubtedly, infection control methods such as hand washing and systematic cleaning are the most guaranteed way of controlling cross-contamination – yet, still these methods can become redundant when faced with human error or relaxed conventions within public buildings. Building design can play an important role here. Daniel May, Director at Consort explains: “We’re at a point where decision makers are under pressure to keep building hygiene standards as high as ever before. And outside of the clear-cut hygiene measures, it’s understood that more can be done throughout the building design process, with architectural hardware selection at the core of decisions. “Door hardware is the first touchpoint when entering, exiting or navigating a building, and can be one of the most bacteria-ridden. Yet, the latest in hardware advancements could give facility managers an edge in the fight against infection, especially in healthcare facilities, such as hospitals for example, where footfall is high and the need to maintain strict sterile environments already exists. “For added protection against bacteria, facilities can implement tailored anti-microbial hardware and finishes. Anti-microbial coatings applied to door handles are precisely formulated to prevent bacteria build-up upon the surface by interrupting cell multiplication. Some door seal solutions also make use of modern anti-bacterial technology, embedding it within the aluminium and silicone of the door seal during production, further reducing the spread of bacteria in high traffic areas.” The Care Quality Commission (CQC) sets a regulation that cleanliness and effective infection control is a necessity for care and hospital locations. As well as best practice methods, healthcare environments are encouraged to introduce innovative infection control methods where possible. Similarly, under The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, decision makers have an active duty to keep inhabitants safe and their environments clean. And aside from the use of antimicrobial solutions, many are challenged to provide hygienically maintained environments without sacrificing fire or safety standards. Daniel adds: “Facilities with high footfall must also consider ventilation and ease of movement. Whether in healthcare, commercial or public environments, both are key elements of efficient building management and when done effectively, can further help inhibit the spread of infection by ensuring fresh air is consistently making its way through halls and rooms. “The most effective way to improve ventilation throughout a building is by opening its windows and doors. This creates an inlet for fresh air and an outlet for the old air, and with access points open, minimises the need to touch door handles. Yet, when focusing on airflow, it’s inopportune to disregard fire safety. Too many times, we’ve seen facilities fall foul of leaving fire doors propped open in favour of improving ventilation and ease of access – but simply put, it’s illegal to do so and leaves fire doors wholly ineffective in a fire situation. “Modern exit systems are purpose built to ensure fire doors can be left open safely and securely. Automatic door controls make use of sensors which activate the operator devices connected to the main access doors. In turn, this aids access and egress when required and closes the doors shut when necessary. In the event of a fire, the alarm is sounded, and the doors close automatically – ensuring safety is never compromised. What’s more, these systems can be integrated with the external building security, reducing risk on all fronts. “Ultimately, when paired with regular cleaning practices, these modern solutions can play an assist role in the fight against infection, helping to maintain building hygiene as well as the obligatory standards associated with building and fire safety.” Infection Control at Consort Consort’s bespoke specification services extend to hygienic solutions, offering users tailored products to suit the needs of any building infrastructure. Antimicrobial finishes can be applied to any touch products and door seals, of which are already supplied to large complex hospitals around the world including Pamela Youde in Hong Kong and the Metropolitan Hospital in Birmingham. Find out more here: https://www.consortme.com/hygienic-solutions
Locatee, the leading workplace analytics solution, has raised 8.4m USD (7.7m CHF) in a Series B growth-financing round led by the European growth equity fund SmartFin. The funding will underwrite the further innovation of Locatee’s platform that leverages existing IT infrastructure for office occupancy data utilization and management support of workspace ecosystems centered on employee experience, safety, and productivity. “The last year has been quite the ride for Locatee – even with the market being in a pinch due to the pandemic, we could still see how our solution is highly valued and sought after”, said Thomas Kessler, co-founder and CEO of Locatee. “Together with the board, employees, and stakeholders, we looked at the market signs, and saw the opportunity to double down on growth and value creation, selecting SmartFin to lead this push with us”. SmartFin, a firm with c. 380m EUR assets under management, led the 8.4m USD funding round that included new investors such as Zürcher Kantonalbank, Swiss Immo Lab, and Verve Ventures, as well as previous investors FYRFLY Venture Partners and Tomahawk VC. The new funding adds momentum to Locatee’s Series A round that raised 4m USD in 2020. “SmartFin’s strategy is to work with European market-leading technology companies to help them build and grow”, said Jürgen Ingels, SmartFin Founding Partner. “Locatee has proven to be brilliant in establishing a strong, leading position in a new, exciting and fast-growing market and we believe this is a key time to build from this leading position and create the new standard for workplace data”. High growth marketLocatee is leading the occupancy analytics market that is estimated to grow to more than 5bn USD by 2025. This growth is underpinned by the transformation of the role of the office, which accelerated with the Covid-19 pandemic. The onus is on businesses to experiment and validate their office spaces and thus use real-time utilization data. Locatee helps corporate companies resolve the tension between creating the right work experience and making the correct investment in their workspaces. People at the center of the work experienceLocatee has already upended the workplace analytics market by providing value for Forbes Global 2000 companies, automating once manual systems counting exhaustive badge data for measuring building occupancy. Companies are pressed to enable new ways of work, reduce their footprint, and improve employee health, wellbeing, productivity and experience. Locatee’s capacities, generate data that brings together the built environment and the people that occupy it. “The vision for Locatee’s solution which convinced us before continues to receive validation by both the market and the developments in the corporate world,” said Philipp Stauffer, co-founder and managing director at FYRFLY Venture Partners – a repeat Locatee investor. “We have built capabilities that have created a new category and established us as a market leader; we now look at realizing the full potential of the market, as it wakes up to this new world of work.”
In September, The Q Living luxury apartment brand began implementing Experience by Alfred into its two current properties, The Q Variel and The Q Topanga. These apartment communities are located in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles and The Q Living collection of apartments plans to expand its portfolio to other communities in Los Angeles. The Q distinguishes itself among other complexes in the area with its best-in-class amenity and service offerings that cannot be found anywhere else in the area. These include its tech forward and innovative build, smart apartments with voice control, monthly events, 24/7 concierge, access to drivers, state-of-the-art fitness center, and broad range of partnerships. The most recent of these, its upcoming partnership with Alfred, further highlights The Q’s commitment and emphasis on providing the optimal resident living experience. In totality, The Q represents an entirely new segment in Los Angeles living, bringing a dramatic shift to the lifestyle residents enjoy and ushering in a new era of luxury residential living. Experience by Alfred brings tech-enabled building operations, amenities and lifestyle solutions to properties throughout the country, and includes some of the most unique resident experiences seen in the industry to date. The platform benefits both tenants and building owners, providing services such as remote property management, easy rent payments, resident events, move-in kits, regular apartment cleanings, package management, grocery pickups, and a vast array of other human- and tech-powered offerings. Focusing on blending high-level hospitality with convenient living solutions and task management, Alfred’s services perfectly complement The Q’s mission of offering elevated community living with smart building technology and innovative approaches to luxury residential living. Once implemented, Experience by Alfred aims to result in benefits such as increased renewals, higher resident engagement, happier residents measured through Alfred’s proprietary NPS diagnostic tools, and a greater number of referrals to support leasing efforts. Alfred’s omnichannel approach to community engagement – from organizing and coordinating social events for residents such as cooking classes and mini-golf outings, that include local businesses’ products and services, to resident welcome kits and special offers tailored to each building’s demographic – Experience by Alfred provides unique opportunities for residents to come together and foster a stronger sense of community. “The Q Living Brand’s partnership with Hello Alfred was a perfect and seamless match,” said Edan Evenhaim. “The Q holds its residents’ living experience as its highest priority, and Alfred is the leader in offering luxury apartment residents convenient and reliable services.” “Alfred prides itself on partnering with organizations and properties whose values and missions reflect our own priorities and approach to nurturing communities,” said Marcela Sapone, CEO of Alfred. “The Q stands out in its class due to its ability to capture the boundless energy of San Fernando Valley’s Warner Center and combine that vibrancy with the style of sophisticated and connected living that Alfred provides. When put together, this results in an unparalleled living experience that will grow The Q’s communities even further and offer an escape from the ordinary.”
Rosendin, the nation’s largest employee-owned electrical contracting company with a regional office in Tempe, has been selected as the electrical contractor for Facebook’s Mesa Data Center project. Rosendin will work with general contractor DPR Construction to build the data center building and site infrastructure located 20 miles east of Phoenix. “As one of the country’s biggest electrical construction companies building complex data centers, Rosendin is proud to bring our expertise to build a secure, energy-efficient data center with reliable electrical power and communications systems,” said Rosendin CEO Mike Greenawalt. “Facebook’s Mesa Data Center is a true investment to the City of Mesa and the entire Phoenix Metro area because it shows the community’s investment in building our digital infrastructure, creating high-paying jobs, and using clean energy solutions.” Starting immediately, Rosendin will hire 500 people including skilled electrical workers, prefabrication warehouse staff, BIM (computer modelers), estimators, project managers, and office staff. Career opportunities are available for experienced craft workers, as well as apprentices and those interested in exploring jobs in the construction industry. “Skilled craft workers understand the value of building innovative data center projects which utilize the newest technologies, but we also want to show men and women outside the industry that there are also great paying positions with career advancements in our office,” said Ben Mlinar, Rosendin Division Manager. “Rosendin aims to be a good partner to DPR Construction and all the stakeholders on this project by providing a stable, robust workforce. We thank the IBEW Local 640 (Int’l Brotherhood of Electrical Workers), for supporting our needs.” Construction on Facebook’s Mesa Data Center has begun in Mesa’s Elliot Road Tech Corridor. The project aims to serve as a model of energy efficiency and will be supported by 100% renewable energy from new solar energy plants, apply for LEED Gold certification, and receive credits for water restoration efforts. To date, Rosendin has $4B portfolio of work that includes complex mission critical data center facilities for some of the largest high-tech, social media and co-location corporation in the country. Since opening a regional office in Arizona, Rosendin has built a local data center, semiconductor manufacturing facility, hotels, schools, government buildings, transportation lines, and an entertainment facility. Rosendin supports the local community and its nonprofits, including Arizona Foundation for Women, UMom New Day Centers, RISE, The Salvation Army, Junior Achievement, and St. Mary’s Food Bank.
December 2020 was the busiest month for moving home, with every Friday in December among the top ten busiest days to move for the first time, and 2021 looks set to tell a similar story. Now that long-awaited holidays have taken place and schools have returned, homebuyers wanting to be in a new home to celebrate this years’ festive season have less than 70 days left before Christmas arrives. Ideal for those wanting the perfect setting to host a festive gathering the St Edward’s Gate development in Goffs Oak, Hertfordshire by Chase New Homes. Presenting a stunning collection of four and five bedroom family homes ready to move into – buyers can look forward to a relaxing holiday season in a sumptuous new home. Occupying a secluded setting within a private gated community, the 23 family residences are ideal for those searching for a luxurious home in an excellent location. Set amid tranquil ancient woodland, surrounded by leafy Hertfordshire countryside, residents can enjoy everything this idyllic haven has to offer whilst still being within easy reach of the capital. “Everywhere comes to life during the Christmas period with festive markets and an abundance of beautiful lights and decorations lifting the spirits of the local communities. For those looking for a home that is ready to enjoy the perfect family Christmas, St Edward’s Gate is the ideal option. Better still, both Hertfordshire and London have plenty of festive events to explore, giving purchasers the best of both worlds. We would urge those interested to get in touch as soon as possible to avoid disappointment and ensure they are settled in by the time Christmas comes around,” comments Paul Bennett, Sales and Marketing Director at Chase New Homes. Encapsulating deluxe living and contemporary convenience, each of the spaciously elegant homes have been thoughtfully designed to accommodate every member of the household. Many enjoy accommodation laid out across three or four floors and feature light and airy open-plan living areas, stylish kitchen/dining areas with bi-fold doors opening onto the rear garden that create the ideal space for cooking up a tasty Christmas feast for the family or entertaining friends. Bedrooms are generous in size, some with built-in wardrobes and many with master suites enjoying access to a private en-suite. All homes come with underfloor heating throughout with thermostatically controlled zones and an integrated garage. For those hoping to make the most of the local festive events, St Edward’s Gate is perfectly positioned between the villages of Cuffley and Goffs Oak, providing convenient access to an array of local restaurants, pubs and convenience stores. Brookfield Shopping Centre is a short 14-minute drive away and offers a choice of high street favourites that are perfect for stocking up on last minute gifts. Or for a full-on festive retail experience, the bright lights of London’s Oxford Street and Regent Street can be reached in under an hour via rail services at Cuffley Station. For those keen to enjoy the outdoors all year round Cuffley is host to a choice of beautiful woodland walks, whilst further afield the Green Flag awarded Cheshunt Park offers 235 acres of open space to enjoy; including football and basketball areas, a skate park and ponds. For commuters, Cuffley station ensures seamless connections to London Moorgate in just over 40 minutes and approx. 4 miles away is the M25 providing access to the wider motorway network.
