Winvic Construction Ltd, a leading main contractor that specialises in the design and delivery of multi-sector construction and civil engineering projects, has won a contract with its longstanding customer, St. Modwen Logistics, to build a 253,000 sq ft warehouse at St. Modwen Park Stoke Central which will be home to
LEADERS from across the Coventry and Warwickshire construction landscape have reunited to discuss the challenges and actions being taken to address net zero, building safety and procurement at a local level. The Constructing Excellence Midlands leadership dinner, held by the regional CE club, was the latest event organised by the
Pye Homes’ Church Farm development in Radley, Oxfordshire, has been named as a finalist in the upcoming South East Centre for Built Environment (SECBE) ‘Constructing Excellence’ awards. The project, which will provide 240 sustainable homes with community areas and natural green spaces, is one of six finalists in the Building
Ekho, the newest hybrid wireless fire detection solution from Hochiki, leading global life safety manufacturer, has been installed in six blocks of apartment buildings for North London borough to help improve fire detection. EN54-25 approved and RED compliant, Ekho uses the latest in radio networking technology and provides a robust
Yorkshire housebuilder, Harron Homes recently celebrated the launch of Victoria Heights, its latest development in Fixby. Guests were invited to an exclusive evening at the nearby showhomes at Highfield Manor to enjoy canapés and prosecco while discussing plans for the new site with the sales team. Victoria Heights by Harron
Football attracts hundreds of thousands of fans to stadiums every year. Playing football without fans in an empty stadium is an incomplete experience. For many fans, watching their favorite players on their TV screens is not satisfactory enough. Football fans across the globe have been filling up stadia every other
The latest Insolvency Service report reveals that about 266 construction businesses collapsed every month within three months into October last year since the pandemic began, according to the Financial Times. Shortage of skilled workers and rising costs of running business are the key factors contributing to the collapse of hundreds of
ABB new $6 million manufacturing hub for electrical distribution solutions in BacNinh province, 25km from Hanoi, Vietnam in Asia, is set to bolster the country’s rapid industrial growth. One of Asia’s fastest growing energy markets, the government expects power consumption to grow 10-12 percent annually until 2030. At the same
BDC 319 : Aug 2024
Winvic Construction Ltd, a leading main contractor that specialises in the design and delivery of multi-sector construction and civil engineering projects, has won a contract with its longstanding customer, St. Modwen Logistics, to build a 253,000 sq ft warehouse at St. Modwen Park Stoke Central which will be home to Stoke-based National Veterinary Services (NVS). To celebrate, the three companies recently came together for a ground-breaking ceremony on site. St. Modwen Logistics recently signed a pre-let deal with NVS, meaning Winvic will be working closely with both companies to ensure the warehouse space meets the needs of NVS to supply and distribute products to animal health practices across the UK. The project comprises a 225,500 sq ft warehouse with a 15-metre clear haunch height, three-storey offices totalling 24,200 sq ft and a 3,300 sq ft two-storey transport office. Externally, Winvic will deliver the enabling civils and infrastructure works to create the development plateau and install all underground services, drainage and attenuation pond. Soft landscaping will also be undertaken and parking for 235 cars – with 20 per cent electric charging points – and 51 HGVs will be created. Scheduled to complete in November 2022, with early access-provision in October, the project has been designed with Winvic’s input to the St. Modwen Swan Standard which focuses on sustainability. The sustainability features include EPC Rating ‘A’, BREEAM ‘Excellent’, utilising a hybrid air source heat pump and carbon neutral envelope system. Winvic will also fit out the offices to Cat A standard, with a focus on health and wellbeing, sustainability and net carbon reductions; for example, low energy lifts and intelligent lighting. Danny Nelson, Winvic’s Head of Industrial, Logistics and Distribution, commented: “We’ve worked with St. Modwen Logistics for many years now and it’s motivating for our whole team to be appointed again, especially just a couple of months after we started on a significant four-warehouse scheme for the developer in Derby. As always, we will be delivering the scheme to the St. Modwen Swan Standard, which focusses on sustainability, while also driving the scheme safely, skilfully and swiftly in order to handover in November this year.” St. Modwen Park Stoke Central is located close to Hanley, 1km north of Stoke-on-Trent and is part of the wider 300-acre Festival Park development. The site boundaries with Festival Way Extension and Shelton Boulevard as well as the western side of the Trent and Mersey Canal; a 10-metre standoff zone between the tow-path and the industrial unit has been incorporated in the design. Richard Carter, Senior Director Construction, at St. Modwen Logistics added, “The St. Modwen Swan Standard focuses on responsible building practices and core to this is our commitment to delivering sustainability, net carbon reduction and improving the wellbeing of those who work on our parks and live nearby. We continuously strive to improve the quality of our parks and know Winvic shares our ambitions to meet the needs of our customer, NVS, their employees and the local community. Through a true partnership we have every confidence in delivering another high-quality building at St. Modwen Park Stoke Central.” St. Modwen Logistics has invested £65.5m to support regeneration in Stoke-on-Trent through the development of more than 450,000 sq ft of warehouse space in the past 18 months, with a further 480,000 sq ft currently under development. The significant investment in the area builds on the £56m Levelling Up commitment, announced by the Chancellor in his autumn Budget last year, to support restoration work and encourage employment within the region. Winvic announced in February 2022 it’s appointment at St. Modwen Park Derby where it is currently constructing a four-unit project within a 10-month timescale. Previous projects that Winvic has constructed for the client include five industrial units at St. Modwen Park Tamworth and the first phases of St. Modwen Park Gloucester and St. Modwen Park Chippenham. For more information on Winvic, the company’s latest project news and job vacancies please visit www.winvic.co.uk. Join Winvic on social media – visit Twitter @WinvicLtd – and LinkedIn. Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News
LEADERS from across the Coventry and Warwickshire construction landscape have reunited to discuss the challenges and actions being taken to address net zero, building safety and procurement at a local level. The Constructing Excellence Midlands leadership dinner, held by the regional CE club, was the latest event organised by the construction collaboration, networking and business group to attain a closer view of the state of the industry. Convening at the Coventry Building Society Arena, the evening presented an opportunity for attendees across the sector to offer their insight on these topics and share their knowledge on overcoming the challenges, as CE Midlands strives to increase its learning resources and networking opportunities for construction clients and their supply chains in the region. Catherine Windibank, business development manager at Richard Jackson and club chair for the Coventry and Warwickshire club (FoRCE), said: “The evening was a fantastic way to bring together great leadership minds from across Coventry and Warwickshire, discuss pertinent issues the whole industry is facing, and in turn dictate the priority actions that CE Midlands can implement on a local level to enhance industry collaboration. This leadership dinner has set out FoRCE’s agenda for the forthcoming twelve months.” The evening’s discussions were led by Uma Shanker, programme director for capital delivery and design at Severn Trent Water and chair of CE Midlands. He said: “As an industry that emits or influences around half of the total carbon emissions generated in the UK, we learned that in order to address the net zero challenge, contractors must better engage with suppliers to reduce their embodied carbon usage. “At CE Midlands we will be providing educational resources that better enable firms to engage with their supply chains on reducing Scope 3 emissions in particular, as in its current state the industry is behind on meeting its requirements. “From a building safety and procurement standpoint, we also need to ensure that construction clients are attaining what they deserve, to deliver safer and more effective projects. Due diligence needs to be implemented more robustly to prevent the bad behaviours that have collectively damaged the reputation of the industry. “CE Midlands is directly addressing this by delivering workshops to members and creating a best practice guide for the benefit of them and their client advisors, informing what they should be looking for and questions they should be asking suppliers to ensure they meet expectations with the delivery of their products and services.” Andrew Carpenter, chief executive of Constructing Excellence Midlands, said: “Constructing Excellence’s core strength is that we are pan-industry. We recognise that different organisations bring varying skillsets and knowledge across the construction sector, which enables our collaborative efforts to address the issues that are affecting the supply chain in its entirety. “We are always looking out for new members to join CE Midlands and our local clubs, which are key to creating a knowledge cascade and a culture of collaboration. We welcome training providers and colleges, through to suppliers, contractors and consultants, as well as property agents, clients and end-users to get involved.” Constructing Excellence Midlands is hosting its annual housing summit on Wednesday 15 June at Birmingham Conference and Events Centre, giving attendees the chance to get further insight into some of the key issues facing the industry – such as the Future Homes Standard, carbon net zero and the growing focus on procurement routes brought about by the Housing Forum Report. To register to attend the CE Midlands Housing Summit, click here. To find out more about Constructing Excellence Midlands, visit https://www.cemidlands.org/. Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News
Pye Homes’ Church Farm development in Radley, Oxfordshire, has been named as a finalist in the upcoming South East Centre for Built Environment (SECBE) ‘Constructing Excellence’ awards. The project, which will provide 240 sustainable homes with community areas and natural green spaces, is one of six finalists in the Building Project of the Year category. The winner will be crowned at the awards ceremony on Thursday, June 30th that is taking place at the Royal Lancaster London hotel. Graham Flint, Managing Director of Pye Homes said: “We are thrilled to have our efforts at Church Farm recognised with this nomination, sustainability is at the forefront of what we do and this acts as a reward for the approach we have taken to this development. “We have made a commitment to building not only houses, but also communities and will constantly look to consider our environmental impact when doing so.” The Constructing Excellence SECBE Awards recognise and celebrate the very best companies, collaborations and projects from across the London and South East region. The judges will be considering a number of different factors when deciding who emerges victorious on the night. They include a company’s ability to work with external partners, delivering earlier than the completion date, achieving low environmental impact, applying best construction practices and gaining maximum customer satisfaction. Church Farm is being built with a mix of traditional, local materials including brick, stone and wood each with unique features and is keeping with other buildings in the local area. All are wheelchair accessible and built to accommodate future accessibility needs. The new community also has a higher-than-average biodiversity net gain and incorporates natural landscaping to encourage and protect local wildlife, including the introduction of badger corridors. Reflecting Pye’s commitment to sustainability, the homes will not use fossil fuel boilers, instead moving to more environmentally friendly heating solutions with solar panels and air source heat pumps whilst also having electric vehicle charging points available. All the houses will have an EPC rating of A, giving every homeowner a greater level of comfort, with the potential to reduce heating costs. A new cycle link between Radley and Oxford via Kennington will also be part of the development along with additional public open spaces, public transport infrastructure and pedestrian crossing areas – all aimed at encouraging greener lifestyle choices. Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News
Ekho, the newest hybrid wireless fire detection solution from Hochiki, leading global life safety manufacturer, has been installed in six blocks of apartment buildings for North London borough to help improve fire detection. EN54-25 approved and RED compliant, Ekho uses the latest in radio networking technology and provides a robust ‘always on’ network of devices which automatically adapt to changing environmental conditions. It was this innovative design element that led Fire Alarms Fabrication Services (FAFS) to choose Hochiki to consult on their latest project in a North London borough. Ekho takes hybrid wireless fire detection to new levels of reliability, flexibility and performance and has been crucial in helping residents feel safer as well as drive cost savings for building owners. Waking Watch schemes have been used for the last few years to provide 24/7 monitoring of buildings identified as fire risks due to dangerous cladding. With the inherent high operational costs, and the risk of human error, building owners and local authorities are looking to life safety manufacturers and installers to help with more reliable and cost-effective alternatives. Commenting on the project Fire Alarms Fabrication Services, Kevin Dodge, sales Account Manager at FAFS told us “The technology used in the Ekho devices helps residents feel safer compared to relying on a team of people prone to human error. The building owners are reassured due to the self-configuring mesh network which keeps the devices connected and communicating with the fire panel 24/7” The project covered a huge site with six buildings with 16 floors each. A Waking Watch team of six patrolled the stairs, corridors, and communal areas at a cost of £10,000 per week. However, because the teams could not be in all places, at all times, they might not be able to detect a fire escalating up the outside on the cladding. To add to this Waking Watch teams are not permitted to enter private apartments meaning early detection could be missed here too. “This was an incredibly complex and highly involved project, we worked closely with the team at Hochiki who consulted on best devices for this project. The Ekho range offered a wireless solution which allowed us to work around issues such as cabling inside private spaces. Ekho allowed for early detection and most importantly detection outside of the building on cladding by installing heat sensor devices adjacent to every single window, including the windows for individual dwellings. The Ekho range is ultra-dependable, and much more cost effective than the Waking Watch scheme that was in place in these buildings.” Following the successful completion of the project Regional Sales Manager, Tony Obadipe said: “We are pleased that our Ekho product range is making such an enormous difference in keeping people safe. The fact that our technology is also helping to drive huge cost efficiencies for our partners and their end users is a bonus. In the current economic climate this cost saving is essential, especially for local authorities. We are incredibly proud of our teams that have been involved in this project, it really is protecting people’s lives”. To read the full story and learn more about the Ekho range visit hochikieurope.com Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News
Yorkshire housebuilder, Harron Homes recently celebrated the launch of Victoria Heights, its latest development in Fixby. Guests were invited to an exclusive evening at the nearby showhomes at Highfield Manor to enjoy canapés and prosecco while discussing plans for the new site with the sales team. Victoria Heights by Harron will be an exquisite collection of four and five bedroom detached homes in the desirable suburb of Fixby, one of Huddersfield’s most sought after locations. With 18 different styles available, the perfect home is within reach for a variety of house seekers, from professional couples to growing families. Among the first homes available is the stunning five-bedroom Edlingham which wows as soon as you enter the grand hallway. A spacious living room with French doors leads to the private rear garden as well as a garden room which also provides outdoor access. The high specification kitchen is the perfect family hub, while the dining room is ideal for more formal occasions. Spaces like the utility room, guest cloakroom, and detached double garage cater to busy family life, while the designated study is becoming a necessity for many. Upstairs, off the galleried landing are the five double bedrooms, two of which have en-suites as well as a dressing area in the master bedroom, and a contemporary family bathroom. The development benefits from excellent commuter links, with the M62 offering routes to Manchester, Bradford, Leeds, and beyond, while a vast range of everyday amenities are right on the doorstep of this tradition market town. A number of other impressive designs are on the market at Victoria Heights and the developer is encouraging prospective buyers to act swiftly, in order to secure the new home best suited to them. “Following the success of the Highfield Manor development and the response from our recent launch evening where one couple already reserved their dream home, we anticipate Victoria Heights to be just as popular. I’d urge anyone who may be interested to register their interest soon to ensure they don’t miss out on their first pick of the plots,” said Alison Taylor-Shaw, Sales and Marketing Director for Harron Homes Yorkshire. Victoria Heights is located at Gernhill Avenue, Fixby, HD2 2HR. While the marketing suite is under construction, visitors are welcome to visit the sales team at Oaklands Heath on Burn Road, Birchencliffe, Huddersfield, HD3 3BT. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction and Property News
Football attracts hundreds of thousands of fans to stadiums every year. Playing football without fans in an empty stadium is an incomplete experience. For many fans, watching their favorite players on their TV screens is not satisfactory enough. Football fans across the globe have been filling up stadia every other week either to watch their national teams play or to support their favorite football club. Football fans generate a lot of revenue from buying tickets in order to watch their favorite sports teams. They also generate money from playing free bets and paid bets on their favorite teams. Football continues to grow because of patronage from fans. Fans are important stakeholders to football teams, but as their numbers continue to swell, stadiums need to provide the latest construction that is conducive and safe for use. They need to ensure that the stadium can offer all of the latest amenities for all kinds of football fans. Important Football Stadium Design and Construction Trends Apart from amazing architectural designs and breathtaking landscapes, many stadiums worldwide are now using the latest technology and proper safety arrangements to improve the fan experience. The FIFA world cup coming up in Qatar in November will unveil some of the world’s latest stadium constructions. These stadiums cost billions to construct. However, the construction costs are valid, as long as every fan gains easy access, enjoys their stadium experience, and safely gets back to their destinations. The latest stadium construction trends are interesting to see. Some already constructed stadiums are also beginning to renovate and implement these construction trends to make them safer and better for the fans. Here are five trends in football stadium construction making loud statements and sounding a loud gong of commitment to football fans’ safety: – Safe standing areas Standing in football stadiums was common in England. Following the Taylor report on the unfortunate Hillsborough disaster, highlighting the inferior quality of the terraces and barriers, stadiums in England were mandated to allocate seating arrangements to every spectator. In the recently concluded 2021/2022 season, some Premier League clubs trialed safe standing after getting approval from the FA. They utilized rail seating arrangements with terracing and crush barriers in place. Stadium designers are turning to safe standing because it has become quite common for fans to stand on their seats during games, and that practice raises a lot of safety concerns. Their trials were largely successful, and it appears that safe standing will be one of the construction features to look forward to across stadiums in England. The current safe standing arrangements are not entirely designed for fans to stand throughout matches. The standing arrangements can also be converted to seats and used according to the spectator’s preference. – Advanced Lighting Design and Arrangement Lighting is essential in creating unique fan experiences across stadiums. Many stadiums have started to utilize LED lighting which lights up the stadiums once flicked on. These lights can be designed to flicker along to the beats from the stadium’s sound system. These LED lights are great for fan experiences and contribute immensely to reducing energy consumption in stadiums. – Increased Connectivity In the past, stadiums were secluded from the rest of the world. Now, stadiums ensure that every fan stays connected by providing internet connectivity via Wi-Fi and Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS). A football game is no longer complete without tweets and real-time statistics. Being able to stay connected right from the stadium helps fans enjoy their favorite teams while staying connected with the rest of the world. Stadiums also use connectivity for marketing purposes. Fans can scan barcodes and browse the links displayed on advertisement boards. – Air Conditioning Harsh weather conditions sometimes affect fan experiences in football stadiums. With the increasing use of air conditioners in stadiums, fans can have a smooth experience without weather interference. Air conditioning in stadiums seemed like a far impossibility. Now, they are guaranteed improvements to fan comfort and enhanced spectator experiences. – Free Flowing Traffic Arrangements Stadiums are incorporating a lot of traffic infrastructure and arrangements in their considerations. When fans can easily access the games and get back home without much hassle, it encourages them to come back to see the next game. Stadiums are designing and implementing car parks that allow easy entry and exit. They also include alternative traffic arrangements to connect fans from different sports. Conclusion Other interesting trends that are shaping stadium construction include the hospitality arrangements. Stadiums are also built with adequate fan attractions such as hotels and other interesting entertainment options, including restaurants, parks, and stores where fans can pick up souvenirs. Stadium management companies stand to gain more when their stadiums are fitted with the latest construction trends. Many stadium management companies and sponsors will invest money into their stadiums to generate more revenue in the near future.
The latest Insolvency Service report reveals that about 266 construction businesses collapsed every month within three months into October last year since the pandemic began, according to the Financial Times. Shortage of skilled workers and rising costs of running business are the key factors contributing to the collapse of hundreds of construction companies. Nonetheless, the construction industry is a competitive field, meaning chances of survival are always limited. Today, your company’s ability to stand out from the crowd is the key to receiving invitations to bid for projects and survive in the market for extended periods. To achieve the best outcomes, you can choose to invest in direct marketing or take an all-round approach to construction marketing. However, you must avoid phrases overused by marketers and the rush to simplify the marketing process. Below are a few steps to ensure your construction company stands out from the competition. Redesign Your Products and Services The first step to setting your construction company apart from the rest of the competitors is redesigning your products and services. Invest a considerable amount of time researching what your target clients want. Find out which home designs property buyers are more likely to invest in, the construction materials they prefer, and how much they will spend. Understanding the needs of potential homeowners helps you create unique products and services that set you apart from the crowd. For example, let’s say your target demographic is more concerned about their carbon footprint. Consider using eco-friendly building materials like reclaimed wood, metal, recycled plastic, and bamboo to meet consumer demand. Implement The Right Branding Tactics Branding is vital to the success of any construction company as it is for businesses in other industries. So, whether you’re a remodeler, construction product manufacturer, or home builder, you need to create a brand people can recognize easily. Make sure your target consumers understand what you do and improve brand visibility across all marketing channels. Branding for homebuilders is a straightforward process as it entails designing a unique logo that defines your brand and establishes customer trust. Another important aspect of branding is the tagline. When writing your company’s tagline, avoid using business jargon or overused phrases like top notch or second to none. Instead, create a tagline that’s easy to understand and recognizable even without graphics. You’ll also want to choose a memorable name for your company, provide a physical address, pick corporate colors, design and optimize your website, and leverage content marketing. Invest In The Right Technologies Besides branding your business and redesigning products, consider leveraging advanced technologies in the construction industry. Modern technologies aim to boost productivity, efficiency, reduce operational costs, and improve safety. Technology also helps you improve the quality of products and services to meet the unique needs of your clients. Investing in wearable technology, like smart boots and power gloves, artificial intelligence, robotics, drones, 3D printing, and virtual reality convince your clients that your company is reliable and dedicated to providing quality products. Establishing a profitable business in the construction industry can be challenging because of competition. However, it’s possible to succeed if you set your company apart from the rest of the crowd. To achieve the best outcomes, follow the right branding techniques, redesign your product offerings, and leverage modern technologies.
ABB new $6 million manufacturing hub for electrical distribution solutions in BacNinh province, 25km from Hanoi, Vietnam in Asia, is set to bolster the country’s rapid industrial growth. One of Asia’s fastest growing energy markets, the government expects power consumption to grow 10-12 percent annually until 2030. At the same time, Industrial production in Vietnam continues to grow year on year, rising by 9.4 percent in April 2022. This, coupled with a 7 percent growth in urbanization means that smart and efficient power distribution solutions, such as medium voltage switchgear panels and the modular systems manufactured by ABB, will be crucial to ensure the next phase of Vietnam’s economic growth also achieves its sustainability goals. At 15,700 sqm, ABB’s new factory is double the footprint of the 10-year-old facility it is replacing, with significantly enhanced environmental credentials. The building blocks are in place for future LEED certification, including the use of roofing material with optimal thermal conductivity and rainwater collection, the highest standards of air quality management and the scope to install solar panels. In addition, the ABB Ability™ Building Management System connects assets across the facility to allow remote monitoring and ensure energy efficient operations. The manufacturing hub will produce 2,000 panels of ABB’s UniGear Medium Voltage Switchgear and 700 units of plug-and-play modular systems for power distribution per year, with production lines designed and set up on the successful lean manufacturing methods used in ABB’s European facilities. Commenting on the investment, Matteo Caiti Division Hub Manager Asia for ABB’s Distribution Solutions, said: “Our new high-tech, low-impact facility will bolster Vietnam’s economic growth and lay the foundations for a successful future for ABB in the region. It is purpose designed to provide our employees with the best working conditions and ensure that we reduce our impact on the environment. More importantly, it will produce solutions designed to help our customers to reduce their emissions and energy wastage. As Asia Pacific’s industrial growth continues to accelerate, this hub will position Vietnam as a hub for sustainable power distribution in the region.” Despite restricted travel, customers across the world will now be able to keep track on the manufacture and assembly of their systems via state-of-the-art remote monitoring technology. This involves testing engineers wearing a pair of Augmented Reality Microsoft HoloLens glasses and relaying what they see to the customer, allowing them to be virtually present in the factory and see their products being manufactured and tested without being on site. With a current valuation of more than US$850 million and a predicted annual growth rate of nearly 15 percent, Vietnam is amongst the top ten emerging data centre markets in the world. In 2021, data centre capacity in Southeast Asia grew faster than in Europe. ABB systems not only facilitate the reliable supply of power needed to keep these running but also distribute it evenly throughout the facility. The facility will also serve several export markets including Japan and Australia. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction and Property News
