New video shows extensive tunnelling work that will help relocate equipment and provide ventilation for the Northern line: HS2 Ltd continues to make progress at Euston, as work continues behind the hoardings to make way for Britain’s new high-speed railway. To create space for the new HS2 station, HS2’s station
TODD Architects has won planning permission to refurbish and redevelop Birmingham’s Grade II* Listed Central Methodist Hall into a destination hospitality and leisure scheme with up to 150 new hotel rooms and eight new bars and restaurants at ground and basement levels. Birmingham City Council planning officers said the plans,
The winners of the TDUK Southside Hereford University Design Challenge (#TDchallenge22) have been announced following an incredibly competitive nine-month process. The challenge was based on a live project to design a net zero community center, showcasing timber construction and meeting Passivhaus Standard. After 150 students registered from 57 Universities and nine months
A BUSINESSMAN with more than 30 years of experience in leading and developing teams across the globe is sharing his expertise to help an ambitious house building company continue to grow. Isaac Wharton has worked globally at a strategic level for public multinational corporations and private equity companies, growing the
A very important part of managing a construction business is processing the payroll. While payroll processing may seem simple, it requires a lot of attention – because making mistakes when performing it can be very costly, in the sense that it can attract both state and federal fines or penalties.
New video shows extensive tunnelling work that will help relocate equipment and provide ventilation for the Northern line: HS2 Ltd continues to make progress at Euston, as work continues behind the hoardings to make way for Britain’s new high-speed railway. To create space for the new HS2 station, HS2’s station contractor, Mace Dragados JV (MDjv), has excavated a 20-metre deep ‘box’ that will be home to a new Traction Substation (TSS). Traction substations are used to convert electrical power to a form suitable for a rail system. This TSS will enable the relocation of equipment needed to provide services and ventilation for the safe operation of the Northern Line at Euston. Connecting this highly-secure new Traction Substation – dubbed the ‘sugar cube’ due to its eye-catching white tiled exterior – to the London Underground network is a 90-metre long – as long as the Statue of Liberty laid down – 6.5-metre wide tunnel running under the HS2 construction site. The work to construct the tunnel took 16 months and saw the MDJV team sink a 20-metre deep shaft before carving out the underground passage and coating it with a primary sprayed concrete lining (SCL). After applying waterproofing, the team reinforced the tunnel with steel and concrete to give it the strength and structure needed ahead of the construction of the HS2 Station that will be taking place above it. MDjv, supported by its principal sub-contractors Cementation Skanska, Careys and JGL, brought forward innovations to improve the environmental credentials of the works. Redesigning the tunnel to lower the carbon impact during construction – through reduced material and water use, a reduction in vehicle movements, and a lower energy consumption – resulted in an overall carbon saving of 140 tonnes, while efforts to reuse material already on site resulted in over 1,000 fewer lorry movements and an associated saving of 76 tonnes carbon dioxide from vehicle emissions. Andy Swift, Euston Project Client for HS2 Ltd said: “Our Euston team has been working hard behind the hoardings at Euston to create the space required for us to build HS2’s new Euston station, as well as a better connected London Underground station. The progress to date has been great, moving the existing underground infrastructure, with seamless collaboration between contractors and stakeholders, with a focus on minimising community disruption.” Throughout the tunnelling works, the shaft has been enclosed by an acoustic shed, designed to reduce noise impact on the community and businesses nearby. This enabled 24 hour working which was required to meet the demands of the programme. Rob Williams, Senior Project Manager for the Traction Substation at Mace Dragados joint venture said: “The progress we’ve made at the Traction Substation has been the by-product of fantastic collaborative working between HS2, Mace Dragados, our supply chain partners and critical external stakeholders, including TfL. Our one-team approach has allowed us to build a culture and leverage the expertise needed to deliver this complex and highly constrained project, which is essential for the construction of the new HS2 station at Euston.” Lorena Naylor, Lead Sponsor at Transport for London, said: “Our team has been working closely with HS2 on the relocation of our traction substation to make space for the new HS2 station at Euston. We are also working with HS2 to ensure the heritage features from the original building, including the oxblood tiles from 1907, are salvaged and re-used at other stations such as Oxford Circus. Alongside the new traction substation here, HS2 will deliver a capacity upgrade to Euston underground station ticket hall as well as a new bus station.” With the tunnelling and excavation works at the site now complete, the team will be working to construct the below and above ground structures for the new Traction Substation, before fitting it out with the necessary equipment and connecting it to the Northern line. The building will have three storeys below ground and four above. Once the new structure is complete, the existing TSS on Melton Street will be demolished. The building, opened in 1907, was once an entrance and exit to what Londoner’s now know as the Northern line, and was designed by the Architect Leslie Green. In 1914 changes to the Underground at Euston meant that the building was no longer used as a ticket office and entrance but was used to house ventilation equipment for the underground. HS2 will be carefully removing some of the iconic historic features and tiles donating these for reuse and heritage displays.
TODD Architects has won planning permission to refurbish and redevelop Birmingham’s Grade II* Listed Central Methodist Hall into a destination hospitality and leisure scheme with up to 150 new hotel rooms and eight new bars and restaurants at ground and basement levels. Birmingham City Council planning officers said the plans, drawn up on behalf of Press Up Hospitality Group and sister company Oakmount, would retain the “distinctiveness” of the building and improve its appearance. Originally built in 1904, the Central Methodist Hall became the legendary Que Club in 1989, attracting major artists such as David Bowie, Daft Punk and Blur. Despite becoming an important part of Birmingham’s musical and cultural scene, the club went out of use in 2017 and the building declined onto Heritage England’s At Risk Register. TODD Architects’ hotel-led proposal sensitively extends and adapts this much-loved landmark, preserving many of its original features whilst once again allowing it to take its place at the heart of Birmingham’s cultural landscape. Fundamental to the plans will be the refurbishment of the Central Hall into a luscious 1500-seat event space, with the pulpit area redefined as a stage for visiting acts. In addition, a traditional members’ club cocktail lounge, two expansive external terraces and a flagship rooftop restaurant with panoramic views across the city are proposed. Seamus Lennon, Principal, TODD Architects, comments: “We are thrilled to see our hotel-led proposals for the refurbishment of Birmingham Central Methodist Hall granted approval a mere six months on from our client having completed on the building. The Central Methodist Hall offers the opportunity to mix the height of Victorian grandeur with a fresh and contemporary take on the modern hospitality offer. Whilst it remains necessary to extend the building vertically to ensure the project is commercially viable, Birmingham City Council planners recognised our proposals will ensure this is done sensitively and allow the full restoration of the Central Hall space to be enjoyed by generations to come.” The proposed three-storey rooftop extension will be set back from the parapet and terraced backwards as the volume rises. A single-storey extension to the south will also be set back from the parapet and above this rests a new restaurant with a pitched roof matching the form of the original. The new elements make explicit reference to the qualities of the original building, whilst also utilising modern methods of construction and material technologies. The scheme on Corporation Street will be operated by Press Up Hospitality Group under ‘The Dean’ brand. The Dean is a boutique, design-led hotel with locations in Dublin, Cork and Galway. This will be the first Dean location outside of Ireland.
The winners of the TDUK Southside Hereford University Design Challenge (#TDchallenge22) have been announced following an incredibly competitive nine-month process. The challenge was based on a live project to design a net zero community center, showcasing timber construction and meeting Passivhaus Standard. After 150 students registered from 57 Universities and nine months of webinars, workshops, & interdisciplinary teamwork – the winning team was select at a live two-day event at the New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE). Students presented (both in-person & online) their designs to a diverse judging panel representing both local clients and leading figures in UK sustainable construction. Proposals were judged for longevity, desirability, adaptability, circularity, and producing more renewable energy than required. The winning team brought together an interdisciplinary group of students from universities the length and breadth of the UK – from Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen to the University of Portsmouth – to produce a design the judging panel declared “A strong response and a great integration of uses, with simple elements including a good use of structural timber used effectively and meeting the Passivhaus standard”. The challenge was led by Timber Development UK and ran in partnership with NMITE, Edinburgh Napier University, and the Passivhaus Trust. Built environment students and 2021 graduates from UK universities were invited to take part in the challenge to design Southside Hereford, a detached single storey building to accommodate three diverse partners with net zero aspirations. Providing a vibrant, inspiring, and inclusive sports, food, and skills community focal point for the people of South Wye. Southside is a collaboration between two highly energised established community organisations Growing Local CIC and Belmont Wanderers CIC, and NMITE, all of whom share a common goal to improve the future health, wellbeing, life chances and employment skillset of the people of South Wye and Hereford. Each of the detailed designs for Southside is ‘net zero’, creatively employing energy and resource efficient building materials and construction methods, focusing on the health and wellbeing of people, the community, and the planet. The designs were judged for longevity, desirability, adaptability, circularity, and a warming climate, as well as producing more energy from renewable sources than required. With the main material focus and specification for Southside to be timber and timber hybrid systems, each team’s detailed design was to meet the Passivhaus Standard and exceed both the RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge targets and the LETI Climate Emergency Design Guide metrics. Congratulations to the winners Alice Senior (University of Portsmouth), Malwina Bartoszewicz (Edinburgh Napier University), Johanna Schwarting (Swansea University), Kyle Henderson (Robert Gordon University), Daniela Lopez (University of Gloucestershire), Ali Uddin (University of Edinburgh), and Deepak Sadhwani (Cardiff University). “The students tackled a tricky mult-client brief whilst tracking the golden thread of environmental excellence through their design iterations – I have no doubt that the rigour needed to familiarise themselves with the Passivhaus design outcome will stand them in good stead in their career progression, and the judges particularly appreciated the enthusiasm and energy they brought to this through inter-disciplinary collaboration.”Lynne Sullivan, Passivhaus Trust Board “The #TDChallenge22 brought together interdisciplinary students, companies, sponsors, judges, and educators from across the UK, resulting in a phenomenal display of competence, energy and commitment to sustainability and learning. I was proud to have been a judge and that NMITE was a partner organisation, and a host to the competition. Well done everyone!”Professor Elena Rodriguez-Falcon, President & Chief Executive, New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE) “We need a highly trained construction workforce with a better understanding of wood and timber to achieve net zero and hit the ever more demanding carbon targets for construction. Fortunately, it’s evident from every student who has taken part in the Hereford Southside: University Design Challenge that there is incredible built environment talent emerging from UK universities. I know the skills and knowledge you have gained and demonstrated in low-carbon construction will be greatly in demand. We all look forward to seeing what you do next.”David Hopkins, Chief Executive, Timber Development UK To find out more about the winning design visit: https://bit.ly/TDchallenge22winners
A BUSINESSMAN with more than 30 years of experience in leading and developing teams across the globe is sharing his expertise to help an ambitious house building company continue to grow. Isaac Wharton has worked globally at a strategic level for public multinational corporations and private equity companies, growing the creation of value within the businesses and successfully negotiating mergers and acquisitions, business turnarounds and improvement activities. During his 30 plus year career, he has held roles as Managing Director, European Group President and International Vice President and General Manager at the firms he has represented. Following his recent return to the area, Isaac has been appointed as a Non-Executive Director of Cumbrian-based homebuilder Genesis Homes, where he will advise on how to develop the rapid expansion of the business which now employs more than 60 members of staff. Isaac said: “I have a long history with Genesis Homes since it was formed in 2017 but I’ve only recently taken an active role. “Having acquired South Cumbrian homebuilder Russell Armer Homes in 2021, I’ve witnessed the meteoric growth of the company from the early days and I’ve been impressed with the passion and commitment within the business, particularly from the managing director Nicky Gordon. “Seeing Nicky’s desire to succeed in business, it seemed a natural progression for me when retiring from a full-time role to bring those skills I’ve acquired to Genesis Homes and help take the business to the next level. “It’s about adopting a consistent development focus and ambition to grow the business and increase the creation of value, that is the passion I see in Genesis Homes and exactly the environment I have been used to and love working in so the company is definitely a good match for my ambitions.” During his successful career, Isaac worked more latterly as the international operations vice president and general manager at America-headquartered company Phillips & Temro, part of private equity giant Harbour Group Ltd. His role included acquisitions, growing and creating value of businesses outside of America, largely working in Europe, China and India. Isaac said: “The role was very fulfilling and it was all about value creation by either creating more efficient, more effective business activities, reducing overheads or the bolting on of strategic acquisitions to strengthen the core business or products. “I have loved my time working at international companies and travelling the world, and now I’m looking forward to being involved in the next, exciting chapter of Genesis Homes and seeing how far we can grow the business.” Prior to working with Phillips & Temro, Isaac worked at three other American-based private equity groups. Nicky Gordon said: “Isaac has been really helpful throughout the Genesis Homes journey and we are absolutely delighted that he has agreed to take on a more hands-on role to grow the company even further. “His experience and expertise in business will be vital to us as we aim to achieve and develop our growth ambitions in the coming years, with 2022 our biggest year to date as we currently work on constructing 750 new homes.”
A very important part of managing a construction business is processing the payroll. While payroll processing may seem simple, it requires a lot of attention – because making mistakes when performing it can be very costly, in the sense that it can attract both state and federal fines or penalties. In fact, these fines are much heavier during the tax season. For this reason, you need to ensure your payroll procedure is precise and efficient. Some businesses turn to account professionals to better simplify the process – however, not all businesses can afford this luxury. So in an effort to make this easier for such businesses, here are some very key areas and aspects of the process that you need to focus or improve on. Issuing Pay Stubs To Employees The FLSA (Fair Labor Standards Act) doesn’t require companies to furnish workers’ pay stubs; rather, it governs matters like business payroll documentation. The federal legislation has stringent standards for documentation, but companies are not required to furnish a printed record. Pay reports aren’t mandated by federal legislation, but the majority of states have chosen to establish state legislation requiring companies to give employees frequent reports concerning their salary and deductions. Broadly speaking, the reports must include these relevant data: worker name, SSN, taxes, payment cycle, and rate of pay. See the State Labor Office Information website to discover if your jurisdiction has pay report regulations or whether pay stubs can be delivered digitally to workers. Finding companies who provide Pay Stubs generator services is important and you should work with those that have good services. If your state requires the issuance of pay stubs, you need to be very meticulous about the process. Also, you need to be very vigilant to avoid the issuance of a fake pay stub – you will be surprised at how easy it is for scammers to fake this vital document. Ensure that any digitized platform you use is absolutely safe and almost unhackable. Conducting Audits You avoid any problems throughout tax season with frequent audits. You should audit if you see a surge in the number of workers who are worried about their paychecks. In fact, it doesn’t matter if your process is automated or still uses paper timecards; periodic audits minimize mistakes. For a fact, when automated or computerized payrolls are employed, mistakes are frequently considerably more significant. And such an error might affect your employee’s salary if a calculation or variable input is wrong. Regular changing fields, like tax positions or increases, need to receive audits frequently. Conducting audits will save you energy and cost by preventing future fines. A comprehensive audit entails starting at the payroll process’s outset. Always check to confirm that all time and numeric values are accurate. Observing Tax Regulations Penalties may be imposed for any miscalculations. And sadly, these miscalculations are widespread because many aren’t aware of new IRS regulations. Due to these errors, businesses are forced to pay penalties and remedy their problems. So, to avoid these issues, you must accurately register your payroll. For this reason, understanding the federal and state regulations governing payroll is crucial. Every year, there may be possible modifications to the tax code, so you must keep informed. Just because you don’t know much about tax legislation doesn’t guarantee your staff will either. You might be subject to legal action if you don’t follow the correct payroll procedures. Workers who don’t receive the required overtime or are paid for the wrong hours will be able to sue.
