Partnership between Siemens Digital Industries and Smart Infrastructure help Congleton plant achieve carbon neutral target Siemens’ Congleton factory is on track to achieve carbon neutrality this year – eight years ahead of its original target. The operation, which manufactures more than 1.2m controls and drives each year, is inching its
New £2.5m deal signed to deliver early works for the onshore cable installation scope of the Norfolk Offshore Wind Zone Early works will help provide greater certainty in construction and help deliver the project more efficiently Boost for local economy and supply chain businesses In a major step forward for
Construction now considered an ‘attractive’ career prospect by 56% of 18-29-year-olds Over 20% women now interested in construction role, even after being dissuaded by third-parties Engineers are back in demand, as second ‘most wanted job’ in UK after ‘healthcare professional’ Over a third (35%) of young people want to be
AFTER undergoing extensive roof and structural restoration assisted by a scaffolding structure weighing more than eight blue whales, the team behind the transformation of Derby’s iconic Market Hall has revealed that the first phase of work has now completed. The Grade II listed Victorian market hall, which has been trading
Commercial interiors specialists Paramount say they are “proud” to have been appointed to create an “inspiring workplace” at the heart of historic Bath’s flagship regeneration project. The Paramount Bristol-based team are masterminding the interior design of the prestigious new office space in the Bath Quays office building for leading local
The new partnership with Node will see the firm deliver 63 luxury apartments in Brixton, with premium views across London. Enrok Construction has commenced work with Node to deliver 63 one-and-two-bed luxury apartments in Brixton, London. The construction specialist has worked on the project since March 2022 and is now
The offsite manufactured modular roof system from Smartroof was used on a new housing development in Worcestershire to maximise sellable space, offer consistent thermal performance and reduce build times. The Bloor Homes’ Evesham Gate development is close to the market town of Evesham and features 460 homes in a mix
Brett Martin’s Cascade cast iron effect rainwater system was used at a London primary school that needed a cost effective, but high performance with great aesthetics solution. The cast iron system was up for the challenge, offering exceptional styling, without compromising on drainage performance. Fryent Primary School in Kingsbury is
Elta Group, industry leaders in sustainable air movement, has announced a new partnership with air monitoring pioneer Airthings. The collaboration will allow building owners, tenants, and facility managers to better monitor and report on the indoor air quality within the building they occupy. As reported by a recent study from
You work hard at your business every single day. You have employees you are responsible for. If yours is a construction business, understanding the power of photography can be truly eye-opening. So how can it help your business? There are many aspects of it you need to understand before you
BDC 319 : Aug 2024
Partnership between Siemens Digital Industries and Smart Infrastructure help Congleton plant achieve carbon neutral target Siemens’ Congleton factory is on track to achieve carbon neutrality this year – eight years ahead of its original target. The operation, which manufactures more than 1.2m controls and drives each year, is inching its way to the major milestone after deploying a range of sustainable solutions for energy generation and demand with support from Siemens’ energy and performance services business, Smart Infrastructure. These include generating 75kw of renewable energy through a hydro-electric plant at Havannah Weir on the river Dane and using carbon neutral, certified biogas to power its on-site gas engine. These measures alone saved over £250,000 pounds a year and took the 80% power-independent factory off the grid. Beyond these innovations, Siemens Congleton adopted a building management system which automatically adjusts to drive energy efficiency improvements, while modern windows and LED lighting have reduced the total energy bill by 13% and 30% respectively. Combined with reducing waste to landfill to zero and EV charging for staff and visitors, the Cheshire site is eight years ahead of Siemens’ original 2015 commitment to ensure carbon neutral operations by 2030. Commenting on the achievement, Andrew Peters, Managing Director of Siemens Digital Industries Congleton, said: “Siemens believes that sustainability is a force for good and can deliver value for all its stakeholders. We want to help customers achieve sustainable growth and to transform their industries through decarbonisation. The first step of that is for us to achieve these ambitions in our own operations. “I am delighted that by leveraging a culture of continuous improvement and sustainability – the vital components to Siemens’ Congleton’s long-term success – we have achieved carbon neutrality, a major milestone in our ambitions to reach net zero emissions by 2030.” The 50-year-old Siemens Congleton factory began its sustainability journey in 1990 when it began manufacturing drives to meet the demands of industry. In 2018 the factory became fully digital by embracing lean manufacturing methods to achieve continuous improvement and by adopting leading-edge Industry 4.0 processes. Using advanced manufacturing methods include Virtual Reality, Digital Twin, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), Advanced Robotics, Cloud Technology and Additive Manufacturing, it has mastered producing up to 50,000 variations of its products to fulfil the shifting demands of its customers and markets, increased productivity by driving down costs, and improved efficiency. In 1990, 400 workers made 50,000 variable speed drives and controls a year. Today, a similar number of workers produce 1.2 million electrical devices – including 600,000 variable speed drives (VSDs). What is more is that it has been achieved within the same physical footprint. The factory is bounded by industrial units and housing estates, with no room to expand, meaning Congleton has one of the highest productivity rates per m2 of any Siemens’ sites. Faye Bowser, Head of Siemens’ Energy & Performance Services GB&I, said: “The climate emergency puts the demand on businesses of all sizes and sectors to really accelerate their efforts for decarbonisation. But a challenge is that often decarbonisation isn’t their core business. So, at Energy and Performance Services we make it our business to use our skills, our knowledge and our tools to help our customers transition to net zero in a way that contributes to their business priorities. “Despite us being from the Siemens family, we have approached working with Congleton the same we do with any organisation. It has been fantastic. In Andrew Peters you have a leader in a business which has put continuous improvement and sustainability at the heart of their long-term success. Our job was to apply those components to their energy system and their energy strategy. What we ended up with is an engineered roadmaps to net zero that considers timelines, finance, digital services, all there to safeguard business continuity, and to have a method to continuously identify more opportunities to reduce carbon on site.” The Congleton factory is leading the way for Siemens which has committed, as a global organisation, to ensure all its operations are carbon neutral by 2030 and for all production facilities and buildings to achieve net zero-carbon footprint by 2030. In the UK Siemens’ progress has been recognised by The Carbon Trust, an expert partner for supporting organisations to achieve science-based targets. In June it awarded Siemens its Route to Net Zero Standard tier one certification for ‘Taking Action’. Commenting on this milestone achievement, Olivia Whitlam, Head of Sustainability, Siemens Plc said: “Siemens is taking a holistic approach to achieving net zero and we are pleased to be guided by the Carbon Trust who helps us monitor our progress each year. “We have 8,600 people spread across offices and 11 manufacturing sites across the UK and we are creating innovation up and down the country with sustainability at the core of our operations and services. Our Congleton factory is paving the way for sustainability whilst setting a great example on how manufacturers can join this amazing journey to net zero.”
New £2.5m deal signed to deliver early works for the onshore cable installation scope of the Norfolk Offshore Wind Zone Early works will help provide greater certainty in construction and help deliver the project more efficiently Boost for local economy and supply chain businesses In a major step forward for delivery of the Norfolk Offshore Wind Zone, J. Murphy & Sons, the leading specialist engineering and construction company has been awarded a £2.5m contract with Vattenfall to deliver early works for the onshore cable installation scope of the project. J. Murphy & Sons is also preferred bidder for the future construction works contract. J. Murphy & Sons early works will include site investigations and design optimisation activities, for example topology surveys, boreholes and small trial pits along the cable route to further understand ground conditions. Design optimisation provides greater certainty in construction requirements to allow a more efficient delivery of the project, with a focus on sustainable design through the use of innovation and minimising materials and programme. This is the first phase of Vattenfall’s extensive works to turn East Anglia into a powerhouse of renewable energy and is essential to ensure that future work onshore progresses as efficiently as possible. Working with local businesses and communities is an essential part of delivering the Norfolk Offshore Wind Zone. Alongside Vattenfall’s drive to deliver their ambitious supply chain and skills and employment plans, J. Murphy & Sons will be engaging with local contractors and businesses during this period, seeking their support in delivering the works. They will also be working with local colleges to find young people who are keen and available to work in the sector, delivering one of the largest offshore wind zones in the world. Rob Anderson, Project Director of Vattenfall’s Norfolk Zone, said: “We’re taking the project into the next phase so we’re delighted to have J. Murphy & Sons on board, helping us to deliver the Norfolk Offshore Wind Zone. Their expertise will be invaluable, as will their focus on boosting the local economy by supporting jobs and growth in the region.” Andy Ingram, Operations Director for J. Murphy & Sons said: “The award of the early contractor involvement contract marks the next step of our journey with Vattenfall, the local supply chain and wider community in delivering this essential piece of green energy infrastructure. We are delighted to bring our expertise and experience to the project and play our part in developing sustainable and secure energy sources for the UK market”.
Construction now considered an ‘attractive’ career prospect by 56% of 18-29-year-olds Over 20% women now interested in construction role, even after being dissuaded by third-parties Engineers are back in demand, as second ‘most wanted job’ in UK after ‘healthcare professional’ Over a third (35%) of young people want to be a part of construction, as an industry ‘undergoing massive, positive change’ 31%of young people want to build a ‘better physical world’ through construction careers Teaching shortages loom as sector struggle to fill roles for essential construction courses New research from construction data platform NBS reveals that construction has now become a desirable career path for UK school leavers and young adults, with 56% now considering it an’ attractive’ profession with plenty of prospects.” NBS quizzed 2,000 18–29-year-olds across the UK regarding construction as a potential vocation, yielding surprising, but refreshingly positive results. This will come as welcome news to a sector that saw job vacancies hit an all-time high (49,000) earlier this year. Importantly, the survey indicates a distinct cultural shift in attitudes amongst younger generations, in part, helped by the growing number of digital opportunities available and extensive media attention around the sector’s use of industry-leading tech, dispelling the myth that construction is a dead-end career. Russell Haworth CEO of NBS, said: “It’s clear that perceptions around construction are changing. Young people now realise it’s not the dull, dangerous, and dirty job as mislabelled for years by educators and career advisors. It’s great to see such an uptick in interest following some very lean years recruitment-wise. The challenge for the sector now is to jump on this opportunity, we must not miss it as has previously been the case.” This Woman’s Work The poll included diversity-related questions and found marked improvement in a sector which has struggled to be inclusive for decades. Highlighting the fact that construction has been made to be more inclusive, 57% of females also stated that they consider construction to be a generally ‘diverse’ industry. Now over a fifth of women are ‘very interested’ in construction as a career, showing scope for an influx of female employees following A-level and university results day. However, a similar number are being actively dissuaded by peers and family to take a job in the industry. It shows whilst personal attitudes are changing, sector misconceptions persist, which must be overcome. Mirudhula Ponraj, 26, a Technical Trainee Assistant at Bellway Homes, said, “It’s interesting to hear that more women are interested in construction. Great strides are being made in terms of inclusion, but we know more work still needs to be done for the sector to represent 21st century Britain. With schemes such as Women into Construction, I’m optimistic that we’ll see more change in the next ten years. “There’s a misconception that construction is all about muddy boots and strong shoulders, today’s industry is so much more. I studied Building Information Modelling (BIM) at uni. The fifth of women mentioned in NBS’ study looking to enter the industry might be surprised to learn that roles can be incredibly diverse. The next generation now have the opportunity to work with technical programmes and computer systems, utilising brains over brawn.” Engineering Success Dismissing stereotypes that Millennials and Gen Z aren’t interested in highly skilled occupations, ‘Engineer’, particular structural and civils roles, ranked number two when it came to the list of most sought-after jobs. This was second only to ‘Healthcare Professional’ in popularity, ranking higher than ‘Legal Professional’ ‘Teacher’, ‘Designer’ or even ‘Social Media Influencer’. Drilling down, 8% were specifically interested an architectural career, potentially indicating why so many young people appear interested in making their mark in construction. Almost a third stated a passion for architecture and a similar number wanted to ‘create a better physical’ world, further supporting Gen Z’s growing reputation as the ‘sustainability generation’, regarding greener construction as a route to a lower carbon future An evolving industry Over a third flagged they were interested in construction because they see it as an industry ‘going through a massive, positive change’. This might reflect a growing public awareness over the past few years around the sector’s growing diversity, greater digital adoption and greener approaches to business. Emphasising the impact innovation is having on the industry, three quarters of respondents also recognised that ‘a lot’ or a ‘fair amount’ of technology is used in contemporary construction. Unsurprisingly, salary and earning potential were a main motivator. ‘Good pay’ ranked top of the incentive list, followed by a good home and work balance (2), a respectful working environment (3), interesting work (4) and working with nice people (5). Train Drain However, despite an uplift in interest from a younger generation looking to make their way in the industry, another recent study by the Association of Colleges (AoC) found skills shortages amongst staff looking to teach construction are stalling progress. Putting the problem into context, 85% of further education colleges have struggled to secure staff to teach the relevant subjects. It’s a problem that will need to be addressed should the indicative findings of NBS’s report be borne out in reality and an influx of interest in construction roles occurs over the next six months. Haworth concludes: “This study has proven to be a litmus test of where the industry is heading within the next twenty years – seeing more women and greater diversity entering the workforce will only continue its upward trajectory. With so much interest from young people our next challenge is turning interest into long and fruitful careers.” To see the full survey data, click here
AFTER undergoing extensive roof and structural restoration assisted by a scaffolding structure weighing more than eight blue whales, the team behind the transformation of Derby’s iconic Market Hall has revealed that the first phase of work has now completed. The Grade II listed Victorian market hall, which has been trading since 1866, will be transformed into a contemporary and vibrant cultural and retail destination. Wates Construction, which has an extensive track record of heritage restoration projects around the UK, has been leading an expert project team of local architects and engineers on the flagship project, comprising Latham Architects, Rogers Leask, and Clancy Consultants. The work completed includes masonry repairs to the building envelope, internal cleaning of the roof structure, and lead paint removal before the challenging and extensive heritage glazed roof replacement works. This included increasing ridge height to accommodate natural ventilation for the building, copper roof replacement, gutter and rainwater works, access equipment, localised electric works, lightening protection, and decoration. John Carlin, Regional Director at Wates Construction, said: “It has been a privilege to work on the restoration and transformation of such an iconic and unique building, maintaining its historic charm but also bringing it into the council’s overall modern vision for the revitalisation of the wider city centre. “Before this work on the roof was carried out, the Market Hall often had to close to customers for safety reasons if there was possibility of strong winds, snow, or heavy rain in case the glass windows came out of their frames. Along with the extensive restoration of the roof structure, all of these windows have now been replaced, meaning that closing the market and disrupting trade just for weather will no longer be necessary.” “Making sure that trading could continue while initial surveys and work on the roof took place was particularly important. To do this, we installed a scaffolding structure to give access to the roof without disrupting ground level activity. It was an impressive feat of engineering all by itself, which would have spanned more than 62 miles if placed end-to-end and weighed almost 900 tonnes, but it really was the key to making sure trade could continue despite our ongoing work, supporting the city’s traders post-pandemic.” Throughout the process, the project team supported traders and the council project team to a high level, offering tours and site visits, as well as engaging with local sixth-form college students and a range of industry professionals to involve the local community in the project. The team is now looking forward to commencing the second phase of the regeneration programme, which is set for later this year and will focus on internal and external configuration to transform the look and feel of the building. Raised concrete floor plinths that currently house individual market stalls will be removed to create a more airy, open and accessible space, with the ground level intended to provide space for up to 32 market stalls, which will be portable for flexibility. Meanwhile, the interior balcony area will provide an opportunity to accommodate a small business incubator, and to provide space for special themed markets, such as antiques or crafts. The entrances to the Market Hall are also set to be improved in the upcoming phase of work, allowing market activity to flow seamlessly into the surrounding streets and creating an attractive and flexible space in the adjacent Osnabruck Square. The Market Hall is located within Derby’s City Centre Conservation Area, which also contains Derby Cathedral, the Silk Mill, and the Guildhall Theatre, and was originally designed by Derbyshire engineer Rowland Mason Ordish. When completed, it will complement the emerging Cultural Hub, which aims to re-energise the day and night-time economies and drive stronger footfall in the Market Place and wider city centre Councillor Mick Barker, Cabinet Member for Governance and Deputy Leader of Derby City Council, said: “Derby Market Hall is one of the city’s most beautiful and prominent buildings, which connects key areas of our city centre. “As a Grade II listed building, it deserves tasteful and sympathetic attention to detail to its renovation. Quality takes time and we’re delighted to see that this striking copper roof has now been finished, which paves the way for the rest of the Market Hall’s transformation. “Soon we can move onto the internal renovation and give Derby a fantastic market, which is full of life and which will help draw people back into the heart of our city.” Wates Construction was appointed via SCAPE’s Major Works framework. The second phase of development is set to commence on site in Q4 2022, with an aim to complete in 2024. For more information, please visit https://www.wates.co.uk/
Commercial interiors specialists Paramount say they are “proud” to have been appointed to create an “inspiring workplace” at the heart of historic Bath’s flagship regeneration project. The Paramount Bristol-based team are masterminding the interior design of the prestigious new office space in the Bath Quays office building for leading local financial services consultancy and software provider, Altus. Paramount, whose headquarters are in Cardiff, were engaged by Altus to transform the 9,445 sq ft workspace on the top floor of the five-storey, energy-efficient office building, after Altus had signed a deal to move its headquarters to the city centre site. It confirmed Altus as one of the first tenants of No 1 Bath Quays – the first new office block to be built in Bath for a generation and a key part in Bath and North East Somerset Council’s ambitious regeneration programme and climate emergency priority. Paramount Client Lead Carly Willis said: “Paramount create places where people want to be; workspaces that inspire employees and embrace well-being. “We have relished working closely with Altus to create an inspirational, attractive, sustainable, and eco-friendly workplace for a company at the forefront of bold local authority plans to revitalise Bath as an economic hub. “Our objective for the new Altus office is to create an uplifting workplace that is both a showcase to clients and a joy for staff – high-end destination space that encourages positive interactions between staff and clients. “Bath is a stunning city, famously steeped in history. We are proud to play a part in ensuring it enjoys a vibrant commercial future, creating a workplace that will help Altus – and Bath as a whole – go from strength to strength.” In order to ensure that the new workplace met Altus requirements and post-pandemic hybrid working habits, Paramount conducted a company-wide staff survey and several stakeholder engagement sessions. Results showed an increased need for a variety of meeting places, easy access to video conferencing, privacy, enhanced acoustics and plenty of collaborative social space. Paramount Lead Designer Bethan Hellings said: “The words ‘collaborative’, ‘spacious’ and ‘fun’ came up time and again during our engagement sessions and they’ve coloured my work in more ways than one. “Finishes have been carefully selected to be soft and calming yet also happy and bright and we have been particularly mindful of enhancing light and space, avoiding dark colours and keeping the space as open as possible. A calming base palette is unobtrusive and minimises visual stress, but we have also added uplifting colour accents to add life to the space.” Timber finishes provide warmth and bring natural texture. Rounded corners provide soft transitions and easy movement between spaces and angles have been used throughout in desk positioning and floor finishes to create more interesting sightlines. Now the new office, which includes a terrace offering stunning views of the city, is in the final stages of development, with Altus staff expected to move in by mid-October. The move will represent a significant milestone for the Bath business, which was founded in 2005 by a small group of friends, but which now employs more than 100 people and prides itself on its strong roots in the local community. Altus Consulting Director Martyn Evans said: “Paramount are very much like Altus in size, culture, values, and their team just ‘got us’. They are very receptive to our ambition to provide an inspiring workplace for our staff while focusing on environmental consciousness. “Our new HQ will provide the next step in the growth of our business and will provide an inspiring place to work for current and future staff. We are delighted to be moving the business to No 1 Bath Quays and to be part of the city’s regeneration journey.” The 4.5-acre Bath Quays project incorporates a blend of historic buildings and contemporary architecture and will become a key strategic site for the city centre. Councillor Kevin Guy, Bath and North East Somerset Council leader, said: “We are delighted Altus has chosen No 1 Bath Quays for its new headquarters. This is an excellent endorsement of our commitment to delivering market-leading, next generation workspaces to help attract skills and talent to Bath.”
The new partnership with Node will see the firm deliver 63 luxury apartments in Brixton, with premium views across London. Enrok Construction has commenced work with Node to deliver 63 one-and-two-bed luxury apartments in Brixton, London. The construction specialist has worked on the project since March 2022 and is now able to announce the formal contract. In a short time Enrok has played a pivotal role, completing roof works, installing windows and commencing the cladding and internal fit out, and is now committed to the successful completion of the scheme. In its entirety, the project will see the conversion of a four-story building on Shakespeare Road with work to include the development of a fifth additional floor containing 6 additional luxury apartments. The penthouses will boast premium views across the capital city with a number of iconic buildings in sight, including The Shard, The City, Canary Wharf, Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster. Speaking on the project, Simon Bennett MCIOB, Enrok’s Operations Manager, commented: “We have been working closely with the team at Node for four months now, and it’s great to be able to shout about what will become our flagship project. “Building outwards is not always feasible in high-density areas, so developing upwards is an effective solution – and something that is becoming increasingly popular across London and other densely populated cities where space is at a premium. “Working in London does come with its own challenges, but our project planning and existing presence in London has enabled us to hit the ground running on the scheme and we are looking forward to delivering it successfully. “We hope that this marks the start of a strong working relationship with Node and very much look forward to the prospect of future collaborations.” Enrok Construction is a privately owned construction company, operating across the UK from its headquarters in Derbyshire. The firm provides developers and clients from the UK and beyond with an all-inclusive construction service. It has built a reputation across the Midlands for consistently designing, building and project managing the delivery of homes and commercial buildings that people aspire to live, work, socialise and visit and which benefit their communities.
The offsite manufactured modular roof system from Smartroof was used on a new housing development in Worcestershire to maximise sellable space, offer consistent thermal performance and reduce build times. The Bloor Homes’ Evesham Gate development is close to the market town of Evesham and features 460 homes in a mix of tenures, offering high standards of a sustainable design. Built to Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3, the homes feature high levels of insulation to walls, roofs and flooring, highly efficient glazing, and improved detailing to reduce heat loss. As part of this fabric first approach to design, the three and four-bed Makenzie, Medina and Morris homes will maximise fabric efficiency and space through the creation of rooms in roofs. The project provided the perfect opportunity for Smartroof to provide Bloor Homes with its offsite produced room in roof system for phase one of the scheme. With energy efficient, fabric first design having become a key driver for all new homes, particularly with the latest changes to Building Regulations Part L, Bloor Homes require solutions that can maximise airtightness, optimise insulation and eliminate thermal bridging. Smartroof’s pre-engineered insulated roof system does just that and has allowed the developer to maximise a smaller footprint by increasing the space in homes and creating rooms in roofs. Comprising a series of factory produced panels incorporating insulation, dormers, spandrels, roof windows and roofline, it is delivered to site and craned into place. Once in place, the roofs simply require tiling. The system has many benefits – less waste, better control of quality, safer to install – and meets the industry’s demand for solutions that allow us to build better quality homes more efficiently. In addition, the interlocking design and production of the system in a factory-controlled environment ensures consistent and predictable thermal performance. With the latest changes to Part L of the Building Regulations, the factory insulated panels eliminate voids or cold spots and offer design flexibility as insulation levels can be easily upgraded to meet requirements. Bloor Homes also benefited from reduced working at height and decreases in on site wastage to provide a cost-effective method of production. At a time when the construction sector is facing challenges in terms of cost, quality and a shortage of trades, the Smartroof system expedited the build process and has ensured the homes at Evesham Gate are future-proofed to meet the required thermal efficiency standards whilst also providing additional much-needed space for the homeowner. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction and Property News
Brett Martin’s Cascade cast iron effect rainwater system was used at a London primary school that needed a cost effective, but high performance with great aesthetics solution. The cast iron system was up for the challenge, offering exceptional styling, without compromising on drainage performance. Fryent Primary School in Kingsbury is one of the three primary schools that are part of Brent Council’s school expansion programme, which aims to refurbish old buildings and add new-build modular extensions. As part of this school’s refurbishment, Brett Martin provided the architect and contractor with full on-site technical support, as well as recommending a cost-effective rainwater solution which had the look and feel of the existing cast iron system, but offered the long-term benefits of plastic. Following thorough visits, the architect Peter Balham showed his specification, which included a comprehensive range of Cascade cast iron effect rainwater systems in a range of domestic and high capacity systems, all in Classic Black. The installation saw the 112mm Roundstyle gutter and 68mm round downpipe installed at the east end of the main entrance block. For the larger roofs across the other school entrances, rear and inner courtyard, play area and classroom dormer, the 115mm Deepstyle and higher capacity 170mm Deepstyle gutter systems were used to offer increased roof drainage. To deal with rainwater run-off from the flat roofed buildings surrounding the courtyard and astroturf play areas, the 105mm round and 100mm x 75mm rectangular downpipes and undated hoppers were installed. “We had been looking for an authentic and cost-effective cast-iron replacement for the main school building for some time and Cascade was far and away the best choice when compared to other rainwater systems and offered by far, the most comprehensive range to accommodate both the domestic and industrial scaled requirements on this project. It’s a quality, high performance product with period-style detailing that looks perfect and will protect the building against the ingress of water,” commented Peter Balham. Significantly lighter than cast iron rainwater systems, Cascade is much quicker, easier and safer to install at a height and helped to offer the local authority huge savings in terms of on-site installation costs which was a key consideration during the approvals process. Proven on a variety of projects from domestic new-build and refurbishment projects, church and barn conversions, Georgian and Victorian shop frontages, flats and apartments, schools and hotels, the Cascade system has been designed and developed by Brett Martin using over 60 years’ experience at the forefront of plastics technology and a unique patented manufacturing process to achieve the authentic cast iron finish. With the refurbished building and modular extension now completed, Brett Martin’s Cascade cast iron effect rainwater system has ensured an architecturally-sympathetic appearance was achieved with a reliable, durable and cost-effective drainage system that will continue to perform for many years to come. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction and Property News
Elta Group, industry leaders in sustainable air movement, has announced a new partnership with air monitoring pioneer Airthings. The collaboration will allow building owners, tenants, and facility managers to better monitor and report on the indoor air quality within the building they occupy. As reported by a recent study from the National Engineering Policy Centre (NEPC) , many of the UK’s buildings are not being operated according to current air quality standards. With the help of Airthings’ innovative solutions, operators that identify poor air quality can use the information to develop new strategies that can change the ventilation rate to create an environment that is healthier and safer to be in. “The collaboration of Elta Group and Airthings highlights common goals that exist between our two solutions-focused organisations. We both share an entrepreneurial spirit and have a clear vision of meeting market needs by improving indoor air quality. Our highly trained teams also share a common ambition, of delivering innovative and exceptionally engineered products that enhance life through air. Together our relentless drive to discover new technologies has led to the development of intuitive products that seamlessly integrate within a building,” commented Mark Rickard, CEO at Elta Group. Airthings for Business solution includes three different monitors that allow the user to build a system that best suits the building occupants’ needs. Monitors can measure the level of radon, CO2, relative humidity, PM2.5 and more, and send all data via a central hub to the cloud, after which a detailed and highly informative dashboard is created. Airthings is a brand recognised for its innovation and ingenuity, as highlighted in its many awards including TIME’s Best Inventions 2019, and featured in Forbes, USA Today, The Times, Metro and many more. “I see great synergies between our two organisations through our commitment to innovation and our focus on developing easy-to-use technologies that help create healthier indoor air quality. By collaborating and working together, our combined experience will help provide better outcomes for the customer and the environment also,” added Mark. The partnership feeds into a wider strategy for Elta Group of ‘Enhancing Life Through Air’ to provide an advisory role in the monitoring of air quality and consequent ventilation strategies. Leading by example, the business recently received one of the UK’s first RESET certifications at its head office in the Midlands. By achieving the new accreditation, the ventilation company decreased its peak CO2 levels by 33%. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction and Property News
You work hard at your business every single day. You have employees you are responsible for. If yours is a construction business, understanding the power of photography can be truly eye-opening. So how can it help your business? There are many aspects of it you need to understand before you make use of it. Build Your Brand Whether you have a construction company that is a newbie in the field or one that has been there for generations, you know how important it is to build a brand. High-quality photography can mean that for your business. With great photographs, you can build your brand so that you can do better. The thing you must understand here is that Robert Lowdon Photography can make your business look far more professional than it usually is. This will help it look more credible so that you can offer something more to your competition. Good photographs will tell your clients that you are a professional company and will help them arrive at a decision quicker. So don’t try saving money when you are looking for a photographer for your construction business because it can bring in more customers. Powerful Assets Think that a photo is just that, a photo? Well, the answer is no. Photos are a lot more than that. If used correctly, they can be assets. You can use them in powerful and versatile ways. You can use them on social media or you can use them on your offline marketing materials. They can be extremely useful in projecting the right image for your business. When you invest money in high-quality photography, you will be able to avoid stock photos and instead use your real business photos. High-Quality Portfolio A great reason why construction businesses can benefit greatly from photography is that they will be able to build you a good portfolio. Portfolios are everything because it is what potential clients are going to want to take a look at. You need to have things in your portfolio that you are proud of having done in the past. This is where good photographs come in. Clients always want to see what they are getting into and a good strong portfolio is just what you are going to need to woo them. Being Creative The construction business is a lot about creativity because you create an image in your mind first. This is then created on paper and pen and only after that, is the first stone cast. So being creative is the nature of the profession. A good photography professional will be able to do a lot in the creative department and your business will be thankful for this. Choosing the Right Photography Professional It is imperative to choose a photography professional who has the right background for your construction business. You want someone with the following qualities: Years of Experience: It is important to find someone who has loads of experience working with construction businesses. The firm should know how to best bring out the construction landscape so that clients want to book their appointments. It is said that a picture can say a thousand words. You need someone who can say a thousand words in favor of your business with a simple photograph. Drone Technology: You definitely need someone who has the right equipment and technology for drone photography. It is the latest thing in the photography industry and is something that can be used to capture absolutely amazing photographs and you don’t want to miss out on it. Architectural Photography Expertise: Construction businesses delve into architecture and all it brings to the table. So it is in your best interest if you can get a firm to do the photography that has enough expertise in architectural photography. This way you will get some amazing shots you can use any way you like. It is amazing how much photography can do to any business. But it can perhaps do the most when it is the construction businesses we are talking about. It is possible to take your construction business places by choosing good photography. Amazing photographs can attract the eyes of your potential clients and have them ask for more. Let them see dreams about the kind of construction you can make happen with just one photograph. Make sure you keep in mind all the things mentioned in this article before making a decision about a photography firm or professional and you will thank yourself later.
