Rental living pioneer Moda Living’s Brighton & Hove neighbourhood ‘Moda, Hove Central’ has reached its highest point as guests celebrated the milestone and enjoyed spectacular views from the top. Moda is regenerating the former Sackville Road Trading Estate into a thriving new multigenerational neighbourhood of more than 820 new homes,
Leading interior design consultancy Office Principles North has announced that it will deliver the workspace of law firm Shoosmiths in Birmingham. Office Principles North will fit out 28,449 sq ft across the 11th, 12th and 20th floors of the new, state-of-the-art 103 Colmore Row development in the city centre. The
Sika, a specialty chemicals company with a leading position in the development and production of building products, has been awarded the EWI Excellence Award at the INCA Awards (The Insulated Render and Cladding Association). Held at the Queens Hotel in Leeds, the INCA Awards were hosted by comedian and broadcaster
ExCeL London has appointed McLaren Construction to deliver the build phase of its major expansion project, enhancing the venue’s world-class conference, event and exhibition facilities. McLaren Construction will complete the expansion of the venue’s multi-functional exhibition and conference facilities. The programme will extend the existing facilities by up to 25,000m2,
University of Cambridge’s ‘Homerton College Dining Hall’ designed by architects Feilden Fowles, is the UK’s best new timber building, having won the Gold Award at the 2022 Wood Awards. Elegant and impressive, the dining hall was praised by the judges for how it celebrates the integrity and inherent beauty of
Rental living pioneer Moda Living’s Brighton & Hove neighbourhood ‘Moda, Hove Central’ has reached its highest point as guests celebrated the milestone and enjoyed spectacular views from the top. Moda is regenerating the former Sackville Road Trading Estate into a thriving new multigenerational neighbourhood of more than 820 new homes, 564 of which will be build-to-rent apartments. The neighbourhood will include six new buildings, with more than 60% of the 8.8-acre site covered with new landscaped green spaces, pedestrian routes and public realm. The neighbourhood is part of Moda’s prime multi-family joint venture with investment manager Apache Capital, and the first to be funded by KKR. The new homes, 10 per cent of which will be affordable and managed by Moda, will cater to all ages and requirements, ranging from studio apartments to three-bedroom homes and boast views of the sea, the South Downs and Brighton and Hove. The neighbourhood will also include a range of best-in-class amenities, including a 24/7 gym, roof terraces, communal lounges and co-working spaces, cycle cafes as well as 260 community care homes. In addition to a 24-hour gym and fitness centre equipped with market leading fitness equipment, residents will have access to a host of wellness focused products and services to support their healthy lifestyles. All residents are given free access to leading home fitness app FIIT so they can work out anywhere, any time. Moda’s wellness programme offers a range of expert coaching sessions on topics ranging from fitness and nutrition to healthy sleep and financial wellbeing. Additionally, a partnership with mental health expert MYNDUP gives residents subsidised access to services including counselling, meditation, and life coaching. A bespoke regular programme of events, designed and run by Moda’s in house operations team, will complement the services and facilities and help to build a community of people living their happiest, healthiest lives. Moda’s commitment to health and wellbeing across its living sector platforms means it has the most top-level certifications from the leading global healthy building accreditation body, Fitwel, in the world. Moda, Hove Central will target this 3-star certification by prioritising health and wellbeing in all elements of its design and operation. The neighbourhood also includes a range of amenities for the local community. As well as landscaped public realm, there will be a gym and fitness centre, shops and cafes and new public squares for the local community to enjoy. Tony Brooks, Managing Director at Moda Living, said: “This is a momentous stage in our regeneration of the former Sackville Road Trading Estate and seeing the views from the top of our tallest building really takes your breath away. Hove is a beautiful part of Sussex and we’re extremely proud to be a step closer to bringing these much-needed rental homes to Hove. “People who move into Moda, Hove Central will be able to make new friends, join in with group activities and access wellness support services as we build a true community. They will also know their rental property is there to stay, giving them a place they can call home for as long as they want. “Hove Central isn’t just for the residents. Working closely with Brighton & Hove Council, local resident groups and consultants, we’re delivering a new community hub for Hove, complete with open green space, new shops and amenities and beautiful, professionally managed public realm on this formerly disused industrial site. We look forward to welcoming the community to Moda, Hove Central next year.” Hove and Portslade MP Peter Kyle said: “Hove very much welcomes one of its newest residents. This is such an exciting milestone to have reached and I look forward to residents moving in next year. “There were lots of developers that were interested in this site and came to see me about it. Moda was the only developer whose first conversation was: ‘Can you talk about the community around the site? Who are they and what are the characteristics, because we want to be part of that community’.” “It’s not just the building of local homes that Moda Living has championed but it’s also been the projects they are supporting in the wider community – from basketball to art – and I am sure everyone in the city will benefit.” Charles Smith, Project Director at contractor Midgard, said: “We’re excited to have reached the highest point at Moda’s newest development in Hove and we’re looking forward to continuing to work closely with all stakeholders to deliver a successful project by 2024.” John Dunkerley, Co-Founder and CEO at Apache Capital said: “The completion of Hove is a significant milestone in our strategic partnership with KKR, which will enable the delivery of over 4,000 rental homes across the UK’s core regional cities. “Supply-demand imbalances and long-term demographic and structural trends are driving institutional investors towards build-to-rent, and our partnership with developer and operator Moda has become firmly established as one of the industry’s leading platforms.” Paul Rogers, Director at Whittam Cox Architects said: “We’re delighted to see our designs for Moda Hove Central being realised. The scale and positive impact of this transformational regeneration project cannot be underestimated. “This development has a distinct point of difference in the emerging build to rent sector in the UK. Here we are creating a neighbourhood of buildings, all of which have their own character, and are connected through outstanding landscaping and public realm. Our design approach from the outset has been driven by creating an exceptional resident experience within a neighbourhood which is embedded in its place, and which will provide every opportunity to curate an inclusive community.” Community engagement has played a major role in the development of Moda, Hove Central. Earlier this year Moda Living became one of just two major partners to Brighton Festival, supporting the pop-up arts venue the Riwaq, which hosted free performances for the public throughout May. Moda is also working with local artist Richard Wolfstrome to deliver an ambitious public art strategy for the neighbourhood, which will set a new bar for
Leading interior design consultancy Office Principles North has announced that it will deliver the workspace of law firm Shoosmiths in Birmingham. Office Principles North will fit out 28,449 sq ft across the 11th, 12th and 20th floors of the new, state-of-the-art 103 Colmore Row development in the city centre. The consultancy has worked in collaboration with Shoosmiths to design the new workspace, which it says will become a hybrid “workplace destination” for both clients and Shoosmiths’ legal advisers and colleagues. The project is expected to be ready for occupation in Q2 2023. Tina Batham, joint managing director of Office Principles North said: “We’re incredibly excited about delivering Shoosmiths’ new Birmingham office in one of the city’s most iconic buildings. This workplace will be a destination that blurs the lines between work and home and will deliver a hugely memorable experience for Shoosmiths’ colleagues and clients alike – with lots of places and features to discover. “We’ve worked together with Alex Bishop and Beth McArdle to design a space that has people, hospitality and choice at its heart. It’s a warm, accessible and inclusive environment that reflects and celebrates the very best of Birmingham’s past and present, using locally designed and sourced materials wherever possible. We can’t wait to deliver it.” Beth McArdle, partner and co-head of Shoosmiths’ Birmingham office said: “We are very pleased to be working with Office Principles North on the design of our space in 103 Colmore Row. We want it to be a destination space, and we can’t wait to showcase that to our colleagues and clients in the New Year.” Alex Bishop, partner and co-head of Shoosmiths’ Birmingham office, said: “It is our vision that 103 will serve as a shining example of post-pandemic working done right. We have been working tirelessly with the team to ensure that, upon completion, this will be more than just an office space and somewhere that the whole firm can take pride in.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Sika, a specialty chemicals company with a leading position in the development and production of building products, has been awarded the EWI Excellence Award at the INCA Awards (The Insulated Render and Cladding Association). Held at the Queens Hotel in Leeds, the INCA Awards were hosted by comedian and broadcaster Paul Sinha and recognised outstanding workmanship and innovation shown by its members in external wall insulation. Sika stood out against a wide range of exceptional projects for its work with Swansea Borough Council in upgrading the energy efficiency of its housing stock. The win in this category comes at a time when so many households are facing fuel poverty due to rising energy costs. The improvements to council houses across Swansea, has seen Swansea Council work with Sika in improving the external fabric and increasing insulation as part of efforts to reduce residents’ energy bills. “This was a fantastic night for Sika and Swansea Council. We were delighted to have won this award, which is testament to all the hard work of our team and the high standards we deliver across the external wall insulation industry,” said Darren Bunting, UK Distribution, Business Unit Manager at Sika. Winning this prestigious award has further enhanced Sika’s reputation for manufacture and supply of market leading external wall insulation systems that set the highest standards. “We are delighted with the accolade which is a credit to our hard work across this project. It also recognises the unique relationship between Swansea Council and Sika in creating jobs, reducing emissions, reducing fuel poverty and creating more comfortable homes,” added Matt Allen, Head of Sales for Building Finishing at Sika. Sika Limited and Sika Ireland Limited are part of the global Sika Group, specialising in the manufacture and supply of chemical based products. Sika has a leading position in the development and production of systems and products for bonding, sealing, damping, reinforcing, and protecting in the building sector and the motor vehicle industry. Sika has subsidiaries in 100 countries around the world and manufactures in over 300 factories. With more than 25,000 employees Sika generates annual sales of CHF 7.9 billion (£6.14 bn). Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
ExCeL London has appointed McLaren Construction to deliver the build phase of its major expansion project, enhancing the venue’s world-class conference, event and exhibition facilities. McLaren Construction will complete the expansion of the venue’s multi-functional exhibition and conference facilities. The programme will extend the existing facilities by up to 25,000m2, on a development site of 2 hectares, providing a 25% increase to the venues existing 100,000m2 events campus. McLaren will work alongside key project partners who have already delivered the design and enabling works phase of the project, including Gardner & Theobald, Grimshaw Architects, Hoare Lea and Campbell Reith. The works will provide seamless connectivity with the existing venue, creating state-of-the art convention facilities, exhibition halls and conference rooms and improved catering amenities. The expansion works also include stunning outdoor spaces with external terraces, along with an enhanced public realm, creating an attractive dock edge with leisure facilities and landscaping. The scheme will be a Net Zero carbon ready building, utilising 50% recycled steel, targeting BREEAM excellence, with sustainability solutions including PV panels, air source heat pumps, rainwater harvesting, and hybrid ventilation, embedding key principles of Climate Change Adaption into the design. The major expansion will further enhance ExCeL London’s position as a global leader in the exhibition and convention centre market, creating a new landmark building at the eastern gateway of the campus, ensuring the venue continues to attract global events and audiences to London and the London Borough of Newham, contributing to the local and capital’s economy. Kevin Taylor Chairman Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
University of Cambridge’s ‘Homerton College Dining Hall’ designed by architects Feilden Fowles, is the UK’s best new timber building, having won the Gold Award at the 2022 Wood Awards. Elegant and impressive, the dining hall was praised by the judges for how it celebrates the integrity and inherent beauty of its materials, from its design through to its incredible craftsmanship, and for the space it creates which is both welcoming and inspiring to students. The dining hall, buttery, kitchens, and associated amenities give rise to a bright, airy, and efficient setting by day, which can transform into a dramatic ceremonial setting at night. The ash-lined buttery serves as a café and provides an area to socialise or study. At the heart of the hall is an impressive timber structure with no interrupting supports that allows for a large, clear space; breath taking to building professionals, educators, and students alike. Each sweet chestnut glulam truss in the hall is formed of four members which are connected at a central node and to the full height columns on each side, while above these beams an engineered timber roof deck lends lateral stability. This combination of high performing engineered timber with traditional joinery achieves an elegance, revealed in the butterfly truss design, which echoes traditional collegiate halls in its aesthetics, but also exploits the compressive strength of timber in its structure. The Wood Awards building judges, a team of world leading professionals led by Jim Greaves of Hopkins Architects, visited all 20 buildings shortlisted in the Wood Awards before deciding the winner, in one of the UK’s most rigorous assessments for any competition. On deciding on Homerton College Dining Hall as the Gold Winner, the judges said they were impressed by the harmony of the structure with the rest of the college, allowing for light and flow from the garden and to other areas of the college to create a building both ‘natural and iconic’. Homerton College Dining Hall beat more than 200 building in the UK to claim the Gold Award. They were also the winner of the Education category, and of the Structural Award. The award makes a two-year clean sweep for the University of Cambridge, who won the Gold Award with their Magdalene College Library last year before going on to win the RIBA Stirling prize. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
