The Northern Engineering Division of one of the UK’s leading engineering and services firms, HE Simm Group, has won a £16m contract to deliver a commercial project as part of the new regional hub in Blackpool – that VINCI is constructing as part of Muse and Blackpool Council’s £350m Talbot
Thermory and Woodsafe Timber Protection, the largest players in their respective industries, announce collaboration to provide thermally modified and durable fire-protected wood. Woodsafe Timber Protection AB WOODSAFE® Europe’s largest manufacturer of durable fire-resistant impregnated wood, and Thermory AS, the world’s largest manufacturer of thermally modified wood, announce collaboration for the
17-storey glass structure in Central Manchester welcomes global pharmaceutical company as first tenant Salboy Group, the nationwide property development and funding company, has agreed terms with its first commercial tenant at Glassworks, the Group’s first exclusively commercial development located in central Manchester. The tenant, a privately owned, international healthcare company,
The NFRC UK Roofing Awards 2023, held on 12th May, celebrated the very best of roofing in the UK. From projects to individuals, the roofing industry shone a spotlight on stellar examples of work. The Industry Choice Award, which sees members vote on the entry they feel showcases the best
Leading groundworks and drainage supply specialist Civils Store is the latest infrastructure materials distributor to recognise the advantages of StormTech, the world leading stormwater management system from Advanced Drainage Systems Inc. (ADS). StormTech will now be available ex-stock from Civils Store. With Schedule 3 of the Flood & Water Management
Network Rail has reached the next phase of upgrades to the Transpennine route at Morley. Network Rail engineers completed nine days of round the clock work from 17 to 25 June at Morley train station. Works carried out included the creation of new platforms, the initiation of old platform demolition,
Neil Yeomans, Head of Property Safety and Technology for Orbit has been appointed as the new chair of the National Housing Federation (NHF) building safety group. The NHF set up the group to help shape the sector’s response to the new system of building regulations proposed by the government, and
Acting alongside Ferrovial Vertiports as its strategic property development partner, developer Milligan is helping to identify demand rich locations, selecting potential sites and carrying out assessment criteria in order to determine the viability of each site for eVOTL urban air mobility. Milligan along with AECOM and Lichfields who are acting
Leading UK conservation specialist, DBR (London) Ltd, repairs historic marble urinal and sink within the Grade I listed Bank of England The Bank of England is the central bank of the United Kingdom and the model on which most modern central banks have been based. Sometimes nicknamed ‘the Old Lady
Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS) has announced the winners of its prestigious Contractors Awards at a gala lunch held at Royal Lancaster Hotel in the heart of London. The 8 June ceremony honoured the remarkable craftmanship, exceptional collaboration and exemplary adherence to best practices within the finishes and interiors community.
The Northern Engineering Division of one of the UK’s leading engineering and services firms, HE Simm Group, has won a £16m contract to deliver a commercial project as part of the new regional hub in Blackpool – that VINCI is constructing as part of Muse and Blackpool Council’s £350m Talbot Gateway Regeneration Scheme. The contract, which will see the firm deliver a full MEP installation, over a 37-week programme, was awarded to the company following its ongoing, successful delivery, at VINCI’s New Victoria scheme for end client Muse Developments. Starting on site in November, and running through to September 2024, the company will also utilise its internal offsite manufacturing team, to provide a modularised roof top plant room amongst other modular items, including risers – to the value of three quarters of a million pounds. Greg Simm, Managing Director for HE Simm Engineering in the North, comments: “We are delighted to have been awarded this contract, especially as it comes off the back of the work we are currently undertaking at New Victoria. “It will be the largest commercial scheme delivered by the Northern Engineering Division and we are looking forward to getting going in November.” Gareth Simm, Chief Executive Officer for the company, adds: “This contract award plays well into our continued diversification strategy, which sees more and more of our work completed in sectors including commercial, industrial and healthcare, whilst also staying true to our roots of delivering the very best MEP in the UK residential sector.” HE Simm was founded in 1948, 75 years ago this year. Since then, it has become recognised as a leading player in the design, delivery and installation of MEP, Fire & Security, Maintenance and Offsite Manufacturing capabilities across numerous sectors, for many long-term clients. To read more about the company visit www.hesimm.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Thermory and Woodsafe Timber Protection, the largest players in their respective industries, announce collaboration to provide thermally modified and durable fire-protected wood. Woodsafe Timber Protection AB WOODSAFE® Europe’s largest manufacturer of durable fire-resistant impregnated wood, and Thermory AS, the world’s largest manufacturer of thermally modified wood, announce collaboration for the supply of durable thermally modified fire-resistant wood. Thermory’s real wood products with fire protection are available immediately. “I am very proud of the trust from a well-respected pioneer, innovator and industry leader in the field of thermally modified wood. Together we will contribute to a sustainable society with the forest as a resource,” says Woodsafe’s founder and CEO Thomas Bengtsson. “We aspire to improve the environment we live in. Leach-resistant fire protection has been a challenge when creating large public or residential buildings with wood. After a long testing period of comparing different technologies, we are happy to partner with Woodsafe to offer this durable extra layer to our real wood products,” says Simmo Soomets, CEO of Thermory. “It’s inspiring to merge our areas of expertise – thermally modified and durable fire-protected wood – on top of Thermory’s sustainable products and Woodsafe’s low energy production and present our combined solution to the global market,” says Woodsafe’s Product and Business development manager Peter Johnson. About Woodsafe Timber Protection AB Woodsafe is Europe’s largest processing link between the wood industry and the client. We manufacture durable fire-retardant impregnated wood, nothing else. For over 20 years, Woodsafe has supplied fireproofing services to the construction sector for sustainable communities built from forest resources. In collaboration with our partners, we are the market-leading manufacturer of fire-impregnated wood products, with a strong focus on being innovative for a sustainable future. We want to do our part for a sustainable society by producing fire-resistant wood, where the connection between city, life and nature creates harmony and well being. About Thermory AS Thermory is a leading manufacturer of thermally modified wood and sauna materials with over 25 years of experience and a global network of distribution partners in 50+ countries. Thermory’s mission is to leave a lasting impact – to enhance the environment around us with sustainable real wood products, reduce the footprint of our operations, keep innovating and improving. Using only heat and steam, Thermory creates durable and climate-resistant interior and exterior cladding, decking, flooring and sauna materials that are unrivalled in both performance and beauty. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
17-storey glass structure in Central Manchester welcomes global pharmaceutical company as first tenant Salboy Group, the nationwide property development and funding company, has agreed terms with its first commercial tenant at Glassworks, the Group’s first exclusively commercial development located in central Manchester. The tenant, a privately owned, international healthcare company, signed up to a 10-year lease and will occupy 2,000 sq ft on the 14th floor of the Glassworks tower. Founded over forty years ago, the company operates globally and was searching for new premises for its UK Head Office. Simon Ismail, Managing Director of Salboy, comments: “We are delighted to welcome our first tenant to Glassworks, the destination for its new Manchester base. Our tenant has been based in Manchester for a number of years. The team came to us seeking modern, efficient and well-equipped new premises from which it will continue to benefit hugely not only from Manchester’s vibrant business sector but also the city’s impressive academic and scientific pedigree that’s nurtured by our leading universities.” Salboy and its dedicated construction partner, Domis, achieved practical completion on Glassworks, their first major commercial scheme, in February 2023. Glassworks is a 17-storey tower constructed in the heart of central Manchester. It was designed by Jon Matthews Architects. The scheme is located on Back Turner Street which connects Manchester’s busy Central Retail District to the vibrant Northern Quarter. The new scheme takes its name not only from its primarily glass structure but from the former glass dealership that existed on the site in the early 1900s. The scheme comprises 48,000 sqft of commercial space as well as high spec tenants’ amenities that include breakout spaces, bike storage, spacious showering facilities, an outdoor terrace for socialising and exclusive events, and a modern lobby with barista services. The scheme is also ideally situated within five minutes’ walk of major transport links, a high concentration of restaurants and bars, and the Northern Quarter’s fast expanding tech hub. Ismail continues: “Glassworks’ eye-catching aesthetic in one of the most lively, dynamic parts of the city makes it an ideal destination for companies looking to build a base in the heart of the Northern business community. Whether they are startups looking to scale, or larger businesses that want to upgrade the space they occupy, Glassworks is designed to work hard for its tenants, creating flexibility and enjoyable, productive working environments. We’re excited to see the early uptake from tenants and look forward to seeing Glassworks achieve its full potential at full occupancy before long.” OBI represented the tenant and Knight Frank represented Salboy. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The NFRC UK Roofing Awards 2023, held on 12th May, celebrated the very best of roofing in the UK. From projects to individuals, the roofing industry shone a spotlight on stellar examples of work. The Industry Choice Award, which sees members vote on the entry they feel showcases the best example of roofing work in action, was this year awarded to Fulwood Roofing Services (northern) Limited, for the re-roofing of Stockport School, Greater Manchester. The project was completed using a complete BMI Redland SpecMaster service and a BMI Redland Rosemary Clay Classic system, demonstrating workmanship excellence in action. The project is a shining example of how expert roofing contractors, in conjunction with technical support and top-quality products, can overcome site challenges. Stockport School came with its fair share of hurdles. The site is comprised of 24 individual roofs, totalling over 4,000 square metres and spanned 12 months. Add in the COVID-19 pandemic, uneven roofing underlay caused by century-old wooden timbers, a live school site and the need to protect against UV degradation – Fulwood Roofing turned to BMI Redland and SpecMaster to ensure all bases were covered on a project of this scope. With a bespoke roof specification in hand due to the BMI Redland SpecMaster service, Fulwood Roofing Services (northern) rose to the challenges and overcame them with ingenuity. Over 240,000 Redland Rosemary Classic clay tiles were needed for the roofs – however, as clay is a natural material, variances of up to 5mm can occur when dried in the kiln. While this natural variation normally contributes to the character of a traditional clay roof, on a roof of this size these variances can add up if not managed on site. Fulwood Roofing came up with a creative solution to this. Taking a mean average measurement of ten tiles, every set of ten tiles laid were checked against a perpendicular line, helping prevent any gaps or unevenness. The old wooden timbers of the roof were also tackled with smart thinking. The new underlay has been laid in such a way that externally it looks level, but underneath it conforms to the uneven timbers. This was vital as it avoided extensive remodelling of the roof, and the existing timbers could continue to stand. s the underlay was worked in small sections that could be tiled over almost immediately any UV degradation could be avoided, The live school site was anticipated to be tricky, however, the COVID-19 pandemic worked in favour here, as it meant students were off-site more, allowing project flexibility. When the school was fully open and active, a detailed schedule of work was supplied to the school ahead of time, allowing them to move students around the building with minimal disruption. Stephen Bithell, Roofing Contractor at Fulwood Roofing Services (northern) Limited, commented: “Everything was first class from a product point of view. You can’t get quality work done without quality products, and luckily for us, we had a great team on site, as well as great products. Working during the COVID-19 pandemic and the supply chain issues that came with that, BMI Redland really kept the project going. The product and the finished aesthetics are really great.” Fraser Biles, Sales Director, at BMI Redland, congratulated Fulwood Roofing Services (northern) Limited on the win: “It’s fantastic to see the Stockport School project awarded the NFRC 2023 Industry Choice Award. Fulwood Roofing delivered an exceptional project with great skill and care and as a result received over 20% of the votes out of all the shortlisted projects. “Our Redland team were pleased to be able to provide support on the project using our SpecMaster service, which provides a 15-year whole roof guarantee, and allowed us to deliver a technical specification designed specifically for the project, and the Redland Rosemary Clay Classic tile in the Russet Mix finish was a fantastic choice for the school. Not only does it fit with the conservation area, but it also helps retain the school’s aesthetic character without compromising on roofing protection.” BMI products also featured in the NFRC award wins for Reinforced Bitumen Membranes and Bituminous Hot Applied Liquid Waterproofing categories – respectively Progressive Systems Ltd for Launceston College using the Icopal Thermaweld Firesmart System and MAC Roofing & Contracting Ltd for Heatherwood Hospital using an Icopal Parabit Solo Hot Melt System – recognising the roofing contractors in delivering this outstanding work. The full list of NFRC UK Roofing Awards 2023 winners can be found here: https://www.nfrc.co.uk/uk-roofing-awards/winners/2023-winners For more information about BMI Redland, please visit: https://www.bmigroup.com/uk/redland-pitched/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading groundworks and drainage supply specialist Civils Store is the latest infrastructure materials distributor to recognise the advantages of StormTech, the world leading stormwater management system from Advanced Drainage Systems Inc. (ADS). StormTech will now be available ex-stock from Civils Store. With Schedule 3 of the Flood & Water Management Act 2010, requiring developers to seek adoption of all their Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS), expected to be implemented next year, the importance and accessibility of effective stormwater storage and attenuation systems is only set to increase. With Civils Store now stocking StormTech, a versatile and effective alternative to crates, ADS’s globally popular products can now be more readily sourced throughout Civil Store’s UK branch network. Combining arch-shaped chambers with an innovative, integrated water quality treatment system, StormTech has been used successfully in over 50,000 projects worldwide employing in excess of 3m units. Featuring a range of chamber sizes and its unique Isolator Row, providing ‘first flush’ cleansing and treatment of storm water run-off, StormTech is especially suited to applications requiring minimum cover, installation under trafficked areas and fast construction. As units are stackable, minimal space is required for storage and transport. StormTech fully complies with the recently updated Design and Construction Guidance for foul and surface water sewers (DCG), meaning that water companies in England can accept StormTech when offered for adoption by developers under Section 104 Agreements in accordance with the Water Industry Act 1991. Additionally, structural modelling to Eurocodes has demonstrated that StormTech SuDS attenuation chambers can be installed to the minimum and maximum cover depths detailed within the standard ADS installation guidelines, originally based on US standards. Kevin Hancock, Civils Store Managing Director, says of the new partnership with ADS, “We have enjoyed great success with StormTech on a buy-to-order basis, and with the huge increase in interest in StormTech and with Schedule 3 just round the corner, it makes perfect sense for us to bring StormTech into stock at our depots. Our first shipment is to Kent, then into Somerset, with other branches to follow.” For details of Civil Store branches, and to get a quotation, please visit bit.ly/civilsstore. For more information on Advanced Drainage Systems’ StormTech, including a handy Design Tool and Installation App or to book a CPD, go to www.adspipe.co.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Network Rail has reached the next phase of upgrades to the Transpennine route at Morley. Network Rail engineers completed nine days of round the clock work from 17 to 25 June at Morley train station. Works carried out included the creation of new platforms, the initiation of old platform demolition, a full signalling recontrol to Network Rail’s York Rail Operating Centre and the installation of a brand-new footbridge. The railway was closed for the duration of the scheme, this allowed further work to be carried out in Batley where a new footbridge was completed and opened to the public. It replaces the existing Lady Anne level crossing. The works at Morley station are part of a wider project by Network Rail to fully electrify train routes across the North of England as well as improving stations along the way. Commenting on the works, Sarah Thompson, Sponsor for Transpennine Route Upgrade said, “I want to say a big thank you to passengers for bearing with us over the last nine days as our engineers completed these major upgrades at Morley station. “We understand that there is no right time to complete work that impacts rail travel, so really appreciate the patience and support of passengers while it has taken place. “Despite the very warm weather, our engineers have made great progress and we’re really excited to officially open the station later this year.” Reflecting on the impact of the project, Tony Baxter, Regional Director for the East at Northern, said: “We’re really grateful for the patience of all of our customers over the past nine days whilst work has been taking place to rebuild Morley station. We know that this work has been disruptive, but we’re delighted to be able to welcome our customers back on board our trains. “Though it’s been a case of some ‘short term pain for long term gain’, when the new station opens fully later this year, the improved accessibility it will deliver will be absolutely transformational for our customers and the wider community “Once complete, the upgrades at Morley Station will not only enhance the overall aesthetics but also improve passenger experience. The extended platforms will allow longer trains with more seats to stop at the station, while the new lifts and footbridge will provide increased accessibility for everybody.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Neil Yeomans, Head of Property Safety and Technology for Orbit has been appointed as the new chair of the National Housing Federation (NHF) building safety group. The NHF set up the group to help shape the sector’s response to the new system of building regulations proposed by the government, and to support housing associations towards a smooth transition into a new regulatory environment. Key focusses for the group now include sharing experiences and lessons throughout the sector on implementing new safety regulations and providing housing associations with opportunities to hear from the new Building Safety Regulator. Neil has been a member of the group since 2022 and has worked for Orbit for 8 years, heading up an award-winning property safety team who have received national recognition for their work piloting the use of a digital Building Information Modelling (BIM) to create a golden thread of building information for high-rise residential blocks. This year, Orbit has also been awarded a Merit for the second consecutive year for its commitment to customer and property safety by the British Safety Council in its globally recognised International Safety Awards and has received a gold health and safety award from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) for the fifth consecutive year. Neil takes over the role of Chair following the sad passing of previous Chair, Paul Dockerill, who was Director of Energy and Programme Management at whg housing association. Neil commented: “This group has a really important part to play in shaping the change that will be required across our sector to respond to a new regulatory regime. Paul was passionate about improving building safety, and as I take up this new role, I’m committed to progressing the excellent work he did to ensure that our shared focus on making sure residents are safe, remains the top priority.” Victoria Moffett, Head of Building and Fire Safety Programmes at the NHF added: “We’re delighted that Neil will be chairing our building safety national group. His knowledge, passion and enthusiasm will be a real asset to us in our work to support housing associations to keep ensuring their residents’ safety. “ For more information about the work of the NHF building safety national group visit: https://www.housing.org.uk/events/national-groups/building-safety-national-group/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Acting alongside Ferrovial Vertiports as its strategic property development partner, developer Milligan is helping to identify demand rich locations, selecting potential sites and carrying out assessment criteria in order to determine the viability of each site for eVOTL urban air mobility. Milligan along with AECOM and Lichfields who are acting as planning advisor, are now developing a pipeline for the first Vertiport locations which will enable the future of UAM in the UK. At a special event hosted at UKREiiF in Leeds last month, Exec Chairman John Milligan and Ferrovial Vertiports UK MD Brad Miller introduced their joint approach to engaging communities and key stakeholders to unlock the connectivity benefits of UAM for UK towns and cities. They discussed the critical role of infrastructure in enabling UAM operations in this breakthrough technology that will offer sustainable, convenient air connections, transforming the way people move to, through and between cities. Innovative companies are rapidly designing, developing, and seeking certification of eVTOLs utilising technology that will ensure passengers are transported in a safe, quiet, and sustainable way. John and Brad were joined at the event by Dominic Jackson from eVTOL manufacturer, Vertical Aerospace. Dominic presented information on the technology, certification and manufacture of eVTOLs as well as high level details about the growing order book with international airlines. Brad Miller said “Freedom of movement is critical to global economic and social advancement. With a 70-year history of developing transportation infrastructure that helps communities flourish and grow, Ferrovial is proud to play a leading role in transforming the future of urban air mobility. “Locations are identified with Ferrovial’s insightful, and data led demand model and the team at Milligan is deploying its rich understanding of the UK’s property market in order to build a pipeline for the first Vertiports.” Stuart Harris, CEO at Milligan added: “UKREiiF has been the perfect opportunity to unveil the details of our partnership and plans going forward. With an audience of local authorities, central government, developers and landowners, we have started some exciting conversations about locating the first Vertiports. “Between Milligan’s development expertise and Ferrovial’s long, successful history in developing and operating high-value, complex infrastructure in different sectors and geographies we have the skills and credibility to add some pace to the groundwork that’s needed for this important new infrastructure. “Ferrovial’s technical, innovation and sustainability credentials will add countless benefits to communities as UAM begins to transform the way we move and how our cities are connected. The technology is ready, so as towns and cities we need to be too.” Footprints for vertiport locations can be as low as 10,000 sq ft (1,000 sq m) and up to 160,000 sq ft (4,000 sq m) and by utilising Ferrovial’s eVTOL passenger forecasting demand tool and Ferrovial’s in-house expertise in airspace, energy, surface access and construction engineering locations can be immediately assessed for suitability. Milligan and Ferrovial are in active discussions with a wide range of property owners in the UK that align with Ferrovial Vertiports’ passenger demand criteria. Anyone interested in learning more about the sustainable world of urban air mobility and how it could be accretive to a location’s core proposition is encouraged to get in touch. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading UK conservation specialist, DBR (London) Ltd, repairs historic marble urinal and sink within the Grade I listed Bank of England The Bank of England is the central bank of the United Kingdom and the model on which most modern central banks have been based. Sometimes nicknamed ‘the Old Lady of Threadneedle Street’ after a 1797 satirical cartoon by artist James Gillray, the Bank’s founding dates back over 300 years to 1694. As its nickname may suggest, the Bank’s architectural history begins with its 18th-century premises on the site of Governor Sir John Houblon’s home on Threadneedle Street. This building, home of the Bank from 1734 until today, was designed by little-known architect George Sampson. Works undertaken to expand the Bank’s buildings continued throughout the 18th and 19th centuries as business took off. It culminated with resident Architect and Surveyor Sir John Soane’s surrounding of the 3.25-acre site with an immense curtain wall in 1828. By the 1920s, it was clear that the Bank needed to scale up to larger premises, with Sir Herbert Baker engaged as the architect for a complete demolition and rebuilding of the Bank. The rebuilding featured limestone from the Hopton Wood quarry in Derbyshire for the interior; Portland stone for the exterior and bronze for the external and internal doors and window frames in all public areas. The reconstruction also included the preservation of two of the building’s original 18th-century rooms – the Court Room and the Committee Room. The new building, which remains standing today, was completed in 1939. As expected over a near century’s worth of footfall and regular usage, the interiors had suffered some wear and tear. A less glamorous, but essential part of the building, its toilets, were in desperate need of a refresh. Wanting to preserve the historic fabric of the Bank’s original facilities, whilst giving them a modern upgrade, DBR’s team of highly skilled conservators was tasked with the repair works of the historic marble urinal and sink. The upfront challenge was an extremely tight timeframe of three weeks to complete the work, coupled with the location of the repair work within close proximity to the still-functioning Bank. This meant DBR conservators had to tread carefully, putting health and safety precautions in place. This included regular monitoring of dust and air pollution levels, especially as the acrylic resin used to repair the ceramic fixtures omits potentially hazardous fumes. A wee piece of history The project, painstakingly undertaken by DBR’s Head Conservator Paolo Volpi, included the cleaning of silicon and limescale on both fixtures. The urinal, built of very hard ceramic, also required the manual cleaning of rust stains from aged metal components, using a poultice, as well as the cleaning of its surrounding marble mount. Additional repairs were also carried out using special ceramic resin, followed by the re-enamelling and repainting of the whole inside of the urinal. A further challenge was that the previous flush system was completely worn and needed to be replaced. Wanting to retain the original copper material of the historic system, DBR metal workers re-created a custom-made copper flush inside the ceramic chamber of the urinal. Cracks in the surface The washbasin was badly cracked, requiring emergency repair work to restore the sink to its former glory. The job was complicated by the presence of previous repairs using fibreglass, which needed to be fixed by installing new stainless-steel staples. The small, u-shaped brackets effectively held together the fibreglass, while resin repairs were carried out to the inside of the sink to keep the pieces together. Enamel retouching was also carried out on both fixtures to ensure a pristine finish on which the building’s bankers felt proud to spend a penny or two throughout the day. Commenting on the project, DBR’s Executive Director, Adrian Attwood said, “The proof is in the privy with this project, with the historic bathroom fixtures, which had certainly seen better days, restored to their former sparkling glory. Using a range of tried and tested techniques, DBR’s team painstakingly carried out the necessary cleaning and repairs by hand, navigating around previously attempted repairs to the utilities. “It’s a massive testament to the team’s agility that they were able to achieve exemplary results in such a short timeframe, not least that all the work had to be carried out with minimal disturbance to the Head of the Bank’s office, located right next door.” To find out more about DBR’s award-winning heritage conservation work click here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS) has announced the winners of its prestigious Contractors Awards at a gala lunch held at Royal Lancaster Hotel in the heart of London. The 8 June ceremony honoured the remarkable craftmanship, exceptional collaboration and exemplary adherence to best practices within the finishes and interiors community. Showcasing a diverse array of fantastic projects, the event recognised the outstanding achievements of FIS members in fourteen categories. Guest architect Robert Fry, International and Executive Director of Aukett Swanke Group plc, announced Indeglas for its work at Advanced Research Centre, University of Glasgow, as the winner of the 2023 Project of the Year, which he selected from the award-winning projects.Commenting Robert Fry said: “Choosing a single project for the prestigious ‘Best of the Best’ award was an incredibly difficult task due to the exceptional calibre of the winners in the award category. The excellence displayed by numerous trades and skillsets, working together in a collaborative effort to serve clients, made the selection process even more challenging. The remarkable quality exhibited by these projects was truly outstanding.” WinnersInterior Fit-Out** – Tapper Interiors (JCT 600 Ferrari, Leeds)Interior Fit-Out* – Domino Commercial Interiors (1 Knightsbridge Green, London)Partitioning** – Optima (Mazars, London)Partitioning– Indeglas (Advanced Research Centre, University of Glasgow) Operable Walls – Style Moveable Partition Specialists (Project Mosaic, Reckitt Benckiser, Berkshire) Drylining Commercial – Phoenix Drywall UK (Faculty of Social Sciences, Univ of Sheffield) Drylining Residential – Measom Dryline (Knightsbridge Gardens, London) Ceilings* – ARM Concepts (102 Finsbury Square, London)Ceilings* – Integra Contracts (Battersea Power Station, Halo Bridge and Turbine Hall, London)Steel Framed Systems*– Drywall Contracts DCL (Molecular Science, University of Birmingham) Steel Framed Systems– Drywall Contracts DCL (Kenilworth School and 6th Form Relocation Project, Warwickshire)Plastering Heritage – Locker and Riley (Koko, London)Plastering Fibrous and GRG – Fine Art Mouldings (The Peninsular London, 1 Grosvenor Place, London)Specialist Joinery – Veitchi Interiors (Boclair Academy, Scotland) Commenting on this year’s nominees, Independent FIS Award Judges, Tony Pieri and Colin Hunter said: “As judges, we take our responsibilities very seriously as we fully understand the hard work and endeavour everyone has applied to the project they have entered for the awards process. We recognise the pride you feel in your work as that is fundamentally why you have entered your project in the first place. FIS contractor members continue to produce excellent work against the increasing pressure of tight budgets and challenging time constraints. That characterises the spirit of FIS members, who consistently demonstrate the resolve to do a good job on time and within budget. It has been a real pleasure for Colin and me to witness such outstanding and varied work”. The awards were supported and presented by esteemed sponsors Minster, SIG, British Gypsum, CCF, Nevill Long, Protektor, Euroform, Zentia and SpecFinish whilst guest speaker, impressionist and stand-up comedian Alistair McGowan added an extra layer of enjoyment to the event. The FIS Contractors Awards are held annually to encourage and promote high levels of craftsmanship and design. Not only does the FIS member who installed the contract win an award, but the architect or interior designer of an award-winning project is also awarded. For further information about FIS or information on next year’s awards which will open for submission in July, please contact the FIS at info@thefis.org or call 0121-707-0077. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
