Bruntwood SciTech has announced that work has started on its £4.5 million redevelopment of Centre City in Birmingham. The redevelopment will see Centre City provide cutting-edge workspace and advanced wellness facilities. The landmark 210,000 sq ft building, originally constructed in the 1960s in Birmingham’s vibrant theatre district, is set to
A new online PV Configurator from BMI Redland is set to streamline the solar PV project design process as the UK continues to see a record growth in installations. The Redland PV Configurator has been developed to address a growing need for support in cutting through complexity and getting accurate
The Science Based Targets Initiative officially validates Nordic’s ambitious emission reduction targets. Nordic Semiconductor, a leading provider of low power wireless IoT connectivity solutions, today announces that its ambitious greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets have been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). In its validation letter, the
Forza Doors Ltd, the market-leading manufacturer of high-quality commercial and residential doors and timber products, today announced a major expansion with the addition of a new state-of-the-art door manufacturing facility. The new 16,000 square foot factory, located on the Star Road Industrial Estate in Partridge Green, West Sussex represents a
Inco Contracts has capped a record twelve months by being named the best company in the Black Country, Staffordshire and North Worcestershire. The fast-growing principal contractor beat off competition from 50 of the region’s finest firms to land the Express & Star Business Awards’ Business of the Year in front
Aside from caring for your plants, different activities can take place in your garden if you are willing to engage in them. One of them is having a good laugh with family and friends over food and drinks. Imagine it: the sun is set and the warm breeze from your
Bruntwood SciTech has announced that work has started on its £4.5 million redevelopment of Centre City in Birmingham. The redevelopment will see Centre City provide cutting-edge workspace and advanced wellness facilities. The landmark 210,000 sq ft building, originally constructed in the 1960s in Birmingham’s vibrant theatre district, is set to undergo a transformative revival to become the city’s new central hub for innovation-led businesses. It represents a unique opportunity for businesses to scale and grow in a prime city centre location, within touching distance of New Street Station. With construction now underway, work on the redeveloped Centre City is set to be completed in January 2025, with the new look workspace likely to take on a new name to reflect its transformation. For the first time, this 20 storey building will offer co-working and pay as you go options, complementing its existing leased offices, to offer flexible and scalable options for companies at various stages of growth. The transformation will also deliver inviting new internal spaces, including a spacious lounge with biophilia and cafe, designed to foster collaboration and wellbeing. Additionally, the basement will be converted to include a high-quality fitness and weights studio, contemplation room and bike storage area, while the ground floor and central atrium will also undergo substantial and impressive renovations. The building’s new entrance will feature a striking living wall, incorporating biophilic design into Birmingham’s bustling city centre. Centre City boasts a prime location, less than two minutes from Birmingham’s New Street Station and in close proximity to the Bullring Shopping Centre. This presents Centre City customers with unparalleled access to Birmingham’s extensive transport network, including the expanding West Midlands metro network, as well as an extensive retail and amenity offering. With limited space having recently been made available, Centre City provides a unique opportunity for businesses of any size looking to take advantage of a strategic city centre location, as flexible floor plates ranging in size from 7500-23,000 sq ft are available within the building. New customers will join a diverse community of already established businesses based there, including the Ministry of Justice, the Water Services Regulation Authority, Citizens Advice, Hitachi and one of the UK’s largest insurance companies – Liverpool Victoria. A joint venture between Bruntwood, Legal & General, and Greater Manchester Pension Fund, Bruntwood SciTech underscores its commitment to sustainability and high environmental standards through this latest project. These retrofitting measures will include the installation of HVRF air conditioning in the new basement gym, air quality sensors in reception and atrium, and a new Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) for the building’s water supply in the basement. Businesses joining Centre City will form part of a thriving community of over 100 innovative companies located across Bruntwood SciTech’s six innovation hubs in Birmingham including Innovation Birmingham, Mclaren, Cornerblock, Cornwall Buildings and Birmingham Health Innovation Campus. The refurbishment of Centre City is the latest step in Bruntwood SciTech’s broader investment strategy in Birmingham, complementing recent development projects such as Cornerblock, ongoing developments at the Birmingham Health Innovation Campus, where No.1 BHIC is due to complete later this summer and the award-winning Enterprise Wharf at Innovation Birmingham. This initiative underscores Bruntwood SciTech’s commitment to enhancing Birmingham’s business landscape and creating a city-wide ecosystem across the region. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A new online PV Configurator from BMI Redland is set to streamline the solar PV project design process as the UK continues to see a record growth in installations. The Redland PV Configurator has been developed to address a growing need for support in cutting through complexity and getting accurate technical information for projects – such as how the shape of the roof impacts the size of the array and the layout required, and how this relates to the desired power output. The tool is free to access on the BMI website, giving anyone planning solar PV work an easy-to-use method of producing technical designs and specifications. Damien Pooley, Portfolio Manager for Pitched Roofing at BMI, explains: “The new configurator will help to reduce overall project time. We’ve designed it to be intuitive and easy to use, and it creates a comprehensive report which clearly lists out all the component parts required for the PV InDaX Adapt system to work in an easy-to-understand specification pack. “The use of solar PV is growing rapidly in the UK – figures from the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) show a rise in installations of nearly 30% last year alone. That means greater demands on the construction industry to deliver solar PV across a growing range and volume of projects. We want to help to do this efficiently, with the planning phase often cited as a bottleneck, given the technical information that must be obtained and checked. “The Redland PV Configurator has been developed specifically for ease of use so that projects aren’t held up by needless complexity at the design stage. With just a few clicks to enter project information, users can receive a bespoke Project Pack with technical details of the specific PV array requirements, and a complete list of the components needed to get started.” The new configurator is just the latest way in which Redland is making it easier to complete high quality solar PV installations. The Redland PV InDaX Adapt in-roof system itself consists of just 12 component parts and is therefore straightforward to install in comparison with many other systems. The MCS 012 and MCS 005 approved system also offers a 25-year power output guarantee and 10-year product warranty for peace of mind. When designed and built in accordance with a Redland specification, roofs using PV InDaX Adapt can also be covered by the Redland SpecMaster 15-year whole roof guarantee for design liability. Damien concludes: “Here at Redland, we have over 100 years of roofing knowledge and expertise, and we’re delighted to put this to good use in helping simplify solar PV projects. Ultimately, this helps to offer a more efficient route to full roof confidence, given all Redland products are designed to work together and backed by our expert technical team.” To find out more about the PV InDaX Adapt system, go to bmigroup.com/uk/indax or to use the new PV Configurator visit bmigroup.com/uk/pv Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Science Based Targets Initiative officially validates Nordic’s ambitious emission reduction targets. Nordic Semiconductor, a leading provider of low power wireless IoT connectivity solutions, today announces that its ambitious greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets have been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). In its validation letter, the SBTi commends Nordic Semiconductor’s net-zero target by 2050, which is currently the most ambitious designation available through the SBTi process. “Receiving validation from the SBTi is a significant achievement for Nordic Semiconductor,” says Ola Bostrøm, Senior Vice President of Quality, Nordic Semiconductor. “It confirms that our climate strategy and commitment to greenhouse gas emissions reduction are in line with the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C. The SBTi validated targets provide a clear, science-based path to what level we must reduce our greenhouse gas emissions in both our own operations, and in our value chain.” In the near-term, Nordic Semiconductor commits to reduce its direct and indirect GHG emissions from energy usage (‘Scope 1’ and ‘Scope 2’) by 60 percent by 2030, with 2019 being its base year. Nordic will also reduce its emissions intensity (emission by value added) for other indirect emission (‘Scope 3’) by 60% percent by 2030, with 2019 being its base year. Nordic aims to achieve this by reducing energy consumption and increasing renewable energy in its own operations, while engaging with stakeholders in the value chain. In the longer-term, Nordic Semiconductor commits to a 2050 net-zero target, meaning any residual GHG emission in its value chain will be neutralized at that point in line with SBTi criteria. Further detailed information on Nordic’s commitment to its SBTi and GHG emission reduction targets is included in the company’s latest Annual Report 2023. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Forza Doors Ltd, the market-leading manufacturer of high-quality commercial and residential doors and timber products, today announced a major expansion with the addition of a new state-of-the-art door manufacturing facility. The new 16,000 square foot factory, located on the Star Road Industrial Estate in Partridge Green, West Sussex represents a £3 million investment by Forza Doors and is expected to create 40 new jobs in the area. This expansion will increase Forza’s production capacity by 60%, allowing the company to meet growing demand for its premium door products whilst maintaining its market-leading turnaround times. “This new facility marks an exciting chapter in Forza’s growth,” said Will Hunnam, Managing Director of Forza Doors. “It will enable us to better serve our customers, introduce innovative new product lines, and contribute to the local economy. This light, bright and clean space is a real showcase for our future.” The new factory features expanded high-quality office areas, advanced automation for increased efficiency, as well as the inclusion of solar power to improve Forza Door’s sustainable environmental impact. The facility is finished and already producing ahead of the busy summer period to come. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Inco Contracts has capped a record twelve months by being named the best company in the Black Country, Staffordshire and North Worcestershire. The fast-growing principal contractor beat off competition from 50 of the region’s finest firms to land the Express & Star Business Awards’ Business of the Year in front of 350 people at The Halls in Wolverhampton. Judges were impressed with how the management team of Sam Norton and Dave Cotterill had instilled a deep-rooted commitment to customer service and carved a growth plan that has put it on course to achieve £40m in revenue this year. Part of this ambitious expansion has been the creation of satellite offices in the North West and South of England, providing national coverage that has seen it deliver high-profile office and industrial refurbishment projects for Anchorage in Salford, Manchester Airport, Eurolinks, Woodside Industrial Estate and Barlow Road in Coventry. “This is a massive win for Inco Contracts as we continue our journey to be the best principal contractor in the UK,” explained Sam Norton, Operations Director. “There were so many excellent companies we were competing with, doing amazing things and helping put the region on the map. To come out on top and be named the ‘Business of the Year’ is a massive honour and one that our staff richly deserve.” David Cotterill, Managing Director, continued: “You can sometimes get too consumed with figures. We know how important our people are and we do everything we can to offer them development opportunities so we can retain the best talent. This accolade is testament to their skill, hard work and commitment to often go above and beyond.” Inco Contracts, which has recently relocated its Head Office to Cannock, received its prize from Express & Star Editor Mark Drew. The Awards evening was the highlight of the publisher’s 150th anniversary of bringing news to the people of the Black Country, Staffordshire and North Worcestershire. For further information, please visit www.incocontracts.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Aside from caring for your plants, different activities can take place in your garden if you are willing to engage in them. One of them is having a good laugh with family and friends over food and drinks. Imagine it: the sun is set and the warm breeze from your garden blows across your face. You can perceive the sweet fragrance of the flowers in your garden as your spouse makes you laugh with your mouth full of food. I bet you are already interested in recreating this. For this to happen, you would need an Al Fresco dining area in your garden and it’s not difficult to create one. You’d want your dining space to be magical and inviting such that you, your family and friends would always want to dine outdoors. The key to creating such is simple: creativity, personal style and lots of lighting. These combinations will create magic! “I’m in! But this is too ambiguous, can we have a detailed explanation of how to create our Al Fresco dining area?”, you ask. Absolutely! Below are a few ways to create an Al Fresco dining area in your British garden. Get the Perfect Location Choosing the right location is important for dining al fresco. Look out for places in your garden that have a nice view, you’d want to relish in the good scenery while you eat. Also, go for spots in your garden that have good shade—-perfect for enjoying cool breeze during sunny days and a good spot for mounting a retractable pergola. You can fold up the pergola during the warm season and bring it up during the rainy season to protect you from downpours. You don’t need the pergola to protect you from hot weather, the shaded area will do justice to it. Set up Your Dining Area Should this go well, you will always want to dine outdoors and if that is the case, you should set up a year-round dining area. Depending on the size of your garden, choose furniture that is weatherproof and comfy. Add soft cushions to your seats to enhance comfort and a well-designed table cloth on the table with an attractive centrepiece. Install composite decking and place an outdoor rug on it to create a dining area with a comfortable base to step on. Drive Insects Away There’s nothing as annoying as being bothered by flying wasps or bitten by bugs while eating. It could ruin your mood and your appetite—you don’t want that. After setting up your dining area, spray insecticides around the area, do this often if you plan to dine outdoors regularly. It’s Lighting or Nothing You can’t have an outdoor dining area without lighting. How do you enjoy dinner without light? Apart from enhancing your sense of direction, lighting sets the mood for your dining experience. With the stars out in their number and the lights set, they create a warm and cosy atmosphere you’d wish could last forever. A combination of soft lights like candles and string lights will create this atmosphere for you. If you want bright light, you can go for LED lights or solar lights with a firepit to create warm undertones. Incorporating a firepit into your dining area can equally be useful during winter to keep you warm while you delight your taste buds. Pick the Correct Menu You should be well aware that al fresco dining isn’t like any other and choosing the right food options for it matters. Don’t opt for food that takes a long time to prepare or can easily mess up the table. Go for a menu that is easy to eat and enjoy outdoors like Greek salad, lobster rolls, grilled chicken, fruits, etc. This will also enable you to clear the table easily after dinner. Get Drinks Too You can’t have a complete al fresco dinner without drinks. You can decide to keep it simple with lemonades or go big and sophisticated with sparkling wine. Either way, make sure you stay hydrated while you dine. If you have guests over, make sure you have drinks that suit everyone’s preferences. Soak in the Experience Now your al fresco dining area is all setup, sit back and enjoy the experience, soak in the view, the soft music playing in the background, and most importantly, enjoy the time spent with your loved ones. Take memorable and Instagramable pictures you can brag about, and make videos to document funny and cheesy moments that’ll always be dear to your heart. Conclusion A permanently set al fresco dining area can be a plus for you. You don’t have to set up the dining area every time you want to dine outdoors. With the above steps, you can now set up a magical dining area in your British garden and enjoy memorable times with family and friends.
