The London Homes Coalition – a partnership of major housing associations, contractors and specialist suppliers in London – has today launched the ‘Building Skills for the Future’ report, which identifies the critical risk to the maintenance, retrofit and provision of London’s social and affordable housing. Based on a first-of-its-kind analysis
Andrew Scott Limited is delighted to have successfully completed and handed-over the brand new £100m Manufacturing and R&D Centre in Newport for their client, Trebor Developments. The 210,000sqft development represents a multi-million-pound investment by international high-tech manufacturing and research & development company, KLA Corporation. The new building, for up to
Engineering and infrastructure specialist Spencer Group has been appointed to play a key role in the development of a pioneering new energy plant which aims to reshape the future of renewable energy. Spencer Group will deliver a £23m contract to design the site layout and deliver the enabling works and
CIBSE Certification has introduced an innovative scheme designed to assess the competency of individuals offering specialist services in management systems. Recognising the significant challenges faced by organisations and consultants within the Built Environment, particularly in the fields of decarbonisation, net zero initiatives and compliance with the Building Safety Act, this
Bender UK, a leader in smart, safer, and sustainable energy solutions, today announces a strategic partnership with Morgan Sindall, one of the UK’s leading construction and regeneration contractors. This landmark agreement marks the start of a significant collaboration between the two industry leaders that will enhance infrastructure and future-proof investment
HS2 has completed the four huge piers of the Curzon 2 bridge, marking a significant construction milestone on the sequence of viaducts that will take high-speed trains in and out of Birmingham. The bridge, which has been nicknamed “Bellingham Bridge” in honour of England superstar and Stourbridge-born Jude Bellingham, is
A water feature has been created near the entrance of a Biddenham development, to give the collection of homes ‘a sense of arrival’. The fountain has been installed at Davidsons Homes Biddenham Park development near Bedford, adding more life and vibrancy to the area. Scott Chamberlain, Senior Architectural Technician, masterminded
DOMIS, one of the UK’s fastest-growing national construction companies, has announced the retirement of its Co-Founder and Managing Director, Lee McCarren, after seven years of service. Kingsley Thornton, currently Director at Domis, becomes Managing Director of the business with immediate effect. With Kingsley’s help, Lee McCarren has steered Domis’s fast
Costain, the infrastructure solutions company, has appointed Paul Morris as group commercial director, joining its executive board. With 30 years of experience working in people, project and commercial management roles, Paul will be responsible for leading the commercial function and supporting Costain’s growth strategy. Paul joined Costain in 2011 and
“It was a rare opportunity to celebrate all that is special about this place, to remind people of the rich industrial heritage, of the globally recognised engineering and construction expertise that occurred on both banks of the Clyde” – Tony Kettle, Kettle Collective. From a striking glass façade in Reykjavik
The London Homes Coalition – a partnership of major housing associations, contractors and specialist suppliers in London – has today launched the ‘Building Skills for the Future’ report, which identifies the critical risk to the maintenance, retrofit and provision of London’s social and affordable housing. Based on a first-of-its-kind analysis of the consolidated work programmes of the seven key housing associations in the Coalition, the report identifies a demand of 10,000 people annually to meet their asset management commitments, and up to 31,000 to deliver new build planned investments over the next five years. Combined, the Coalition’s pipeline represents about 10% of the overall construction workforce in the capital, which is a significant proportion considering the competing needs of other housing association and council house building and asset management programmes. Without further action, the Coalition alone faces a potential shortfall of around 2,600 skilled people to deliver these investments. This challenge will be particularly critical for specific trades and occupations. For example, the Coalition alone will require 8-10% of the London’s roofers and carpenters & joiners, which already face significant recruitment pressures. Considering current recruitment trends, the Coalition would only have 85% of the roofers and 78% of the surveyors needed to provide and maintain affordable housing across the capital over the next five years. Additionally, the mutually competing demand for these skills from both low carbon retrofit pressures across all development sectors and the asset management requirements of London’s housing associations is further straining the workforce available for both. The UK social housing sector invests billions annually in improving and maintaining homes, significantly contributing to community value, job creation, and economic growth. Fiona Fletcher-Smith, Chief Executive Officer at L&Q, highlighted the opportunity and challenge this provides: “A quarter of London’s new homes are built by housing associations, and we are responsible for maintaining and investing in over 700,000 homes across the country. However, our workforce is ageing, retiring, and not being replaced by newly trained staff. This growing challenge threatens the provision of genuinely affordable, warm and safe housing in the capital.” The London Homes Coalition recognises the need for sector-wide collaboration, engagement with further education and training providers, and close cooperation with government bodies at national, regional, and local levels. The Building Skills for the Future report outlines three key strategies: Key to achieving this will be to redouble efforts to ensure the workforce is representative of the capital and the people the London Homes Coalition serves. Currently, women represent only 14% of the construction workforce in London, with significantly lower percentages (around 2%) in trade occupations. Similarly, ethnic minorities only make up approximately 24% of the construction workforce in the capital. Careers in these trades offer excellent pay, conditions and scope for progression but these opportunities aren’t reaching all of London’s diverse communities. Targeted initiatives will not only address immediate labour shortages, but will also build a more robust and diverse talent pipeline for the future. Elly Hoult, Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Chief Executive at Peabody, said “We recognise there is no ‘quick fix’ to this issue. It needs a long-term plan, with organisations across the sector working together to bring about significant change. This is an important first step and we welcome more organisations to join the London Homes Coalition. Together, we’re finding ways to get more people from all backgrounds into construction jobs, while addressing the skills gap that increasingly becomes a barrier as we aim to build more homes and refurbish many others.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Andrew Scott Limited is delighted to have successfully completed and handed-over the brand new £100m Manufacturing and R&D Centre in Newport for their client, Trebor Developments. The 210,000sqft development represents a multi-million-pound investment by international high-tech manufacturing and research & development company, KLA Corporation. The new building, for up to 750 staff, has been designed to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating, reflecting KLA’s commitment to its environmental goals, and will include offices, cleanrooms, storage and support facilities. Inside of the building façade will be three floors of high-quality working environments, providing staff with modern workspaces, flexible breakout areas and a staff restaurant. With staff wellbeing a priority, the new building includes a gymnasium and a footpath to support employee fitness and health. There is ample secure cycle storage and shower facilities for those who take part in the company’s Cycle Scheme or just cycle to work to keep fit and do their part for the environment. In addition to the recent practical completion, there were sectional completion dates that Andrew Scott achieved throughout the project: During the project, Andrew Scott Ltd partnered with Avena to launch a PPE waste recycling initiative on site. As a result of this, 174kg of textiles were diverted from landfill, saving 82.72kgCO2e. The site also received 45/45 on its recent Considerate Constructors Scheme visit, demonstrating the positive contribution to the local environment and social and economic well-being of the local community. Mark Bowen, Managing Director of Andrew Scott, said “We are delighted to handover this prestigious project on time, to our client Trebor Developments and KLA Corporation. The completion of this new Manufacturing and R&D Centre is a testament to the hard work, collaboration and vision of everyone involved in the project. We are extremely proud of what has been achieved and being a part of this remarkable facility.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Engineering and infrastructure specialist Spencer Group has been appointed to play a key role in the development of a pioneering new energy plant which aims to reshape the future of renewable energy. Spencer Group will deliver a £23m contract to design the site layout and deliver the enabling works and civils for the UK’s first commercial scale liquid air long duration energy storage facility, which is being developed at Trafford Energy Park in Carrington, Manchester. The £300m development by Highview Power will store surplus electricity generated from wind and solar and will be the first commercial-scale plant in the UK deploying pioneering liquid air energy storage technology. Developed by Highview Power in the UK over the past 17 years, the technology enables renewable energy to be stored for up to several weeks, longer than battery technologies. The plant will be one of the world’s largest facilities of its kind and, once complete, will have a storage capacity of 300 MWh – enough clean and green energy to serve the needs of 480,000 homes. Spencer Group Executive Chairman, Charlie Spencer OBE said: “Highview Power is a leading player in helping the UK achieve its net zero targets and is addressing the key issue of energy storage. “We’re delighted to be involved with this exciting and pioneering project, which promises to reshape the future of renewable energy. “We have a strong track record of delivering large-scale energy projects and we’re excited to expand our portfolio of works within this field with a project that will play a key role in the UK’s energy transition.” John Goldie, Highview Power, Programme Director added: “We are looking forward to continuing to build and further our relationship with Spencer Group, which we have developed over the past 24 months during the pre-execute phase of the Carrington project. We selected Spencer Group based on their expertise and experience in delivering similar type projects and providing innovative and value-added solutions in engineering and construction.” Highview Power aims to solve the question of “what do you do when the wind doesn’t blow, and the sun doesn’t shine?” Its technology will support the UK’s energy transition by making intermittent renewable sources such as wind and solar more flexible, as well as cutting energy waste, reducing dependence on foreign gas and ensuring the UK meets net zero goals. It works by converting excess energy into liquid air, which can be easily and safely stored, through a process of cooling, compression and expansion. When power is required, the liquid air is drawn from storage tanks, pumped to high pressure and reheated, with the resulting high-pressure gas used to power a turbine and generate clean electricity on demand. The technology addresses some of the key issues of alternative storage techniques as it is more compact and can be located anywhere, has a long lifespan and can be integrated with existing infrastructure. Spencer Group’s Civils Division will begin work on site in late 2024, with the plant expected to be operational in 2026. Spencer Group’s Account Director, Richard Green-Morgan, added: “This is an area of the energy sector we’re thrilled to work in and we look forward to working with Highview Power to bring significant added value to this project and get the scheme off the ground in the most efficient way. “The uniqueness of our offering is that we have the ability to design all the elements in-house, meaning we are able to quickly and smoothly adapt the design around the client requirements. “The scale of this project means it has been several years in the making, so we’re excited to get on site early next year and begin delivering this pioneering development.” Thanks to the wide range of expertise within the business, Spencer Group has a proven track record of delivering highly successful projects within the energy sector and developing innovative solutions to aid client’s projects. Bringing together knowledge and skills from its civil engineering, mechanical and electrical (M&E) and materials handling teams, Spencer Group is able to deliver power generation projects from start to finish, from planning and designing the plant from scratch, to designing and building the access infrastructure, and commissioning the site when it is built. Highview Power recently secured backing from UK Infrastructure Bank and energy and services company Centrica, alongside a syndicate of investors including Rio Tinto, Goldman Sachs, KIRKBI and Mosaic Capital, to help fund its ambitious plans to accelerate the UK’s transition to net zero. The Carrington development is expected to create more than 700 jobs, and it is hoped that it will be the first of many similar plants around the UK, with Highview Power already planning the next four larger scale facilities. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
CIBSE Certification has introduced an innovative scheme designed to assess the competency of individuals offering specialist services in management systems. Recognising the significant challenges faced by organisations and consultants within the Built Environment, particularly in the fields of decarbonisation, net zero initiatives and compliance with the Building Safety Act, this new scheme is a timely and essential resource. Kieran O’Brien, Director of CIBSE Certification, commented on the launch: “This scheme should help organisations easily find suitable resources, as they deal with increasing costs, skills shortages and competency of staff and suppliers. Consultants can also utilise the scheme register to demonstrate their capabilities and engage with potential customers”. CIBSE Certification has a long-standing history of managing accredited schemes and registers, including the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme, Low Carbon Consultants, Display Energy Certificates, and Energy Performance Certificates since 2007. Additionally, CIBSE offers management system certification to ISO 9001, 14001, 45001 and 50001 standards. The newly launched Management System Specialist scheme will include a register of certified individuals, providing vital support for organisations and consultants as they collaborate to tackle industry-wide challenges. For more information on joining the register, visit: https://www.cibsecertification.co.uk/personnel-certification-schemes/management-system-specialist/ To find a competent supplier, visit: https://www.cibsecertification.co.uk/online-register/search-for-an-assessor-or-specialist/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Bender UK, a leader in smart, safer, and sustainable energy solutions, today announces a strategic partnership with Morgan Sindall, one of the UK’s leading construction and regeneration contractors. This landmark agreement marks the start of a significant collaboration between the two industry leaders that will enhance infrastructure and future-proof investment projects across the UK. Carl Fletcher, Group Sales Director of Bender UK, who was key in establishing this partnership, commented: “This collaboration with Morgan Sindall is a testament to our collective commitment to sustainability and innovation. “By integrating Bender’s expertise in developing smart and more sustainable solutions, we will optimise productivity, reliability, and efficiency in our partner’s infrastructure projects. “Together, we are not just preparing for the future, but actively predicting, preventing, and protecting investments in such critical industries.” The agreement will see Bender UK provide a comprehensive range of smarter and more sustainable services and products to Morgan Sindall’s group businesses, including construction and healthcare. This collaboration addresses today’s challenges while ensuring readiness for future developments. Morgan Sindall, known for its extensive experience across multiple sectors, will benefit from Bender UK’s cutting-edge technology and engineering solutions. The partnership aims to drive growth and propel innovation, ensuring high safety, reliability, and efficiency standards across all current and future projects. Bender UK’s pioneering expertise will now support Morgan Sindall’s efforts to create robust and efficient infrastructures that protect critical assets, optimise productivity, and deliver unmatched value to communities and businesses. Graham Edgell, Group Procurement Director of Morgan Sindall commented on the partnership: “Our alliance with Bender UK highlights our unwavering promise to deliver cutting-edge and sustainable projects. By collaborating, we best position ourselves to tackle current challenges while future-proofing against the challenges to come.” This strategic partnership represents a major step forward to delivering innovative and sustainable solutions to enhance the built environment and support long-term development goals. By working shoulder to shoulder, Bender UK and Morgan Sindall are formidably positioned to champion industry growth and innovation. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
HS2 has completed the four huge piers of the Curzon 2 bridge, marking a significant construction milestone on the sequence of viaducts that will take high-speed trains in and out of Birmingham. The bridge, which has been nicknamed “Bellingham Bridge” in honour of England superstar and Stourbridge-born Jude Bellingham, is the tallest structure in the one-mile stretch of connected viaducts being built through the city’s industrial heartland. It will carry high-speed trains over the existing Victorian brick rail viaduct, with a 25-metre-high curved truss displaying a vibrant light installation which will create a new icon on the city’s skyline. Work began on the four piers in Autumn 2023, with each structure now standing 16 metres tall. Assembly of the deck and the curved truss in weathering steel, has now started and is set to complete by next Spring. The 150-metre-long deck is being assembled on top of the seven piers of the adjacent Curzon 1 viaduct, with around 130 individual parts lifted by crane. The entire deck and truss structure, which weighs over 4,000 tonnes, will then be slid 190 metres into place onto the Curzon 2 piers using a jacking system. This operation is set to take place over 12 days in Summer 2025. The viaduct includes a unique light installation, designed by British artist Liz West, which will introduce a dynamic colour palette to the apertures of the steel truss, framing views of the city. Titled Out of the Blue, the proposed public artwork will create a dramatic feature in Birmingham’s urban landscape. As the gateway to Birmingham, high speed trains will travel out of the west portal of the 3.5 mile Bromford Tunnel at Washwood Heath and onto the one mile long stretch of five connected viaducts – Duddeston Junction, Curzon 1, Curzon 2, Lawley Middleway and Curzon 3 which links onto the platforms of Curzon Street Station. The Curzon approach viaducts are being built by HS2’s West Midlands contractor Balfour Beatty VINCI, with a team of more than 250 people, including engineering apprentices, steel welders, steel fixers and joiners. David King, Senior Project Manager at HS2 Ltd said: “With the completion of these four huge viaduct piers, HS2’s gateway into Birmingham has taken another leap forward. “Passengers travelling on the new high-speed trains will experience a fantastic entrance to the city as they emerge from Bromford Tunnel at Washwood Heath, and rise up onto this striking stretch of viaducts on the approach to the new state-of-the-art Curzon Street Station.” Onder Akin, Senior Project Manager at Balfour Beatty VINCI said: “This iconic bridge is part of a complex series of connected viaducts that will weave through Birmingham’s industrial heartland. I’m proud of how the BBV team has responded to the challenge of building these structures in such a busy urban space, working around existing rail lines and utilities. “The completion of the four 16-metre-high piers to support the bridge shows the great progress we’re making, and the team is now preparing for the operation next year, which we believe will be among the longest bridge launches of its type ever delivered in the UK.” The design for the Curzon Street approaches section has been developed by a Design Joint Venture of Mott MacDonald and Systra and architects Weston Williamson + Partners, all working for Balfour Beatty VINCI. Nicholas Robertshaw, Design Project Director at Mott MacDonald SYSTRA Design Joint Venture said: “It’s clear to see from the height of the completed piers that the Curzon 2 viaduct will be become an iconic part of Birmingham’s skyline, referencing the city’s industrial heritage. “The work done to date is a testament to the collaborative efforts made by all parties to design this vital piece of transport infrastructure in a way which will benefit passengers and deliver a lasting legacy for the wider Birmingham community.” A truss bridge is light but strong, composed of connected elements that form triangular units, and constructed using a relatively small amount of material. This makes the truss form ideal to assemble offline and then launch from one end and in one piece across the existing railway viaduct below. The truss has been designed to ‘wrap’ around the viaduct, extending the bottom of the steel to wrap underneath the viaduct deck and forming a visual connection to the steel girders of the adjacent structures. The viaduct deck itself will carry three parallel high speed rail tracks over the existing east-west rail line. When complete, HS2 will improve connections between London and the West Midlands, with trains running further north on existing lines. This new high speed railway will create quicker and far more reliable journeys, driving economic growth while crucially freeing up space for more local trains on the most congested part of the existing West Coast Main Line. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A water feature has been created near the entrance of a Biddenham development, to give the collection of homes ‘a sense of arrival’. The fountain has been installed at Davidsons Homes Biddenham Park development near Bedford, adding more life and vibrancy to the area. Scott Chamberlain, Senior Architectural Technician, masterminded the water fountain from Managing Director James Burnham’s instructions to create something special and create a ‘wow factor’ for residents and locals. Scott said: “The inspiration for the water fountain came from areas like Alconbury Weald, where there were bodies of water either side with an entrance running through the middle, and our very own offices in Blisworth where you are greeted with a water feature as you enter. “We had some heavy constraints already in place as the road and roundabout were already designed, but we knew we wanted to create a feature which gives a strong sense of arrival. We also wanted to of course make sure that we are keeping children safe, which was addressed with the use of a three-bar ranch style fence and life buoys around the edge. “We wanted to consider the fact that being by water and green spaces can improve people’s mental health, so it’s very important to provide those areas for people to enjoy. We consider ourselves to be, not just housebuilders, but also placemakers – creating spaces where people really love to live, explore and enjoy – so this fit in perfectly with our ethos. These blue and green areas are key to help calm emotions and connect with nature. “The fountain pattern and height was also a key consideration – after all if done wrong, it’s easy to look as if you’ve hit a water main! That of course needs to be balanced by the water feature not being too small and unremarkable. After lots of back and forth, I really think the resulting design will bring joy to the owners of our new homes, and local people who may be passing by too.” James Burnham, Managing Director for Davidsons Homes South, added: “Designing and creating this water fountain is the perfect way to show that Davidson Homes is more than just a housebuilder – we truly care about our homebuyers and want to create places that they will love to live in for many years to come.” Davidsons Homes is building new homes at Biddenham Park near Bedford. For more information, visit davidsonshomes.co.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
DOMIS, one of the UK’s fastest-growing national construction companies, has announced the retirement of its Co-Founder and Managing Director, Lee McCarren, after seven years of service. Kingsley Thornton, currently Director at Domis, becomes Managing Director of the business with immediate effect. With Kingsley’s help, Lee McCarren has steered Domis’s fast growth since the company’s formation in 2017. To date, Domis has delivered over 5,000 new homes and a full portfolio of commercial spaces across dozens of schemes around the UK. Succession planning at Domis has been underway for some time. Kingsley Thornton is unanimously agreed by all members of the Board to be Lee’s natural successor to take Domis into its next phase of growth, supported by the mature, experienced management team that Lee has put in place. Lee McCarren comments: “It has been a huge honour to serve as Managing Director of Domis for seven years and I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved as a team in that time. The time is, however, now right for me to think about life beyond Domis and enjoy what comes next for me and my family. The business couldn’t be in a better position and I am delighted to hand over the reins to Kingsley under whose stewardship I am certain Domis will continue to build inspiring new schemes and delight clients across the UK.” Kingsley Thornton comments: “Lee has been a fantastic leader, mentor and friend to me over the last few years and, speaking on behalf of all of the Domis team, we thank him for his commitment to building our business and pushing us to be ambitious and successful. Now as Managing Director of Domis, I am looking forward to taking the business forward into a new phase, building on the success Lee and I enjoyed together as we deliver more high-quality schemes in places around the UK where new homes are in shortest supply and highest demand.” Simon Ismail, Managing Director of Salboy, concludes: “Together with Fred Done, Salboy’s founder and biggest supporter, I want to thank Lee McCarren for the enormous contribution he has made not only to the Domis business but to the skylines of Manchester, Salford and many other cities across the UK. Lee has been a fantastic leader who has built a hugely capable and ambitious team at Domis who have a proven track record of executing to the highest standards on each and every scheme they take on. Kingsley has the Board’s full support and confidence to continue in Lee’s footsteps.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Costain, the infrastructure solutions company, has appointed Paul Morris as group commercial director, joining its executive board. With 30 years of experience working in people, project and commercial management roles, Paul will be responsible for leading the commercial function and supporting Costain’s growth strategy. Paul joined Costain in 2011 and has held a number of commercial leadership roles across the organisation, most recently as commercial services director. He takes over the role from David Taylor, who has chosen to step down from the executive board after 10 years as Costain’s group commercial director. David will remain in the business, using his extensive experience to provide commercial support for specific projects. Alex Vaughan, CEO at Costain, commented: “Paul has a wealth of commercial experience, more than a decade of which has been spent with Costain, and we’re pleased our strategic planning has allowed us to maintain such strong commercial continuity. Paul will help ensure our business strategy remains firmly aligned with the needs of our customers in the UK’s critical infrastructure sectors.” Paul Morris, group commercial director, added: “The UK faces significant, strategic infrastructure decisions over the next few years and Costain will play a pivotal role. I’m looking forward to helping our customers solve their challenges and fulfil their business plans.” Paul has held the position on an interim basis since October 2023. During that time Costain has seen commercial success with significant contract wins with Northumbrian Water Group, United Utilities and with bp as part of a landmark carbon capture scheme in Teesside. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
“It was a rare opportunity to celebrate all that is special about this place, to remind people of the rich industrial heritage, of the globally recognised engineering and construction expertise that occurred on both banks of the Clyde” – Tony Kettle, Kettle Collective. From a striking glass façade in Reykjavik designed to capture the essence of the northern lights all-year-round to an Eden-type garden in a low-energy office tower in Bahrain, world-renowned architect Tony Kettle continues to challenge his natural curiosity with projects across the globe. His work on the Dewa Solar Innovation Centre in Dubai, which uses the latest technologies for renewable energy and combines it with Arabic geometry and the Fibonacci sequence, has received architectural acclaim – winning the RSA prize in Scotland and a LEED Platinum award as a benchmark for the Middle East region – and he had a hand in the initial designs of Europe’s tallest building, the Lakhta Centre in St Petersburg. While proud of his success abroad, it’s a project much closer to home though that piqued Tony’s interest in a way others couldn’t, and he jumped at the chance to design the first opening road bridge across the River Clyde – a £117million project led by Renfrewshire Council. Tony said: “It’s fantastic to work closer to home. It means more if you are given a chance to contribute to improving people’s lives close to where you live. “Shipbuilding on the Clyde inspired our design. The visual history of cranes juxtaposed against each other and the way the dry docks are cut into the banks at an angle. The challenge was to capture that spirit of movement in the angles of the new bridge structure, and to accentuate the fact this is a moving structure, not just another static bridge. “The Renfrew Bridge is both a physical and symbolic connection, a celebration of the coming together of two communities that will undoubtedly benefit from having closer ties. It will create a gateway and a destination that should bring more people together to enjoy the riverbank and celebrate the history and rich cultural heritage that they share. “It was a rare opportunity to celebrate all that is special about this place, to remind people of the rich industrial heritage, of the globally recognised engineering and construction expertise that occurred on both banks of the Clyde. What better way to celebrate it than with a new innovative moving structure.” Visiting the site to see the arrival of the final section of the bridge, Tony was delighted to see his designs come off the page and into existence. “It’s fantastic to see the bridge in the flesh and I’m honoured and immensely grateful to the engineers and fabricators for their skills and ingenuity to make it a reality. I have learned over the years to be very patient as projects can be designed quickly but can take so long to materialise, so it’s great to see it arrive on the Clyde and for the project to move closer to completion. “It will clearly improve transport connections between Clydebank, Yoker and Renfrew, but it will also give a focus and raise the profile of the towns as people and businesses are attracted to one of the longest span cable-stayed opening bridges in the world. People will be proud, and it will be a real landmark for the area and the seed for much wider regeneration.” Tony formed the Kettle Collective with friend and managing director Colin Bone 12 years ago and their architectural studio now incorporates around 70 designers, each with their own focus on contextual design, sustainability and low energy solutions – with the recent Queen’s Award for Sustainability confirming their place at the forefront of international sustainable design. With offices now in Edinburgh, London and the Middle East, Tony continues to further an inspiring career that all began with a few sketches at home. Tony said: “My father inspired me to be what I am today. He was an engineer and used to do beautiful hand drawings with a single line and no mistakes. When you’re young, it’s these kinds of things that shape who you want to be, even if you don’t realise it at the time. “We spent a lot of time in Sri Lanka when I was growing up while my father worked on the Victoria Dam, a beautiful double parabolic curved structure, and I learned so much about the importance of climate, culture, and context. “Inspired to be a designer, I studied at Edinburgh Art College, then worked my way through the ranks at RMJM to be International Design Principal. From there, I formed the Kettle Collective with Colin and haven’t looked back since.” Now with more than 35 years of experience in the industry, Tony Kettle is still famed in Scotland for his work to create the Falkirk Wheel, the hugely successful tourist attraction that combines art and engineering to create a moving boat sculpture that thousands have visited since it first opened in 2002. It was while playing with his daughter and her Lego that he felt the creative spark for the project and this led to a design which has been featured as an example of Scottish innovation on the £50 note and within the British passport. “I was making a Lego helicopter for my daughter and realised the gearing could be used to maintain the horizontality of the caissons containing the water and boats. Maybe it’s just me that would think like that while playing with Lego, but sometimes the simplest tools are the best to understand a problem – and my daughter is still waiting to get her Lego back to this day! “It is great to see that my completed design has enticed so many people to visit and enjoy the waterways, and I think the Falkirk Wheel is recognised globally now as part of our inventive culture as a nation. I visit now and then, almost as though visiting an old friend, and
