Clowes Developments (UK) Ltd confirm retail operators, Starbucks, KFC and Greggs are coming to Viking Park in Congleton. Construction has already begun as Roe Developments have initiated works on three retail units. The roadside convenience offering at Viking Park will consist of a detached 1,850 sq ft Starbucks drive through
Panattoni, the largest logistics real estate developer in the UK and Europe, has signed a pre-lease agreement with DPD, the parcel delivery company, for a 58,000 sq ft facility at its net zero carbon Panattoni Park Sittingbourne development in Kent. Subject to planning approval, Panattoni expects to start construction of
EV infrastructure provider installs third site as part of four retail locations across Scotland, which will deliver a megawatt of power between them. Electric vehicle charging infrastructure provider, FOR EV, has launched a new site at Tesco Express on Great Northern Road, Aberdeen. The new 200kW charging hub, which is
Willmott Dixon has secured a multi-million-pound contract to construct a new 28-bed secure children’s home in Sleaford, Lincolnshire, aimed at providing enhanced facilities for young people. The project, procured through Pagabo’s Major Works Framework, saw Willmott Dixon chosen by Lincolnshire County Council last year to develop design proposals for the
Whitbread PLC has received planning approval from Westminster City Council to build a new hotel at 5 Strand in central London. The hotel, featuring 693 rooms, will be one of the largest budget accommodations in the city when completed. It will operate under the hub by Premier Inn brand, occupying
Building Heroes, the leading tri-service military charity dedicated to facilitating the transition from military to civilian careers within the construction sector is proud to announce that Thakeham has renewed its Bronze Sponsoring Partnership. Partnering with Thakeham, a leading housebuilder renowned for its commitment to sustainability and community-focused developments, underscores our
The reimagined Creamery building at the heart of Castle Cary railway station now boasts a striking, all-glass passenger lift from Stannah. This modern addition combines style with accessibility, offering a transparent and elegant way to visit the trackside restaurant and working creamery. This historic structure, which has been a part
Instagrid (www.instagrid.co), the Certified B Corporation and leading provider of advanced battery-based portable power systems for mobile workforces, today announces the launch of Instagrid GO. The high-performance battery unit will provide mobile power to UK construction workers facing challenging power demands, whilst simultaneously transforming workplace safety and driving the construction
Commenting on the latest Halifax data showing UK house prices in September rose 4.7% compared with a year ago – the strongest rate since November 2022, Daniel Austin, CEO and co-founder at ASK Partners, said: “We are continuing to see a consistent month-on-month rise in house prices, which signals a potential
Energy efficiency has become a major concern with regards to commercial building construction, with companies wanting to keep operational expenses as low as possible while also being “green.” Probably the most effective strategy toward such a goal would be the application of energy-efficient building materials, for which wall panels represent
Clowes Developments (UK) Ltd confirm retail operators, Starbucks, KFC and Greggs are coming to Viking Park in Congleton. Construction has already begun as Roe Developments have initiated works on three retail units. The roadside convenience offering at Viking Park will consist of a detached 1,850 sq ft Starbucks drive through facility at the front of the plot. Adjacent to Starbucks will be a semi-detached unit totalling 3,200sq ft which will house a KFC and Greggs. At the centre of the plot there will be a parking facility for up to 38 vehicles, including 4 E-V charging stations for added convenience of passing trade. The retail units are conveniently located directly off Barn Road which runs through the centre of Viking Park connecting Congleton town to the A536 link road. Starbucks, Greggs and KFC will sit next to the brand-new Aldi store which officially opened to the general public in October 2024. Marc Freeman, Director, Clowes Developments (UK) Ltd added: “It’s good to see that the roadside convenience offering is now under construction on site at Viking Park. We feel that a Starbucks ‘drive thru’, KFC and Greggs will be a welcomed addition to the business park. Following the successful opening of Aldi back in October, it’s refreshing to watch Viking Park take shape. Our construction contractor, Roe Developments, will also be starting to construct a standalone 20,000 sq ft unit for a yet to be named retailer. We anticipate all units will be open for business by the summer of 2025. Elsewhere on the mixed-use scheme, residential developer, Bloor Homes, are progressing well with the construction of their homes. On completion, Viking Park will deliver up to 175 homes, a 20,500sq ft supermarket/roadside convenience, as well as 36,800sq ft office facilities and 219,500sq ft of industrial units. Available units including Viking103 are being marketed on an all enquiries basis, interested parties are invited to contact our agents Mark Sillitoe, ms@willsill.co.uk or Andrew Groves, andrew.groves@harrislamb.com. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Panattoni, the largest logistics real estate developer in the UK and Europe, has signed a pre-lease agreement with DPD, the parcel delivery company, for a 58,000 sq ft facility at its net zero carbon Panattoni Park Sittingbourne development in Kent. Subject to planning approval, Panattoni expects to start construction of the facility, which comprises the second phase of the park, in the fourth quarter of this year and complete it in the third quarter of 2025. Panattoni is targeting a BREEAM sustainability rating of ‘Excellent’ and an EPC rating of ‘A’. Panattoni is already under construction with the 645,000 sq ft first phase of development at the park, comprising two units of 440,000 sq ft (S440) and 205,000 sq ft (S205). Completion of these two units is expected in March 2025. While there is already significant interest in these units, both remain available for tenants. All units are being developed with enhanced sustainability measures within the base specification, including the installation of roof-mounted solar panels and electric vehicle charging points. The park has 5MVa of power available with a further 1.35MVa of power generated from the solar panels. Panattoni is investing £170 million in the development of the park, which is strategically positioned between London and Dover, four miles north of junction 5 of the M2. Alex Mitchell, Development Manager, South East and London, at Panattoni, said: “This pre-let to DPD demonstrates the strong demand for high-quality, sustainable industrial space in the south east. We are excited to begin construction later this year and deliver a state-of-the-art facility that meets DPD’s operational needs while also aligning with our sustainability goals”. Agents at Panattoni Park Sittingbourne are Savills, Avison Young and CBRE. DPD was advised by SBH. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
EV infrastructure provider installs third site as part of four retail locations across Scotland, which will deliver a megawatt of power between them. Electric vehicle charging infrastructure provider, FOR EV, has launched a new site at Tesco Express on Great Northern Road, Aberdeen. The new 200kW charging hub, which is less than a 10-minute drive from the city centre, is equipped with three dual charging points and six connectors that can charge a typical EV from 20% to 80% in just 30 minutes. The completion marks the latest of four sites run by Cedarwood Asset Management Ltd, including recently launched charging hubs at Sainsbury’s Inverkip in Inverclyde and Toolstation Montrose. The next step of the expansion will be FOR EV’s delivery of a fourth site in Fraserburgh, securing a combined total of 22 connectors across the Cedarwood sites. Paul Jenkins, Director at Cedarwood Asset Management Ltd, said: “We are delighted to have completed another deal with FOR EV and are sure that the public and staff of the Tenants on this site will benefit significantly from this additional facility.” John Ross, Business Development Manager at FOR EV, said: “We have a strong and growing relationship with Cedarwood Asset Management. Delivering a third site enables us to provide user-friendly EV charging infrastructure to a wider range of drivers across Scotland. “It’s important for retail businesses and landowners to recognise the need for infrastructure as not only an essential provision for EV owners but also an opportunity to attract new customers.” FOR EV is Scotland’s leading charge point operator and is supported by funding from The Scottish National Investment Bank. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Willmott Dixon has secured a multi-million-pound contract to construct a new 28-bed secure children’s home in Sleaford, Lincolnshire, aimed at providing enhanced facilities for young people. The project, procured through Pagabo’s Major Works Framework, saw Willmott Dixon chosen by Lincolnshire County Council last year to develop design proposals for the facility, situated on Bonemill Lane at the edge of Sleaford. Funded by the Department for Education, the home will cater to some of Lincolnshire’s most vulnerable children and serve as a national resource for secure accommodation. It replaces an existing smaller site that is coming to the end of its useful life and will help meet rising demand from a national increase in the number of children requiring both criminal justice and welfare placements. It will deliver a truly ground-breaking service, becoming a flagship project for the sector. The home is designed to reach net-zero in operation, providing an innovative partial grid solution, which will be supported by extensive solar panels and state-of-the-art power storage. The home has been designed by Kier and is due to be completed in late 2026. Nick Heath, director at Willmott Dixon, said: “This is a hugely significant scheme, not only for Lincolnshire to address an acute need for secure accommodation, but also for the wider country as it will bring together best practice from across the UK and Europe. “It will help young people get their lives ‘back on track’ using a whole host of facilities including on-site education, wellbeing, vocational and sports facilities, as well as delivering against important sustainability credentials to make the building’s legacy especially evident.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Whitbread PLC has received planning approval from Westminster City Council to build a new hotel at 5 Strand in central London. The hotel, featuring 693 rooms, will be one of the largest budget accommodations in the city when completed. It will operate under the hub by Premier Inn brand, occupying a prime location just off Trafalgar Square, steps away from Nelson’s Column. Whitbread acquired the development site freehold as part of its strategy to expand its presence in the popular London market where a significant proportion of Premier Inn’s future UK rooms pipeline is located. The over £200m investment, which includes construction and related costs, underlines the company’s commitment to the hub by Premier Inn brand which is designed to bring Premier Inn’s affordable hotel bedrooms into the heart of London and other major UK cities. Mark Anderson, Managing Director for Property and International for Whitbread, said: “hub by Premier Inn was launched a decade ago in St. Martin’s Lane, a few hundred metres from 5 Strand. The brand has blossomed into a network of 18 popular hub hotels in Central London and Edinburgh and has become a proven model for bringing our affordable bedrooms into the most central, vibrant, and connected locations for our guests. “5 Strand is an excellent example of how we think the hub by Premier Inn brand can evolve in Central London. It also shows how we can use Whitbread’s strong balance sheet to acquire the best positioned, most accessible, and high-demand locations in the capital to grow our brands. With planning permission now secured we will move quickly to begin construction of the new hotel and deliver a true flagship location for our guests.” Whitbread has been investing heavily in London as it seeks to redress an under-supply of branded budget hotel bedrooms in the capital. The company currently offers its customers more than 100+ locations within the M25 with a further 12 locations in its secured development pipeline in the capital. It is also seeking new sites in 40 locations in inner and outer London for its Premier Inn and hub by Premier Inn brands. The consented 16,000 sq metre hotel at 5 Strand will be set over thirteen storeys with a generous ground-floor space fronting onto the Strand and Northumberland Street to the east of the site. Whitbread expects around 150 team will work at the hotel on opening, with recruitment focused within the City of Westminster and other inner London boroughs. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Building Heroes, the leading tri-service military charity dedicated to facilitating the transition from military to civilian careers within the construction sector is proud to announce that Thakeham has renewed its Bronze Sponsoring Partnership. Partnering with Thakeham, a leading housebuilder renowned for its commitment to sustainability and community-focused developments, underscores our mission to collaborate with industry trailblazers that align with our values of service and excellence and are committed to providing opportunities for the armed forces community within the construction industry. Since its foundation in 2014, Building Heroes has supported the transition of over 3,400 graduates into civilian life by offering access to barrier-free construction training programmes. As a recipient of the Queen’s Award and celebrating a decade of significant impact, the charity continues to work with educational partners and industry leaders to accelerate learning that leads to employment or self-employment in construction, infrastructure, and sustainable building sectors. Thakeham’s sponsorship of Building Heroes strengthens a shared commitment to supporting armed forces personnel, advancing construction skills training, and fostering community development. This ongoing collaboration was recently showcased when Thakeham team members joined Building Heroes at a British Forces Resettlement Service careers event, jointly engaging with service leavers to explore various career opportunities in construction. On September 30th, learners from the Basingstoke Building Heroes Academy experienced a comprehensive site tour at Thakeham’s Welborne development in Hampshire. This visit provided an in-depth view of the complex stages of development, highlighting Thakeham’s commitment to sustainable building practices. Sarah Crush, Social Value Manager at Thakeham, commented, “We are committed to helping veterans and reservists find a rewarding career in construction by providing the necessary skills and employment pathways. Our partnership with Building Heroes supports active service members and veterans transition into civilian life via work placements and site tours as part of the charity’s academy programmes. Our dedication to helping the armed forces community is unwavering. Last year, we received a Gold award from the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, the highest level of recognition available to organisations who pledge, demonstrate and advocate support for, and align their values with, the Armed Forces Covenant. With less than 200 national recipients of this accolade, we are the only south east housebuilder to achieve this status.” CEO of Building Heroes, Chris Charles, added, “We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Thakeham. Our decision to renew the partnership with Thakeham is a testament to their leadership in sustainable development and their unwavering commitment to quality, the Armed Forces community, and the local communities within which they work. This collaboration not only strengthens our ability to support the Armed Forces community though our training programmes but also enhances our learners’ experiences with direct involvement in modern, high-quality housing developments through on-site visits and work placements at Thakeham. We are immensely grateful for Thakeham’s ongoing support, which enriches our charity’s work and provides our learners with deeper industry insights, thereby expanding their career opportunities in the construction sector.” Both organisations are enthusiastic about continuing this rewarding collaboration and eagerly anticipate further success stories as learners transition into rewarding careers, enhanced by the skills and industry knowledge acquired through Building Heroes’ programmes. For more information about Building Heroes and their programmes, please visitwww.buildingheroes.org.uk. For further details on Thakeham and their projects, please visit www.thakeham.com. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The reimagined Creamery building at the heart of Castle Cary railway station now boasts a striking, all-glass passenger lift from Stannah. This modern addition combines style with accessibility, offering a transparent and elegant way to visit the trackside restaurant and working creamery. This historic structure, which has been a part of the area since 1912, recently underwent an extensive renovation to enhance the safety, stability and user experience. The Creamery is renowned for its tower, ‘La Belle Epoque’, which still stands tall today as a symbol of industrial innovation and artistic flair. Originally established by brothers G&C Prideaux as a milk factory, the creamery processed milk delivered by local farmers into cheese, then transported to London via the railway. Today, The Creamery is open to the public and has been transformed into a community hub, featuring a restaurant and shop, and offering a range of delightful food options to travellers, visitors, and train passengers while reviving its cheesemaking heritage. The client The Creamery is owned by Koos Bekker and his wife, who also owns The Newt in Somerset, which was recently awarded the World’s Best Boutique Hotel at The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2023. Ken Biggs Contractors were appointed as the principal contractor on this project and made contact after being impressed by Stannah’s distinctive refurbishment of a vintage passenger lift at the YMCA in Bristol. Working with architects Stonewood Design, and Ken Biggs Contractors, Stannah Lifts worked to deliver a lift that was both modern and harmoniously integrated with the early 20th-century aesthetic of the building. The project’s vision was to blend the 1912 style with contemporary elements, which also resulted in Ken Biggs Contractors reconstructing the entire Creamery. The work Stannah Lifts collaborated with architects to incorporate the new lift into the design of the re-imagined Creamery. The project commenced with the installation of vertical rail guides to keep the lift aligned within the elevator shaft, followed by the mechanical first fix in 2023 and the completion of the mechanical package. Shortly after, works commenced on the glass lift shaft and car. The lift shaft and car featured bespoke glass sourced from Gemtec, a specialist German company. Stannah Lifts facilitated a 24-hour visit to Germany for Ken Biggs Contractors and Stonewood Design, allowing them to review the glass and how it would integrate with the lift design before shipping it to the UK, which minimised the need for additional modifications. To ensure the glass was installed without any issues, Gemtec provided helpful support throughout this stage. Meanwhile, Stannah Lifts supplied and fitted custom trims and a glass panel to fill the gap adjacent to the glass car doors. A CTV mechanical lift car package was fitted as part of the overall lift components and snagging works meant full lift completion in April 2024. Additional building works in the Creamery included a new brick extension to match the original factory’s detailing, reflecting the 1912 era and the Titanic’s historical significance, with posters embedded in the staircase brickwork. The design also pays tribute to the rich history of milk and cheese production at the Creamery, with milk bottle carvings integrated throughout the building and on the lift car doors. The challenge One particular challenge was aligning with the client’s design vision while maintaining the lift’s structural integrity for safe and efficient operation. As a result, the design and concept of the lift evolved during the project to better address customer needs and project requirements. Precision was crucial as several design elements, including lighting and fitting locations, were adapted throughout the project. Stannah Lifts collaborated closely with the client to balance their needs with practical and mechanical feasibility, such as incorporating shaft lights underneath the lift structure for a minimalistic look, creating an illuminated effect. At the customer’s request, the lift’s structure wasn’t initially anchored to the brickwork, resulting in a requirement to monitor structural movement. Stannah conducted wind load calculations, revealing potential issues during gale-force winds. To ensure the safety of passengers, Stannah proposed securing the lift to the brickwork. Given the complexity of the installation, Stannah assembled a highly skilled team to execute the project, which included Gemtec, R&R Lifts, and Vinsol. Stannah participated in regular meetings and design consultations with the client to ensure their requirements were thoroughly addressed. The result The custom-designed passenger lift features a minimalist approach with discrete fixings and fixtures. It seamlessly integrates handrails through the glass without additional supports or corner trims. This 8-person all-glass lift allows natural light to illuminate the interior, offering passengers views of the Creamery as they travel to the first floor. The hydraulic passenger lift serves two floors and travels 3.6 metres to provide step-free access from The Creamery restaurant to the train station’s platform. A unique aspect of the lift is the placement of the keyhole for manually operating the car and landing doors. Traditionally mounted at the top of the landing doors, Stannah positioned the keyhole at the bottom to align with the minimalist design, effectively concealing the system. To address signal issues within the shaft, a GSM package was installed with an antenna mounted on the structure ensuring reliable signal reception. The bespoke lift adheres to all open protocol requirements, allowing for independent maintenance and repair, and is fully DDA compliant, ensuring accessible features like illuminated push buttons are positioned at a height accessible to wheelchair users. All Stannah lifts are certified according to the Lifts Regulations 2016 (2016 No. 1093). Ben Harding, Bristol Branch Manager at Stannah Lift Services, said: “We’re proud to have worked on this unique project. It hasn’t come without its challenges but we can proudly say this bespoke glass lift embodies our client’s minimalist vision while offering a safe and accessible alternative to reaching the train platform. It seamlessly blends modern design with functionality while offering an unobstructed view of the Creamery as passengers ascend.”www.stannahlifts.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Instagrid (www.instagrid.co), the Certified B Corporation and leading provider of advanced battery-based portable power systems for mobile workforces, today announces the launch of Instagrid GO. The high-performance battery unit will provide mobile power to UK construction workers facing challenging power demands, whilst simultaneously transforming workplace safety and driving the construction industry net-zero push. Global off-grid work is currently dominated by inefficient and costly fuel-powered combustion generators that produce harmful emissions and pose health risks to users. To combat this, the UK construction industry has launched a plan to eliminate 78% of diesel machinery from UK construction sites by 2035. In order to reach this goal, construction executives and business owners need to adopt innovative clean technologies. Born out of Germany’s world-renowned epicenter for innovation and engineering excellence, Instagrid has developed a sustainable alternative power supply that integrates a unique award-winning architecture of stacked micro-inverters to deliver precise grid-like performance, at a fraction of the size, weight, and environmental cost of conventional generators. In fact, by avoiding expenditure on fuel and maintenance, Instagrid customers save nearly 80% on lifetime costs, all whilst generating zero exhaust fumes. Instagrid’s principal and flagship product Instagrid ONE has so far helped nearly 50,000 users across Europe to reduce costs thanks to savings on fuel and maintenance, and to create a more efficient and healthier work environment. In many cases, Instagrid ONE has transformed how users work entirely. For example, providing metal workers ultra-high peak power for welding on-the-go, or helping film crews to streamline their operations by avoiding cumbersome cables and noisy power generators on set. Following the monumental success of Instagrid ONE across several verticals in Europe, Instagrid has now developed a new power unit that directly responds to the unique energy regulations of the UK construction vertical, whilst encompassing the peak power and portability components of Instagrid ONE. Instagrid GO will transform the way construction workers operate, granting them a higher level of flexibility and freedom to perform power-demanding tasks, whilst elevating their level of safety through reduced cabling and local emissions. Furthermore, by drastically reducing air and noise pollution on-site, workers can feel assured that their safety is of paramount importance. Instagrid GO: portable energy reinvented Instagrid GO (shown above, product spec below) is the new UK-specific mobile energy source for construction workers, providing clean power for anyone, anywhere, anytime: Instagrid GO is the third product from Instagrid, and is compatible with the Instagrid LINK – the smart power distributor that lets users connect multiple power sources together, allowing seamless switching between them and increasing overall capacity. With charge times of under 3 hours, and enabling a sustained and efficient energy supply, the Instagrid GO powers a range of applications. For example: For information on demoing or purchasing Instagrid GO, the UK Sales Team can be contacted at sales.uk@instagrid.co. Instagrid GO is also available to purchase in North American markets, developed with dual 120 V outputs and the option to switch to 240 V, empowering professional use cases across multiple sectors of industry, including construction, film & media, emergency services, and events. Sebastian Berning, Co-CEO and Co-Founder: “Instagrid GO embodies the same innovative spirit as our European flagship product, Instagrid ONE, which has revolutionised the portable power market since its inception. Rooted in rigorous German engineering and fueled by feedback from top-tier professional customers, we crafted Instagrid GO to fulfil the exacting demands of the UK construction vertical. Instagrid GO is a game-changer for construction professionals pursuing clean, high-performance mobile power.” Andreas Sedlmayr, Co-CEO and Co-Founder: “The launch of Instagrid GO marks a groundbreaking step in our commitment to delivering high-performance power while achieving ambitious sustainability targets. In our mission to decarbonise off-grid power, we now have a product tailor-made for the UK construction vertical, which remains heavily reliant on combustion technology. With nearly 50,000 users across Europe already experiencing the benefits of clean, high-performance mobile power, Instagrid GO is set to empower professionals in this key construction industry. This innovative solution will not only drive their commercial success but also support the transition towards net-zero goals.” Product specifications Output voltage: 110 V AC / 50 Hz Rated output power: 3.6 kW Peak output power: 18.0 kW Rated energy capacity: 2.1 kWh Weight: 21 kg IP Class: IP54 Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Commenting on the latest Halifax data showing UK house prices in September rose 4.7% compared with a year ago – the strongest rate since November 2022, Daniel Austin, CEO and co-founder at ASK Partners, said: “We are continuing to see a consistent month-on-month rise in house prices, which signals a potential upward trend for the remainder of the year. The market is showing strong signs of resilience, even amid broader uncertainties. Much anticipation surrounds Labour’s plans to stimulate the housing sector, particularly regarding the construction of new homes and unlocking the planning system. If effective initiatives are announced in the coming months, they could provide the market with an additional boost, driving further growth and confidence in the sector. “In the property investment world, rent values have seen sustained growth, positioning real estate as reasonably valued in comparison to gilts and presenting growth potential. In the realm of commercial real estate, we have seen values hit the bottom and confidence return. The market has picked up with opportunistic acquisitions of prime properties in prime locations. “As a debt provider, we hope to support well-capitalised borrowers who understand their product and are looking at the best sites in prime locations with potential to add to their asset value. Following this strategy, we aim to bolster developers’ initiatives with the flexible underwriting approach that is necessary for navigating a changing market. This will enable us to continue to offer opportunities for the growing number of private individuals opting to invest in property debt.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Energy efficiency has become a major concern with regards to commercial building construction, with companies wanting to keep operational expenses as low as possible while also being “green.” Probably the most effective strategy toward such a goal would be the application of energy-efficient building materials, for which wall panels represent some of the most overt examples. Wall panels can play a considerable role in lowering energy usage because these are crucially important in regulating internal temperature within any building. Thermal Insulation and Temperature Regulation Wall panels play a very important role in regulating the temperature within commercial settings. The integration of insulated wall panels into other materials that offer high thermal insulation ensures uniform internal building temperatures. This ultimately reduces the demand for heating and cooling, hence decreased energy use. Indeed, maintaining the temperatures within comfortable ranges keeps occupants more comfortable, and this includes working offices, retail outlets, and even industrial establishments. Wall Panels for Reduction of HVAC Load Most commercial buildings have HVAC systems that are among the largest consumers of energy. These wall panels with enhanced insulation will reduce the stress that HVAC systems go through by minimizing heat leakage or penetration through a building envelope. A smaller HVAC load significantly lessens energy consumption and thus means smaller utility bills. In addition to that, smaller loads on HVAC might also increase its service life and bring extra savings after some very long periods of time. Prevention of Air Leakage Air leakage is one of the major issues in energy efficiency and most of the time, it occurs due to gaps or cracks within a building envelope. Therefore, panels make the structure much tighter-fitting, hence reducing the chances of air infiltration in wall panels. It keeps conditioned air from escaping or outside air from coming inside the building and maintains the temperature of the building along with reducing energy consumption upon proper installation. Sustainability through Wall Panel Materials The energy efficiency in commercial buildings is related to the material used during the building process. Today, most of the wall panels are made from sustainable materials which have a minimal environmental impact and provide very good insulation. Environmentally friendly wall panels add to reducing the carbon footprint of a project, and energy-efficient wall panels often qualify for green building certifications like LEED, adding to the sustainability profile of the building. Soundproofing and Energy Efficiency Another great feature of such energy-efficient wall panels relates to soundproofing. Most materials that contribute to thermal insulation are also capable of not allowing any extraneous noise into the spaces. In commercial buildings, it allows the creation of productive environments. In cases of offices or conference rooms, for instance, it becomes critical. While soundproofing might not relate directly to energy efficiency, the dual functionality of these wall panels reduces the need for additional materials and hence makes the entire process of construction more efficient. Long-Term Cost Savings If anything, energy-efficient wall panels are more costly to install but pay for themselves long-term through energy usage. Money generated from lower utility bills will offset the cost of a good panel. Over time, the benefit of reduced energy use, wear and tear on HVAC systems, and a more sustainable building makes it an enterprise advantage. They have become an essential element in the growing demand for energy-efficient buildings, which are commercial in nature. They address various issues related to thermal insulation and leakage of air, apart from concern for sustainability. Thus, they would continue to remain one of the major essentials in designing and developing energy-efficient buildings, meeting both environmental and economic objectives in the development of commercial buildings.
