The global delivery consultants and construction experts, Mace have been appointed by JP Morgan Asset Management to deliver 65 Gresham Street – one of the largest building reuse projects in the City of London – with over 36,800m² of Grade A office, retail and ancillary spaces. Prioritising a reuse first
Manchester City Council has approved a planning application submitted by Salboy Group, the nationwide property development and funding company, to develop the second phase of its Viadux scheme in central Manchester. Phase Two of the Viadux will see the construction of two new towers: A 76-storey tower will house a 160-bedroom
Plans to create a brand-new state-of-the-art Acoustics building as part of Crescent Salford’s innovation zone have been accepted by Salford City Council. The University of Salford submitted the plans to create a world-class facility to house the research, commercial and teaching activities of its globally recognised acoustics group at the
London Gatwick Airport has taken a significant step in advancing its long-term growth plans by appointing 16 expert design firms to a refreshed design services framework, marking the start of a new chapter in its capital investment strategy. The newly established framework is designed to accelerate the delivery of design
CBRE has announced the appointment of Denis McGowan as Executive Managing Director within its Global Workplace Solutions (GWS) Financial & Professional Services Sector, reinforcing the company’s global leadership with seasoned expertise. In his new role, McGowan will lead enterprise accounts across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) as well
Kiverco recently welcomed Invest Northern Ireland’s Chief Executive Kieran Donoghue to its headquarters, alongside Anne Beggs, Executive Director of International Business and Skills, Kate Gilmore, International Trade Adviser, and Denzil Morrow, Client Executive. The visit provided an opportunity to discuss and showcase Kiverco’s ambitious 10-year growth strategy, which includes digitalising
Speedy Hire, the UK’s leading provider of tools, equipment, and plant hire services, has unveiled the industry’s most advanced Carbon Reporting Tool – a transformative step in helping construction companies reach their decarbonisation goals faster and more efficiently. Developed as part of Speedy Hire’s wider strategy to enable customers to
The North’s most outstanding workplaces have been named, with prestigious British Council for Offices (BCO) Awards presented to six landmark office buildings across the region. On Thursday 3 April at Manchester’s Kimpton Clocktower, the BCO’s annual Northern Awards recognised projects that demonstrate best practice in office design, fit-out, operation and
Contractors building HS2 have completed work on a pair of innovative extensions to the southern portal of its longest tunnel to eliminate the possibility of ‘sonic boom’ being created by high-speed trains entering at 200mph. The structures, built at the southern end of the railway’s 10-mile Chiltern Tunnel to the
A growing shortage of construction capacity and a risk-averse approach to new projects could put the brakes on London’s development ambitions, according to the latest research from infrastructure consultancy Aecom. The findings, published in Aecom’s annual London Main Contractor Survey, reveal that many of the capital’s largest contractors—responsible for a
The global delivery consultants and construction experts, Mace have been appointed by JP Morgan Asset Management to deliver 65 Gresham Street – one of the largest building reuse projects in the City of London – with over 36,800m² of Grade A office, retail and ancillary spaces. Prioritising a reuse first approach, the project will retain more than 70% of the existing building’s structure, with 95% of materials recycled or reused on-site, targeting a 66% reduction in whole-life carbon. Fossil fuel free during construction and operation, the building will incorporate air source heat pumps for heating, cooling and hot water generation. The redevelopment will feature four new lightweight floors added to the existing eight-storey structure, external terraces and inset balconies will provide outdoor space on every floor, while expanded entrances and relocated retail space will activate the streetscape. Extensive greening initiatives will increase biodiversity net gain by over 100%. Ged Simmonds, Managing Director Private Sector, Mace Construct: ‘’This ambitious retrofit project exemplifies Mace’s commitment to sustainable construction, showcasing innovative solutions that reduce environmental impact and set the standard for the next generation of sustainable offices. “In the past five years we’ve seen a growing trend in the City of London for sustainability-driven, reuse focussed office developments.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Manchester City Council has approved a planning application submitted by Salboy Group, the nationwide property development and funding company, to develop the second phase of its Viadux scheme in central Manchester. Phase Two of the Viadux will see the construction of two new towers: A 76-storey tower will house a 160-bedroom hotel, restaurant and 452 branded residences, delivered in partnership with luxury lifestyle brand Nobu Hospitality, to help meet growing demand for high-quality accommodation for the international city’s residents and visitors. These branded residences mark Nobu Hospitality’s debut in the UK’s luxury real estate market. Like the adjacent 40-storey tower built during Viadux’s first phase, the 76-storey tower is hugely architecturally ambitious. To be known as Nobu Manchester, the tower will be elevated above ground with its foundations built under a retained Victorian archway. Standing at 246 metres, the tower will become the UK’s tallest building outside of London. A second (yet to be named) building on Great Bridgewater Street, will stand at 23-storeys tall and will create 133 new apartments aimed at the affordable homes market in a hugely well-connected and desirable part of Manchester. Simon Ismail, Managing Director of Salboy, comments: “We are delighted with the Council’s decision to approve our plans to complete the Viadux masterplan. Viadux promises to deliver a neighbourhood of high-quality, design-led homes that meet Manchester’s substantial need for accommodation at a range of price points and tenure types, while bringing to the Manchester cityscape a truly crowning feature. “Once completed, the Viadux scheme will have entirely regenerated an 80,000 sq ft brownfield site, in easy walking distance of all of Manchester’s central business, retail and leisure districts, and added almost 1,000 brand new homes to a coveted and popular location for the city’s professional population. “Manchester is a fast-expanding city that is quickly and emphatically achieving its ambitions to become a global leader in business, sport, leisure and academia. It’s a belief that we’ve long held that Manchester deserves to be home to architectural and engineering feats that before now have been the preserve of other global cities. “As the location of not just the tallest tower outside London but a large number of high quality affordable homes, Viadux has the potential to become a symbol of this city’s aspirations and confidence in itself. Viadux now promises to shape not only Manchester’s skyline for years to come, but the city’s sense of identity on the global stage.” Since plans were first drawn up in 2017, the full Viadux scheme has been designed by Manchester-born architects, SimpsonHaugh, with culturally and historically sensitive regeneration always front of mind. Trevor Horwell, CEO of Nobu Hospitality: “We’re thrilled to see the Viadux 2 development move forward with planning approval. Manchester is a vibrant, world-class city, and we’re proud to be part of a project that will bring the Nobu experience to this destination through a truly exceptional mixed-use project. Alongside our signature Nobu Hotel and Restaurant, the Nobu Residences will offer a unique opportunity to live the Nobu lifestyle. Viadux 2 represents the kind of visionary development we seek—integrated, design-led, and rooted in cultural and community connection.” Ian Simpson, Co-Founder, SimpsonHaugh: “Viadux’s phased development has required vision, a pioneering approach, and innovation to bring life back to an urban area in Manchester City Centre on a challenging site that incorporates the restoration of a Grade II listed brick viaduct. Viadux Phase 2 will see the development of a beautiful and elegant mixed-use building that will define the Manchester skyline, providing high-quality private and affordable homes and an amazing world-class hotel.” Viadux’s first phase – a 40-storey tower comprising 370 apartments and a wealth of quality resident amenities – was completed on time, on budget and fully sold out. This tower is now known as Viadux. Salboy’s construction partner Domis expects to commence work on the site this year. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Plans to create a brand-new state-of-the-art Acoustics building as part of Crescent Salford’s innovation zone have been accepted by Salford City Council. The University of Salford submitted the plans to create a world-class facility to house the research, commercial and teaching activities of its globally recognised acoustics group at the start of the year. Today Salford City Council announced that plans for the 1,300m2 building have been accepted and it is expected work will begin on site this summer, taking around 18 months to complete. The site is a key part of the University of Salford’s multi-million pound Campus Connectivity Plan, which is the most ambitious redevelopment of research, teaching and public spaces that the University has ever undertaken. The new facility represents an investment into acoustics of international scale, drawing together an impressive range of testing equipment of the highest technical specification to underpin the most rigorous acoustic measurements. Each space in the new building will enable active research by one of the largest acoustics groups in the world, supported by the hands-on expertise of specialist technical staff. The University of Salford has been delivering world-leading research in acoustics for over six decades, working with some of the biggest brands in manufacturing to ensure their products emit acceptable levels of noise. Salford’s research has fed into the development of products that companies make and sell worldwide, as well as regulations and standards used in the UK and internationally. Most recently, Salford’s experts have worked on projects to manage drone noise, develop e-scooter alarm noises and make forklift trucks safer in a work environment. The new centre will see an increase in the research, innovation and development that the University of Salford Acoustics team will be able to offer. The Acoustics building will also sit in Crescent Innovation, which forms part of the wider £2.5bn, 240-acre Crescent Salford masterplan being delivered by the Crescent Partnership, comprising the University of Salford, Salford City Council and ECF – a joint partnership between Homes England, L&G and Muse. The 29-acre Crescent Innovation area lies north of the University’s Peel Park campus and the building will be located on a former industrial site on Lissadel Street. It will build on existing research and development capabilities to drive further economic growth in Salford and facilitate enhanced links between academia, research and business. The Acoustics building marks the next step in the creation of Crescent Innovation, after work began on Salford Rise last September. Morgan Sindall Construction is working on the building, having previously collaborated with the University on the creation of multiple new learning environments including the North of England Robotics Innovation Centre, which is also within Crescent Innovation. Director of the National Institute of Airborne Acoustic Metrology at the University of Salford, Claire Lomax said: “The whole acoustics team at Salford are thrilled planning consent has been granted for this globally unique building. Every person on earth is affected by what they can or cannot hear, which is why acoustics as a science is so significant. “To have this facility in Salford shows the University’s commitment to innovation to enrich lives – in this case through pioneering research, impacting policy and industry standards, and shaping products sold worldwide.” In line with the latest sustainability standards, the all-electric building will target a BREEAM rating of ‘Excellent’ and utilise low-energy and low-carbon technologies to minimise energy consumption and reduce the carbon footprint of the building. Max Bentham, Development Director at ECF, said: “With plans now approved for the Acoustics building, we’re looking forward to this state-of-the-art facility coming to life and bringing world-class research potential to Crescent Innovation. “The highly sustainable building will function as a training hub for the next generation of acoustics experts, offering cutting-edge research facilities aimed at enhancing quality of life by reducing the harm caused by noise. Bringing industry and education together, it will further cement Salford as a leader in this field. “With Salford Rise on site and work on Willohaus set to complete next year, the approval of plans for the Acoustics building marks an exciting next step in the creation of the Crescent Salford masterplan. As momentum builds, the vision is becoming a reality.” Steven Gregory, Morgan Sindall Construction’s area director for the North West said: “We’re very proud to be part of the team that will deliver another world-class facility for Salford University and the wider Crescent Salford innovation zone. We can’t wait to get started in the summer. “In our delivery of other projects on campus, we have developed a close, collaborative working relationship with the University. On this latest scheme, we will again ensure our presence brings wider benefits to the University’s students as well as the wider Salford community.” Paul Dennett, Salford City Mayor, said: “This state-of-the-art Acoustics building will be an incredible addition to the growing Crescent Innovation zone, building on the completed North of England Robotics Innovation Centre and Salford Rise, which is due to complete next year. This new development will reinforce our city’s reputation as a hub for cutting-edge research and development and aligns perfectly with the Council’s Corporate Plan objectives, by driving economic growth, fostering innovation, and creating opportunities for skills development. By investing in world-class facilities like this, the University are not only supporting our local economy, but contributing to global advancements in acoustics, that will improve lives for generations to come.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
London Gatwick Airport has taken a significant step in advancing its long-term growth plans by appointing 16 expert design firms to a refreshed design services framework, marking the start of a new chapter in its capital investment strategy. The newly established framework is designed to accelerate the delivery of design work across the airport’s upcoming projects by enabling faster engagement of consultants under pre-agreed terms. It spans a broad range of specialisms including architecture, civil and structural engineering, baggage handling systems, and fire safety engineering. Structured across five key lots, the framework includes both large and small multi-disciplinary teams to ensure flexibility and expertise across every scale of project. The selected firms include a mix of global engineering giants and innovative SMEs, reflecting Gatwick’s ambition to blend experience with agility. Firms appointed under the Large Multi-Disciplinary lot include Arcadis, AtkinsRealis, Baker Hicks, Jacobs UK, Ramboll, and WSP UK. The Airfield category sees AtkinsRealis, Jacobs UK, Ramboll and WSP UK return, while the Baggage lot welcomes IDOM, Principal Projx, Typsa, and Vlogix. Supporting innovation and diversity, the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Multi-Disciplinary lot brings together Hulley & Kirkwood, Lyndon Goode Architects, Pascall & Watson, Pellings, Pod Architects, and Webb Yates. Meanwhile, Jacobs UK and WSP UK have also been appointed under the Fire Engineering lot. Alasdair Scobie, Capital Programmes Director at London Gatwick, commented:“This refreshed design framework is a key enabler for delivering London Gatwick’s ambitious capital investment plan, ensuring high quality design incorporating more sustainable solutions delivered through a capable and competitive supply chain. “This is the first step in a broader construction supply chain strategy as we bring in the best designers, consultants and contractors to support the airport’s growth. It’s a crucial time for us, and we’re excited to begin this next phase in partnership with such a strong and diverse team.” The announcement underlines Gatwick’s commitment to sustainability, smart design, and inclusive development as the airport continues to evolve to meet future travel demands and customer expectations. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
CBRE has announced the appointment of Denis McGowan as Executive Managing Director within its Global Workplace Solutions (GWS) Financial & Professional Services Sector, reinforcing the company’s global leadership with seasoned expertise. In his new role, McGowan will lead enterprise accounts across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) as well as the Asia-Pacific (APAC) regions. McGowan joins CBRE from international property development firm Osborne+Co, where he oversaw major client relationships with global banking giants such as Santander, Citi and Wells Fargo, alongside partnerships with forward-thinking operators like BoB W. His deep industry knowledge was honed over a 14-year tenure as Global Head of Property at Standard Chartered Bank, where he oversaw workplace strategies for more than 85,000 employees across over 60 markets. This strategic hire signals CBRE’s continued investment in delivering end-to-end real estate solutions that respond to the evolving needs of financial and professional services clients. McGowan will partner closely with Paul Hubbard-Brown, recently named Head of Financial & Professional Services Sector within CBRE’s UK Advisory business, to strengthen integration across service lines and geographies. Reporting to Mike Hart, Sector President for GWS Financial & Professional Services, McGowan is poised to drive forward CBRE’s mission to deliver tailored, insight-led solutions that address both global complexity and local context. “Client needs are quickly evolving, and it is more important than ever that we deliver integrated value propositions,” said Mike Hart. “Denis’s experience and expertise make him uniquely qualified to help clients navigate industry-specific challenges. His appointment, coupled with the strengthening of our Advisory Financial & Professional Services Sector expertise, means our clients can be sure our teams are well positioned to deliver the best possible solutions.” With a reputation for bridging strategy with execution, McGowan’s arrival adds significant momentum to CBRE’s global ambitions. His leadership is expected to play a pivotal role in supporting clients with their transformation journeys, real estate optimisation and workplace evolution. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Kiverco recently welcomed Invest Northern Ireland’s Chief Executive Kieran Donoghue to its headquarters, alongside Anne Beggs, Executive Director of International Business and Skills, Kate Gilmore, International Trade Adviser, and Denzil Morrow, Client Executive. The visit provided an opportunity to discuss and showcase Kiverco’s ambitious 10-year growth strategy, which includes digitalising its manufacturing processes and extending its global reach. In order to deliver this strategy Kiverco is investing in infrastructure, people and digital transformation, underpinned by a companywide focus on sustainability. In 2024, Kiverco expanded its manufacturing facility to 40,000 sq. ft, significantly increasing production capacity, enabling the company to meet forecast growth in market demand and positioning it for long-term scalability and success. In 2025 the whole manufacturing facility was fitted with solar panels, with support from Invest NI, as part of its journey to net zero. People are at the heart of Kiverco, and the company is committed to creating exciting opportunities to attract new talent and to facilitating the career development of existing employees through upskilling to meet future requirements. Invest NI support for training and new roles has been vital in helping Kiverco deliver this key part of its strategy. Kiverco’s digital transformation is focused equally on developing digital technology to enhance its product range as it is on adopting digital technology to improve efficiency and productivity throughout its operation. Collaborations with the Queen’s University Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs), the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMIC), the Smart Manufacturing Data Hub (SMDH) and most recently becoming the lead SME on an Invest NI supported digital Cluster Acceleration Programme, Smart Industry Next, ensure that Kiverco is benefitting as a company but also contributing to the wider Northern Ireland manufacturing innovation ecosystem. Kiverco’s Managing Director and Chair of the AMIC Industry Advisory Board, John Irwin commented: “Digitalising manufacturing and incorporating smart designs are at the core of our business growth strategy, helping us to compete globally with a sustainable focus. With over 400 plants worldwide, we play a key role in cleaning up the world’s waste, reducing environmental impact, and contributing to a cleaner, circular economy. Committed to innovation and expanding into new markets, our recent progress in the Middle East and Australia presents exciting opportunities. With enhanced production capabilities and digital advancements, we are poised for continued domestic and export market growth, thanks to our partnership with Invest NI.” Kieran Donoghue, Chief Executive of Invest NI, stated:“Invest NI has worked with Kiverco for more than 15 years, supporting it to accelerate innovation and skills, improve supply chain resilience, and export its products around the world. We are delighted to support Kiverco’s growth strategy as it invests in productivity and digitalisation. “Our in-market India, Middle East and Africa team has been instrumental in supporting Kiverco’s growth in the Middle East, introducing the company to major stakeholders, providing one to one business development support, events and inward visits. We are delighted to support Kiverco as it scales up and makes a significant impact on the global recycling industry.” Based in Dungannon, Northern Ireland, Kiverco is a trusted leader in the design and manufacture of recycling plant solutions. With a focus on building lasting customer relationships, the company delivers bespoke solutions tailored to specific client needs. Known for its commitment to environmental sustainability, Kiverco provides cutting-edge recycling equipment that contributes to a cleaner and more sustainable future. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Speedy Hire, the UK’s leading provider of tools, equipment, and plant hire services, has unveiled the industry’s most advanced Carbon Reporting Tool – a transformative step in helping construction companies reach their decarbonisation goals faster and more efficiently. Developed as part of Speedy Hire’s wider strategy to enable customers to achieve their sustainability goals, the Carbon Reporting Tool benchmarks the operational performance of thousands of products, providing customers with detailed emissions reporting and reduction strategies. It represents a major innovation for the hire sector and a critical tool in the construction industry’s transition to Net Zero by 2050. The construction sector is a major contributor to carbon emissions, particularly from the operational fuel use of plant and equipment. In response, Speedy Hire, who are recognised as a UK leader in sustainability, are enabling the move from assumption-based data to actual performance metrics – setting a new standard for carbon transparency and accountability. Matthew Pygott, Head of Net Zero at Speedy Hire, said:“At Speedy Hire, we recognise the critical role we play in supporting the construction industry’s transition to Net Zero. We are seeing increasing demand for carbon quantification in tenders and contract performance. With our Carbon Reporting Tool, we provide customers with the insights needed to make more sustainable choices, reducing both carbon emissions and costs.” The tool has already been adopted by leading infrastructure and construction businesses. One of the first to trial it was Amey, a key client of Speedy Hire. Sam Taylor, Environment & Sustainability Business Partner at Amey, commented:“Speedy’s newly developed tool promises to give us greater visibility of our carbon emissions through plant and tool use and will help us drive behaviours to improve this. For example, live tracking of uptake of ‘eco’ products as an alternative to standard offerings, and the level of resolution of this data promises to help us review decisions made at an account and depot level and therefore drive behaviours with regards to plant and tool hire across the sector.” As the first UK & Ireland hire company to implement a PAS2080:2023 carbon management system, this tool will enable our customers to baseline, assess, and optimise their construction carbon footprint, aligning with their decarbonisation goals. Speedy Hire’s tool is designed to work seamlessly with its broader carbon management ecosystem. It will be independently audited under the company’s existing contract with sustainability consultancy Auditel. As part of its ‘Decade to Deliver’ strategy, Speedy Hire aims to ensure that 70% of its core fleet consists of eco-products by 2027, while driving eco-revenue and progressing towards its Scope 3 carbon reduction targets by 2030. With the launch of the Carbon Reporting Tool, Speedy Hire continues to demonstrate its position as a market leader in sustainable hire solutions. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The North’s most outstanding workplaces have been named, with prestigious British Council for Offices (BCO) Awards presented to six landmark office buildings across the region. On Thursday 3 April at Manchester’s Kimpton Clocktower, the BCO’s annual Northern Awards recognised projects that demonstrate best practice in office design, fit-out, operation and sustainability, setting the standard for excellence across the diverse sector. The BCO Regional Award winners in each category for the North were: Highly Commended workplaces were: The BCO Northern Awards judging panel was chaired by Adam Tillis, Operations Director of Dragonfly Contracts, alongside Nathalie Baxter, Head of Workspace (Strategy) at the Home Group; Danielle Ford, Associate Director at GenNorth; Lee Treanor, Director at HBD; Richmal Wigglesworth, Associate Partner at Sheppard Robson. Commenting on each of the winners, the BCO judges noted: Winner in the Projects up to 2,500 sqm category, Henry Boot Group’s (HBG) new headquarters at Isaacs Building, Sheffield, is a workplace transformation that exemplifies modern, flexible, and sustainable design. The judges noted: ‘This relocation from the historic Banner Cross Hall represents a significant cultural shift, fostering collaboration and innovation. Sustainability was central to the project, which achieved a BREEAM Very Good rating and reducing carbon emissions by 79%. By aligning workplace strategy with HBG’s net-zero 2030 goal, the new headquarters enhances employee engagement, boosts productivity, and sets a benchmark for sustainable workspaces. This forward-thinking approach solidifies HBG’s reputation as a leader in progressive workplace design and environmental responsibility.’ As Refurbished/Recycled Workplace of the Year, the Foundation redevelopment in Altrincham is an award-winning transformation, repurposing the former Rackhams department store into a dynamic hub for work, leisure, and community engagement. Judges noted that the project revitalises the town centre, providing a new gateway with modern offices, co-working spaces, retail, and dining: ‘Foundation sets a new benchmark for urban regeneration, proving that adaptive reuse can drive long-term economic and social impact.’ Deloitte’s office at 100 Embankment, Salford, was named champion in the Fit Out of Workplace category. Judges said: ‘This award-winning office exemplifies innovation, sustainability, and inclusivity, setting new benchmarks for hybrid working environments. The 6,085 sqm space is designed to foster collaboration, flexibility, and well-being, incorporating cutting-edge technology, sustainable materials, and dynamic workspaces. This transformative workplace embodies Deloitte’s vision, creating a thriving community hub that redefines employee experience and business innovation.’ West Village in Leeds received the Corporate Workplace award for masterfully unifying two separate buildings into a single, cohesive estate, anchored by a striking 20,000 sq ft extension that forms a bold gateway. Judges said: ‘The 115,000 sq ft transformation redefines modern workspace design, prioritising innovation, sustainability, and employee well-being. The fit-out seamlessly blends biophilia, advanced technology, and flexible work environments. Key features include a fully landscaped courtyard and an open-plan entrance, eliminating a traditional reception to create a more welcoming atmosphere. With collaborative workspaces, wellness facilities, inspiring art installations, and Net Zero Carbon strategies achieving an EPC A rating, this project sets a new benchmark for contemporary workplace excellence.’ A double winner in the ESG and Commercial Workplace categories, Eden in Salford was highly praised by the BCO judges: ‘Eden is a groundbreaking, award-winning office development that sets a new standard for sustainable workplaces. This 12-storey, Net Zero Carbon building features Europe’s largest living wall – an astonishing 3,300m² of greenery with 350,000 plants, redefining urban biodiversity. As the UK’s first 5.5-star NABERS UK Design Reviewed project, alongside BREEAM Outstanding and EPC A ratings, it proves that commercial spaces can be both high-performance and environmentally responsible. Beyond sustainability, Eden’s social impact is equally transformative; it prioritises well-being, offering a vibrant social hub including local business Spice & Grind, wellness spaces, and a rooftop terrace.’ Oldham Spindles was given the Innovation award for its groundbreaking, adaptive reuse of a building that has transformed a struggling 1990s shopping centre into a vibrant, multi-functional workplace and community hub. Judges commented: ‘Oldham Spindles is an innovative project that reimagines urban regeneration, proving that underutilised retail spaces can be repurposed for modern office environments. It sets a bold precedent for repurposing failing retail assets into thriving workspaces. A combination of architectural ingenuity, sustainability, and social impact makes it a worthy recipient of the BCO Innovation Award, showcasing a transformative model for urban regeneration.’ Alex Stork, Regional Committee Chair for the BCO, said: ‘This year’s BCO Northern Awards winners exemplify excellence in office design. These outstanding workspaces demonstrate how innovative strategies in well-being, sustainability, and community engagement can create remarkable commercial environments where people take pride in working. ‘The North continues to lead with some of the most exciting office developments, fuelled by collaborations between forward-thinking organisations, local authorities, and expert design and build specialists. Our judges were highly impressed by the exceptional quality of submissions this year. We extend our congratulations to the winners and those highly commended, and we eagerly anticipate the ongoing growth of the region’s office landscape.’ The Northern region winners will now compete for the BCO National Awards in October 2025. More details will be announced soon. The lead sponsor for this year’s BCO Awards is AET Flexible Space. Gold sponsors are AECOM, Glamox and Troup Bywaters + Anders. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Contractors building HS2 have completed work on a pair of innovative extensions to the southern portal of its longest tunnel to eliminate the possibility of ‘sonic boom’ being created by high-speed trains entering at 200mph. The structures, built at the southern end of the railway’s 10-mile Chiltern Tunnel to the north-west of London, are near identical to those now under construction at its northern portal in Buckinghamshire. All trains entering tunnels anywhere in the world force air forward, creating pulses of energy that roll along the tunnel causing a small release of air pressure into the outside world at the far end. Known scientifically as ‘micro pressure waves’, they are inaudible on conventional railways. But in high-speed rail tunnels, air shoved forward without escape routes can create powerful pressure waves that emerge as an audible ‘thud’ or ‘sonic boom’. In a first for the UK rail network, HS2’s design includes extensions on all eight tunnels where trains enter at speeds above 140mph. However, the length, physical setting and aesthetic of those at each end of the line’s tunnel beneath the Chiltern Hills mark them out as unique even to HS2. HS2 Ltd chief engineer, Mark Howard explains, “The maximum speed of HS2 varies along the route. But where the train is entering a tunnel travelling above 140mph we are building portal extensions to prevent ‘sonic boom’ occurring. Although there are several tunnels on the line where train speed will be higher than in the Chiltern Tunnel, no other combines speeds of 200mph with length of 10 miles. Its these unique physical characteristics that demand unique structures at each end.” First identified in 1974 during train testing on Japan’s then new 187mph ‘Sanyo’ shinkansen line, when people nearby noticed ‘booms’ near tunnel exits, the problem was solved by the invention of perforated portals extending from the tunnel entrance. Later, as train speeds gradually increased and further slight improvements in the control of micro-pressure waves were required, the solution was to radically enhance the train’s aerodynamics rather than retrospectively adding the pressure-dissipating portal extensions to tunnels that had already been built. The famous super-sleek, elongated aerodynamic snouts of Japanese high-speed trains cause the pressure to build up more gradually when the train enters a tunnel. Building on over 40 years of research by the international rail community, the engineering team from HS2 Ltd, engineering consultancy Arup together with the University of Birmingham and Dundee Tunnel Research, developed and laboratory-tested HS2’s tunnel portal design. To mitigate against ‘sonic boom’ HS2’s tunnel beneath the Chiltern Hills requires bespoke portal extensions. Protruding up to 220 metres – around the length of two full-size football pitches – from a chalky cutting near the M25 motorway, they are each punctuated along one side with ventilation portholes. These enable some air pushed forward by the train to escape, making the pressure increase more gradual so that the micro-pressure wave emitted from the other end of the tunnel is undetectable. The basic design can be adapted to different lengths: the longer the extension, the weaker the micro pressure wave. In order to decide how long each extension needed to be for every HS2 tunnel, the team used micro-pressure wave measurements from Britain’s first high speed line between London and the Channel Tunnel, HS1 as the benchmark. The line’s tunnels do not experience sonic boom because the micro pressure waves are too weak. Therefore HS2’s research team used it as the basis to develop anti-sonic boom porous tunnel extensions for the new London-West Midlands high speed line. Mark added, “HS2 was designed from the ground up as an entirely new and complete rail system. This enabled us to develop all its constituent parts e.g. trains, tunnels, stations, power systems to complement each other and operate as intended. “In the case of avoiding sonic boom at tunnel portals, we used already-established key criteria including train speed, tunnel diameter and length to develop tunnel portal extensions that would prevent sonic boom occurring.” Commenting, Arup Fellow Richard Sturt said, “Arup is proud to have helped create a new international benchmark for the suppression of sonic booms with the HS2 tunnel portals. They are longer than any existing portals anywhere else in the world as we have prioritized seating capacity on the train, avoiding the need for a long nose section on the train like the Japanese shinkansen. The portals’ unique tapered design combined with the precision-sized holes provide an incredibly smooth build-up of pressure as the train enters the tunnel. As a result, there won’t be any audible noises from micro pressure waves, despite the extremely high train speeds.” Construction of the Chilterns Tunnel, and its portal extensions was led by HS2’s main works contractor Align JV – that includes Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine and Volker Fitzpatrick. The group finished building those at the southern end in January 2025, with the northern pair following in the autumn of this year. Once operational passenger trains will travel through HS2’s 10-mile Chiltern Tunnel in three minutes Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A growing shortage of construction capacity and a risk-averse approach to new projects could put the brakes on London’s development ambitions, according to the latest research from infrastructure consultancy Aecom. The findings, published in Aecom’s annual London Main Contractor Survey, reveal that many of the capital’s largest contractors—responsible for a combined turnover of £6bn—have already filled their order books for 2025. The slowdown in tendering activity, combined with cautious contract selection, suggests the city may face serious barriers to meeting its construction and housing targets. Tendering activity among contractors has dropped to 60% in 2024, down from 72% last year. While still within Aecom’s “steady market” benchmark range of 60–70%, the decline indicates a hesitancy driven by ongoing economic uncertainty and the industry’s adjustment to the post-Grenfell regulatory landscape brought in under the Building Safety Act. London’s annual housing target sits just below 88,000 homes, but only around 38,000 are being delivered on average—less than half the goal. Aecom warns that this gap is likely to widen due to persistent labour shortages in both skilled and unskilled roles. While the slower progress of housebuilding schemes currently masks the issue, the anticipated acceleration in high-rise construction—once regulatory processes become more streamlined—could reveal a critical shortfall in available workers. Despite these headwinds, the report strikes a note of cautious optimism. Contractors are reporting a more stable market than in recent years, with a healthy pipeline of infrastructure and development projects on the horizon. London firms expect inflation to average 2.9% in 2025—marginally down on this year and closely aligned with Aecom’s forecast of 2.94%. Brian Smith, Aecom’s Head of Cost Management, commented: “There’s no shortage of opportunities for London’s major contractors, but the combination of tight regulations, a depleted labour pool, and economic aftershocks has made firms understandably cautious. The collapse of ISG last September was a stark reminder of the risks involved, and many are choosing stability over rapid growth.” He continued: “If the government is serious about delivering new homes and driving infrastructure-led growth, it must also support the industry in scaling up. This means renewed investment in skills training and addressing the post-Brexit loss of European labour—otherwise, the pipeline of planned projects may struggle to become reality.” As the capital aims to meet future housing and infrastructure needs, the message is clear: confidence is returning—but capacity must follow. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
