Dorset-headquartered housebuilder and developer AJC Group has completed its £10m Sonnet development, located on the iconic West Cliff in Bournemouth. Boasting uninterrupted views of the sea, the five-storey scheme comprises 14 two and three-bedroom luxury apartments, with over half already sold. Construction started on the site in December 2021 and
Carmarthenshire County Council and Bouygues UK, who are currently delivering the new prestigious, multi-million pound development Pentre Awel, held a Dragon’s Den style event to celebrate their 21st Century skills work experience scheme. Five local schools in Llanelli – Bryngwyn School, Coedcae School, Ysgol Pen Rhos, St John Lloyd RC
The Thermal Insulation Contractors Association (TICA) has welcomed the highest number of women to join its latest cohort of apprentices – following a successful East Midlands pilot programme. Of the 71 apprentices joining its latest quarterly intake at its national training centre in Darlington, six are female with a further
Kendall Cross, an accomplished consultant with a background in agribusiness, joins forces with leading consultancy ABCG Partners to drive international growth, particularly among agricultural and construction machinery OEMs. On-and-off highway commercial vehicle industry consultancy ABCG Partners has announced that it is to collaborate with Red River Ag Consulting, as part
Smart Spaces announces today that it has won the Santander Technology Business of the Year at the Growing Business Awards 2023 – an annual event which honours the UK’s most outstanding entrepreneurs and high growth SME businesses. Smart Spaces won because the judges were impressed by how much it had
This month SKArating is announcing an exciting change in its leadership and governance, as well as new plans to scale up to support the growing need to reshape sustainability in the fit-out world. Developed in 2008 to help landlords and tenants systemise sustainability and assess fit-out projects against a practical
Architects and designers face a significant challenge in the ever-changing world due to climate change. They play a vital role not just in creating visually appealing structures but also in ensuring resilience and adaptability to environmental shifts. Rising temperatures, heightened extreme weather events, and changing precipitation patterns are becoming more
New whitepaper explores how to identify and mitigate fire risks for flat roofs functioning as additional social or practical spaces of a building, including for solar installations The role of the roof in modern building design has expanded significantly in recent years. Now ROCKWOOL® has published a whitepaper aimed at
The historic Hydraulic Tower and Engine House at Bramley-Moore Dock is set to be handed over to Everton for the next phase of works. Painstaking work has been undertaken over the past two years to restore the Listed building, dating back to 1883, to its former glory. And with the
Award-winning UK supplier of external wall insulation (EWI) solutions, K Systems, has launched two innovative new systems to the industry in a matter of weeks. The most recent innovation, a new KIWA BDA-certified Direct Fix system is ideal for new build or retrofit steel framed structures of any height, delivers
Dorset-headquartered housebuilder and developer AJC Group has completed its £10m Sonnet development, located on the iconic West Cliff in Bournemouth. Boasting uninterrupted views of the sea, the five-storey scheme comprises 14 two and three-bedroom luxury apartments, with over half already sold. Construction started on the site in December 2021 and was finished this November. The completion event for the development was marked by a ribbon cutting and a speech from managing director of AJC Group, Sebastian Janes. The event was attended by residents, estate agents Winkworth Westbourne and Frost & Co. Bournemouth, and solicitors Trethowans. The £10m development is in one of the town’s most sought-after locations, with expansive coastal views and easy access to Bournemouth’s award-winning beaches. 50% of the apartments have now been sold, with only seven apartments still available. Prices for the remaining apartments range from £555,000 to £825,000, with the largest apartment being over 1000 sq ft. Seb Janes, managing director of AJC Group, said: “It was a fantastic event to celebrate the completion of this scheme and an opportunity to recognise all the teams that were involved in the construction and delivery of this development. This luxury apartment building has been sensitively designed to be in keeping with the historic local surroundings, and is one of the first new developments on the West Cliff, with easy access to seven miles of white sandy beaches as well as the newly refurbished The Nici Hotel. “In a year that has proved extremely challenging for many housebuilders and developers, we’re proud to have delivered this outstanding beachfront development on time and within budget. As a business, we are committed to supporting the local economy and this project enabled us to work with 26 contractors and created 150 jobs.” All the apartments have been constructed to a high EPC-C or B rated specification, including air source heat pumps for each dwelling, enabling purchasers and residents to lower their carbon footprint and ultimately reduce their energy bills. Designed by ARC Architects, the striking traditional building with contemporary interiors has professionally landscaped communal gardens, secure underground parking and bike storage, as well as private outdoor space in the form of either a terrace or balcony. Each apartment is fitted with herringbone LVT flooring, quartz worktops, shaker style matt kitchen units, with premium appliances throughout. The hotel style bathrooms feature luxury sanitaryware. All homes have access to a communal lift from the basement parking level to the top floor. AJC Group will provide all new purchasers with a £1,500 voucher for custom-fitted wardrobes by Haroys. Several popular bars and restaurants are walkable from the development, while many popular south coast landmarks are also within easy reach including Durdle Door and The New Forest National Park. The Nici Hotel, which is just along from the Sonnet apartments, recently had a £27m refurbishment and offers an array of leisure facilities to local residents via a membership. Poole-headquartered AJC Group was crowned Fast Rising Property Business of the Year and Housebuilder of the Year at the 2022 South Coast Property Awards, and was shortlisted in 2023 for a record five categories. The developer also recently scooped Affordable Housing Development of the Year for its Herbert Avenue scheme in Bournemouth at the 2023 Insider South West Property Awards. AJC Group currently has three sites under construction including Lindsay Road and The Sloop, which are located in Poole. In Dorchester a partnership project with Aster to deliver 57 affordable homes is well underway. AJC Group is on track to deliver over 200 mixed-tenure homes by Spring 2024, reflecting a total construction value in excess of £100m. The firm has become one of the most active residential development specialists across the Wessex region and has made a commitment to build 500 affordable homes by 2028. To make an appointment to view the Sonnet apartments, or for further details, contact: Winkworth Westbourne, tel: 01202 76763, or visit: https://www.winkworth.co.uk/properties/sales/west-cliff-gardens-bournemouth-dorset-bh2/WBN220250 Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Carmarthenshire County Council and Bouygues UK, who are currently delivering the new prestigious, multi-million pound development Pentre Awel, held a Dragon’s Den style event to celebrate their 21st Century skills work experience scheme. Five local schools in Llanelli – Bryngwyn School, Coedcae School, Ysgol Pen Rhos, St John Lloyd RC Comprehensive and Ysgol Y Strade – took part in the event aimed at empowering learners to discover careers in construction and design, a culmination of a 12-week learning and mentoring programme based around the world of building and construction. When the scheme was launched in May 2023, each school was given a brief to design a collaborative workspace, that aligned with the ethos of Pentre Awel; innovation, positive health and well-being and environmentally-sustainable design. During that time, they were mentored by Bouygues UK staff and had visits to site several times to develop their designs briefs and help them prepare for their final pitch to a panel of judges. The judging panel was made up of a diverse group of professionals from Bouygues UK, Carmarthenshire County Council and Gleeds Project Consultancy. The pupils had just 10-minutes to put their best foot forward and showcase their final designs, including the development journey they had been on and examples of how their mentors helped them along the way. Each school was responsible for their pitch and how they wanted to present to the panel, with some writing additional bid documents to support their presentation, some presenting 3D scale models, and others demonstrating digital fly-throughs of their designs. One group brought along a collection of plants to demonstrate their biophilic wall design. The designs on the day were so impressive that the judges found it difficult to single out one school as an overall winner; St John Lloyd RC Comprehensive and Ysgol Y Strade were crowned joint winners while primary school Ysgol Pen Rhos won the innovation/sustainability award for their biophilic design and carbon capture ideas. Nina Williams, Bouygues UK’s social value advisor for Pentre Awel, said: “The input from all the schools was outstanding with some amazing designs and concepts based around the four themes. The most rewarding part has been the way in which the learners have developed in confidence. “At the beginning of the experience they were all very nervous to ask questions, the mentors being unfamiliar to them, but by the time they were preparing for their final pitch, they were working round the table, firing off ideas, listening to the mentor’s advice and having conversations about how to change and improve their designs. The project has helped the schools to build future relationships with industries, utilising the knowledge and experience of professionals to enhance and develop their knowledge base which can be applied in their future curriculum design.” Project Director Peter Sharpe said: “It’s been really refreshing to take time out of my normal day-to-day activities to listen to the five presentations. The information and depth of knowledge and understanding of the brief were absolutely fantastic. I’m sure there will be some aspects of the learner’s designs that we could incorporate into the building. A project like this is of great value to the world of construction.” Aeron Rees, Head of Strategy and Learner Support at Carmarthenshire County Council, added: “It’s been an honour and a privilege to be part of the judging panel. The youngsters equipped themselves very well and they were inspiring in what they had to say and what they delivered. This project shows a superb example of the synergy between the business community and education, and we are really indebted to Bouygues UK and our colleagues in the council for facilitating this for our learners.” As part of Bouygues UK’s commitment to provide significant social value and engagement to surrounding schools, colleges and universities, there is also a school ambassadors scheme. Bouygues UK is keen for the children to share their ideas and help shape the project, which in turn will enable them to see first-hand the work that goes into the construction process. The children will make regular visits to the site to see the progress being made and will work on school projects centred around construction and building. The 21st Century Skills initiative is part of a broader programme of community benefits to be delivered during the development of Zone 1 of Pentre Awel to realise social, economic, cultural, and environmental benefits. This includes targeted recruitment and training, community engagement, STEM activities and supply chain engagement. Pentre Awel is a truly collaborative scheme being delivered for the local community by Carmarthenshire County Council in partnership with Hywel Dda University Health Board, Universities and colleges and is part-funded by the Swansea Bay City Deal (£40million). It aims to create around 1,800 jobs over 15 years and boost the local economy by more than £450m. The development will include a new state-of-the-art leisure centre and hydrotherapy pool together with education, research and business development space; a clinical research and delivery centre; and a well-being skills centre. Externally, Pentre Awel will enjoy landscaped outdoor public spaces for recreation, walking and cycling. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Thermal Insulation Contractors Association (TICA) has welcomed the highest number of women to join its latest cohort of apprentices – following a successful East Midlands pilot programme. Of the 71 apprentices joining its latest quarterly intake at its national training centre in Darlington, six are female with a further two women already having inducted earlier this year – compared with just one during the whole of 2022. Four were recruited as a result of TICA’s pilot initiative in Nottingham, which was designed to encourage more women to consider a career within the male-dominated industry. The national training provider attended several career fairs and colleges across the city and staged two recruitment days to raise awareness of the available opportunities and to match applicants with local employers. The female apprentices range in age from 16 to 50 and are from a variety of backgrounds and careers, including a special educational needs teacher, shop worker, and school leaver. In all, 12 female candidates attended the two recruitment days, and it is hoped the remainder may apply at a later date. The remaining four female apprentices at TICA were directly recruited by employers Altrad UK and Powertherm Contract Services. Marion Marsland, chief executive of TICA, said: “Prior to 2023, we welcomed on average just one female apprentice every three years. While the numbers may still be low, it represents a significant leap forward. It’s also encouraging to see that employers also recognise the benefits of having a more diverse workforce. “Women haven’t always seen construction as a career option due to a perception that it involves heavy manual work. This isn’t the case and TICA will continue to encourage and inspire more women to break down those invisible barriers that have prevented them from gaining well-qualified and well-paid jobs.” The thermal insulation industry is currently facing a recruitment shortage caused by an ageing workforce nearing retirement and a reduction in numbers of EU workers. Helen Anderson, head of learning at TICA, added: “We are experiencing a big demand for apprentices to bridge the resulting skills shortage, a gap that we are starting to bridge. “TICA is working with its employers to help them recruit directly, offering tailored support with everything from attending careers fairs, linking up with colleges, and organising recruitment campaigns and interviews.” It has also provided its members with free magnetic van stickers which is aimed at female recruits that features a QR code that provide further information on a career in thermal insulation. TICA’s apprenticeships combines practical on-site experience with employers with developing skills and best practice at TICA’s national training centre as apprentices work towards nationally recognised qualifications. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Kendall Cross, an accomplished consultant with a background in agribusiness, joins forces with leading consultancy ABCG Partners to drive international growth, particularly among agricultural and construction machinery OEMs. On-and-off highway commercial vehicle industry consultancy ABCG Partners has announced that it is to collaborate with Red River Ag Consulting, as part of its policy to partner with specialist partner firms and early and mid-career practitioners. Kendall Cross-Treadwell is the founder of Red River Ag Consulting. She is a forward-thinking beef producer and agricultural business advisor, with solid personal and professional experience up to enterprise level understanding. Kendall’s prior work in finance, labor relations and business development bring a diverse and holistic perspective to business strategy and operations. She focuses on actionable insights that distill complex principles into consumable and meaningful takeaways to a range of agribusiness and construction OEMs. Kendall Cross/Red River Ag Consulting has now entered into an alliance with ABCG Partners, where she serves as head of engagement and success management, contributing her experience in CRM, client management, marketing and project management. Deep farming and ranching roots Raised among the farming and ranching community of rural Oklahoma, USA, Kendall’s passion for agriculture and business led her to the prestigious Cornell University, where she earned a dual degree in industrial labor relations and agribusiness management. This was followed by experience in finance, before gaining a master’s degree in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University – and an MBA from Indiana University. Kendall’s recent professional experience includes working for compact equipment leader Kubota, where she worked with ABCG Managing Partner Alan Berger, before she founded Red River Ag Consulting. Commenting on their new collaboration Kendall says: “I am thrilled at this opportunity: it’s a great prospect to continue the great work Alan and I have done in the past – and to bring value to our clients on a global scale.” ABCG’s Managing Partner Alan Berger, himself the ex-CTO of CNH Construction and Volvo Construction Equipment, is equally pleased with the collaboration. “Kendall has a proven track record of success and is committed to the farming and construction communities. She and Red River Ag Consulting are a welcome addition to our resources and I’m confident our collaboration will deliver extensive value added to our clients.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Smart Spaces announces today that it has won the Santander Technology Business of the Year at the Growing Business Awards 2023 – an annual event which honours the UK’s most outstanding entrepreneurs and high growth SME businesses. Smart Spaces won because the judges were impressed by how much it had grown in such a short period of time. Its smart building operating system (OS) is leading the market helping to support customers meet their ESG goals and has subsequently established the UK as a world leader in smart building delivery. Now in its 26th year, the Growing Business Awards took place at an exclusive gala and dinner ceremony on Wednesday 29 November at the Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square in London. Dan Drogman, Smart Spaces’ chief executive officer, says, “Our ambition is to be the world’s leading smart building operating system for commercial real estate. We’re rapidly realising this goal as evidenced by our recent business performance and the future pipeline of projects we’re working on. Winning the Santander Technology Business of the Year at the Growing Business Awards makes us extremely proud given it’s a respected external third party highlighting and endorsing what we’ve achieved.” Key success highlights Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
This month SKArating is announcing an exciting change in its leadership and governance, as well as new plans to scale up to support the growing need to reshape sustainability in the fit-out world. Developed in 2008 to help landlords and tenants systemise sustainability and assess fit-out projects against a practical sustainability rating system, SKA is unique in that it is driven exclusively to make a positive impact. At the heart of SKA is a toolkit and assessment criteria that is free to use – costs are covered via training and certification. The scheme has now supported more than 12,000 fit-out projects to make responsible decisions. SKArating was initially developed by a group of industry professionals led by Skansen and supported by RICS and AECOM to focus on sustainability in fit-out, primarily in the commercial office, higher education, and retail space. The underlying philosophy of SKArating has always been to encourage all in the supply chain to make small changes in a practical way today. To establish SKArating in the market, RICS provided a platform to incubate the scheme, host information, and support the rating and certification process. The changes announced this week will see SkArating trade as an independent “not-for-profit” business. The new board is formed from people with a long-standing association with the scheme. Elina Grigoriou has chaired the SKArating Technical Committee since the scheme was first launched in 2008, and served on the SKArating Development Board as well as delivering the training of SKArating assessors. She is joined by Joe Croft, Charlie Law and Dave Wakelin who have been members of the Technical Committee for many years, and Iain McIlwee who has joined the board, cementing the Finishes and Interiors Sector’s strong association with the scheme. The Board has supported SKArating through its incubation with RICS and provides continuity as the scheme takes its next steps. SKA provides: The way SKArating operates will not be affected. Assessments will continue to be certified as they were under RICS’s stewardship. Assessors will continue to receive the same technical support that they have previously enjoyed through RICS, with updated processes for assessor accreditation and CPD. However, the board has plans to update the SKArating schemes to respond to an increasingly climate-aware fit-out industry, and to expand the sectors that SKArating can be used in. The board will be reaching out to industry experts, SKArating users, assessors, and clients to help develop the next iteration of the tool and the various schemes. Chairperson of the new SKA Board Elina Grigoriou stated: “This is an exciting time in the evolution of SKA. After 15 years developing the product and building awareness, we are now ready to step out on our own and work with our amazing community to take this scheme to the next level. With SKA now firmly established, it is time to take the next step and RICS has supported the leadership group to establish SKA as an independent social value business. “All of us on the new Board and our Technical advisors are passionate and committed to remaining true to the SKA values for its future direction. SKA will remain owned by the industry and run as a “not-for-profit” ensuring it is always acting in the best interest of the market.” Commenting on the changes, Janine Cole, Sustainability & Social Impact Director at Great Portland Estates plc stated: “GPE have used SKArating for several years and has supported the business in improving the sustainability performance of our smaller refurbishment projects. The flexible nature of the scheme makes it ideal for this type of project, as a result, it was recently included within “Our Brief for Creating Sustainable Spaces” as a requirement for our on floor fit out schemes. We look forward to working with the SKArating Board as they develop the scheme.” Ben Stubbs, Head of Sustainability (Built Environment) at UCL added: “At UCL, all our project teams are accountable for their impacts across a broad range of sustainability indicators. We recognise Ska’s potential to help us further reduce our impacts as we continue to update our institutional targets.” More details on the SKArating is available here: www.skarating.org Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Architects and designers face a significant challenge in the ever-changing world due to climate change. They play a vital role not just in creating visually appealing structures but also in ensuring resilience and adaptability to environmental shifts. Rising temperatures, heightened extreme weather events, and changing precipitation patterns are becoming more evident and impactful. To address the global impact of climate change on our surroundings, architects’ and designers’ responsibility should also go beyond aesthetics. Designing for Resilience In architecture, resilience pertains to a structure’s capability to withstand and recover from unforeseen events. Amidst climate change, this entails constructing buildings that can withstand extreme weather conditions like hurricanes, floods, and heat waves. Key principles to consider include: Site Analysis: Conduct a comprehensive analysis of the building site, considering historical weather patterns and anticipated climate changes to inform design decisions. Elevated Foundations: In flood-prone areas, contemplate elevating the building above potential water levels—providing protection from flooding and enhancing ventilation. Natural Ventilation and Cooling: Integrate natural ventilation systems to improve indoor air quality and reduce reliance on energy-intensive mechanical systems. Passive cooling techniques, such as shading and reflective surfaces, contribute to a more comfortable indoor environment. Durable Materials: Opt for materials capable of withstanding climate change impacts, such as high winds, heavy rainfall, and temperature fluctuations—enhancing the building’s lifespan and reducing maintenance costs. Adapting to Evolving Conditions Adaptability is another crucial element in designing commercial structures amid climate change. A building’s ability to adapt to changing conditions ensures its longevity and relevance. Strategies for creating adaptable systems include: Flexible Spaces: Design spaces that can easily adapt to changing needs, employing flexible floor plans and modular designs to facilitate adjustments without major renovations. Green Roofs and Access Doors: Integrate green roofs and access doors like the XPA exterior flush access panel for easy access to maintenance, reduced heat absorption, and biodiversity promotion—contributing to energy efficiency and natural buffers against extreme temperatures. Smart Building Systems: Incorporate smart building technologies responsive to real-time environmental conditions, optimizing energy usage for heating, cooling, and lighting based on the current climate. Water Management: Implement efficient water management systems to address shifting precipitation patterns, incorporating rainwater harvesting, porous surfaces, and sustainable drainage solutions to mitigate heavy rainfall impacts and prevent flooding. Collaboration and Innovation Constructing resilient and adaptive commercial structures requires collaboration and ongoing innovation within the architectural and design community. Sharing best practices, learning from previous projects, and staying abreast of emerging technologies are crucial in addressing climate change challenges. Key considerations include: Professional Networks: Active engagement in professional networks and industry conferences enables architects and designers to exchange ideas and experiences, learning from peers’ successes and failures to inform better design decisions. Research and Development: Allocating resources to research and development fosters the exploration of new materials, construction methodologies, and technologies. This investment aims to enhance a building’s resilience, ensuring a proactive stance in an ever-evolving field. Challenges in Designing Resilient and Adaptive Commercial Structures for Climate Change Architects and designers face many challenges that encompass the realms of design, construction, and maintenance—all integral to developing buildings capable of enduring the impacts of a shifting climate. Budget Constraints Designing and constructing resilient structures often comes with additional costs. Using durable materials, advanced technologies, and sustainable features may require a higher initial investment. Striking a balance between creating a resilient building and staying within budget constraints is a continuous challenge for architects and designers. Regulatory Hurdles Navigating complex and ever-evolving building codes and regulations can pose a significant challenge. These codes may only sometimes align with the innovative and adaptive design strategies needed to address climate change. Advocating for and influencing regulatory changes to accommodate sustainable and resilient practices is an ongoing struggle. Limited Data and Predictions Climate change brings uncertainties and challenges related to predicting future weather patterns accurately. Architects and designers often need more data on the long-term effects of climate change in specific regions, making it challenging to anticipate the exact environmental challenges a building may encounter over its lifespan. Educating Stakeholders Convincing clients, developers, and other stakeholders of the long-term benefits of resilient design can take time and effort. The immediate costs and benefits often take precedence over the future-proofing aspects of a building. Architects must effectively communicate the value of resilient and adaptive features to gain support and approval. Integration of New Technologies Rapid advancements in technology offer promising solutions for creating resilient structures. Yet, seamlessly incorporating these technologies into building design and construction practices requires time and effort. Architects and designers must stay updated on technological advancements and devise effective strategies for their implementation. Project Scale and Complexity The scale and complexity of commercial projects can pose significant challenges in achieving resilience. Large-scale structures, such as shopping malls or office complexes, may require extensive planning and coordination to implement resilient features across the entire property. Coordinating various systems and components to work harmoniously can be a logistical challenge. Long-Term Maintenance Resilient design is not a one-time effort; it requires ongoing maintenance and adaptation. Ensuring that building owners and operators understand the importance of maintenance for the longevity of resilient features can be challenging. With proper upkeep, the effectiveness of these features may remain high over time. Balancing Adaptability and Aesthetics Striking a balance between creating aesthetically pleasing structures and incorporating adaptive features can be challenging. Some resilient design elements, such as elevated foundations or protective barriers, may impact the visual appeal of a building. Architects must find creative ways to integrate adaptive features seamlessly into the overall design. Global Collaboration Climate change is a global challenge that must have collaborative efforts. Architects and designers must collaborate across borders to share knowledge, experiences, and best practices. Overcoming logistical and cultural differences to create a unified approach to resilient design is an ongoing challenge. Conclusion As architects and designers, the responsibility to create resilient and adaptive commercial structures in the face of climate change is significant. By integrating principles of resilience and adaptability into design practices, construction professionals can contribute significantly to a sustainable and enduring
New whitepaper explores how to identify and mitigate fire risks for flat roofs functioning as additional social or practical spaces of a building, including for solar installations The role of the roof in modern building design has expanded significantly in recent years. Now ROCKWOOL® has published a whitepaper aimed at helping specifiers and roof contractors to consider and plan for possible fire risks arising from flat roofs being used as multifunctional spaces for a variety of social and practical applications, highlighting, for example, the increasing number of solar energy installations. The Flat roofs: The functional fifth façade paper explores the fire safety implications of modern multifunctional roofs and discusses best practices for identifying and mitigating the risks. It also explains the role of the guidance provided in approved documents, including Approved Document B (ADB) for fire safety, and examines potential limitations of such advice for non-standard flat roof circumstances and scenarios. The whitepaper can be downloaded at https://rockwool.link/ffpr “While the use of flat roofs as functional spaces is not a new concept, the practice has become more and more popular in recent years, especially in increasingly crowded urban areas,” explains Lisa Stephens, Product Manager – Building Envelope, ROCKWOOL UK. “Now, flat roofs don’t just house plant and building services but energy efficiency infrastructure and social spaces too.” With the increasing complexity of the flat roof space in mind, this whitepaper addresses the risks associated with social and commercial uses of flat roofs, considering implications such as greater footfall and the impact of penetrations from building services and cabling on compartmentation and fire resistance. With the market for solar energy growing rapidly in the UK and Europe, Flat roofs: The functional fifth façade also places a specific focus on the lack of dedicated guidance for solar panels despite evidence that their presence may increase fire risk. “The information in the whitepaper will help those involved in the design and installation of flat roofs to make responsible choices when selecting materials to enable a modern flat roof to be multifunctional, safe and long-lasting,” says Lisa Stephens. “It offers practical advice to simplify specification whilst going above and beyond legislative requirements.” For more information and to download the whitepaper go to: https://rockwool.link/ffpr Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The historic Hydraulic Tower and Engine House at Bramley-Moore Dock is set to be handed over to Everton for the next phase of works. Painstaking work has been undertaken over the past two years to restore the Listed building, dating back to 1883, to its former glory. And with the external remediation works close to completion, including salvaging and reinstating existing brickwork, extensive re-pointing and the installation of new windows and doors sympathetic to the original design, the next phase of internal works to help breathe new life into the structure will commence next year. Emily Watson, Assistant Section Manager at Laing O’Rourke, explained: “We’ve have had to undertake a lot of remedial repairs and original make-safe works to get the building into a safe spot. “There has been some major re-pointing work, some new roofing elements installed and some structural work to make the building safe for the next stage. “The heritage aspect has always been a careful consideration. Originally, there were a lot of plans that needed to be signed off by Liverpool City Council, planning consultants CBRE and Heritage Project Management. “We’ve had close relationships throughout, and they have carried out inspections throughout the process too. There have also been Listed Building conditions that we’ve had to sign off and go through just to make sure that everyone was happy with what we were doing to the Grade II Listed structure. “That includes providing samples and showing them drawings, such as the windows and doors, so they can keep in touch with progress. “There was another Listed Building condition that meant we had to get sign off on the brickwork, so it could match the original design as much as possible. “In fact, the bricks from the old station master’s office, which was taken down because it was unstable, were all salvaged. The rebuild was actually done with all the existing brickwork, to keep it exactly the same.” Complementing the major project to renovate the Hydraulic Tower and Engine House has been an extensive amount of work to restore heritage assets to the site, particularly across the Fan Plaza. With the help of a £15m grant from Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, historic maritime features such as railway lines, capstans, mooring bollards and cobblestones – a feature during the dock’s heyday, when Liverpool’s docks dominated global trade – have been recorded, tagged and carefully reinstated. In total, more than 400 heritage assets have been preserved, with any additional items used as either exhibition items, or to be bequeathed to Liverpool City Council or Peel Waters for future development. And with the Fan Plaza currently being paved, and decorative benches featuring the famous Archibald Leitch truss design installed – the jaw-dropping entrance to the stadium site is gradually coming to fruition. The main feature, however, is sure to be the imposing Hydraulic Tower, which will even feature the original air raid siren bolted back onto the side of the building, following yet more work to restore it and cover it in a protective coating. Emily added: “When we first came, the air-raid siren had to be taken off, so we could replicate the original bracket on which it hung. “We’ve now refitted it onto the building and it has had a special coating, so it can remain there” “We now have the last ongoing works with the glazing, the louvres and the doors, and we’ve started to layer the roof, then there will just a few final touches, such as flashing and give it one last clean over before it can be handed over.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Award-winning UK supplier of external wall insulation (EWI) solutions, K Systems, has launched two innovative new systems to the industry in a matter of weeks. The most recent innovation, a new KIWA BDA-certified Direct Fix system is ideal for new build or retrofit steel framed structures of any height, delivers outstanding cost efficiency compared to cavity-based systems, and offers four stunning finishes, the widest range available on the market, with A1 fire resistance options within that. The new solution by K Systems, a renowned brand by industry leaders Kilwaughter Minerals, represents a significant R&D investment and follows extensive market research in partnership with existing customers and stakeholders. The launch of the distinctive and transformative Direct Fix system comes hot on the heels of K Systems’ introduction of its new M VBriQ+ system to market. The A1 fire-resistant mineral wool system with clay brick slip finish is a perfect architectural solution for buildings at all height levels and offers exceptional levels of durability and workability. The system is available in a variety of colours and textures providing unrivalled choice for customers to achieve their desired aesthetic with a standard range of brick slips available in stock. Kilwaughter Minerals’ Business Development Director, Caroline Rowley, said: “At Kilwaughter Minerals, we pride ourselves on maintaining continuous dialogue with our customers and the broader market to innovate and formulate new products tailored to their evolving needs. “We understand growing industry demand for EWI systems that are not only cost effective but that comply with stringent safety regulations whilst also offering superior durability. “With Direct Fix we have perfected an unmatched product which ticks all of those boxes, and we are delighted to finally bring it to market.” Two of the four finishes available with Direct Fix are A1 rated systems, offering the highest standards of fire safety. This launch and the A1 rated M VBriQ+ launch takes K Systems’ A1 portfolio to four A1 rated systems, evidencing the company’s equal dedication to safety and compliance in addition to innovation. Benefits of the newly introduced Direct Fix system also include an easier, faster installation process for applicators due to significantly reduced components, and an option for category one impact resistance rating guaranteeing buildings maintain a pleasing aesthetic for longer, and an unrivalled variety of finishes, colours and textures. Chief Executive of Kilwaughter Minerals, Gary Wilmot, added: “At K Systems, safety is non-negotiable, so we are proud to once again have our products awarded with the industry’s highest A1 fire resistance rating, enabling us to offer a solution that provides complete peace of mind to both customers and residents alike. “The launch of both systems is a shining example of our ability to deliver innovation without compromise and further testament to our prowess in creating products which provide tangible advantages for both those working with our systems and those living in the designated buildings.“ K Systems is a trusted supplier of EWI systems into the UK market for over 30 years and boasts a proven track record of reliability and durability. To learn more about Direct Fix, M VBriQ+, or various other industry-renowned K Systems available, visit www.k.systems. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
