The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has just announced the launch of a design competition following the ‘Competitive Procedure with Negotiation’ on behalf of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. The competition is seeking an architect to design the Fleming Centre, a Life Sciences facility that will be located on
David Connacher, Marketing Manager at West Fraser, discusses the products on offer to the MMC market. What is MMC and does it account for a significant proportion of building activity? The phrase ‘Modern Methods of Construction’ has been with us for three decades now, though you could trace the building
Drainage and water supply specialist Polypipe Building Services has appointed four new Technical Sales Managers to support specifiers, contractors and merchants across the Midlands, Wales and Southern England. Rob Graham, Greg Winnard, Kevin Taylor, and Craig Chamberlain will work closely with customers, providing a local point of contact to access
CBRE’s Scottish headquarters has been awarded WELL Certification™ at Platinum Level, recognising the global real estate advisor’s commitment to promoting employee wellbeing. The ground floor office at 177 Bothwell Street in Glasgow is the first project in the UK to be certified under the newest version (WELL version 2) of
Keller Kitchens introduces bio-based kitchen Keller has delivered a first for the kitchen market; a bio-based kitchen. enduura® is exceptional because the material used is not readily available in the market. By bringing together complementary suppliers, Keller has created a bio-based interior panel suitable for mass production, from their own
Nick Parsons, Executive Chairperson of AKW Holdings Group, Clare Hayward MBE DL High Sheriff of Cheshire and Cllr Simon Whittaker, Mayor of Middlewich opened a new AKW manufacturing facility in Middlewich, Cheshire. AKW, one of the UK’s leading providers of accessibility solutions, is pleased to announce the opening of its
Victoria Hills, Chief Executive of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), states national renewal of the planning system could have a significant impact on the planning profession and the UK economy. A recent report by Public First, commissioned by the RTPI, revealed that investing in planning could unlock £70 billion
To meet its manifesto pledge of 1.5 million new homes within this parliamentary term, Labour must deliver just over 1,150 new homes consistently every single working day for the next five years without defaulting – this is roughly equivalent to delivering at least five large scale housing estates every single
Landsec, one of the UK’s leading commercial real estate companies, is launching an optimised Landsec Experience app across its entire London portfolio of prime workplaces using Smart Spaces’ smart building OS. The new app is designed to help people who work in Landsec’s buildings get the most from their time
Independent commercial property management and building consultancy firm, Workman LLP, has made 49 promotions across the business, including six new partners. Charting an upward trajectory, it currently manages more than 4,000 properties, with a capital value of approximately £20 billion and rising. The latest promotions extend across the firm’s 11-strong
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has just announced the launch of a design competition following the ‘Competitive Procedure with Negotiation’ on behalf of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. The competition is seeking an architect to design the Fleming Centre, a Life Sciences facility that will be located on the St. Mary’s Hospital site in Paddington, London. The Centre will be at the heart of the global Fleming Initiative, an innovative and collaborative new approach led by the Trust and Imperial College London, with HRH Prince of Wales as its patron, to tackle anti-microbial resistance (AMR) around the world. At the Fleming Centre, scientists will work alongside clinicians, patients, members of the public and policy makers to scope, test and scale solutions. Consequently, the building should be purposefully designed to encourage the public to engage with world-leading science, policy and behavioural change research, ensuring new solutions work for local contexts. The Centre is due to open at St Mary’s hospital in 2028, helping mark the centenary of the discovery of Penicillin at the hospital by Sir Alexander Fleming. It will be the first new building to open on the St Mary’s site in the coming years, as plans for the wider redevelopment of the whole hospital site continue to progress. Professor Tim Orchard, Chief Executive, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust said: “The launch of the RIBA design competition marks an exciting milestone for the Fleming Centre and St Mary’s hospital more widely. This state-of-the-art facility will not only honour the legacy of Alexander Fleming and St Mary’s as the birthplace of penicillin but also spearhead the fight against antimicrobial resistance through groundbreaking research and public engagement. We are looking forward to collaborating with visionary architects to create a centre that will inspire and facilitate global change in healthcare. It will also be the first completed building in the redeveloped St Mary’s hospital, demonstrating our vision to protect St Mary’s position as a world-class trauma hospital and a centre for life-saving research.” Applications are invited in accordance with the requirements set out in the briefing document and selection questionnaire. Further information can be found on the competition webpage including a link to register. The deadline for receipt of applications is 7 August 2024 at 12:00 BST. It is anticipated that up to five teams will be shortlisted and invited to participate in the design phase of the competition. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
David Connacher, Marketing Manager at West Fraser, discusses the products on offer to the MMC market. What is MMC and does it account for a significant proportion of building activity? The phrase ‘Modern Methods of Construction’ has been with us for three decades now, though you could trace the building methodology back to the early examples of prefabrication; products such as timber roof trusses and precast concrete panels were constructed offsite. Today’s MMC really started to gain traction in the ‘90’s, mainly through the increased number of timber frame systems, many of them from Europe or Scandinavia, being used for housebuilding. Greater emphasis on improving energy performance, as well as reducing waste in the building industry, is pushing more developers towards using MMC or ‘Offsite’ building techniques and the Scottish Government is in the process of making it mandatory for all new homes. What categories of MMC do West Fraser products get used for? While there are still some companies supplying basic ‘Open’ timber frame systems, ever more are moving to offering ‘Closed Cell’ alternatives which feature a sheathing board and factory-fitted insulation in the cavity which saves time on site for the builder. Then there are more advanced components including flooring cassettes and roof cassettes, or complete room-in-the-roof modules, which can be craned onto both new-build and existing wall structures. These could use high performance panel products for the floors, fixed to rafters as sarking boards, or to clad the cheeks of dormer windows. In addition, SIPs or Structural Insulated Panel systems, with their own association, are increasingly popular due to their high standards of airtightness as well as thermal insulation. SIPs normally feature a substantial thickness of expanded foam insulation between two layers of a timber-based board product. Why do offsite manufacturers choose West Fraser board products over those of rival suppliers? There is a couple of basic commercial considerations as to why manufacturers choose to buy their panel products from West Fraser, including price and availability; yet, for many regular customers it comes down to a combination of technical factors. Amongst these, quality and dimensional accuracy crop up most often in comments from leading manufacturers, both because they have built their businesses on ensuring clients have no concerns about the speed of installation and alignment on sites, and also because they are using highly automated production lines where irregular sizes or structural weakness can cause costly problems. Basically, West Fraser boards are produced under similarly stringent processes in a modern plant; complying to very high tolerances and can be relied on to cut cleanly when computer-controlled saws, routers or even laser cutters are being operated. Also, once in use, the different boards will offer the required racking strength (sheathing boards), spanning capacity (flooring), impact strength or all-round durability. Which West Fraser boards feature in MMC systems? Several of the company’s tried-and-tested panel products have become firm favourites with manufacturers across the offsite industry, utilised for a wide variety of MMC systems including closed panel production, SIPs and modular solutions. They include SterlingOSB Zero which is bought by a number of SIPs companies who commend it for the dimensional accuracy as it would stick out like the proverbial sore thumb if the opposite faces of the insulated sandwich panel didn’t match up. CaberFloor P5 and CaberDek also feature fully amongst companies specialising in floor cassettes and larger modules, used as a surface which can be left exposed or covered with carpet and other flooring finishes. Are there any other special applications which count as MMC? Thanks to social media as well as its extensive distributor network, West Fraser is becoming aware of new and often increasingly sophisticated applications for its products every week. Recent examples amongst these include the WikiHouse system which has been developed by Open Systems Lab in consultation with Imperial College – and which makes use of SterlingOSB Zero to fabricate a series of hollow beams, wall blocks and other components. These have been designed so that they can be made in relatively small workshops for the construction of low-rise housing. And, interestingly, it was the material’s shear strength which persuaded the company to switch from the imported plywood material originally trialled. Then for companies who specialise in supplying fully fitted modular homes, rather like some mobile homes, CaberMDF is widely preferred for manufacturing fitted furniture as well as deeply routed items like the doors for kitchen cabinets. Basically, if you live in a modern home, there is a strong chance you are surrounded by West Fraser board products. For further information, call 01786 812 921 or visit https://uk.westfraser.com/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Drainage and water supply specialist Polypipe Building Services has appointed four new Technical Sales Managers to support specifiers, contractors and merchants across the Midlands, Wales and Southern England. Rob Graham, Greg Winnard, Kevin Taylor, and Craig Chamberlain will work closely with customers, providing a local point of contact to access the latest technical advice and information. The four bring with them a wealth of construction industry experience and will each be allocated a geographic area to support. Rob Graham will serve the West and Wales, Kevin Taylor the South East, Greg Winnard North Wales and West Midlands, and Craig Chamberlain the Northern Home Counties and North London. Regional Director Simon Russell, who heads up the UK team across the Central and Southern areas, said these appointments play a key part in working closely with specifiers, contractors, and merchants to provide them with face-to-face support. He commented: “I’m delighted we’ve been able to make these appointments. They will allow us to provide customers across the region with an even greater level of technical support . “We all know that the construction industry is changing, with a raft of new regulations and best practice to stay on top of – from building safety to sustainability. This makes it even more important that specifiers, contractors, and merchants have easy access to the technical information they need. “As one of the longest established drainage and supply manufacturers in the UK, we recognise the need to stay ahead of industry and market development and put our customers in the best position to deal with the challenges and opportunities with which they are faced. These appointments are a great example of that commitment in action – making sure customers have a local point of contact they can call to discuss how best to tackle technical challenges on their projects.” To contact the technical sales team call 01622 795200, and for more information about all the latest products at Polypipe Building Services go to www.polypipe.com/commercial-building-services Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
CBRE’s Scottish headquarters has been awarded WELL Certification™ at Platinum Level, recognising the global real estate advisor’s commitment to promoting employee wellbeing. The ground floor office at 177 Bothwell Street in Glasgow is the first project in the UK to be certified under the newest version (WELL version 2) of the International WELL Building Institute’s standard. Designed with the health and wellbeing of employees at its heart, CBRE’s workspace includes a choice of standard and standing desks to help improve posture, incentivise movement and reduce back pain, as well as plants to increase biophilic connection, and access to free fresh fruit and vegetables. A multi-purpose room offers a comfortable place for team members to take a break, recharge and connect with colleagues, and there are huddle boards to encourage collaboration. The office also benefits from the building’s rooftop running track, spa quality changing facilities and cycling racks. Running through the office entrance is a rammed earth wall that follows the soil stratification underneath the city, celebrating the nature and culture of the office location and connecting tenants and guests with the heritage of the site. David Smith, CBRE’s Managing Director in Scotland, said: “Being awarded a platinum award is a fantastic achievement and comes just months after we received a BREEAM Excellent rating for sustainability. “These awards reflect the tireless work and determination of the team in Glasgow to create a workplace that is not only good for the planet but for also for the health and mental wellbeing of everyone who works here. “The world of work has changed since the pandemic and it has never been more important to create inspiring ‘destination’ workplaces, which encourage collaboration, creativity and a sense of community. We hope 177 Bothwell Street will become a flagship for office design not just in Glasgow but across the UK.” The WELL platinum rating was based on several health and wellbeing criteria, including air and water quality, nutrition, lighting, thermal and acoustic comfort, material selection, mental health support and a focus on building a sense of community. This is the second WELL Certified Platinum CBRE building in the UK. Its London headquarters, Henrietta House, was awarded Platinum certification in March 2023, demonstrating the ongoing commitment of the organisation to its people’s health. CBRE’s ESG, Design Hub, GWS and Project Management teams worked together to ensure that sustainability and wellbeing strategies were seamlessly integrated into the design, construction and operations of 177 Bothwell Street. Giuliano Camerini, Senior Sustainability and Health and Wellbeing Consultant, ESG Consultancy at CBRE, said: “CBRE’s Glasgow office showcases the future of workspace design. The wellbeing journey here prioritises occupants and the environment, creating a dynamic and thriving space for everyone who uses it. “This achievement serves as a prime example of CBRE leading the way for sustainable and healthy office environments and showcases the best in class workplace solutions our teams can provide to clients.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Keller Kitchens introduces bio-based kitchen Keller has delivered a first for the kitchen market; a bio-based kitchen. enduura® is exceptional because the material used is not readily available in the market. By bringing together complementary suppliers, Keller has created a bio-based interior panel suitable for mass production, from their own manufacturing facility in Bergen op Zoom, The Netherlands. With the introduction of the biobased kitchen, DKG takes an important step towards its goal: 100% bio-based products by 2030. The base material is MDF which comprises residual streams from the wood industry. This means that no trees are cut down for its production, thus avoiding extra CO2 emissions. In addition, conventional MDF contains a binder made from fossil, environmentally-harmful materials. With the enduura®, the binder of this super-sustainable kitchen comes from organic residues from the food industry; namely sunflower seeds and rapeseed. These resources are completely renewable, while the protein concentrate from these seeds has been found to work exceptionally well as a binder for sheet material in the interior industry. The top layer is a HPL (high pressure laminate) made from kraft paper and a bio-based resin in place of phenolic resin. This makes the kitchen free from phenol and formaldehyde which is a chemical that emits an unpleasant odour which is harmful. Kraft paper, already widely used for biodegradable packaging, is made from the pulp of coniferous trees, which are more sustainable as they grow much faster than deciduous trees. The applied organic resin is made from bagasse fibre, the residue of sugar cane once all the sugar has been extracted. The result is a bio-based sheet material made from renewable raw materials that are much less burdensome on the environment than traditional materials. Because they sequester CO2 during their growth and because production is often more energy-efficient than with traditional materials, the CO2 footprint is substantially smaller while, thanks to the application of HPL, the kitchen will last at least 25 years. Currently, Keller, in The Netherlands, operates a circular process for kitchens made of chipboard. Old kitchens are collected and converted by the circular processor into new raw materials for the company’s largest chipboard supplier. Keller is now investigating how the biobased kitchen can be collected to make new raw materials. For further information, please visit www.kellerkitchens.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Nick Parsons, Executive Chairperson of AKW Holdings Group, Clare Hayward MBE DL High Sheriff of Cheshire and Cllr Simon Whittaker, Mayor of Middlewich opened a new AKW manufacturing facility in Middlewich, Cheshire. AKW, one of the UK’s leading providers of accessibility solutions, is pleased to announce the opening of its sizeable new showroom and manufacturing facility in Middlewich, Cheshire. AKW is proud to continue investing in British manufacturing and the 26,000 sq ft facility will produce accessible bathroom and kitchen products from across the company’s portfolio. In addition, the site includes offices and a large bathroom and kitchen showroom and client assessment centre, to enable Occupational Therapists, contractors, and other specifiers in the North West to experience AKW’s product range in situ and receive product training as needed. Following the acquisition of Contour Showers Limited in 2022, it quickly became clear that the existing Contour facility in Winsford would not be able to meet AKW’s manufacturing requirements. A new production site in Total Park, Middlewich, was subsequently taken on under a long-term lease and the layout amended during construction to suit AKW’s needs. Located three miles from junction 18 of the M6, AKW’s new facility is EPC A-rated and features roof mounted solar panels which will generate an estimated 15,000 kWh electricity per year for the site. Alongside AKW staff, all of the Winsford site’s employees have made the move to the facility and a fuel allowance, free transport service and hybrid working have been set up to make the transition easier. Nick Parsons, Executive Chairperson of AKW Holdings Groupcomments: “The opening of this showroom and manufacturing facility makes AKW the largest producer of bathroom and kitchen adaptation solutions in the North West. We are very proud of the reputation that AKW has built up over the years for providing high quality inclusive bathroom and kitchen solutions that stand the test of time. With the opening of the Middlewich facility, now even more installers, specifiers and end users across the region will be able to experience the exceptional AKW and understand why our strapline is ‘Life Made Better’.” To find out more about the new facility visit https://akw-ltd.co.uk/akw-opens-parsons-house/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Victoria Hills, Chief Executive of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), states national renewal of the planning system could have a significant impact on the planning profession and the UK economy. A recent report by Public First, commissioned by the RTPI, revealed that investing in planning could unlock £70 billion in additional value for communities and the UK economy. Victoria Hills, Chief Executive of the Royal Town Planning Institute, said: “The Chancellor has wasted no time in preparing plans that will have a positive impact on the planning profession and the UK’s economy. Her goals highlight the role of our planning system in boosting the UK economy, and mark a clear shift in the government’s understanding of what our system can provide. Our members should be under no illusion that this will put a focus on delivery across the planning system. “However, our members in local authorities are overworked and understaffed, and have faced years of severe strain. Economic success will therefore require proactive planning and an investment into our planning system.” On local plans and green belt: “It is promising to see the government begin its parliamentary term with policy changes keenly fought for by the RTPI, including universal coverage of local plans, and reviews of greenbelt boundaries. These changes will be essential for rebuilding trust and coordination in our planning system and for ensuring that new developments are done with local communities, rather than to them.” On reforming the National Policy Planning Framework (NPPF): ”The Chancellor outlined plans to reform the NPPF and restore mandatory housing targets. Our members have been clear that recent changes to the NPPF have left many councils, especially those with significant land constraints, with few incentives to deliver on existing housing targets. “Locally-determined housing targets that are well evidenced and aligned to a plan-led ‘vision’ can play a constructive role in planning for housing. However they must come with adequate investment in the infrastructure and planning services required to support them.” On onshore wind: “The minister has wasted no time in pushing forward reforms to the NPPF that the RTPI has long called for, including ending the ban on onshore wind and committing to consult on it’s return to the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) regime. On the appointment of Matthew Pennycook as Housing Minister: “We will now work closely with Mr Pennycook to support the government’s ambitions by unlocking the power of the planning system. Throughout his time in opposition, the minister demonstrated a clear understanding of the value of planning, playing a positive role during the Levelling Up and Regenerations Act’s passage through parliament, and championing many of the amendments supported by the RTPI.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
To meet its manifesto pledge of 1.5 million new homes within this parliamentary term, Labour must deliver just over 1,150 new homes consistently every single working day for the next five years without defaulting – this is roughly equivalent to delivering at least five large scale housing estates every single week to achieve the newly set housing target. A more detailed plan is needed as a priority from the UK Government on how their aim will be delivered and when. There must also be full disclosure on infrastructure planning to support homes as they are being built. Developments must have comprehensive design regarding essential services such as education, policing, health, transport, and employment – it cannot ever be a case of weaving thousands of additional new homes into current metropolitan areas and expecting the current structure to absorb the additional pressures. In addition, there must be due consideration for ensuring there is a wide-ranging skillset and workforce in place that can bring this enormous vision to life. There must be cross party cooperation and strong stakeholder engagement to ensure plans are workable, realistic, and can be delivered within the timeframe promised. Each area identified as having potential for new housing must pay full respect to greenbelt status, and there should ideally be a focus on bringing brownfield land back to purposeful use first. However, Chancellor Rachel Reeves stated that the UK Government intends to build on some green belt land, but this should involve a full review to prioritise alternative available land to achieve their housing targets. Referring to the planning system ‘an obstacle’, Ms Reeves committed to building their targeted package of new homes. However, there must also be a variety of different tenures when it comes to constructing new homes to ensure both buyers and renters are served well. To implement such a bold task, it is right to review the entire system from top to bottom, implement potential improvements and make better use of technology for both insight and delivery. With the UK population expected to surge to around 70m within the next ten years, it is critical that supply keeps up with demand. Currently, the housing sector continues to suffer from a drastic undersupply of sustainable new homes, which in turn is contributing to artificially higher costs for both buyers and renters. Nathan Emerson, CEO at Propertymark, comments: “There is no doubt that the new UK Government must prioritise building homes the nation desperately needs, and that is why we welcome a commitment to deliver new homes and review green belt boundaries with a view to prioritising brownfield and grey belt land to meet manifesto pledges. “Local councils need as much support as possible in meeting the new UK Government’s aims. Building 1.5 million new homes by the next general election is an challenging target, but Propertymark would like to see urgent clarity and detail as to how this ambition can be achieved. This goal would require over a thousand new homes to be built every working day before 2029.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Landsec, one of the UK’s leading commercial real estate companies, is launching an optimised Landsec Experience app across its entire London portfolio of prime workplaces using Smart Spaces’ smart building OS. The new app is designed to help people who work in Landsec’s buildings get the most from their time in and around their offices. In addition to digital access control, it provides office customers with access to a range of personalised experiences, events and discounts along with the latest information about their workplaces, through their smartphones and smartwatches. The app also integrates with Landsec’s flexible office brand – Myo – allowing Landsec customers to book meeting rooms and events spaces through the app in Piccadilly, The City of London, Southbank and Victoria. In line with Landsec’s wider focus on leveraging data and insights to improve customer experiences, the app will also enable two-way consumer feedback for Landsec with customer surveys to better understand how its buildings are being used and any opportunities for its services to be enhanced. Smartphone access to buildings is now ‘live’ The Landsec Experience app will also provide contactless entry for customers, aligned with Landsec’s strategy to deliver digital-led solutions which enhance guest experience. At all London locations, access credentials can now be stored in digital wallets to make this a seamless experience. To facilitate this, Landsec has optimised the technology throughout its spaces with upgraded doors readers in many buildings, as well as implementing HID Mobile Access. This makes it straightforward to deal with all the licensing and credential management for tenants and visitors, as well as setting building access rights which is now all done quickly and remotely. Oliver Knight, Head of Workplace at Landsec said: “Alongside our exciting plans to activate our places and buildings, the Landsec Experience app is designed to help the people who work in our spaces get the most out of their time in and around the office. By launching this optimised Landsec Experience app, with even more capabilities, we’re providing a personalised and digital user experience which will enhance the working week for everyone who uses our workplaces.” Today, registered users simply have to download the Landsec Experience app to then use their Android or Apple smartphones or watches to have quick and seamless access by holding their device near any HID reader to open the turnstiles and doors automatically. Smart Spaces’ OS provides easy central control with the ability to modify the app per building and an architecture designed to allow access control software from multiple vendors to be incorporated easily. Dan Drogman, Smart Spaces’ Chief Executive Officer, says, “We’re delighted to support Landsec with the development of its customer experience app and introduction of mobile access. It’s an important step on their smart building journey with our OS platform capable of scaling with them. It helps a customer like Landsec maximise the investment in its estate to the full.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Independent commercial property management and building consultancy firm, Workman LLP, has made 49 promotions across the business, including six new partners. Charting an upward trajectory, it currently manages more than 4,000 properties, with a capital value of approximately £20 billion and rising. The latest promotions extend across the firm’s 11-strong nationwide office network and cover vital sectors. These include core property management and building consultancy, along with high-growth services, such as building technology, ESG, and project management. The geographic spread and multi-disciplinary nature of the promotions highlights continued growth across all parts of the business. The new partners are: Matthew Pateman, Managing Partner, said: “Investment in our people continues to be a cornerstone of the Workman culture, and these promotions are shining examples of the career development and progression on offer here. Talent is the driver of positive change, so the energy, determination, and dedication of our teams deserves to be recognised and rewarded. Our recent promotions are testament to these individuals’ commitment to delivering the highest standards of service to our valued clients. I congratulate every one of this year’s group and look forward to working alongside them, as they continue to develop in their careers.” These latest promotions come after the firm recruited 46 graduates and apprentices across the business during 2023, with more planned for 2024, to continue to develop the talent of the future. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
