A health, wellbeing and productivity CPD from Armstrong Ceilings is now RIBA-approved.  Information on the market drivers and impact of building design and construction on occupant health, wellbeing and productivity are contained in a new RIBA-approved CPD from Armstrong Ceilings. The “Health, Wellbeing and Productivity” CPD meets the RIBA CPD core curriculum subjects of designing and building it (design, construction, technology and engineering) on a general awareness knowledge level. Designed to explain how to integrate user-centered interior design to positively impact the health, wellbeing and productivity of occupants, the CPD presents the cost to major economies of not getting it right, with acoustics being a major bugbear alongside lighting, air quality, temperature and décor. Armstrong’s CPD suggests user-centered design as an evolution of conventional design where the project is divided up into small parts, with individual team members only really looking at their own part and not always considering the whole project and how people interact with it. Whereas the user-centred integrated approach is designed by a whole team at the same time so all options can be considered and improved. It also presents the results of surveys on indoor air quality, where the use of low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) materials can improve the environment, and on thermal comfort, where the use of PCM (Phase Change Material) ceilings can optimise the internal temperature of spaces using passive energy-saving materials. With acoustics being a main irritant, consideration is given to solutions for spaces with varying acoustic requirements, while the part ceilings can play in harvesting natural light is explained as part of improving productive working via enhanced visual comfort. The CPD also explains how ceilings systems which deliver solutions for a variety of user comforts can also deliver green building credits such as BREEAM, LEED and Ska, with the ability to recycle old ceiling tiles adding further credits in all three schemes. Case studies also quantify the return on investment for using ceiling solutions to deliver improved wellbeing in education and healthcare environments. To book the new “Health, Wellbeing and Productivity” CPD please contact Armstrong on Freephone 0800 371 849 or by email at sales-support@armstrong.com    All of Armstrong’s CPDs are available to preview on http://www.armstrong.co.uk/commclgeu/eu1/uk/gb/RIBA_seminars.html?intcid=promo_en-gb_RIBA-SeminarsHP_2014Feb ENDS   Source link

Construction consultant Turner & Townsend has moved offices from Savoy Court in the Strand to larger premises at One New Change in the City. Above: One New Change, opposite St Paul’s Cathedral The move comes on the back of a near doubling of Turner & Townsend’s London revenues in the past five years. More than 1,000 staff will be based in the new London office, sharing a single 3,800 m2 (41,000 sq ft) floor plate. UK managing director Jon White said: “In the last five years our London office has increased its revenue by 84%, and as the business has grown, so too has our capability and our ambition. In the past year alone we have increased our London headcount to more than 1,000 people. “Our new home at One New Change will have substantially more space than our premises at Savoy Court, and will give us the freedom to continue expanding. The new office is also closer to the London bases of many of our global clients, and is laid out on one floor, with more open and flexible space.”     This article was published on 6 May 2016 (last updated on 6 May 2016). Source link

Contractors’ views are being invited on a programme of refurbishment works to the UK parliamentary estate worth up to £650m. Above: Photo of parliamentary estate © UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor The UK parliament has begun a market engagement exercise to discuss plans for procuring a main works contracting partner to support its northern estate programme. This programme consists of the essential repair and refurbishment of a number of historic office buildings on the parliamentary estate in the vicinity of the Palace of Westminster. It does not include the full refurbishment of the Palace of Westminster parliament building itself, which is set to cost at least £1bn (see previous report here) but it could include certain early elements of the Palace of Westminster Restoration & Renewal Programme. Work on the northern estate programme will comprise renewal of the mechanical and electrical services, as well as restoration to the fabric of the listed buildings. Work is expected to be in the range of £150m to £650m and take between three and four years to complete.   Buildings to be refurbished include: Norman Shaw North Norman Shaw South 1 Derby Gate Canon Row residences 1 Parliament Street Other decant buildings as required and potentially certain early elements of the Palace of Westminster Restoration and Renewal Programme. Contractors’ views are being sought to assess the interest and capability of the market to manage and deliver the programme. It is also an opportunity to discuss the programme and inform Parliament’s approach to procurement. Parliament’s Strategic Estates department is looking for advice on: procurement strategy;  contract shape and size; and any particular risks that may impact on the success of the procurement and delivery of the works. Interested contractors are invited to complete a questionnaire and to return it via the e-tendering system by 3rd August, 2016, at: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/parliamentuk. Parliament may then invite some or all respondents for further discussions.   This article was published on 6 Jul 2016 (last updated on 6 Jul 2016). Source link

Six firms of architects have been shortlisted in Taylor Wimpey’s competition to design the house of the future. The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), which is running the competition for the house-builder, said it received ‘an excellent response’ to the challenge that Taylor Wimpey laid down. Taylor Wimpey’s Project 2020 involves evaluating trends and innovations in design, architecture, technology, materials and methodology with the aim of shaping the Taylor Wimpey range for 2020 and beyond. Six entries were shortlisted to proceed to the next stage of the competition: Artform Architects, Manchester Igor Russo and Razvan Andrei, London More Design, London Newground Architects, London Openstudio Architects, London Origin 3 Studio, Bristol The teams will now work on their design proposals and will be invited to attend an interview in September 2016. RIBA adviser Glenn Howells said: “We received well over 100 entries, the standard of these were very high and stimulated much debate. After many hours the judging panel managed to select a shortlist of 6 terrific submissions, each of which stretched the concept of what the house could be and how it could best relate to changing technologies and patterns of living.” Taylor Wimpey divisional managing director John Gainham said: “We were impressed by the response to the competition and the panel faced a difficult challenge selecting a shortlist of just six teams. Each of the final six offers a different approach and I am looking forward to seeing how each team develops their concept at the next stage.”     This article was published on 15 Jul 2016 (last updated on 15 Jul 2016). Source link

Carillion Construction has been selected as preferred bidder for the £96m Lincoln eastern bypass. Above: Artists impression of the bypass The project involves the construction of a 7.5km single carriageway road to link the A158 Wragby Road roundabout to the A15 at Bracebridge Heath. The project is designed to reduce city centre congestion and help unlock land for housing and development. Carillion’s appointment is set to be approved by Lincolnshire County Council’s executive on 1st November 2016. The other shortlisted bidders were Hochtief, Graham Farrans JV and Sisk Lagan JV. The council expects construction to start in January and take three years to complete. Preliminary works began in May to build a 130-metre track required to access part of the site. Archaeologists have been appointed to explore areas identified as cultural heritage potential. Cllr Richard Davies, executive member for highways, said: “This project will take a lot of pressure off the roads in and around Lincoln – in fact, it’s projected to reduce traffic levels on Broadgate by around 25 per cent. That will mean less congestion, better air quality and reduced journey times. It will also pave the way for the housing and economic developments that are vital for the county’s future prosperity. I’m delighted we’ve reached this important milestone and look forward to the main works starting in the new year.”     This article was published on 14 Oct 2016 (last updated on 14 Oct 2016). Source link