Hexagon’s Asset Lifecycle Intelligence division announces CAESAR II® version 14, the latest iteration of the world’s most widely used pipe flexibility and stress analysis software. CAESAR II is a complete solution that enables quick and accurate analysis of piping systems subjected to a wide range of loads, considering weight, pressure, thermal,
Hartwell Plc, the automotive and property development company, has unveiled emerging designs to deliver new carbon efficient lab and workspace buildings for small and medium sized science and technology companies and amenities at Wootton Science Park to the south-west of Oxford. Hartwell has owned the park since 1975 and built
Commercial lighting manufacturer and supplier, Whitecroft Lighting, has completed a major project to install innovative LED lighting systems in almost 80 stores across the UK for electrical retailer Currys, including branches in Manchester, Birmingham and Dundee. But rather than completely replacing the outdated lights, Whitecroft used its pioneering Relight system
Export Finance Norway (Eksfin) is providing loan financing of EUR 525 mn to Ørsted of Denmark, one of the world’s largest offshore wind developers. The financing is based on the purchase of two transformer platforms from Norway’s Aibel for the Hornsea 3 offshore wind farm project in the UK. The
As part of its major investment project at its Burton on Trent tile plant Russell Roof Tiles is installing state-of-the-art equipment which will support the firm’s Net Zero ambitions. Russell Roof Tiles (RRT), is the leading independent manufacturer of concrete roof tiles and last year it announced a milestone £18.5m
WJ Scotland is continuing its longstanding partnership with BEAR Scotland to manage, maintain and improve the safety and sustainability of 1,928km of trunk roads in the South East and North-West. The new and enhanced South East and North West Trunk Road Network Management Contracts started in Aug 2020 and Aug
City College Plymouth has won its bid to become part of a pioneering initiative to equip people with the skills to enter the nuclear industry. The College has gained approval to join the National College for Nuclear (NCfN) network, positioning itself as one of just two providers in the South West. Alongside Bridgwater &
City of Edinburgh Council Grants Planning Approval for 256 New Homes at Mixed-use Ferry Road Site. Section 75 Education Contribution Reverts to Planning Officers’ Recommendation Artisan Real Estate is set to progress with the spectacular homes-led redevelopment of one of Edinburgh city centre’s largest potential development sites following planning approval
Remap, a technology company aiming to transform the built environment industry, has been launched by former Hawkins\Brown digital design associates Ben Porter and Jack Stewart. Remap stands at the intersection of technology and construction, using creative solutions to address long-standing industry headaches and set new standards. Key services include digital
The new safety regime introduced by the Building Safety Act 2022 came into force on 1 October 2023 putting residents at the heart of a new system of building safety. It makes all players in the construction industry more accountable for keeping buildings, and their occupants, safe. A leading architect
Hexagon’s Asset Lifecycle Intelligence division announces CAESAR II® version 14, the latest iteration of the world’s most widely used pipe flexibility and stress analysis software. CAESAR II is a complete solution that enables quick and accurate analysis of piping systems subjected to a wide range of loads, considering weight, pressure, thermal, seismic and other static and dynamic conditions. It can perform analysis for all types of piping stress calculations in several environments such as buried, on ground and submerged in water. It is used in a variety of industries such as oil and gas, chemical, power, nuclear, aerospace and more, by clients that range from one-person engineering shops to some of the largest enterprise engineering environments. Nuclear- and hydrogen-ready A key addition of this new release is the support for hydrogen piping and pipelines with the inclusion of code ASME B31.12. Amid rapid growth in hydrogen production worldwide, this inclusion aims to ensure that engineers can take on hydrogen projects with confidence. Other enhancements include: This version supports more than 50 international piping codes and calculational variants. It is suitable for use in the nuclear industry and includes codes ASME NC, ASME ND, RCC-M C and D for nuclear installations and complies with ASME NQA-1 quality assurance (QA). Chris Bradshaw, senior product owner for CAESAR II, said: “As projects become bigger and more complex, the potential for error rises. CAESAR II has been trusted by engineers for more than 30 years to ensure that piping assets are not only designed and operating in compliance with the latest codes, but also that they are designed safely and with refinements. It results in greater safety, lower costs, time saved and fewer materials used.” Anup Kumar Dey, a Senior Piping and Pipeline Engineer and author of the popular blog What is Piping, wrote: “This latest version has truly extended CAESAR II capabilities by incorporating many changes based on user feedback from the CAESAR II user community. It also includes the much-awaited hydrogen piping and pipeline code and comes with many advancements to help users perform their analysis with more accuracy, following all the latest developments in codes and standards.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Hartwell Plc, the automotive and property development company, has unveiled emerging designs to deliver new carbon efficient lab and workspace buildings for small and medium sized science and technology companies and amenities at Wootton Science Park to the south-west of Oxford. Hartwell has owned the park since 1975 and built the first office building in 2005. It has recently practically completed Origin, a two-storey CL2 laboratory building. The proposed £35 million Scott Brownrigg-designed masterplan will deliver circa 106,233 sq ft (9,869 sq m) across five new commercial buildings along with connected amenities and facilities for future employees and the surrounding community, which will include high quality landscaped areas, secure bike storage, a bistro and gym. The landscape architecture and ecology designs have included carefully planned green spaces, sustainable features, and intentional coexistence with the surrounding natural environment. Cycle storage and car parking will be provided in accordance with the highway’s authority. James Hilton, property director, Hartwell Plc said: “With an unprecedented increase in the University of Oxford’s spinout companies involved in life sciences, quantum, AI, sustainability and more, we believe that the park’s future lies in answering the demand for high-quality grow-on lab and workspace and providing amenities to not only support those working here in their innovation and discovery, but also the wider community. “Our masterplanning work has focused on creating a well-rounded environment that caters to both physical and social needs, enhancing the working environment, and promoting wellbeing for all those who work here and visit. “The masterplan in both the construction and occupation phases will deliver jobs while fostering innovation and creating a new place for the whole community. We encourage the community to find out more about our plans and to have their say.” The public consultation opens online on Monday 18 March 2024 until Thursday 18 April 2024. An in-person public consultation event is to be held on Thursday 21 March 2024 from 4pm to 8pm in Origin at Wootton Science Park. Wootton Science Park is accessed by the A420 or A34 and is well located for Oxford, the county’s many science and business parks. The consultant team is Scott Brownrigg, Gerald Eve, IMA, Macfarlane and Associates, Aspect Ecology and Hoare Lea. View the exhibition boards and have your say: www.wootton.science/haveyoursay Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Commercial lighting manufacturer and supplier, Whitecroft Lighting, has completed a major project to install innovative LED lighting systems in almost 80 stores across the UK for electrical retailer Currys, including branches in Manchester, Birmingham and Dundee. But rather than completely replacing the outdated lights, Whitecroft used its pioneering Relight system to reuse as much of each store’s existing lighting infrastructure as possible. This reduces the huge amounts of waste normally generated by major electrical refits, an important requirement for Currys as part of its 2040 Roadmap to Net-Zero strategy, which sets out how the company is reducing the carbon it produces. Whitecroft’s Relight low-energy LED lights have been installed in customer showrooms, office areas and even car parks, enabling Currys to reduce its energy consumption, helping to further cut its carbon emissions and shrink its electricity bills. Tom Gardener, Senior Facilities Manager for Currys, explains the rationale for the project: “Due to the sharp rise in energy costs in recent years, our business cases for lighting energy efficiency were flying through, particularly as the quickening returns on investment were suddenly very attractive. “Change was also driven by forthcoming legislation banning certain fluorescent lighting which sharpened our focus on how we can remove and replace some types of lighting from our estate. “Working with Whitecroft Lighting and learning about its approach to circularity – reusing and recycling materials – has been a very positive experience. We were impressed with the short and longer-term material and labour cost benefits of Relight, but we didn’t fully appreciate the carbon saving value until we worked on the product. “Our new lighting not only improved our energy efficiency but also our approach to circularity and reusing existing infrastructure. This helped to increase energy efficiency and reduce wasted carbon.” In total 77 Currys stores, mostly bigger out-of-town branches, were refitted across the UK by Whitecroft in a project that took just six months to complete. Richard Williams, Commercial Manager at Whitecroft Lighting, says the retailer’s approach to sustainability made Relight the perfect solution for the project. He says: “Currys had a clear approach to embedding circularity in its retail operation and was already a big recycler of consumer electrical goods. However, we saw an opportunity to extend this ethos beyond retail to its lighting by reducing waste in its facilities management. “While the latest LEDs would reduce operational carbon by around 40% through increasing energy efficiency, the circular approach to reusing materials, such as ceiling suspension materials and cabling, would also lower the embodied carbon, which are the emissions generated from the sourcing, manufacturing, installation and eventual disposal of products and materials.” This approach to creating a more sustainable approach by reusing and recycling material, often referred to as the Circular Economy, is being embraced more and more by businesses, builders and suppliers as the UK aims to meet stretching Net-Zero targets. In fact, the success of the Whitecroft Lighting project has helped shape Currys view of circularity. Tom Gardener continues: “Whitecroft’s Relight approach to circularity has certainly influenced facilities management at Currys, and we now expect suppliers to be clearer on type 1 and 2 emissions, and our larger T1 suppliers must report data on their own waste and travel. “Our facilities managers now increasingly factor sustainability into supplier questioning, as well as the overall performance review of all our suppliers for a project: do they fit with our direction of travel as a business, do they buy into it, or are they just paying lip-service to it?” Whitecroft Lighting is part of the Fagerhult Group, has 370 employees and turns over £55m. The company undertakes all R&D, product design and manufacturing in its UK HQ and neighbouring 10,000 sqm manufacturing facility. To find out more about Whitecroft Lighting Ltd visit www.whitecroftlighting.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Export Finance Norway (Eksfin) is providing loan financing of EUR 525 mn to Ørsted of Denmark, one of the world’s largest offshore wind developers. The financing is based on the purchase of two transformer platforms from Norway’s Aibel for the Hornsea 3 offshore wind farm project in the UK. The transaction increases Eksfin’s total offshore wind financing to nearly EUR 3.5 bn. Hornsea 3, situated off the Norfolk/South Yorkshire coast, will be the world’s single largest wind farm. It is expected to generate a minimum of 2.9 GW of electricity when in operation in 2027, enough to supply around three million homes with clean energy. It will be Ørsted’s third gigawatt-scale project in the Hornsea zone following Hornsea 1 (1.2 GW) and Hornsea 2 (1.3 GW), which are already in operation. Promoting Norwegian exports Building large offshore wind farms is capital intensive. Partnering with banks, Eksfin offers state-backed loans and guarantees directly to developers based on the purchase of equipment and services from Norway. The financing for Ørsted, together with last year’s EUR 45mn financing for Spanish energy companyt Iberdrola, falls into this category. Offshore wind is currently the main driver for the Norwegian supply industry’s strong growth in renewables. Norwegian companies specialise in platform construction, cable laying and maritime installations and have secured major export contracts. In 2022, the Norwegian offshore wind industry had an international market share of 7.5 per cent. The Norwegian government’s target for the Norwegian offshore wind industry is a world-wide market share of 10 per cent by 2030. Increased focus in the UK Ørsted currently manages 12 wind farms in the UK, which is one of the world’s most mature offshore wind markets backed by broad political support and the provision of Contracts for Difference (CfDs) that lock in a minimum price for green electricity. Ørsted secured attractive CfDs for Hornsea 3 with a duration of 15 years. The UK government’s ambition is to have 50 GW of offshore wind in operation by 2030 and to be net zero by 2050, requiring a total of between 65 and 125 GW of installed renewable power. This makes it a key market for Norwegian offshore wind suppliers going forward, and by default for Eksfin. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
As part of its major investment project at its Burton on Trent tile plant Russell Roof Tiles is installing state-of-the-art equipment which will support the firm’s Net Zero ambitions. Russell Roof Tiles (RRT), is the leading independent manufacturer of concrete roof tiles and last year it announced a milestone £18.5m investment programme, which should be complete by later in 2024. Part of the project includes the installation of new state of the art Skako Concrete ‘High Silo’ batching plant, complete with AM2250 planetary mixer to facilitate increased concrete roof tile production. Installation should be complete by Easter. This whole project is the largest single investment since Russell Roof Tiles was acquired (from Cemex) in 2011 by Crown Global Equity, which manufactures concrete roof tiles in the US and Mexico. Since then, the UK company has seen £17.3m invested in its three sites, continuing to increase efficiencies and capacity to meet demand. Not only is the new batching plant being installed whilst the tile plant continues to manufacture but it will have increased efficiencies as well as sustainable benefits such as a water reclamation and refiltering system, that allows for recycling of all wash water, including using wash water from the factory. This will reduce the firm’s use of fresh water, and significantly reduce waste. Russell Roof Tiles has been actively seeking ways to reduce its environmental impact, including investing in more energy-efficient equipment, optimising its production processes, and sourcing more sustainable materials as part of its Net Zero pledge, to ensure the company becomes carbon neutral by 2040, 10 years ahead of the Government’s timeline. The new Skako Concrete batching plant replaces Russell Roof Tiles old and inefficient 1990’s batching plant and concrete mixer and was designed to meet increased production demand as well as allow for further capacity increases in the future. The much larger volume system will be able to handle the sand, cement, and pigment needed to feed a new mixing plant and in-turn roof tile production line. The challenge for the company was to ensure that installation of the new batching plant did not interfere with currently tile production on site in Burton on Trent. Bruce Laidlaw, Operations Director at Russell Roof Tiles said: “It is important that we continue to focus on efficiencies and sustainability across this major project, looking at market leading environmental options throughout the new facility. For example, this type of mixer is up to 20 per cent more energy efficient than alternatives available. He added “Other energy efficiencies include using gravity to feed sand into the mixer below. Over time this saves a huge amount of energy moving sand. The Skako Concrete solution of holding such amount of sand above the mixer has allowed for the footprint to be compressed and thus install the full equipment within a much smaller area.” Further benefits of the new equipment will include 2 x 100T cement silo’s allowing for more flexibility in receiving cement deliveries, allowing RRT to take volume cement deliveries around the clock and avoiding peak traffic times. Utilising the latest technology, the system also provides remote operating from the factory floor, as well as remote diagnostics to minimise down time. The project installation has been managed by Skako Concrete, fully utilising their UK and European team. The project has been complex due to the continued operation of the production facility and site throughout the works. In addition, much of the work has been completed during the winter months, which has added to its complexity. Gareth Hulcup, SKAKO Concrete Sales Manager for the UK and Irish markets said: “The installation of the new batching plant has been the culmination of many months of meticulous planning by all stakeholders to ensure seamless integration of the new plant on site. We would like to thank Andrew Hayward, Bruce and all at Russell Roof Tiles for the opportunity to provide our solutions for the redevelopment of the site at Burton and contribute to their Net Zero pledge”. Russell Roof Tiles is a leading independent pitched roof tile manufacturer supplying products for the top housebuilders and high-profile social housing and commercial projects. The company produces thousands of tiles every week that are used on roofs across the UK, for all of the UK’s premier housebuilders, social housing projects, architects and developers. www.russellrooftiles.com @russellrooftile www.skako.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
WJ Scotland is continuing its longstanding partnership with BEAR Scotland to manage, maintain and improve the safety and sustainability of 1,928km of trunk roads in the South East and North-West. The new and enhanced South East and North West Trunk Road Network Management Contracts started in Aug 2020 and Aug 2022 respectively and run for 8 years, with the possibility of further extensions up to 4 years. WJ will continue to collaborate with BEAR on road improvement projects to promote the safety of all road users. This follows a successful working relationship spanning more than five years on previous contracts, which has seen 827 tonnes of Weatherline Plus laid on roads stretching across Scotland. As a result, this has significantly helped improve visibility and safety on the network, where notable examples include the A96 (Keith to Inverness), the A95 (Aviemore to Keith), and the M90 from Junction 6 to Broxden from when BEAR Scotland managed and maintained the North East Unit. During the five-year partnership, WJ Group have also supported BEAR Scotland with a ground-breaking initiative called PRIME (Perceptual Rider Information for Maximising Expertise and Enjoyment) aimed at improving road safety for motorcyclists. Over a three-year trial period, 22 sites on the A83, A84 and A85 received new road markings known as ‘gates’ to encourage riders to drive through them, leading to safer lane positioning around bends. Analysing 32,000 motorcyclists, the markings lead to a significant reduction in user speed with no bike collisions occurring at any of the sites, resulting in the project winning the Road Safety Scheme of the Year and Judges Special Merit Award at the Highways Awards 2023, the 20 year anniversary. The partnership has also delivered community benefit projects – a key emphasis for BEAR Scotland moving forward – through WJ’s Thinking Community initiative, which makes a positive impact on local people, clients and the supply chain. “It’s a pleasure to continue working with WJ” said Iain Murray, Managing Director of BEAR Scotland. “They meet programme expectations and deliver a quality service. Not only that, but they also go above and beyond to balance increasing road safety needs with our social value and sustainability objectives. The team is dependable, and we are confident they will continue to be a valuable partner in the delivery of high-level services that focus on people and the environment.” The partnership extension coincides with BEAR Scotland’s recently launched plans to create a new approach to delivering road safety improvements. This will be done by incorporating public protection goals into every project, to help reduce the number of people killed or injured on roads. It’s likely this will involve the continued implementation of WJ’s award-winning high-performance road marking, Weatherline Plus, which is manufactured using biogenic resin, rather than the traditionally used hydrocarbon resin. This will help BEAR Scotland meet its net zero target, as Weatherline Plus delivers verifiable carbon savings of approximately 80%. Brian Smith, General Manager at WJ Scotland, said: “We have built a fantastic relationship with BEAR Scotland and are delighted to continue to develop this over the eight-year Network Management Contracts. Safety remains vitally important and we’re proud to deliver products and collaborate on projects that focus on this. On top of that, sustainability is front of mind, and we’re committed to innovation in this area. “It was also fantastic to collaborate with BEAR on their first Knowledge Exchange Day earlier this year, demonstrating our ThermoPrint and shot blasting machines. It was a very insightful day including presentations from our Group Sustainability Advisor on WJ’s net zero strategy, our National Specification Manager on retexturing and its benefits, and our partners at Clearview Intelligence on solar road studs.” Iain Murray added: “Delivering sustainable road design is extremely important to us so partnering with an organisation that so clearly cares about this too is incredible. We look forward to the future of this partnership and seeing projects come to fruition.” For more information, please visit www.wj.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
City College Plymouth has won its bid to become part of a pioneering initiative to equip people with the skills to enter the nuclear industry. The College has gained approval to join the National College for Nuclear (NCfN) network, positioning itself as one of just two providers in the South West. Alongside Bridgwater & Taunton College, it will play a crucial role in equipping individuals with the essential skills required to contribute to the growth of the evolving nuclear sector. The NCfN is a cornerstone of the Government’s response to nuclear skills provision, and the College will help meet the capacity and capability employers in the sector need. The College had to go through a rigorous process to win the right to be part of the network. It means that by September the College will deliver a nuclear skills suite of programmes that meet the needs of our local, regional and national organisations across both the defence and power generation (civil) nuclear sectors. The UK’s nuclear sector is growing rapidly, with numbers in the civil and defence workforce estimated to double over the next 20 years, bringing around 80,000 additional jobs across the UK. The Government has recognised an urgent need to ramp up recruitment activity in the sector, but also that developing people’s skills in a wide range of disciplines which feed into the nuclear sector is needed if demand is to be met. Jackie Grubb, Chief Executive of City College Plymouth, said the programmes would focus on the careers and jobs within the nuclear sector, providing students with access to world-class learning opportunities that enhance their skills relevant to the industry. She added: “City College Plymouth actively collaborates with the defence sector, equipping this essential workforce with the necessary skills for safeguarding our nation’s at-sea security. Recognising the critical role played by our nuclear submarine fleet, the College is committed to providing comprehensive training covering all aspects of this highly sophisticated machinery, including its intricate nuclear power system. “As a proud member of the National College for Nuclear network, we will gain valuable insights into the specific requirements for delivering both nuclear-related skills and comprehensive expertise to meet the demands of our defence sector. We will be able to exchange best practices through working closely with Bridgewater & Taunton College to ensure that our workforce is thoroughly prepared and capable of addressing the challenges posed by the evolving needs of our national defence.” Andy Berry, Principal & CEO of Bridgwater & Taunton College said: “It is an incredibly exciting time for the nuclear sector in the South West. City College Plymouth joining the National College for Nuclear significantly strengthens the response to the civil and nuclear defence projects. Working together, FE can respond to the growing need for high-skilled people in the nuclear sector. We have a long-established close working relationship with City College Plymouth, and we are delighted they have become a member of NCfN, which will take it to the next level as we continue to collaborate on exciting skills challenges.” Jenny Ashworth, Managing Director at the National College for Nuclear said: “We are delighted to welcome City College Plymouth to the NCfN family. At such an exciting and vital time for the nuclear and zero carbon sectors, we are thrilled to build upon the NCfN network with such a pioneering and dynamic institution such as City College Plymouth. We look forward to working closely with the team there to further build upon our ability to build a competent and agile workforce for the sector”. The Government has also launched a campaign called Destination Nuclear, working with partners to fill critical skills gaps in the nuclear industry. The ambition is for nuclear power to generate a quarter of the UK’s electricity by 2050. Plus, the Government has recently announced that one of the UK’s ballistic submarines, HMS Victorious, will be modernised in Plymouth by Babcock International under a new £560m contract. The move – announced by Defence Secretary Grant Shapps – will create around 1,000 jobs in the region. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
City of Edinburgh Council Grants Planning Approval for 256 New Homes at Mixed-use Ferry Road Site. Section 75 Education Contribution Reverts to Planning Officers’ Recommendation Artisan Real Estate is set to progress with the spectacular homes-led redevelopment of one of Edinburgh city centre’s largest potential development sites following planning approval by The City of Edinburgh Council (CEC). Councillors at CEC’s Development Sub Committee on Wednesday (13 March) were ‘minded to grant’ consent for 256 low-carbon homes and commercial space at 525 Ferry Road, Edinburgh. Artisan’s Section 75 Education contribution was voted through in line with the planning officers’ recommendation. Regeneration specialist Artisan Real Estate, together with fund manager REInvest Asset Management S.A., will now take forward their ambitious plans to redevelop the former Deutsche Bank House at 525 Ferry Road, Edinburgh, near the Crewe Toll roundabout. The developers are set to transform the vacant site, to be known as ‘525 Park View’, into a new residential neighbourhood providing 256 sustainable homes, 25% of which will be for affordable housing. Flexible commercial space facing on to Ferry Road will provide potential for cafes, shops and shared workspaces. Designed by Edinburgh-based 7N Architects, the proposals will dramatically raise the bar for sustainable city-centre living. More than two thirds of the development area will be made up of high-quality green spaces – including a large central communal garden as well as biodiverse green roofs and a ‘wetland’ area which enhances local ecology whilst contributing to the wider sustainable urban drainage system. Smart technology such as individual air source heat pumps for each home also means no fossil fuels will be used, underlining the Artisan’s commitment to sustainable low carbon development and delivering low energy costs for occupiers. The planning approval follows a comprehensive 14-month consultation programme, with the developers working closely with local community and wider city interests to ensure maximum benefit for both the local area and Edinburgh as a whole. Welcoming the 525 Park View planning approval, Artisan Real Estate’s ’s Regional Director for Scotland, David Westwater, said: “This is a hugely exciting opportunity to breathe new life into an underused site, whilst ensuring its long-term future by bringing a new sustainable community to an accessible city centre location. “Following the consultation feedback, we have worked hard to make this development not just the right fit for the site but also an integral part of the wider city centre area. We have reduced the heights of the building from nine to seven storeys and ensured the overall architectural design and materials respect local and historical contexts.” He added: “We are also fully aware that we have the responsibility to ensure that our developments exceed all current environmental standards, setting new benchmarks for smart, sustainable living whilst providing a high quality of internal and external space. Our proposals have been guided by low-carbon design and encompass a mix of apartment sizes and layouts, led mainly by residential as well as much-needed affordable housing and other complementary commercial uses.” Artisan Real Estate has a strong track record in delivering complex residential and mixed-use regeneration projects in sensitive city centre environments across the UK, and in 2023 won the inaugural ‘Excellence in Sustainability’ award at the 2023 Scottish Homes Awards. Development partner REInvest Asset Management S.A. was founded in Luxembourg as a specialist for future-facing investment ideas and currently manages and develops properties across Europe with a value in excess of EUR 2.3 billion. 525 Park View is held in a progressive property fund within a pan-European portfolio managed on behalf of a German insurance group. Thomas Merkes, Head of Asset Management at REInvest Asset Management S.A. added: “Our joint venture partnership with Artisan represents a major step forward in providing an innovative and collaborative mixed-use development solution to unlock the potential for this significant city centre site, which is set to create a genuinely transformational development in an accessible city centre location. The planning approval for this complex site demonstrates how we can make a positive contribution to the local area, bringing investment, life and excitement back to this important part of the city.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Remap, a technology company aiming to transform the built environment industry, has been launched by former Hawkins\Brown digital design associates Ben Porter and Jack Stewart. Remap stands at the intersection of technology and construction, using creative solutions to address long-standing industry headaches and set new standards. Key services include digital transformation strategy, computational BIM & digital design, 2D / 3D application development and design to construction solutions. Ben and Jack each bring over ten years’ industry experience and expertise to the business. Qualified architects turned self-taught software developers, they honed their craft spearheading digital transformation of design and delivery at leading architecture practice Hawkins\Brown. With a solid foundation in design and construction and a passion for using technology to solve problems, they are on a mission to transform the industry from a fresh perspective. Jack Stewart says: “The built environment industry is at a critical juncture, facing challenges that require inventive solutions. There are so many organisations doing amazing work despite the hugely challenging landscape of the built environment industry – manual, unpredictable, adversarial, under-trained, under-funded and often undeliverable. “We believe that creative technologies can be a catalyst for positive change. From estate analysis, through design, construction, and use, we are committed to pushing the boundaries of conventional practices.” Oliver Milton, managing partner at Hawkins\Brown says: ”Ben and Jack’s fresh ideas and commitment to reshaping the industry have greatly benefitted Hawkins\Brown and our clients. We look forward to continuing to work with Remap to help bring about positive change in the built environment.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The new safety regime introduced by the Building Safety Act 2022 came into force on 1 October 2023 putting residents at the heart of a new system of building safety. It makes all players in the construction industry more accountable for keeping buildings, and their occupants, safe. A leading architect and safety manufacturer each offer their thoughts on the implications of this new act will be for architects. Paul Bussey, Architect, RIBA, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris “The Building Safety Act is a whole new world for architects. As the principal designer it significantly increases our responsibilities, designating us as a ‘guiding hand’ for health and safety issues. “Some people think that the Act only applies to higher risk buildings and may think that if they don’t do high rise buildings (HRBs) they don’t need to worry about it. However, this is not the case. The act increases architects’ responsibilities for safety in the design and construction of all buildings. So, what does the new regime mean in practice for architects? “Well, it’s our job to eliminate hazards like fire and falls from height so far as is reasonably practical (SFAIRP). We also need to reduce risks from remaining hazards. “This means specifying safety solutions that will keep building contractors, maintenance workers and residents safe as well as be cost-effective and work well visually and structurally. “Clearly, we can’t be accountable for all the details ourselves, so we’re going to need increased support from the experts in our wider team including structural engineers, CDM advisers, building regulation advisers, fire safety experts, façade consultants and maintenance consultants. “We’re also going to need to work with industry more closely than we’ve done in the past. In particular, we’ll be seeking greater levels of transparency from manufacturers about their products so that we can be confident that we’re specifying solutions that are fit for purpose. “But our responsibilities under the Building Safety Act don’t stop there. Once we’ve decided on the solutions that will keep people safe, we then need to demonstrate to the Building Safety Regulator that we’ve complied with their requirements and that the solutions we’ve specified will actually work. This requires us to provide the regulator with a visual document giving calculations, architectural drawings, sections, structural detail and so forth. “For example, if we take a fall protection system, we must be able to demonstrate that the system will do the job it’s supposed to do – keep someone safe in the event that fall restraint is impossible and if they fall off the edge of a roof the entire fall arrest process is acceptable, including rescue. This means we must be totally confident that the system will work and make sure our client, funder and insurer are happy too. “Manufacturers have a key role to play here in providing us with the high-level information we need to be able to get a solution approved fast. We don’t want chapter and verse on everything – we just need to know what’s relevant and current that will help us demonstrate we’re fulfilling our responsibilities under the new Act. “I recognise that this can all sound a bit overwhelming but remember that as an architect you’re only responsible for managing safety risks so far as is reasonably practical. No one expects you to eliminate risks entirely. Basically, the new regime boils down to all the different players in the construction industry taking a more ethical approach and I, for one, welcome this.” Stuart Pierpoint, Specification Sales Manager, MSA Safety “For manufacturers, the Building Safety Act represents a big change in emphasis, ushering in a world where we need to take a scrupulously ethical approach. The consequences for those who behave unethically are pretty stringent – two years in prison and an unlimited fine. “In practice, the new regime means that manufacturers need to be more transparent when it comes to compliance. An example is when fall protection manufacturers offering products that only comply with the 1997 EN standard, rather than the revised 2012 standard, need to make this clear and avoid making misleading claims that their product meets ‘current standards’. “As an industry, we also need to be much clearer about when a product is ‘fit for purpose’ and when it isn’t – and be able to provide evidence to support any ‘fit for purpose’ claims. It is possible that some fall protection systems have not been tested on the same substrate that the architect is intending to use. Again, the load bearing capability differs between different substrates – thinner pliable substrates will have far less capabilities than heavier and denser substrates and both these factors are important considerations when choosing a fall protection system that is ‘fit for purpose’. “As manufacturers, we need to simplify the correct specification of a system. We need to get our manuals and documentation correct – making it clear what a product can and can’t do, what its limitations are and where it’s successful. And we need to make sure that the wording and imagery in these documents are clear for multiple users and in multiple languages. “We also need to ensure that our labelling, serialisation and evidence for any quality claims are all correct, that we follow quality management processes to the letter, do enough batch conformance testing to know that our products are being manufactured correctly, and carry out the correct audit trail with our manufacturing. “Manufacturers also need to work in close partnership with both installers and architects. When we’ve worked with an architect to help them select a ‘fit for purpose’ fall protection solution, it’s important that their specification for the roofing type is maintained so that our recommendation for the safest system is accurate. “In short, there’s a lot that manufacturers can do to support architects and help achieve the new Act’s vision. Here at MSA Safety, we’re keen to play our part and help make buildings safer for everyone.” Ultimately, the new Building Safety Act is a positive step forward
