Cristina Diaconu
Roof System Maximises Space and Financial Return

Roof System Maximises Space and Financial Return

In a post-pandemic world, the world of work is set to change forever leading to a hybrid way of working both remotely and in offices. Many homeowners are faced with a lack of office space in their existing homes while housing developers are looking for ways to maximise a small

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Snowsound Wins Two Awards at NeoCon 2021

Snowsound Wins Two Awards at NeoCon 2021

Snowsound is honored to have earned two prestigious awards at NeoCon 2021, North America’s largest design exhibition and conference for commercial interiors. Snowsound Dunes, a wall-panel system designed by Felicia Arvid, won the prestigious Silver Award and the Innovation Award in the Acoustic Solutions category. Recognizing new products exhibited at

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Property Sales Specialist Announces Major Expansion Drive

Property Sales Specialist Announces Major Expansion Drive

Development sales and marketing specialist business Site Sales, is on a significant growth drive throughout North London and the Home Counties, with the aim of selling 2,000 properties a year by 2025. The business is already widely known with a significant number of partnerships including Housing Associations, local councils, registered

Read More »
Ergodyne Launches Skullerz Safety Helmet with Mips Technology

Ergodyne Launches Skullerz Safety Helmet with Mips Technology

Ergodyne has announced the highly anticipated launch of Skullerz® Safety Helmets with built-in Mips® technology designed to help protect workers from dangerously overlooked angled impacts. Available in Class C and Class E, the new safety helmets are integrated with Mips® Elevate — a low-friction layer that slides multi-directionally, designed to

Read More »
JB&B's William Quigley Selected for BCxA 20 Under 40 Recognition Program

JB&B’s William Quigley Selected for BCxA 20 Under 40 Recognition Program

Jaros, Baum & Bolles (JB&B) is pleased to announce that William Quigley, JB&B Associate, has been selected for the Building Commissioning Association’s (BCxA) 20 Under 40 Recognition Program. Quigley, who is a Certified Building Commissioning Professional and Certified Energy Auditor, has been with JB&B for eight years and saw building

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Historic Randalls Site Provides Affordable Alternative for Renters

Historic Randalls Site Provides Affordable Alternative for Renters

With the average cost of renting a property in the UK now stood at a record high of £1,061 per month, getting onto the property ladder is a more attractive prospect than ever. For Uxbridge renters, Rosewood Housing’s stylish Shared Ownership apartments at the iconic Randalls department store are ideal

Read More »

Becoming A Landlord? Consider These Ten Things

One great way to build wealth is to become a landlord. Many people don’t think of this as an option, but I’m here to tell you it most certainly is. However, with great power comes great responsibility, and that definitely applies to landlord-hood. Before you sign that rental lease, you

Read More »
Rotpunkt Is a Finalist on Kitchen LONGLIST at Designer Awards

Rotpunkt Is a Finalist on Kitchen LONGLIST at Designer Awards

Rotpunkt, award-winning carbon neutral manufacturer of quality German kitchen furniture is delighted to announce its dynamic Ceiling Frame Extractor System makes the Kitchen LONGLIST, named a finalist for ‘Product of the Year’ at this year’s Designer Awards. Now in its 19th year, the Designer Awards ceremony will take place at

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Orion Construction Makes Leadership Changes

Orion Construction Makes Leadership Changes

Grand Rapids-based Orion Construction’s CEO Roger Rehkopf has announced he is “passing the baton” as company president, while remaining CEO of the commercial construction contractor. Rehkopf has appointed VP of Pre-Construction Brad Walsh as the company’s president. In addition to Walsh, Rehkopf made the following other appointments: Kathy Ringnalda, controller

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Latest Issue
Issue 327 : Apr 2025

Cristina Diaconu

Roof System Maximises Space and Financial Return

Roof System Maximises Space and Financial Return

In a post-pandemic world, the world of work is set to change forever leading to a hybrid way of working both remotely and in offices. Many homeowners are faced with a lack of office space in their existing homes while housing developers are looking for ways to maximise a small site’s potential. With the UK having some of the smallest homes in Europe, we traditionally do not explore the basement or roof space. Basement construction is costly and complicated so the next logical place is to expand upwards. Kevin Sherlock, Managing Director of Smartroof explores ‘room in roof’ solutions, a prefabricated roofing package that offers ease of installation, improved energy efficiency and cost certainty as we look for more space and bigger returns. Habitable roof space Creating habitable roofing spaces has been easier by the increased use of off-site fabrication and systems such as structural insulated panels (SIPS), and pre-engineered insulated roof systems such as Smartroof’s ‘room in roof’ system. Manufactured offsite, the Smartroof system is a complete room in roof system. Comprising a series of factory produced panels incorporating insulated roof panels, spandrel wall panels, dormers, roof windows, GRP chimneys, soffit and fascia, it is delivered to site and craned into place. Once in place, the roofs simply require roof tiling. In addition, the interlocking design of the system makes it ideal for housebuilders adopting a fabric first approach. Production of the system in a factory-controlled environment ensures consistent and predictable thermal performance. With the latest changes to Part L of the Building Regulations, Smartroof’s factory insulated panels eliminate voids or cold spots and offer design flexibility as insulation levels can be easily upgraded to meet requirements. An off-site solution such as Smartroof can also reduce the detrimental impact of bad weather on build times, whilst faster weatherproofing of structures will reduce delays for follow on trades. Its off-site manufacturing reduces the time spent working at height and decreases on-site wastage to provide a cost-effective, modern method of construction. A full vaulted ceiling and an extended floor area in the eaves can be achieved in a matter of hours, making it a highly cost-effective package for house building projects of all sizes. Plumb Park Situated on the fringes of the seaside town of Exmouth, Plumb Park, being built by Taylor Wimpey, comprises 264 two, three and four-bed homes designed in the arts and craft style. The centrepiece of the development is a curved crescent of 18 terraced homes overlooking a public hilltop park. Each of the 2½ storey homes in the terrace feature a panelised ‘room in roof’ system with the developer specifying Smartroof as the company to deliver the bespoke curved roof structure. For Smartroof, the big challenge was the curve and how to make straight timber appear as if it is effectively bending. In addition, the gable roofs on these terraced houses had a triangular apex projection on the front elevation which also necessitated a curved design. To achieve this onsite would have been a huge technical challenge for the joinery contractors, however the controlled environment of the Smartroof offsite fabrication facility meant the technical team could achieve the architect’s design with millimetre precision both in terms of cutting and fabrication. At a time when the skills shortage and tight margins are commonplace across the sector, the offsite fabrication of the roofs at Plumb Park provided Taylor Wimpey with huge benefits in terms of health and safety, speed of construction and quality control. For this bespoke design, it is estimated the Smartroof system saved up to eight weeks installation time when compared to using traditional onsite methods of roof construction.

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Snowsound Wins Two Awards at NeoCon 2021

Snowsound Wins Two Awards at NeoCon 2021

Snowsound is honored to have earned two prestigious awards at NeoCon 2021, North America’s largest design exhibition and conference for commercial interiors. Snowsound Dunes, a wall-panel system designed by Felicia Arvid, won the prestigious Silver Award and the Innovation Award in the Acoustic Solutions category. Recognizing new products exhibited at the MART, the Best of NeoCon 2021 competition celebrates products in 52 categories in the 30th annual competition. Sponsored by NeoCon and managed by The McMorrow Reports, Best of NeoCon has been a hallmark of NeoCon since 1990. It is the official awards program honoring outstanding new products from exhibiting companies across a wide range of verticals. “We are thrilled to celebrate Snowsound’s new, permanent showroom in the Mart with two Best of NeoCon Awards for Dunes—one for Innovation and one for Acoustic Solutions. It’s proof the judges and market care about acoustics as well as aesthetics,” said Sam Barry, VP of Sales + Marketing for Snowsound North America. Dunes was also honored with an ADEX (Award for Design Excellence) Platinum Award 2021. At home in a range of commercial settings including workplace, hospitality, education and multifamily amenity spaces, Dunes is a wall-applied acoustic solution consisting of two layers of Snowsound’s Fiber Boucle textile. One layer serves as a flat base backing and the other as a three-dimensional sound-absorbing pocket created with repeating pleats held by steel clips. “Think of Dunes as a three-dimensional tapestry, with amazing acoustic performance that comes from the topographies between the backing fabric and the air pockets in the hollow reliefs of the upper layer of Snowsound Fiber,” said Barry. Dunes blends poetry and function to offer a seductive aesthetic with the unsurpassed acoustic performance Snowsound is known for. Designer Felicia Arvid’s custom hourglass shape forms a seamless, three-dimensional wall with gracefully wandering lines. The subtly undulating form vividly evokes the sensuous and feminine movement of sand dunes, which also inspire the name. The textural quality of the material with its boucle finish suggests the millions of grains of sand that comprise a dune. Dunes is available in a range of options including special order colors. It is easy to clean and sanitize, 100% recyclable and Greenguard Gold certified. Dunes provides Class A sound absorption (ISO 354), Class A fire and smoke safety (UL 723/ASTM E84) and meets CDC guidelines.

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Property Sales Specialist Announces Major Expansion Drive

Property Sales Specialist Announces Major Expansion Drive

Development sales and marketing specialist business Site Sales, is on a significant growth drive throughout North London and the Home Counties, with the aim of selling 2,000 properties a year by 2025. The business is already widely known with a significant number of partnerships including Housing Associations, local councils, registered charities and developers and a proven track record in sales delivery. Formed over two decades ago by Murray Smith, Site Sales started with just three members of staff, helping in selling land and providing sales and marketing services in London and the South-East. An ambitious, forward-thinking company, it first worked with the likes of Persimmon and Laing, before embarking on its first landmark scheme, Stratford Eye for L&Q. Fast forward 20 (+ – CHECK) years and the company now employs approximately 60 staff and has sold over 3,000 homes equating to £1.4bn worth of property over the past five years. As part of its expansion, Site Sales has recently made several key appointments including: Emma Jefferson who joined as Partnerships Director following 6 years’ experience at New London Architecture, Crissi Russo, Sales manager who joins from LB of Southwark, Alexandra Fitzpatrick Sales Manager specialising in the customer journey, and Martin Fillery Director of Southern Home Counties. Martin joins from Complete Moves and comes with over 18 years’ experience in the industry. Murray Smith, Founder and Managing Director, comments: “Our aim at Site Sales is to provide a full range of exemplary development, sales and marketing services to support any client in their development ambitions – across London and the Home Counties. Despite the challenges presented by the pandemic, we are pleased to have driven successful sales for a broad range of clients across both the private and affordable housing sectors. Buyer confidence is gaining strength and we are launching two big schemes in Barnet and Canning Town which will deliver over 300 units between them alone. He continues: “The company will aim for steady growth – as well as expanding the Southern Home Counties, we will establish a Northern Home Counties division. As always, our business is fuelled by delivering a high-quality service to all our clients. Our committed staff have over 100 year’s sales experience between them, dedicated to our client’s needs.” Over the years, Site Sales has been an integral part of the evolution of the ‘not for profit’ sector and has assisted many organisations on their individual paths into speculative development, as well as having many private developer clients. The team has worked for 20 regional councils and 14 different Housing Associations including 9 of the 12 G15 Housing Associations, working on projects with all tenures. Murray adds: “We have worked for 24 different clients on 105 different schemes – much of our business has been repeat. Our clients know us and trust that our highly experienced and expertly trained staff will deliver above and beyond their expectations, from site acquisition to sales and aftercare.” Historically, Site Sales has worked on numerous landmark schemes (704 units at Athletes Village, dispatched in 18 months, among many others) and continues to do so. Today, Site Sales is marketing a range of developments throughout London and the South East, including Park View Place in Tottenham, August fields, a Guinness Homes development in Newhaven, Optivo a collection of 63 mixed-tenure homes in Battle, Old Farm Place a range of homes by BexleyCo Homes in Sidcup.

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Ergodyne Launches Skullerz Safety Helmet with Mips Technology

Ergodyne Launches Skullerz Safety Helmet with Mips Technology

Ergodyne has announced the highly anticipated launch of Skullerz® Safety Helmets with built-in Mips® technology designed to help protect workers from dangerously overlooked angled impacts. Available in Class C and Class E, the new safety helmets are integrated with Mips® Elevate — a low-friction layer that slides multi-directionally, designed to help redirect rotational energy that otherwise could be transferred to the head upon falling or impact. The integration fills a protection gap left by traditional hard hats, which have traditionally been designed to provide protection from direct impacts only. “Over 18,000 workers suffered traumatic brain injuries in 2019,” explained Tim Gallant, Ergodyne Product Director. “By adding Mips® technology to our best-selling Skullerz Safety Helmets, we are taking a step aimed at helping to reduce the risk of more of the brain jarring and tearing that can ultimately lead to lifelong brain damage.” The development of Mips® (multi-directional impact protection system) safety systems results from years of research and testing by Swedish neurosurgeon Hans von Holst and engineer Peter Halldin. To date, the technology has primarily been integrated into recreational helmets for leading global brands such as Fox Racing, Bell and Specialized. “We’re excited to be among the first to introduce this revolutionary Mips® technology to the industrial space,” said Tom Votel, Ergodyne President & CEO. “It’s our hope that this partnership will encourage safety managers to think beyond the worksite to the lifelong effects these incidents can have on worker health and safety.” Since 1983, Tenacious Holdings, Inc. (dba Ergodyne, a Klein Tools Company) has pioneered the development of products that Make The Workplace A Betterplace™. What started with just one product has grown into a line of top flight, battle-tested, Tenacious Work Gear®; all precision crafted to provide protection, promote prevention and manage the elements for workers on jobsites the world over. The current lineup is extensive and constantly growing: ProFlex® Hand Protection, ProFlex® Knee Pads, ProFlex® Supports, Skullerz® Head & Face Protection, Skullerz® Eye Protection, Trex® Footwear Accessories, KREW’D® Skin Protection, Chill-Its® Cooling Products, N-Ferno® Warming Products, GloWear® Hi-Vis Apparel, Squids® Lanyards, Arsenal® Gear and Tool Storage, and SHAX® Portable Work Shelters.

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JB&B's William Quigley Selected for BCxA 20 Under 40 Recognition Program

JB&B’s William Quigley Selected for BCxA 20 Under 40 Recognition Program

Jaros, Baum & Bolles (JB&B) is pleased to announce that William Quigley, JB&B Associate, has been selected for the Building Commissioning Association’s (BCxA) 20 Under 40 Recognition Program. Quigley, who is a Certified Building Commissioning Professional and Certified Energy Auditor, has been with JB&B for eight years and saw building commissioning as the natural continuation of his career following his service in the Navy. The BCxA selects candidates for the 20 Under 40 Recognition Program based on each individual’s execution and adherence to the BCxA’s best practices, status as a leader in the building sciences field, and innovative strategies to adapting to new and advanced technologies, processes, and software. Quigley excels in these fields, graduating summa cum laude from New York University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering. His interest in JB&B was piqued when he first connected with a partner who suggested an internship during a college fair, and eight years later he has become one of the firm’s most respected and capable team members. “Will has a great combination of grit and modesty,” said JB&B Associate Partner Ryan Lean, who nominated Quigley for the Program. “No job is too big or small for him. He practices commissioning with full ownership of his projects, whether it includes mentoring others or completing the tasks independently. Will is an incredible engineer, and it’s no wonder why he has excelled in his position at JB&B.” Quigley’s passion and personal connection to his craft is what fuels his expertise and drive. His military service was heavily influenced by the events of 9/11, and in his own words, he seized the opportunity to be part of the design and commissioning of the World Trade Center site when he first joined JB&B in 2013. This dedication to helping his fellow citizens address and recover from times of crisis is also reflected by his recent work in the emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic, working alongside the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the greater construction industry to build a temporary hospital. “I will always be thankful for my modest contribution to support the great people of our city, state, and nation in our recovery from this challenging time,” Quigley said. “The most rewarding aspect of working as a CxP has been my involvement in New York City’s two greatest crises of the past 20 years.”

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Historic Randalls Site Provides Affordable Alternative for Renters

Historic Randalls Site Provides Affordable Alternative for Renters

With the average cost of renting a property in the UK now stood at a record high of £1,061 per month, getting onto the property ladder is a more attractive prospect than ever. For Uxbridge renters, Rosewood Housing’s stylish Shared Ownership apartments at the iconic Randalls department store are ideal for those looking to quit renting and snap up their very own home instead. And, with only nine Shared Ownership homes available at the site, prospective purchasers need to act fast to secure an affordable apartment with a unique history. Enjoying a convenient location within the commuter town of Uxbridge, all homes at Eves House are available to view, allowing interested parties to choose their dream home. The collection of one and two-bedroom apartments have all been designed and constructed with the same high-quality finish as those destined for private sale by Rosewood’s parent company, Inland Homes, with some properties even enjoying the added luxury of secure gated parking.  Sally Ingham, Board Director at Rosewood Housing, comments: “At Randalls, we are delighted that our affordable homes are offering buyers the opportunity to get onto the property ladder at such a historically significant development. As all properties are now ready to move into, purchasers will be able to settle into their new home before Christmas. With only nine properties available, we expect demand at Randalls to be high and urge potential purchasers to book an appointment with us as soon as possible.” Providing a more affordable way to get onto the property ladder, Rosewood’s Shared Ownership scheme at Eves House allows purchasers to buy a 25% share of their property, whilst paying a subsidised rent on the remaining value. After moving in, buyers can choose to purchase further shares of their property up to 100% and full ownership – known as staircasing – as and when they can afford to do so. Eves House hosts the stunning collection of one and two-bedroom Shared Ownership apartments at Randalls. Benefiting from spacious open-plan layouts, kitchens are complete with slimline quartz worktops and a selection of high-quality integrated appliances. Contemporary bathrooms feature stylish Porcelanosa tiling, sleek white sanitaryware and fully recessed mirrors. All homes enjoy the added benefit of having underfloor heating as standard. Home offices, en-suites and balconies provide even more space to enjoy in selected apartments. Randalls is well situated to enjoy the Uxbridge’s thriving community. With two shopping centres on offer, residents can take full advantage of the extensive range of popular high-street stores available, including H&M, River Island and The Body Shop. The town centre hosts a variety of popular restaurants, including Prezzo, Nando’s and Wagamama, while Millers Tap is a craft-pub offering a range of refreshing cocktails. Uxbridge also hosts a multi-screen Odeon cinema with an IMAX-screen, perfect for catching all the latest releases. Residents at Randalls can benefit from the plethora of tranquil green spaces that Uxbridge has to offer. Fassnidge Park hosts of bowling green, tennis courts and a café, and is just a short eight-minute walk away. Also nearby, Dowding Park is just a nine-minute walk from Randalls. This 40-acre space includes a children’s playground, football pitches and a peaceful woodland trail. Blue space is also plentiful, with the opportunity to enjoy stunning views across the River Colne, River Pinn and Fray’s River, or a gentle stroll alongside the Grand Union Canal. Randalls is ideally placed for commuters. Uxbridge Underground Station is just a five-minute walk away, providing easy access to a range of destinations including Wembley Park (25 minutes), Kings Cross (43 minutes) and Leicester Square (62 minutes). The introduction of Crossrail to nearby West Drayton train station from 2022 is expected to dramatically reduce journey times to destinations including London Paddington and Reading. For those hoping to travel further afield, the M25, M4 and M40 motorways are all easily accessible from the development, and residents are also just a 15-minute drive away from Heathrow Airport.

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Becoming A Landlord? Consider These Ten Things

One great way to build wealth is to become a landlord. Many people don’t think of this as an option, but I’m here to tell you it most certainly is. However, with great power comes great responsibility, and that definitely applies to landlord-hood. Before you sign that rental lease, you need to understand the incredible responsibility that comes with managing other people’s property. If you’re interested in becoming a landlord, read on for 7 things to help guide your decision. 1.    Get legal right from the start If you’re thinking of renting your property, it’s a good idea to get legal help. Landlords and tenants should know the basics of their rights and responsibilities under the law. This will help you avoid significant problems. It could also help your case in the event of a dispute over the rental property and make your relationship with your tenants happier, which is good for everyone involved. 2.    Obtain landlord insurance Landlord insurance is an essential piece of property protection. One of the first things you should do is obtain landlord insurance. This will help ensure that if anything does go wrong with your property, such as flooding, it can be replaced without breaking the bank. 3.    Choose Your Tenants Carefully Selecting the right tenants for your property is crucial to both the success and overall return on investment of your property. The wrong tenant may cause irreparable damage to your property, While the right tenant will help you maximise the return on investment of your property. 4.    Be ready for maintenance issues Landlords are responsible for the upkeep of their properties and owe it to themselves to make their properties secure and fit for habitation. This means there is a responsibility of dealing with routine maintenance and fixing problems. 5.     Consider tax laws Landlords have a responsibility when it comes to paying their fair share of taxes. It’s your duty to understand these laws and fill out the necessary paperwork. 6.    Make Sure You Hire the Right Property Manager Property management is a lot more than a job. The manager is the face of the property to both the tenants. Hiring the right property manager can really help your business run better. Your property manager will interact with each of them for every aspect of the property. 7.    Learn about rental agreements A tenancy agreement is a legal document that conveys all rights and obligations between the landlord and a tenant. A typical rental agreement contains the rights and responsibilities of the tenants, as well as what the landlord experts, policies and situations, such as if a tenant can keep a pet, and so on. Final Thoughts Being a successful landlord takes more than just understanding the industry and its practices. You also need to have a unique skill set that sets you apart from other potential landlords. Hopefully, the content of this article is able to provide some of the help you need to get started.

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Ryan Mahoney (Dubai, UAE) Explores Property Trends in the United Arab Emirates in 2021

Real estate in the UAE has experienced its strongest two years since the early 2000s, with factors such as the global COVID-19 pandemic and low USD interest rates transforming the market. Prices have been rising dramatically and supply has been unable to keep pace with demand. As the vaccine rollout continues and measures such as lockdowns are being eased, prices in the UAE property market will continue to rise; according to Reuters, residential property prices in Dubai rose in April-June 2021 for a second straight quarter. Ryan Mahoney (Dubai, UAE) is the CEO of Better Homes and the CEO and owner of CenCorp, both property-related businesses operating within Dubai. Tourism Dubai is one of the most visited international destinations in the world; therefore, COVID-19 related disruptions to travel impacted the market as it did in other cities around the world. Lockdowns, social distancing and travel restrictions over the past 18 months have inevitably caused a slowdown in tourism. However, as restrictions begin to be lifted and travel becomes a possibility once more, tourists are starting to return to the emirate. This is good news for the hotel industry, which has been operating back up to full capacity since the middle of May 2021. Pent-up demand has resulted in tourism numbers increasing more than expected since the end of lockdown. Many investors are now seeking prime properties at a time when demand is outweighing supply. Business Travelers In 2019 alone, more than 2.3 million people visited Dubai for business purposes. The rise of flexible working, which began as a response to the pandemic, is also potentially good news for the hotel industry. With employees and employers alike recognizing the benefits of remote working, hotels offering business hubs and facilities may find themselves busier than ever before. Short-Term Rental Growth Increased numbers of visitors for both business and leisure purposes are forecast to drive sustainable growth in the short-term rental sector in Dubai. The implementation of new technologies will help to push this growth forward as people emerge from lockdown. Technologies such as online self-check-in and virtual viewings help travelers feel safer as their contact with others is minimized. Increase in First-Time Buyers In the first two months of 2021, first-time buyer sales across the UAE increased by 62% year-on-year. The rental market has also seen an influx of new contracts. While it remains to be seen how the recovery phase post-vaccine will pan out, the signs look promising for the Dubai property market.

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Rotpunkt Is a Finalist on Kitchen LONGLIST at Designer Awards

Rotpunkt Is a Finalist on Kitchen LONGLIST at Designer Awards

Rotpunkt, award-winning carbon neutral manufacturer of quality German kitchen furniture is delighted to announce its dynamic Ceiling Frame Extractor System makes the Kitchen LONGLIST, named a finalist for ‘Product of the Year’ at this year’s Designer Awards. Now in its 19th year, the Designer Awards ceremony will take place at the Grand Connaught Rooms in London on 12th November 2021, to celebrate the best of the best and crown its winners! Reflecting on today’s desire to push design boundaries in blended living spaces, the Ceiling Frame Extractor System by Rotpunkt, is a best in class canopy-style storage solution that utilises the floors, walls and ceiling in the kitchen. Ideal for keeping herbs and spices in easy reach of the chef, this innovative hanging storage is designed to suspend from the ceiling to create extra shelving space and new planning options for the central island unit and built-in extractor. How? Rotpunkt’s ceiling frame can be made full size or custom, featuring a black metal surround, shelving and electrical containment in order to make use of the 390mm apertures specially designed for statement extractor systems that are discreet yet utilitarian. As truly hybrid solution for the kitchen, canopy-style storage has opened up an entirely new design landscape that monopolises the ceiling and is geared towards extractor fans, trailing houseplants, herbs and even cookware. Drawing the eye upwards, ceiling frames not only enhance the height of the room, they are sensitive to the native architecture of the home, while emphasising the cook zone. Matt Phillips, Head of UK Operations at Rotpunkt says: “On behalf of the Rotpunkt family worldwide, I am really pleased that we have been recognised by the Designer Awards for our innovative Ceiling Frame solution, a 2021 innovation which has received a positive response industry-wide. I am very proud that it has made the shortlist for kitchen products, especially as the line between work and play continues to merge at home, and this type of hybrid furniture is answering demand for quality kitchen living that focuses on design and artistic value.” “With so much innovation in the kitchen sector right now, I want to take this opportunity to wish the nominees luck and we have everything crossed for winning results in November” says Matt.

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Orion Construction Makes Leadership Changes

Orion Construction Makes Leadership Changes

Grand Rapids-based Orion Construction’s CEO Roger Rehkopf has announced he is “passing the baton” as company president, while remaining CEO of the commercial construction contractor. Rehkopf has appointed VP of Pre-Construction Brad Walsh as the company’s president. In addition to Walsh, Rehkopf made the following other appointments: Kathy Ringnalda, controller and office manager, as CFO; DuWayne Johnson, senior project manager, as VP Multi-Family; and Jeff Smigielski, senior project manager, as VP Construction and Logistics. “For over a decade, I have had the privilege to be part of the driving force behind constructing many of the successful businesses, entertainment and dining establishments throughout the city of Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Holland, Lansing, Flint and beyond,” said Rehkopf. “While I will continue to remain CEO of Orion Construction, I trust that, under Brad’s leadership, the company will continue to thrive in enhancing Michigan’s cityscapes well into the future.” Rehkopf joined Orion Construction as part owner in 2014. With more than 35 years of experience in construction project management and business development, he has a strong background in architectural design and design build projects. Walsh joined Orion in 2015 as project manager with multi-faceted experience within the commercial construction industry. His construction knowledge spans commercial, municipal and industrial projects comprising of government, university and healthcare projects nationwide. Under his supervision and leadership, Walsh has overseen the completion of several mid-rise, mixed-use and multi-family projects, including Heritage Place, Rivers Edge and Gateway at Belknap Apartments. Additionally, he managed the construction process of many notable restaurants in downtown Grand Rapids, such as Wheelhouse, Holiday Bar, and Linear Restaurant, and Corner Bar in Rockford. “Roger has been an outstanding company president of Orion Construction throughout the past seven years, and through his leadership and vision, has contributed to the creation of much of the region’s commercial landscape,” Walsh said. “I am honored to fill Roger’s shoes as Orion’s new company president and continue to grow our footprint in West Michigan and beyond.” Since its founding in 2000, Orion Construction has managed many distinguishable multi-family, high-rise and mixed-use construction projects in the entertainment, dining, education, community, healthcare, and hotel and conference industries. Notable projects include: The Warner Building, 20 Monroe Live, Venue Tower, Spectrum Health Bridgewater, and Arena Place in downtown Grand Rapids; Hyatt Place in Lansing; MSU Student Village in East Lansing; Blue Water Convention Center, and Baker College in Port Huron; Samvardhana Motherson Reflectec (SMR) in Marysville; and The Lodge and Alpine Student Housing in Allendale.

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