A partnership between BRE (the Building Research Establishment) and USGBC (U.S. Green Building Council) will promote the expertise of both businesses and harness their combined industry insights, in order to deliver a new industry approach to building and built environment performance, solutions and benchmarking. “BRE is the world’s leading building
Developer Crest Nicholson has launched a new dedicated training scheme for former members of the Armed Forces, agreeing to offer army veterans the opportunity to build a career in the housebuilding sector with its new scheme. “As a nation, we owe a great deal to our Armed Forces and it
The London Borough of Hounslow has seen a surge in demand for special educational needs and disability (SEND) school places for children, which led to the construction of a new flagship teaching facility. The site of the existing Marjory Kinnon School has been transformed into a 9,500 sqm state-of-the-art building
Hull-based TLJ Security Systems’ electrical engineering apprentice, Lewis Wankiewicz, has won two awards at the Hull Training and Adult Education (HTAE) Awards 2018. The event, held at Hull’s Guildhall on the 9th of November, was a celebration of the achievements of apprentices, learners and businesses across the Hull and East
The £2.3 million extension and refurbishment project to a Warwickshire-based care home owned and run by The Royal British Legion will be delivered by construction and refurbishment specialist, J Tomlinson. Galanos House is one of six care homes owned by the Legion, exclusively providing short and long-term care to serving
The 2018 On the Tools Training Excellence Award has been awarded to Dulux Academy. The awards, which celebrate and reward construction workers, subcontractors, tools and equipment manufacturers and construction companies from across the UK, were held at Edgbaston Cricket Ground, Birmingham. All entries for the awards are independently judged by
The shortlist for this year’s Construction Marketing Awards has been announced by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM). The companies will compete for awards in 23 different categories, including best use of content marketing, best low, medium and high budget campaign and marketing team of the year. The awards are
TODD Architects has successfully completed the interior planning and configuration of CNP Santander Insurance’s newly constructed offices at Three Park Place, Hatch Street Upper, Dublin 2. After an in-depth staff consultation process, TODD Architects created a concept which considered and delivered a consciously ergonomic, contemporary workplace which meets the current
Stewart and Shields has been awarded by Riverside Inverclyde (Ri), the organisation charged with delivering the economic redevelopment of Inverclyde in the west of Scotland, the £1.6 million design and build construction contract for its food and drink incubator. Baker Street Food & Drink Enterprises will be built on land
Award-winning UK construction, refurbishment and fit out contractor, Gilbert-Ash, completed the redevelopment of Arnold House in the fast-growing ‘Tech-City’ area of London. The former warehouse now contains a 75,000 sq.ft. stand-out office and retail space. The £15 million project included a three-story extension reflecting the design of the existing building.
A partnership between BRE (the Building Research Establishment) and USGBC (U.S. Green Building Council) will promote the expertise of both businesses and harness their combined industry insights, in order to deliver a new industry approach to building and built environment performance, solutions and benchmarking. “BRE is the world’s leading building science centre. We have been at the forefront of developing knowledge and standards for almost 100 years. We sponsor and conduct research which continually improves productivity, quality, environmental performance, safety and well-being in the built environment. BRE’s standards, digital tools and training programs are key to equipping the industry and future generations for the global challenges of tomorrow. Our mission is to build a better world together and this partnership will enable us to substantially extend our reach and impact, around the world,” said Niall Trafford CEO at BRE. The two organisations aim to highlight the role that buildings can play in improving environmental, economic and health outcomes and to positively impact the quality of life of people around the world. Their joint vision is to create a better built environment that’s cleaner, more efficient, more sustainable and fully meets the world’s current and future urbanisation needs. “USGBC has led the green building community for nearly two decades. But there is still much work that needs to be done, and the stakes have never been higher. This collaboration allows us to leverage our tools and resources to scale-up the reductions in carbon emissions, that are associated with buildings and accelerate this on all fronts,” commented Mahesh Ramanujam, president & CEO, USGBC. The objectives that BRE and USGBC will pursue and explore together are to: Increase the level of engagement of existing buildings in the measurement, reporting and improvement of their environmental, social and wellbeing impact. Embrace a digital strategy that will raise our combined technological capabilities and establish industry-wide common data standards and protocols, to make our platforms simpler, smarter and more intelligent Conduct research to identify future transformation opportunities to improve the sustainability credentials of the world’s buildings, communities and cities. The collaboration will also leverage BRE and USGBC’s combined market knowledge, partnerships and collective tools through BREEAM, LEED and other rating systems to address all sectors: new and existing commercial buildings, new and existing homes, infrastructure, landscape, power, waste, and finance.
Developer Crest Nicholson has launched a new dedicated training scheme for former members of the Armed Forces, agreeing to offer army veterans the opportunity to build a career in the housebuilding sector with its new scheme. “As a nation, we owe a great deal to our Armed Forces and it is particularly pertinent at this time of year to reaffirm our commitment to them,” said Patrick Bergin, CEO of Crest Nicholson. “Currently, we have a number of employees across our business who have been involved with, or touched by, the Armed Forces. They bring a wealth of transferable skills, experience and values to their roles thanks to the world-class training they have received during their time with the military and we recognise the valuable contribution they can make to our business. It gives me great pride to sign the Armed Forces Covenant today and to formalise our ongoing commitment to supporting these men and women.” The agreement was signed by Patrick Bergin and Lt Col Paddy Baines MBE, who signed it on behalf of the Ministry of Defence. Crest Nicholson hosted the signing event at its Arborfield Green development, which is being delivered in partnership with the Ministry of Defence on the site of the former Arborfield Garrison. “The Armed Forces Covenant relies on the people, communities, and businesses of the UK to actively support it and make a difference. Clearly Crest Nicholson PLC already recognise the benefits of engaging with defence particularly in the employment of skilled service leavers and we look forward to furthering our mutually beneficial relationship,” added Lieutenant Colonel Baines. Crest Nicholson has been building new homes for over 50 years and is firmly established as a leading developer with a passion for not just building homes, but creating vibrant sustainable communities. Its mission is to improve the quality of life for individuals and communities, both now and in the future, by providing better homes, workplaces, retail and leisure spaces.
The London Borough of Hounslow has seen a surge in demand for special educational needs and disability (SEND) school places for children, which led to the construction of a new flagship teaching facility. The site of the existing Marjory Kinnon School has been transformed into a 9,500 sqm state-of-the-art building offering spaces for 288 pupils – creating one of the largest all-through schools of its type in the country. Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, who holds 11 Paralympic gold medals for wheelchair racing, officially opened the £25 million school, in Feltham. “We’re proud to have been involved in a major programme, which will completely transform children in Hounslow’s access to high-quality and tailored SEND education,” said David Nisbet, partner at independent property, construction and infrastructure consultancy Pick Everard, which provided full design architectural and engineering services for the project. “Through collaboration with the contractor, Farrans, during construction, we were able to complete the Marjory Kinnon School – one of the country’s largest SEND schools – ahead of programme and under budget. The team worked collaboratively with the school to understand the complex teaching requirements to deliver a successful project,” he added. The school now offers a rich provision of inclusive and accessible environments for pupils aged four to 16 years to learn and play as they progress through school towards independent adult life in the community. Young people with special educational needs and disabilities have the chance to flourish and grow as individuals and adults in a positive schooling environment, with a personalised and diverse curriculum, while ensuring they have the best possible access to appropriate academic and vocational opportunities. Externally, the building uses a soft palette of materials – including subtle shades of brick and timber-effect panelling – to create an inviting and safe backdrop for the school. Internally, classrooms have been designed to be adaptable based on the environmental needs of different students, from the need to control visual stimulation through colour and shape, to the requirement for overhead hoists and adjustable height furniture for pupils with physical mobility aids. Primary and secondary wings were also constructed within the school to separate pupils by age into manageable groups.
Hull-based TLJ Security Systems’ electrical engineering apprentice, Lewis Wankiewicz, has won two awards at the Hull Training and Adult Education (HTAE) Awards 2018. The event, held at Hull’s Guildhall on the 9th of November, was a celebration of the achievements of apprentices, learners and businesses across the Hull and East Yorkshire region. Born out of the successful partnership HTAE has with local employers and partners each winner had an inspiring story to tell, making them true ambassadors in their field. The awards themselves were sponsored by local companies who are all passionate about providing apprenticeship and work placements to local people. “We are so proud of Lewis! He has visibly grown in confidence and stature during the time of his apprenticeship with us but was, frankly, a little overwhelmed by his double win. But it was fully deserved: despite being a naturally shy person, Lewis has grown into a strong team player and demonstrates an active focus on site safety. He has not only become technically skilled within the area of access control but also developed the ‘soft’ skills required when dealing with customers. Lewis’ success confirms our belief that even smaller companies can benefit from employing apprentices,” commented Claire Martin, TLJ’s Head of Human Resources. Lewis, 19, won two headline awards at the event: The Engineering Centre Apprentice of the Year and the HTAE Learner of the Year prize. A distinguished panel of judges, including local employers, past apprenticeship award winners and partners chose Lewis for his dedication and commitment to the business, as well as his exceptional professional, technical and personal development. “We truly believe that good education and work-based training plays a crucial role in building a bright future for our learners. It’s great that, through the HTAE awards scheme, we get the chance to celebrate the achievements of our apprentices, employers, trainers and partners. It’s great for the commercial future of our city, and the wider economy of the country,” said Sharon Gamble, Assistant City Manager with Hull City Council. TLJ were also category sponsors for The Engineering Centre Mike Brown Award for Outstanding Achievement.
The £2.3 million extension and refurbishment project to a Warwickshire-based care home owned and run by The Royal British Legion will be delivered by construction and refurbishment specialist, J Tomlinson. Galanos House is one of six care homes owned by the Legion, exclusively providing short and long-term care to serving and ex-service individuals and their dependants. The construction work consists of two extensions, which will provide ten additional dementia care bedrooms to the home’s award-winning Poppy Lodge and a new Community Hub which will include a new day care facility, café and treatment rooms. In addition, J Tomlinson will also be providing associated landscaped gardens and extended car parking to support increased occupancy within Galanos House upon completion of the extension. “We are delighted to work with The Royal British Legion on this project, which will provide additional space for individuals requiring extra care,” said Pete Woods, director (commercial refurbishment) at J Tomlinson. “As a business, we are active supporters of the armed forces community, having recently been recognised as a Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Award winner after signing the armed forces covenant during early 2017. We look forward to working with the Legion as the project gets underway,” Pete continued. The care home project will begin in late November and is due to complete autumn 2019. Founded by veterans after the first world war, The Royal British Legion is dedicated to supporting the Armed Forces community through a variety of means including rehabilitation courses, careers advice and specialist accommodation. “We are very excited about this new development, which will provide much-needed high quality facilities for our beneficiaries and a new hub that will serve residents, their families and friends, and also the wider community. We look forward to J Tomlinson joining the project team to finally bring this development to fruition,” added Paul Gillam, head of property development at The Royal British Legion. Nottingham-based J Tomlinson specialises in delivering a range of integrated building solutions to a wide range of sectors, including healthcare, extra care, bluelight, education, social housing, student accommodation and commercial/industrial. As a Dementia-Friendly organisation, the company has been instrumental in the delivery of unobtrusive building projects to specialist care environments, working with clients including MHA, HC One and Housing & Care 21.
The 2018 On the Tools Training Excellence Award has been awarded to Dulux Academy. The awards, which celebrate and reward construction workers, subcontractors, tools and equipment manufacturers and construction companies from across the UK, were held at Edgbaston Cricket Ground, Birmingham. All entries for the awards are independently judged by a panel of industry experts – On The Tools is the No1 social site for tradespeople to watch videos, read articles and share content, with more than two million followers on Facebook, Instagram and twitter. “This award coincided with our four year anniversary of starting work on the concept that is now known as Dulux Academy,” said Vickie Mather, Dulux Academy Manager. “In that time, we have welcomed more than 4,500 professional painters on to our courses ranging across every aspect of decoration including spray, wallpaper, colour selection, first aid and social media at our flagship Slough facility and across our network of college partners. We’re proud to be recognised against construction industry peers and establish ourselves as a credible training provider contributing to the upskilling and professionalising of the painting and decorating industry,” added Vickie Mather. The On the Tools awards, hosted by comedian Justin Moorhouse, handed out a total of 25 awards, including recognition of excellence in individual trades. It was therefore great to share the awards stage with Georgie Baker, a Dulux Select Decorator, who was nominated and voted for by the public audience as Painter & Decorator of the Year. Dulux Academy is the home of painting and decorating excellence. Its team of industry leading experts delivers learning experiences that celebrate the brand’s portfolio and proud heritage, showcase products and application innovation and embrace technology. Its courses can deliver increased knowledge and understanding, enabling those who chose Dulux Academy to meet their personal and professional ambitions.
The shortlist for this year’s Construction Marketing Awards has been announced by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM). The companies will compete for awards in 23 different categories, including best use of content marketing, best low, medium and high budget campaign and marketing team of the year. The awards are organised by CIM’s Construction Group, celebrating creativity, innovation and effectiveness in marketing across the construction industry. “The construction sector is renowned for its innovation and creativity and when it comes to marketing, the awards confirm that the industry recognises and celebrates the insight, creativity and impact of marketers in construction. This year we’ve received the highest level of entries which reflect the very best in construction marketing talent and are a fantastic way to raise awareness of the originality across the industry,” said Mike Lomax, chair of the CIM Construction Group. “Judged by some of the leading figures from brands such as Tarmac Cement, BMI group, MRA marketing from across construction and marketing, the Construction Marketing Awards set the benchmark for marketing success in the construction sector. We look forward to celebrating with guests at the annual awards ceremony and honouring marketing excellence across the built environment,” Mike added. Nominees include Senior Architectural Systems, BMI Redland, Fibo and many more. The Construction Marketing Awards Gala Dinner takes place on Thursday, the 29th of November at Hilton London Bankside, 2-8 Great Suffolk Street, London. Tickets can be booked individually or in tables of 10 and 12. Dress code is black tie and evening wear and the ticket price includes drinks reception, three course dinner, half a bottle of wine per person, and entertainment!
TODD Architects has successfully completed the interior planning and configuration of CNP Santander Insurance’s newly constructed offices at Three Park Place, Hatch Street Upper, Dublin 2. After an in-depth staff consultation process, TODD Architects created a concept which considered and delivered a consciously ergonomic, contemporary workplace which meets the current needs of the staff, while also allowing for future expansion with the addition of a purpose-built sublet area. “This new space presented a fantastic opportunity to highlight structural in-situ features, such as the pristine cast concrete shell, which forms a strong component of the overall design. Given the large floor plate, the main conceptual objective was to ensure that the office felt unified with a single democratic design in mind, whilst providing a range of spaces adaptable for various activities,” said Nilfa Burke, Project Designer at TODD Architects. Meeting rooms are located to the periphery of the plan with workstations positioned centrally, promoting multidisciplinary interaction between teams, while informal breakout and meeting spaces, including glazed pods, are interspersed for formal and informal meetings and interactions. The plan for the second floor fit-out uses the overhead finishes and varying ceiling heights to define space, while maintaining a unified free flowing open-plan office layout. Acoustic considerations are addressed using suspended acoustic ceiling panels clad in perforated oak veneer acoustic timber panelling. These also create a clean, aesthetic finish in concealing the large overhead ventilation ducts as well as providing a mount for other ceiling services such as the fire detectors, voice evacuation speakers and sprinkler heads. The material palette and specified furniture were key components in the workspace design. All task chairs were pre-tested by employees to find the right fit for each specific need, with all workstations also offering the flexibility of electronic sit-stand. The kitchenette and canteen offer employees essential facilities and an open plan social dining space which can also be used for formal and informal meetings. It is currently facilitating townhall forums. “Feedback provided throughout the various stages, helped direct us and overcome challenges which contributed to a more tailored design. The client embraced our ideas, which positively impacted on the delivery. We are incredibly proud of the resulting bespoke and progressive fit out, it is a true reflection of the success of our consultation process,” Nilfa added. Completed in June 2018, the scheme has already received an overwhelmingly positive response and was shortlisted in 2018 Fit Out Awards.
Stewart and Shields has been awarded by Riverside Inverclyde (Ri), the organisation charged with delivering the economic redevelopment of Inverclyde in the west of Scotland, the £1.6 million design and build construction contract for its food and drink incubator. Baker Street Food & Drink Enterprises will be built on land recently cleared at the corner of Greenock’s Baker Street and Drumfrochar Road. It is the second phase of a £2.5 million road realignment project currently being delivered by Riverside Inverclyde for Inverclyde Council. The Baker Street project will see the development of six manufacturing units ranging from 30 to 70 square metres. Aimed at enticing the growth of small and medium-sized food and drink businesses, the building will also include shared office space, storage unit and boardroom facilities for its tenants as well as shower and change areas. Ri will also provide a business growth programme to support the tenants, as well as seeking match-funding support for machinery and equipment. By assisting with the transition into Baker Street, the aim is to provide support towards achieving Safe and Local Supplier Approval (SALSA) standard accreditation for the units. “Ri has targeted the food and drink sector as a fantastic growth opportunity for Inverclyde,” said Andrew Bowman, Head of Business Investment at Ri. “We have started to promote this pioneering facility nationally and are already seeing interest in the Baker Street hub and all of the available support for the eventual tenants. The incubator offers Inverclyde some exciting opportunities, not least the ability to grow the number of food and drink producers in the area alongside the associated jobs. We hope to see some of the early participants grow to become great success stories in their own right.” The Baker Street incubator and its other areas of support will be the first of its kind in Scotland, assisting Inverclyde’s growth in the food and drink sector as Scotland aims to double its turnover to £30 billion by 2030. The development started in October 2018 and is expected to be completed in the summer of 2019. The development is due to begin this autumn with a completion date of spring 2019. The Baker Street incubator is being supported by £900,000 from the Scottish Government’s Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF).
Award-winning UK construction, refurbishment and fit out contractor, Gilbert-Ash, completed the redevelopment of Arnold House in the fast-growing ‘Tech-City’ area of London. The former warehouse now contains a 75,000 sq.ft. stand-out office and retail space. The £15 million project included a three-story extension reflecting the design of the existing building. It combined its current industrial impression with a high standard modern workplace environment to cater for the thriving technology and media businesses in South Shoreditch. Working closely with Buckley Gray Yeoman architects, the team at Gilbert-Ash transformed the seven-storey building to reveal collaborative open-plan spaces with exposed concrete columns and efficient floor plates. High-ceilings and significant natural light adds to the development to create a contemporary environment. The ground floor, encompassing retail outlets and a spacious reception area, includes a curtain wall glazing exterior and black steel cladding panels for the signage zone. The façade also incorporates brick cladding and brick slip panels over new external walls. An inverted roof with decking has created terrace spaces, with tenants able to enjoy views of the Shoreditch streetscape. “The final internal and external Arnold House refurbishment works well in the surrounding modern Tech-City environment. The contemporary space has been carefully constructed to keep the industrial style of the building but with additional features you would expect in a productive, collaborative space. From the ground floor to the roof terrace and landscaped courtyard, we aimed to create a space that would meet the needs of today’s modern, flexible workforce. The building includes office space with retail units on the ground floor in a fantastic location, right in the heart of Tech City,” said Gerard Mullan, Gilbert-Ash Project Manager. Located on the corner of Great Eastern Street and Holywell Lane, the new development is a BREAMM Very Good building with a WiredScore Gold certification. The building was completed and handed over on the 10th of August.