News that the heritage brigade are objecting to tall buildings in the City of London because of their impact on the Tower of London prompted memories of what happened when Renzo Piano’s Shard design was under discussion. A group of Cabe commissioners, led by Stuart Lipton, did a walking tour
Cardiff University has unveiled a new £300 million Innovation Campus which will look to support tech start-ups and research. The new space, which is due to start construction in early 2017, will be based at the university’s Maindy Park. It will be a hub for university students, researchers, businesses and
An award winning Cheshire property has been refurbished using Render Systems from Alumasc. Alumasc who supply some of the industries key construction products. Owned by David and Margie Edwards, the magnificent Bankhall House was originally completed in 2008, to a traditional Georgian/Queen Ann architectural design, earning them the prestigious title
Water control and fabrication specialist ECS Engineering Services has continued its work on the Environment Agency’s Romney Weir by fabricating nine radial gates for use at the facility. Designed to operate on the weir for at least 60 years and minimise operating costs – the new gates add to already
Responding to the findings of the Redfern review into the decline of home ownership, Homes for Scotland Chief Executive Nicola Barclay welcomed the focus on a “long-term, cross-party approach to housing issues”, saying: Approach to increasing housing supply. “The conclusions of the Redfern Review echo the joined-up approach to increasing
Piling contractor Aarsleff Ground Engineering has signed a partnership agreement with Creagh Concrete Products, allowing Creagh to manufacture ground beams under licence at its factory in Hoveringham, Nottinghamshire. It is envisaged that the partnership will be extended in due course to allow Creagh to manufacture Aarsleff ground beams at its
The Solar Impulse Foundation has launched the World Alliance for Clean Technologies. The scheme is aiming to bring together the ‘main actors’ in clean technologies to develop profitable solutions to climate change. The company behind the first ever solar flight around the world, the Solar Impulse Foundation, has launched the
Knowsley’s Shakespeare North Playhouse has moved a step closer after a number of key appointments. Mott MacDonald and AECOM Ltd have teamed up with lead architect Helm Architecture on the £26 million Prescot project, which was given the go ahead by Knowsley Council in April. The Shakespeare North Playhouse will
Reading-based international support services and construction group Interserve has secured a five year total facilities management account with six central government departments worth over £40 million. The account, known as the ‘Affiliate Cluster’, will cover the Cabinet Office, the Department for International Development (DFID), the Food Standards Agency (FSA), the
Work is set to begin this week on Liverpool FC’s new flagship Anfield Stadium store, with contractors arriving on site to start working on the two-storey development. It marks the next milestone in the regeneration of Anfield and will form part of Liverpool City Council’s plan to rebuild the entire
News that the heritage brigade are objecting to tall buildings in the City of London because of their impact on the Tower of London prompted memories of what happened when Renzo Piano’s Shard design was under discussion. A group of Cabe commissioners, led by Stuart Lipton, did a walking tour of the Tower environs to get a feeling for how the Shard might affect things, even though it was on the other side of the river, and some way from the best place to view the Tower, which is along the riverbank close to City Hall. We couldn’t see that there would be much harm done, but we wanted to hear from the people for whom the Tower is home: the Beefeaters. We spoke to a couple and their view was quite clear: just because you would be able to see a tall building from within the Tower grounds didn’t mean the Tower itself was being diminished. “The Tower of London Beefeaters were not concerned about the development” At the ensuing public inquiry, I gave evidence in favour of the Shard on behalf of Cabe – or at least in support of the architecture and the proposed height, though we had concerns about the ground plane and the relationship with a neighbouring tower and transport facilities. Curiously, because we were not 100 per cent endorsers of the project, we were categorised by the Planning Inspectorate as objectors, even though there is nothing in law to say this is what should happen. As a result of this, having been cross-examined by the English Heritage QC in respect of our general support for the project, I then received another grilling from developer Irvine Sellar’s QC over our reservations about some aspects of the proposal. The only comfort I could draw was the opportunity, when questioned, to reference our Cabe commissioner conversation with senior Beefeaters, and the fact that they were not concerned about the development. ‘What conclusions did you draw from this conversation?’ asked the QC. I replied: ‘Since they were Beefeaters, we regarded them as serious stakeholders.’ Pun intended. I think it is reasonable to say that the room rocked with laughter, no doubt taking a lead from the inspector himself. It was probably the only light relief during the entire inquiry.
Cardiff University has unveiled a new £300 million Innovation Campus which will look to support tech start-ups and research. The new space, which is due to start construction in early 2017, will be based at the university’s Maindy Park. It will be a hub for university students, researchers, businesses and those from the public sector. It features two new 12,000 square metre buildings, which have been designed by architectural practices Hawkins Brown and Hok, alongside site masterplanner BDP and town planning consultancy DPP. Vice chancellor of the university Professor Colin Riordan says he hopes the new campus will “create opportunities for all”, and will be a place for “cutting-edge research, technology transfer, business development and student enterprise”. The campus will include facilities such as a research centre for compound semi-conductors, a facility to support research in chemical sciences, a research park dedicated to social design projects, and The Innovation Centre, a creative hub for start-up companies. There will also be an exhibition and events space in the Innovation Centre, and areas open to the public. The space will also feature lettable office and lab spaces available both to start-ups and big companies. Alongside the two buildings, a bridge has also been built which connects the Innovation Campus with Cardiff Business School. Oliver Milton, partner at Hawkins Brown, says: “In generating our design for the Innovation Central Building, we worked closely with Cardiff University to develop new models for space use…” “This resulted in a very clear design with interactive working spaces organised around a central ‘oculus’ that connects the seven storeys.” Shared facilities include a Ted-ex style event and talking space, and a fabrication lab to trial new manufacturing technologies. Adrian Gainer, regional leader at Hok’s Science and Technology group, says the semi-conductor and chemical sciences labs have been designed “to enable multidisciplinary research to flourish”.
An award winning Cheshire property has been refurbished using Render Systems from Alumasc. Alumasc who supply some of the industries key construction products. Owned by David and Margie Edwards, the magnificent Bankhall House was originally completed in 2008, to a traditional Georgian/Queen Ann architectural design, earning them the prestigious title of Daily Telegraph Best Traditional House in the UK for 2010. Following some initial problems with the original render system, David Edwards embarked on a 4-month study of the render market, in search of a system that would complement and protect his beloved Bankhall. “To show passion above and beyond that of their competitors” Following rigorous research into suitable products and approved contractors, David brought in Alumasc Registered Installer Bruce Day of Cheshire Facades, who, according to David, “worked alongside Alumasc’s technical team to show passion above and beyond that of their competitors”. David, Bruce, and the installation team, worked closely together in the investigation and resolution of the initial render problems, and specified Alumasc’s MR Polymer Render System with a decorative Silicone Render finish, as the solution. Bruce Day has a well-established relationship with Alumasc and was confident that their products presented the right solution for Bankhall House. He comments: “The traditional architecture at Bankhall presented a number of challenges with regard to application of the chosen render system. Intricacies in the stonework of the main house and also balustrades and plinths in the garden, demanded a robust system that could be easily applied. I have always found Alumasc systems easy to work with and in this case they also provided a perfect ‘cream’ colour match to the existing finish.” David and Margie are thrilled with both the installation process and the result. David comments: “Activity on site was reviewed daily by Cheshire Facades, and snagging was an integral part of my relationship with Bruce and his installers. Bruce insisted, “Our work must satisfy the customer – always”. I was also aware that render products have developed technically since the original installation, and Alumasc were able to offer all of the “cutting edge technology” required to give us the result we wanted. We feel like we’ve been given a new house.” Alumasc Polymer and Silicone Render Systems are BBA Approved construction products and fully warrantied. They are less susceptible to cracking and crazing than traditional plain render and are fully weather resistant whilst remaining vapour permeable. For more information, visit www.alumascfacades.co.uk or call 03335 771 700
Water control and fabrication specialist ECS Engineering Services has continued its work on the Environment Agency’s Romney Weir by fabricating nine radial gates for use at the facility. Designed to operate on the weir for at least 60 years and minimise operating costs – the new gates add to already extensive renovation work carried out in the area by ECS. ECS was contracted to produce one 2.38m wide x 1.13m high and eight 2.68m wide x 4.43m high radial gates for installation by their in-house engineers at the weir. The entire design process of each gate was carried out in-house by ECS, with all designs adhering to BS EN 1090-2 certification. The gates were required to geometrically match the existing gates at the weir and mirror their crest level, preserving the water dynamics through the weir. Radial gates are intrinsically economic in design, providing a light-weight solution that can be open and closed with minimal effort, consequently reducing energy costs for end users during operation. ECS has a proven track-record in such installations, having recently completed a similar project at Old Windsor Weir. As ECS is also able to offer completely customised radial gates to client specifications and execution class 3 standards, the company was an obvious choice for the project. Each radial gate was fabricated in-house by ECS from steel to the required Environment Agency MEICA specification and applicable CE standards. All sealing arrangements on the gates were also redesigned to offer the maximum service life, reducing maintenance requirements. Each of the eight larger gates weighed in at four tonnes upon completion. Following construction, a painted protection system was also added to the gates, guaranteeing a minimum service life of 25 years without maintenance. Maximum control over gate speed Once installed, the new gates will be connected to a new Rotork actuator based drive system allowing maximum control over gate speed and positioning, therefore enabling precise control of water flow through the weir. This will be managed via a control kiosk incorporating a PLC and HMI control panel. ECS are existing framework contractors to the Environment Agency and continue to support both the Agency and its WEM framework contractors in its continuing multi-million pound renovation of these types of structures on the River Thames.
Responding to the findings of the Redfern review into the decline of home ownership, Homes for Scotland Chief Executive Nicola Barclay welcomed the focus on a “long-term, cross-party approach to housing issues”, saying: Approach to increasing housing supply. “The conclusions of the Redfern Review echo the joined-up approach to increasing housing supply which we are calling for in Scotland. With all political parties acknowledging the fundamental national need for more homes, the report further reinforces that the challenge of delivering more homes on the ground can only be achieved by working in partnership with all levels of government over the long term. “It is important that we fully recognise the housing needs of our growing population, whether that be the aspiration of the majority to own their own home or by increasing access across other tenures in order to create and sustain a healthy market for all.”
Piling contractor Aarsleff Ground Engineering has signed a partnership agreement with Creagh Concrete Products, allowing Creagh to manufacture ground beams under licence at its factory in Hoveringham, Nottinghamshire. It is envisaged that the partnership will be extended in due course to allow Creagh to manufacture Aarsleff ground beams at its various sites across the UK. Aarsleff managing director Chris Primett said: “The partnership agreement with Creagh Concrete Products presents a number of opportunities for Aarsleff. As well as ensuring certainty of supply of our popular ground beams across ultimately the UK, it allows us to work in collaboration with Creagh to offer complete packages to clients for pile, ground beams and flooring. Clients will benefit enormously from being able to specify complete solutions.” This article was published on 4 Apr 2016 (last updated on 4 Apr 2016). Source link
The Solar Impulse Foundation has launched the World Alliance for Clean Technologies. The scheme is aiming to bring together the ‘main actors’ in clean technologies to develop profitable solutions to climate change. The company behind the first ever solar flight around the world, the Solar Impulse Foundation, has launched the World Alliance for Clean Technologies at COP22, which is aiming to bring together the ‘main actors’ in clean technologies to help tackle climate change. Solar Impulse has said that its aim is to federate key stakeholders in the area of clean technologies, including start-ups, companies, institutions and organisations producing, implementing or supporting the use of clean technologies. Together, the members will “share experiences and create synergies” in order to improve the overall value chain and demonstrate and advise on concrete solutions to support governments, corporations and institutions in reaching their environmental and health targets. The announcement comes less than four months after the landing of the first ever solar flight around the world, accomplished by Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg, and is the second phase of Piccard’s long-term goal to use low-carbon technologies to solve major global challenges, as well as reach the objectives of the Climate Action Agenda. The Alliance’s overarching ambition is to globally advance clean technologies, which it defines as: “any practical solution that allows to bridge the gap between ecology and economy. They are not limited to the production of renewable energy, but encompass technologies, systems, know-hows or processes that protect the environment, improve health, increase energy efficiency or save natural resources, while creating jobs, generating profit and sustaining growth”. “We need to embrace clean technologies, not because they are ‘eco-logical,’ but because they are ‘logical,’” said Bertrand Piccard, chairman of the Solar Impulse Foundation. “Even if climate change didn’t exist, energy efficient technologies would make sense to create jobs, generate profit and boost economic development, while also reducing CO2 emissions and protecting natural resources.”
Knowsley’s Shakespeare North Playhouse has moved a step closer after a number of key appointments. Mott MacDonald and AECOM Ltd have teamed up with lead architect Helm Architecture on the £26 million Prescot project, which was given the go ahead by Knowsley Council in April. The Shakespeare North Playhouse will be constructed just metres from the site of the original Elizabethan theatre which stood in the town during the 1590s and was the only purpose-built playhouse anywhere in the UK outside of London. Austin-Smith: Lord LLB has been named as the supporting architect alongside AECOM Ltd, which will provide mechanical and electrical engineering services whilst Mott MacDonald will deliver structural engineering services. The development is due to boost the local economy by more than £10 million, with the creation of 210 construction jobs and 57 full-time positions once open. Councillor Mike Murphy, Knowsley Council’s cabinet member for regeneration and economic development, commented: “Securing these key appointments is a significant milestone in the development of the playhouse, which reiterates our commitment to delivering a playhouse in Prescot. “We look forward to working with Helm Architecture, Austin-Smith: Lord LLB, AECOM Ltd and Mott MacDonald Ltd, and their experienced teams, to deliver this exciting project.” Peter Scott, chair of Shakespeare North Trust added: “Our vision to have a playhouse in Prescot began 12 years ago and we’re delighted at the support and interest we have received in turning this vision into a reality. “These key appointments will help us to recreate a Shakespearean theatre in Knowsley – which was home to the only freestanding purpose-built Elizabethan era theatre outside of London.” Last month, the Shakespeare North Trust revealed more about its plans for the playhouse during a private dinner at The Globe on London’s South Bank as part of Knowsley’s showcase during MIPIM UK. Subject to funding, construction on the facility is due to commence in September next year.
Reading-based international support services and construction group Interserve has secured a five year total facilities management account with six central government departments worth over £40 million. The account, known as the ‘Affiliate Cluster’, will cover the Cabinet Office, the Department for International Development (DFID), the Food Standards Agency (FSA), the Government Actuary’s Department (GAD), the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted). This will be the first time that all six departments’ facilities management services will be handled by a single provider. The deal is hoping to achieve double digit cost savings each year across the departments. Under the terms of the agreement, Interserve will provide a number of services including front of house, catering and security, along with electrical and mechanical maintenance. The new partnership will also see the group incorporate the use of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in line with targets of the government. Adrian Ringrose, Chief Executive, commented: “We have excellent relationships in central government and are very pleased to be expanding this partnership into new departments. We feel that our extensive experience of delivering diverse, complex facilities management services for government makes us the ideal partner for this combined contract. “Ahead of the start of this contract we are focusing on the training and development of our people, to ensure we continue to provide the highest standard of customer service.” Chief Executive of the Civil Service, John Manzoni , added: “Bringing the support services together under a single overarching account will deliver significant benefits for each department and for the government as a whole. “Thanks to the efficiencies that our partnership with Interserve will deliver, we will achieve consistent service level across the estate whilst bringing savings; ensuring we are delivering real value to taxpayers.”
Work is set to begin this week on Liverpool FC’s new flagship Anfield Stadium store, with contractors arriving on site to start working on the two-storey development. It marks the next milestone in the regeneration of Anfield and will form part of Liverpool City Council’s plan to rebuild the entire Anfield high street, Walton Breck Road, on which the Club’s new store will stand. The store will provide fans with a premium shopping experience featuring exclusive product ranges and an increased number of payment stations to ease checkout congestion on match days. There will also be a specially designed first floor café – that will open on both match days and non-match days. The new store will be built on 19,500 square foot of floor space, which is four times the size of the current Anfield store and will incorporate a brand new LFC store design concept. The colour scheme and materials will take inspiration from the architecture of Anfield and will feature design references from the original and current Kop, along with the expanded Main Stand. Chief Commercial Officer at Liverpool FC, Billy Hogan, commented: “Liverpool Football Club has an ongoing commitment to the wider regeneration of the Anfield area. This development will further enhance the Main Stand development as well as the Anfield High Street and will take us a step closer to offering our fans the best in-store experience possible. “This flagship store will be the jewel in the LFC Retail crown and it is fitting that it will be situated in Anfield – the heart of this Club.” Located on the high street, the store has been designed in support of Liverpool City Council’s vision for a new-look high street. It is also aiming to further enhance the surround of the stadium by generating more activity in the area and will feature a window design that will create an attractive frontage for the existing high street. The flagship store will not only stock a greater range of LFC merchandise, it will also offer fans access to exclusive New Balance and 47 Brand products through branded shop-in-shops that will be housed within the space. The number of payment stations will increase by 100 percent and the number of shirt printing locations will increase by over 500 percent in comparison to the current Anfield store.