What can a family do when their home roof starts making scary noises? Which noises are a concern and which ones are just a normal part of roofing? There are 4 types of roof noises that can happen for different reasons. Some noises happen in new homes and others are
As a Toronto homeowner, you have a lot of responsibilities. One of them is your sewer line. Your sewage system is made up of a lot of pipes buried underground…where you can’t see them. When this network of pipes is working well, it’s easy to take your sewage system for
U+I have been given support by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council to transform 30 acres of unused land in Kent into a thriving new green business community that will address a severe shortfall of office and industrial provision in the area. Kingstanding, located 3.5 miles from Tunbridge Wells town centre, will comprise flexible, high-quality employment and industrial space to cater for a variety of different businesses. The buildings will be set within a beautiful
Nearly half of respondents in a global survey reported stronger occupier and investor demand for commercial properties with green building certificates. This translates into higher rents according to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, RICS, sustainability findings within its global commercial property monitor for the third quarter. RICS global property standards director
Considering the environmental impact of a new building Inspired by the Italian novel The Baron in the Trees, Bosco Verticale — or Vertical Forrest in English — are two tower blocks situated in Milan, Italy. What makes these structures significant is the abundance of greenery that encapsulates them. To be
Experienced business development professional joins growing UK structural steel contractor Elland Steel, a growing structural steel contractor, are excited to welcome Simon Jones into the team to spearhead the planned growth at Elland Steel. Simon will be looking to grow the already expanding customer base, specifically in and around London.
Employee-owned business Kite Packaging are one of the UK’s largest packaging distributors offering a range of solutions suited to all industries. Often the hub of many businesses, warehouses commonly see an increase in activity at this time of year. To support operations, Kite take a brief look at some of
Any residential or commercial development project can run into massive difficulties if residents are opposed to the plans or want the project to be scrapped altogether. Local campaigns can frustrate timelines, create legal problems or in the worst-case scenario, see hours of work vanish as local authorities scrap the project.
PD Ports, owner and operator of Teesport, has entered into an agreement with Wentworth Clean Power Limited (WCP) to bring a £230 million, state-of-the-art, waste-to-energy project to Teesside. WCP, developers of advanced waste-to-energy projects in the UK, together with its partners, will develop, finance and deliver the project on Dockside
2020 Art of Building photography competition now open… The world’s biggest photography competition for the built environment, the Art of Building, returns on 12 October 2020. Each year the competition attracts thousands of entries, as keen amateurs and experienced professionals battle for international recognition and two £1,500 cash prizes.
What can a family do when their home roof starts making scary noises? Which noises are a concern and which ones are just a normal part of roofing? There are 4 types of roof noises that can happen for different reasons. Some noises happen in new homes and others are part of a home aging. If the noises are causing the family concern, call a roofing contractor to inspect the roof and find the causes of the roof noises. Finding Out What Those Noises Are and If Something Needs to Be Done About Them How is a homeowner supposed to know what is causing strange noises on their roof? The best way to solve the mystery of roof noises is to contact someone such as https://eriemetalroofs.com/ or another local roofing contractor for a roof inspection. Keep track of where you hear the noises and when you hear them. Keeping a roof noise journal for a while before getting a roof inspection can be very helpful to the roofing expert inspecting the roof. The local roofing expert can tell the homeowner what the noise is caused by, how serious it is, and if repairs are needed to get rid of the noise. Some noises are an irritation, but not serious and require no repairs. These noises might have to be lived with as part of the house. 4 Types of Roof Noises and Their Causes There are 4 basic types of noises the roof can make. 1. In a new home roof or a recently replaced roof, new wood materials might have some residual moisture that dries out with time and makes cracking noises. This problem will solve itself in many cases but it is best to have a qualified roofing contractor check it out to make sure there are no repairs required. Metal roofing if improperly installed can make noises. 2. If the house has an HVAC unit such as a swamp cooler on the roof or if ductwork runs through the house’s attic, noises can occur with changing temperatures or moisture levels around the system. Dirty ductwork can also cause noises. A malfunctioning HVAC unit can even dump water on the roof causing damage to the roof and attic or a mold problem. Fans, chimney caps, and other roof-mounted equipment can be loose or improperly installed causing noises. Skylights can cause or transmit noise. 3. The outside temperature can cause the roof to make noises if it changes too quickly which causes the roofing materials to expand and contract. The expanding and contracting can cause the roof to make noises such as banging. In this situation, a roofing specialist can check the roof to make sure it has not sustained damage from extreme temperature changes. Metal roofs and other roofing materials can be affected by these temperature changes. The wind can cause roofing to make howling noises when it blows from certain directions. 4. The environment and leaks in the roof can cause noise such as dripping or plopping noises. Roof leaks can be caused by storm damage, tree branches, roof materials breaking down with age, wind damage, or missing roof tiles. There can be noise from a tree branch rubbing against the roof doing damage even before it causes the roof to leak. Trees overhanging roofs can drop small branches, leaves, and acorns on roofs causing noises. Trees can also host animals that go from the tree to the roof making scampering noises. It Is Important To find the Cause of Roof Noises It is important to find out the cause of roof noise so that it can be avoided or if there is roof damage, it can be repaired. Regular roof inspections after bad storms, or when new noises develop can help roofs to last longer and make less noise.
As a Toronto homeowner, you have a lot of responsibilities. One of them is your sewer line. Your sewage system is made up of a lot of pipes buried underground…where you can’t see them. When this network of pipes is working well, it’s easy to take your sewage system for granted. You won’t be taking things for granted, however, if you experience common sewer problems like drains running agonizingly slow or toilets gurgling after they’re flushed. Whenever you encounter such problems, you need to book a drain line inspection in Toronto. Read on to find out more about what sewer video inspections are, when such inspections are necessary, why it’s actually cheaper to hire professional plumbers than it is to do the job yourself, and the expected results of a video inspection. What is a Sewer Line Inspection? A sewer line inspection is exactly what the term implies…an inspection of the inside of your sewage system. Professional plumbers use a special camera that is a waterproof device attached to a durable, yet flexible, cable. The camera is pushed through the pipe so that the plumber operating it can check out the condition of the pipes. After the sewer line inspection is done, the plumber will explain what was found, recommend a fix if there are any issues, any issues, and help you decide what option to take. When is it Necessary? There are at least 2 scenarios when a drain line inspection in Toronto is necessary. One involves buying or selling a home and the other involves drainage issues: Home Purchase or Sale: Are you in the market for a new home? Do you plan to put your home on the market sooner rather than later? It’s a good idea to retain the services of a professional plumbing company to perform a sewer camera inspection in either case. In fact, it might be mandatory. Getting this inspection will let you know whether or not the sewer piping is, firstly, in good working order and, secondly, up to code. You can well imagine how expensive things can be if undiagnosed problems are left to get worse over time. This is especially true if you’re dealing with an older home – one that is at least 25 years old. The materials used to make pipes back then aren’t as durable as the materials they use today. Drainage Problems: Another reason to call in a professional plumber to conduct a camera inspection is if you experience and sewer problems such as the following: Foul smell coming from the drains in your home Toilets will not flush Toilet gurgles after it’s been flushed Water takes a really long time to go down the drain If you encounter any of these issues, it’s worth contacting a professional plumber to check it out. Why is it More Cost-Effective to Hire a Company Versus DIY? While there are lots of projects that a capable DIY type can take on and successfully complete, a drain line video inspection simply isn’t one of them. This job requires specialized equipment, a knowledge of how to properly access the drain system, the skill to perform the procedure, and the ability to both interpret the findings and to recommend the right solution. When you consider that a full inspection will typically cost between $300 and $500, you can appreciate that the cost is quite reasonable for what the job entails. If you do it yourself, you will have to track down the proper equipment. That will be a tall order. Even if you are lucky enough to get your hands on a sewer camera, you would also need to know how to do it properly and how to fix any problems. There’s also the potential for costly errors. So you can appreciate the importance of hiring pros. Sewer Video Inspection: Expected Results The main benefit of getting a drain line video inspection in Toronto is that the plumbing professional doing the work will be able to quickly and accurately find any problems inside your pipes. And the sooner problems are discovered, the sooner something can be done to remedy them. If issues are left untended for too long, they will lead to greater issues that might end up costing far more than routine maintenance like an inspection. You can avoid headaches and stress by calling in a professional plumbing company to do a drain line video inspection.
U+I have been given support by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council to transform 30 acres of unused land in Kent into a thriving new green business community that will address a severe shortfall of office and industrial provision in the area. Kingstanding, located 3.5 miles from Tunbridge Wells town centre, will comprise flexible, high-quality employment and industrial space to cater for a variety of different businesses. The buildings will be set within a beautiful parkland to create an inspiring place for people to work post-Covid, with sustainability and wellbeing at the forefront of the design. The scheme, which has been designed by Scott Brownrigg, sits on underused greenbelt land and will centre on a reinvigorated pond, itself surrounded by the ancient woodland of King’s Standing – providing biodiversity net gain and a tranquil environment for employees. Tunbridge Wells has been losing office and industrial floor space at a rate that exceeds regional averages. Consequently, vacancy levels of both office and industrial space are very low, with the shortfall compounded by limited new development activity. In line with the council’s economic needs study – which noted the requirement for at least 14ha of additional employment land up to 2033 – Kingstanding will alleviate the shortage in office and distribution space and stimulate economic growth. This will be encouraged further by an allocation in the emerging local plan. U+I’s proposals will see the delivery of nearly 800,000 sq ft of flexible warehouse and office accommodation on a well connected site. It is easily accessible by car, bus and train, while cycling from Tunbridge Wells town centre will take around 16 minutes. The new offices will be situated around the perimeter of the site, with new warehousing units concentrated in the north-west corner. Buildings will be positioned adjacent to woodland and other key landscape features to allow the occupiers immediate access to nature and other outdoor amenities. The name Kingstanding is inspired by the ancient woodlands surrounding the site, which once served as hunting grounds for Gilbert de Tonbridge, an Anglo-Norman nobleman of the 11th century. Richard Upton, Chief Development Officer, U+I, said: “U+I is now a step closer to unlocking the potential in this underused developable land within the greenbelt just outside Tunbridge Wells town centre into a thriving new business destination and community space, with nature and wellbeing at its heart. “With demand for office and industrial space far outstripping supply, Kingstanding will attract firms from a range of backgrounds to work in a workspace inspired by the outdoors and fit for the modern era. It will also create over 4,000 new jobs in the local community, stimulating economic growth.”
Nearly half of respondents in a global survey reported stronger occupier and investor demand for commercial properties with green building certificates. This translates into higher rents according to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, RICS, sustainability findings within its global commercial property monitor for the third quarter. RICS global property standards director Paul Bagust said: “Whether we look at investors or occupiers, it is clear that demand for more sustainable building is climbing.” He said it would be crucial to develop accurate measurements of properties to encourage greater capital in sustainable buildings. “We need to help ensure decisions are no longer based solely on cost, compliance and function, but assess a broader value of a building,” he said. In Europe 43 per cent of respondents noted demand for properties with green certificates was higher with more than 50 per cent of Asian participants reporting the same trend. Although, in the Americas, nearly 60 per cent believe that occupier interest in green buildings has not changed in the last 12 months. Green construction proves sound investment On the investor side, 47 percent of contributors worldwide reported demand for green buildings to have risen in the last 12 months. In Europe and Asia, more than half noted an increase in interest for buildings with green certifications while in the Americas it was a third. Over a third of contributors believed green properties receive a rent premium over comparable non-green buildings. Overone-fifth of these respondents reported increases in rent of up to ten per cent with n early half believing such properties receive a price premium of up to 10 per cent. Brokers Hank Zarihs Associates said property development lenders were offering keen rates to builders who were embracing green technology as they saw these properties as a safe bet. Generally, the global commercial property sentiment showed the industrial sector as resilient while office and retail were in the doldrums. Two-thirds of respondents reported headline rents and capital values dropping with six per cent sensing conditions had reached the floor.
Considering the environmental impact of a new building Inspired by the Italian novel The Baron in the Trees, Bosco Verticale — or Vertical Forrest in English — are two tower blocks situated in Milan, Italy. What makes these structures significant is the abundance of greenery that encapsulates them. To be specific, the towers hold 900 trees, 5,000 shrubs and 11,000 perennial plants. The aim — to eliminate city smog and improve air quality. So, what can the UK’s construction industry learn from these environmental structures? Nick Cowley, managing director at windows and doors manufacturer, Euramax explores. Towns and cities across the globe constantly require new buildings. The UK alone needs to build 340,000 new homes every year until 2031 if its housing supply is to meet demand. While we cannot fail to fulfil this need for more buildings, it’s equally important that the building and construction industry acknowledges the environmental impact of building more. Bosco Verticale Considered the European capital of fashion and football, Milan is also one of the most polluted cities in Europe. In fact, the city was named Europe’s most polluted city in 2008. The industrial region is surrounded by mountainous terrain that gathers heavy smog. To help reduce the health and environmental impact of Milan’s atmospheric pollutants, Italian architect Stefano Boeri conjured up the concept of Bosco Verticale. Constructed in 2014, the towers are designed to combat air pollution by using the trees and plants to produce more oxygen. It’s predicted that the trees and plants in the towers convert approximately 44,000 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) each year. The greenery also helps to moderate temperatures in the buildings during winter and summer, by shading the interiors from the sun and blocking harsh winds. This use of vegetation is an effective way to reduce the towers’ energy emissions as there is less need for thermostat heating and air conditioning. Furthermore, the towers’ variety of plant species attracts different birds and insects to the city, improving wildlife conservation. This is important because building and construction often causes irreversible damage to the natural habitats of wildlife and plants. While Milan is proactively reducing pollution and emissions, what’s happening in the UK? Natural England Natural England is the government’s statutory adviser for the natural environment. The group supports the government’s 25 Year Environment Plan, its ambitions for agriculture, fisheries and the natural environment and commitment to becoming a net zero country by 2050. Natural England is dedicated to rebuilding sustainable ecosystems and protecting habitats, species and landscapes to help nature thrive. The Chair of Natural England, Tony Juniper, has called for the government to change its thinking towards housing and ensure that environmental considerations are incorporated into the design of new housing estates. He believes that politicians and developers must incorporate green thinking into the design of new infrastructure. According to Juniper, “we need healthy nature to catch carbon, to clean up rivers, to reduce flood risk, to improve public health and wellbeing. All of these have economic upsides, which I fear have been invisible in the development planning process.” Much like the concept of Bosco Verticale, using vegetation to reduce emissions and pollution is something that Natural England wants the government to recognise. Green Homes Grant As well as Natural England’s support, the government announced its Green Homes Grant in July 2020. As part of the scheme, the government will provide vouchers up to £10,000 to make homes more energy efficient. The scheme will run from September 2020 to March 2021 in an attempt to reduce energy emissions and costs. Homeowners and landlords must apply for the vouchers that will fund around 66 per cent of the cost of hiring tradespeople to upgrade the energy performance of their properties. The renovations that qualify for vouchers are categorised by primary and secondary measures. Primary includes a range of insulation and low carbon heating such as biomass boilers and solar thermal. Secondary measures involve draught proofing, double glazing and replacing and updating thermostats. For new buildings and those that need updating, it’s important to minimise their environmental impact where possible, and maximise the energy benefits of the buildings. Updating windows and doors is one action that can offer major energy saving benefits. Using double glazed low emissivity glass units, Euramax’s windows and doors have been rated A for their energy efficiency by The British Fenestration Ratings Council (BFRC). The council rates fenestration products from A to G, with A the most energy efficient, helping to cut emissions and costs to run the building. The Energy Savings Trust UK states that a detached home could save up to £160 on energy bills each year with A rated double glazed windows. While meeting housing demand is vital, so is minimising the environmental impact of construction projects. The UK has already made efforts to improve the sustainability of its buildings with the Green Homes Grant, but it must also demonstrate environmental support from the very start of a construction project. In addition to investing in sustainable materials and energy efficient windows and doors, the UK could take a physical leaf out of Bosco Verticale’s book and rely on natural sources to make construction greener.
Experienced business development professional joins growing UK structural steel contractor Elland Steel, a growing structural steel contractor, are excited to welcome Simon Jones into the team to spearhead the planned growth at Elland Steel. Simon will be looking to grow the already expanding customer base, specifically in and around London. Simon had previously held business development and commercial positions at Bourne Construction Engineering and SCA Group. Mark Denham Elland Steel Chairman and MD comments: “Elland Steel has always punched above its weight as a structural steel contractor, driven primarily by our outstanding people and industry leading levels of expertise. As we look to further develop the business, I am personally delighted to add Simon to the team and look forward to working with him. He was the outstanding candidate and will no doubt bring a wealth of knowledge, experience, and know-how into the business” Simon Jones, Business Development Manager comments: “The team’s expertise backed up by the existing client base means this is a really exciting time to join Elland Steel. The company’s ethos and vision make me confident that we are well positioned for further growth.”
Employee-owned business Kite Packaging are one of the UK’s largest packaging distributors offering a range of solutions suited to all industries. Often the hub of many businesses, warehouses commonly see an increase in activity at this time of year. To support operations, Kite take a brief look at some of the benefits of pallet wrap and pallet wrap systems and remind businesses of the importance of applying and using pallet wrap correctly. Not only do Kite have a vast range of solutions, they also have specialist pallet wrap engineers that are on hand to offer support and advice and have access to manual pull plate tests, electronic force/puncture tests and technology lab testing. Some key benefits of using pallet wrap and pallet wrap systems Secure palletised products during transit Protection from dust, dirt, and moisture Prevent damage to goods Improving pallet stability Reduce the risk of injury Increase efficiency and speed Reduce waste Save money Support towards best practice and quality Prevent accidents during transportation and storage For more information, please refer to Kites whitepaper on the brochure section of their website, or give them a call on 02476 420065.
Any residential or commercial development project can run into massive difficulties if residents are opposed to the plans or want the project to be scrapped altogether. Local campaigns can frustrate timelines, create legal problems or in the worst-case scenario, see hours of work vanish as local authorities scrap the project. However, suppose you can bring locals on board with your plan and communicate the benefits to their community. In that case, you may see your profits prosper from the goodwill generated and positivity surrounding your development. Local support can ultimately benefit your bottom line as it can create a smoother project timeline and also bolster the potential for sales within your plot. Here are a few tactics to consider with your next development to help secure community support. Communication Communication may seem obvious, but it is startling how often breakdowns in communication can lead to gossip and false information being spread about a project. As a developer, taking time to regularly update locals with the work you are undertaking and the aims for your project will give them a chance to see things from your point of view and will also go a long way to ensuring that the facts are in the public domain. Consider whether hiring a PR Company may be a good option, especially if your project is gaining a lot of media attention. A good local PR company will be able to communicate your message to local journalists and work on strategic campaigns that span the length of a project. A PR Company may also help you avert disaster by pointing out potential pitfalls before you may notice them. Take time to approach multiple PR Companies and choose one that can demonstrate they understand the local area and also have a history of fostering trust and if the necessary experience of crisis management. Help Them Visualize While you have spent a career visualizing how ground floor layouts and architect sketches will look in reality, the majority of the public will be very unfamiliar with this process. They will not have time to stare at the plans long and hard carefully. So any technology that you can utilize that helps them see how the properties might look and how they will fit into the existing landscape is incredibly useful. Remember, that many locals may also be prospective buyers so allow them to see as much as possible. While simple graphics of a street layout can be appealing, allowing them to navigate how a new home or commercial property might look on the inside will also help them imagine it as part of their community. Take time to utilize user-friendly software and consider hosting these inaccessible information platforms online. Remember tools of the trade might not be the best option for this, and it is good to assess the user’s experience before launching any visualizations online. Do Your Research Do not expect to drop a development into a community in isolation. The community will have its unique concerns and considerations. The more time you can spend researching this, the more likely you will be to address those concerns from the outset. Some key things to consider are: How recently has there been previous development in the area? How was this received? What is the socio-economic status of inhabitants, and how will your product impact this? What are the future employment opportunities within the area? What are the infrastructure pressures in the locality, and what needs updating? Are there any issues that have taken recent focus in local news such as the centralization of hospital services or over-demand for school places? Ask how your development will be placed into this context and where you can develop an in-depth knowledge to prepare you for community meetings and possible questions that might arise. Take Time To Listen If you give a community the platform for dialogue, then you must take the proper time to listen to the queries and provide adequate time to respond. You can host face to face meetings, but it may also be worth considering allowing for online communication. Using Click4Assistance UK Live Chat Software may allow you to answer frequently asked questions quickly and allow local community members who cannot attend meetings to feel still your organization is accessible and open to dialogue. This software might also mean you can attend meetings virtually, cutting down travel time to and from your development, allowing you to attend meetings more regularly. Invest In The Community If you have a charitable or giving arm to your organization, then consider how you can utilize this to generate goodwill in a community. Can you sponsor a local amateur football team or give to a local cause that is dear to the community’s heart? Be creative with your choices to make it memorable. Try and link sponsorship and giving drives to your personnel; it helps to put a face to your organization, and your marketing team can harness fun fundraising activities through social media. Also, consider how you can also utilize your development as a community investment beyond what is just stipulated to you by a local authority. For instance, if you have noticed a lack of green spaces or play park, consider this within your development. It will enhance the overall quality of the locality and therefore increase the appeal to buyers as well. Give Clear Timelines While you may be looking at the minutiae of a construction timeline and its fluctuations, a community will also be interested in this timeline in a broader sense. You do not need to go through each phase, but broad brush strokes are useful for a community to prepare and plan for the construction phase and the launch of your development. It would be best if you also were prepared to communicate any hiccups in the timeline. People can be understanding if the messaging around this is handled carefully and with consideration. Be Passionate When You Need To Be There will be locals who you
PD Ports, owner and operator of Teesport, has entered into an agreement with Wentworth Clean Power Limited (WCP) to bring a £230 million, state-of-the-art, waste-to-energy project to Teesside. WCP, developers of advanced waste-to-energy projects in the UK, together with its partners, will develop, finance and deliver the project on Dockside Road, to the south of Teesport Commerce Park. The advanced project, which will be named the Teesport Renewable Energy Centre, will sit on a 9-acre footprint and create between 250-300 full time jobs during construction, with a further 40 permanent jobs created when the plant becomes operational – which is expected to be in the second half of 2024. The sustainable plant will utilise a variety of waste streams, characterised by rigorous environmental credentials, and employ proven technologies from first-class providers, positioning PD Ports, and the Tees Valley, at the forefront of the clean energy sector. Michael McConnell, PD Ports Group Property Director, said, “We are delighted to have signed this agreement to bring such a large and important investment to the Tees Valley and look forward to working with WCP and its partners to progress the project and bring the waste-to-energy plant to fruition. “This huge private investment from outside of the UK further demonstrates our trusted and proven track record when it comes to delivering large-scale projects, investments and real jobs to the region, whilst reinforcing our commitment to environmentally sustainable practices.” The plant, when complete, will have an annual capacity of 300,000 tonnes of feedstock and deliver an electrical output of 30 megawatts – enough to power up to 27,000 homes with the potential to provide decentralise energy to existing and planned industrial users via combined heat and power. Philip Spanos, CEO of WCP, commented, “WCP is truly delighted to enter into this partnership with PD Ports for the development of such an exciting project on their land. “PD Ports is an extremely supportive, mature and experienced landowner, who fully understand the complexities of developing such projects. “WCP looks forward to playing its role, alongside PD Ports and local stakeholders, in contributing to the realisation of the immense potential of the Tees Valley as host to this project and the pool of highly skilled labour for its construction and operation. “We also hope, through the guidance of Redcar and Cleveland Council as the Local Planning Authority, to contribute actively to the local area.” James Ramsbotham, Chief Executive of the North East Chamber of Commerce, said, “This announcement is such welcome news on many levels. Attracting such investment at this time of global crisis is a testament to the strength of the region and these jobs are so important to our community. “Our collective commitment towards Net Zero remain a top priority and this project will bring us closer to delivering a more sustainable and greener economy for the future. We hugely congratulate PD Ports and everyone involved with this development – it will be a huge morale boost for our area.” The next steps for the project is to hold discussions with Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, the local Planning Authority, to formulate, prepare and submit a full application for consideration so that construction can commence. Leader of Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, Mary Lanigan, said, “This is a major investment proposal which has the potential to bring the kind of high quality jobs we need, subject to planning approval. We have a world-class port in our borough and it is wonderful to see its owners, PD Ports, securing further inward investment for our region. “I’d like to congratulate both WCP and PD Ports and, as a very business-friendly authority, we look forward to continuing to work with everyone concerned.” Throughout negotiations, which have taken place over the last 18 months, PD Ports was advised by Jacksons Law Firm whilst WCP was advised by Slater Heelis LLP, Manchester.
2020 Art of Building photography competition now open… The world’s biggest photography competition for the built environment, the Art of Building, returns on 12 October 2020. Each year the competition attracts thousands of entries, as keen amateurs and experienced professionals battle for international recognition and two £1,500 cash prizes. Last year’s winners included Alexandr Bormotin, from Ivanovo in Russia, who won the Public Choice Award for his incredible futuristic image of a new underground train station in Moscow, entitled Metrostation, and Pedro Luis Ajuriaguerra Saiz, a professional photographer from northern Spain, who was awarded the Judges’ Prize for capturing Hemisferic, a science museum in Valencia, designed by Santiago Calatrava. The competition is free to enter and open to anyone aged 18 or over. Entries can be made from 12 October 2020 until 15 November 2020. Up to three photographs per person may be entered. Winners will be announced on 26 January 2021 following the voting rounds. There are two awards to be won: the £1,500 Judges’ Prize, chosen by the judges, and the £1,500 Public Choice Award chosen by the public through an online vote. Entries will not be accepted outside of the advertised closing date or if they are embedded with borders or locks. Caroline Gumble, Chief Executive of the CIOB and part of the judging panel for this year, said: “I am proud to be involved again this year in my second CIOB Art of Building competition. Every year I am inspired by the beauty that the public see in the world’s structures, and I greatly look forward to seeing what’s submitted this time. As someone who can’t resist taking photos of buildings, construction sites and architecture, I know there must be lots of people out there with amazing and stimulating images to share.” For more details about the competition and to enter, log on to www.artofbuilding.org The competition can also be found on Instagram at www.instagram.com/charteredinstituteofbuilding About the CIOB’s Art of Building: Art of Building is an annual international photography competition run by the Chartered Institute of Building. The competition is open to anyone aged 18 or over. Art of Building is free to enter and entries are welcome from anywhere in the world. Pictures can be taken on any style of equipment, but they must be in digital format. Art of Building 2020 timeline: Open for entry – 12 October 2020 Closed for entry – 15 November 2020 Public vote begins – 7 December 2020 Public vote ends – 11 January 2021 Winner announced – 26 January 2021