Shelter is one of the most important needs of humans today. This can be shelter for habitation or for business purposes. Putting up an adequate shelter has however never been the easiest or most affordable project that anyone can take up. The cost, time and other factors that come into
Ultimate collaboration across supply chains to be recognised with highest honours by Considerate Constructors Scheme The UK’s best-performing Ultra Sites will be honoured at the Considerate Constructors Scheme’s National Ultra Site Awards on 18 July. The overall objective for Ultra Sites is to achieve ever greater integration of a contractor’s
While home renovations are often the first thing that people start to look at when they feel their home needs an upgrade, before you start to rip out your kitchen or look at pricing up a new bathroom, have a look at your interior coloring. Repainting your house interior can
When we think about where might be one of the worst places to drive in the world, India might may be first to spring to mind. In fact, India’s roads have been named as some of the deadliest and then there’s the chaotic 50-lane motorway that reduces to 20 lanes
The Wates Group is set to expand its facilities management offering with the launch of Wates Facilities Management (‘Wates FM’) – a new business with expanded nationwide capabilities. Formerly operating as Wates Smartspace FM, Wates FM will build on its existing nationwide portfolio of total facilities management services across a
Willmott Dixon has created a unique programme to help the construction industry tackle its skills shortages by setting up the first of what it hopes will be a series of academies within prison environments that help former offenders find jobs on their release Willmott Dixon Building Lives Drylining Academy has
BELFAST fit-out specialist Portview is bathing in glory after completing a major contract in Liverpool on what is the world’s biggest Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics store. Five times bigger than the previous store and spread over three customer-facing floors, the new 1,380 sq metres Lush Liverpool – which is big
TODD Architects is pleased to announce that its recently completed Omagh Integrated Primary & Nursery School (Omagh IPS) has officially opened. The £7million newbuild Omagh IPS, which combined with the adjacent existing Drumragh College, forms the first Integrated Education Campus serving the Tyrone region. This new addition marks a major
On 19 June 2019, PCSG and Designing Buildings launched BIM Wiki, a free, open access knowledge sharing platform for building information modelling. The site launches with more than 150 articles already written, covering everything from employer’s information requirements to parametric modelling, and including a detailed step-by-step guide to BIM Level
The frameworks have been created to enable efficient built environment procurement for private companies including; charitable bodies, public sector joint venture (JV) partnerships and housing delivery companies; The Venture offering includes the full range of multidiscipline design services, client advisory, development management and construction, civils and infrastructure services; Scape Group,
Shelter is one of the most important needs of humans today. This can be shelter for habitation or for business purposes. Putting up an adequate shelter has however never been the easiest or most affordable project that anyone can take up. The cost, time and other factors that come into play during this process has made it difficult for many to setup a suitable structure for their habitation, business or other activities. In this article, we are going to review a structural option that is making it easier for folks to have the kind of structures they need for their businesses and other functions. Canvas or fabric covered buildings are also known by a lot of other names. Some examples include Tension Fabric Building, Fabric Tent Structure, Fabric Shelters, Clear-Span Fabric Buildings, Tension Membrane Structures, Cover-All Buildings and other such names. Whenever you come across any of these names, they all refer to the same thing. You can learn more about it here. Benefits Why exactly are we taking the time to look at this option for setting up buildings? There are a number of benefits that this option offers. This will explain why it is steadily increasing in popularity. Let us quickly enumerate a few benefits that it offers. Hopefully these will explain why many individuals and companies alike are turning to it for their structural needs. Versatility These structural solutions have a wide range of applications. Some of these include: commercial activities, event centers and venues, sports facilities, fairs, rallies, churches, warehousing, airplane hangars, emergency shelters, storage units and many other such uses. There is hardly any type of structural use that it cannot be adapted to. This versatility makes it perfect for a wide range of industries, locations and applications. Quick and Easy Setup Building a brick and mortar structure will take a pretty long time when compared to this. The relative ease and speed with which these structures can be setup make them perfect for emergency situations where brick and mortar structures cannot be put up. Aside from the speed, the cost for setting it up is also lower. You therefore get a structure that can be setup faster, more easily and at a more affordable rate. It’s an all-round win. Low Operational and Maintenance Cost After setting up, there is the issue of operational and maintenance cost. This option drastically reduces both costs. For example, using a clear-span fabric allows natural light to shine into the structure, removing the need for artificial lighting which would have otherwise meant additional energy costs. For maintenance, with no walls and other surfaces that may require regular attention, maintenance costs are restricted to ensuring the continued integrity of the frame and fabric. This also drastically reduces the cost that would have been accumulated as a result of sundry maintenance processes in a regular building. Mobility This is another major benefit that this structural option offers. Permanent or brick and mortar structures cannot be moved from one location to another. Once an operation relocates, new facilities have to be built or rented to accommodate the operations at its new location. With fabric covered buildings, the facility can be deconstructed, transported to the new location and then reconstructed on the new site. This no doubt is a massive cost saver as the only costs that will be incurred will be for the purchase or hiring of a new site, deconstruction, transportation and reconstruction of the structure. These costs can in no way compare to having to erect a totally new facility with new materials in a new location. Eco-Friendly For those who are very concerned about the environment (as we all should), a lot of the materials used for the fabrics are usually recyclable. With some of these fabrics lasting for up to 20 to 30 years and then being recycled, the impact of their use on the environment is totally negligible. How to Set One Up How exactly can one go about setting up fabric covered buildings? Local Building Codes The very first thing you need to do is find out the local laws regarding the setting up such a structure. Each locality prepares regulations to guide the erection of any kind of structure based on their unique weather and climatic conditions. Knowing and abiding by these codes will increase the safety of your building while also keeping you from contravening the laws of the locality. Adequate Foundation Next, you need to build the right foundation to hold what you are about to setup. The type of foundation you will require will depend on the type and size of structure you are planning on putting up. It will also depend on the use to which you want to put the structure. The foundation must be adequate to support its type, size and use. Choosing the Right Fabric The fabric you choose to lay over your building’s frame is very important. Your choice of fabric should among other things be based on your location, the size of the structure and the proposed length of use. Some fabrics are better suited for very short term use while others are better for long use as well as use in strong winds and difficult weather. If you do not choose the right fabric, you may find yourself staring at the open heavens if conditions the fabric can’t handle hits it. Working with Professionals This is probably one of the most important factors to consider. Working with professionals practically ensures that every other thing listed above is adhered to. A professional will likely ensure that the right foundation is built, the right fabric is chosen and the proper setup procedures are observed. If you also do not know where or how to get the right materials, a professional will likely help you out. It may therefore be in your best interest to actually begin the process by talking to a professional or company that has the experience and capacity to handle these kinds of
Ultimate collaboration across supply chains to be recognised with highest honours by Considerate Constructors Scheme The UK’s best-performing Ultra Sites will be honoured at the Considerate Constructors Scheme’s National Ultra Site Awards on 18 July. The overall objective for Ultra Sites is to achieve ever greater integration of a contractor’s supply chain to meet and exceed the Scheme’s Code of Considerate Practice. Being the highest level of attainment in consideration and best practice, they are the pinnacle of excellence across the construction industry. It is the second dedicated awards programme for Ultra Sites, following the success of the inaugural awards in 2018. This year, there will be nine award categories and, for the first time, the top-performing supplier within six award of the categories (see those marked *) will also be eligible for an individual recognition award. The Award categories are: Client Recognition Award Collaboration Award* Community Engagement Award* Constructions First Impressions Award Environmental Best Practice Award* Fairness, Inclusion and Respect Award* Future Constructors Award* Workforce Wellbeing Award* Innovation of the Year Award One Award winner from the nine categories will also be recognised with the highest honour, receiving the prestigious title of ‘Ultra Site of the Year’. The awards will take place at Plaisterers’ Hall in central London and will be presented by Ann Bentley, the Construction Leadership Council’s lead on Supply Chain and Business Models. Considerate Constructors Scheme Chief Executive Edward Hardy said: “This year’s Ultra Site Awards represent an exciting development in the evolution of Ultra Sites as the way to engage in raising standards of considerate construction across the entire supply chain. The realisation by leaders across our industry in both large scale and small scale projects shows how more than ever before we can work together more effectively and efficiency to drive forward best practice and greater collaboration across the industry. Ultra Sites achieves this goal and we’re incredibly excited to be honouring the very highest-performing at the upcoming awards ceremony in July.” Ann Bentley, the Construction Leadership Council’s lead on supply chain and business model added: “I’m thrilled to be presenting the Considerate Constructors Scheme’s 2019 Ultra Site Awards. Ultra Sites are an essential way for our industry to collaborate and realise the benefits of working together, and I look forward to presenting the very best Ultra Sites with their national accolade. “People often say that nothing ever changes in the construction industry, but in my working career the Considerate Constructors Scheme has made a tangible difference to the way that sites are operated and the public’s perception of our industry. I am excited to see the continued development of the Scheme.” Click here for more information about Ultra Sites, and here to find out the winners from the 2018 Ultra Site Awards.
While home renovations are often the first thing that people start to look at when they feel their home needs an upgrade, before you start to rip out your kitchen or look at pricing up a new bathroom, have a look at your interior coloring. Repainting your house interior can be one of the easiest things you can do to give your home a complete makeover, but you need to make sure that you aren’t dating yourself with your color choices and decorating style. Just like you can often tell where a house is located based on its exterior style, you can also tell where a house is by its interior color scheme. From more modern styles and trends in the west to more traditional styles and coloring in the east, and if you’re in the mountainous beauty of Boulder in the Southwest you can easily get the best of all worlds by talking with your local Boulder painters to discover which trends and tones will best suit your interior. Interior Decorator, Interior Designer or Interior Painter? When you have decided that interior repaint is the way to go, you then need to decide how to go about it. How do you choose which colors and which paint types or finishes? There are several different professionals that you can call to help you get the best look for your home, and sometimes you can find teams that work together. However, you will generally find that while most of the interior specialists are independent, they will often have recommendations for who you can speak to if you need other services. So, first you will need to work out which professional you really need. Interior Decorator There can be some overlap between an interior decorator and an interior designer, but generally you’d call in an interior decorator to help you work out the best colors, art and soft furnishings to create the space that you desire. These are the people that you can say “I want my bedroom to feel like a relaxing beach holiday”, or “I want my lounge to be a place for vibrant conversations” and they can help you choose the colors and effects that will create the desired result. You can hire an interior decorator to arrange everything for you, to work with you, or to simply give you ideas or suggestions, leaving you to make all the final decisions and purchases yourself. If you have an eye for detail doing it yourself will save you money, but the first time you do your room makeover it probably won’t end up quite the way you envisioned. However, practice makes perfect, and you can always try again in another room or in the same room in a few years. As long as you haven’t moved any walls nothing is permanent. Interior Designer Although the terms Interior Designer and Interior Decorator are often used interchangeably, to call yourself an interior designer generally requires a degree qualification in interior design (see here). Interior designers are professionals who create useable spaces based on how they will be used. This means that they are the perfect professionals to call in if you are going to rip out your kitchen or want to remodel your bathroom. They are trained to analysis the space, and how it is used by the occupants, and then come up with solutions to make the area more usable. Sometimes their suggestions will be radical, whereas sometimes they will only make subtle changes, but you will generally find that an interior designer will be able to make your space just right for you. This may mean ideas like dropping a kitchen bench down 2 inches for a shorter user, adding pull out steps to reach high cupboards, moving a doorway to create better flow between rooms, or replacing a step with a ramp for increased ease of access. An interior designer might work with an interior decorator to create the right feel to a room, as although some interior designers may be good with colors and soft furnishings, this is generally not their specialty. Interior Painter There is less confusion around what an interior painter does – they paint the rooms inside your house. However, there is more to an interior painter than just this. Although they will paint whatever colors you want, wherever you want, if you ask, they often can make very helpful suggestions on a practical level. They are also the professional to speak to about what sort of paint to use in each location. Gloss, semi-gloss, matt, satin – there are a number of types of finishes and types of paint, each has pros and cons depending on the area they are being using. For a family home, for example, you will often want a paint that is easy to clean, however if you have an older home with uneven walls the high gloss that provides the easiest wipe off surface also is the worst for showing up every blemish in your walls. So, talk to your painter and listen to their advice. Experienced painters have encountered almost any circumstance imaginable when it comes to house decorating, they have seen the before and after effects of different types of paint and different colors and effects used to create a new space. You can use this knowledge to save yourself a lot of problems if you are designing the space yourself. Ask their opinion on if the color you are thinking of will make the space darker or lighter, help hold the suns heat or make the room feel cold or make a room look like it has never been cleaned – something particularly important in a bathroom or kitchen. Doing It Yourself Of course, you can do the entire remodel yourself. https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home/pro-or-no-what-to-consider-before-hiring-out-a-home-painting-job/2017/09/04/d97a3ffa-5b87-11e7-a9f6-7c3296387341_story.html Consulting with Pinterest for ideas and watching YouTube videos to learn how to prepare the area and paint appropriately. If you go this route, ensure that you speak to your paint supplier and
When we think about where might be one of the worst places to drive in the world, India might may be first to spring to mind. In fact, India’s roads have been named as some of the deadliest and then there’s the chaotic 50-lane motorway that reduces to 20 lanes in Beijing. But rest assured, there are some countries that have built impressive infrastructure to accommodate for great driving conditions. Here’s the top five we’ve explored: Germany – Frankfurt – Autobahn For those among us who love planting the accelerator into the floor panel, Germany exists as the most appealing nation on the planet — all thanks to the Autobahn. Tragically, the reputation the German road network has built itself over the years isn’t exactly one which boasts entire truth. For most of the Autobahn, tempo limits exist, which help aid traffic congestion and prevent serious collisions. Tempos drive down the limit in most parts to 80mph and in some sections even lower, dependent on weather congestions and location. Fortunately, all is not bleak and there is still fun to be had. Outside of the major cities, without the temporary limits, there is no laws, and cars have been known to drive in excess of 200mph — just remember it’s the left lane to overtake! One notable aspect of driving on the Autobahn is the road signs don’t note direction. Unlike the UK, where signs will suggest A1(N) or M8(E), the Autobahn simply consists of numbers, so we would suggest knowing the major destinations on your route before setting off. There is a quick rule of thumb though — if the number is even, it means it goes east or west, and similarly odd goes north and south. Romania – Sibiu – Transfăgărășan Described as the world’s greatest road by Grand Tour presenter and motor enthusiast, Jeremy Clarkson, this highway in Romania sweeps for 150 kilometres, reaching heights at the summit of 2042 metres. The road, which was built in 1974, leads to Balea lake and on both the ascent and descent you are able to indulge in some of the most breath-taking views this world has to offer. Unfortunately, due to weather conditions, the road is usually only open during the summer months, as the top of the path can be subject to heavy snow and fog. What may exist as exhilarating hairpin turns in the summer can be treacherous and ultimately deadly obstacles in the winter. Argentina – Rio Gallegos – Ruta 40 Route 66 in the United States is world-renowned as one of the most sought-after highways to complete a road trip. However, Ruta 40 offers up stiff competition to its North American counterpart. Stretching for more than 3,000 miles, the route crosses the Andes mountain range on 27 different occasions, as well as running through 20 national parks and 18 major rivers. Much of the journey navigates through completely desolate land, but the 5,000m steep journey provides travellers with the opportunity to indulge in some unbelievable attractions, including the Perito Moreno Glacier. Despite the road being built in 1935 and much of it being exposed to extremely harsh weather conditions all year round, the vast majority of the surface remains as smooth tarmac, creating an optimal driving experience. Norway – Molde – Atlantic Road After witnessing the aesthetic beauty of this road in Scandinavia, it will come as no surprise that it has collected a host of awards, ‘including the world’s best road trip’, the ‘world’s best for car testing’, and ‘the world’s best place to mend a broken heart’. The engineering feat which connects a host of small islands and islets, amalgamates land, sea, and sky like nothing else in the world. As you navigate your way along the 8km trek, take in the scenery by stopping at the various look-out points along the way. Scotland – Edinburgh – Queensferry Crossing Built 207m into the sky, the crossing, which was built to precede the Forth Road Bridge, broke numerous Guinness World Records, including the longest continuous concrete pour — 15 days. The bridge, which allows people to commute from Edinburgh to Fyfe, opened on 30th August 2017 and cost the Scottish government £1.3 billion. On average, approximately 77,000 vehicles cross the bridge every day and it proves a vital transport link between England and North Scotland cities, such as Aberdeen. Although existing as the longest three-tower, cable stayed bridge in the world, the Queensferry Crossing took that crown from the bridge beside it, which is also an incredible engineering feat. Bio: piece provided by Vindis: an Audi dealership with years of expertise to help meet your needs when seeking out a new car. Sources https://www.citylab.com/transportation/2015/10/chinas-50-lane-traffic-jam-is-every-commuters-worst-nightmare/409639/ https://www.speedydrive.ae/blog/reasons-dubai-have-the-best-road-infrastructure-in-mena/ https://www.inyourpocket.com/bucharest/The-Transfagarasan-Highway_55534f https://www.theforthbridges.org/queensferry-crossing/ https://www.visitnorway.com/places-to-go/fjord-norway/northwest/activities-and-attractions/atlanticroad/ http://www.turismoruta40.com.ar/en/top-ten-ruta40.html
The Wates Group is set to expand its facilities management offering with the launch of Wates Facilities Management (‘Wates FM’) – a new business with expanded nationwide capabilities. Formerly operating as Wates Smartspace FM, Wates FM will build on its existing nationwide portfolio of total facilities management services across a range of environments, including banking, retail and healthcare, and will seek opportunities to provide FM support to both private and public sector clients. Wates FM will become part of Wates Property Services division alongside the group’s Living Space business, which provides planned and responsive repairs for more than 500,000 social housing properties and more than 350 buildings nationwide. This restructure will allow the two businesses to combine their expertise. The group has 85 key customers across 14 sectors, including 60 social housing providers and it has a combined annual turnover of c.£400 million with a £1 billion forward order book. David Morgan, managing director of Wates Living Space, said: “Wates’s continued success is built on the breadth of our in-house capabilities and our agility in identifying and maximising complementary areas of our business. There is a great deal of synergy between Wates Living Space and Wates FM and aligning the two businesses will enable us to significantly enhance our service to clients. “Operational efficiency is essential when working with the public sector and this is something that underpins Wates Living Space’s position as a leading UK provider of housing repairs and maintenance.” Wates FM currently manages at least 350 commercial properties, delivering services including statutory compliance, cleaning, security, catering, porterage, front-of-house, helpdesks and computer-aided facilities management (CAFM), as well as mechanical and electrical and building fabric maintenance through a mix of site-based and mobile teams.
Willmott Dixon has created a unique programme to help the construction industry tackle its skills shortages by setting up the first of what it hopes will be a series of academies within prison environments that help former offenders find jobs on their release Willmott Dixon Building Lives Drylining Academy has teamed up with HMP Elmley to provide offenders with drylining skills and a CSCS card to help them move straight into employment when back in the community. It comes after the CITB’s annual Construction Skills Network report recently predicted approximately 168,500 jobs will be created in construction over the next five years to meet demand. The launch was made possible after Willmott Dixon and its supply chain converted a warehouse inside the prison into a drylining academy facility. They have also equipped prison officers with accredited skills necessary to deliver six week long in-house courses for prison residents, a sustainable and replicable training model believed to be a UK first. The academy aims to upskill over 100 HMP Elmley residents each year so they are ‘job ready’ on release and ready to find careers in construction. Willmott Dixon’s supply chain partners and local job agencies are part of the process to help them find work, which is important as it is estimated that only 17% of former offenders quickly get work on release, with re-offending more likely for those who are unemployed. This is the third Building Lives Academy launched by Willmott Dixon within the last 12 months. Its academies in Croydon and Kingston, based adjacent to construction projects being delivered in these two London boroughs, have already equipped over 150 young unemployed people with key construction skills. Candidates who attend at Croydon and Kingston get a Level 1 Certificate in Construction Operations, Level 1 Certificate in Health and Safety at Work, plus a CSCS card. Afterwards, candidates are supported to apply for work with Willmott Dixon, supply chain partners or other construction opportunities advertised by a local employment service. The academies are part of Willmott Dixon’s ‘purpose beyond profit’ ethos to play an active role in strengthening the well-being of society through the contribution of its people. Last year, four out of five Willmott Dixon people undertook a community-related project as part of the company’s volunteering policy. Willmott Dixon’s regional head of legacy, Richard Pickett, said: “It’s a logical step to tap into the potential of people who are in prison but keen to find a sustainable and rewarding job on release. Our industry needs to constantly think of imaginative new ideas if we are to attract the people we need and this is a very replicable model that’s easy to migrate to other UK prisons.” Andy Davy, HMP Elmley deputy governor, said: “HMP Elmley and the Reducing ReOffending team are excited to be working in partnership with Willmott Dixon. Being able to better prepare our residents with the appropriate skills to transition straight into employment upon release is a priority for the Prison. Employment is a definite contributor to the reduction in offending behaviour and helps to build stronger family stability.”
BELFAST fit-out specialist Portview is bathing in glory after completing a major contract in Liverpool on what is the world’s biggest Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics store. Five times bigger than the previous store and spread over three customer-facing floors, the new 1,380 sq metres Lush Liverpool – which is big enough to hold nine million of its famous bath bombs – has opened its doors after a nine-month transformation. The scheme by Lush’s in-house design team and international architecture firm Hyphen was executed by Portview with an emphasis on enhancing the building’s original features. Portview managing director Simon Campbell said: “We’ve a fantastic relationship with Lush and share their passion for protecting the planet. “We worked in close collaboration with both the client team and Hyphen to ensure Lush’s high environmental standards were upheld at each stage of the process, from the sustainable design choices through to the responsible sourcing, restoring and repurposing of recycled materials to help reduce our carbon footprint significantly. “This has been one of our most iconic retail projects to date and it’s a proud moment for us to see it come to life.” Materials include reclaimed timbers, brick and silver tiles, which complement the injection of fresh, citrus colours from the 300 new products on display. Lush says that a time when revitalisation is needed more than ever, the new destination shop aims to bring more innovation and creative personal experiences than ever before to the high street. The chain’s co-founder & managing director Mark Constantine said: “Liverpool is full of opportunities. We’ve had a lot of experience in this city for a long time and the new shop is geared up to what customers here need. We look forward to encouraging people to use our products before they go to work or out that night.”
TODD Architects is pleased to announce that its recently completed Omagh Integrated Primary & Nursery School (Omagh IPS) has officially opened. The £7million newbuild Omagh IPS, which combined with the adjacent existing Drumragh College, forms the first Integrated Education Campus serving the Tyrone region. This new addition marks a major milestone for the school and local community, as they have been campaigning for this new building for thirty years. TODD Architects engaged with the school’s principal, teachers and parents to create the most effective, efficient, sustainable design to facilitate flexible teaching needs and to suit its rural context. TODD Architects Associate and Project Architect Bobby Moore presented the school’s Principal Anthony Bradley with a framed aerial print taken by local photographer Conor O’Doherty to mark the occasion. Speaking at the official opening, Fiona Hepper, Deputy Secretary at the Department of Education said: “Working in the Department of Education, I always welcome the opportunity to see at first hand the significant benefits of capital investment in our school estate. The opening of any new school is something to be enjoyed, especially when you see the positive changes it can bring to the daily life of a school, not just for the pupils and staff- but also for the wider community. The Department has invested over £7 million in this wonderful new school. I want to wish you every success as you embark on this new chapter.” The school comprises of fourteen classrooms for over 330 students. Located on a greenfield site on the outskirts of Omagh town, both Primary and Nursery school benefit from a new access road, cycle path, car and bus parking with dedicated drop-off provision. Teaching areas are complemented by generous hard and soft play areas with a central sheltered courtyard & associated landscaping. Internally a resource area provides a key node point to each corner of the courtyard with through access to accompanying multipurpose hall and dining facilities. Omagh IPS was initially established in 1989 and up until the new build was complete was previously housed in temporary portacabin accommodation. During this time the school has grown from strength to strength building on its already renowned reputation for being a child-centred, progressive and parent friendly school, promoting diversity, dignity and respect for all, regardless of race, religion, politics, culture or background. The school also offers a 24 child Nursery class and wrap around extra care services including Parent & Toddler classes, Omagh IPS Friends Pre-School and After School homework club. TODD Architects conducted an extensive feasibility study examining the available options for the location of the new building, while focusing on environmental and sustainability factors both in construction and in use. Architecturally the main influences were based on the Classroom configuration developed to follow the progress of pupil’s transitionary cycle from P1 to P7 around the building in an anticlockwise arrangement. Central resource areas grouped around classroom key stages were directly linked to the central courtyard and external learning environment. The continuous circulation loop provided glimpses into the central space and aided orientation for younger pupils. The central courtyard in addition offers sheltered protection from the adverse weather extending the resource area outside. A new entrance was constructed in the first phase of works with site levels extensively remodelled. The material palette was focused on a simple low maintenance and robust elements of Staffordshire blue brick with crisp white painted render both appropriate to the rural context. Internally, the interiors and colour scheme were developed in collaboration with the school, incorporating the seven distinctive colours used as a year group reference and navigational guide for pupils. This was carried through on the exterior with the use of super graphics. The newbuild comprises of a single storey pitched roof design which provides cross ventilation and dual aspect natural daylighting to classrooms, with the multipurpose hall and preschool resource rooms expressed as higher volumes, given their variable purposes. The inner landscaped courtyard offers a multiuse flexible space with low maintenance landscape features which can offer class groups a sheltered external resource and learning area. In terms of sustainability and future proofing the new build has been equipped with high levels of thermal insulation, solar control glazing on south facing facades and enhanced roof structure to permit PV panel provision in the future. These systems are combined with a rain water harvesting tank to flush toilets and an attenuation tank to slow down surface water runoff. Internally daylight lighting sensors and motion sensor switching controls are optimised. These elements reduce running costs and contribute to the BREEAM rating of very good with an air permeability rating of less than 3m3 /m2 achieved. The buildings energy rating (at design stage) is a 25% improvement on notional new building standards. The school has fully embraced this aspect by introducing recycling bins and have been awarded silver Eco status through their own efforts in reducing waste. The new campus has generated a lot of public interest since opening and will provide a destination campus for future generations of children through the learning key stages and life cycle of education. Anthony Bradley, Principal Omagh IPS, commented: “TODD Architects listened very carefully to what we needed to make our school really work for all its inhabitants. We had a vision of a bright, airy dynamic building that also generated a sense of serenity and order to reflect our Integrated Ethos, and that is exactly what TODD’s delivered. Throughout the design journey, there were of course very many challenges and changes, twists and tweaks, but time and again, the TODD Architects’s team produced creative solutions to complete the brief and satisfy our demanding needs of quality, function, design and aesthetics. What I liked most about working with TODD’s was their client-based approach, their architectural aptitude, their accountability and most of all their accessibility. In summary, I would say that it was an enlightening and thoroughly enjoyable experience working with TODD Architects and I couldn’t recommend them highly enough for any school at the genesis of their
On 19 June 2019, PCSG and Designing Buildings launched BIM Wiki, a free, open access knowledge sharing platform for building information modelling. The site launches with more than 150 articles already written, covering everything from employer’s information requirements to parametric modelling, and including a detailed step-by-step guide to BIM Level 2. Its creators are calling on the industry to help develop the site into a comprehensive source of BIM best practice by contributing new articles and engaging with the existing content. BIM Wiki has been launched in response to research published by Designing Buildings in 2017 that showed BIM remains an isolated subject, the domain of expert practitioners and not well integrated into the rest of the industry. This was confirmed by the recent NBS National BIM Report, which pointed to the emergence of a ‘two speed industry’, with 22% of those yet to use BIM saying they would rather not adopt it at all. PCSG Chairman, Mark Bew, said: “From our work around the globe it is clear that the UK’s progress to becoming a true digital economy for the built environment has made a fantastic start. The legacy of the 2011 Construction Strategy created a firm understanding of the scope and opportunity for change in the industry. Level 2 BIM has now been adopted around the world, and many nations are accelerating their uptake with the release of ISO 19650. “However, there is still much to be learnt, shared, and adopted before we can truly say we are ready for the next stage of this journey. A vital part of this process is connecting the people and organisations who are embracing a digital, data-centred, collaborative approach to practical, clear, and accessible information. This is why Designing Buildings Wiki and the free resource it represents is so valuable. I believe that the BIM Wiki will, going forwards, play a hugely important role in our continued digital journey.” BIM Wiki is a development of Designing Buildings Wiki, and is fully linked to its 8,500 articles and easily accessible by its 6.5 million users. This integration with an established and well-respected industry knowledge base will help take BIM processes beyond the realm of specialists. Gregor Harvie, Director of Designing Buildings, said: “The discipline that BIM processes impose on the industry needs to become a normal part of every project, not an optional extra. Having a common understanding and a common language is crucial to achieving this. What we are launching today is just the start, we are calling on the BIM community to engage with BIM Wiki, to add to and improve it, to debunk BIM myths and create a truly-comprehensive knowledge base that is fully integrated into the wider industry.” You can see BIM Wiki at: www.designingbuildings.co.uk/BIM_Wiki To create an article, just click the orange ‘Create an article’ button, and to add it to BIM Wiki, tick the ‘BIM’ category at the end.
The frameworks have been created to enable efficient built environment procurement for private companies including; charitable bodies, public sector joint venture (JV) partnerships and housing delivery companies; The Venture offering includes the full range of multidiscipline design services, client advisory, development management and construction, civils and infrastructure services; Scape Group, the market leader in public sector procurement, has published details of its next generation of the Scape Venture frameworks, the procurement arm of the business focused on supporting public/private partnerships and charitable organisations. Scape Venture offers clients fully managed frameworks designed to allow privately funded projects to be delivered rapidly, with a robust governance structure and embedding the same socioeconomic benefits that its other frameworks do, supporting local job creation and offering a wide range of community engagement initiatives. The frameworks have been developed to assist local authority owned private companies, charitable bodies, joint venture (JV) partnerships and special purpose vehicles with projects that are privately financed. The services that will be offered under the frameworks include full multidisciplinary design consultancy, client advisory services, development management, infrastructure and construction. It has also been designed to support the delivery of projects being undertaken by the privatised elements of public sector organisations, charities, housing organisations including the delivery of new schools which form part of a section 106 agreement. Scape Venture has already supported a number of high-profile clients to achieve their desired outcomes and maximum social value on a number of projects, including the RSPB Sherwood Forest visitor centre, the National Space Centre and the University of Cambridge Eddington Estate Management Office. The new frameworks take a strengthened approach to responsible procurement, ensuring speed, value for money, inclusive social value and enhanced performance management. Scape’s delivery partners include a wide range of industry leading businesses and operate across the country, including; Balfour Beatty, Morgan Sindall, Robertson, Wates, Willmott Dixon, Woodhead Construction and Perfect Circle, the consortium comprising Pick Everard, Gleeds and AECOM. Each partner has been selected for their expertise and ability to work collaboratively with clients and communities to deliver social value across projects. Service Project value Areas covered Partner Consultancy All project values National Perfect Circle Civil Engineering All project values National Balfour Beatty Construction Exclusive provider: All project values Scotland Robertson Construction Exclusive provider: Projects over £7.5m Non-exclusive provider: Projects up to £7.5m North England, Wales and Northern Ireland Willmott Dixon Construction Non-exclusive provider: Projects up to £7.5m North England Woodhead Construction Construction Exclusive provider: Projects over £7.5m Non-exclusive provider: Projects up to £7.5m Central Morgan Sindall Construction Non-exclusive provider: Projects up to £7.5m Central Woodhead Construction Construction Exclusive provider: Projects up to £7.5m London and South England Morgan Sindall Construction Exclusive provider: Projects over £7.5m London and South England Wates Mark Robinson, Scape Group chief executive, comments: “We are tremendously proud of the volume of successful, and high-profile projects that Scape Venture has enabled in recent years by bringing together the very best of public and private procurement expertise. “Our strengthened Scape Venture offering will continue to generate greater value for money and project success for privately funded projects, while creating significant and measurable social value across the United Kingdom. The delivery partners we have selected will all be supported by strong local supply chains which will ensure projects are delivered on-time and on-budget, while stimulating local economic growth by keeping the pound local.” Steve Beechey, Group Strategy Director and Managing Director Government Affairs, Wates Group, comments: “Scape Venture represents a pioneering approach to the procurement of privately funded projects, which has set a new standard in efficiency while incorporating the extensive local economic benefits created by public sector procurement practices. Our re-appointment to Scape Venture recognises our shared values with Scape Group to continually raise standards in the built environment and to deliver exceptional projects that come with an ambitious socioeconomic legacy.”