Façade specialist Alsecco has been named as winner of the Judges Choice Architectural Design – High Rise award at this year’s INCA Awards, in addition to taking the title for Refurbishment High Rise. Judges at the awards, which recognise excellence in the external wall insulation sector, made a unanimous decision
Door manufacturer JELD-WEN has won the Health and Safety award at the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) Awards 2024, recognising its use of innovative technology in reducing workplace risks. JELD-WEN has introduced a new system to protect employees from moving vehicles in its manufacturing operations that uses radio frequency and TRUE-AI
ASSA ABLOY and Lorient are excited to announce their debut at the UK’s fastest-growing fire safety exhibition, the Fire Safety Event, taking place at the NEC, Birmingham, from 8th to 10thApril 2025. Located at stand 4/G30, these industry leaders will exhibit a complete range of fire door hardware and sealing
Bellway Project Manager Adam Hawkes has earned one of the highest accolades in the homebuilding industry. Adam, who oversees construction at Bellway’s Sapphire Fields at Great Dunmow Grange development in Essex, was announced as the runner-up in the National House Building Council’s (NHBC) Supreme Awards on Friday (24 January). Adam,
Hochiki Europe, a leading provider of innovative fire detection and life safety solutions, is proud to announce it has been named Fire Detection Company of the Year by Building and Facilities News. This prestigious award recognises Hochiki Europe’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and reliability in the fire safety industry. Building
Local housebuilder Dandara has received quality excellence from Premier Guarantee for two of its developments in Buckinghamshire, The Muse and The Aces, and its development in Bedfordshire, Saxon Park. All three developments received a ‘Quality Recognition Award’ from the warranty provider after meeting top standards in site management, workmanship, health
Technical Director of Promat Nigel Morrey has been recognised with a lifetime award for his commitment to fire safety at the Association for Specialist Fire Protection Awards. Recognising over three decades of commitment to improving standards in passive fire protection and raising awareness of the importance of this in protecting
Organisers of UK Construction Week (UKCW) have announced another major coup for the show’s 10th anniversary year, with the news that UKCW London will be co-locating with the 14th edition of The Stone Show & Hard Surfaces, the principal industry event for surface design. Established 26 years ago, the show
Competition fosters innovation in AI and technology development to solve common pain points and drive the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry forward Trimble® (Nasdaq: TRMB) announced the winners of the SketchUp® 0-60 Challenge, an initiative created by Trimble SketchUp and Trimble Ventures to foster innovation and discover the next big idea that will transform how
2024 has been a landmark year for Study Inn, with the company winning three prestigious awards across the student accommodation sector, cementing its reputation as a leader in the industry. At the Property Week Student Accommodation Awards held at Wembley, Study Inn won Best Health & Wellbeing Initiative Award. The
Façade specialist Alsecco has been named as winner of the Judges Choice Architectural Design – High Rise award at this year’s INCA Awards, in addition to taking the title for Refurbishment High Rise. Judges at the awards, which recognise excellence in the external wall insulation sector, made a unanimous decision in naming the Victoria House development, in Manchester, as Judges Choice Architectural Design – High Rise, describing the building as ‘an architectural masterpiece with great angles and complex detailing making it a worthy winner’. Alsecco supplied its Ecomin 400 cladding system with Meldorfer lightweight brick slips to complete the exterior of the building, providing external wall insulation and a brick-effect finish. The use of brick slips supported efficient construction of the 25-storey residential development by main contractor Domis, recreating a traditional gault brick appearance. Alsecco was also named as winner in the ‘Refurbishment High Rise’ category for its work on the colourful exterior on The Boardwalk development, in Eastbourne Harbour. The upgrade saw Alsecco’s Ecomin 300 external insulated render system used to ensure the exterior of the building was suited to the challenges of a marine environment. The project was praised for the ‘all round quality coupled with such a strikingly vibrant yellow and white finish that enhanced the building’s visual appeal’. Dean Broughton, Managing Director of Alsecco, said: “It is fantastic to see these two projects recognised at the INCA awards, which celebrate the very best projects in the external wall insulation industry. “Being involved in a project with the ambition and scale of Victoria House was a real privilege. The development, right in the heart of Manchester, showcases exactly what can be achieved with high quality brick slips, both in terms of efficiency, but also aesthetics. “To see this ambitious project awarded the judges choice in its category is testament to the commitment across the board that went into making this vision a reality. “Likewise, the Boardwalk upgrade shows what can be achieved through a high-quality external wall insulation system. While performance underpins external wall insulation applications, it is great to be involved in design-led projects that deliver a striking finish such as this. Thanks to INCA for helping to showcase excellence in the industry.” Run by the Insulated Render and Cladding Association (INCA), the awards recognise the highest standards in external wall insulation (EWI), with submissions across a variety of categories to highlight excellence in a range of building projects. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Door manufacturer JELD-WEN has won the Health and Safety award at the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) Awards 2024, recognising its use of innovative technology in reducing workplace risks. JELD-WEN has introduced a new system to protect employees from moving vehicles in its manufacturing operations that uses radio frequency and TRUE-AI cameras to create a detection zone around each vehicle. To ensure the safety of employees, a flashing light and audible warning is triggered if the systems detects a pedestrian. The vehicle will then automatically slow down and stop if a pedestrian comes into its proximity. In presenting the award to JELD-WEN, judges recognised that the initiative had seen a significant investment in emerging radio frequency identification (RFID) and AI technologies to help manage operational safety and protect employees, supply chain drivers, and visitors to the site. Helen Hewitt, BWF CEO, said: “JELD-WEN is to be commended for focusing on risk reduction and demonstrating a clear commitment to safety improvement in what is currently one of the highest severity risk areas at work. “By investing in this cutting-edge technology JELD-WEN has clearly demonstrated its willingness to go above and beyond in ensuring the safety of employees and visitors to the site.” Hamish White, Operation Director at JELD-WEN UK, added: “Health and safety is paramount within the sector, and we remain unrelenting in our aim to eliminate risk. “I congratulate all of the team at our Penrith factory for taking a comprehensive view of the need to maintain the highest health and safety standards. This is a tremendous achievement and a fantastic example of living our JELD-WEN value that we build our business ethically and safely.” Now in its sixteenth year, the BWF Awards recognise and celebrate the outstanding skills, talent and achievements of the UK woodworking and joinery manufacturing industry. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
ASSA ABLOY and Lorient are excited to announce their debut at the UK’s fastest-growing fire safety exhibition, the Fire Safety Event, taking place at the NEC, Birmingham, from 8th to 10thApril 2025. Located at stand 4/G30, these industry leaders will exhibit a complete range of fire door hardware and sealing system solutions. Spanning an impressive 84SQM, the stand will highlight the critical role of door hardware and intumescent sealing systems in fire safety, showcasing how these components safeguard lives and property. Engaging Experiences and Live Demonstrations Experience the power of fire safety in action! Watch compelling fire test footage that vividly demonstrates the critical importance of properly specified and installed intumescent sealing systems. See firsthand the dangers posed by unprotected ironmongery and inadequate seals with mini burnt doors on display. Attendees can also witness the transformative reactions of various intumescent materials and discover their suitability for different fire safety applications. Interactive Zones and Product Showcases Visitors will embark on a journey through ASSA ABLOY and Lorient’s comprehensive fire door solutions guided by their highly experienced teams. Full-sized door models will showcase real-world applications of rigorously tested and certified products, highlighting the latest innovations designed to meet the diverse needs of various sectors. Interactive zones on the stand will provide attendees with a hands-on experience; and feature samples and miniature door models from a broad range of products such as: A key highlight at the event will be ASSA ABLOY’s Openings Studio®, an award-winning software solution featuring a powerful, asset tag-enabled, fire door inspection app. This end-to-end Golden Thread Solution streamlines the entire building lifecycle, from design and construction to ongoing compliance, maintenance, and future inspections. Insightful Seminars at the Innovation & Compliance Theatre During the event, ASSA ABLOY and Lorient will host two engaging seminars: Join Us at the Fire Safety Event Visit ASSA ABLOY and Lorient at stand 4/G30 during the Fire Safety Event 2025 to view the latest advancements in fire safety and building compliance. Lorient is part of the ASSA ABLOY Group. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Bellway Project Manager Adam Hawkes has earned one of the highest accolades in the homebuilding industry. Adam, who oversees construction at Bellway’s Sapphire Fields at Great Dunmow Grange development in Essex, was announced as the runner-up in the National House Building Council’s (NHBC) Supreme Awards on Friday (24 January). Adam, 45, from Burnham-on-Crouch, was recognised for his exceptional work in the Large Builder category at the national ceremony, which took place at the London Hilton at Park Lane. He said: “It was an amazing experience. To be there among all those incredible site managers at the top of our field and all chosen by the NHBC to share that moment was brilliant. “To have my name read out as a runner-up and everyone cheering me like a winner, it was a great experience, and it was a privilege and an honour to be there and represent Bellway.” Managing Director of Bellway Essex Phil Standen said: “We are all so proud of Adam’s achievements. He is genuinely a real team player, who is quick to praise his assistant site managers, Billy Granshaw and James Ward, both of whom have been instrumental in Adam’s success. “Adam, Billy and James also truly epitomise what real team working means. They all play their part, each acting intuitively in dealing with daily site challenges. They are all adaptable, trustworthy and always put customers at the heart of everything they do. “As Adam says – Nil satis nisi optimum – nothing but the best is good enough. This is what he brings each and every day, and he truly deserves every award he has won.” The Supreme Awards are the pinnacle of the NHBC’s Pride in the Job competition, which it runs every year. During the competition it considers and inspects all the sites registered with the organisation – around 8,000. To reach this stage, Adam won awards in a series of ever more prestigious rounds in the competition. It was the first year he had won a Pride in the Job award in his own right, though he has been part of the team on sites where an award has been won previously. He received a Quality Award and a Seal of Excellence, before going on to be named as the Regional Winner for the South East Region in the Large Builder category. Adam paid tribute to his assistant site managers Billy and James. He said: “This award is as much for them as it is for me, thank you both for the incredible support. I’d also like to mention my Contracts Manager Sam Prideaux for his guidance and knowledge.” Bellway gained 10 per cent of all the Quality Awards given by the NHBC for 2024 – 45 in all. The company also won three Regional Awards which went to Adam, as well as Cymon Robinson for the Central region and James Kilby for the East region. Bellway Group Construction Director, James Griffin, said: “Adam’s well-deserved success comes as the crowning moment of Bellway’s achievements within the NHBC’s Pride in the Job awards this year. “Hard work, experience and skill are essential to reaching this level, but it is also about having an exceptional attitude to standards, detail and quality. Our people most certainly have this, and it shows not only in the quantity and prestige of the awards we have won, but most importantly in the homes we are building.” Adam has worked in the construction industry for more than 20 years, following in his grandfather’s footsteps, and for the last 10 years he has been with Bellway. Previous roles included working on the Athletes Village for the London 2012 Olympic Games. He took over running Bellway’s Sapphire Fields at Great Dunmow Grange construction site in March 2023. To find out more about Bellway’s approach to building quality new homes, visit https://sustainability.bellwayplc.co.uk/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Hochiki Europe, a leading provider of innovative fire detection and life safety solutions, is proud to announce it has been named Fire Detection Company of the Year by Building and Facilities News. This prestigious award recognises Hochiki Europe’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and reliability in the fire safety industry. Building and Facilities News highlighted Hochiki Europe’s extensive product portfolio, dedication to customer service, and continuous investment in research and development as key factors in their decision. The award also acknowledged the company’s contributions to advancing fire safety standards and its strong reputation within the building and facilities management sector. “We are incredibly honoured to receive this award from Building and Facilities News,” said Shinsuke Kubo, Managing Director at Hochiki Europe. “This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team. We are committed to providing our customers with the highest quality fire detection solutions that protect lives and property. This award inspires us to continue pushing the boundaries of innovation and excellence in the fire safety industry.” Hochiki Europe provides comprehensive fire safety solutions to a diverse range of industries, including commercial property, healthcare, education, industrial, transportation and spaces of cultural and historical importance. This award further solidifies Hochiki Europe’s position as a global leader in the fire detection industry, demonstrating its ongoing commitment to providing cutting-edge solutions and exceptional service to its customers. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Local housebuilder Dandara has received quality excellence from Premier Guarantee for two of its developments in Buckinghamshire, The Muse and The Aces, and its development in Bedfordshire, Saxon Park. All three developments received a ‘Quality Recognition Award’ from the warranty provider after meeting top standards in site management, workmanship, health and safety, site tidiness and general cooperation. The Muse is now 80% sold and Saxon Park is 90% sold, whilst prospective buyers can purchase their new home from plan at The Acres. Gary Williams, Construction Director at Dandara Northern Home Counties comments: “It is fantastic that the teams have been recognised for their hard and consistent work across the site. The fact that three Dandara developments have received Premier Guarantee Awards just shows the high standards that the construction team maintain across all sites, which is reflected through the high-quality homes that are eventually built.” Rachel Lindop, Head of Sales at Dandara Northern Home Counties, added: “It is a great achievement to be awarded for our high standards across not one but three developments in Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire! It really does reflect the hard working team that we have building new Dandara homes and their attitude to maintaining excellence on site.” Currently at The Acres, in Milton Keynes, Dandara is selling a selection of three, four and five bedroom homes from plan, with prices starting from £435,000. At The Muse, in Milton Keynes, there is one final three bedroom home remaining, priced from £378,000. Dandara is also selling a range of three, four and five bedroom homes at its Saxon Park development in Biddenham, with prices starting from £400,000 for a three bedroom home. At Saxon Park and The Acres, Dandara is currently offering six months free shopping with a £500 Waitrose or John Lewis voucher per month when buyers reserve select homes. For more information about the homes Dandara Northern Home Counties is currently selling, visit www.dandara.com/new-home-counties. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Technical Director of Promat Nigel Morrey has been recognised with a lifetime award for his commitment to fire safety at the Association for Specialist Fire Protection Awards. Recognising over three decades of commitment to improving standards in passive fire protection and raising awareness of the importance of this in protecting buildings and the occupants within, the ASFP presented Nigel with the Lifetime Contribution Award at the 2024 awards. As Technical Director at passive fire protection manufacturer Promat, Nigel has taken a leading role in the development and testing of passive fire protection systems over the past 22 years with Etex, including supporting the drive for improved standards in built-in fire safety. A passionate advocate for improved fire safety, Nigel has served as both Chair and Vice-Chair of the Association of Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP), as well as being a member of their Council and Strategy Groups. He has also represented the organisation on Expert Panel D, Passive Fire Protection at the Loss Prevention Council Board (LPCB). Following the Grenfell Tower tragedy, he was invited to chair the Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS) Fire Safety Group, and was a director of the Finishes and Interiors Sector for a number of crucial years in the industry. In his role at Promat, Nigel has led a drive to improve and demonstrate competency across all aspects of the company to highlight the importance of knowledge and experience in supporting accurate specification and installation of passive fire protection. This has included introducing training initiatives for all staff and ensuring all customer facing staff have passed, or are working towards, the IFE Level 3 qualification in passive fire protection. In presenting Nigel with the Lifetime Contribution Award, the ASFP highlighted his commitment to improving fire protection standards ASFP managing director Mike Ward said: “Innovation and promoting the highest standards in fire safety are integral to everything the ASFP stands for and Nigel Morrey truly embodies that. “He has shown commitment to both pushing for higher standards across the fire safety industry as a whole but also to raising awareness of fire safety – and building that into construction and the supply chain. This award is richly deserved for Nigel’s tireless commitment to keeping fire safety at the top of the agenda.” Nigel said: “Receiving this award is a real privilege in an industry, and an organisation, that works so hard to ensure that fire safety is a priority in all construction. “The ASFP does a fantastic job of promoting the work of the passive fire protection industry and it has been an honour to be able to work so closely with the organisation over the last two decades. “Amid great tragedy the industry has recently seen major change and it is vital that we continue to ensure that life-saving fire protection systems are subject to the tightest standards – and that the awareness is there of the need for passive fire protection and the correct specification and installation.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Organisers of UK Construction Week (UKCW) have announced another major coup for the show’s 10th anniversary year, with the news that UKCW London will be co-locating with the 14th edition of The Stone Show & Hard Surfaces, the principal industry event for surface design. Established 26 years ago, the show will bring together around 200 top suppliers, showcasing the latest products and trends in the fast-moving field of surface design. It is a must-attend for architects, designers, developers, fabricators, specialist contractors, installers and KBB outlets. Running from 7-9 May at ExCeL, London, The Stone Show & Hard Surfaces, supported by show partner Stone Federation Great Britain, will be three days of inspiration and innovation for the entire supply chain, engaging specifiers, designers, architects, stone masons, wholesalers, fabricators, installers, stone maintenance services, and beyond. Confirmed exhibitors include among others Stonegate, Mapei, Waters Stone, Marble & Granite Centre, Keope Ceramiche, Stone Cladding Systems (SCS), Gwrhyd Specialist Stone Quarry, Arcturus Stone, Stone Automation, EC1 Progetti, Dimpomar and ParCa. The show will feature expert-led seminars, recognise emerging industry talent, and showcase award-winning projects from the last 24 months. It will also shine a spotlight on the latest stone and hard surface design trends, finishes, fixing systems, and technology impacting the UK’s construction environment. Key highlights of The Stone Show & Hard Surfaces include: Richard Bradbury, Managing Director of The QMJ Group, Organisers of The Stone Show & Hard Surfaces, commented: “Co-locating with UK Construction Week presents a fantastic opportunity for The Stone Show & Hard Surfaces to connect with a vast, high-quality audience of building professionals. It will allow exhibitors and visitors alike to benefit both from our specialist focus, and a wider construction event that delivers 300+ seminars, 20+ live demonstrations and 400 exhibitors’. UK Construction Week divisional director, Sam Patel, added: “The theme for this year’s UKCW London show is ‘growth’, so it’s fitting that we are expanding our offer by co-locating with such a prestigious event as The Stone Show & Hard Surfaces. Along with our other new features, it really is a one-stop shop for the whole industry, whatever your specialism.” The UK’s largest event for the built environment, UKCW London will also see the debut of Workwear & PPE Live by PCIAW®, a dedicated show for construction clothing, footwear, and accessories, in an exclusive partnership with the Professional Clothing Industry Association Worldwide (PCIAW®); Onsite On Hire, a hire industry showcase making its return to London after 16 years; and HVAC+R, a new showcase of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration solutions. To register for The Stone Show & Hard Surfaces and UKCW London for free, visit https://forms.reg.buzz/ukcw-london-2025/cab-pr Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Competition fosters innovation in AI and technology development to solve common pain points and drive the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry forward Trimble® (Nasdaq: TRMB) announced the winners of the SketchUp® 0-60 Challenge, an initiative created by Trimble SketchUp and Trimble Ventures to foster innovation and discover the next big idea that will transform how architects, designers and project managers work. The 0-60 Challenge invited entrepreneurs, early-stage startups and developers to leverage SketchUp to develop transformative technology solutions that solve common industry pain points. Nine finalists selected from over 100 applicants were given an opportunity to collaborate with leading subject matter experts, innovators and technologists from within the global Trimble network to transform their ideas into reality. After a three-month development process, the finalists demoed their solutions for a live audience at 3D Basecamp at Dimensions, Trimble’s annual user conference. To learn more, visit: https://3dbasecamp.sketchup.com/en/SketchUp-0-60-Challenge-2024. “The ideas and solutions that came to light through the SketchUp 0-60 Challenge are nothing short of transformative,” said Christopher Cronin, VP & GM, architecture, design and education at Trimble SketchUp. “We created the challenge to stimulate creative problem solving, encourage collaboration and connection, and help turn ideas into solutions that will have a real-world impact on AEC workflows. Together with a talented third-party developer community, we are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible and seeing how the integration of AI unlocks new levels of efficiency, interoperability and creative exploration for the SketchUp community.” The SketchUp 0-60 Challenge Winners are: First Place: ScaffPlan developed an extension that allows temporary works companies — builders of temporary structures required to enable the safe, efficient and permanent construction of a project — to create detailed drawings and documentation for scaffolding, formwork, propping and shoring projects in SketchUp. The solution solves the complex challenges temporary works companies face by optimizing material utilization and enabling precise delivery scheduling to reduce waste and delays. It also facilitates accurate on-site installation, compliance with stringent legal requirements, and thorough identification and mitigation of safety hazards. Second Place: To streamline the design to construction documentation workflow between SketchUp and Revit®, Skema‘s new integration addresses the need for greater interoperability between both solutions. The integration provides designers, developers, builders and owners a seamless way to leverage SketchUp’s early design capabilities to develop Building Information Models (BIM) more quickly for project delivery. This process reduces data loss and minimizes the need to re-model, allowing users to work more efficiently and confidently. Third Place: A plug-in from Spacely AI accelerates the process of creating high-quality renders of interiors by auto-populating 3D spaces with the appropriate entourage. The solution accelerates the time-consuming process of populating and rendering stylized 3D spaces, allowing interior designers to win more business, reduce costs and explore creativity. Amazon Web Services “Scaled Thought” Award: Extracting precise data from designs and manually labeling components is tedious and error-prone, often leading to incomplete or inaccurate data. Scene Intelligence, a SketchUp plugin created by Loci, uses state-of-the-art AI models to classify components in SketchUp to IFC 4 standard at the click of a button. Scene Intelligence makes it easy to filter and view critical elements such as furniture and structural components, and generate an accurate bill of materials in minutes, not hours. Judges selected the winners based on three product categories and against six different criteria to measure the efficacy of the proposals. First, second and third place winners received cash prizes and Loci will receive technical expertise in three complimentary workshops led by Solution Architects at Amazon Web Services. The innovation doesn’t end here — expect more from Trimble & SketchUp’s ongoing collaborations with the winners. All features are available to download and try on the SketchUp Extension Warehouse today. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
2024 has been a landmark year for Study Inn, with the company winning three prestigious awards across the student accommodation sector, cementing its reputation as a leader in the industry. At the Property Week Student Accommodation Awards held at Wembley, Study Inn won Best Health & Wellbeing Initiative Award. The judges praised the company’s pioneering approach to student wellness, highlighting the introduction of wellness spas in its properties as a sector first. “Your innovative approach to prioritising student health and wellbeing is nothing short of groundbreaking. By creating spaces where students can relax, recharge, and focus on their overall wellbeing, you’re setting a new standard for the industry”, the judges noted. Earlier this year, Study Inn celebrated an notable achievement at the StudentCrowd Voice Awards, receiving ‘Best Student Accommodation’ accolades in every city it operates in—Bristol (1st), Leeds (1st), Loughborough (1st), Exeter (2nd), Leicester (2nd), and Nottingham (3rd). These awards are especially meaningful as they are based on direct feedback from resident students. Study Inn also secured Best Student Broadband Award at the Global Student Living Awards, another student-voted recognition award, that reflects over 100,000 student voices across the UK and Ireland. The company also celebrated its Gold Certified Operator status for the second consecutive year, a testament to its ongoing operational excellence with a net promoter score of +34, 2.6x the benchmark for private halls. Since its inception in 2009, the luxury student accommodation owner, developer, and operator, has been dedicated to putting student wellbeing first, offering an all-inclusive, hotel-like service that sets it apart. From housekeeping, concierge, and 24/7 on-site staff to superfast Wi-Fi and state-of-the-art amenities including wellness spas, yoga studios, bowling lanes, cinema rooms, and study areas, Study Inn delivers an unrivalled experience for its residents. Matt Shakespeare, Managing Director of Operations, commented: “Winning these awards is an endorsement of our product and level of service and reflects the hard work of our entire team. From day one, we’ve been committed to creating spaces where students feel supported, inspired, and cared for. It’s great to see our efforts recognised on such a prestigious scale, and we’re excited to continue raising the bar for student accommodation.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
