Tate Liverpool today announced Gilbert-Ash as the main contractor for a major reimagining of the landmark gallery on Royal Albert Dock. This £29.75 million redevelopment will transform one of the UK’s most important spaces for modern and contemporary art. Designed by 6a architects, the plans have recently been granted planning
Willmott Dixon has completed the once-in-a-generation £132 million transformation of Bristol Beacon, one of the most iconic cultural landmarks in the South West of England. It has taken five years and involved more than a million hours of time to create a flagship venue that will attract thousands of people
Seventy Ninth Group, an asset management company headquartered in North West England, has agreed terms to purchase two holiday parks for acquisition and subsequent redevelopment. Set in exclusive locations in Scotland, the Seventy Ninth Group plans to build up to 700 holiday lodges which will feature on site dining, as
A new 5,355 square metre tourism hostel has opened its doors in the heart of Dublin, which An Bord Pleanála described will ‘contribute positively to the animation of the area and provide an active use in itself.” The 634-bed hostel spreads over eleven floors and has been designed and delivered
Plans have been approved by Oxford City Council to create a new landmark timber cycle pavilion in the heart of Oxford North to provide secure long-stay and short-stay spaces for phase 1a of Oxford’s new £700 million innovation district. Designed by the project’s masterplanners Fletcher Priest Architects on behalf of
Bristol Abbey Wood Travelodge is located at Abbey Wood Retail Park and will create 25 new jobs Travelodge also announces its Bristol expansion programme and is actively looking for a further four hotel sites Travelodge, the UK’s first budget hotel chain, which operates nearly 600 hotels across the UK, Ireland
Leonardo Hotels’ Hinckley Island select Multitone’s i-Message Cloud based system for next level of sophistication. Leonardo Hotels’ four-star hotel and conference venue at Hinckley Island stands in the heart of the Leicestershire countryside and accommodates up to 1,000 guests. Formerly known as Jury’s Inn, the hotel has relied on Multitone’s
The jaw-dropping scale of the steep-tiered south stand at Everton Stadium is visible for the first time following the installation of terracing. Virtually all of the double-stepped concrete terracing units are now in place in the stand, which will eventually house over 13,000 Evertonians. The next major visual change will
Organizations partner to connect the origination of sustainability with the future of building technology In a landmark effort to preserve architectural history and inspire the future of sustainable construction, the R. Buckminster Fuller Dome Home Not-For-Profit and Mighty Buildings jointly announced the design and development of a new visitor center
This is the group’s fourth hotel currently being built in London. The other three new-build hotels are being constructed at the Kia Oval Cricket Ground, in Bermondsey and in Beckenham Travelodge, one of London’s largest hotel chains, is also searching for a further 100 hotel sites across the Capital Travelodge,
Tate Liverpool today announced Gilbert-Ash as the main contractor for a major reimagining of the landmark gallery on Royal Albert Dock. This £29.75 million redevelopment will transform one of the UK’s most important spaces for modern and contemporary art. Designed by 6a architects, the plans have recently been granted planning permission and listed building consent. This year Gilbert-Ash completed work on the National Portrait Gallery in London and previously worked on the Stirling Prize winning Everyman Theatre in Liverpool. They have also acted as the main contractor for other celebrated cultural capital projects, including Battersea Arts Centre and Bristol Old Vic. Their heritage portfolio includes the refurbishment and restoration of the Grade II-listed City of London Freemen’s School and the refurbishment and extension of the Grade I-listed kitchen and dining building at Jesus College, Cambridge. Emma King, Capital Director, Tate, said: “Gilbert-Ash’s track record of working to the highest standards on both cultural and heritage buildings makes them the perfect contractors to deliver the reimagined Tate Liverpool. We look forward to collaborating with the architects and contractors to deliver this once-in-a-generation renewal, creating an art museum fit for the 21st century.” Raymond Gilroy, Construction Director, Gilbert-Ash, said: “We are delighted to have been selected to deliver this landmark and transformational project at Tate Liverpool. It is another unique project to add to our extensive portfolio in the Cultural, Arts and Heritage sector. Project Director, Rodney Coalter, who recently completed the National Portrait Gallery, London, will head up the team. The team is already in place finalising plans to deal with the many logistical and technical challenges that lie ahead, in advance of a start on site in early 2024. We are looking forward to developing successful and collaborative relationships with both our new client at Tate Liverpool, the wider project consultant team, and to a very successful project delivery.” Tate Liverpool is housed in an iconic 1846 warehouse that was redesigned by Sir James Stirling and Michael Wilford in the late 1980’s as the cornerstone of the reinvention of the Royal Albert Dock. It helped establish Tate as a pioneer for arts-led regeneration in the UK. The upcoming transformation will reimagine the gallery to meet the scale and ambition of today’s most exciting artists and to welcome visitors into a brand new museum environment. The designs include a new public ‘Art Hall’ on the ground floor, opened up to admit daylight and views across the historic dock. New gallery spaces over three floors will showcase the incredible diversity of Tate’s collection and are interspersed with public riverside foyers. Opening up the gallery’s façade will increase its visibility on the waterfront and within the Royal Albert Dock, creating an inviting destination with striking spaces for learning, play and relaxation. Environmental standards and thermal performance will be significantly improved with new services replacing fossil fuel, with renewables and natural ventilation introduced to the building to ensure better energy performance. Planning permission and listed building consent for the project was granted by Liverpool City Council in October and construction will commence early in 2024. Funding for the £29.7 million project has come from the UK Government, including £10m from the Levelling Up Fund, as part of a successful combined £20m bid with National Museums Liverpool, and £6.6m from the DCMS Public Bodies Infrastructure Fund. The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority also awarded funding for the developmental phase of the project via its Strategic Investment Fund. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Willmott Dixon has completed the once-in-a-generation £132 million transformation of Bristol Beacon, one of the most iconic cultural landmarks in the South West of England. It has taken five years and involved more than a million hours of time to create a flagship venue that will attract thousands of people each year to see some of the world’s best entertainment acts. Described by Arts Council England as “one of the great cultural icons of modern-day Britain”, the largest concert venue in the region also represents the second largest investment in the arts in England by the Arts Council in the last 10 years. Thanks to the structural refurbishment led by Willmott Dixon, Bristol Beacon now boasts four new world-class performance spaces, allowing it to deliver over 800 events a year and generate an estimated £13 million annually to the economy. Its music education centre in the transformed and previously inaccessible cellars, called Bristol Water Sound Studios, will enable 30,000 children a year to use new state-of-the-art practice and rehearsal spaces. As well as having some of the best acoustics of any concert hall in Europe, it will also have some of the highest levels of physical accessibility throughout making it truly accessible to everyone, both artists and audiences. Sustainability has also been built in – the environmentally conscious design of the transformed venue will contribute to its net zero goal by 2030 and adapt Bristol Beacon for a lifetime of sustainable use. Richard David, director who led Willmott Dixon’s team at the Bristol Beacon, said: “I can’t emphasise enough just how proud Willmott Dixon is to be a part of Bristol Beacon’s renewal. Its complexities and challenges have been like nothing the team has ever undertaken, yet everyone has risen to the challenge and both our team and our supply chain partners deserve recognition for their commitment and dedication. “The project has required intricate planning at every stage, and we have ensured that since the start we have truly respected the heritage of the building, its conservation, restoration and renovation, as well as understanding the building structure and fabric. An extraordinary amount of work and skill has been required to resolve the issues we faced; archaeological, historical, logistical and technical. “The building that has been delivered is incredible. Bristol Beacon is so much more than a construction project and will have a fantastic impact on the city for generations to come.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Seventy Ninth Group, an asset management company headquartered in North West England, has agreed terms to purchase two holiday parks for acquisition and subsequent redevelopment. Set in exclusive locations in Scotland, the Seventy Ninth Group plans to build up to 700 holiday lodges which will feature on site dining, as well as modern health and spa facilities. The two projects have a gross development value (GDV) in excess of £300 million combined. Once built, the lodges will be offered for sale at a starting price of £200,000.00. Seventy Ninth Group specialises in the acquisition and redevelopment of undervalued assets across its core sectors of real estate and natural resources. The redevelopment of holiday and leisure parks is just one of key market sectors in real estate for the company. The other sectors include residential and commercial office parks. The Group is owned by the Webster family, who hold a unique position in both the real estate and natural resource sectors, specialising in the acquisition, management and development of high growth assets with a focus on deploying sustainable investment strategies. Managing Director of the Group, Jake Webster, says; “We are delighted to be able to add this latest acquisition to our portfolio. The leisure sector has been a significant area for growth for us as we look to redevelop these two sites into luxury leisure accommodation. “The nature of the UK staycation market is evolving. Expectations are growing around the quality of accommodation and facilities expected on site with many holiday makers seeking a luxury experience. “Investment is key to operators who want to compete in this luxury space as they look to upgrade, refurbish and expand their offering. For investors this means there is a real opportunity for long term, stable returns. “ The Seventy Ninth Group is an award-winning asset management company headquartered in the United Kingdom. Founded by serial entrepreneur David Webster and his two sons, Jake and Curtis Webster. The Seventy Ninth Group holds a unique and advantageous position in both the real estate and natural resource sectors, specialising in the acquisition, management and development of lucrative assets during times of economic turmoil and uncertainty. A family-owned business, the Seventy Ninth Group is chaired by David and his sons, Jake and Curtis, along with an experienced board of directors most of whom derive from a banking & compliance background. The Seventy Ninth Group is renowned for its strong family values of loyalty, honesty, and reliability, and is respected by their clients globally. Forward Looking Information This press release contains certain “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Such forward-looking information and forward-looking statements are not representative of historical facts or information or current condition, but instead represent only the Company’s beliefs regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of the Company’s control. Generally, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will be taken”, “will continue”, “will occur” or “will be achieved”. The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained herein may include, but are not limited to, information concerning the Company identifying an appropriate business combination target and its future plans for pursuing a stock exchange listing in Canada. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing, and the expectations contained in, the forward-looking information and statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and statements, and no assurance or guarantee can be given that such forward- looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information and statements. The forward- looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information and/or forward- looking statements that are contained or referenced herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. All subsequent written and oral forward- looking information and statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf is expressly qualified in its entirety by this notice. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A new 5,355 square metre tourism hostel has opened its doors in the heart of Dublin, which An Bord Pleanála described will ‘contribute positively to the animation of the area and provide an active use in itself.” The 634-bed hostel spreads over eleven floors and has been designed and delivered by HKR Architects for Abbey Cottages Limited and Clink Hostels. It features dining facilities, café, in-house bar, travel shop, luggage lockers and guest kitchen and a range of accommodation to suit travellers needs with private ensuite rooms, non-ensuite rooms, female only and mixed dorms with private or shared bathrooms and all air conditioned. Designed to contribute positively to the character and appearance of the area, the façade composition and mix of materials creates an interesting and playful frontage in keeping with the street conditions on Abbey Street Upper. Kola Ojeyomi, Director of HKR Architects comments, “Tourism is important to Ireland and Dublin and across the globe the growth for hostels is growing, primarily driven by the rising millennial population. It is vital that cities, including Dublin, have a wide range of differing accommodation types to align with this demand. “At Abbey Street Upper we have replaced existing commercial buildings on site to create a scheme with a plot area ratio of nine. This level of density has allowed us to achieve the optimum site value, something we take pride in delivering on all our sites.” The design has included setting back the upper two floors and roof of the development and has ensured that it reinforces and strengthens the civic character and dignity of its central location. Ivan Dolan from Clink Hostels comments, “Our new hostel, which is in the heart of one of the most up and coming areas of the city, is creating a new standard for the Irish market. We are delighted to have worked with HKR Architects to deliver the biggest hostel in the city, which forms part of our ambitious growth plans. “This high specification, modern and centrally located property also has sustainability at the forefront, making it the highest energy-environmentally rated hostel in Ireland.” The use of glazing in the design for the first two floors, who houses the communal amenities allows light to flood into the space, while other windows are finished with obscure glazing to allow for privacy to the nearby residential apartments. For details on HKR Architects please visit www.hkrarchitects.com. Follow us on LinkedIn, HKR Architects, Instagram hkr_architects and Twitter @HKR_architects Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Plans have been approved by Oxford City Council to create a new landmark timber cycle pavilion in the heart of Oxford North to provide secure long-stay and short-stay spaces for phase 1a of Oxford’s new £700 million innovation district. Designed by the project’s masterplanners Fletcher Priest Architects on behalf of Oxford North Ventures, the joint venture company of Thomas White Oxford, the development company of St John’s College, Cadillac Fairview and Stanhope, the prominent two-storey radial building, which was inspired by wheel spokes, will be located in the new market square alongside the Red Hall and central park. The new pavilion will provide 191 first-floor secure long-stay cycle spaces dedicated to people working in the Red Hall and Building 1 & 2. It will include a power gully on the stairs to assist in carrying bicycles, along with ground-floor short-stay spaces and a bike repair station. End-of-trip facilities will be in the basement of the adjacent Red Hall with 16 showers and changing facilities and an accessible provision at ground level. These cycle spaces will be in addition to the dedicated 444 spaces with showering facilities which will be provided in each of phase 2’s recently approved Plot A, B and C laboratory buildings. The pavilion’s radial structure timber frame will significantly reduce its embodied carbon and have low energy usage in operation. The design has been based on timber’s construction characteristics which will reduce the need and carbon intensity of an additional structural material for stability. Simple vertical timber battens will enclose the upper storey and provide views across the market square and a translucency which will create a warm ‘lantern’ effect in the evening to enliven the surrounding area. In addition to the architectural design, the project team has included sustainability, accessibility and inclusive design consultants and lighting, fire and security engineers. David Camp, chief executive officer, Stanhope said: “This decision is great news for cyclists! Our project is focused on transforming local travel habits and making cycling more convenient and sustainable for those working and visiting in the future. “We have positioned the pavilion in a key location at the masterplan’s heart to celebrate the bicycle as a mode of sustainable transport. The circular timber structure will act as a focal point, adjacent to the recently consented, enhanced and expanded Red Hall, the central landscape and market square. The pavilion will provide secure long and short-stay spaces and repair facilities serving our three first-phase buildings that are currently under construction.” Philip Pryke, senior associate, Fletcher Priest Architects added: “We are thrilled that our designs for Oxford North’s new timber cycle pavilion have been given the green light. With Oxford one of the UK’s leading cycling cities, it will give bicycle use the prominence it deserves within the new urban district being created. “Our two-storey approach reduces the building’s footprint and the main enclosed body of the pavilion being raised off the ground will deliver views across the market square. It is about ensuring the building is visible and accessible from all sides meaning that, along with the A40 and A44 cycle improvements, the decision to cycle to and from Oxford North will be as easy as possible.” Oxford North’s Phase 1a is targeting practical completion in Q2 2025. Acting on behalf of Oxford North Ventures for the cycle pavilion were Fletcher Priest Architects, Savills, AKT II, Hoare Lea, Gustafson Porter + Bowman, Pritchard Themis, Turner & Townend Alinea, OFR Consultants, People Friendly Design, Gardiner & Theobald, and QCIC. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Bristol Abbey Wood Travelodge is located at Abbey Wood Retail Park and will create 25 new jobs Travelodge also announces its Bristol expansion programme and is actively looking for a further four hotel sites Travelodge, the UK’s first budget hotel chain, which operates nearly 600 hotels across the UK, Ireland and Spain announces it has ‘topped out’ at its new hotel development at Abbey Wood Retail Park. This is the group’s seventh hotel in Bristol. The 85-room Bristol Abbey Wood Travelodge is being developed and funded by Invesco Real Estate and the scheme is being constructed by Marshalls Construction. The hotel is scheduled to open for summer trading in 2024. The hotel is located close to the Bristol Ministry of Defence offices – which is the largest MoD office in the UK and within easy access to the M4, M5 and Bristol city centre. Bristol Abbey Wood Travelodge is being developed to the group’s new premium look and feel design – which includes all the low cost efficiencies you would expect from Travelodge but with the added benefit of thoughtful, stylish design and homely touches throughout its interiors. The hotel will also feature the group’s on-site restaurant called The Bar Cafe offering a breakfast, dinner and bar menu. Bristol is a key growth area for Travelodge, as the group is currently searching for a further four hotel sites across the city. This expansion programme could represent a multi-million pound investment for third party investors and create over a hundred new jobs. Steve Bennett, Chief Property and Development Officer, Travelodge, said: “We are delighted to have reached this important milestone in the construction of our seventh hotel in Bristol. The topping out ceremony was a great opportunity to celebrate the great work Marshall Construction is doing and to thank everyone who has supported us so far. “We are on schedule to open our Bristol Abbey Wood Travelodge in time for summer trading in 2024. “This development is just the start of our expansion plans in Bristol. The city is growing from strength to strength and attracting record visitor numbers however there remains a shortage for good quality and low cost accommodation in Bristol. To help fill this gap, we are actively looking for a further four hotel sites across the city. This expansion programme could represent a multi-million investment for third party investors, create over a hundred new jobs and offer our customers more choice of locations to stay in Bristol.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leonardo Hotels’ Hinckley Island select Multitone’s i-Message Cloud based system for next level of sophistication. Leonardo Hotels’ four-star hotel and conference venue at Hinckley Island stands in the heart of the Leicestershire countryside and accommodates up to 1,000 guests. Formerly known as Jury’s Inn, the hotel has relied on Multitone’s solutions for more than a decade, to ensure that team communications are seamless. The need for more sophisticated and streamlined comms The Multitone Access 5000 DECT mobile telephony system had reached end-of-life and the hotel management were keen to replace it with the latest technology, providing a more sophisticated and streamlined communication system. A large hotel and conference venue must service the needs of its guests promptly, as well as handling issues such as fire alarm activation discreetly and efficiently. It is crucial that guests are not troubled unnecessarily by incidents such as false alarms. Multitone’s i-Message helps Leonardo to step up Following a review of Multitone’s multiple technologies, Leonardo Hotels opted for the specialist’s fully managed cloud based i-Message unified communications platform, providing mobile telephony across the site’s Wi-Fi infrastructure, plus integration with the fire alarms and fixed telephone system. Multitone i-Message cloud runs on Amazon Web Services and acts as both a communications hub and a control centre, processing data from myriad sources, facilitating communication between disparate devices, executing automations and providing the administration interface for a number of Multitone solutions. The Leonardo Hotel staff team at Hinckley Island are delighted with the new system. Nathan Whitehead, Deputy General Manager, said: “The old Multitone system was always reliable, but we have replaced the ‘bricks’ we used to handle, which worked only in public areas, with smart new handsets which are much easier to carry and use, and work in all areas of the hotel. The staff really like the ‘social media’ style of messaging that they use as well as voice calls.” Peter Lomax, Multitone’s Sales and Marketing Director added: “Multitone is delighted to continue supporting Leonardo Hotels with our new i-Message platform. This highly resilient platform is part of Multitone’s critical messaging solutions portfolio in use across not only hospitality and retail establishments, but also a large proportion of UK based hospitals and emergency services.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The jaw-dropping scale of the steep-tiered south stand at Everton Stadium is visible for the first time following the installation of terracing. Virtually all of the double-stepped concrete terracing units are now in place in the stand, which will eventually house over 13,000 Evertonians. The next major visual change will see blue seats installed in the upper sections, as part of the ongoing programme which has spread across the north stand – and aims to have them in place across the whole upper tier of the bowl by Christmas. Externally, the south stand is also showing off its new façade following the installation of glazing in the second level concourse. The angled panels, which stretch across the entire face of the stand, have been designed to reflect the water from the adjoining Nelson Dock and help tie the stadium into its maritime surroundings. Meanwhile, the first giant speakers have been positioned into the roof spaces of the north stand. The curved units will hang from all four stands as part of the PA system. This has coincided with the departure from site of the last 600 tonne crawler crane, which was used mainly in the complex construction of the roof. A service tunnel, left open in the east stand to provide vehicular access to the pitch area, can therefore be closed off now in preparation for lower terracing units being installed. Work also continues to finish off the restoration of the historic Hydraulic Tower and Engine House. The buildings, dating back to 1883, have been lovingly renovated using existing and salvaged brickwork, new zinc roofing and the installation of windows sympathetic to the original design. A decorative capstan was this week reinstated at the entrance to the Hydraulic Tower, again as a nod to the building’s huge importance in the dock’s rich maritime history. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Organizations partner to connect the origination of sustainability with the future of building technology In a landmark effort to preserve architectural history and inspire the future of sustainable construction, the R. Buckminster Fuller Dome Home Not-For-Profit and Mighty Buildings jointly announced the design and development of a new visitor center and museum at the site of the legendary architect’s iconic “Bucky Dome” home. Located in Carbondale, IL, this architectural marvel has earned its rightful place on the National Register of Historic Places, and has captivated visitors for decades. The joint project is intended to connect Fuller’s impressive legacy to innovations that represent the future of sustainable building, thanks to Mighty Buildings’ new materials and groundbreaking offsite 3D printing construction methodologies. R. Buckminster Fuller, celebrated as a pioneer in architectural innovation, called the Bucky Dome “home” from 1960 to 1971. Today, it stands as a symbol of his visionary work, with a recent restoration breathing new life into this historic gem, ensuring that future generations can appreciate its significance. An exciting next phase of the restoration project is the construction of a state-of-the-art 2,400 square-foot visitor center and museum, designed by architect Thad Heckman of Design Works, that will be erected adjacent to the Bucky Dome. The museum aims to educate visitors about the profound legacy of Buckminster Fuller while exploring the future of architecture and sustainable building. “Preserving Buckminster Fuller’s legacy while pushing the boundaries of sustainable design has been an incredible honor,” said Thad Heckman. “Through our collaboration with Mighty Buildings, this project represents a bridge between the past and the future, inviting visitors to explore the rich history of architectural innovation and the endless possibilities that lie ahead.” Mighty Buildings, a trailblazer in 3D printing construction technology, has worked alongside Mr. Heckman to create parametric panels that pay homage to the Dome Home’s original design. These panels, which emulate the geodesic geometry Fuller pioneered, will be 3D printed offsite and assembled on location next to the Dome. This innovative approach highlights the unique capabilities of Mighty Buildings’ next generation Mighty Kit System, an easy-to-configure platform that features rigorously tested and internationally certified building materials that are designed to be sustainable, climate resilient, and offer significant improvements over prior 3D printed technologies. These innovations can significantly reduce onsite construction timelines and enable building sites with near-zero waste. Additional essential services that are critical to the success of this project have been selflessly donated by W. Gray Hodge, P.E., S.E., of Hodge Structural Engineers, and Civil Engineer Sean Henry, P.E., of Klingner & Associates, P.C. Local student construction assistance is provided by the Construction Management Program at John A. Logan College. Scott Gebicke, CEO of Mighty Buildings, commented, “We are proud to partner with the R. Buckminster Fuller Dome Not-for-Profit in creating a sustainable future in harmony with Fuller’s masterful vision. The design of our parametric panels pays tribute to his groundbreaking work while showcasing the capabilities of 3D printing in construction. Together, we are advancing the cause of sustainable architecture combined with advanced construction technology.” The City of Carbondale, IL, has been instrumental in providing approvals and support for the project, with City Manager Gary Williams adding, “The City Council’s decision to invest in the R. Buckminster Fuller Dome Home restoration reinforces the City’s commitment to sustainability and embodies Fuller’s assertion that ‘to change something, you have to build a new model that makes the old model obsolete.’ We believe that this 3D printed visitor’s center does just that.” For more information about the Bucky Dome project, please visit https://fullerdomehome.com/index.html. About Mighty Buildings Founded in 2017, Mighty Buildings is committed to transforming the housing construction sector through the development of beautiful high-quality, sustainable, and climate-resilient prefab homes. By leveraging 3D printing, advanced material science and automation for offsite prefabrication, Mighty Buildings can build houses up to 3-4 times faster than the industry standard, with near zero waste, and significantly reduced environmental impact. Mighty Buildings works with compliance and regulatory agencies to develop future-forward materials that are tested and certified to the most rigorous standards, and have been certified for high-velocity hurricane, earthquake and water damage resistance. Mighty Buildings is actively collaborating with developers to build communities of single-family homes in various configurations, based on its unique, panelized and patented Mighty Kit System. For more info, visit www.mightybuildings.com. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
This is the group’s fourth hotel currently being built in London. The other three new-build hotels are being constructed at the Kia Oval Cricket Ground, in Bermondsey and in Beckenham Travelodge, one of London’s largest hotel chains, is also searching for a further 100 hotel sites across the Capital Travelodge, the UK’s largest independent hotel chain is delighted to announce that construction has commenced for its London Chiswick Travelodge. The 113-room hotel will feature the group’s on-site restaurant and is located next to the Chiswick Roundabout, one of London’s best known road junctions. London Chiswick Travelodge is the Company’s fourth hotel currently under construction in London. The other three sites include the group’s 600th Travelodge, a 95-room hotel at the Kia Oval Cricket Ground (in partnership with Surrey County Cricket Club). A 73-room hotel in Bermondsey and a 72-room hotel in Beckenham are also being constructed. With the opening of these four hotels, Travelodge will operate 84 hotels in London, making it one of the Capital’s biggest hotel chains. Travelodge secured forward funding in November 2022 for the development of London Chiswick Travelodge. The funding partner, RTP Global Real Estate Investments, purchased the site and committed to fund the development for £19.4m and retain Travelodge as the development manager for the scheme. Barnes Construction, which has a long-standing partnership with Travelodge and recently constructed Travelodge’s London Wimbledon Central hotel in 2022, has been appointed as contractor for the new, six storey Chiswick development. The hotel is expected to be completed in Q1 2025 and will be let to Travelodge on a new 35-year lease, with five -yearly, index-linked rent reviews with caps and collars. London Chiswick Travelodge is being developed to the group’s new, premium look and feel design specification and will be built to BREEAM “Excellent” standards and with an EPC rating of “A”. The new Travelodge hotel design has been created in response to the feedback from the Company’s largest consumer study – which surveyed around 5,000 UK business and leisure travellers to find the psychographics of the modern budget traveller. Key findings from the study revealed that modern travellers crave style, choice and little homely touches to make it easier to work, rest and relax both inside and outside of the room. It also includes a number of sustainable initiatives such as the new carpet being made from recycled fishing nets, which are part of a project supporting clean ocean initiatives, tackling over 640k tonnes of discarded fishing nets currently impacting marine life. The carpet backing is also made of old plastic bottles. Every ten of these bottles which are recycled rather than being sent to landfill saves enough energy to power a laptop for 25 hours. The other features include low energy lighting, motion sensing controls and aerated showers and taps. London is a key growth area for Travelodge’s development strategy. A dedicated team is in place to secure a further 100 sites across the Capital for a new Travelodge opening. This expansion programme would more than double Travelodge’s presence in London and could represent a multi-billion investment for third party investors and create thousands of new jobs. Steve Bennett, Travelodge, Chief Property & Development Officer, said: “We are delighted to be expanding our London hotel network with the construction of our first hotel in Chiswick. The new Travelodge will be in a fantastic location on Chiswick High Road, 400m from Gunnersbury underground and railway line, 450m from Chiswick Business Park and within easy walking distance of the Gtech Community Stadium, home of Brentford FC; so a great place for business and leisure customers to stay, either visiting the local area, or Central London. With over 80 Travelodges in London, we now operate in 31 out the 33 London boroughs and are one of London’s biggest hotel chains. We are currently building four more new London hotels, including our 600th Travelodge at the Kia Oval Cricket Ground, but we still have room for further growth in London. Nowadays, more Britons are choosing to stay in a budget hotel than any other hotel type, but London cannot fulfil this growing trend as it has a shortage of good quality and low cost accommodation. Therefore, to help fill this growing gap, we are actively searching for over 100 new hotel sites across the Capital. This London expansion programme could collectively represent a multi-billion pound investment for third party investors and create thousands of new jobs.” Svetlana Lomovtseva at RTP RE, said: “Following on from our successful acquisition of this high profile site late last year we are delighted that we have now moved on to the construction phase of the project. We are looking forward to working with Travelodge and Barnes and the smooth delivery of this much needed new hotel in Q1, 2025.” Andy Cole at Vokins, Travelodge’s retained agent for West London, represented Travelodge for the Chiswick development deal and is currently searching for a further 15 development locations across West London. Andy Cole, at Vokins, said: “I am delighted that I could support Travelodge in securing the Chiswick hotel site. This deal is a testament of the Travelodge brand; despite the challenging marketing conditions that we are operating within, Travelodge continues to expand its hotel network. Our focus continues to grow Traveloge’s footprint across West London and we are actively looking for a further 15 hotel sites in locations such as Hammersmith, White City, Southall, Staines and Uxbridge.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
