BRAND new images released today by the developer behind Nottingham’s The Island Quarter development showcase what the scheme’s next phase – a ground-breaking new bioscience facility – could look like. Designed by CPMG Architects, the plans include 245,000 sq ft of high quality, flexible research and laboratory space, across two
The comprehensive makeover will transform the studios, which has been making films since 1902, into one of ‘the most advanced studios in the world’ and signals further Glencar’s expansion into this fast-expanding sector Glencar, a leading UK construction company that was recently ranked amongst Europe’s fastest growing businesses, has today
Industry expert CBRE has warned commercial property investors of the financial risks they might be experiencing due to increased building inefficiency and slow implementation of sustainable practices and digitisation strategies across portfolios. In a recent publication, it revealed that while positive strides have been made, property managers are moving too
ExCeL London has appointed McLaren Construction to deliver the build phase of its major expansion project, enhancing the venue’s world-class conference, event and exhibition facilities. McLaren Construction will complete the expansion of the venue’s multi-functional exhibition and conference facilities. The programme will extend the existing facilities by up to 25,000m2,
McLaren Construction has been appointed by ExCeL London to deliver the expansion of its conference, event and exhibition facilities. The builder is taking over the job from Sir Robert McAlpine, who were awarded the first three Phases of the expansion contract. After being awarded the main build contract, McLaren will
Clean Planet Energy today announced a new joint venture with private equity firm Crossroads Real Estate to fund Clean Planet Energy’s flagship ecoPlant currently under construction in Teesside, North East England. This will be the first of 10 new ecoPlants that Crossroads Real Estate and Clean Planet Energy are jointly
The first of the giant trusses that will support the roof structure at Everton Stadium has been successfully installed. A milestone moment saw the 100-tonne section of steelwork carefully hoisted into place in the north stand on Wednesday morning, commencing a series of lifts over the coming weeks at both
A brand new six-storey apartment block at the Abbey Wall development in Merton, Southwest London has been constructed over a third faster[1] than traditional concrete methods, while mitigating on-site safety risks, thanks to a pre-manufactured steel framed system from Intrastack. Constructed in just 25 weeks by RJB Interiors (RJB) for
Young people are already enjoying the state-of-the-art facilities that include an indoor climbing wall, 3G pitch and dance studio Caddick Construction has completed on the state-of-the-art Warrington Youth Zone which is offering a huge range of sports, arts and social facilities to the town’s young people. Construction began on the
Workers at Laing O’Rourke are confident that Everton Stadium will have the ‘wow’ factor – because they have already built it once! Craig Wallace, a Digital Engineer for Laing O’Rourke, is one of a select few with the responsibility for ensuring the project’s approach towards ‘digital’ uses leading processes, technology
BRAND new images released today by the developer behind Nottingham’s The Island Quarter development showcase what the scheme’s next phase – a ground-breaking new bioscience facility – could look like. Designed by CPMG Architects, the plans include 245,000 sq ft of high quality, flexible research and laboratory space, across two buildings that will be connected by a glazed link at upper levels and provide a mixture of laboratory, office and meeting spaces. Proposals were submitted by The Conygar Investment Company PLC to Nottingham City Council in December and, if approved, will see the facility boost the city’s reputation as the bioscience capital of the UK, acting as an incubator for new and growing businesses within the sector. Christopher Ware, property director at Conygar, said: “Nottingham is a centre of innovation and no more so than within the biosciences sector. This latest phase of The Island Quarter shows our commitment to supporting the city’s role as a leader in the sector by developing a brand new facility to house and nurture some of the most exciting and innovative businesses in the UK.” The newly released images showcase the facility’s rainwater gardens and medicinal planting as part of the building’s external landscaping, with an ecology-focussed street that links the latest phase with the rest of The Island Quarter – echoing the vision for the overall site. This includes raised planters made with natural stone paving blocks in the style of those found in the heritage buildings – connecting the site’s history with its future. David Jones, director at planning and environmental consultancy Axis, added: “The Island Quarter is a hugely important regeneration opportunity for the city and these new images will help people visualise the next phase of development at the site, for a state-of-the-art biosciences facility to complement what the city already has to offer.” The surroundings are designed to respond to the emerging wider masterplan, which is being developed in collaboration with the planning authority and is the subject of ongoing community engagement. These latest proposals will continue the development of the northern edge of the 36-acre development, which also features a 693-bed student accommodation block, due for completion in summer 2024. To find out more about The Island Quarter, please visit: theislandquarter.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The comprehensive makeover will transform the studios, which has been making films since 1902, into one of ‘the most advanced studios in the world’ and signals further Glencar’s expansion into this fast-expanding sector Glencar, a leading UK construction company that was recently ranked amongst Europe’s fastest growing businesses, has today announced that it has been appointed to undertake the redevelopment of the iconic Ealing Studios in West London. Glencar will work alongside Pella Real Estate Partners and Christopher Smith Associates to deliver the project. The studios which are some of the oldest in the world, have been making films since 1902 and have made movies such as Bridget Jones, St. Trinians’ and The Theory of Everything. The works will see the installation of a new 14,000-sq-ft stage (1300 sq m), which will take 18 months to build, as well as new workshops, additional office space, a new entrance reception, security, and site hub which will serve as the new face of Ealing Studios. The new white Ibstock Engobe brick building has been designed to honour the distinctive Art Deco aesthetic of the original 1930’s Grade II listed stages that still exist at the studio. The studios also want to play their part in preserving the planet, as the development will aim to make Ealing Studios the first Net Zero Carbon stage in the UK and will be built to BREEAM Outstanding certification. Commenting on the appointment Glencar Managing Director London and South Roy Jones said: “We are seeing exponential growth in the requirements coming through for new TV/Film/Streaming studio production space and with our extensive knowledge and understanding of that Sector, Glencar is responding to that need. We are naturally delighted to have been instructed to undertake the redevelopment of such an iconic and famous venue. The works will be transformational and will turn the venue into one of most advanced and sustainable studios in the industry. This instruction comes quickly after we recently secured the refurbishment works at Soho Studios. Our newly established London division will be delivering these projects as we continue to expand our offering in this growing sector.” Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Industry expert CBRE has warned commercial property investors of the financial risks they might be experiencing due to increased building inefficiency and slow implementation of sustainable practices and digitisation strategies across portfolios. In a recent publication, it revealed that while positive strides have been made, property managers are moving too slowly to adopt greener practices. Despite evidence showing green strategies have significant commercial benefits, such as driving higher rents and occupant retention, the industry seems to have trouble developing a better portfolio sustainability. With this in mind, Cillian Casey, Regional Vice-President EMEA at CIM, is calling for decisive action to improve portfolio sustainability. “The fact that two separate reports, published a year apart and to different regions, have come to the same conclusion about sustainability’s appeal to tenants clearly sends a strong message that decisive action is needed. Commercial property investors and managers need to accelerate the adoption of greener practices and equipment, especially given the property sector’s vital role in achieving net zero by 2050,” he said. “Promptly ensuring operational efficiency across portfolios will be key to immediate emissions reduction, with data analytics technology set to play a pivotal role in this, especially as energy demand continues to grow. However, untangling the sheer volume of data to determine priority actions remains a major challenge for facilities managers given the overstretched nature of many facilities and operational teams.” With property operations accounting for 28% of global carbon operations and the fact that 80% of 2050’s buildings have already been built, the need for immediate steps is crucial. According to Mr Casey, optimising operations with data offers a more financially prudent route than alternatives such as carbon offsetting, given predictions offsetting prices will rise exponentially in the near future. “The current external cost of carbon offset purchasing undoubtedly has an appeal for building owners and investors, but priority should be given to driving everyday efficiencies and optimisations in the way buildings are run. Organisations may leave themselves in a precarious position as costs rise, and by not prioritising or considering alternative options, they could be vulnerable to an ever-worsening financial situation that could have been avoided. “By digitising operations across portfolios through the use of data-driven detection and diagnostics software such as CIM’s PEAK platform, stakeholders can take immediate steps toward more efficient and sustainable building performance. As this latest CBRE report shows, greener buildings are very attractive to prospective tenants, and therefore command higher rental yields. By embracing change now, commercial property owners and managers can create immediate additional value for businesses while emissions are lowered,” Cillian concluded. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
ExCeL London has appointed McLaren Construction to deliver the build phase of its major expansion project, enhancing the venue’s world-class conference, event and exhibition facilities. McLaren Construction will complete the expansion of the venue’s multi-functional exhibition and conference facilities. The programme will extend the existing facilities by up to 25,000m2, on a development site of 2 hectares, providing a 25% increase to the venues existing 100,000m2 events campus. McLaren will work alongside key project partners who have already delivered the design and enabling works phase of the project, including Gardner & Theobald, Grimshaw Architects, Hoare Lea and Campbell Reith. The works will provide seamless connectivity with the existing venue, creating state-of-the art convention facilities, exhibition halls and conference rooms and improved catering amenities. The expansion works also include stunning outdoor spaces with external terraces, along with an enhanced public realm, creating an attractive dock edge with leisure facilities and landscaping. The scheme will be a Net Zero carbon ready building, utilising 50% recycled steel, targeting BREEAM excellence, with sustainability solutions including PV panels, air source heat pumps, rainwater harvesting, and hybrid ventilation, embedding key principles of Climate Change Adaption into the design. The major expansion will further enhance ExCeL London’s position as a global leader in the exhibition and convention centre market, creating a new landmark building at the eastern gateway of the campus, ensuring the venue continues to attract global events and audiences to London and the London Borough of Newham, contributing to the local and capital’s economy. Kevin Taylor Chairman Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
McLaren Construction has been appointed by ExCeL London to deliver the expansion of its conference, event and exhibition facilities. The builder is taking over the job from Sir Robert McAlpine, who were awarded the first three Phases of the expansion contract. After being awarded the main build contract, McLaren will now complete the project by extending the existing facilities by up to 25,000 square metres. The expansion at the carbon neutral venue will create additional state-of-the-art ICC convention facilities, exhibition halls and conference rooms, together with stunning outdoor spaces, all helping to put London at the forefront of the global events industry. “The wealth of expertise and sector knowledge that the team at McLaren will bring to the main construction phase will ensure that we meet the needs of our customers by providing world class venue spaces and guest experience, on time and on budget, as well as ensuring we deliver our commitments to the local community,” said ExCeL London’s CEO Jeremy Rees. Part of the new event space is a12,000sqm exhibition space on the ground floor, which will be seamlessly integrated into the existing venue. This will be complemented on the upper level with high-end convention space, modern meeting rooms and catering facilities. A priority for ExCeL regarding this project has been the sustainability side of it. In line with its current ESG strategy, the company aims to create the most sustainable scheme possible and will be targeting a Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) rating of ‘Excellent’ – surpassing the recognised industry standard. As with the current venue, the electricity supply will be 100% from renewable sources. As part of the project, a substantial investment will also be made in the public realm including new greenery along the dock edge, improved landscaping for pedestrians and cyclists, and a new pocket park. The project will also create permanent and temporary employment, both in the construction process – including apprenticeships – but also indirectly once complete. McLaren Construction have been appointed to deliver the next phase of construction works, commencing in January 2023. McLaren has extensive experience of delivering UK major projects, including Leicester City Football Club’s new training ground, The Financial Times’ Bracken House’ headquarters, and a major fulfilment centre for warehouse giant SEGRO. McLaren will work alongside key project partners who have already delivered the design and enabling works phase of the project, including Gardiner & Theobald, Grimshaw Architects, Hoare Lea and Campbell Reith. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Clean Planet Energy today announced a new joint venture with private equity firm Crossroads Real Estate to fund Clean Planet Energy’s flagship ecoPlant currently under construction in Teesside, North East England. This will be the first of 10 new ecoPlants that Crossroads Real Estate and Clean Planet Energy are jointly seeking to build and operate across the UK. The new joint venture could see over £400m of new UK investment deployed for the future construction of these facilities to tackle the plastic waste crisis. Potential sites have already been identified in Lincolnshire, Gloucestershire, Lancashire and South Wales , with further locations and announcements to be made in the months ahead. Clean Planet Energy’s ecoPlant is a green, advanced recycling facility intended to process non-recyclable and hard-to-recycle waste plastics that would otherwise be sent to landfill. Each ecoPlant is designed to accept 20,000 tonnes of plastics each year and to convert this waste into (a) ultra-low sulphur fuels to replace fossil fuels in the transport and heavy-machinery sectors, and (b) petrochemical feedstocks, including naphtha, which can be used to make new plastic products without the need to use fossil-based feedstocks. Clean Planet Energy’s ultra-low-sulphur diesel can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 75% compared to the use of traditional diesel, while the joint venture could also lead to over 200,000 tonnes of hard-to-recycle waste plastics being repurposed for use in the circular supply chain each year. The news comes as COP27 is currently underway and where world leaders are seeking solutions to reduce global GHG emissions and plastic pollution. Data from 2021 shows that the UK still generates over 2 million tonnes of plastic waste each year, with well over 60% of this not suitable for recycling. In November 2022, the UK government’s Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee published a report focusing on accelerating the reduction of plastic waste, with advanced recycling identified as a key policy recommendation. By developing new ecoPlants throughout the UK, Clean Planet Energy and Crossroads Real Estate are opening a route for traditionally non-recyclable plastic waste to be repurposed into sustainable and circular-economy products; thereby cutting plastic pollution, reducing the amount of waste entering UK landfill, and also lowering greenhouse gas emissions when the waste is converted into ultra-low-sulphur diesel and used as a low-carbon fuel replacement. David Gillerman, Founding Partner and CEO of Crossroads Real Estate said, “At Crossroads, we are committed to green opportunities and impact investing as demonstrated already through our sustainable hotels strategy. We look forward to partnering with Clean Planet Energy to roll out ecoPlants across the UK, including the flagship ecoPlant already under construction in Teesside. The negative impact of plastic waste on our environment, plus the challenges we face from excess carbon emissions, made the joint venture with Clean Planet Energy a very compelling opportunity. With this investment, we have the ability to make a significant environmental and social impact across the UK.” Bertie Stephens, Group CEO of Clean Planet Energy, commenting on the extension of their vision that this joint venture enables, said, “Clean Planet Energy’s mission is to remove over 1 million tonnes of non-recyclable plastic waste from our environment, every year. This exciting partnership gives us the capacity to make a significant dent in this target. Having Crossroads Real Estate join us, not just for the development of potentially 10 new UK ecoPlant projects, but also for the construction of the current Teesside ecoPlant, means in Crossroads we have a partner who, like us, is focussed on making a sustainable difference with its investments; delivering on a vision of a greener United Kingdom and beyond. We’re now reaching out to local councils and private partners across the UK who could benefit from a reduction in plastic waste entering their landfill”. Earlier this year, Clean Planet Energy announced a 10-year agreement with global energy company bp plc to offtake its circular products from its ecoPlants into the market. Each new ecoPlant will be able to process hard-to-recycle plastics in the UK; at their peak, the facilities should create over 750 direct new jobs, and potentially thousands of indirect jobs when the ecoPlants move from development into the construction and operation phases. About Crossroads Real Estate Crossroads European Real Estate Funds have invested in various real estate asset classes throughout Europe, such as hotels, residential, light industrial, retail and co-working. Since its inception in 2015, Crossroads has generated an exposure in excess of €1.3 billion in European real assets on behalf of its various investors. Crossroads have an extensive background in growing multi-jurisdictional platforms across various asset classes and capital structures, and unlocking value from complex situations, providing both downside protection and a visible upside Crossroads’ key target markets are Germany, the UK, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy and Spain, with other potential target markets being Central and Southern Europe and the Nordic countries. About Clean Planet Energy Clean Planet Energy (CPE) is a cleantech, renewable and alternative energy company, that has a special focus on converting hard-to-recycle waste plastics into naphtha, a petrochemical feedstock that can be used in plastic production to support a circular supply chain and converted into ultra-low-sulphur diesel. CPE’s mission is to remove over 1 million tonnes of hard-to-recycle plastic waste from our environment every year. It will achieve this mission by seeking to continuously devise and implement green technologies and processes (such as the Clean Planet ecoPlant) that can prevent plastic waste from entering the Earth’s environment and oceans, while also reducing the world’s demand for non-circular products. CPE’s ecoPlants aim to divert hard-to-recycle waste plastics away from the world’s landfills, incinerators and oceans, which would represent a major environmental win. CPE have operations in the UK, USA, France and South East Asia. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The first of the giant trusses that will support the roof structure at Everton Stadium has been successfully installed. A milestone moment saw the 100-tonne section of steelwork carefully hoisted into place in the north stand on Wednesday morning, commencing a series of lifts over the coming weeks at both ends of the stadium that will offer a first view of its full height of just under 45 metres. In total, Everton Stadium will have five roof trusses installed; two in the smaller north stand and three atop the one-tier south stand that will eventually house 13,000 Evertonians. Each truss, which initially rest on temporary support trestles built into the stand, consists of three sections assembled at ground level and lifted into placed individually. Each of those 15 steelwork sections weighs approximately 100 tonnes. The completed roof trusses will have clear spans of between 150 and 175 metres, once the temporary support trestles are removed. The depth of the trusses varies between four metres deep at the supports, to around 11.5m at mid-span. Everton’s new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, due for completion in the 2024/25 season, is recognised as the largest single-site private sector development in the country, contributing an estimated £1.3bn to the UK economy, creating thousands of jobs and attracting 1.4m visitors to the city of Liverpool, annually. Once complete, the scheme will have acted as a catalyst for more than £650m worth of accelerated regeneration directly benefiting the nearby Ten Streets development. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A brand new six-storey apartment block at the Abbey Wall development in Merton, Southwest London has been constructed over a third faster[1] than traditional concrete methods, while mitigating on-site safety risks, thanks to a pre-manufactured steel framed system from Intrastack. Constructed in just 25 weeks by RJB Interiors (RJB) for main developer, Indigo Scott, the mixed-use residential scheme comprises 66 apartments and a commercial unit to the ground floor. Due to the six-storeys and composite concrete floor, a lighter, more versatile structure was required to support the construction. The developer opted for Intrastack’s light gauged steel system. Not only was it able to provide the right strength and weight-bearing capacity, but it also enabled the team to speed up the construction programme to deliver a quicker return-on-investment. A typical concrete frame project of this size would likely run to a 30-week programme to install the frame, followed by a further 10 weeks of exterior wall construction. In contrast, the Intrastack solution was installed fully in just 25 weeks. Critical to the project’s success was the ability to manufacture the steel frame off-site, using a just-in-time approach to help improve build times and eliminate on-site fabrication. This process was carefully coordinated with planned delivery sequences to complement the build programme and ensure a seamless installation process. Although RJB has constructed numerous projects using mild steel frame construction, this was the first time the business had worked with Intrastack. Matthew Kirby, Commercial Director from RJB Interiors explains further. “We pride ourselves in delivering an efficient and cost-effective programme for our clients. The combination of the speed of construction on-site, alongside a high quality, durable end-product from Intrastack has enabled us to deliver an overall cost saving to our client. “We spent approximately 15 weeks less on site that would have been required with a concrete frame construction and this clearly translates into both labour and plant cost savings, estimated to be in the region of £60,000. “Fabricating the panels off-site in a quality, process-driven manufacturing environment has helped to reduce health and safety concerns. With no cutting or fabrication required on site, we were able to reduce site preliminaries and plant costs, with rapid construction of the primary structure, allowing us to commence on site activities much earlier than with a traditional construction. “In particular, the offsite manufacturing techniques meant that waste was handled in a controlled environment, and we had confidence that any off cuts would be either reused or disposed of responsibly. This is a significant benefit on site, and we estimate that waste was reduced by as much as 50 per cent, plus the associated time of processing and managing waste disposals. “Much of the build also took place during the winter months with exposure to the British weather. Concrete construction can be a lengthier process during the colder months, while we wait for the product to dry. The steel frame is less dependent on site and weather conditions during construction than traditional methods and has enabled a greater productivity rate on site.” The Intrastack solution is designed to provide the full primary structure in multi-occupancy buildings; it is delivered pre-panelised to site for installation to create the finished load-bearing structure. According to the Steel Construction Institute, a key benefit of this type of lightweight steel frame construction system is that foundation loads and sizes are reduced by over 70 per cent relative to concrete and blockwork construction.[1] Accuracy of the finished structure was to within just a couple of millimeters. Combined with the average lifespan of a steel framed building with warm wall construction, which can be as much as 250 years[2], the overall result is a high-quality, durable solution. Indigo Scott is committed to improving its sustainability credentials across each construction project. In doing so the business prioritises thermal performance and is dedicated to reducing on-site waste to reduce the overall carbon footprint. This meant the Intrastack steel frame system was a natural choice due to its high level of thermal insulation and airtightness. When it comes to light steel framing and modular construction, embodied carbon in the building fabric is reduced by 20 per cent and site waste is virtually eliminated; this is a huge feat compared to the average 10% wastage that occurs when using traditional materials and methods.[3] Intrastack has invested over a quarter of a million pounds on comprehensive system testing to ensure each suite of products meets all building performance requirements. By combining steel frame construction with a concrete floor, the buildings acoustic performance is enhanced, and the tested fire performance offers 120 minutes of protection. [1] Figure calculated based on standard 30 week programme plus 10 week exterior wall construction for a concrete frame versus 25 weeks for a complete steel frame structure [1] Figures provided by the Steel Construction Institute – Technical Information Sheet ED020 [2] When discussing steel frame durability, the Steel Construction Institute cites design life predictions of light steel framing in a ‘warm frame’ environment as being in excss of 250 years. Technical Information Sheet ED022 [3] Figures obtained from the Steel Construction Institute. Technical Information sheet ED020
Young people are already enjoying the state-of-the-art facilities that include an indoor climbing wall, 3G pitch and dance studio Caddick Construction has completed on the state-of-the-art Warrington Youth Zone which is offering a huge range of sports, arts and social facilities to the town’s young people. Construction began on the £7million centre in 2020, on behalf of the national charity OnSide. Located in the stadium quarter next to the University Technical College (UTC) off Dallam Lane, Warrington Youth Zone boasts an indoor climbing wall, 3G rooftop kick pitch, four court sports hall, dance and drama studio, training kitchen, arts and crafts space, fully equipped gym, music room with recording studio and enterprise suite. OnSide now has a network of 14 Youth Zones across the country including similar centres in Wigan, Chorley, Bolton, Manchester, Oldham, London and Birkenhead. For just 50p per visit, they offer young people a space to enjoy a wide variety of sports, arts, learn new skills, or just socialise and have support from trained and dedicated youth workers. Warrington Youth Zone, which has become home to the well-established Warrington Youth Club charity, is now open seven days a week with over 2,000 members registered. More than 20 activities are on offer for up to 250 young people, aged between seven and 19 or up to 25 for those with additional needs, every day. Adam Poyner, Head of Construction for OnSide, said: “The Youth Zone looks absolutely amazing both inside and out. I would like to thank Caddick Construction for taking our designs and vision to the next level and skilfully brought this building to life.” David McNicholl, CEO of Warrington Youth Zone, added: “It has been an exciting journey to get Warrington Youth Zone up and running, and to see the young people already in and using the facilities make it all worthwhile. We’ve been open for a few weeks now and to see it packed out every evening really is a dream come true – it’s the building and the place they deserve. I’d like to thank all our supporters, particularly Warrington Borough Council, who have made this facility possible which will undoubtedly help improve the opportunities and life experiences of young people from across the district.” Ian Threadgold, Managing Director of Caddick Construction NW, said: “It has been a privilege to work on this project with Onside Youth Zones. Not only is it an eye-catching landmark that has been designed to really make a statement, the facilities are just awesome and will inspire young people to try new activities that just weren’t possible before. He added: “And this Youth Zone couldn’t have come at a better time for Warrington and its youngsters when so many hard-working families are feeling a real cost of living squeeze.” The project team consisted of Seven Architecture, HL Engineers, Hurstwood Environmental Consulting and Walker Sime.
Workers at Laing O’Rourke are confident that Everton Stadium will have the ‘wow’ factor – because they have already built it once! Craig Wallace, a Digital Engineer for Laing O’Rourke, is one of a select few with the responsibility for ensuring the project’s approach towards ‘digital’ uses leading processes, technology and data. One of the ways this is evident is through a process known as Building Information Modelling (BIM), which has provided Laing with the opportunity to build the project twice – virtually, and now in reality. As such, the 52,888-seater stadium has already been completed in digital form, in mind-boggling and minute detail, from the millimetre-accurate assembly of steelwork, prefabricated concrete walls and giant roof trusses, through to pinpoint positioning of wiring, plumbing, light switches and plug sockets. “We like to think we have already built Everton Stadium,” explained Craig, who works within the offices at Bramley-Moore Dock. “It’s been built virtually on screen in a simulated environment, and now physically on site. “The real benefit is that this enables us to resolve issues upfront, in a simulated environment, before work begins on-site. “That promotes efficiency gains, reduction in risks, leads to programme and cost benefits and provides certainty throughout the life-cycle of the build. “It took some teamwork to pull together and it’s a real collaborative effort, in that our entire supply chain contribute to the model. “All of the different disciplines, such as electrical, mechanical, structural and architectural, develop their own 3D model, involving their scope of work, and then share them with us on a collaborative online platform. “That provides us with around 1,500 shared model files, which we then combine into a master model for the entire team to use. “From that, the entire project team can work to co-ordinate the build and ensure there are no clashes within the disciplines.” The 3D model, representing what will be constructed in terms of the design, incorporates the three dimensions of width, depth and height. Then, by introducing the vital dimension of time and linking model elements to the construction programme activities, the cutting-edge 4D model allows the Laing O’Rourke team to visualise the construction sequence and assess potential risks or clashes in the programme, along with opportunities that might not have been seen using more traditional methods. “What you might see in the industry is the model being linked to the programme and that shows the sequencing of the build,” explained Craig. “In addition to this, we focus on including elements such as coordinating mobile cranes, storage zones, engineering controls, walking routes and more. “That really helps to drive what we do on site and how we can coordinate different pieces of work safely. This is our highest value.” The rolling model can be accessed by the workforce on site, via screens or mobile phones, enabling them to undertake the precise workloads and feedback on progress to keep the information flow going. “Working with our supply chain, we can use the model and embedded data to visually track the progress of the build and then communicate this through dashboard reporting,” added Craig. “The model is integral to dictating, with precise detail, the just-in-time delivery slots for tonnes of steelwork and the thousands of concrete wall panels, pillars and beams. “The model is accurate as it can be, and by coordinating the disciplines we can then increase the accuracy as the design progresses. “Out of the models we can then extract the drawings and then they, along with the 3D models, can be used in parallel by the workforce.” CLICK TO SEE VIDEO – https://evertonfc.sharefile.com/d-s20d9a1b82c3d426c817084986d914c26
