A new pedestrian and cycling bridge over the River Severn, designed by Moxon Architects and Jacobs, has opened to the public. The new cable-stayed structure, located north of Worcester’s centre, is the city’s third bridge solely for active travel. Reflecting the council’s ambition to improve connectivity between the city’s core,
Pharmacy Plus Health (PPH) has unveiled the first of a proposed 40 new pharmacy stores in West Yorkshire as part of its aim to re-invent the community pharmacy world. Devised in conjunction with the Interior Design team at AJ100 architectural practice, Stephen George + Partners (SGP), the ‘pharmacy of the
Architecture firm Holmes Miller has submitted a planning application to Midlothian Council for the redevelopment of Penicuik High School. Holmes Miller’s plans include the re-use and retrofit of the original 1930s school building, the infilling of existing external courtyard spaces and a new three storey extension to the north of
In Residential Property Awards run by Yorkshire Children’s Charity The sustainable, regeneration and innovative residential work in Yorkshire of a Leeds-based architects practice has been recognised in this year’s Residential Property Awards run by the Yorkshire Children’s Charity. Edward Architects has been named as the Best Residential Consultancy Practice in
Proposals to transform the underused Eastpoint Business Park in Oxford into a new flagship life science campus have been approved for planning by Oxford City Council. Designed by Scott Brownrigg for Railpen, the scheme will bring an additional 200,000 sq ft much needed life science space to the Oxford-Cambridge Arc
…New VDI environment avoids downtime worth £1.79 million, with staff costs totalling £35,000 saved using the ControlUp platform… ControlUp, at the forefront of Digital Employee Experience (DEX) management, today announced that SimpsonHaugh Architects, a UK-based, award-winning and respected practice, is utilising the ControlUp DEX platform to monitor and optimise its
As work begins on site near Woodstock, Blenheim Estate Homes’ innovative community Hill Rise has already picked up a prestigious design award for its architects, Pollard Thomas Edwards (PTE). The community, by Blenheim Estate Homes, will be built by their build partner, Pye Homes and has been named as one
Following the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT) has released a briefing, offering vital guidance for professionals in architectural technology. The report examines the recommendations from the inquiry’s Phase 2 findings and aims to establish best practices in the evolving regulatory landscape. A Focus on Building
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has published the findings of its latest Future Trends Survey, a monthly report of business and employment trends affecting the architects’ profession. The September 2024 findings show that over the next three months, architects continue to expect higher workloads and staffing levels, with
Construction has commenced on an energy-efficient Community Diagnostics Centre in Hereford, which will provide a calming and reassuring environment for diagnostic imaging and testing. Designed by Architype and Medical Architecture for Wye Valley NHS Trust, and being constructed by Speller Metcalfe, the £18 million centre is part of a national
A new pedestrian and cycling bridge over the River Severn, designed by Moxon Architects and Jacobs, has opened to the public. The new cable-stayed structure, located north of Worcester’s centre, is the city’s third bridge solely for active travel. Reflecting the council’s ambition to improve connectivity between the city’s core, residential areas, river and green corridor, the bridge continues a tradition of landmark civic infrastructure in the river valley. Taking its name from the Kepax Ferry, a 19th-century ferry crossing that operated close to the site of the new bridge, the project provides a vital connection between the city and residential quarters to the north-west. It will accommodate commuters, visitors, and leisure users alike. Working closely with specialist sub-consultant Moxon Architects, Jacobs provided multi-disciplinary design services and consultancy to Worcestershire County Council throughout feasibility, planning application, detailed design and technical support during construction. The majority of the Jacobs project team has been locally based during the project, combining their deep understanding of the area and an appreciation of what is important to the local community. Building on their longstanding working relationship with Worcestershire County Council and their term contractor Alun Griffiths, the Jacobs-led design team collaborated throughout the duration of the project including with specialist members of the supply chain, maintaining the high design quality of the holistic solution. To the east, the bridge springs from a high and dry point on the edge of the city’s historic Gheluvelt Park. Initially running parallel to the river, it curves ninety degrees to span over the water and a wooded riverbank beyond. It comes to land within an open field that was previously a landfill site. The distinct ‘hockey stick’ bridge alignment was carefully defined to pass over existing riverside paths and parkland unobstructed. It does this while providing continued access across the city for residents and businesses during periods when the River Severn floods. Following extensive public consultation with stakeholders and local residents, the design balances civic ambition with sensitivity to the surrounding landscape. With a bold, yet elegant form, the new steel bridge provides a safe 4m-wide, 145m-long crossing that comfortably accommodates both cyclists and pedestrians. The deck features a slip-resistant walking surface, and a finely crafted parapet made of a series of inward leaning stainless-steel rods that alternate between supporting a handrail and 1.4m-tall cycle railing. This simple repetition of elements takes on sculptural qualities when arrayed along the edge beams of the curved crossing. An A-shaped, 29m-tall pylon simultaneously tangential to the approach and main spans is nestled into a wooded, northwestern corner of the park. The deck features a slender profile supported every 12m, either by cables or by a series of piers below the western approach. This minimises disruption to the ecologically rich willow carr woodland to the west and the parkland to the east, parts of which will become a natural meadow. The dark blue-green colour strikes a balance with the surrounding vegetation, while highlighting the bridge’s dynamic form. Likewise, the ribbed soffit accentuates the sweeping geometry when viewed from the green spaces beneath. Ezra Groskin, Director of Moxon Architects, said: “Kepax Bridge is an important, climate-change resilient addition to Worcester’s civic infrastructure, forming a much-needed crossing over the River Severn. It connects residents in the city’s north-western suburbs to jobs in the centre and leisure amenities in the adjacent Gheluvelt Park and beyond. While we hope the new bridge will become a landmark that local people are proud of, combining functionality with delight has been our primary concern throughout the project.” Kate Kenny, Senior Vice President at Jacobs, said: “Leveraging our extensive expertise in innovative bridge solutions, we are proud to have contributed to the successful delivery of the Kepax Bridge. This vital infrastructure project now provides a crucial link for pedestrians and cyclists, aiming to reduce traffic and support health and wellbeing in the community. The new bridge will significantly enhance connectivity, enrich community life, and benefit the local economy and environment.” Councillor Marc Bayliss, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport at Worcestershire County Council, said: “Today is a milestone for Worcester, and I’m thrilled to see this incredible bridge open. The response at the opening event was fantastic, and I’m confident this bridge will make a real difference for those who walk, wheel, and cycle around the city. Improving active travel routes is a key priority for us, and this bridge is a game-changer for both Worcester and the wider county. A huge thank you to everyone involved in this project.” Rebecca Redfern MBE, Paralympic gold-medalist, officially opened the bridge to the public on 5 December 2024. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Pharmacy Plus Health (PPH) has unveiled the first of a proposed 40 new pharmacy stores in West Yorkshire as part of its aim to re-invent the community pharmacy world. Devised in conjunction with the Interior Design team at AJ100 architectural practice, Stephen George + Partners (SGP), the ‘pharmacy of the future’ pilot store in Alwoodley, Leeds, showcases a patient-focused layout, a modern, high-end aesthetic and dedicated consultation rooms for in-pharmacy non-invasive treatments that will both alleviate pressure from local doctors’ surgeries and provide a more efficient service to the patient. The rebrand of the PPH stores, comes following the innovative partnership with HubRx, who are the UK’s first large-scale automated dispensing facility designed specifically to benefit independent pharmacy. The integration of the HubRX automated dispensing system will streamline prescriptions from facility to store, and not only reduce the amount of time pharmacists spend managing prescriptions, but also reduce the need for on-site storage capacity, freeing up floorspace and placing an increased emphasis on seamless face-to-face interactions between patient and pharmacist. SGP Interiors was appointed to develop the brief for the new pilot store, with a view to rolling out the design across a number of pharmacy and retail units that PPH had recently acquired throughout West Yorkshire. Working closely with the client and shopfitting contractor PEC, SGP’s design underwent constant evolution, moving towards a modular approach, fit for all shapes and sizes with minimal changes, keeping time and therefore costs down, while also establishing a cohesive brand identity. Amy Fulford, SGP’s Principal Interior Designer, explains: “There was a clear requirement from the client to keep both costs and the install period to an absolute minimum as any down time or closure of stores could prove extremely costly. By cleverly designing the display units and reception desk to standardised key components, we created a kit of parts that could be mass produced to combat waste and cost. This off-site production method enabled the install team to achieve the tight time scales with minimal shutdown.” Having engaged with key stakeholders through various initial design reviews, it was evident the design should focus on the patient and streamline their experience. A minimalistic appearance evolved as a result, with clean lines, hidden joints, concealed fixing details and futuristic white canvas. Whilst still incorporating display islands, the intention was to keep the floor space as clean and distinct as possible, creating clear sight lines to the reception counter and reinforcing the physical relationship between patient and pharmacist. Daniel Lee, Chief Executive Officer at HubRX, in partnership with PPH, said: “As a brand we are working with innovative technologies to revolutionise the prescription process. With our automated HubRX system in successful operation, we approached SGP, with a clear vision to design the ‘pharmacy of the future’ and provide our customers with a 5-star experience. Amy & the SGP Interiors team rose to every challenge we set out and meticulously worked through the design development, working with us to extract what we really needed. This has resulted in a Design concept that truly embraces our brand identity and has transformed our customer experience”. To achieve the desired aesthetic, the concept of capsules progressed to creating an illusion of floating displays, raised off the floor on a post. The number of products on the shelves were stripped back to echo the kind of high-end experience you might encounter at a perfume counter. Although products displayed were reduced, stock replenishment was still a high priority for the daily operations of the stores. To keep the minimalist look at the forefront, hidden storage was integrated into the base of the display units, including the perimeter wall units and island capsules. Due to the success of the ‘pharmacy of the future’ pilot store, rollout has now commenced on the interior scheme and kit of parts across further stores, with a second completed and another on site. Alan Soper, SGP Studio Director, concludes: “There is a growing recognition that community pharmacies can play an important role in the delivery of primary care, as well as reinvigorating our high streets and town centres. However, many pharmacies have not been set up or designed to realise this potential. We are therefore delighted to be working with PPH on the delivery of a transformational model of modern, patient-focused pharmacies. Drawing on our strong track record of successful interior design delivery and cross-sector experience in retail, leisure and healthcare sectors, the design of these stores will transform the patient experience, creating an important healthcare hub within the local community and, in the long-term, go some way to relieving pressure on other parts of the health service.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Architecture firm Holmes Miller has submitted a planning application to Midlothian Council for the redevelopment of Penicuik High School. Holmes Miller’s plans include the re-use and retrofit of the original 1930s school building, the infilling of existing external courtyard spaces and a new three storey extension to the north of the site. The ‘heart’ of the school will be centred around the original assembly hall and courtyard spaces, creating a hub for indoor sport, dining and social interaction, and a unified core between old and new. The proposed plans for the school include core accommodation to facilitate teaching, sports, dining, catering, pupil breakout and community use. The building will accommodate more than 900 pupils, including up to 24 with Additional Support Needs (ASN), which is more than double the number of ASN places currently available. Access will be improved across the site, with the introduction of a new accessible entrance to the north, fully accessible floor plates with improved lift and WC provision, clear circulation routes, and an inclusive wayfinding and interior design strategy. As well as improvements to the building, the application sets out how active travel will be encouraged using bike and pedestrian paths, along with adequate bike parking. There will be significant enhancement to the site’s biodiversity and greenery, as well as the introduction of new outdoor learning settings and a hard landscaped entrance plaza. The retrofit works to the original school building are designed to improve energy efficiency, reduce whole life carbon and provide a more comfortable learning setting. Retrofit measures include new triple glazed windows, the insulating of existing walls, floors and roof spaces, and implementing low energy services, including high-efficiency MVHR (Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery) units in classrooms. If approved, the project will be part funded by the Scottish Futures Trust LEIP (Learning Estates Investment Programme) and will meet its metrics required for operational energy, digital, and space standards. Joanne Hemmings, associate at Holmes Miller, said: “Our plans illustrate how a historic building at the heart of a community can be sensitively modernised, retrofitted and made more accessible for its pupils, staff, and the wider community to enjoy. “Our proposals aim to optimise the site with new and improved playground, green space and outdoor learning environments. The internal upgrades will provide a comfortable and inspiring setting for pupils to learn and grow in. We look forward to Midlothian Council’s consideration of our application.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
In Residential Property Awards run by Yorkshire Children’s Charity The sustainable, regeneration and innovative residential work in Yorkshire of a Leeds-based architects practice has been recognised in this year’s Residential Property Awards run by the Yorkshire Children’s Charity. Edward Architects has been named as the Best Residential Consultancy Practice in the award scheme which celebrates excellence across the region’s residential property sector. The architects firm, which rebranded and relocated to Marshall’s Mill last year to accommodate continued business growth, successfully demonstrated delivery excellence and first rate services for its clients in the residential category. Highlight projects in the region included Massey Fold in Spofforth for Yorkshire Housing where the firm was lead consultant in securing planning consent for a 72-home scheme in the village, which is set in a Conservation Area. An innovative, carbon efficient 216-home development on Edge Lane in Openshaw for Your Housing also demonstrated the practice’s commitment to sustainable design and community-focused housing solutions. This scheme also saw the firm collaborate with the University of Liverpool to develop four identical houses with differing specifications, monitored over a year to assess cost, comfort, usability and energy efficiency for future applications. Another key sustainable scheme included a masterplan for the regeneration of the former 73-acre Maltby colliery site in Rotherham for Hargreaves Land, which subsequently led to the firm’s role evolving to deliver the employment units and the outline application for a 200-unit residential housing scheme. The firm’s work in helping to drive forward the ambitious community scheme to transform Holbeck’s iconic viaduct in Leeds into a vibrant green space for the public to enjoy was also lauded, as well as it’s specialism in improving the lives of clients, families and carers through its accessible design work. Yorkshire Children’s Charity was established in 2022 and has already made a huge impact in the region, helping more than 20,650 disadvantaged children in Yorkshire. The Residential Property Awards put the spotlight on the region’s property talent whilst simultaneously raising vital funds to support the valuable work of the charity. Graham Edward, MD, Edward Architects said; “We are very proud to win this award and it is testament to the hard work of our entire team. As a business we have seen a 10% growth in turnover despite challenging market conditions and rising costs, so picking up this accolade is a great end to the year as both the housing sector and the modular market are key drivers in this growth and remain active.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Proposals to transform the underused Eastpoint Business Park in Oxford into a new flagship life science campus have been approved for planning by Oxford City Council. Designed by Scott Brownrigg for Railpen, the scheme will bring an additional 200,000 sq ft much needed life science space to the Oxford-Cambridge Arc and provide a focal point for interaction with STEM and educational outreach within the local community. The site for the new life science campus is located adjacent to The Oxford Academy, five miles southeast of Oxford city centre in the district of Littlemore. Three four-storey laboratory buildings and a single storey amenity building are carefully positioned to buffer noise and pollution from the A road to the North, define a new public space, and enhance permeability across the site. Each fully serviced building is designed to suit a range of tenants and provide flexibility in occupancy, with 55% CL2 laboratory and 45% office space to support cutting-edge research and collaboration. A contextual material palette with distinctive horizontal banding and vertical flues references Oxford’s history while ensuring comfortable and naturally lit spaces within and views out. An emphasis on facilitating safe pedestrianised movement, activating ground floor frontages, and provision of high- quality public amenities supports the creation of an inclusive environment that contributes positively to the social, ecological, and educational fabric of Littlemore. A ‘Learning Lab’ will provide local students with access to state-of-the- art facilities and interactions with professionals in the field, while a publicly accessible café, social hub and green space will create a communal focus at the heart of the site. The scheme targets BREEAM ‘Outstanding’, WELL, Wired and Smart Platinum and Cycle Score Platinum with features such as the ‘Travel & Energy hub’ to promote sustainable travel and pocket parks with integrated planting to enhance user wellbeing. A fabric first approach combined with the latest building technology, renewable energy, and biodiverse balconies and roofscapes will reduce embodied and operational carbon and enhance biodiversity on site. Ed Hayden, Director and Head of Life Sciences at Scott Brownrigg said: “Securing planning approval for the Eastpoint Life Science Campus is a significant milestone in our vision to create world-class research environments. This project not only addresses the growing demand for life science space in the Oxford-Cambridge Arc, but also contributes to the community with its focus on education, sustainability, and wellbeing. We’re excited to see how this campus will foster innovation and bring global talent to Oxford.” The new Eastpoint life science campus development is a cutting-edge facility designed to attract to industry leading talent from around the world. With a flexible, community focused design and commitment to sustainability, the new campus is poised to become a leader in life sciences in the Oxford market. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
…New VDI environment avoids downtime worth £1.79 million, with staff costs totalling £35,000 saved using the ControlUp platform… ControlUp, at the forefront of Digital Employee Experience (DEX) management, today announced that SimpsonHaugh Architects, a UK-based, award-winning and respected practice, is utilising the ControlUp DEX platform to monitor and optimise its new VDI environment in real-time. SimpsonHaugh is making a £1.21 million investment over several years to digitally transform by introducing VDI and AI technology to underpin the future development and operations of the business. Industry leading solutions have been installed including Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktop, Citrix NetScaler, VMware vSphere Hypervisor, Dell Servers with vSAN storage, NVIDIA vGPU and ControlUp’s DEX platform which is providing VDI performance analytics and remediation. Adopting VDI was driven by a strategic decision to centralise IT on-premise at SimpsonHaugh’s headquarters in Manchester, improve remote-working, support a work-life balance for staff and boost project collaboration by not being constrained by physical workstations. The IT team also wanted to avoid the complexity, time and expense of managing systems over three locations given the practice also has offices in London and Birmingham. Furthermore, many workstations – high end PCs each costing up to £6,500 – were becoming end of life, unreliable, consuming a lot of power and needed to be upgraded. The new VDI platform supports agile working yet is optimised to run GPU-intensive architectural applications like Revit, Rhino, Enscape and SketchUp – crucial to delivering customer projects on time, in what is an ever-demanding industry. “Architecture is a heavy user of graphics-based IT. Building Information Modelling is now adopted pervasively, producing large volumes of data and consuming substantial compute. Clients recognise the technology improvements so the expectations about the visuals and data provided are growing,” says Dave Moyes, partner, information and digital systems. “Ten years ago, we might have created 500 drawings for a project. Today, it’s at least double. Projects are increasingly complex and time scales are tight. The pressure to be quick and agile while creating quality design proposals which optimise a client’s brief is therefore considerable. It is no exaggeration to say that ICT to support this is indispensable.” SimpsonHaugh’s ICT strategy involves keeping technology simple for staff to use. The business is project delivery and ‘time charge’ based. ICT system availability is paramount given downtime has material impact on this. UK managed service provider and digital workspace consultancy, ebb3, was selected to support with the roll out and have been instrumental in the design, implementation and management of the VDI environment. ebb3 also provides SimpsonHaugh technical 2nd and 3rd line support. “The transition to VDI is being phased. SimpsonHaugh is running a hybrid environment – both virtual desktops and physical desktops – so as to capitalise on its existing investment in expensive workstations,” explains Jav Fiaz, ebb3’s Technical Architect & Senior Platform Engineer. “A key project goal was to keep the compute and data as close as possible to minimise latency which we’ve delivered.” Moyes adds, “If virtual desktops aren’t resourced properly – and applications freeze or suffer from latency – staff will blame the “new system”. Guaranteeing the end-user experience is vital. Monitoring in real-time using ControlUp’s DEX platform identifies which applications are hogging resources so that remedies can be considered like adding RAM, GPU or ‘throttling down’ software which is compute intensive.” SimpsonHaugh is experiencing significant benefits through the combination of VDI and ControlUp’s DEX platform: Project next steps SimpsonHaugh is currently working to expand its VDI environment to cover the whole business. This will take 3-5 years to complete. The strategy is to replace workstations as they approach end of life rather than waste perfectly good IT equipment. In addition, SimpsonHaugh is upgrading its corporate network to a 25 Gigabit Ethernet backbone to further support the end-user experience. The practice is also purchasing higher resolution 2k and 4k screens for staff and introducing Nutanix data storage to manage the virtual server environment. SimpsonHaugh is also working on other ICT innovation projects such as introducing privately hosted AI using private data across the practice (where powerful networking and compute is paramount) – a key priority given the impact AI is making on the architecture profession. Private AI is the only option because of client project confidentiality issues – where strict NDAs are signed – with SimpsonHaugh using three types of AI engine: “The project to introduce VDI and our DEX platform has boosted operational performance at SimpsonHaugh and put in place infrastructure to support the practice’s needs in the future,” says Robert Ellis, UK Sales Director at ControlUp. “End-users cannot tell whether they are using a physical workstation or desktop served by VDI – the implementation has been that well managed – and the speed of roll out was fast and disruption minimal because of extensive pre-implementation design and planning work carried out by ebb3.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
As work begins on site near Woodstock, Blenheim Estate Homes’ innovative community Hill Rise has already picked up a prestigious design award for its architects, Pollard Thomas Edwards (PTE). The community, by Blenheim Estate Homes, will be built by their build partner, Pye Homes and has been named as one of the big winners in the 2024 Housing Design Awards. Hill Rise is an innovative low-carbon development, where Blenheim Estate Homes has full planning permission to build 48 homes, 57 sqm of community space and a parking barn. The Oxfordshire housebuilder is also preparing a Reserved Matters Application for the outline permission of up to 132 homes. Key features at Hill Rise include: Roger File, Managing Director of Real Estate at Blenheim Estate Homes said: “Hill Rise sets new standards for low-carbon housing, and we are rightly proud of the scheme to have already won an award before even a single home has been built.” PTE partner and project masterplanner Alexis Butterfield said: “We had a refreshingly unusual brief; to imagine a different relationship with private cars. The resulting dramatic change from car-shaped roads to landscaped, sociable streets hints at what we could deliver nationwide if this cultural shift could be embraced more widely.” He added: “The benefits of reduced road infrastructure are, put simply, more green space. Having easy access to quality green spaces is a key part of a healthier lifestyle. More green spaces contribute to improved mental and physical health, air quality and temperature control, as well as providing vital habitat for nature.” In addition to Blenheim Estate Homes’ Hill Rise, build partner Pye Homes is also continuing to develop its greener community, Church Farm, in Radley, with homes for sale now, as well as a final spacious and family friendly home at Temple Gate in Marcham. Both locations offer a lifestyle centred around commitment to quality, heritage, community, and sustainable living that defines Pye Homes. To enquire about Hill Rise, contact the Blenheim Estate Homes team at Hillrise@pyehomes.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Following the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT) has released a briefing, offering vital guidance for professionals in architectural technology. The report examines the recommendations from the inquiry’s Phase 2 findings and aims to establish best practices in the evolving regulatory landscape. A Focus on Building Safety After Grenfell The Grenfell Tower fire tragically exposed widespread failings in building safety, including governance, regulatory compliance, procurement, and project delivery. Phase 2 of the inquiry specifically investigated these systemic shortcomings, resulting in 58 recommendations designed to improve safety standards throughout the construction and maintenance chain. CIAT’s briefing is intended to help architectural technologists prepare for the impending regulatory changes and ensure that their work adheres to the highest safety standards. It acknowledges that the profession must evolve alongside these new expectations and that the lessons learned from Grenfell should drive a commitment to improving building safety. Preparing for Regulatory Changes The briefing highlights the Labour Government’s pledge to review the Phase 2 recommendations and implement a “generational shift” in building safety, including updates to Parliament on progress. Anticipated changes include enhanced oversight of materials, stricter building requirements, and greater responsibilities for design professionals. CIAT advises architectural technologists to stay ahead of these changes by exceeding current regulations and avoiding practices that prioritise cost over quality. This proactive approach is seen as essential to rebuilding trust in the safety of UK buildings and ensuring long-term compliance. Maintaining High Professional Standards A key takeaway from the CIAT briefing is that architects and technologists must take full responsibility for the safety and quality of their work. This includes ensuring that all project records are properly maintained, particularly the “Golden Thread” of information required by the Building Safety Act 2022, which tracks the design and realisation of high-risk buildings (HRBs). CIAT also emphasises the importance of upholding professional standards as outlined in its Code of Conduct and Professional Standards Framework. For those aspiring to become Principal Designers under the Building Regulations, CIAT stresses the need for appropriate skills, knowledge, and experience to fulfil the role effectively. A Commitment to Safer Buildings CIAT’s guidance serves as a crucial resource for architectural technologists navigating the post-Grenfell regulatory environment. By committing to the highest safety standards, professionals can play a key role in ensuring that the built environment becomes safer and more resilient in the years to come. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has published the findings of its latest Future Trends Survey, a monthly report of business and employment trends affecting the architects’ profession. The September 2024 findings show that over the next three months, architects continue to expect higher workloads and staffing levels, with an improved outlook compared to August. Architects expect more work as confidence returns to London and private housing sector In September, the RIBA Future Trends Workload Index rose by 1 point to +3, indicating that architects expect workloads to increase overall. Over the next three months, 26% of practices expect workloads to increase, 22% expect them to decrease, and 52% expect them to stay the same. While the outlook for small practices (1-10 staff) deteriorated by 3 points to a Workload Index figure of -5, outlook for medium (11-50 staff) and large (51+ staff) practices rose by 27 points to a very optimistic figure of +60. Positively, all monitored work sectors have an improved outlook, with the crucial Private Housing sector (+5) rising by 5 points to its most optimistic level since summer 2022. The outlook for the Commercial sector (+1) improved by 7 points to its highest level since spring 2022, while the Public sector (-1) and Community sector (-2) each improved by 3 points. The regional picture is mixed. Confidence among practices in London (+8) recovered by 12 points, returning to positive territory. The outlook remains positive in the North of England (+13), which rose by 1 point, and the South of England (+3), which fell by 5 points. The outlook for Wales and the West (0) rallied by 9 points, but the Midlands & East Anglia (-10) deteriorated by 16 points, falling into negative territory. Practices expect to recruit more permanent and temporary staff In September, the RIBA Future Trends Permanent Staffing Index rose by 1 point to +6, indicating that more practices intend to increase staff numbers than reduce them. The Index’s upward trajectory suggests growing confidence in long-term prospects. RIBA Head of Economic Research and Analysis Adrian Malleson said: “This month’s encouraging findings show that business conditions are improving. Practices anticipate increased workloads and staffing levels. After a long spell of pessimism, there is an increasingly positive outlook for the private housing sector, which provides the largest share of commissions for smaller practices. The outlook for the commercial sector, which includes offices, entertainment and retail, is also optimistic. Commentary received from practices this month includes some notably positive assessments of the market, highlighting growth returning, workloads increasing, a rise in enquiries, an unprecedented number of new tenders, and practices focusing on recruitment and raising fee levels. Nevertheless, the picture is not universally positive. Other practices report planning delays, a lack of upcoming projects, cash-flow pressures, and client hesitancy in committing to new projects. While the market shows encouraging signs of recovery, significant barriers to sustained growth remain. We will continue to report our findings to the Government and work with other built environment bodies to monitor these trends.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Construction has commenced on an energy-efficient Community Diagnostics Centre in Hereford, which will provide a calming and reassuring environment for diagnostic imaging and testing. Designed by Architype and Medical Architecture for Wye Valley NHS Trust, and being constructed by Speller Metcalfe, the £18 million centre is part of a national initiative to boost NHS diagnostic capacity by providing Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs) in local communities across the country. By conveniently locating the new facility close to people’s homes, the service will be more accessible and reduce the need for hospital visits. It will also relieve capacity pressures and waiting times at hospital-based diagnostic facilities. Sustainable design using Passivhaus principles Alongside their expertise in healthcare design, the design team members were selected for their knowledge and experience in designing to Passivhaus standards. Passivhaus design standards combine principles such as high thermal efficiency, airtightness and mechanical heat recovery to reduce carbon emissions and greatly improve a building’s energy performance. This has the benefit of significantly reducing the operational costs of the building, providing long term savings to the NHS estate. These principles also provide a robust framework to easily achieve the Trust’s other sustainability targets, including exceeding the NHS Net Zero Carbon Building Standard and achieving a BREEAM Excellent rating. Effective spaces for staff and patients In consultation with a wide range of NHS stakeholders, the building’s internal spaces have been designed to meet the specific technical, and safety requirements of a cutting-edge diagnostic facility. Spaces for MRI, CT and X-ray imaging, which require protective shielding and heavy, vibration sensitive items of equipment, are located on the ground floor. This ensures an efficient structural engineering solution can be adopted, and it enables easy access for patients from the public waiting and reception area. Spaces for patients to consult with clinicians are provided on the first floor alongside the staff welfare facilities where generous views and natural daylight create a positive environment for wellbeing. Rooms are arranged using a set of standard templates, both for improved efficiency and so that the building can be easily (and cost-effectively) adapted to accommodate future changes to service requirements. Creating a patient journey that promotes wellbeing A double height atrium directs visitors towards the entrance with its bright, welcoming reception and waiting space. The atrium is defined by natural finishes and a large-scale artwork creating an internal landmark which aids orientation on the ground and first floors. This supports the use of simple and intuitive signage and wayfinding, removing unnecessary visual clutter, and enabling the interior to adopt a more familiar and less institutional character. The building’s interior has been designed with a calming palette of materials and finishes to support positive patient experiences, subtly comforting those who may otherwise be anxious about a diagnostic procedure. Attention has also been paid to details that create a high-quality workplace, to aid the recruitment and retention of NHS staff. A distinctive identity with lasting purpose Externally, a black standing-seam metal cladding has been selected as the primary material for the elevations. This provides a contemporary interpretation of the local industrial context, whilst creating a distinct identity which aids navigation to the site. As visitors approach the diagnostic centre, softer timber details become apparent within the outside canopy, and the window/door reveals. Vertical timber cladding elements beneath the canopy frame the main entrance providing a clear destination. All materials have been selected for their longevity and their ability to age well as part of a holistic sustainability strategy. Mark Barry, Director at Architype, said: “It is very exciting to be constructing another public building and further improving services in our local city, following a 3-year period innovation in the healthcare sector working alongside Medical Architecture” Mark Nugent, Associate Director at Medical Architecture, said: “This building reflects the collaborative approach of the client, contractor and the design team members, who have all strived towards the shared ambition of a more sustainable development approach, which has the potential to reduce revenue costs, as well as carbon, across the whole NHS estate.” Alan Dawson, Strategy and Planning Officer at Wye Valley NHS Trust, said: “Our patients deserve the highest quality care, and this centre will be instrumental in speeding up the diagnosis of illnesses like cancer and heart disease to ensure they are treated more quickly. There’s no doubt that the new centre will lead to improved patient experience and outcomes and will contribute to shorter waits for people from Herefordshire and beyond.” Adrian Speller, Director at Speller Metcalfe, said: “The new facility will usher in a new level of diagnostic service for Herefordshire and will mean a reduced risk of cancellations and it will deliver a more personalised experience for patients by providing a single point of access to a range of services in the community” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
