A new student accommodation development is due to arrive in Leeds as construction work commences on the site after funding is provided. The Refinery scheme progressed after local developer Gregory Property Group announced forward funding from Curlew. “We are pleased to have secured funding for an immediate start on site.
Södra Wood was delighted this month to sponsor the undergraduate architecture students’ timber workshop at The Cass, London Metropolitan University. The construction workshop is an annual event for the School of Architecture, taking place in February each year. Second year architecture students travel offsite to Mudchute Park and Farm, where they
A new research undertaken by the team at www.MyJobQuote.co.uk as part of an ongoing study into apprenticeships ahead of National Apprenticeship Week has revealed that 64% of Britons felt pressured to go to university by teachers whilst they were at school, and a further 41% felt pressured by their parents. More than
Tecom Group has been chosen by the University of Birmingham to build the second phase of its campus in Dubai International Academic City (DIAC). As part of the agreement that the two signed, Tecom will build a new purpose-built 50,000m² campus. Designed by Hopkins Architects, the facilities will be located
A new building designed by London-based practice, Walters & Cohen Architects, has been opened at Newnham College, Cambridge. In 2014, Walters & Cohen won an architectural competition to design new accommodation for Newnham College, one of the 31 colleges of the University of Cambridge. The original brief was to design
A project milestone has been achieved by the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) on its new Marshall Building. After the demolition of the existing structure at 44 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, Mace commenced construction work on the redevelopment project. In order to improve the impact, effectiveness and appeal
More than fifty students from Carshalton College and Merton College have taken up industry placements with national contractor United Living, to help build 68 new homes for the ex-service community. Since November last year, the construction site at Rhodes Moorhouse Court in Morden has had support from Level 2 and
The contract to complete a £5 million school project in Derby has been handed over to Morgan Sindall, who will deliver a new primary school and nursery on Radbourne Lane. Hackwood Primary will house six classrooms and a 26-place nursery, adding more than 200 new school places to the area.
Cambridge biomedical campus has just welcomed a new state of the art hospital, as final touches approached completion. The Royal Papworth Hospital, which will house five operating theatres, five catheter laboratories (for non-surgical procedures) and two hybrid theatres, was delivered by Skanska. “We’re delighted to hand over the building to
Kent-headquartered national building contractor, United Living, has secured more than £25 million worth of housing maintenance and refurbishment contracts across the South East region. The business, which works in partnership with housing providers throughout England and Wales to build new homes and refurbish existing properties, has made a strong start
A new student accommodation development is due to arrive in Leeds as construction work commences on the site after funding is provided. The Refinery scheme progressed after local developer Gregory Property Group announced forward funding from Curlew. “We are pleased to have secured funding for an immediate start on site. The scheme’s design is impressive, delivering high quality accommodation for Leeds students in a prime location that connects student life to the vibrant city centre in a matter of minutes,” said Barry Gregory, Chairman of Gregory Property Group. The development is worth more than £30 million and it will include 407 beds comprising studios and bedroom clusters with terrace and garden features, along with share social hubs, a cinema, gym, games room, concierge and state-of-the-art 24-hour security. “Leeds remains a top ten university destination in the UK and with a growing student population of around 60,000 students the city needs more homes. We expect to complete the development in time for occupation from the September 2020 University term and Fresh Student Living will be managing that occupation on behalf of Curlew,” added Barry. The nine, 10 and 11-storey scheme on Bingley Street was designed by AHR Architects. Planning permission was granted for the project in November 2018, with GMI Construction Group securing a £21.5 million contract to build the development.
Södra Wood was delighted this month to sponsor the undergraduate architecture students’ timber workshop at The Cass, London Metropolitan University. The construction workshop is an annual event for the School of Architecture, taking place in February each year. Second year architecture students travel offsite to Mudchute Park and Farm, where they get to learn more about working with natural construction materials. Last year the workshop was awarded a prestigious ‘Excellence in Structural Engineering Education’ Award. This year’s timber materials were donated by Södra Wood. Jeremy English, Sales Director at Södra Wood, commented: “We’re really pleased to be able to help with this workshop. Timber is something we are passionate about – it is fast becoming the construction material of choice, enabling quick, versatile, efficient and sustainable construction. It’s brilliant to see the future generation of architects working with wood and getting first-hand experience of the many benefits that it has to offer the construction environment.” George Fereday, Senior Lecturer at The Cass, London Metropolitan University, said: “Thank you to Södra Wood for sponsoring our workshop this year, it is something the students really enjoy every year. It is a great way for the students to learn how to work with the materials and gain valuable skills needed for their future careers, and it also allows them to fully immerse themselves in working with natural materials. We are pleased to know that our materials this year have come from a really sustainable timber source.” For further information about Södra Wood please visit www.sodra.uk
A new research undertaken by the team at www.MyJobQuote.co.uk as part of an ongoing study into apprenticeships ahead of National Apprenticeship Week has revealed that 64% of Britons felt pressured to go to university by teachers whilst they were at school, and a further 41% felt pressured by their parents. More than half of Britons felt that they weren’t given the full range of options in the lead up to leaving school, yet over three quarters of those that had undertaken apprenticeships felt that they made the right choice. 2,846 people over the age of 18 were polled, 1,403 of which stated that they had gone on to complete an apprenticeship. Of the 1,443 respondents who didn’t do an apprenticeship, 30% revealed that they had been to, or were currently at, university. Of those that didn’t attend university, the most popular reasons for not doing so were ‘I was put off by the cost’ (32%), ‘I didn’t need to for the job I wanted’ (23%) and ‘I wanted to start earning money straight after school’ (21%). Initially it was found that as many as two thirds of Britons (64%) felt pressured by teachers to go to university whilst they were at school, and a further 41% said that they felt the same pressure from their parents. When questioned on their options whilst at school, it was found that the majority of Britons felt that they weren’t told what their full range of options were for when they left school (53%). In order to find out more about the experiences of the apprentices, those that had done an apprenticeship were asked a series of questions. It was found that 22% of these had dropped out of sixth form or college to undertake an apprenticeship. When asked about their choice to undertake an apprenticeship, over three quarters of respondents (77%) said that they felt that they made the right decision. Interestingly, 17% of those that had finished an apprenticeship said that they were no longer in same profession they had undertaken their apprenticeship in and a further 11% of these had changed to a different trade and been accepted on to another course. “Apprenticeships are a great way to get into a trade and learn the craft, and are a really good option for school leavers. There still seems to be a lack of information and teaching on why apprenticeships are the right option for many and a genuine alternative for going to university. Apprenticeships have received a great deal more attention recently, but more still needs to be done to teach school children about their potential options,” commented on the findings of the study Lisa Evans, spokesperson for www.MyJobQuote.co.uk.
Tecom Group has been chosen by the University of Birmingham to build the second phase of its campus in Dubai International Academic City (DIAC). As part of the agreement that the two signed, Tecom will build a new purpose-built 50,000m² campus. Designed by Hopkins Architects, the facilities will be located opposite the city’s first custom-designed student housing community and provide an academic home for up to 2,900 students. “This innovative and iconic facility has been designed to echo our beautiful and historic Edgbaston campus, whilst providing a flexible, modern setting for our students in Dubai to obtain maximum benefit from our teaching and research expertise,” said University of Birmingham principal and vice-chancellor Professor David Eastwood. Created to encourage collaboration across all academic disciplines, the campus to be built by Tecom will feature flexible learning spaces and formal teaching spaces. It will also feature a student ‘hub’, sheltered courtyards and social spaces, a 300-seat lecture theatre, a similarly sized auditorium, three laboratories to accommodate 200 students, and seminar and tutorial rooms. “The bespoke campus, which is set to be complete in 2021, is a testament to the innovative ecosystem that is needed to meet the demands of the rapidly changing international student landscape. As our vibrant community continues to expand, we are committed to supporting our academic partners and collaborating with top academic institutions in order to fulfil global demand for quality international higher education,” added DIAC and Dubai Knowledge Park managing director Mohammad Abdullah.
A new building designed by London-based practice, Walters & Cohen Architects, has been opened at Newnham College, Cambridge. In 2014, Walters & Cohen won an architectural competition to design new accommodation for Newnham College, one of the 31 colleges of the University of Cambridge. The original brief was to design a new 75-bedroom student residence at the southern end of the campus. However, during the feasibility study an alternative option was developed that integrated new accommodation in among the existing College buildings, leaving the beautiful gardens unspoilt. The Dorothy Garrod building comprises a new entrance, a welcoming Porters’ Lodge, conference facilities, a rooftop gym, staff offices, meeting and supervision rooms, 86 generous en-suite student bedrooms, kitchen/social areas with plenty of space to cook and eat together, and a popular new café that invites students to linger, work and socialise. 19 bedrooms and two kitchens in the neighbouring Fawcett building were also refurbished, and the rooftop terrace allows Newnhamites to appreciate their beautiful College from an entirely new perspective. Working with Newnham’s project team, special interest groups, students, staff and Fellows ensured that the building meets the College’s needs and is entirely unique to them. The new frontage creates a stronger presence on Sidgwick Avenue without imposing on the historic buildings and gardens. Landscape works are integral to the design, with the building wrapping around a new courtyard garden, and carefully considered interstitial spaces improve visual and physical links between buildings. Integrating the student residence, offices, porters’ lodge and café in one building has created a stronger sense of community and forms the heart of the College. Cindy Walters, Director at Walters & Cohen Architects, said: ‘It has been a huge honour and privilege for us to work with Newnham College to deliver their bold strategic vision. Since winning the design competition four years ago, we have worked with students, administrators, College interest groups and Fellows to ensure that the new building meets the needs of the College, fits into its very unique context and delivers twenty-first-century facilities. The new Porters’ Lodge and entrance was the greatest challenge. It offers a warm welcome, connects the street to a new garden, connects the College to a new café, conference facility and offices, and contains art and artefacts that are specific to Newnham. In the new entrance we have created a space that could not be anywhere else in Oxbridge or the world.’ Professor Dame Carol Black, Principal of Newnham College, said: “This is a building worthy of celebration, one which gives the students of Newnham College a sense of pride and aspiration. It embraces our glorious gardens, with the new en-suite bedrooms looking out over trees on every side. Our architects Walters & Cohen have designed a building at once modern and forward looking, and in sympathy with Newnham’s original Champneys buildings and gardens. The new conference centre is an exciting venture for Newnham, and our students are delighted by the stylish public café with its space for group working and relaxation.”
A project milestone has been achieved by the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) on its new Marshall Building. After the demolition of the existing structure at 44 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, Mace commenced construction work on the redevelopment project. In order to improve the impact, effectiveness and appeal of private contributions to the public good, the new building will contain The Marshall Institute for Philanthropy and Social Entrepreneurship, founded by Sir Thomas Hughes-Hallett and Sir Paul Marshall. The new building will also house the academic departments of Accounting, Finance and Management, teaching facilities, as well as sports and arts rehearsal facilities including a Sports England standard multi-purpose sports hall for use by staff and students. “This is a real milestone for the project, and we look forward to working with Mace over the next two years to turn our plans for the Marshall Building into reality. The demolition of the existing buildings has gone very well, and our success to date is a reflection of all of the hard work put into the project so far by the entire team,” said Kenneth Kinsella, Director of Capital Development for LSE. This is the second collaboration between Mace and LSE, which have previously worked on the Centre Buildings Redevelopment, due to be completed this year. “Over the last four years we have built a fantastic working relationship with LSE, first with the redevelopment of the Centre Buildings and now with the Marshall Building. They are a fantastic client, always pushing us to be more ambitious; and we are extremely pleased that they have chosen Mace to deliver the second phase of this very important project. The Marshall Building will be an iconic addition to the LSE’s campus, and we have been working closely with the architects, Grafton, to bring this ground-breaking design to life,” added Terry Spraggett, Managing Director of Public Sector Construction for Mace. The Marshall Building project is expected to be completed in 2021.
More than fifty students from Carshalton College and Merton College have taken up industry placements with national contractor United Living, to help build 68 new homes for the ex-service community. Since November last year, the construction site at Rhodes Moorhouse Court in Morden has had support from Level 2 and Level 3 students who are learning construction skills at the College’s Merton Campus. They have taken up placements across a range of disciplines including plumbing, carpentry, electrical, drylining, bricklaying and plastering. The placements are being delivered and managed by United Living in partnership with Haig Housing Trust. Level 1 students based at South Thames College have also participated in site visits to the housing development and will attend an on-site presentation about opportunities in the construction industry. Farhan Mohamed, senior site manager at United Living, said: “It’s an absolute pleasure to provide these young people with the support and encouragement to learn new skills and pursue a career in construction. Our team of professionals are enjoying sharing their own knowledge and experience, which will hopefully play a part in encouraging this next generation into the sector and ensure the construction industry continues to flourish and grow.” Brigadier James Richardson, chief executive of Haig Housing Trust, said: “We’re delighted that this major development project on our Morden estate not only delivers 68 much needed new homes for Veterans and their families but has also benefited students from our neighbouring College. Aside from the skills they gain it also reflects the importance of the Armed Forces Covenant in bringing Veterans and local communities closer together.” Bryan Smyth, who is studying for a Level 3 diploma in electrical installation, said: “I’ve had a fantastic time here, working with the team at United Living to gain some experience and understand what it’s actually like to work on a construction site. I’ve gained a lot of new skills and I want to thank them for this opportunity.” Nathan Williams, who is studying bricklaying, said “My experiences working on this site were amazing. Everyone was friendly and welcoming and I’ve genuinely learnt loads of new skills. I hope to come back to help with the completion of the project.”
The contract to complete a £5 million school project in Derby has been handed over to Morgan Sindall, who will deliver a new primary school and nursery on Radbourne Lane. Hackwood Primary will house six classrooms and a 26-place nursery, adding more than 200 new school places to the area. The school will also be a Sunesis Mosaic model. The school project is being delivered through the Scape Venture framework, with funding from Redrow Homes East Midlands and Miller Homes as part of their plan to build more than 700 new homes on the neighbouring Hackwood Farm estate. “Innovative framework procurement options offer long-term social value for councils and the communities they serve. We are pleased to be delivering the new, first class education facilities at Hackwood Primary School as part of Scape’s Venture framework,” said Rob Cant, framework director at Morgan Sindall Construction & Infrastructure in the Midlands. The project management and quantity surveying services of the school project are being provided by independent property, construction and infrastructure consultancy, Pick Everard, which is currently being fabricated off-site in Hull. “Hackwood Primary School is a perfect example of how the private and public sector can work together through the Scape Venture framework to deliver a new community facility in the most efficient way. It’s an innovative and exciting collaboration with Morgan Sindall Construction & Infrastructure, Lungfish and Sunesis working together utilising our Mosaic offsite product to ensure the school is delivered quickly with minimal impact on the environment,” added Mike Salter, Group Development Director at Scape Venture. The project is expected to be complete in time for the new academic year in September 2019.
Cambridge biomedical campus has just welcomed a new state of the art hospital, as final touches approached completion. The Royal Papworth Hospital, which will house five operating theatres, five catheter laboratories (for non-surgical procedures) and two hybrid theatres, was delivered by Skanska. “We’re delighted to hand over the building to our customer. We look forward to watching its transformation with the latest medical equipment into a world-class facility. The thousands of hours of work by our people and the supply chain will leave a positive lasting legacy for Cambridge, the UK and beyond,” commented Charlie Norris, Project Director for Skanska. Patients will benefit from approximately 310 beds, including a 46-bed critical care unit, with most patients having their own single, en-suite rooms. Other key features include a specialist air filtering system in the hospital’s cystic fibrosis department to minimise the spread of airborne infections, and a link corridor to the adjacent Addenbrooke’s Hospital to support the transfer of patients needing treatment in the two hospitals. Royal Papworth staff will move from their existing hospital in Papworth Everard to the new facility, which will continue to enable staff deliver excellent care to patients suffering from heart and lung disease. “It is incredibly exciting to be able to walk through the hospital without hard hats and high-vis jackets and really imagine this impressive building as a fully-functioning heart and lung hospital. After many years of planning, we are now just months away from moving in and starting to realise the huge benefits that the new building and its location on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus will bring for our patients and staff,” said Stephen Posey, Chief Executive at Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. All of Royal Papworth’s clinical services will be moved to the new facility during a three-week move period from 23 April 2019.
Kent-headquartered national building contractor, United Living, has secured more than £25 million worth of housing maintenance and refurbishment contracts across the South East region. The business, which works in partnership with housing providers throughout England and Wales to build new homes and refurbish existing properties, has made a strong start to the year, with a host of client wins for its 152-strong southern refurbishment team. They include: An appointment to a £6m contract with the University of Essex to refurbish a high-rise student accommodation block with external groundworks, in Colchester A £2m remodelling and refurbishment contract for Network Housing at Colebrook Court, a vacant building in Cuffley, Herts, which will create 11 new, modern standard homes in the roofspace An award to undertake kitchen and bathroom replacements to various homes managed by Metropolitan, with an initial value of around £1m Works to support Anchor Housing with various improvements to sheltered housing schemes across London and the home counties Installation of new class A2 aluminium cladding and insulation across an occupied block in Croydon on behalf of Firstport LLP The first stage award for design development and planning for replacement cladding across two properties managed by Lewisham Homes Fire protection improvements and installation of new sprinkler systems to three buildings managed and owned by Canterbury City Council, in Whitstable and Herne Bay Further works to upgrade kitchens and bathrooms across homes managed by Stevenage Council Daren Moseley, managing director for refurbishment (south) at United Living, said: “Housing providers and local authorities continue to face the challenges of a broken housing market with very stretched resources. We have the expertise to help them ensure their existing stock has longevity and surpasses regulatory standards. But more importantly, we’re trusted as a partner because of the added value we strive to bring to our projects; whether that’s through our training and skills programmes, or how we support the communities in which we work.”