ADDING to a bursting CV that demonstrates why it is the UK’s leading housing decarbonisation specialist, Sustainable Building Services (UK) Ltd (SBS) has taken home two accolades from The Retrofit Academy Awards. Dubbed by many as the ‘Oscars of the decarbonisation sector’, The Retrofit Academy Awards recognise the effort, talent,
O’Brien Contractors has scooped a deal with Chesterfield Canal Trust to deliver infrastructure works to the area. The works are part of a £6 million restoration project. Connecting the Trans Pennine Trail with the Arkwright Trail across the canal, the works will facilitate the delivery of a 38-metre-long pedestrian and
Work has begun on an exciting £1.2 million expansion of one of Birmingham’s best performing prep schools. Two new state-of-the-art classrooms will be created at Hallfield School, on Church Road, in Edgbaston, alongside a new common room and male and female toilets. Leading development and construction company The Wigley Group
In recent years, sustainability has become an increasingly important focus for any building development, whether a refurbishment or a new build. The introduction of BREEAM quality standards has only enhanced this even further. Having worked on a myriad of construction sites, Pexhurst’s Contracts/Commercial Manager Dan Beadle identifies the importance of
Exemplary mixed-use scheme will comprise student units, cultural spaces and community amenities Construction contract value of over £100m… Specialist Design & Build Contractor McAleer & Rushe has been appointed by developer Dominus Real Estate to create a permanent home for London’s Migration Museum, as part of a landmark mixed-use scheme
LEADING regional procurement specialist EN:Procure has revealed the winning 27 contractors for its latest £700m new build housing framework. The procurement arm of social housing consortium Efficiency North previously welcomed bidding across four lots of predominantly social housing new build schemes of various sizes generally in Yorkshire and the Humber,
The ceremony which marked the start of construction was attended by representatives from Housing 21, Kirklees Council, Homes England and Robertson Group. The development located off Kenmore Drive will comprise of 80 homes: 61 one-bedroom and 19 two-bedroom apartments, all of which will be available for social rent. The £20
In response to growing demand across the healthcare, pharma, education and commercial sectors, NI-based offsite manufacturer McAvoy continues to invest strongly in the growth of its SmartSpace temporary building fleet. It recently launched additional new innovative space solutions via its QSpace and ESpace single modular buildings. The business continues to
East of England construction firm R G Carter is celebrating after completing a state-of-the-art commercial building at Parkside on the University of Essex’s Colchester Campus – the largest new office complex of its kind in the eastern region. Located on the Knowledge Gateway Research and Technology Park, the 41,571 sq.
GMI Construction Group has been appointed principal contractor to deliver the North East’s first Dakota Hotel. The luxury 118 room boutique hotel will transform the vacant St Anne’s Wharf at 112 Quayside, which fronts onto the River Tyne, and is scheduled for completion in Spring 2025 The development will generate
ADDING to a bursting CV that demonstrates why it is the UK’s leading housing decarbonisation specialist, Sustainable Building Services (UK) Ltd (SBS) has taken home two accolades from The Retrofit Academy Awards. Dubbed by many as the ‘Oscars of the decarbonisation sector’, The Retrofit Academy Awards recognise the effort, talent, and commitment to excellence across the industry. SBS has for a second year in a row been named Retrofit Contractor of the Year, as well as securing the win for Best Retrofit Employer award for the first time. Both awards further solidifying its reputation as the leading expert in delivering social change through its actions. The Retrofit Contractor of the Year award endorses excellence, meeting PAS 2035 principles, consistent delivery of high-quality resident engagement, innovation, high-quality whole house retrofit projects, and providing career pathways within the retrofit sector. Derek Horrocks, owner and chair at SBS, said: “We’re blown away to win two categories at the decarbonisation sector’s most prestigious awards. To me, it confirms that our approach to retrofit decarbonisation is the recipe for success. Putting people first – both in regard to our own team and the thousands of residents and client homes we’ve worked on in the past year – is key to the delivery of a high-quality service, which is at the heart of our ethos. “Since last year’s award win, we haven’t rested on our laurels either. Instead, we’ve put almost all members of our team through The Retrofit Academy’s accredited training programmes to further educate and upskill them – seeing us upskill and train every single member of our team. “Our core goal is to provide some of the most vulnerable in society with a warm, comfortable and healthy home. Through our work, we have achieved this for thousands of families over the past year. Our retrofit decarbonisation measures improve the residents’ health, wellbeing, and finances in one coordinated approach with the changes we see in communities following installation being night and day. These awards are symbolic that we’re doing well, but it by no means we will slow our momentum.” The Best Retrofit Employer category exists to recognise companies that are leading the way in people investment, skills and professional development. The category focuses on upskilling opportunities and the quality of organisational culture, seeking to recognise not just what has been delivered, but the employee satisfaction in company culture and standards. Gary Lawson, managing director at SBS, said: “Entering these awards allowed us to really take stock of the huge progress made in skills and training for our team – and wider supply chain – in the past year alone. Along with this award, we achieved Investors in People Silver accreditation, along with upskilling our whole workforce and supporting more subcontractors and partners to achieve retrofit NVQs and qualifications. “Meanwhile, we have built up our apprenticeship levels to 12% of the business – well above the industry average and with aims to increase this further. We haven’t stopped with our own team and have also provided training opportunities to the wider supply chain through CITB funding and Think Construction. “It’s a testament to the profound commitment, passion, and high-quality delivery of our team that we have been named Retrofit Contractor of the Year two years in a row. SBS has grown rapidly, and with it the extent of the societal change we’re now able to create. It’s an honour to be at the forefront the mission to solve fuel poverty and the climate crisis, working closely with The Retrofit Academy to inspire the next generation to follow in our footsteps.” To discover more about Sustainable Building Services (UK) Ltd’s mission to change lives through housing decarbonisation, go to https://www.sustainablebuildinguk.com/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
O’Brien Contractors has scooped a deal with Chesterfield Canal Trust to deliver infrastructure works to the area. The works are part of a £6 million restoration project. Connecting the Trans Pennine Trail with the Arkwright Trail across the canal, the works will facilitate the delivery of a 38-metre-long pedestrian and cycle bridge. The project will form part of the first stage of the Staveley Canal restoration, funded by the government’s Levelling Up programme. Works are due to start on site in April, with groundworks due to commence in May; the project will run for 20 weeks, with an opening ceremony planned for September. Tony Mitchell, Director at O’Brien Contractors, said: “We are extremely pleased to have been appointed by The Chesterfield Canal Trust to provide the new bridge at Staveley. This prestigious project will be a huge benefit to pedestrians and cyclists all over the region and the restoration of this historic route will benefit the community for many years to come. “As O’Brien Contractors turns 65, we are more committed than ever to assisting our local communities in a long-term sustainable way. This project will not only create a safe and beautiful bridge for pedestrians and other trail users, but it will also benefit the local wildlife and biodiversity of the canal. We look forward to working with the Trust and their team throughout this exciting project.” Chesterfield Canal Trust Development Manager, George Rogers, said: “This is a big milestone for the Chesterfield Canal Trust, and we are delighted to appoint O’Brien Contractors to deliver this statement structure over the canal. Installing this bridge will open up the route for future restoration in multiple ways and I am looking forward to seeing it progress over the summer.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Work has begun on an exciting £1.2 million expansion of one of Birmingham’s best performing prep schools. Two new state-of-the-art classrooms will be created at Hallfield School, on Church Road, in Edgbaston, alongside a new common room and male and female toilets. Leading development and construction company The Wigley Group has been appointed to carry out the works, which will complete in the summer. The project is part of an ongoing programme of investment at the school and adds to £4.5 million worth of funding over the last five years to enhance the educational experience for pupils of all ages. Head Master Keith Morrow said: “This exciting new scheme will transform an underutilised building which was nearing the end of its natural life and will deliver state-of-the-art, first-class facilities for all pupils, ready for our new September intake. “We were impressed with The Wigley Group’s vision and expertise to help us realise this project and are delighted to be working with them and watching the scheme take shape over the coming months.” The works will see an existing building demolished to facilitate a striking, modern single-storey new building. The two new classrooms will be interlinked by bi-fold partitioned doors which will allow the space to be used flexibly to create one large multi-use event room. Key design features include a sawtooth roof with acoustic panelling and exposed beaming to complement the existing Georgian building. Andy Higham, Construction Manager at The Wigley Group, said: “This is a fantastic project which will make a real difference to the school’s current and future pupils. “We look forward to working with the school to deliver this prestigious scheme.” Hallfield School, which celebrated its 145th anniversary in January, is one of the largest prep schools in the country and caters for more than 580 students between the ages 0-13. The Wigley Group is an ISO 45001, 9001 and 14001 certificated company based in Southam, in Warwickshire, and is active in real estate investment, development and construction, as well as asset management of portfolios for both itself and commercial partners. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
In recent years, sustainability has become an increasingly important focus for any building development, whether a refurbishment or a new build. The introduction of BREEAM quality standards has only enhanced this even further. Having worked on a myriad of construction sites, Pexhurst’s Contracts/Commercial Manager Dan Beadle identifies the importance of early collaboration between architects, the client and our supply chain of sub-contractors. Additionally, he reveals the environmental, social, and economic impacts that retrofitting with BREEAM in mind can have. Although incredibly important during retrofitting projects, where new energy efficient systems are fitted in buildings previously built without them, BREEAM sustainability targets are difficult to achieve, but no doubt a worthwhile endeavour. BREEAM assessments use recognised measures of performance that are set against established benchmarks to evaluate a building’s specification, design, construction and use. These measures represent a comprehensive range of categories and criteria, including ecology and energy. Each of these categories focus on the most influential factors, including low impact design, ecological value, reduced carbon emissions, biodiversity protection and adaptation to climate change. Indeed, studies by Holmes and Hudson in 2002 revealed that the objective of achieving an ‘Excellent’ BREEAM rating can significantly influence the original design of a building and the changes made to the design, including ventilation design, water services, materials and the design of the building itself. With that in mind, working closely with designers, architects and sub-contractors at a very early stage in the retrofitting project is absolutely crucial. Doing so and integrating sustainability measures at this early stage can help to enable increases in asset value, building user experience, risk mitigation, and reduced life cycle costs. Setting objectives and thinking ahead makes a huge difference With BREEAM relatively new to the retrofitting sector, identifying and researching material that will be specifically helpful in meeting and exceeding sustainability targets is crucial. Furthermore, as Mark Farmer[1] once explained, “collaboration prevents itself scaling up, sharing risk more appropriately and creating better business plan certainty.” When it comes to building design and sustainability, two heads are definitely better than one. Indeed, more considerate planning and collaboration is likely to help future building projects deliver holistically sustainable BREEAM buildings. With this in mind, it’s important the industry shifts its mind-set towards incorporating the framework into new projects from the very beginning of the design process. Additionally, collaborative working at the start can also prevent projects incurring further costs, which can often happen when BREEAM is incorporated much later into the project. Similarly, by not commencing any BREEAM requirements at an early stage of the project, there is an increasing likelihood the project won’t finish on time. Increasing the longevity of the building As well as having an improved environmental impact, the successful implementation of BREEAM on a retrofitting project can also enhance the longevity of a building. Often, implementing BREEAM targets can enhance the project quality by reducing defects and enforcing the need for strict commissioning procedures. Compared to the same refurbishment without a similar scheme in place, this provides a better and more valuable property for the client. It also highlights the importance of making collaborative decisions during the design and construction phases and how doing so can have far-reaching impacts on the building’s overall lifespan. This can include anything from resultant emissions through to resource consumption. While studies have revealed that build costs are typically increased by 1% if BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ grades are to be achieved, long-term retrofitting of a building can actually decrease the building’s operating cost. So, while in the short-term it is a more expensive construction process, the longer-term financial benefits typically outweigh this. Additionally, BREEAM does not currently provide a holistic approach to sustainability, nor a full life-cycle assessment, so consideration must be paid to this when working on the design of any building that has sustainability in mind. Operating with the environment in mind The Government’s Carbon Net Zero Guidance Note reveals that around 40% of UK carbon emissions are linked to the built environment. Furthermore, the construction industry generates 32% of all waste sent to landfill. As a result, the environmental assessment of buildings has increasingly become a major focus of the sustainable built environment. BREEAM evaluates environmental performance across a myriad of different categories, including health and well-being, land use and ecology, energy, management, and pollution. Additionally, BREEAM standards help to provide a meaningful and evolving pathway towards ecological protection, recovery and mitigation. There is also a strong incentivisation to reduce carbon emission, with flexible and achievable benchmarks relating to operational and embodied performance. This is especially important given the fact that embodied carbon, emissions created during the manufacture of building materials and construction practices, accounts for approximately 22% of all emissions in a new development. With these targets in mind, retrofitting projects can typically incorporate measures and focus on building fabric improvements and upgrading services with modern technologies and materials. For example, insulation can be enhanced, carbon-burning appliances can be replaced with air-source heat pumps and energy efficient features such as rainwater harvesting systems, photovoltaic panels, zonal heating and lighting controls and LED lighting can be integrated. Better occupant health and wellbeing Buildings with BREEAM certification are designed and constructed to high environmental performance standards, meaning they’re likely to have better air quality, use safer materials for human health, and have other features that can boost occupants’ wellbeing. This is supported by a BREEAM survey, which revealed that 59% of respondents reported an ‘improved occupant satisfaction’ as a benefit of having completed a BREEAM assessment during their project. Additionally, BREEAM certified buildings are designed to use less energy for lighting, heating, and cooling, resulting in lower energy bills for the occupants and significant savings over the long term. In summary Overall, with sustainability demands constantly changing and evolving, the need to outline the plans and methods for meeting the desired BREEAM score into retrofitting projects, ideally before works start, is becoming increasingly more important, as is close collaboration with the project team. As a sustainability-focused company, Pexhurst
Exemplary mixed-use scheme will comprise student units, cultural spaces and community amenities Construction contract value of over £100m… Specialist Design & Build Contractor McAleer & Rushe has been appointed by developer Dominus Real Estate to create a permanent home for London’s Migration Museum, as part of a landmark mixed-use scheme in the heart of the City of London worth a construction contract value of over £100m. The 65 Crutched Friars development, which is due to complete in Summer 2027, will include new purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA), to provide over 700 student homes in a 21-storey building. The student units will be complemented by green spaces open to the public, such as a new pocket park and public roof terrace, for the benefit of the local community. Located on the eastern edge of the City of London, the scheme has been designed to be sustainable in both construction and operation, targeting a BREEAM Outstanding rating as well as utilising offsite manufacturing, including prefabricated bathroom pods, a precast and unitised façade and both blue and green biodiverse roofs. While demolition works have commenced, the major transformation of the former office block is due to begin in Spring 2024 with the accommodation ready for the 2027/28 student intake. Enhancing student living in London, Crutched Friars will help to meet the growing need for student accommodation within the City with an abundance of social and study spaces, including private dining rooms, gym and wellness zones, a TV lounge and entertainment spaces. The development also secures the future of London’s Migration Museum with a purpose-built, three-floor 30,000 sq ft space, which will be free-to-enter thanks to a 60-year lease granted by the Ahluwalia family, with no rent or service charge payable, alongside a new pocket park. Commenting on the announcement, Mark Diamond, Senior Director, McAleer & Rushe said, “We’re thrilled to be delivering this prominent mixed-use scheme in the City of London as Construction Partner with Dominus. Our decade-long collaboration, involving several successful projects throughout the UK, is rooted in shared values and a commitment to delivering positive social value impact and community outreach. Crutched Friars is a prime example of our early engagement approach in action and with our experienced teams behind us, we are looking forward to working on this landmark visionary scheme with all stakeholders involved.” Designed by award-winning Danish architectural studio 3XN, the student residences will feature a mix of Premium Studios, Studios, Twodios, Threedios and affordable Cluster bedrooms and contains generous communal spaces, private study areas, gym, laundry facilities and external roof top terraces. Lee Saywack, Executive Director at Dominus, commented, “Partnering with McAleer & Rushe is a great next step in bringing 65 Crutched Friars to life and delivering much needed new student accommodation to the City of London. “The scheme’s central location, proximity to universities, cutting-edge amenity spaces, customer-centric operating method, and the provision of a new and permanent home for the Migration Museum, illustrates our commitment to meaningful regeneration that benefits both people and place.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
LEADING regional procurement specialist EN:Procure has revealed the winning 27 contractors for its latest £700m new build housing framework. The procurement arm of social housing consortium Efficiency North previously welcomed bidding across four lots of predominantly social housing new build schemes of various sizes generally in Yorkshire and the Humber, the East Midlands and the North West but could be used in other regions of England. The selected contractors will carry out work covering all aspects of new build housing, including design, site preparation and remediation, civil engineering and infrastructure works, and new build construction and refurbishment. The lots, to run from 4 March 2024 to 3 March 2028, include the new build construction of residential and commercial buildings as well as mixed-use developments They include schemes up to 10 units, between eight and 45 units, one with between 30 and 100 units and a fourth scheme of 70 units and over. Around 78% of the contractors are small and medium enterprises (SMEs), reflecting EN:Procure’s commitment to providing fair access to organisations of any size. The new framework was procured under EN:Procure’s latest Gen-4 generation of tenders, incorporating the FAC-1 Framework Agreement and dynamic models for ESG delivery, reflecting many of the themes in the government’s Constructing the Gold Standard report. It will provide a wide range of social, economic and environmental benefits for communities served by Efficiency North’s membership of social housing providers. Emma Mottram, director of operations at EN:Procure, said: “It has been an exciting start to the year as we announce the successful bids for our latest framework process – congratulations to all those appointed. “The framework was structured to encourage SME engagement as we always aim to give as many such businesses as possible the chance to take up these wonderful opportunities. “However, the framework also delivers a range of national and local contractors with a call-off mechanism that ensures the most suitable contractors are selected for the specifics of the job. Call off methods also provide opportunities for early contractor involvement and utilising preconstruction service agreements. “The successful applicants will be expected to complete the works to a high standard and share our commitment to regeneration. We will support them in delivering dynamic ESG targets and ensure their backing for Efficiency North’s drive to improve training and skills development, including the use of apprenticeships.” Emma added: “Our new generation Gen4 frameworks will provide a higher level of transparency and forge the way for the social housing sector to fully embrace sustainability and achieve decarbonisation targets that are so crucial to the industry and the UK.” EN:Procure has supported social housing landlord members to deliver nearly £1bn of works through its frameworks and DPSs since 2014. Today’s announcement follows the appointment of 100 contractors for EN:Procure’s £3.2bn installation and repairs framework in February. More than £272m of repairs, maintenance and installation work has been delivered by the current version of the framework since its launch in 2019. A further £2m was gifted to members to fund social value initiatives for local communities, with £1.5m being given through EN:Able Communities since 2015. To find out more information about EN:Procure and the framework including contractors appointed by lot visit: https://www.efficiencynorth.org/procure/frameworks/new-build/new-build Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The ceremony which marked the start of construction was attended by representatives from Housing 21, Kirklees Council, Homes England and Robertson Group. The development located off Kenmore Drive will comprise of 80 homes: 61 one-bedroom and 19 two-bedroom apartments, all of which will be available for social rent. The £20 million Extra Care scheme is being delivered by Housing 21, a national leading provider of Retirement Living and Extra Care, in partnership with Kirklees Council. Homes England are providing a grant of over £7 million, Robertson Group are the main contractors working with Brewster Bye Architects. Bridget Faughnan-Bing, Housing 21’s Development and Delivery Director said: “We are delighted to announce the start of construction on our first Extra Care scheme in Kirklees. The Extra Care scheme at Kenmore Drive will be a great addition to the housing choices for older people of modest means in the area.” “This development will provide homes that will enable local older people to live independently for longer and still remain within the community that they know and love.” Councillor Moses Crook, Cabinet Member for Housing and Highways said: “I am really pleased to see that works are about to start on Kenmore Drive. This is our fifth Extra Care scheme in Kirklees, including a scheme nearing completion at Ashbrow and building upon our existing schemes located in Huddersfield, Dewsbury and Heckmondwike. This development will be another vital step in our ongoing efforts to provide high-quality, accessible housing in Kirklees.’’ Once open, the scheme will provide residents with a selection of modern communal spaces including a residents’ lounge, on-site café/bistro and hair salon, which will be available for use by the neighbouring community. Jonathan Sizer, Regional Managing Director, Robertson Construction Yorkshire & East Midlands, commented: “With a focus on supporting the health and wellbeing of residents, the development will feature attractive facilities that allow independence while benefiting and connecting the local community. As delivery partner, we will ensure that we create quality homes and facilities that meet the needs and priorities of residents, staff and the wider community. This development will be an asset to Cleckheaton and marks our first project with Housing 21.” The development is scheduled to complete in spring 2026. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
In response to growing demand across the healthcare, pharma, education and commercial sectors, NI-based offsite manufacturer McAvoy continues to invest strongly in the growth of its SmartSpace temporary building fleet. It recently launched additional new innovative space solutions via its QSpace and ESpace single modular buildings. The business continues to experience high demand for rental projects in both the healthcare and education sectors, including a second, significant 10-year rental contract for University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. Investment in manufacturing capability has continued with the acquisition of a custom-built mobile gantry, increasing efficiency, and improving workplace safety. This commitment to investment in the business also includes ESG, digital technologies, recruitment, and people development. CEO, Ron Clarke said: “The group continues to see strong interest in its proposition, and with the continued support of our shareholders the company is in an excellent position to deliver its strategic growth plan. We are confident that our high performing temporary and permanent buildings will continue to deliver modern, flexible, and sustainable space solutions to our customers. Looking ahead we are on track to deliver a significant increase in performance in 2024.” During the past year, the business has delivered a number of key projects across the country, including a new Collaborative Research & Innovation Centre in Wiltshire, the pioneering “Low Carbon Pathfinder” 900 pupil school at Redhill in Surrey for the Department for Education and two 24-bed ward buildings at Antrim Area Hospital. The company has also been chosen by the Department for Education to design and build a £37.5m, 1,200-place Academy in Essex. Furthermore, several of the company’s projects and innovations have been recognised by independent peer group awards, including Healthcare Project of the Year at the recent Offsite Awards. McAvoy is a leading provider of high-quality temporary and permanent modular buildings across the UK and Ireland. Its adaptable and sustainable space solutions are sought after in both public and private sectors including healthcare, pharma, education and commercial. Innovation continues to be a central part of the company’s activities. For the period ended 31 May 2023 McAvoy reports a strong performance within its rental division with revenues of £12m and EBITDA growing to £3.8m primarily due to rental fleet expansion in the health and education sectors in the UK. The business also reports a steady performance in its permanent offsite division. In its latest set of consolidated accounts McAvoy’s revenues were c.£60m and also generating c.£5m EBITDA. For the period ending FY24 the business is on track to achieve revenues in excess of £70m, primarily driven by investment in the fleet and further success in the temporary segment. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
East of England construction firm R G Carter is celebrating after completing a state-of-the-art commercial building at Parkside on the University of Essex’s Colchester Campus – the largest new office complex of its kind in the eastern region. Located on the Knowledge Gateway Research and Technology Park, the 41,571 sq. ft. office complex, which is already 25% let, offers a host of new possibilities for businesses seeking top quality workspace and advanced facilities. Ewan Dodds of Whybrow, joint agent for Parkside with Carter Jonas, commented that the development was the largest speculative office building in the eastern region and features many unique qualities. “Parkside represents the pinnacle of modern architecture and business innovation, offering a range of flexible spaces to suit diverse business needs, from single suites from 2,000sq. ft to single floors of just under 11,0000sq. ft.” Ben Le Coq of Carter Jonas added: “The strategic location near major transport links like London Stansted Airport and major regional cities positions Parkside as an ideal hub for businesses targeting regional expansion from a high quality and energy efficient building.” James Wilson, Director and General Manager at R G Carter, the main contractor for the new building, said: “We are delighted to have worked in partnership with the University of Essex to deliver this exciting flexible office development on its ever-growing campus. We look forward to seeing the positive impact the completed project will now have in supporting future business and wider economic growth in the county.” University Registrar Bryn Morris said: “This is a stunning landmark building which will provide a fantastic base for companies keen to move onto our Knowledge Gateway research and technology park and join our thriving business community. “The completion of the building also marks an exciting new era for the Knowledge Gateway. From this spring the ground floor will be home to our Public Health and Wellbeing Hub, which will deliver new services for the public in partnership with the NHS, drive forward our research agenda and offer fantastic new training opportunities.” The new office complex is not only equipped with premium amenities, including 24-hour CCTV, advanced air conditioning systems, passenger lifts, and showers, but it also proudly boasts a ‘very good’ BREEAM rating and an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of A. BREEAM, which stands for Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method, is a leading global sustainability assessment method for master planning projects, infrastructure, and buildings. While an EPC is a document that rates the energy efficiency of a building on a scale of A to G, with A being the highest possible score. These ratings underscores Parkside’s commitment to environmental performance, making it an ideal choice for businesses invested in sustainability. In addition, Parkside offers an optional concierge service, on-site parking, and access to an outstanding-rated children’s nursery. It is also on the doorstep of the 18th century Wivenhoe House Hotel, which offers an ideal environment for business dining or accommodation. For further information about Parkside and the Knowledge Gateway, visit www.knowledge-gateway.co.uk For more on R G Carter, visit www.rgcarter-construction.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
GMI Construction Group has been appointed principal contractor to deliver the North East’s first Dakota Hotel. The luxury 118 room boutique hotel will transform the vacant St Anne’s Wharf at 112 Quayside, which fronts onto the River Tyne, and is scheduled for completion in Spring 2025 The development will generate 150 new jobs and provide an additional 65,000 visitor nights per year, creating an estimated £1.5m boost to the local economy. The contract win sees GMI Construction Group continue its strong relationship with the lifestyle luxury brand – having previously completed three Dakota Hotels in Manchester, Leeds, and Glasgow. The UK hotel chain, which also has hotels in Edinburgh and Motherwell, regularly welcomes celebrity guests. The contemporary hotel will retain much of the building’s current features and details, complementing its architectural heritage, while a new-look entrance lobby, reception and signature ground floor Bar & Grill. An existing courtyard at the front of the Quayside property will be reconfigured to provide a vehicle drop off area, while the first floor will feature bedroom terraces. In addition, PV panels and Air Source Heat Pumps will be installed to provide renewable energy. The building previously held a number of tenants, including law firm Womble Bond Dickinson. It had been based on the Quayside since 1998 until relocating its 400 staff into the Spark building at Newcastle Helix. Gary Oates, GMI’s Regional Director, said: “We are delighted that GMI has once again been chosen as principal contractor to deliver what will be our fourth Dakota development, and the first in the North East of England. “This project will regenerate and upgrade what has been a vacant landmark building, transforming it into a deluxe hospitality venue that will further bolster Newcastle’s national reputation as a destination city.” Marc Banks, Evans Property Group said, “We are incredibly proud to be delivering another synonymous for style and impeccable service, into the heart of Newcastle’s famous and bustling Quayside.” “Our commitment is to create not just a building, but a luxury hotel that encapsulates the city’s dynamic spirit, setting new standards in style and contemporary hospitality excellence”. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
