Three Chamberlain Square: Raising the Bar for Sustainable City Workspaces
Three Chamberlain Square (3CS) has emerged as one of Birmingham’s most striking new landmarks and a national benchmark for sustainable urban construction. Standing between the city’s Grade I-listed Town Hall and the busy tram line, the ten-storey building combines bold design with engineering ingenuity to create 189,000 square feet of Grade A offices, plus retail and leisure space, all within a remarkably tight city-centre footprint. From the outset, sustainability guided every decision. The project targeted and achieved BREEAM Outstanding and NABERS 5-star ratings at design stage, placing it among the most environmentally advanced commercial buildings in the UK. Reducing embodied carbon was a constant priority. The structural team used post-tensioned concrete slabs, cutting steel content by about half, and took advantage of exceptionally firm ground conditions to avoid piling altogether. Designers even revisited structural support levels to reduce concrete use further while maintaining full integrity. A close partnership with the supply chain ensured these ambitions were met. Early engagement allowed key contractors to innovate, such as the dry-lining specialist who introduced off-site prefabrication to trim site waste by up to 25 per cent. Biogenic internal finishes added renewable materials to the mix, reinforcing the project’s low-impact credentials and demonstrating a practical approach to circular design. The façade is both a visual statement and a lesson in sustainable craftsmanship. More than 8,000 unglazed terracotta tiles were painstakingly installed over the course of a year, each piece fully demountable so it can be refurbished or recycled in the future. Forgoing a second kiln pass reduced embodied carbon, while the unglazed surface gives the building a warm, tactile character. On the seventh floor the façade curves inward, shifting from vertical to sloped and demanding exceptional precision from the engineering team to align corner units and maintain schedule. Logistics on the constrained site called for inventive solutions. Surrounded by existing buildings and a live tram line, the project relied on one of the UK’s largest hoists, the Alimak Mammoth TM 55/50. Measuring five by three metres and capable of lifting four tonnes—or 50 people—at a time, it moved ducting, plasterboard and workers efficiently, preventing delays that often plague high-rise city builds. A spider crane managed lower-level façade installation while the hoist kept upper floors supplied, demonstrating how careful planning can overcome even the tightest urban constraints. Safety performance was equally impressive. Over 700,000 work hours were completed without a single RIDDOR-reportable incident, an achievement so unusual that the client initially questioned the data. Early enabling works, spanning 20 weeks, helped de-risk the site and embed a “Be Safe, Home Safe” culture. Modern tools such as DataTouch interactive planning software identified and controlled hazards in real time, informing daily briefings and reducing the chance of accidents. Recognition soon followed. Three Chamberlain Square earned a perfect 100 per cent from the Considerate Constructors Scheme, scoring the maximum 15 points in each category of community respect, environmental care and workforce value—an accolade rarely awarded. This outcome reflected a collaborative spirit that ran through every tier of the project team, from developer and asset manager MEPC to consultants, subcontractors and suppliers. The result is a building that marries aesthetic boldness with rigorous environmental responsibility. With its distinctive terracotta skin and advanced construction methods, Three Chamberlain Square sets a new standard for what a city-centre office can be: a workplace that reduces its impact throughout its life cycle, engages the community and inspires everyone who passes by. As Birmingham continues to re-shape its skyline, 3CS stands as proof that ambitious design and genuine sustainability can coexist—and that future urban developments need not compromise on either. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Manchester’s Landmark Wellbeing Resort Moves a Step Closer
The long-anticipated Therme Manchester project has taken a major leap forward with the appointment of Sir Robert McAlpine as construction manager, signalling that work on the £450 million urban wellbeing resort is set to begin in earnest. Therme Manchester is billed as the United Kingdom’s first true urban wellbeing destination and one of the largest thermal pool complexes in Europe. The resort will combine elements of a luxury spa, waterpark and botanical retreat, offering more than 25 water slides, the UK’s biggest sauna area, multiple steam rooms and a wave pool designed for families. Visitors will also encounter landscaped gardens and immersive art installations, creating an experience that blends relaxation, entertainment and culture under one roof. The scheme is the flagship development of Therme Horizon, a €1 billion joint venture between Austrian spa specialist Therme Group and private equity investor CVC. This partnership reflects both the ambition and scale of the project, which aims to transform a former brownfield site at TraffordCity in Greater Manchester into a year-round attraction drawing millions of visitors. Peel Waters, the site’s owner, has worked closely with Therme Group since the project’s inception and has already overseen demolition of the former EventCity venue to prepare the land for construction. For Sir Robert McAlpine, the appointment follows a period of collaboration under a pre-construction services agreement. Now formally named construction manager, the company will oversee delivery of the complex build. McAlpine’s chief executive Neil Martin described the commission as a privilege, noting that the project represents “a major investment in wellbeing, sustainability and community infrastructure”. The firm’s reputation for handling large-scale and technically challenging developments was a decisive factor in the appointment. Professor David Russell, chief executive of Therme UK, highlighted McAlpine’s “unrivalled expertise” and commitment to sustainability, saying that these qualities made the company “the ideal team to bring Therme Manchester to life”. He added that the resort is intended to have a “lasting positive impact on Greater Manchester and beyond”, not only as a leisure destination but also as a driver of employment and economic growth. Local stakeholders share that optimism. Trafford Council leader Tom Ross welcomed the scheme as a “fantastic” addition to the borough, emphasising the hundreds of construction and permanent jobs it will create. He pointed to the project’s alignment with the council’s priorities of supporting a thriving economy, improving public health and regenerating a vacant site in a sustainable way. Peel Waters managing director James Whittaker echoed those sentiments, calling the resort a “complete game-changer for health, leisure and the visitor economy in the north”. Accessibility is central to the design. The resort will sit at the heart of TraffordCity and connect to the Bee Network of public transport, including Metrolink services, as well as new canal-side walking and cycling routes. A multi-storey car park will accommodate visitors who choose to drive, ensuring that the attraction can welcome guests from across the region and beyond. Beyond the impressive statistics and grand design, the project speaks to a growing trend in urban planning: integrating wellness and leisure into city life. By offering thermal pools, saunas and botanical environments within easy reach of Manchester’s population, Therme Manchester aims to redefine how people in the UK experience relaxation and recreation. The development also underscores a commitment to environmental stewardship, with sustainability considerations woven into both construction and future operations. With construction management now in experienced hands, the vision of a world-class wellbeing resort in the north of England is closer than ever. When complete, Therme Manchester is expected to attract millions of visitors each year, reinforcing Greater Manchester’s reputation as a hub for innovative and ambitious development while giving residents and tourists alike a unique place to unwind. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Boots Unveils First Standalone Fragrance Store in the City of London
Boots is preparing to launch a new retail concept with the opening of its first-ever standalone fragrance store at Broadgate Central in the heart of the City of London. The 1,900 square foot shop, set to welcome customers this autumn, will showcase more than 400 scents from over 20 leading brands, offering an extensive choice for perfume enthusiasts and casual shoppers alike. The move reflects a significant shift in consumer habits. The UK fragrance market is expanding at a rate far outpacing the wider economy, with forecasts suggesting it could reach £2 billion by 2029. Boots aims to tap into this rapid growth by giving fragrance its own dedicated space, creating an environment where customers can browse, test and discover without the distractions of a larger pharmacy or beauty floor. Broadgate Central, adjacent to Liverpool Street Station, was chosen for its high visibility and constant flow of City workers and commuters. The location positions the store to attract both daily foot traffic and those seeking a quick stop during their journey across London. Dan Kent, head of retail at property consultancy Rapleys, which advised Boots on the deal, said the new concept underlines the retailer’s ability to bridge digital and physical shopping. “Boots is leading the way in combining online and physical store presence,” he explained. “Broadgate Central is the perfect location for the new concept, with City workers able to drop in and huge passing footfall from commuters via Liverpool Street Station. We look forward to working with Boots on further projects as they continue to innovate and roll out the concept in the future.” The Broadgate opening also comes as Rapleys strengthens its own retail expertise. Earlier this year the consultancy added six new team members from Avison Young and has recently secured work with Sainsbury’s, Australian fitness brand BFT, Stansted Airport and The University of Sheffield. This expansion aligns with the growing demand for strategic retail advice as brands reimagine their physical footprints. For Boots, the standalone fragrance store represents a fresh chapter in a long history of innovation. By carving out a dedicated space for perfume, the company is not only responding to the booming fragrance market but also experimenting with how specialist retail can complement its established high street presence and online operations. With its curated selection of more than 400 perfumes and a prime City location, the new store is set to become a destination for anyone seeking a signature scent or the perfect gift. As the fragrance sector continues to flourish, this debut could mark the beginning of a wider rollout of standalone Boots Fragrance stores across the UK, bringing a renewed focus on luxury and personal expression to one of the nation’s best-known retail names. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Steel signing ceremony marks major milestone at TJ Morris Distribution Centre in Doncaster
Over 6,000 tonnes of structural steel will be installed as part of the £108million build project set to create 1,000 new jobs. McLaren Construction Midlands and North has marked a significant milestone at the new state-of-the-art Distribution Centre for leading UK retailer, TJ Morris Ltd, with a steel signing ceremony at the Unity Yorkshire development in Doncaster. The event commemorated the completion of the first phase of structural steelwork – the towering 43-metre High Bay section, which is a major engineering landmark in the development of the 829,000 sq. ft advanced automated facility. The steelwork, designed and delivered by Caunton Engineering Ltd, represents the scale and ambition of the project. To date, the structure has involved; 2,606 holding down bolts, 142,452 structural bolts, 55,789 metres and 5,395 tonnes of hot rolled steel, 112 metres and 793 tonnes of cold rolled steel, and 33,558 welded fittings. With steelwork on the Low Bay section – which stands at 28 metres – now underway, the project continues to progress ahead of schedule, moving towards its completion time of October 2026. The project has already achieved several critical milestones, including completion of approximately 80% of all building foundations, completion of a 16-week earthworks programme and installation of 14,000 precast piles and 8,000 rigid inclusion piles. Once complete, the facility will serve 300+ Home Bargains stores nationwide, forming the cornerstone of TJ Morris’ long-term logistics and distribution strategy. The milestone was celebrated onsite with representatives from TJ Morris Ltd, McLaren Construction, City of Doncaster Council, Business Doncaster, and project partners Waystone Hargreaves Land, and AtkinsRéalis. In addition to its commercial impact, the project underscores McLaren’s commitment to local engagement and sustainability. Key initiatives include a highly localised supply chain, with 70 percent of suppliers currently located within 50 miles of the site, innovation applied to the steel requirements to ensure the scheme is as economical as possible, the use of borrow pits and local fill materials significantly reducing transport emissions, and the sponsorship of a local football team, including full kit provision. Located at Unity Connect, the facility is part of the wider Unity Yorkshire masterplan – a transformative mixed-use regeneration scheme that spans over 250 hectares, delivering homes, jobs, and infrastructure across the region. The Unity scheme is also home to a dedicated Employment Academy, an initiative funded by Waystone Hargreaves Land and delivered in partnership with Business Doncaster aimed at supporting recruitment, training, and access to employment opportunities for local residents. Gary Cramp, Managing Director at McLaren Construction, said: “This is a very exciting day for us and our team and partners. As a business we are so proud to be involved in milestones like this to celebrate an impressive flagship project that will create 1,000 new jobs and enhance logistics capabilities across the region. “The steel signing not only marks the physical progress of this significant build but also reflects the spirit of collaboration across stakeholders, and the enormous economic potential the facility will bring to Doncaster. Thank you to all of the team for their exceptional effort, and to everyone for your input and being here today to mark this occasion.” Mayor of Doncaster Ros Jones said: “This steel signing marks a major milestone not just for the TJ Morris Distribution Centre, but for Doncaster’s growth story. The Distribution Centre is not only creating 1,000 new jobs and strengthening our local economy — it’s also championing local suppliers including British Steel and demonstrating sustainable practices. “This development is a shining example of how investment and collaboration can deliver real benefits for our communities. I’m proud to see Doncaster leading the way in innovation, opportunity, and inclusive growth and look forward to the continued progress of this landmark scheme.” Neil Kelson, Head of Logistics at TJ Morris added: “We’re delighted to see this landmark scheme moving at pace and the steel signing ceremony for the new Distribution Centre represents a key step in our logistics strategy, enabling us to serve our customers more efficiently and support our expansion plans, while creating significant employment opportunities for the local community.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Winvic completes critical improvement works to Orwell Bridge for National Highways
Winvic Construction Ltd, a leading main contractor that specialises in the design and delivery of private and public sector construction and civil engineering projects, has announced the completion of the A14 Orwell Bridge Westbound Joint Replacement for National Highways. The £4m scheme being delivered under the National Highways Scheme Delivery Framework (SDF) took place at the A14 westbound carriageway of Orwell Bridge in Ipswich – a critical transport link in the East of England to Felixstowe port. The essential maintenance commenced on 16th June and required the expediated replacement of ageing expansion joints. The works were urgently commissioned to protect the safety of the public, alongside preventing disruption to the main route that is essential for all freight traffic heading to Felixstowe. Winvic, National Highways, engineer WSP, and Chevron Traffic Management, collaborated to create a permanent solution for a 175-day programme which was consolidated to just 37 days as a result of working 24 hours, seven days per week in contraflow to minimise disruption on this busy route. Construction involved undertaking hydro demolition works, alongside working at height across a constrained site of two lanes for traffic and pedestrian access, with approximately 12,000 HGV movements over the bridge every day. National Highways engaged with Suffolk County Council and politicians in order to ensure transport links were not affected by any works and disruption was minimised for road users. The team employed an advanced traffic management system and carried out numerical traffic modelling using validated traffic models from Suffolk County Council, which allowed them to assess the impact of all potential options for road users. Ahead of the works starting, Winvic supported National Highways at The Suffolk Show, where almost 300 people visited over two days to ask questions and learn about the project. Further public engagement sessions were held at other locations across Ipswich. The public were also kept appraised of the work through VMS signage, live journey time updates, targeted briefings, and timely distribution of handouts. Winvic applied lessons learnt from previous SDF schemes to improve efficiency and safety on Orwell Bridge. For example, the adoption of a floor saw to remove Lamella Rails which eliminated the use of hot works, reducing manual handling and delivering an 80% time saving on the works – equating to two weeks saved on the programme. Local suppliers were engaged throughout the project, contributing to the growth of the local economy and reducing environmental impact. As part of Winvic’s commitment to delivering meaningful Social Value and community engagement, the project team visited Morland Primary School in Ipswich to promote safety awareness around construction sites to over 120 pupils. The team also volunteered to support local Ipswich community projects, which included supporting the St. Elizabeth’s Hospice pop-up shop in Ipswich’s Buttermarket Centre, selling merchandise for the Hop-To-It Art Trail – one of the charity’s largest annual fundraising events. Rob Cook, Managing Director for Civils & Infrastructure at Winvic Construction Ltd, said: “We have built a strong and trusted partnership with National Highways over many years of collaboration, including our time on the SDF. We’re proud to have successfully delivered the pivotal works to Orwell Bridge, delivering to a consolidated programme, which prioritised public safety while minimising disruption for road users and local businesses.” “The project was a true team effort, with seamless collaboration between National Highways and our supply chain partners. We’re proud of the high standards achieved and the positive contribution the scheme has made to both infrastructure and the local community.” Andy Jobling, National Highways Programme Delivery Manager, said: “Working on the momentous Orwell Bridge to replace the expansion joints was always going to be extremely challenging. The great collaboration between partners to share ideas, experience and bring forward methods of working, enabled us to expedite construction and minimise road closures. “These essential maintenance works were developed at pace and successfully delivered to programme due to the dedication and teamwork of everyone involved on the project. This was a huge achievement, undertaking construction as quickly and safely as possible, whilst minimising disruption to motorists and the community.” Join Winvic on social media – LinkedIn, and Instagram. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Ask acquires final plot at Manchester Business Park
Ask Real Estate (Ask) has acquired the final 7.8 acre plot at Manchester Business Park close to Manchester Airport, from ARC. The Manchester-based developer plans to build 9 prime last mile logistics units on the site, delivering circa 114,000 sq ft of space. The high-quality units will range in size from 6,700 sq ft to 21,646 sq ft and will appeal to a range of businesses including those in hi-tech industries, aviation, logistics and warehousing. Situated in a prime South Manchester location with immediate access to the M56 and A555 the site will provide occupiers with excellent connectivity locally and regionally with global connections via Manchester Airport. The units will deliver the highest sustainability and smart credentials, will be BREEAM Excellent, EPC A and designed to be net zero in operation. The development of the final plot at Manchester Business Park will complete the Park. Commenting on the acquisition, which was funded by Ask using internal resources, Managing Director John Hughes said: “Manchester Business Park is in a highly prominent location, within Manchester Airport’s strategic employment site and the thriving North West ecosystem of technology, manufacturing, distribution and digital businesses. This is a prime location for developing high quality logistics and industrial facilities which will have exemplary sustainability credentials and superb connectivity through the airport and adjacent motorway networks.” The development sits at Junction 5 of the M56 alongside the £1bn MIX MANCHESTER development zone, for which a strategic regeneration framework has been approved to bring forward up to 2 million sq ft of advanced manufacturing space, R&D labs and office space as well as hotels, leisure facilities and public areas. John Hughes continues: “The South Manchester market is under supplied, particularly in the small to mid-sized sector of the logistics market. These new facilities will deliver much-needed space to complement the tech and R&D spaces being developed at MIX MANCHESTER.” Ask will undertake a public consultation on its plans this autumn and aims to submit a planning application for the proposed development in Q4, with an aim to start on site next year and deliver by summer 2027. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals