Build April 2017

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April 2017

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Building the Future Graham Oates Associates offers a unique bespoke package of design & build for residential and commercial buildings. The firm has recently been honoured with the title of ‘Contractor of the Year, UK’. We profile the firm, exploring its history, past developments and how it works to achieve excellence across every project.

Also in this issue...

Build It and They Will Come – Build-It Construction Services, Inc. Quality, Not Quantity – IMMOTOTAL Immobilientreuhand GmbH Excellence in Executive Search – Randall James Monroe Inc A Solid Foundation – BSF Solid Surfaces Ltd Nordic Roots – Danielsen Architecture A/S A Holistic Approach – Petersen Arkitektkontor Getting a Handle on Antiques – OPTIMUM BRASSES Ltd The Possibilities Are Endless – All Weather Services, Inc

BSF Solid Surfaces Ltd

Editor’s Note

, Welcome to April’s edition of BUILD Magazine.

We find out that the construction sector saw a 4%1 increase in the number of SMEs from 2010, according to the latest study from specialist challenger bank Hampshire Trust Bank, in research conducted in partnership with the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR).

In other news, strong growth at property investment marketplace Property Partner has seen investment in buy-to-let property through the platform rise 25% in just five months, smashing the £50m milestone despite wider economic uncertainty.

In one case study, founder Frank la Rivière to tell us more about Frank la Rivière Architects Inc., and how it works to ensure that it always creates stunning buildings which enrich the space they occupy.

I hope you enjoy reading this edition.

Jonathan Miles, Editor Phone: +44 (0) 203 725 6842 Email: jonathan.miles@ai-globalmedia.com AI Global Media, Ltd. (AI) takes reasonable measures to ensure the quality of the information on this web site. However, AI will not assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, correctness or completeness of any information that is available through this web site. If errors are brought to our attention, we will try to correct them.

The information available through the website and our partner publications is for your general information and use and is not intended to address any particular finance or investment requirements. In particular, the information does not constitute any form of advice or recommendation by us or any of our partner publications and is not intended to be relied upon by users in making or refraining from making any investment or financial decisions.

Appropriate independent advice should be obtained before making any such decision. Any arrangement made between you and any third party named in the site is at your sole risk and responsibility.

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Contents

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Imagination Is the Only Limitation Page 10

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News

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Graham Oates Associates: Building the Future

10. Imagination Is the Only Limitation 12. Nordic Roots 14. Build It and They Will Come 16. Excellence in Executive Search 18. A More Sustainable Future 20. Improving Your Lifestyle 24. A Solid Foundation 26. The Possibilities Are Endless 28. More Than Just a Pretty Façade 30. A Holistic Approach 32. A Triple Award Winning Structural and Non-Destructive Testing Business 37. Quality, Not Quantity 39. Elaborate, sophisticated and Aesthetically Pleasing 41. Getting a Handle on Antiques 43. Blurring the Lines Between OEM and Aftermarket Parts 44. Spatial Awareness 46. Winner’s Directory

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NEWS

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Property Partner Passes ÂŁ50million Milestone amid Resilient Growth Strong growth at property investment marketplace Property Partner has seen investment in buy-to-let property through the platform rise 25% in just five months, smashing the ÂŁ50m milestone despite wider economic uncertainty.

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NEWS

, This includes £12.5m worth of property traded on its resale exchange, where investors can trade their holdings. The number of investors on the platform has risen 57% to 10,361 in the last 12 months.

The latest innovation was the introduction of its Bid Engine, which allows investors to place bid orders for property shares in its resale marketplace at prices they are willing to pay. When the market moves in the same direction orders are filled automatically and the investor notified.

The pioneering property investment platform was launched in January 2015 and allows investors to buy shares in a range of properties and benefit from rental income and any capital appreciation on a diversified portfolio.

Since launch Property Partner has returned a total of £1.24m in dividends, with an average rental yield of 3.5% (after all costs), and listed 375 buy-to-let properties.

The purchase, tenancy and management are handled by Property Partner’s in-house team of experts, taking the hassle out of property investment. Investors benefit from increased liquidity through its resale exchange and also have the option to exit their holding at market value after five years, at fair market value.

Investments are ring-fenced in Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) and money held on account is protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).

Property Partner’s ultimate goal is to bring to the residential property market the same level of liquidity present in equity markets while making it simple and hassle-free.

The company is constantly investing in its technology to boost the investor experience.

Dan Gandesha, CEO and founder of Property Partner, said: “This is a significant milestone for Property Partner and one that underlines the huge potential of this market and its growing investor appeal.

“Not many investors want to give up the amount of time required to invest in residential property and that’s why I think the way we make it easy and accessible is gaining a lot of attention.

“Traditional landlords spend months identifying, buying, upgrading and letting properties. We can get our investors to the same point in minutes with no stress or hassle. Even in a period of relative political and economic uncertainty, growth in the numbers of investors using Property Partner has been strong, as has the level of investment.”

£2.9m Investment Secured for Former Birmingham Factory Site A West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) investment fund is backing the £5.5 million rebirth of a landmark former Birmingham factory site.

The Combined Investment Fund (CIF), has provided £2.9m of loan funding to Barberry Developments to assist with the speculative development of the 46,000 sq ft industrial unit on the old Tuckers Fastenings site at Walsall Road, Perry Barr. Barberry has purchased the site, with construction expected to complete later this year and resulting in the creation of around 75 new jobs.

Cllr Izzi Seccombe, leader of Warwickshire County Council and WMCA portfolio holder for finance and investments, said: “I am delighted the CIF is able to play a part in bringing this site back into industrial use. Projects such as this are why the CIF was established, to help create the right conditions for industry and the jobs that are key to ensuring a prosperous future for the West Midlands.”

Tucker Fasteners had been at the Walsall Road site since 1903 producing rivets, fasteners and other metal products, as well as building fighter planes during World War II. It closed in 2013.

Barberry director Henry Bellfield said the 2.5-acre brownfield site occupied a prominent location on the A34 and was within minutes of Birmingham city centre and the M6 motorway.

“This development is well positioned to serve the local population and we expect it to be of interest from occupiers in the e-commerce, urban logistics fulfilment, retail, wholesale, and the trade and manufacturing sectors,” he said.

Jon Robinson, development director of Barberry added: “This scheme will provide much needed stock to the mid-sized industrial/warehouse sector, providing occupiers and businesses with the quality accommodation needed to expand, create jobs or relocate their businesses within the West Midlands.”

The CIF is a £70 million commercial development war-chest set up by the WMCA earlier this year to stimulate jobs, opportunity and growth. It is aimed at unlocking a further £1 billion in private sector investment over the next 10 years. It is managed by Finance Birmingham and provides short-term loans to private sector developers to enable them to get schemes off the ground.

Nick Oakley, senior investment director at Finance Birmingham, said: “We are delighted to be able to assist a well-established local developer with the speculative redevelopment of this key employment site in Birmingham. It is an excellent location and will encourage further inward investment into the city.”

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, UK Government’s Rail Improvements Tops List of InfrastructureDriven Property Development Opportunities Nearly two-thirds (63%) of property investors rated new and upgraded rail and tram links as providing the most attractive real estate development opportunities from the UK government’s £23 billion infrastructure scheme over the next

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, Improved road transport links (55%), local authority-sponsored urban regeneration schemes (48%) and airport upgrades (43%) were ranked second, third and fourth respectively among property investors in terms of the potential offered by developing adjacent sites.

Analysis of the government-backed projects on an individual basis shows that three-quarters (77%) of property developers ranked Crossrail and Crossrail (2) as offering the most potential for residential schemes, ahead of High Speed 2 (51%), Thameslink (47%) and superfast broadband (14%).2 According to the study, an overwhelming majority (86%) of UK property developers believe that their peers are increasingly looking to capitalise on opportunities generated by the new £23 billion government-backed infrastructure programme over the next five years.

Keith Aldridge, Founder & Managing Director at Amicus Property Finance, said: “The government’s decision to invest in building new infrastructure and upgrading existing assets provides a tremendous opportunity for residential and commercial property developers and we can expect this to continue for many years to come.

“The longer-term impact of this infrastructure programme on regenerating existing residential communities and creating new ones cannot be underestimated, particularly when combined with the government’s renewed commitment to addressing the country’s housing gap. We have already seen growing demand among developers seeking short term finance to fund infrastructure-related residential and commercial schemes.”

Amicus Property Finance’s research also revealed that Crossrail and Crossrail 2 as the highest ranked government infrastructure schemes for commercial property development (71%) followed by High Speed 2 (51%), Thameslink (47%) and Manchester Airport (24%).

Amicus Property Finance, part of Amicus Finance plc, the leading specialist financial services group, has seen a strong start to 2017 having provided more than £1 billion of short term property loans last year as it further expanded its customer base among brokers, professional landlords and developers seeking finance for residential and commercial real estate assets.

As part of its growth journey, Amicus Finance plc, which expects to receive its banking licence this year, opened an office in Manchester last year to significantly expand its presence across the North. The new Manchester office provides a regional hub for SME lending, working capital solutions and short term property loans.

Amicus has seen consistently strong funding from the Omni Secured Lending (OSL) Funds.

Vintages I, II and III have provided more than £500m of institutional third-party funding to the business. During January and February 2017 alone Vintage III raised more than £200m of new institutional capital, which is being actively deployed to fund new lending activity.

Amicus Property Finance’s property loan portfolio is currently made up of 85% residential properties and 15% commercial properties, with 70% located in London or the South East. Its loans are repaid, on average, in eight months and it typically lends between £50,000 and £7 million.

(1) Research conducted in March 2017 with 51 UK property developers (2) Additional information on the government’s key infrastructure schemes •

Crossrail is a 73-mile railway line under development in London and the home counties of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Essex. The central section and a large portion of the line, between Paddington in central London and Abbey Wood in the south-east, are due to open in December 2018.

Four Firms Chasing MultiMillion A96 Contract Four design consultancies or Joint Ventures are to be invited to bid for the contract for a 26 mile stretch of the A96 from east of Huntly to Aberdeen - the eastern section of the Scottish Government’s ambitious programme to dual the A96 from Inverness to Aberdeen by 2030.

The contract, worth up to £50 million, is expected to be awarded later this year. The four consultancies or Joint Ventures invited to be invited to tender for the work are: • AECOM Limited; • Amey Arup Joint Venture; • Atkins WSP Joint Venture and; • Jacobs UK Ltd. Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work, Keith Brown said: “This major contract marks a further milestone towards the dualling of the A96 with all the investment and improvements that will bring to the north-east and the Highland’s, including improved journey time and reliability, improved connectivity and improved road safety for all those who use this key artery connecting Scotland’s two most northerly cities.

tracted work, so it will be a boost for the local and national economy.

“At the same time, we are progressing other parts of the A96 Dualling programme with draft Orders published for the Inverness to Nairn (including Nairn Bypass) late last year. Design work is also underway for the western section between Hardmuir and Fochabers and we hope to let the public see and comment on the options being developed in the summer.”

“When this contract is awarded later this year, design work for the eastern section will step up a gear with route option assessment work getting underway. This contract will also provide the successful bidders with steady work for years to come and many more opportunities for small and medium enterprises through subcon-

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Graham Oates Associates: Building the Future Graham Oates Associates offers a unique bespoke package of design & build for residential and commercial buildings. The firm has recently been honoured with the title of ‘Contractor of the Year, UK’. We profile the firm, exploring its history, past developments and how it works to achieve excellence across every project.

Founded in 1991 as a high quality Property Developer, Graham Oates Associates has since set the industry standard for excellence through its range of quality projects.

The first project the fledgling firm undertook was a restoration of a row of four terraced properties and three bespoke houses in the attractive Village of Wickhambreaux, just South of Canterbury in Kent.

This superb restoration and development, had set the standard for the design, quality and attention to detail of all future projects. Graham Oates Associates were asked to carry out numerous works within the village and in particular working with the Church of England to restore and extend the C of E School in the Village. Graham Oates became a shortlisted Contractor to the Church of England within 3 years of starting the business, and has since carried out many outstanding projects.

The Company had begun to build a very high quality client list with exceptional projects in East Kent.

However, in 2000 the decision to get back into Development was taken and a Farmstead was purchased at Middle Pett Farm, Nr Bridge again South of Canterbury, an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

As such the firm undertook various landscaping and development projects over the years, including the restoration of the Grade II Listed Farmhouse,

three Barns a Mews block and an Oast House were all finished to the highest quality with bespoke, joinery and detailing to blend with the Historic setting. Whilst carrying out the developments, Graham Oates Associates have also been involved in a wide variety of design & build projects. OS10 Architectural Consultants (Canterbury) have been closely associated with the designs, planning and project management of these schemes.

The variety from developments, to bespoke houses, garden rooms to swimming pools has allowed the company to create a vast portfolio of projects and gain experience across a variety of different sectors and skills.

Looking ahead, the firm has an exciting future ahead of it, as Graham Oates Associates is just about to celebrated its 25th Anniversary. A Registered A1 Contractor with The NHBC, a catalogue of varied and high quality projects and a huge list of superb and individual clients, have made the 25 years memorable, and moving forward its ongoing focus will remain on building upon its current success.

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Company: Graham Oates Associates Name: Graham Oates Phone: 01227 457523 Email: gus@grahamoates.co.uk Website: www.grahamoates.co.uk Address: Graham Oates Associates, Hoath Farm, Bekesbourne Lane, Canterbury, Kent, CT3 4AB

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Imagination Is the Only Limitation Creating a smart virtual reality application for both real estate developers and architects, Grandpano studio have designed a solution which allows clients to take a look inside unbuilt properties and make them feel as though they are actually there. We invited Ivan Daško to tell us more about this unique experience.

As part of its innovative and dynamic approach, last year Grandpano introduced their new product called All in One Virtual Reality, which was awarded

by Chivas Venture as the most innovative idea. Recently, they have been awarded in BUILD’s – Technology Top 50. These awards recognise the innovative designs displayed by gamechanging firms, like Grandpano.

Creating a photorealistic virtual reality walk-trough for any device or any platform which bring virtual reality pricing down on earth again. With their focus being on virtual reality, Ivan details how they achieve this.

“Cooperating with leading real estate developers and architects such as Zaha Hadid and Renzo Piano. Our product is used by both architects and real estate developers. We are here to change customer experience and let clients experience a walkthrough of not-yet existing real estate projects. Therefore, we are creating a virtual reality applications that will emotionally connect users with properties.

“Primarily, our focus is on virtual reality and over the last 3-years we have been able to provide a completely new level of presentation to the European real estate market. The result of this,

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is that real estate developers are increasing pre-sale number, building brand awareness and are creating a positive company image.”

When undertaking a new client or a new project, Ivan explains the way in which Grandpano approaches a new project is by ensuring they achieve the best possible outcome.

“By offering clients the all-inone package, they don’t have to do a compromise of whether to use video, visualizations or a web application to attract their potential customers. This opportunity allows customers to create their own photorealistic visualizations, videos or just turn on their virtual tour for Google Cardboard by one click.”

With a strong team of architects, urbanists, programmers and IT who work tirelessly to develop the best virtual reality performance that bring remarkable results. Marking them out as the best option for their clients, Ivan highlights the way they achieve this.

“One solution – all needs.

We do our own research on neuroplasticity to ensure we deliver the best virtual experience to each target group.

One of our techniques is that we use a lot of tricks that let the brain think it is in the real world.

That’s how we create emotions that would be connected to a brand or a product via virtual reality and sell.”

Within the wider industry, Ivan discusses some of the ways in which the company distribute their knowledge and expertise.

“We have set a goal to educate the people around us, such as the marketers and developers about virtual reality. Many of them think of 360 panoramas as of the virtual reality benchmark. Hence why we organize workshops and conferences for industry developers and architects within our area. Alongside this, we also present at tech and innovation conferences as well as at trade expos and around Europe.”

It is inevitable that most businesses will face some challenges in their time and for Grandpano theirs are always connected to the needs of the client. They have a created a wide creative team but they also have a lot of specialists to help deliver the best outcome. However, as Ivan informs us, these challenges have strengthened the values of the company.

“For one of the biggest European real estate companies, Signa and their Renzo Piano project we created special VR solution.

We have created special views and videos, that were created

from precisely measured angles which now accurately simulate the exact sunrise, sunset and night, just like in real life. The experience allows you to walk through your future apartment and see the sunrise in the morning of 2020.”

In terms of the success the company have had over the years, although the one that stands out the most is their ‘Smart City’ project, as Ivan explains.

“We have created many projects for big developers and well known architects such as Zaha Hadid, Renzo Piano etc. However, the most challenging project that we have created and one that is still currently evolving, is the urban planning in virtual reality for a whole Smart future city in a total area of 285 hectares.

With the complexity of features and scale of the project makes it currently one of the biggest and most complicated virtual reality projects in the world. The Smart City virtual reality project is designed to help local authorities, architects and investors to plan and take the right decision in the future.”

As for the overall aims of the company and the strategies in which they aim to achieve this, Ivan reflects on where they are now and where he hopes the company will go.

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“Currently we are active in many EU countries and we hope to open a branch overseas in 1-year with a full supporting team behind it. With every next project and reference, we are entering new markets and industry fields. On a wider scale, our main goal for Grandpano is to bring real results in regards to numbers during the pre-sale, not just beautiful pictures, videos or virtual reality.”

Reflecting on the success they have had thus far, Ivan notes on what has helped them get to this stage and looks towards what the future has in store for this industry.

“In 2017 we will be testing special tracking systems. It is important for real estate developers to know what are people looking at, think or want during the virtual reality experience, what they like or dislike, their worries or expectations. Thanks to this data and user experience, we are helping real estate distributors customize and adapt the right communication and distribution channels to the way in which they currently need.

“Our customers are very demanding and we are lucky that they push us forward with every single project. “Your imagination is the only limitation”, is not only our motto, but also the answer for their expectation.

“Every month there is a new HW (Headwear) or a new feature in the virtual reality industry that is released on the market.”

Looking ahead, their future aspirations is for the business to reach new heights as well as taking the company down new routes as Ivan explains.

Contact: Ivan Dasko Email: ivan@grandpano.com Company: GrandPano studio Address: Hattalova 12a, Bratislava, Slovakia Telephone: 00421 918 347 208 Web Address: Grandpano.com

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“Establishing this application both with worldwide businesses and showrooms around the world is our main goal, but we want to also expand to other industry fields. Since we do a lot of programming work and work in the game engine software, we are also open to the prospect of creating our own VR games that would implement all of our research of people reactions and emotions while using the VR.”

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Nordic Roots Kasper Danielsen, Architect of the Year 2016, talks to us about Danielsen Architecture and its deep-rooted design rationale.

Founded in 1987 Danielsen architecture has since distinguished itself as a leading consultant firm with vast skill and experience in functionalist architecture and design.

Kasper Danielsen tells us more about the firm and the services and products it provides.

“In all of our projects, we emphasize uniting architectural quality and solid artisanship with functionality and consideration for the users of the finished product,” he begins. “Meanwhile, we strive to create cohesion and dynamics between the framework and the processes, so the buildings will correspond to future requirements in flexibility, sustainability, and possibilities for development.

The work created by Danielsen is rooted in new Nordic functionalism which subscribes to the idea that architecture is created from the inside out, Kasper explains. “Architecture as an art form must serve a purpose, because without usability, we believe architecture would simply amount to

sculpture. With this motto in mind, the overwhelming focus of our work is on the needs of the user. Our method is devoted to meeting unique needs in an innovative and creative way to create value and application for our customers and users.

Comprehensive analytical work for each project, along with respectful partnerships and collaborations with contractors, users, and technicians, make up a particular characteristic of the design studio’s approach to creating valuable architecture.”

Kasper stresses the importance that all of his client’s needs, wishes and wants are of very high importance and keeping this in mind ensures the best possible outcome every time.

“Thorough analysis of needs are an important part of our holistic work process, and through workshops and close cooperation, we strive to meet all expectations.

“In all our projects, we focus on combining high architectural quality with the interests of the users, combined with an understanding of the client’s requirements and desires. We strive throughout the process to

ensure consistency between the final physical environment and the process that our projects go through, so that all stakeholders feel heard and understood. It is our experience that the best physical framework is based on a successful process.

“We approach our tasks systematic and solution-oriented, seeking to develop a close, - and dialogue-oriented cooperation with the client organization, the authorities and end users.

“In our perspective, a high architectural, - and technical quality is a necessity, when we combine traditional counselling with more direct results-oriented advice.”

Working directly with the group of Directors and their architectural teams, Danielsen Architecture is involved in the design and supervision of each project from the initial concept stage, through planning, construction and completion.

“As previously stated, our work is based upon a solid foundation of a Nordic functionalistic design excellence, competent budget and programme control, proficient project management and the achievement of best value and architectural quality.”

Within the wider industry, Kasper has distributed his knowledge and experience with two publications on the company.

He has also just launched a new website, giving him a presence on all the main social media channels. Kasper regularly attends conferences, networking groups and lectures.

Danielsen Architecture has a wide range of important and successful projects to date,

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however Kasper tells us in-depth about one particularly memorable project, Turbinehuset.

“This project (Turbinehuset) is a great example of how we have managed to integrate façade design, choice of materials, interior design, function, and construction process in a loyal and successful way,” he says.

“The building is an innovative and sustainable office community in the heart of Copenhagen, and the external appearance takes up architectural themes found in the surrounding area.

The modern concept of the façade sets up a new dialogue between this variety of striking old buildings. Thus, Turbinehuset accentuate the industrial past whilst reinstating and improving the business community of today.

The building programme consists of offices, commercial areas at the ground floor, carpark and a restaurant that at day time work as a cantina, which have been arranged according to a fairly simple layout.”

The building manifests Danielsen Architecture’s belief that architecture is an experience.

“Architecture is a form of art, perhaps the oldest and grandest of all art forms, that requires a care for curiosity, contemplation, searching and poetry – and which should always tell stories. But architecture is only unique as an art form if it serves a purpose and eventually fulfils it. If architecture lacks applicability – it is nothing but a sculpture. Therefore, our architecture is the aesthetic and functional catalyst in its context.

Architecture is not necessarily buildings, gardens and urban planning, but also a tool that works on a physical, theoretical and philosophical level, like manifested in Turbinehuset.”

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With regards to the future of the firm, Kasper sees growth within the next 12 months as well expansion into other geographical locations.

“We strive to broaden our horizons and to build connections between Denmark and other cultures. With the aim of strengthening our position in the global market, we are constantly seeking to expand our international network of clients and collaborators – both by looking abroad but also by being open to collaborations with global companies with a local presence – especially in the Copenhagen area.

“The next year we will contribute to the still growing demands for housing in Copenhagen and the increased interest for office buildings in the city.

“We are focusing on maintaining the high architectural quality while taking on new types of jobs.”

Company: Danielsen Architecture A/S Name: Kasper Danielsen Email: post@danielsenarch.com Web Address: www.danielsenarch.com Address: Wildersgade 7, 1408 Copenhagen C, Denmark Telephone: (+45) 33 32 32 37

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Build It and They Will Come Build-It Construction is a commercial construction company located in Southern NH, serving the greater New England (US) area. Our primary disciplines are Construction of: Corporate Office, Institutional (Schools) Multifamily and Pharma/Biotech spaces.

We are a team of expert planners and hands on builders to bring projects from conceptual design through the final CoF (Certificate of Occupancy) process. With a staff of twenty members, we draft, estimate, procure and prioritize procurement of materials, equipment and resources that are required to construct a project.

The Build-It team is fortunate to also self-perform many of the subtrades for projects with our clients and our investors.

A great example of pulling resources together was at Atwood Ave in Johnston RI was the turnover of a 39,000SF Office Space. From ‘white box’ to full build out space for a Global Health Care Provider. The project schedule was carefully tailored and beautifully executed on site to turn over the 39,000SF of space in 16 weeks (approx.

2,500 SF of full fit out per week).

Although this project was achieved with a compressed schedule, ALL of Build-It’s projects follow a similar process.

Starting with site identification, lease negotiation, design development of the space layout, and directly to the formal planning/permitting with the local jurisdiction. The next step of our process is constructability, where we carefully identify the materials, equipment and resources required for your project. Discovery of any lead time constraints enables us to

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create and adhere to a project schedule that will fit the turn over date required by the customer. All information and data gathering is performed thoroughly and disseminated through our paperless electronic tracking system. As the trades are placed under contract and we begin mobilizing the project site, safety and consideration for adjacent tenants, staff, faculty and neighbors are high priority.

Our team of Superintendents, Project Managers and Estimators are well versed with all preconstruction phases and each provide significant input during the pre-planning process.

By force of hand, we have immersed ourselves to understand all facets of construction in order to be a starting and ending point with our customers. Our focus is and continues to be customer retention. Repeat work brings forth an inherent knowledge of not only our customer’s wants/ needs/business operations but allows a in depth understanding of their architectural and infrastructure standards, which we incorporate to our modeling when building their spaces.

This process does not arrive easily, takes years to master and is not possible without a great support team. We employee real people, with goals, families and pride. These folks are what keep Build-It moving forward every year and more importantly attract our customers to negotiate with us

down the road for the next project.

Our management style provides all the tools (software, hardware, social area at office space, remote access and other non disclosed incentives) for autonomy of tasks and management of projects. As a manager, my Co-President, Joseph Castellano and I have a no nonsense approach that everyone at Build-It is an adult.

They will be provided enough rope to make the right decision, at all times, with a recurring reminder that resources are constantly available in the event the rope begins to tighten. I always draw the comparison of managing a team of staff to managing a family.

Although emotions differ in the two styles of management, the end result is provide an environment where the members are able to reach the objective.

Obtaining this feedback, recording it, and implementing into our ‘process’ it for the next project with that repeat customer is how we achieve our repeat work.

Anyone can hire a back-office team, bid ‘construction work’ and label themselves as a Construction Manager. However, what are they managing? A vendor? A material? A schedule?

Sure, easy enough…. Quite the contrary- As a service industry participant the managing is not only the fiscal and schedule success of the project, it’s the fiduciary commitment to the customer. Thus we grade ourselves with our customers on items such as: How pleasant were the vendors? How can we assist in the next project by procuring owner materials? What milestones on the schedule would have made the customer supplied items easier to install for them?

In the Northern New England market we are optimistic for an insurgence of industrial and warehouse construction to support continued advances in medicines and technology that this great country is blessed with.

Multi and single family home construction is and will continue to be necessary, however the market rates are redefining themselves in accordance to the last 5 years or so of ‘newer’ inhabitants. The term ‘median income’ is growing further from ‘market rent’ rates in and around the major cities. Thus correction will raise its weary head in the next five years to realign this gap. Corporate office purely speculative construction has

As tempting as attracting new customers is- your repeat customers should NEVER be put on cruise control. Just because a company feels as though they have mastered their customer’s standards and procedures does not mean that their customer’s business plan is on cruise control. I bet you they are continuously streamlining or strategically growing portions of their business to better serve their customer. As a Construction Manager it’s paramount to remember this, or you will be begging those ‘new customers’ as a means to survive.

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resurged, many thanks to the booming multifamily construction.

Medical will continue to see signs of growth in the minute clinic and local care providers. Higher Education is a large driver of these aforementioned markets and a pinnacle in their growth.

Our long term prediction in Higher Education is development of trade related schools.

Build-It Construction is privileged and fortunate to have a stake in all of these markets and we continue to push out 110% of our support to support their growth.

Technology certainly helps us in moving our data faster and efficiently, however our team members are who command the technology. Our hands on experience and millions of SF of building commercial spaces enables us to retool projects and provide our customers the most cutting edge services with fiscal responsibility.

Contact: Jason Settineri Email: jsettineri@buildit-inc.com Company: Build-It Construction Services, Inc Address: 73 Newton Rd, Plaistow, New Hampshire, 03865, USA Telephone: 001 603 974 179 x 108 Web Address: www.builditinc.com

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Excellence in Executive Search Randall James Monroe, Inc. is a retained executive search firm specializing in leadership, culture and chemistry fit. We caught up with President James Leverette to learn more.

Randall James Monroe, Inc. is a Dallas based global executive search consultancy with more than six decades of collective experience in providing professional representation and guidance to clients in all areas of the retained executive search process. James outlines the firm’s approach and how it works to ensure that clients receive the service they need.

“Here at Randall James Monroe, our approach to conducting executive search is based on three things: results, time and quality, all of which are driven by our belief that we are only as good as our last search. Just as each company, functional role and specific business challenge is unique, so is each search assignment. This includes the organizational leadership model, corporate culture, and the chemistry among the team.

To successfully complete each executive search assignment, we rigorously follow a time-tested and proven process to guarantee results.

“To ensure success on each assignment, we factor in all critical fit aspects. In addition to meeting the fundamental requirements of filling the role with someone that will achieve the specific objectives required by our client; we specialize in determining the intangible aspects of leadership, culture and chemistry fit. These

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intangible qualities bind the new leader and team together and are crucial to long term performance and organizational success. This process and approach allows our firm to deliver an exceptional leader for the exact role that a client-company is looking to fill. This includes a leader that will achieve the financial goals and business vision of each client and that perfectly matches the intangible aspects of each company’s culture and the chemistry of the team they will be most closely working with.”

Recently the firm has completed fourteen U.S. based executive search assignments for a multibillion dollar, multi-disciplinary construction company. Operating across the civil, aviation and bridge and road sectors, the client needed an innovative approach, and sought out Randall James Monroe because it was a unique firm dedicated to offering true quality and value to its clients.

James outlines the factors that mark the company out as the best option for market leaders.

“What truly sets Randall James Monroe apart is that we still do things the traditional way. The two most important attributes we bring to the table are honesty and integrity. In other words, we do what we say we are going to do. Also, we do not view trust as an entitlement; instead, we work extremely hard to earn our clients trust on each and every assignment. As a firm, we are focused on developing trust with

each client-company our firm represents. All healthy longterm relationships are based on trust. Subsequently, long-term relationships lead to repeatbusiness. Since we do very little marketing as a firm, a successfully completed search assignment is the best business development tool we could ever invest in. A happy and satisfied client is the life-blood of our business.

“In addition, our firm utilizes a “Partner-in-execution” approach, whereby a senior partner of the firm is on lead and 100% involved in each client’s search from kick-off to candidate appointment. This contrasts with some of the larger search firms that may have several search assignments active simultaneously and sometimes utilize junior staff to represent a client-company. This may also include interviewing potential senior leadership candidates. In our opinion these are two of the most critical steps in conducting a successful executive search and should never be left to less than the most skilled.

“Another key advantage to working with our firm is that while we provide the same executive candidate reach as the larger retained executive search firms -- we do so without their off-limits issues. This allows us to bring a significantly expanded number of leadership options to the table for each client to consider and choose from. This is combined with our ability to deliver the

added speed, flexibility and nimbleness that only a boutique executive search firm can deliver.

Where we differentiate ourselves from other firms is, we help each client find exceptional leaders that will work effectively with the executive leadership team and the board—and through their team they will achieve the goals and objectives of the organization while building a legacy of success. And finally, they will fit the leadership model, the culture and the chemistry of each client’s organization.”

Fundamentally, the firm’s innovative approach is unmatchable, and James is keen to discuss how Randall James Monroe has worked over the years to develop a focus on finding the exact right fit for each position through perseverance and expertise.

“In the business of retained executive search, you have to be able to find and attract the right leader that can successfully do the job. These are the table stakes of each search assignment—and this is our core strength. We have mastered the mechanics of conducting executive search and bring an uncanny ability to identify exceptional leaders that fit our client’s culture and meet their organizational needs.

“However it should also be said that every executive search firm must be able to match skill-sets and address the table stakes

g Excellence in Executive Search

of a specific leadership role.

This is where we separate and differentiate ourselves from all other executive search firms, as we have taken our executive search practice to the next level by specializing in making the leadership, culture and chemistry fit. We believe it is these key intangible qualities that act as the invisible glue that bonds the new leader to the team and the team to the new leader. When everyone is aligned from a leadership, culture and chemistry perspective then it stands to reason that everyone naturally performs to their highest and best ability.

“Based on our experience, it is the intangible qualities of leadership, culture and chemistry fit that makes the difference and is essential to ensuring long-term performance and organizational fit.”

Moving forward, James foresees a number of exciting developments in the recruitment space which will allow his firm to develop and grow even further, as he proudly concludes.

“With regards to the future, technology continues to be the driving force behind innovation in most every industry, and therefore it will continue to support the process of conducting executive search, although we are confident that it will never totally take its place.

Hiring an exceptional leader is still a matter of some delicacy and based on our experience, exceptional leaders are not looking at job boards. What they are doing is providing their vision, focus and commitment, coupled with their energy and passion to address and achieve the goals and objectives of their

company. To land the top talent in any industry still requires an experienced executive search consultant or advisor to personally reach out to them and engage them in a highly compelling conversation of possibility, and this will remain our core focus.

“Overall, the outlook for hiring is good. Whilst the executive search industry is a lagging indicator in this regard, having experienced several cycles of business over the years, it appears to us here at Randall James Monroe that the fog of uncertainty is beginning to clear and confidence is beginning to return, and we are excited for the opportunities that this new-found market optimism will bring for us over the coming months and years.”

Company: Randall James Monroe Inc Address: 14800 Quorum Drive, Suite 550, Dallas, TX 75254 Phone: (972) 392-3200 Fax: (972) 392-3220 Email: info@randall-james.com Website: http://www.randall-james.com

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A More Sustainable Future Clean Energy Enterprises Pty Ltd is the parent company that owns and operates the Solar Shop, Commsolar, Commercial Power Solutions and Premier Solar Project’s brands.

We profile the firm to see how the positive impact they made on the energy sector.

Clean Energy’s mission is to put an end to dependence on fossil fuels, by offering clients the latest innovations in energy efficiency and solar technologies.

With an impressive portfolio of projects delivered and a truly national presence, CEE has the assets, expertise and capacity to assist clients in achieving sustainability goals.

These iconic brands have pioneered and dominated the roll out of Clean Energy Solar Power systems across Australia since 1999. Clean Energy Enterprises, through its iconic brands, has installed more Solar Panels and generated more Solar Power than any other business or company in Australia’s history.

The firm’s vision is for the widespread availability and affordability of renewable energy to become a reality. As such CEE is investing extensive capital and resources to be the market leader in the energy sector.

The firm’s products are sourced from leading manufacturers and suppliers in Australia and internationally, and build trust with those relationships by exploiting their capabilities of industry knowledge and technical expertise.

The team at Clean Energy is one of the most experienced in

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delivering commercial and large scale solar and energy projects in Australia. Staff are dedicated to providing the best solutions to fit customers and clients needs, without compromise on value or quality.

Clean Energy’s partners are the best in their respective fields. They only use electrical contractors and installers that have passed all relevant training and are fully certified, thereby ensuring the highest quality product installations.

The core purpose of the business is to advocate and commercialize clean energy and clean technologies in a highly ethical and socially responsible way that is good for the community and the environment.

In order to fulfil this, Clean energy has three core values which they adhere to. They always strive to be the most innovative and trusted company in the clean energy sector, in any given situation, they will always treat people in the same way that they would like to be treated in the same situation and they will always act in customers’ best interests.

Clean Energy believes in making energy independence possible through their main values. These values are: - customer focus, quality products, teamwork,

communication, dedication and a passion for the environment.

That means that they take the time to listen to clients, understanding their needs and providing them with the optimum solution. That means making sure clients are getting the best returns on their investment.

One innovative and pioneering service has been the Solarshop, which was established with a strong belief in solar power – not just the environmental case but also having the benefits of free power generation. Growing from a humble beginning of three people distributing panels from Adelaide, Solarshop have come a long way in 12 years with offices now in five states.

Solarshops’ vision for the future drives everything they do at Solarshop with their main goal to be Australia’s leading and most trusted provider of integrated solar energy solutions.

As well as Solarshop, Clean Energy operates Commsolar.

They specialise in PV solar projects ranging from 10kW to 10MW. We are dedicated to projects that implement world’s best practice in design and delivery, earned not only in terms of installed solar capacity, but also through the success of projects that are delivered on time and within budget.

Commsolar’s experienced project managers and engineers are involved from the feasibility stage through to project execution and completion. They focus on planning down to the smallest level of detail, with particular attention paid to the interface between head contractor and management of the project schedule. This ensures that every commitment is realised on time, often exceeding client expectations.

Commsolar’s team members have a diverse range of experience, from delivering multi-megawatt solar projects in Europe to designing remote power stations in rural Australia.

Large-scale projects require a wide range of expertise, and Commsolar’s team often manages the recruitment and development of specialised partnerships for a project.

This has previously included construction and engineering firms, property groups, architects and finance advisors. These partnerships are often formed in the concept or pre-tender stages, with a thorough understanding of end-user needs always driving the approach. Excellence in managing projects from concept to completion, with the input of multiple stakeholders and project partners, is one of Commsolar’s hallmarks. We also recognise the need for flexibility, and do

g A More Sustainable Future

not commit to any one particular supplier or technology. In the last calendar year alone, the group has deployed more than nine photovoltaic module technologies (from seven of the world’s leading manufacturers) to rooftops and ground-based ‘free-field’ sites around Australia.

Nevertheless, Commsolar’s established connections with domestic and international suppliers is one of their greatest strengths. Their long-term research and development programs have resulted in strong relationships, and have reduced the cost of cutting-edge systems for clients without compromising quality.

Energy efficiency is important to us all but in the commercial environment any improvements must be financially sustainable. If people are investing money into energy efficiency, businesses need to know how long it will take for the investment to pay for itself or the Return on Investment (ROI). Many companies will advise clients to invest substantial sums of money into energy efficiency with an ROI of six to ten years. CPS specialises in solutions that have an ROI of three years or under.

Into the future, Clean Energy Enterprises hopes to be Australia’s most prominent developer and owner of Solar Power Parks (100kw – 10mw size) and to always have the best brands in the Clean Energy Industry Sectors that they participate in. Also, by 2020, the firm want to be rightfully recognized as the company that did more to help Australia achieve its 20% Renewable Energy Target than any other company.

Company: Clean Energy Enterprises Name: Daniel Cobb Web Address: cleanenergyenterprises.com.au

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Improving Your Lifestyle Aiden T is a boutique full-service interior architecture and design firm based in Singapore.

The company, a recent Innovators in Design award winner, was founded by Arjan Nijen Twilhaar a Dutch born interior designer who has worked in Europe, US and all over Asia, who we profile in this special feature.

With a keen interest in hotels and restaurants, Arjan started his career in the hospitality industry. After about 2 years, he joined a NASDAQ listed IT firm, based in Boston. He was sent to Hong Kong to open offices all over Asia – not only taking care of the ID, but also setting up basic sales and marketing efforts prior to the launch of each office.

He moved to Singapore in 1999 and after setting up offices in South East Asia, he started his own firm in 2001.

Arjan’s ambition was to integrate branding and ID as a turnkey solution. His focus was mainly on lifestyle retail, wellness and hospitality. In 2004 he won an award for most innovative retail concept.

In 2006 Arjan started to focus on residential projects, which now take up the bulk of his work.

With a compact team, Aiden T offers a dedicated service to each project – so owners work directly with the designer not only on the design, but on the implementation of each project as well. This synergy helps to create homes that reflect the owner’s personality and lifestyle.

The services are based on three components: • Space planning and interior design; • Detailing (like technical

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•

drawings, sourcing for materials, fittings, furnishings) and; On-site management and overseeing the contractors to ensure the design is executed per specifications.

In Singapore, 80% of the homes are public housing. Aiden T takes pride in converting these government built homes into high end condominium style homes, with unique features and design elements.

In addition, Arjan writes for several magazines, focusing on the impact of interior design on people’s wellbeing and daily living.

Innovators in Design Aiden T are honoured and proud to be chosen as one of your Innovators in design.

Over the years, Arjan has been trying to develop methods to integrate western style design into a tropical climate. Due to the constant high humidity, a lot of materials are not suitable for building purposes.

Most design firms have a similar approach to design, as they just work with tried and tested materials – but Aiden T takes pride in exploring new construction methods and introducing new materials in our design.

Aiden T were one of the first companies locally to be able to create shaker style cabinets

made from solid ply and with a laminate finish. Solid plywood works best in our a tropical climate (MDF of chipboard does not work well with our the humidity – and solid wood has too much expansion and contraction during environmental changes). Aiden T adapted to using Quartz countertops when most companies still used solid surface or laminate tops as well as experimenting with new materials and features.

Much of Aiden T’s design approach seems to be ahead of the curve – things that they have introduced became mainstream five years later. This goes for design styles as well as space planning. Since Aiden T consists of a compact team, they handle limited projects each year. Being recognised as an Innovator in Design helps to put them on the map as one of the leading design firms in Singapore and strengthens their position to push boundaries in design approach, material use and execution.

Thoughts on interior design For Arjan, interior design needs to tell a story and evoke an emotion. When designing a residence, his aim is to create a home, not a showroom or an aspiration place. Especially in Singapore, where people work long hours in offices and their city scape is mostly densely built-up, the home needs to be

a place to unwind and calm the mind. To Arjan, subtly integrating traditional elements helps to create a distinct difference between work and home. This helps to quiet the mind and feel more relaxed at home.

Our lives become more-fast paced and we are losing some valuable traditions – like having family dinners or entertaining at home.

When designing homes, these are the things Arjan would like to bring back – a time to switch off from technology driven lifestyle - and focus on interacting again with family and friends face to face.

Most designers in Singapore focus the design on the TV – creating feature walls that incorporate the TV as the focal point of the home. Arjan would like to go against the grain and bring back the focus on the people living there.

In Arjan’s home, he has a dining room so when friends come over they all gather around the dining table – with no TV in sight and no mobile phones on the table. “We can share a simple meal and just talk or play board games” he explains.

For commercial projects, Arjan takes a branding approach to the design. “Especially in commercial projects, you can break away from the norm and really transport costumers to another platform” Arjan shares. That is

g Improving Your Lifestyle

why Arjan’s preference is to work on projects in the hospitality and lifestyle sector. We can create an experience that goes hand in hand with the brand philosophy.

Last year, Arjan designed a large booth for Nestle for the Food and Hotel FHA 2016 tradeshow – and his aim was to break away from the ‘processed food’ concept, and bring back tradition and heritage. He went against the grain with their booth, creating a rendition of a piazza and heritage home, to emphasise the fresh produce they use and how long they have been in the business.

He also wanted to create a ‘life’ setting, so Nestle consumers could relate to their products and services in a setting that could be their own restaurant or café.

It was a great success and the Nestle booth was the hang-out place for a lot of visitors.

When creating offices, Arjan thinks it is important to bring back a work life balance to the workplace. Areas to mingle in, and to work in alternative ways.

“If we see workers as individual islands, you lose creativity and productivity in the end. Our environment has a huge impact on how we function and how we feel.”

Arjan thinks it is important that business owners understand this and maximise the potential of each member of their workforce.

Well-designed offices with the well-being of the workers in mind shows the employee that you care as an employer instead of just being just a number to shuffle paper and emails.

Arjan has great admiration for companies like Google that create vibrant work spaces with personality.

Company: Aiden T Name: Arjan Nijen Twilhaar Email: contact@aiden-t.com Web Address: www.aiden-t.com Address: 81 Ubi Avenue 4, #10-19 UB.ONE Singapore 408830 Telephone: +65 6408 9691

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Qualities for excellent design and designers Excellent design needs to stand the test of time. Arjan has some designs he did in 2006 and people still refer to those projects for what they want for their new home. Of course, Arjan will interpret the design differently, update it with colour choices etc. but to him that makes for good design.

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In addition, the design needs to work for the owners – but also needs to keep in mind the changing needs over time.

Sometimes Arjan pulls back owners and asks them where they see themselves in five years – and see if the home would still work for them under that scenario. This sometimes changes things in space planning or material choices.

First of all, a good designer needs to listen to the owners; indeed, he or she adapts to their needs and wants first. Excellent designers go into new territory – exploring with new styles, new materials and pushing beyond their comfort zone. It is easy to want to copy and paste previous designs, but that is not how you innovate and improve.

For every project, Arjan is experimenting with something new. Sometimes to great success – and he has also had his share of epic failures. He feels that you learn most from the bad choices made and push yourself to come up with new techniques or designs to improve.

Whichever style Arjan is trying to execute, he believes you can still find personality in the home.

He thinks that is important and as a designer you should not lose their voice when creating spaces.

This means that sometimes you need to pass on an opportunity, because it doesn’t allow you to grow and do something new.

Approaching a new project The most important aspect is chemistry between Arjan and the owners. Often, owners don’t realise it, but when they come for a consultation – Arjan evaluated them as much as they would evaluate him. He feels that he can’t create a space he can be proud of, so he would try not to undertake the project.

Secondly, as a designer you really need to listen to what the owners want and design the spaces based on their requirements and not based on what design aesthetic you are after. This means you often

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work outside your comfort zone, but that makes the process so exciting and creative.

Since we Aiden T are working with the client’s budget, there is always an area of compromise.

Arjan would have a few design areas he would stand firm on, while other elements he can forgo. Sometimes, owners want him to scrap certain design details or materials, and if that compromises the design too much, he will stand firm on those elements. At times, this means not getting a project, but in the end, it establishes his stand on aesthetics as a designer.

Finally, there needs to be trust between the owners and the designers and the contractors.

There is a time that the owners just need to step back and let the design unfold. Every project has that period where we tread into that uncertainty – but then you need to trust that you’ve made the right choices and everything comes together. That is why Arjan sees interior design more as a curator and editor function – you pick individual elements, but keep your eyes on the big picture.

In terms of what sets Aiden T apart from other companies in this industry, Arjan believes it’s the personalised service and the hands-on approach to each project that the firm embarks on. He is also trying something new in each project, so he keeps learning and expanding his knowledge. He sees a lot of other companies repeating their designs – probably because it is slightly faster and they found a way maximising the profit.

Being a boutique design firm and working with small teams of contractors, Aiden T thinks of the project first and not always how they can maximise the profit.

Being 45, Arjan has a lot of experience under his belt.

Because he was fortunate enough to travel for work and having lived in different continents – he has a more cosmopolitan approach to design, compared to other local designers.

Lastly, coming from a contractor family, he has some basic knowledge on how to do certain things. During his school holidays when he was 15, he did things like brick lying and such. With this hands-on experience, he understands to a certain degree the level of difficulty in implementing design elements.

He also works with a great team of contractors who are willing to experiment and try new things.

From his in-depth discussions with them on construction matters, they help him improve in areas of finishing and material choices.

Arjan’s overall aim is to work on projects that allow him to experiment and push boundaries.

This means that often the firm need a slightly higher budget to work with and require more time to execute their work.

As a designer, the firm are limited as to what owners allow them to do and to what level they can experiment. So, Arjan’s aim is to have something unique in each project he undertakes. While he prefers to work with the same team of contractors, he does take on projects with different contractors – so he can see how other contractors work and finish their projects. This can result in sometimes learning something new or finding areas for improvement. On these projects, there is always a collaboration with an architect or an engineer – so Arjan believes it is good to bounce ideas off and learn from other professionals.

To stay relevant and see what is new in the market, Arjan tries to stay at boutique hotels when travelling (since they are often more creative and show personality versus the large chains) and visit places that are innovative. He thinks that innovation in design can be found everywhere, and it’s good to expose yourself to new trends.

Innovative solutions to maintain success “You always have to stay true to your own design aesthetics, but you also have to be critical and see areas for improvement” Arjan

believes. When he designed his own home in 2009, he had a certain design approach – if he would do it again, he would make drastic changes to the overall flow of his home. Maybe not in the design look and feel, but more in the functionality of the home.

One of the best compliments Arjan has received was from a client that said it was so easy to live in their new home. Simple things like where a power socket is located – in the right place for the right function. This means that as a designer I imagine how the space will be used and that it will function optimally.

The most successful project to date Success can be measured on many different things and mean something else for everyone Arjan says. To him, some of the best projects are measured on the joy of the owners – not only when they move in, but also during the process of renovation.

Arjan is currently working with a couple and they have a lot of fun in the process – while the project has not been completed yet they have already recommended three friends. To Arjan, this means that he is delivering beyond what they are expecting – not only on design but also in service delivery. This project allows him to experiment with new materials and new design aesthetics. This is very exciting to him.

On the other hand, Arjan did a project in 2010 that was a Star Wars inspired home. This home was featured in multiple magazines, newspapers and on several TV shows. So, if you would measure ‘success’ on exposure, then this would be one of the top projects. However, although there was a lot of exposure, Arjan did not get a lot of repeat business from it, while other projects gave rise to more referral business – so from a business perspective, he would regard his other projects as more successful.

g Improving Your Lifestyle

The future of the industry Arjan thinks we are on the cusp of some drastic changes in design and aesthetics. Interior design changes very slowly, so he thinks these changes will be slowly implemented over the years to come. To him, the whole ‘open plan living’ concept will be redefined in the future. He has never been a fan of total open plan living, and he thinks a lot of clients also see the disadvantage of it after having lived in open plan homes for a while. His personal view is that each room has a function and purpose, and while we try to blend these functions – some sense of separation will start becoming the norm.

For Arjan’s projects, he can see more semi open plan features, featuring dedicated areas for work and study, relaxation and cooking. He started using back an enfilade approach to kitchens, bedrooms and master suites, and he believes this will be the major trend in interior architecture.

Large areas that can be divided up if needed to create purpose build areas.

Living in a land scarce country like Singapore – space becomes a luxury, so Arjan thinks people will want to maximise their space and find innovate solutions towards furniture, storage and multi-function rooms.

Future aspirations for Aiden T Arjan would really like to expand the company with some new staff – ideally, designers that have a complementary design approach and aesthetic, so the company can be full rounded.

This would enable him to focus on designs that appeal to him and strengthen my knowledge and push boundaries within my designs. Personally, Arjan would like to shift from pure interior architecture and design to integrate elements how people can enhance their overall wellbeing through interior design.

His aspirations for Aiden T is to become a brand that people are looking for not only to design their homes, but to improve their lifestyle.

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A Solid Foundation BSF Solid Surfaces Ltd is a family run business known for quality and attention to detail and recognised within the Solid Surface industry, as a specialist, three-dimensional thermoforming fabricator of the major brands of Solid Surface, including DuPont Corian©, LG Hi Macs, Avonite, Staron and Hanex; a unique and versatile material used for reception desks, tea points, retail display counters and units, counter tops and many other applications.

We invited the firm’s Nicola Barden to reveal more.

Projects that BSF have been involved with vary greatly from some very simple to others of a more complex nature. This reinforces our versatility and flexibility as a fabricator. Contracts we have been involved with include office refurbishments, hospital and healthcare fit-outs, night clubs, bars, hotel fit outs, retail, restaurants and high end luxury residential development, however, we are not limited to these areas.

When undertaking a new client or project what approach do you use to ensure the best possible outcome?

When working with any customer, new or established, we endeavour to provide a first-class service, seeking all pertinent information at the outset and utilising our expertise in both the industry and the materials that we offer in our portfolio of products.

What sets you apart from other companies in this industry? What marks you out as the best option for your clients?

We offer high quality products with often very tight deadlines, at a competitive price. We have the knowledge and understanding of the industries we work in, and the products we work with, enabling our clients to have peace of mind when we are

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involved with a project. We are versatile and can and do work on many different types of projects, for varying types of customers, from furniture companies to construction companies.

What are your overall aims and what strategies do you employ to achieve these?

Our overall aims are to maintain and grow our business, in a profitable and reasonable manner. As a family run business, we aim to maintain a family feel with our staff and work very closely with our customers and suppliers, giving them the assurance that things are under control as we offer a first-class service to all our customers, new and old, small and large.

We stay ahead of the crowd by firstly maintaining our position as a quality fabricator, whilst embracing new developments and investing in the latest technology, tooling etc. We have invested significantly in tooling to enable us to achieve finishes, shapes and other items that other fabricators would not consider.

These include the project we were and remain involved with at Forbury Place, whereby we have produced ‘propeller blades’ made as curved pieces, hung from wall to ceiling.

Within the wider industry, how do you distribute your knowledge and experience (for example, do you speak at industry conferences

or write literature on your area of expertise)?

Within the wider industry, we have a website, blog and online presence with LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest, where we offer information and advice.

What has been your most successful project to date?

What has been the most important thing you have learnt from working on this?

We consider that we have a number of successful projects and would struggle to limit ourselves to just one successful project, however, we were particularly proud of our involvement with Forbury Place, NAPP Pharmaceuticals, Royal Court of Bahrain and London Transport Museum, as we are of our continuing, ongoing involvement with Rathbone Square and Victoria St. All of these projects differ in their remit, and are and have been challenging, requiring skill to produce to the quality and time constraints required.

We were also involved with NAPP Pharmaceuticals where we were commissioned, working in conjunction with DLD Bespoke Solutions, who we often partner with, to produce a reception desk, manufactured to emulate a large white tablet. This required extensive thermoforming to the outside, drawers and other visible areas and was a very complex piece to produce.

What does the future have in store for your industry?

How do you see your market changing over the next 12 months?

Our market has been seeing significant growth within the last few years, although we have suffered with dips. It is affected by fashion trends and economic shifts, especially within the Construction Industry. We try to work within many different types of areas i.e. offices, student accommodation, health and welfare etc to ensure that we do not pigeon hole ourselves, as one of our key strengths is that we are versatile and happy to undertake challenges. It is difficult to foresee the challenges ahead, especially given recent political changes; however, we are determined to continue pushing ourselves forward as much as possible.

What are your future aspirations for your company? Do you have any plans or projects you would be willing to share with us?

Our future aspirations for our company are to maintain our position and growth within our industry as a quality, family run fabricator of all the major brands of Solid Surface.

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A Solid Foundation

Company: BSF Solid Surfaces Ltd Name: Nicola Barden Email: sales@bsfsolidsurfaces.com Web Address: www.bsfsolidsurfaces.com Address: 22 Tallon Road Hutton Industrial Estate Brentwood, Essex, CM13 1TJ Telephone: +44 (0)1277 263 603

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The Possibilities Are Endless CEO of the Year – USA was awarded to Cass Brinkman of All Weather Services, Inc, who we invited to tell us about his responsibilities as CEO, what his company does and how he manages his workforce.

It is Cass Brinkman’s responsibility as CEO of All Weather Services, Inc to ensure the overall success, continuation and growth of the organisation. He determines what is working and what is not working, by regularly reviewing the updated statistics of all facets of the company. If a statistic is down, he believes it must be set right at once, or else it will turn into a bigger problem further down the line.

All Weather Services, Inc is a residential, outdoor remodelling company. They build wood and composite decks, covered decks, screens, patio covers, patios (including decorative concrete, pavers and flagstone), fireplaces and fire pits, stone masonry, pergolas, lighting and under deck ceilings.

2017 is their 10th year in business, indeed over the years they have seen many changes.

Price increases on materials, composite manufacturers coming and going, stiffening code requirements and Canadian cedar subsidies overridden by the US International Trade Commission (hiking overall cedar prices by 20% overnight) are just a few fitting examples.

In terms of managing staff, Brinkman firmly believes that, “people need to feel respected

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and needed or they tend to do less than their best.” He adds, “I try to inspire my staff in order to bring out the best in them.

They have skills and those skills can be put to use more effectively when they feel like part of a team, take pride in their achievements and are respected as the invaluable people that they are.”

“We are an award-winning company with 19 Super Service Awards from Angie’s List, 7 Best of houzz Awards, a 5-Star rating on Decks.com and an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, to name a few. We pride ourselves on offering the best customer service in our industry and are interested in created long term relationships.”

The key to the firm’s success is that “we always adapt to change and stay ahead of the curve” Brinkman reveals. “We take bad news and figure out how to turn it into good news. We determine how much business we are trying to take on and then take the steps necessary to achieve that goal. We never give up and we do not consider it possible for us to do otherwise than succeed” he goes on to say.

“In 2013, I created a second corporation in this industry; RainOut, Inc. It is a manufacturing company that ships Under Deck Ceiling panels and kits (as well as other related products) all over the continental United States. This is an exciting new venture and would not have been possible without the success and support from All Weather Services, Inc.”

Brinkman then goes on to reveal what sets All Weather Services, Inc apart from other companies in the industry and what marks them out as the best option for their clients.

“We are the largest deck builder in our market. We have an extensive portfolio of work throughout the entire city. From the very beginning, we planned to be the best and have had professional photographers documenting our achievements throughout the years as a result.

Looking at the future for the industry, Brinkman says that in terms of the market outlook for the next 12 months, “construction will fortunately always be a relevant category in the service industry due to endless population growth. This is a stable industry to be in.

Success is certainly achievable, but not guaranteed. The success or lack thereof is up to those running the company and no one else. Failure is not caused by an economy, but rather, by poor management alone.”

On the future of the firm itself, Brinkman says that they plan to continue to grow All Weather Services, Inc within the Kansas City market for many years to come. The firm’s national growth efforts and expectations will be the focus of their newer corporation, Rain-Out, Inc. he reveals, before offering his reflections on the 10-year journey he has taken with All Weather Services, Inc. “My first year in business was as a completely new start-up company. My second year in business, I was able to almost seven times the total revenues of the previous year and held that new standard of sales for the next several years. My seventh year in business, I increased that number by more than two times and have held in that new range ever since. We will achieve similar increases once again in the near future. The possibilities are endless.”

g The Possibilities Are Endless

Company: All Weather Services, Inc Name: Cass Brinkman Email: cass@allweatherdecks.net Web Address: www.AllWeatherDecks.net Address: 9324 W 54th St, Merriam, KS 66203 Telephone: +1 913 206 1974

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More Than Just a Pretty Façade Comar Architectural Aluminium Systems is the largest British, privately owned aluminium systems company in Europe. We’ve profiled these innovators in design to learn more about the secrets behind their success.

Comar designs, extrudes and distributes over 700 integrated profiles to a nationwide approved fabricator network for use in aluminium curtain walling, window, door and ground floor treatment applications.

The firm has built its reputation on delivery, and as such over £5m of mill, white polyester powder coating, silver, bronze and anodised profiles are kept in stock. This ensures that 99% of orders are fulfilled by its customers’ weekly delivery.

Leveraging the vast industry expertise and reach of its parent group, Comar is able to offer clients so much more than just aluminium solutions. The Parkside Group incorporates Comar Architectural Aluminium Systems, Alu-Timber, Axim and Duco Solar Shading & Ventilation. This provides a unique opportunity for specifiers and fabricators to rely on a single source for architectural aluminium systems, hardware and ventilation control products.

Drawing on this vast network, Comar has been able to attract some of the most talented Project Managers, who specialise in providing architects and specifiers with project support and NBS specifications, on the market. Therefore, once Comar has been specified as

28 BUILD / April 2017

the supplier for a particular client or project, a nationwide network of approved fabricators ensures the successful completion of projects. Comar Project Managers can provide fabricators who specialise in commercial, new, refurbishment or public building work.

Among the firm’s recent success, the University of Birmingham’s new Chamberlain Hall Student Accommodation, an impressive example of regeneration which is in keeping with the landscape as well as providing all essential capacity growth for the future.

Consisting of 2 linked tall towers at 17 at & 21 stories and 5 “finger” blocks.

With the modern financial implications of studying and attracting international students, accommodation needs are changing. The University of Birmingham now has a building which gives good quality architecture and a landmark to Birmingham’s skyline that advertises the quality of the institute to perspective students and their parents.

Feasibility studies indicated that to increasing the density could not be achieved with the existing floor-plan therefore a new building was commissioned. The design concept was to maintain the links to the previous building tower yet create a design that

was modern, light; creating a place where students would want to live, socialise and study.

The Façade concept was to ensures that the palette of colours is sympathetic to the landscape, using rich coppers, and an intelligent use of brickwork the building merges into the landscape and maintains cross corridor views to the lake.

The façade had to provide function as well as form.

Day-lighting is vital to aid with studying, no dark gloomy corners, a light and airy interior is desirable. Natural ventilation was a must, however, in keeping with the structured façade openin windows were required fronted with ventilation panels, to allow ventilation yet not impact on the façades integrity, maintaining the clean lines and sleek elevations.

Making the façade work and integrate with all the cladding elements involved Comar designing new methods of fixing.

The flush façade was a must and all the elements: Comar Glazing, Mesh and Copper panels needed to integrate.

One of the engineering challenges on the project was the connection of the perforated copper cladding panels to the Comar 6EFT curtain walling.

This connection had a few considerations, such as the

metals being at opposite ends of the galvanic table, aesthetic demands, thermal performance and the structural considerations of loading panels to Comar 6EFT curtain walling Continental Installations worked closely with Comar and main contractor Balfour Beatty on the complex façade. The team designed a bespoke capping profile which was extruded with re-enforced walls capable of fixing the copper panels directly to it. A heavy-duty pressure plate with a fixing port arrangement, was used to mechanically fix the capping to the pressure plate.

Subsequent regular fixings then transmitted the applied loads back to the rear structural mullion member to ensure there was no thermal bridging. All connections were fully isolated to prevent bimetallic corrosion.

This bespoke design then included inward full height opening windows which sat behind the façade, Comar 5Pi Advanced Tilt/Turn open in windows were selected.

These windows were perfect for the application as they offer slim sight-lines, thus maximising daylighting as well as the profiles themselves have thicker walls that provide robustness and large spans to ensure they stand the test of time.

On the window elements Comar 5Pi Advanced Tilt/Turn open in

g More Than Just a Pretty Façade Company: Comar Architectural Aluminium Systems Address: The Willow Centre, 17 Willow Lane, Mitcham, Surrey, CR4 4NX, United Kingdom Phone: 020 8685 9685 Fax: 020 8646 5096 Email: projects@parksidegroup.co.uk Website: www.comar-alu.co.uk

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windows were selected. These tilt/turn windows are perfect for the application; they offer slim sight-lines to maximise day-lights as well as the profiles themselves have wide wall thicknesses that provide robustness to ensure they stand the test of time. The wire mesh fitted directly onto the window.

The five finger blocks were sited to draw people through the buildings and connect with the landscape beyond. Full height windows were selected, again, from the Comar 5Pi Advanced Tilt/Turn range. Fritted glass was used to the bottom of the glazing, allowing light, but prevents items below the desk being seen from the outside. The use of bay windows provides a feature to the building’s facade and views of the landscape for occupants.

At upper levels, again to maximise views, study bedrooms have splayed bay windows, a feature in the original 1960s Mason Hall.

The success of this project highlights the level of excellence Comar aspires to at all times, and moving forward it will continue to offer the very best service and most innovative aluminium solutions possible in order to build upon its current achievements and support even more clients over the months and years to come.

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A Holistic Approach Leif Petersen talks to Build about his firm and how he stays ahead of the curve with his holistic strategy.

Since 1977 Petersen arkitektkontor has been active in healthcare facility planning with more than 60 hospital projects, both national and international, under its belt. These include several large complex health care constructions like: • Herlev Hospital Denmark in partnership with Vilhelm Lauritzen architects • Glostrup Hospital Denmark in partnership with Vilhelm Lauritzen architects • Eastern Hospital Gothenburg • Womens clinic 50 000 m2 • Sahlgrenska University Hospital Gothenburg • Eksjö Hospital • Medical and Surgical clinics 60 000 m2 • Rågården Gothenburg • Forensic Psychiatry 30 000 m2 • Kalmar County Hospital Petersen architects and Liljewall architects have been partners in the healthcare sector since 2013 with a staff of 170 people and offices in Gothenburg, Stockholm, Malmö and Buenos Aires.

The team is one of Sweden’s leading architectural firms in the healthcare sector with the skills, techniques, ability and resources to handle the largest and most complicated tasks in the healthcare construction sector.

Leif Petersen tells us more about the firm’s approach when taking on-board a new client or project.

“We give the client access to employees with a holistic, architectural, technical, functional, economic and environmental approach, great enthusiasm and many years of experience,” states Leif.

“A project group is put together by dedicated employees with the right skills and experiences in similar projects and an action plan is drawn up for the projects operation, resource addition, quality and environmental plan, including project cost control and risk management.

“All employees are working with the forefront of today´s CAD/ IT environments and BIM is a natural part of planning.”

The internal culture at Petersen is holistic and it is through this approach that the team is able to come up with practical suggestions and detailed instructions.

“We have the ability to see the project from this perspective and to encourage and recognize different customer preferences,” Leif explains. “We are able to cooperate with other specialists in the construction phase.

Our goal is to understand the customer´s requirements and preferences and help the client to formulate problems and visions and contribute to defining future requirements, development and organization. We have a close dialogue with the client and different user groups to analyze, question and develop the requirements and wishes to reach a common goal.”

To ensure he stays ahead of the competition and at the forefront of any emerging trends in the industry, Leif gives regular presentations at national and international conferences, as well as lecturing about healthcare planning at technical colleges and universities.

There are several projects underway currently for Petersen, including the Eastern Hospital Gothenburg Women´s clinic, Scandinavia’s largest Women´s centre for maternity and neonatal care. However, Leif has two specific projects in mind which stand out for being interesting and the most successful.

The first is the New Emergency House at Sahlgrenska University Hospital Gothenburg. It features an emergency unit, X-ray department, surgery unit with 25

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theatres, cardiac intensive care, and in-patient and outpatient facilities and totals 30 000 m2. It was Leif Petersen´s last project in employ of White architects Gothenburg, and it is a prizewinning project which helped kickstart Petersen arkitektkontor. The building features a strict graphic façade in warm red brick with playful stainless steel screens.

The second is Highland Hospital House 11 Eksjö. Highland Hospital features an overall white, stylish functionalist design and the building includes a women’s clinic and surgical clinics as well as occupational therapy and physiotherapy departments.

Leif describes it as “a temporary home that brings joie de vivre to the weakness of the patient and a comfortable daily environment for the hardworking staff.”

With regards to the future, Leif sees continuous business development for the firm.

“The Swedish healthcare facility sector is in an intensive and expansive stage. Our 30 year in the health care area has given us an extensive experience and knowledge, where our global sphere of influence has expanded and that of leadingedge technology has given us a comprehensive insight into the future of research and ideas.

“We are a team of dedicated consultants from various disciplines, which together create a resource- efficient and robust hospital with low environmental impact. Healthcare is constantly evolving and today´s health care does not look like yesterday´s and how the future of health care looks like we do not know.”

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A Holistic Approach

Company: Petersen Arkitektkontor Name: Leif Petersen Email: info@petersenark.se Address: Odinsplatsen 1, 41102 Gรถteborg, Sweden

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A Triple Award Winning Structural and NonDestructive Testing Business How did Intratest come about?

If there is one thing that I have learnt over the past 15 years in the structural testing business, its accurate and meaningful results are of fundamental importance.

Why do I say this?

Simply because, the reason behind structural testing in the first place, is to check the integrity of the various structures being tested, to ensure potential defects do not pose a risk to those using them, or passing near them if they are part of our environment.

After all, one thing, all of us deserve is to be safe in the knowledge that the equipment we are using, the buildings we live in, or frequent, and the infrastructure we rely on for transport is built, and maintained to the highest possible standards always.

In 2012 I was presented with the opportunity of creating and developing a structural testing business based on my core values and beliefs, summed up in three simple words ‘Integrity Based Solutions’.

So Intratest Ltd was born.

What services does Intratest Offer?

Intratest’s services include: • Standard Non-Destructive Testing • Specialist Non-Destructive Testing • Electrical Testing & General Maintenance

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Specifically, aimed at the street lighting and highway industry sectors, where we focus chiefly on our Standard Non-Destructive Testing service that uses the ColcheK™ system, a specialised, non-destructive inspection tool for the detection and estimation of corrosion damage near and below ground level in lighting columns and similar structures.

It essence it measures any reduction in the thickness of street lighting columns, in the high stress zone, where any loss of metal thickness can significantly reduce the strength of the column, and may eventually lead to collapse.

As with all our services, we also carry out a visual inspection of every street lighting or highway column being tested, checking for signs of corrosion, paint flaking, visible deformation and even holes caused by moisture penetration and neglect.

The results of these testing services are recorded, analysed, and using our risk assessment process, developed inhouse over many years. With each column given a risk category that indicates life expectancy and retest periods. Enabling us to develop meaningful asset management programmes for our customers, that help them manage their budgets to maintain the street lighting columns under their control.

We also continue to develop our Specialist Non-Destructive Testing service, again for the street lighting and highways industry sectors, which

encompasses testing of high masts, flanged and bridge mounted columns, traffic mast arms and gantries and motorway safety barriers. Various testing techniques are used depending on the structure being tested and include Ultrasonics, Magnetic Particle Inspection, Ultrasonic Thickness, Dye Penetrant and Flooded Member, to assess the integrity of structures on our highways.

Both these services are complimented by our Electrical Testing and General Maintenance services, that includes electrical fault finding and minor repairs, high mast maintenance inspection, along with LED replacement projects.

Resulting in a well-rounded set of services to our customers interested in maintaining their street lighting assets and other metal structures on the highways and byways of Great Britain.

All these services are underpinned by our commitment to our ‘Integrity Based Solutions’ approach in the shape of making sure all those involved with the provision of our services, being experienced, competent and compliant with various industry standards.

to uphold our belief in ‘Integrity Based Solutions’ and continue to drive up standards in our industry. Something that can be seen from our certifications, registrations, memberships •

•

•

•

• •

•

The National Highway Sector Scheme 8 for The National Highways Sector Schemes for Quality Management in Highway Works 8 (NHSS 8) The Quality Management Standard ISO9001: 2015, achieving transition from ISO9001: 2008 well ahead of the curve for our industry The Occupational Health & Safety standard BS OHSAS 18001: 2007 Registration to the Highway Electrical Registration Scheme (HERS) Member of the Highway Electrical Association (HEA) Corporate member of the Institute of Lighting Professionals (ILP) Achilles Building Confidence - Level 3 attained

Along with maintaining connections to the British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing.

However, to cap off one our most successful years yet we are proud to say we are a triple award winning business

Including HERS for the street lighting industry, and qualified PCN Level 2 engineers for all our Specialist Non-Destructive Testing services.

“Best Street Lighting Maintenance Specialist & award for Excellence in Non-Destructive Testing – Dorset” – Construction & Engineering Awards 2016

What sets Intratest apart from other companies in this industry?

We are proud of our commitment

“Most Outstanding Street Lighting Maintenance Specialist” – AI Global Excellence Awards 2016

g A Triple Award Winning Structural and Non-Destructive Testing Business

Company: Intratest Ltd Email: sales@intratest.co.uk Website: www.intratest.co.uk Address: 5B Store & Secure House, Yeomans Way, Castlepoint, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH8 0BL Telephone: 01202 530166 | 07795 903858

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“Engineering Excellence Award for the UK” – Build News 2017 What direction is Intratest moving in now?

Since Intratest’s inception we have found ourselves specialising more and more in our Non-Destructive Testing services, as this is where much of our experience lies, and is a market place that provides us with a platform for continued growth and development opportunities.

Providing those responsible understand the clear distinction between cost, value for money, and the risks associated with cutting corners because of cost.

From our point of view accurate and meaningful Non-Destructive Testing should not be based on cost alone, there is too much at stake in terms of potential hazards and their associated risks.

Therefore, one of our key development opportunities is to find ways of engaging with our potential customers, especially those new to the world of NonDestructive Testing to make sure they are making evidence based decisions, when it comes to selecting suppliers, that may well save them money in the long run.

So, we take a multi-pronged approach to this by • Engaging with our customers, to firstly find out exactly what their objectives are, and identify what they need tested, so we can make sure the right NonDestructive Testing technique is used

•

•

Liaise and mentor them, where needed, throughout the project to increase their knowledge and understanding over time Offer them a Free Workshop so we can explain, and demonstrate some of our Non-Destructive Testing techniques

Encouraging them to realise that

“There’s more to Structural and Non-Destructive Testing than Meets the Eye.” Helping them understand that Structural Testing is used to check the integrity of street lighting columns, and other metal structures to ascertain the risk of collapse, that may cause harm to persons, or property, and that testing methods must identify the risk of failure, the need for periodical retesting and or removal, and replacement of dangerous structures.

Furthermore, we make sure they understand that it is important that Structural Testing uses a variety of Non-Destructive Testing Techniques, to identify hidden defects (i.e. corrosion, cracks, and faulty welds), that can adversely affect the integrity of the street lighting columns, or other metal structures being tested, and that the process should always start with a Visual Inspection, and end using the relevant Non-Destructive Testing Techniques for the structure being tested.

For instance, •

•

Measuring reduction in the thickness of the street lighting column wall, at or below ground level, using low-frequency electromagnetism.

Specialist techniques, such as, ultrasonics, magnetic particle inspection to check welded joints

Reiterating the importance of clearly identifying what structure is being tested, and make sure that the tests used do not adversely affect the integrity of the structure being tested.

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As well as, in making them aware that they may need more than one test in certain circumstances to be able to accurately assess the structure being tested.

This is of importance when it comes to Mechanical Load Testing that some accept as the only method of testing required. Something we do not understand, especially as it involves measuring deflection of a lighting column under load, which although only minimal, and matched to normal stress incurred under windy conditions, could inadvertently lead to hidden defects mentioned above being made worse.

Surely the better approach is to apply a combination of truly Non-Destructive Testing Techniques, based on a professional approach, that involves operators with the correct, long-term experience, and relevant qualifications, who use the correct equipment for the job in question.

Only then can they be assured they are receiving accurate, and meaningful reports that enable them to manage their street lighting assets, and other metal structures in an ongoing manner.

Furthermore, if done effectively local authorities may be able to manage their budgets more effectively.

How do you make sure you create innovative solutions to maintain your success?

We are in continual discussions with our suppliers, subcontractors and organisations such as the British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing, to identify potential areas for improvements to our services.

Furthermore, we are committed to always using top of the range Non-Destructive Testing equipment. So are confident we are at the forefront of technological advances and best practice.

What does the future have in store for the industry?

For some time now the street

lighting industry has embraced a sustainable future, and is in the throes of converting to LED lighting solutions, with the main driver being a marked reduction in energy costs, which is a good thing.

Furthermore, there are also advances being made in the so called SMART lighting solutions that will result in many street lighting columns being monitored remotely, so helping manage ongoing maintenance requirements.

Although this will lead to an overall reduction in maintenance costs, it remains to be seen how quickly all will be rolled out across the country, and what cost saving will result in the long-term, especially in terms of Non-Destructive Testing, that we believe will be present for many years to come.

We will certainly be keeping a careful eye on developments, and be proactively investigating opportunities for developing the services we offer in our NonDestructive Testing services within the street lighting industry and beyond.

What are the future aspirations for your company?

To continue to develop close associations with like-minded businesses to extend our services in the field of street lighting and highways industry sectors, and other markets that can benefit from our Specialist Non-Destructive Testing techniques.

To continue to push the boundaries on existing perceptions and attitudes by ensuring all work is carried out to the highest possible standard, in a straight forward, no-nonsense and honest manner, connected to our Non-Destructive Testing services.

Ensure that our customers benefit from our approach and rest easy in the knowledge that whatever we test, we do it to the highest possible standard always.

Triple Award Winning Structural Testing Business

With over 25 years of experience in structural testing and maintenance, we offer straight forward, no-nonsense, professional advice and solutions to those involved in the management of street lighting assets, other highway metal structures and more.

We use truly non-destructive methods, including the ColcheK test which measures any reduction in the thickness of the column wall using low-frequency electromagnetism Our fully qualified PCN Level 2 engineers are highly experienced and reliable We are committed to raising standards in our industry and are: - Certified to the National Highway Sector Scheme 8 through ISO9001 - Certified to ISO9001: 2015, well ahead of the curve for our industry - Certified to OHSAS 18001: 2007 for Occupational Health and Safety - Registered to Highway Electrical Registration Scheme Specialising in non-destructive testing, our tried and tested techniques give us the ability to test all types of metal structures in different industries We only use top-of-the-range testing equipment, including ‘A’ specification scanners to ensure results are meaningful and of a high standard We eliminate the pain of managing your lighting assets by monitoring re-test periods after the initial testing activity, thereby putting in place a proactive approach to your Asset Management Cycle that helps you to manage your budgets more effectively

5B Store & Secure House Yeomans Way Castlepoint Bournemouth Dorset, BH8 0BL BSI Cert No: FS60766 HERS Reg No: SSR539 OHSAS 18001 Cert No: OHS 660317

Our fees include a

at no extra cost, unlike many of our competitors

We Create Emotions That Sell

Creating a smart virtual reality application for both real estate developers and architects, Grandpano studio have designed a solution which allows clients to take a look inside unbuilt properties and make them feel as though they are actually there.

grandpano.com

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Quality, Not Quantity Property Management Awards – Austria winner IMMOTOTAL is a modern Austrian company headquartered in Vienna, specializing in the marketing of mainly residential exclusive and luxury properties (apartments, condos, penthouses, homes, villas, plots of land) and various commercial real estate. We spoke to Michael Spiess, CEO to find out more.

“Quality, not quantity”: Individual, personal support by way of a target group-oriented

approach and an intentionally narrow inventory of properties.

This allows your real estate professional to place 100% focus on your property. Your valuable property does not get “lost in the masses”. We do not want to simply show real estate on our website - we want to sell.

For now, your property will be offered to customers from our extensive and well-kept proprietary database, which is composed of individuals from all professions who appreciate

the high-quality presentation of IMMOTOTAL homes.

You will benefit from extensive placement of your high-quality property in various Internet platforms and in print media. We emphasize perfect presentation in the medium of the internet, but we also advertise intensively in conventional sales channels, e.g. daily newspapers, magazines, etc.

We have partnerships with lawyers and notaries, financial institutions, banks and chartered accountants.

This allows us to offer our customers an optimally bundled, complete package. When you buy (or rent) a property from us, you receive not only the contract formulation and notarial processing but also attractive financing and information on tax issues.

IMMOTOTAL goes globally.

We are member of the OVI (Austrian Real Estate

Association) and member of the most important international real estate associations like FIABCI (International Real Estate Federation with actually 65 member countries), CEI (Confédération Européenne de l’Immobilier), NAR (National Association of Realtors) – the biggest broker association in the US, as well as member of the worldwide CIPS-Network (Certified International Property Specialists).These memberships provide access and opportunities for our business in gaining knowledge, information sharing and conducting international business with other real estate professionals.

As we focus on the highest quality standards and always serve our customers, we are very successful and we would love being also at your service for your personally real estate dream in Vienna, Austria.

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The staff at IMMOTOTAL are a committed team of experienced and highly trained real estate brokers, seamlessly handles of all the agendas resulting from the sale or rental of high-quality properties.

Professional and service-oriented support for clients and buyers is our highest priority.

Company: IMMOTOTAL Immobilientreuhand GmbH Name: Michael Spiess, CEO Email: info@immototal.at Web Address: www.immototal.com Address: Schwedenplatz 2/51, A-1010 Vienna, Austria Telephone: +43 1 886 88 88

BUILD / April 2017 37

BSF Solid Surfaces Ltd

Solid Surface & Acrylic Stone

BSF Solid Surfaces Ltd is a family run business known for quality and attention to detail and recognised within the Solid Surface industry, as a specialist, threedimensional thermoforming fabricator of the major brands of Solid Surface, including DuPont CorianŠ, LG Hi Macs, Avonite, Staron and Hanex; a unique and versatile material used for reception desks, tea points, retail display counters and units, counter tops and many other applications.

www.bsfsolidsurfaces.com

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Elaborate, sophisticated and Aesthetically Pleasing Debbie Flevotomou Architects recently enjoyed the status of achieving the Luxurious Developments in the UK award, under the 2016 BUILD Awards. community. A landmark is the best way to kick-start regeneration in an area and draws in more investment. This effect is known as the ‘Bilbao Effect’ (referring to how a new Guggenheim museum brought the world’s attention to Bilbao) and it is a win-win situation in every case.

Parametric design is still a new trend in the built environment with recent examples showing property prices increasing from 20-60%. This is because parametric design is elaborate, sophisticated and aesthetically pleasing; it is the difference between a building and a landmark. The design is marginally more expensive but it has a proven record of delivering larger returns on investment as well as favourable publicity.

What Is parametric design Parametric design describes a design process based on algorithmic thinking that enables the expression of parameters and rules that define, encode and clarify the relationship between design intent and design response. Parametric design is free from the constraints of straight lines and square angles resulting in curves. The concept is not entirely new and goes back to Andrea Palladio and Frank Lloyd Wright however, advancements in technology have made it possible to do while being cost effective.

Our clients aim to build a beautiful and commercially viable building that benefits the area and wider

Examples of good design The redesign of Tower 42 in London, a concept that has not been realised yet, has won four international awards and was featured in several magazines.

The reasoning behind it, is not only from its iconic nature, but also from design efficiency.

The concrete core, as it stands, occupies a large proportion of the floor plates which leaves a relatively small amount of viable space. The new design would expand the floor plates through the introduction of a clever facade without changing the existing structure.

The past Debbie Flevotomou received her training from the prestigious company Foster+Partners and follows the same guidelines on outstanding service. The design process revolves around making use of all the space while breaking free from the conventional boundaries of ‘square’ architecture. Services involve frequent meetings and workshops with clients so that major decisions can be made to the client’s preferences and satisfaction, of which my firm considers to be the first and foremost priority.

The new facade is designed to carry the load to the ground allowing for the larger floor plates to be increased by 30% making the tower more commercially viable. Additionally, this visually stimulating design is different from every viewing angle. A communal garden is implemented every 10 storeys assisting with the natural ventilation of the building and the occupants’ amenity and wellbeing.

The future We now have a new partner in North America with the aim of further expanding. Having past projects in Africa and Middle East, the large market in North America can benefit from such unique designs. From a client’s perspective: unconventional yet beautiful architecture, if executed correctly, can lead to great success!

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It is not a secret any longer that we broke the record for winning awards on International Designs for 2016, which has raised the profile of our projects increasing their value (and profits) for the clients we serve.

Company: Debbie Flevotomou Architects Name: Debbie Flevotomou Email: debbie@debbieflevotomou.com Web Address: www.debbieflevotomou.com Address: Main Office:1 Berkeley Street, Mayfair, London, W1J 8DJ Satellite Office: 21-24 Millbank Tower, Pimlico, SW1P 4QP Telephone: +44 (0)20 3592 0537

BUILD / April 2017 39

Make your deck an All Weather Deck.

All Weather Decks, The Right Deck @ The Right Price

All Weather Decks’ builders have been constructing Kansas City decks for more than 10 years. We believe that you deserve a quality custom deck and handrail that will last for years to come at a price that you can feel good about today.

www.allweatherdecks.net

ID170039

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Getting a Handle on Antiques Best Replica Antique Brassware supplier 2017 – Optimum Brasses. We are now in our 35th year of trading, making exact replicas of brass handles and fittings from period furniture and houses originating from the 1660’s to the 1960’s and later. used by the late Victorians. The growing popularity of our ranges show that our design heritage is still firmly appreciated by a sophisticated market.

Our early customers were antique dealers and furniture restorers – and we still service these trades. Now, in the 21st century we also work extensively for interior designers, bespoke kitchen and replica furniture

makers, builders, architects and anyone else who wants a perfect replica or copy in brass.

Optimum now has an archive of more than 10,000 moulds.

From this archive, we service customers in the UK, America, and 40 other countries both to match surviving originals and to recreate the fashions of the past or to complement modern design.

A number of skilled processes are required to fulfil Optimum’s standards. The original object has to be encased in a silicone rubber cube: once set, this is cut expertly so that exact wax versions of the original object can be formed using this cube as a mould. These waxes are then converted into brass using one of the lost-wax processes. The brass castings are later carefully, individually finished by hand and then, for most customers, aged to replicate the patina of old

brass. We use a fuming process to achieve this rather than the impermanent and unpopular lacquering methods used in mass production.

Wherever possible, we work with our customers to make perfect replicas which also function effectively when they fit them. An example of this co-operation are the upholstery pins that we make for the Palace of Westminster: the heads being exact replicas of the originals, while the shanks of the pins are of a fit- for- purpose, easy- to- use modern design.

In October 2016, Optimum became an Employee Owned Business. Employee ownership is a route being taken by a growing number of businesses – it being an effective way of securing both jobs and skills.

This move has best secured the future of the company, the preservation of its archive and the continuity of its service.

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These items, often representing the cutting edge of design and fashion of their time, are given a continuity through our catalogues. The award given to us by Build Magazine is therefore a tribute to the design traditions of the past from the classical simplicity of a plain brass knob from the 1770’s to the confident traditions of the design motifs

Company: OPTIMUM BRASSES Ltd Name: Nick Savage - Managing Director Email: info@optimumbrasses.co.uk Web Address: www.optimumbrasses.co.uk Address: Unit 1, Upstairs, Global Park, Station Road Bampton, Devon, EX16 9NG UK Telephone: + 44 (0)1398 331515

BUILD / April 2017 41

Life is in the details

aiden-t.com

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Blurring the Lines Between OEM and Aftermarket Parts Branded replacement parts manufacturers are increasingly “acting” like OEMs in approach to quality control, utilization of sophisticated measurement systems and adoption of lean manufacturing techniques to produce consistent, high-quality parts

This trend, largely motivated by the goal of producing consistent and high quality parts, and thus eliminating the one “knock” on aftermarket parts, is the result of the increasingly blurred line between OEM and branded aftermarket supplier.

Expediting Equipment Repairs Republic Diesel sources engine parts for Caterpillar, Detroit Diesel and Cummins engines from an array of trusted aftermarket brands. The company has been serving the diesel engine market with machining services since the industry’s inception.

Services typically involve disassembling engines that have been removed from heavy-duty equipment used by customers in the construction, mining and natural gas industries. In addition to typical machine shop services, such as resurfacing cylinder heads or welding and refinishing crankshafts, Republic Diesel also notifies customers about which engine parts should be replaced.

In most cases, the customers purchase those parts from the machine shop and install them when the engine is returned.

“Most of our customers in the construction market use Caterpillar equipment,” says Hal Hamilton, an inside rep for Republic Diesel. “When those engines require replacement parts, we normally recommend parts or kits manufactured by Industrial Parts Depot (IPD), which covers a lot of different engine models, and has a lot of inventory stocked at distribution warehouses.”

IPD, headquartered in Torrance, CA, manufactures and distributes a broad range of replacement parts for Caterpillar, Cummins, Detroit Diesel, Volvo and Waukesha engines. Products include such popular items as pistons, cylinder liners, valvetrain, engine bearings, and gaskets.

Hamilton says the sale of engine parts has become a significant source of added business for his company. “With today’s challenging economy, many of our customers don’t carry spare parts or engines, so our machining and parts supply services are vital to them getting up and running as soon as possible.”

It is also vital that service shops such as Republic Diesel retain its customers’ trust and confidence.

Hamilton says that sourcing engine parts from suppliers such as IPD helps to meet that need, mainly because of the consistent quality and ready availability of products.

The company has completely redesigned its steel piston and cylinder liner production processes, incorporating lean manufacturing concepts and new production methods that ensure consistent quality, speed production throughput, and cost savings.

They also incorporate in-process quality control with customdesigned “universal gaging stations” at each operation in its steel piston production line, requiring all features be checked 100% within machining cycle time without affecting productivity.

This trend of branded aftermarket suppliers pushing the boundaries to ensure they have comparable product is sure to continue.

For more info, contact IPD, 23231 Normandie Ave., Torrance, CA 90501; Phone (310) 530-1900, Fax (310) 530-2706, e-mail sales@ipdparts.com or visit the web site www.ipdparts.com

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Over the past 60 years, the acceptance of replacement parts suppliers for engines used in the heavy-duty construction industry has evolved significantly. Today, the quality, availability, coverage and warranty of products from branded aftermarket suppliers are increasingly rivaling those of their OEM counterparts.

For More PR Information Contact: Carlo Chatman, Power PR Phone (310) 787-1940 Fax (310) 787-1970 E-mail: press@powerpr.com

BUILD / April 2017 43

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Spatial Awareness Sasha Cuff of architectural firm rpa:group talks about areas of specialism and the firm’s dynamic approach.

“Our Architecture Division is a member of the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists, says Sasha Cuff of rpa:group. “The team’s working philosophy focuses on how people use and enjoy buildings and the spaces created between them and our work spans a range of sectors from retail, leisure and education, to residential developments. This embraces new-build, fit-out and refurbishments, from small one-offs to projects in excess of £250m.” rpa:group adopts a multi-step process, in which it listens to clients to get a full understanding of what they want and need to achieve. The firm will then assess and consider this with a pragmatic approach, working to challenge ideas and refine the vision with insightful proposals.

“Collaboration plays a major part

in our process, during which we apply our multichannel expertise and our commercial awareness,” says Sasha. “Most importantly, we ensure that we maintain consistency across all sectors.

Our flexibility and our multidisciplinary approach enables us to get results that create impact and drive commercial success.

“Finally, it is our attention to detail that ensures that accuracy and quality is maintained and delivered at all times.”

Rpa:group is clearly set apart from the competition not least due to its plethora of major industry accreditations such as CIAT, DBA, APM and IIP. Such awards and accolades as these reassure clients that they are dealing with a company that meets the highest standards and upon whom they can rely to deliver accordingly.

“We also use the latest drawing technology such as Autodesk REVIT Architecture (BIM), during the design and detailing process, and we are able to model environments in 3D, improving coordination and collaboration across the design, architecture and PM teams as well as the clear and accurate communication of the design to the client,” explains Sasha.

“When it comes to project planning, our extensive experience and knowledge base enables our clients to achieve the best possible outcome to their project, by ensuring that the entire delivery process is dealt with expediently and efficiently.”

Within the wider industry rpa:group is a regular speaker

44 BUILD / April 2017

at international industry events like Euroshop and Retail Design World and the Indian Retail Forum. Similarly, it is often asked to comment and share insights in relevant publications ranging from Build to Retail Week, Retail Design World and Blueprint.

“We have a robust and global track record, working in partnership with our clients to deliver innovative, practical and profitable solutions across all five continents,” comments Sasha. “We deliver inspirational and effective built environments through an approach that is underpinned with an unrelenting realism and a thorough consideration of function, aesthetics, buildability, sustainability and affordability.”

There is no specific project which rpa:group can classify as an overwhelming success, but rather all of its projects are equally successful in their own right.

“Whether it be the repurposing of a redundant 1960’s office block into luxury student accommodation, or helping our client Tommy Hilfiger continue to grow internationally in evolution and design, or helping roll out

Water Babies on a global scale, all our skills and experience and informed decision making come together to make these projects a success.”

Sasha finishes by telling us what he foresees for the future of the industry and the future of the firm.

“We work across many sectors but focusing on those in which we trade most, we would say that: Food &Beverages and Leisure will continue to grow apace in 2017. In the Residential sector we are seeing real dynamism in high-end student accommodation and also a boost in new build homes as first time buyers continue to drive the market. In Retail, we will see a continued progression towards stores that deliver not only a sense of theatre but also the last word in technology.

“During 2017, we will continue to deliver UK and European projects for our long-standing international clients, and will also be strengthening our ties with India and beginning work on several large projects in mainland China.”

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rpa:group provides a broad span of services, which range from architecture to retail design and project management.

The firm works globally for clients as diverse as the London 2012 Olympic Games to Tommy Hilfiger and Adidas.

Company: rpa:group Name: Sasha Cuff Email: s.cuff@therpagroup.com Web Address: therpagroup.com Address: 51-53 Church Road, Ashford, Middlesex TW 15 2TY, UK Telephone: 44+ (0)1784 256 579

creative minds: practical people

therpagroup.com

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46 BUILD / April 2017

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