BUILD October 2016

Build Magazine: October 2016

Dr. Andy Khawaja, Builder of Visions, Lays His Mission Bare - Page 28

Also in this month’s issue...

Gloster MEP: Supply Chains and the Buoyant Market in London - Page 18 UK Flood Barriers: The Future of Flood Defence - Page 64

Avalon Building & Decorating Contractors: Setting Aims and Establishing Priorities - Page 34 Dribuild: Strength through Affordability and Flexibility - Page 52 Mutlow Architects Industrial Renown, International Presence - Page 13 www.build-news.com

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Editor’s Letter Welcome to the October 2016 issue of BUILD Magazine.

Over the last month, the team here at BUILD have been working to bring you a representation of the foremost representatives of the construction industry today.

On an international level, construction markets are on the up and up. As the technology curve continues to steepen, the construction industry has undergone a critical reevaluation of how it operates; innovation is a more important function of construction than ever before. The technological curve is something that firms can ill afford to fall behind on, and the enhanced ability to collude with clients through digital means has, among other things, encouraged closer collaboration between companies on particular projects, which is exemplified through the continued proliferation of the methodology known as BIM. Financial technology, or FinTech, is one particular area in which the construction industry must look to participate.

The charismatic CEO of Allied Wallet, Dr. Andy Khawaja, takes time to explore the impact that his company has had over the last decade, as fintech terms continue to search for ways to benefit the construction industry.

Looking to the future of the construction industry, there are a number of essential tasks that face firms, and which require innovative individuals and teams to make a meaningful difference. One particular issue for the UK, being an island nation in the somewhat tempestuous North Atlantic, concerns the need to develop a flood defence market based around proactive solutions. Two such firms, UK Flood Barriers and Peter Brett Associates, lend their voices to this discussion; this key industry has made substantial advances over the last few years, but more work remains to be done.

Alongside that, more nuanced industries provide a glimpse into the increasing need for specialised markets in the construction industry, each with its own unique set of challenges and means by which to overcome them. From helicopter landing pads to solar panels, and to doors and doorframes, no one market in this myriad assortment ought to be overlooked as construction professionals around the world continue to innovate and determine a clear direction for our future.

We hope that you enjoy this latest issue of BUILD Magazine.

Contact the Editor: George Millar George.millar@ai-globalmedia.com +44 (0) 203 725 6842

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Contents

4. News

41. Steelwork Giant gets Fit for Nuclear

Architecture

Manufacturing & Supply

12. Head and Shoulders Above the Competition

44. In the Limelight of Photovoltaics

13. A Sense of Inspiration

46. A Family of Innovation

14. Elegant Vision, Robust Design

49. JPro Services 67. Double or Nothing

Construction 18. Informative Consultancy & Progressive Service 19. Chiselling a Presence in the Bronx

Personnel 52. Strength, Prosperity, and Adaptability

20. Robust Support for all Clients 21. Practicality About All Else

Real Estate 56. London’s House Price Extinction Tracker

Design 24. A Crystallised Approach 25. Collaborate for A Better Tomorrow

Sustainability & Eco 60. Efficiency, Safety, Responsibility

Finance 28. The Pioneer of E-Commerce Solutions

Interior Design & Decorating 34. Capital Construction Coordination

Investment 38. Paraplanning Support Set to Step Up at Seven Investment Management 40. Green Light for New Norwich Student Housing Celebrating City’s Unique Link with the Beatles

62. Putting the Future First 64. The Consultant’s Consultant on Flood Defence 66. Looking to the Future 67. Transforming Our Idea of Solar Energy 68. Mygardenschool Enables Anyone, Anywhere, to Design Their Own Garden with New Beginner’s Online Garden Design Course 70. Kebony Cladding Exceeds Expectations 72. Energy from waste: at a crossroads

74.Winners’ Directory

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News New Atletico Madrid Stadium Is First in the World to Have LED Pitch, FaçAde and Hospitality Lighting from Philips Lighting Philips Lighting, a global leader in Lighting, and Atletico Madrid has announced an agreement to supply the lighting of the club’s new stadium in the Spanish capital. Under the agreement, Philips Lighting becomes Atletico Madrid’s official lighting partner for the next four seasons where the new stadium will be the first in the world to benefit from Philips ArenaExperience.

Philips Lighting has attained a reputation for delivering innovations that unlock business value, providing rich user experiences that help improve lives.

Serving professional and consumer markets, we lead the industry in leveraging the Internet of Things to transform homes, buildings and urban spaces.

With the Philips ArenaExperience multi-purpose LED stadia lighting system, Atletico Madrid, one of the most successful football clubs in the world, currently ranked fourth in the UEFA Rankings, will harness the power of lighting to create a lasting impression for its visitors, both outside and inside the stadium. The system will encompass LED lighting for the pitch, stadium façade and hospitality areas.

Miguel Ángel Gil, Atletico Madrid’s CEO commented on the agreement. “Philips is an ideal partner. Its respected corporate profile, and position at the forefront of global LED lighting technology, guarantees that our fans will be able to enjoy the best lighting experience in our new stadium.”

“We are proud to be able to play a part in the history of Atletico Madrid by lighting the new stadium, said Josep Martínez, CEO of Philips Lighting Spain and Portugal.

The lighting is designed specifically for this new space and takes light to another dimension. He added, “It brings the stadium to life for fans from the moment they approach it from afar - to when they enter and experience the new ‘Neptuno’ premium hospitality area – right through to vivid illumination of a match on the pitch as well as on TV screens at home.”

Atletico Madrid’s new stadium, with a 67,000-seat capacity will be equipped with the most innovative LED lighting technology from Philips Lighting. The pitch, access areas, facade, roof and the Atletico Madrid Premium and VIP hospitality areas, called Neptuno, will all be served by digital LED lighting, offering the best light quality and a new level of excitement, thanks to the system’s dynamic nature.

The dynamic lighting makes it possible to project the teams’ colors at each match, giving an extra stimulus to the fans as they enter the stadium. Also, the system can change the lighting color when a goal is scored or to create light shows designed specifically for each occasion.

The spectacular roof that is to be suspended above the pitch at the new stadium will be equipped with Philips VayaFlood LED lighting which can display more than 16 million colors. Philips VayaFlood, in conjunction with the new façade lighting using dynamic Philips ColorKinetics, will together create dazzling lightshows for visitors. Moreover, this dynamic lighting system can interact with the facade lighting or be operated independently.

The new Philips ArenaVision pitch lighting system with 336 Philips ArenaVision LED floodlights which will illuminate the pitch from the 2017-2018 season. The lighting will guarantee maximum quality for television transmission and meet the latest LaLiga, UEFA and FIFA broadcast standards. At the same time, these floodlights can be switched on and off instantaneously

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or synchronized in light shows, to create a spectacle not only before and after a match, but at half-time too.

The Atletico Madrid Premium ‘Neptuno’ and VIP hospitality areas will be equipped with the most efficient, high-quality LED lighting which is expected to deliver energy savings of more than 60 per cent compared with conventional technologies. Visitors will feel the quality and warmth in these areas, improving the sporting experience at every single match.

Moreover, equipped with many lighting options, the new stadium will be able to adapt quickly and easily to meet the needs of different types of events from football matches to concerts.

This will result in additional revenue and also, it will help Atletico Madrid to increase the average visitor stay at these events.

All of the technological developments in its lighting will ensure that Atletico Madrid’s new home is one of the most innovative, leading-edge stadia in the world, and a new iconic landmark on the Madrid skyline.

Over the last 60 years, Philips Lighting has been in the vanguard of sports stadia lighting, for pitch lighting and access, façade, VIP areas and even specialist horticultural lighting to grow grass. Lighting transmits feelings and strengthens the emotions that are experienced in these locations. Over 65 per cent of major sports stadia and 55 per cent of football stadia in the world are equipped with lighting technology from Philips Lighting.

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Track11 Releases UK Airport Expansion and High Speed 2 Plan Track11 has developed a plan for expansion of Britain’s airport capacity, and a complementary plan for a variant of High Speed 2 much better integrated with the existing railway system than HS2 Ltd’s version. Although neither the airport expansion plan nor the HS2 plan is contingent upon the other, they do share the strategy of linking airports by rail, and together they could form the basis for an integrated transport plan for the entire nation.

The Airports Commission have recommended expanding Heathrow.

Track11 regards the Airports Commission’s final report as ill informed, greatly overestimating the value of hubs because of misconceptions about how they work. It also ignores the potential for value capture. And though it advocates spending tens of billions of pounds on new runway construction, it only recommends modest spending on surface transport improvements, mostly on measures that add nothing to connectivity. Track11 takes a different approach, aiming to maximise the benefits of airports with a cheaper, more dispersed solution, giving a much greater attention to road and rail links to airports. It also has a stronger long term focus, with recommendations to cater for every plausible scenario throughout the rest of this century.

The Track11 HS2 plan would enable high speed trains to commence operating sooner because, as with HS1, the easy to construct part would initially be accessed via an existing route, in this case the West Coast Main Line. It could cut the London to Birmingham journey time to under an hour far sooner than the official plan, and the ultimate journey time would also be lower. It would also support a more intensive service, and directly serve more destinations. And the most controversial section of the route (through the Chilterns) would be avoided.

Without the imperative to complete every tunnel between London and Birmingham before the trains start running, there would be more time available to bore the tunnels. Because of that, more of the tunnels could be constructed in series. This would give significant cost savings because fewer tunnel boring machines would be needed, and because TBM crew productivity improves with experience as the crews learn how to get the best results from their machine.

It should be stressed that the Track11 HS2 plan is only a variant of HS2. Most of the Track11 HS2 alignment is exactly the same as the HS2 Ltd version. Where there is a difference it is to address a defect or shortcoming in the HS2 Ltd plan.

But most of that plan is adequate, and switching to an alternative plan that starts from scratch (such as the HSUK plan) would cause lots of unnecessary delays while failing to ultimately give better results.

Track11 itself is an Adelaide-based transport engineering consultancy business, and is not affiliated with the British communications company Track Eleven Limited.

Heathrow Airport claim the changed economic conditions stemming from Brexit mean that the economy needs a boost which they are best placed to deliver.

Track11 agrees with the sentiment but profoundly disagrees with the conclusion.

Better infrastructure is desperately needed, but efficiency is more important, and it makes sense to work with what we have and be wary of projections based on illogical assumptions.

The plans are on the web at http://airports.track11.com.au/ and http://hs2. track11.com.au Contact aidan@track11.com.au

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City Leaders Must Take Control of Own Energy Future Cities have more power to secure their own cleaner energy supply than they realise a new study by Arup, released today at the 23rd World Energy Congress, shows. Growing cities, already accounting for over 50% of global energy consumption, can no longer afford to rely on a centralised energy supply and will need to take greater control to meet growing demand.

The Arup “Innovating Urban Energy” perspective paper provides insight for the World Energy Council Scenarios Report and shows that new technologies, innovative financing mechanisms and political changes are opening up opportunities for cities to secure their own energy. Technology drivers, such as advanced power electronics, smart metering and local generation, are allowing cities to diversify their energy portfolio.

Transactive energy is highlighted as an approach to change the way energy is bought and sold. This combines economic and control mechanisms to enable a dynamic balance of supply and demand using value created as a key operational parameter. It is allowing cities to develop lower cost, more stable networks capable of handling a much greater share of renewable sources. This particularly applies to electricity, but the report identifies that account needs to be taken of the other energy vectors. Many cities have existing energy and transport infrastructure that need integrated planning. Not all energy can sensibly arrive as electricity from renewable sources so other vectors such as district heating and hydrogen gas networks have a role to play in this integrated planning.

Crucially these technology developments are blurring the line between producers, distributers and consumers by allowing non-traditional energy players, such as technology companies, to enter the market. Corporates are increasingly looking for opportunities to become power producers in the new urban energy rush and could become significant contributors in the future.

At the same time the study points to the growing role of civic leaders in climate change action, indicating that cities are increasingly willing to enter a sphere traditionally reserved for national governments. The report shows that civic leaders can succeed without national policies in place,

highlighting that many will have the mandate to act even when central government does not. A renewed interest in municipal energy companies in Germany, for example, is cited as evidence of the growing confidence of local authorities looking to secure their own cleaner energy supply. New financial products – such as green bonds and crowd funding – are also opening up new sources for cities to fund their own energy initiatives.

The report also highlights growing recognition of the relationship between urban planning and energy efficiency. Rapidly growing cities in Asia and Africa are urged to look to spatial planning to help reduce energy usage.

“City leaders are increasingly understanding that if they are to continue to grow and to improve the lives of their citizens, they will need to play a more active role in securing their own stable and low

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emissions energy supply. It is an exciting time because there are big technological and political shifts that are giving cities the opportunity to take control. And, increasingly, for businesses there is an opportunity to become energy prosumers; producing their own energy and even supplying cities. We are helping civic leaders and companies around the world to understand the opportunities and what will work both technically and pragmatically within their local contexts.” – Ian Gardner, Arup Global Energy Leader.

Brands 2 Life Tom Dockar-Drysdale 111 Buckingham Palace Road, London, SW1W 0SR +44 (0)20 7592 1200 +44 (0)7949514456 www.brands2life.com

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Gough Bailey Wright Launches Eye-Catching Website for Key City Development Site Full-service Midlands-based marketing agency Gough Bailey Wright has been appointed by Birmingham City Council’s property team to help promote a brand new development opportunity in the heart of the city.

Sue Bailey and Michelle Wright joined forces in 2003 with one mission; to make Gough Bailey Wright the most respected independent marketing agency in the region. Since their management buyout in 2005, the business has gone from strength to strength, more than doubling in size and evolving to provide the full suite of marketing disciplines. Today, the team is integrated across four key departments; PR & Social Media, Creative & Digital Services and a specialist Property PR team.

The award-winning agency has launched an exciting new marketing campaign aimed at attracting developers’ attention to the site.

Liam Davies, Business Centre Manager of Birmingham City Council adds, “Working with GBW has been a real pleasure. They have enabled the council to look at new, exciting and innovative ways of marketing property. This project has created a real buzz and anticipation of the development opportunity within the marketplace and feedback has been very positive locally, nationally and internationally.”

GBW’s services are driven by its core values of creativity, integrity and passion - values that have helped the agency rack up 19 industry awards in the last seven years. Originally established in 1936, Gough Bailey Wright is the longest-running

The centrepiece of the campaign is a bespoke website - fifty5hollowayhead.co.uk - containing video elements and aerial shots showcasing the site in the context of Birmingham’s evolving profile.

The brief was to devise an imaginative and innovative way to catch a global market with the new opportunity, highlighting the development potential of 55 Holloway Head, currently occupied by Lee Bank business centre. The site is perfectly located close to The Mailbox, with New Street Station and Arena Central just around the corner.

Using drones to capture the site from all angles, the agency created a showcase video and a tailored website, completely rebranding the opportunity in the process.

Sue Bailey, managing director comments, “Birmingham is absolutely bustling with building activity at the moment, and this site represents a fantastic new opportunity for developers, so it was exciting to work with Birmingham City Council’s Property team to create something innovative. I’m very proud of what we have created and congratulate our team. I’m confident that 55 Holloway Head won’t be on the market for long!”

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independently owned marketing agency in the West Midlands. It is one of only a handful of IPA (Institute of Practitioners in Advertising) agencies in the region. The agency serves clients throughout the UK and internationally, and offers clients across the Midlands the benefit of unrivalled regional expertise.

Gough Bailey Wright St Johns House, 16 Church Street, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, B61 8DN (01527) 579555. www.gbwpropertypr.co.uk

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We can help you with your design , building regulations, thermal bridging, system selection and installation. We also can provide advice for certification, advice on grants, SAP calculations, water calculations, carbon emission and full heat loss calculations.

For more information call us on 01189 303600 or email us on admin@xpertenergy.co.uk

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MANAGING GROUND RISK FOR YOU S M Associates provides a comprehensive ground investigation and consultancy service for all types of construction and development from private housing to major construction projects.

Ground risk remains the largest contributor to construction delays, contractor claims and increased costs. In extreme cases unmanaged ground risk may result in catastrophic failure and loss of life, yet experience shows even relatively minor project incidents can have a disproportionate impact on construction, safety, programme and costs.

We will support your project from inception to construction through: •

Detailed Project Management.

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Adherence to Construction Design and Management Regulations 2015.

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Development of the Ground Risk Register

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Planning of the Ground Investigation appropriate to the Ground Risk.

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Implementing a cost effective but thorough Ground Investigation.

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Pro-active approach to reducing or eliminating the Ground Risk by producing fully-engineered designs for all stages of the construction cycle.

MANAGING GROUND RISK FOR YOU We believe that project culture, partnering arrangements and a genuine cooperative approach to risk management yields significant benefits.

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PROJECT MANAGEMENT GROUND INVESTIGATION GEOTHERMAL INSTALLATIONS

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CONTAMINATION ASSESSMENTS LAND APPRAISALS GEOTECHNICAL DESIGN

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Architecture

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Architecture

Head and Shoulders Above the Competition Paul Vick architects, which holds a 100 per cent planning permission success rate on over 100 permissions including new build, listed and unlisted buildings, has a commitment to research. In addition, by creatively bringing together forward-looking technology and knowledge to advance a broader knowledge of architecture, the practice aims to deliver beautiful buildings with improved performance to meet clients’ short and long term needs. stablished by Paul Vick in 2007, the practice’s major driving force is based around a desire to see architecture embrace the demographic, environmental and technological opportunities of today. Nine years later, their reputation within the industry is stellar and the precision with which the firm go about their projects is second to none despite its youth.

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Originally from near Dartmoor, in the southwest UK, Paul graduated from Cambridge University, UK in 1991. After a year in professional practice based in Paris, he undertook his second degree in architecture at Oxford Brookes University, UK with an exchange to Washington DC, USA for eight months. Concurrently, he set up six months of fieldwork at Tsinghua University, Beijing, PRC during which time he completed his Masters in Development Practices, before returning in 1996 to establish his own firm.

Paul’s experience has included projects addressing some of the most significant commercial, cultural and social challenges in Europe, including The British Museum Masterplan, The Whitecity development and Portcullis House. A variety of projects in UK, USA, Hong Kong and PR China including cultural, education, health care, offices and retail, sports facilities, light industrial and residential also form part of the portfolio.

The entire catalogue of Paul Vick’s work, both public and private, reflects a level of skill, devotion and experience that is not specifically restricted to one single project, but is representative of the firm as a whole. As Paul Vick commented, “we want to provide a deeper experience of what architecture can be, with the aim of making it attractive and relevant for longer. This improves our clients’ assets accordingly.

“Our initial input is often strategic and is a review with the client about whether the aims of the project align with their wider intentions.

The practice’s first public work, a theatre and ICT suite, was RIBA shortlisted, as well as the practice being shortlisted for Architect of the Year.

Strong technical skills delivered a building that has subtlety and a powerful identity.

“We identify where value lies for our clients’ industries now and in the future. We then work with clients to locate and define the opportunity and create an architecture that delivers this cultural transformation.”

A house that does away with the myths of low energy and sustainability also demonstrates Paul Vick’s determination to break new ground within the industry. Sustainability is understood in many ways and as well as meeting low energy AECB standard, the home is for ‘First Age’ to ‘Third Age’ living. The tactility and attention to detail of the work is again evident.

Paul Vick wrote a vision for the Diocese of London and the practice has been working for a number of years on the well-known, Grade Two, C19th St Paul’s Knightsbridge in Westminster helping define its future architecturally. The integration of art, its logistics as a public building and a social response see a new civic face being developed.

Other work includes the development hub for Innovation Warehouse/ Corporation of London at Smithfield Market. Both formal and less formal spaces are used. Innovation Warehouse has delivered a number of profitable businesses.

Designs for a mini-department store for ‘the oldest retailer in the world’ just off Bond Street and designs for possibly the largest daylight photographic studio in the world is also ongoing.

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Paul Vick Architects boast an extensive background in research, which has been ably applied to the firm’s work on buildings in private, cultural and commercial sectors, giving unprecedented experience. “We do not assume that because it has been done one way before that it will suit your project this time. From an outline brief, feasibility studies follow, more design, tender and a presence on site. A pragmatic approach and strong industry links give us the tools to innovate to the benefit of any project, large or small.”

Asked what the best thing a client has said about their work, Paul Vick concludes, “the client’s hugely satisfying comment on completion: ‘I didn’t know design could do this.”

Company: Paul Vick Architects Name: Paul Vick Web Address: www.paulvick.co.uk Movies: www.youtube.com/paulvickarchitects Address: 80 - 82 Chiswick High Road, London, W4 1SY Telephone: +44 020 7993 6573

Most Innovative Architecture Firm, West London

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Architecture

A Sense of Inspiration John V. Mutlow Architects Inc. is a multi-disciplinary architectural company committed to the design of buildings that will endure the test of time. Their portfolio of work encompasses a wide variety of buildings in the commercial, educational, health and residential sectors whilst focusing on senior and family housing. ohn V. Mutlow, the founder of the firm, is nationally recognised for his work, leadership and lectures on housing; he practices architecture in Los Angeles and is a Professor of Architecture at the University of Southern California (USC), where he is currently the Chair of the Graduate School and was the Director of the Advanced Program from 1991- 94.

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For the past 30 years, Professor Mutlow’s architectural practice has focused on the design of affordable senior and family housing, with an emphasis on social considerations. Housing projects include senior, special-needs, workforce, farm worker and family housing. Projects also include adult (senior) centres, childcare centres, community centres, private schools, historic renovations and single-family residences. More recently, John has broadened his experience to include schools, as a member of the LAUSD Design Advisory Council, and worked on projects which include Woodland Hills Elementary Private School and MTA Transit Tots East.

Other projects of note include the design of two residential communities that contain civic, childcare and kindergarten buildings, as well as recreational facilities. For instance, the Hoover InterGenerational Child Care Centre, which was finished in June 2016, was conceived and developed as a response to the children’s need for a familiar and appropriately scaled home environment, and as such is laid out as an educational tool and awareness symbol for the children.

“The entry pavilions are “gateways” to the village; the village green and amphitheatre is the central focus and functions as the visual and spiritual ‘heart’ of the school; the colonnaded walkways are the ‘streets’ that link the village elements together; the ‘village hall’ is for community meetings and afterschool classes, and is the prominent public building.

Mutlow Architects has also demonstrated a keen interest in providing housing that is both affordably and appropriate for the older generation, whilst preserving the scale and mass of the existing conditions of historic buildings. Bearing testament to this is the site for Laurel Place, in West Hollywood; a pre-existing house dating back to 1914 had been

extensively remodelled into a four unit building in 1941, with a two-story structure and a high roof.

Now, with a built-up residential area surrounded by multifamily rentals and condominiums being established, and the area surrounding the housing site being being developed into a public park, the opportunity was ideal for Professor Mutlow to leave his unique stamp. “The predominant design concept is dictated by the need to protect and respect the existing locally designated historic structures and landscaping while creating housing appropriate for use by seniors and disabled persons... the courtyard space between the new and existing building is designed as the central social space. The stairs, access balconies and two social balconies all overlook, and therefore engage this courtyard space.”

Other notable projects, focussed within the Hispanic and Latino communities of Los Angeles, have led Mutlow Architects to establish new and bourgeoning professional exchanges with architects in Mexico.

“Continuing relationships with clients on several projects is the direct result of the client satisfaction with the professional services, which only John V. Mutlow Architects can provide. The firm also has extensive experience working with governmental agencies at the state and local level.”

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In addition, Professor Mutlow has made his presence known across the globe, with a series of ongoing projects in Asia. Tapping into this pool of opportunity has spurred on a number of new projects for John V. Mutlow Architects; these include the development of a series of prototypical designs for Daito Trust, a striking Japanese development consortium, an innovative mixed-use project in the Philippines, and a bold new office building in South Korea.

Mutlow Architects prides itself on providing a sense of inspiration to its inhabitants. Underlying each project is the basic philosophy of searching for a timeless solution, whilst encouraging a synthesis of human values and aspirations.

The common occurrence is elevated to a special occasion. To accomplish this transformation, a delicate balance between a set of performance criteria, a mixture of appropriate aesthetics, efficient space utilisation and social interaction is obtained. As the priorities of these issues are redistributed from one program and context to the next, the end result is a unique solution.

Company: John V. Mutlow Architects Name: Professor John Mutlow Email: mutlow@gmail.com Web Address: www.mutlowarchitects.com Address: 2536 N. Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, California 90027, USA Telephone: +1 323 664 4373

Ones to Watch for 2016:

Architecture

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Architecture

Elegant Vision, Robust Design Robert Rowett Architectural Services is a well-established practice based in Lostwithiel, Cornwall, with a longstanding reputation for providing quality architectural and planning services. The practice is committed to promoting an architecture with integrity and sound design principles, and their portfolio comprises of a wide variety of schemes ranging from work on listed buildings, conversions, extensions and new build developments for both residential and commercial projects.

Established in 1991, the company was born out of the singular vision of Robert Rowett. As a member of both the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists and the Association for Project Safety, with over 35 years of experience in the construction industry, the establishment of his own practice since inception has seen it grow steadily, employing a small team of dedicated staff.

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“We have a proven track record of innovative designs, effective problem solving and attention to detail. Our goal is to meet and exceed the expectations of every client,” Robert states. “We take on all types of jobs from small domestic work to commercial projects, all carried out to the highest standards.

“Our company prides itself on the delivery of sustainable architectural design solutions,” Robert says simply. Placing a great deal of importance on the contextual nature of his firm’s proposals, he firmly believes that strong conceptual design is backed with elegant robust detailing.

The firm now works on a variety of projects – from private houses, extensions, listed buildings and barn conversions to small residential developments and a range of commercial work, including hotels, residential homes and industrial buildings.

“More recently, we have taken on interesting projects such as the extension and alteration of a Grade II Listed house and conversion of barns near St Veep, Cornwall and the conversion of a hotel to apartments, along with eight new-build residential units, in a Conservation area in Mevagissey. The latter was recently granted Planning Permission after long negotiation with Cornwall Council.”

Robert and his team endeavour to promote principles of sound design and sustainability in architecture.

This process requires an acute understanding of the site, materiality, quality of construction, the economic viability of the project, and its prospective future use.

Furthermore, a number of core themes guide the evolution and direction of all of the firm’s undertakings: • • •

Understanding the site through surveys and topographical surveys, Minimising energy use in transportation, The use of local, natural and re-cycled materials,

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Employing robust and efficient construction methods, The involvement of the local community, Simulating environmental qualities through digitalisation, from conceptual design to detailed construction drawings, Implementation of Building Information Management (BIM)

The latter is especially important to Robert, who recognises that BIM has become more and more the fulcrum of conversation in the building industry.

“We use a variety of CAD software to ensure that architectural designs and specifications are efficient.”

The biggest aim, in Robert’s mind, is for the company’s clients to be happy. Having received ISO 9001:2008 quality standard accreditation for its management systems in 2008 has certainly helped him to continually improve his systems and make good on this pledge.

“With the help of our ISO 9001:2008 accreditation, in the last few years we have cut down our paper consumption by a large percentage, instead using digital methods of checking and marking up drawings - which is ultimately good for the environment.

Stage approvals are now sent out to clients before submissions of drawings to any local authority, these help us to keep on top of client satisfaction and mitigate problems before they arise.

“We can provide our services during any or all stages of your project, from inception to construction, and will tailor them to suit your specific needs. For example, we can advise on design options, prepare the necessary drawings and documents to obtain full planning approval, or if you already have planning permission, we can develop your approved drawings to add construction information to obtain Building Regulations approval.

During construction work we can undertake contract administration, site inspections and issue Architectural Certificates to satisfy mortgage companies.”

Robert highlights one particular incidence where these practices came into full realisation: a project based around the design and implementation of an EcoHouse at Trevarrick Road. “A new energy-efficient dwelling was required to replace an existing dilapidated prefabricated concrete bungalow with pleasant views to the southeast across the townscape. Our clients desired a home to accommodate them and their four children, but without building higher.

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“The existing bungalow was demolished, and the solution to the lack of space was to build into the ground of the sloping site. This concept hid the majority of the house from view, helped insulate the ground floor and as an added bonus the new ridge height was lower than the original bungalow, pleasing the neighbours. Living rooms and main bedroom are located on the upper floor with folding glazed doors onto a large terrace to take advantage of the views and southern orientation.

“The proposal was a ‘fabric first’ approach, well insulated and airtight to require minimal heating. Heat is provided via an Air Source Heat Pump with underfloor heating and was designed to minimise energy use. The clients did not want to install photovoltaic panels but this is always a future option on the southern facing roof.”

By working with clients and creating solutions, all documents are verified under the discipline of the ISO 9001 Quality Standard and everyone in the office is encouraged to keep up to date with technical literature and maintain continuing professional development. “We try to add a personal touch to our projects,” Robert concludes. “We are not a large office, we work directly with our clients to make sure they are happy and are rewarded when we receive ‘thank you’ messages and cards. We are happy to evolve and move with the times, as a testament to this one of our biggest sources of advertising is word of mouth, with several of our clients having been referred to us by the recommendations of previous customers.”

Company: Robert Rowett Architectural Services Name: Robert Rowett Email: help@rr-as.co.uk Web Address: www.rr-as.co.uk Address: 2B Old Amenity Building, Restormel Estate, Liddicoat Road, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0HG Telephone: 01208 873323

Best Architectural & Planning Services Firm – Cornwall & Best Cornish Eco House Design: Trevarrick Road

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Architecture

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Construction

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Construction

Informative Consultancy & Progressive Service GLOSTER MEP Ltd. is a Central London-based firm that truly holds an advantageous position in their market. As a medium-sized Mechanical and Electrical Contractor company, they service the Residential and Commercial sectors in the beating capital of London, providing fast-track mechanical and electrical fit-out services that facilitate the progression of a project from concept to completion. The firm, headed by the unflappable and professional Mark Aldridge, provides outstanding value for money, bringing expertise to every project from design to snag-free completion: starting with their, ‘handheld’ design and build processes, through to their engineering solutions tailored to suit clients’ budgets. ith the UK construction market being so buoyant, especially in the City of London, one of the biggest risks that a contractor can face is over-trading whether it be Supply chain or Clients. As a business, Gloster MEP has overcome this challenge by strategically choosing not to become attracted to growth (without capacity) Mark sees growth without effective capacity as a large risk, especially given current trends.

is committed to meeting our clients’ requirements at all stages of the fit-out process. We have worked with some of the leading names in construction, and the success of Gloster is based on building long-term relationships with our clients.”

The high value and rapid turnover of commercial space in today’s property market means that speed and efficiency are vital for successful fit-outs. Gloster uses the latest techniques in prefabrication and modularisation to provide high quality workmanship leading to excellent results. As Mark states, “we adopt a safe-hands contractor strategy and take our clients’ problems as our own.” Having such a personal stake in the project ensures that Gloster’s performance remains detailed and informative, every step of the way through the project.

These principles have served Gloster well – the firm has found a constant stream of work in the capital, with projects involving a variety of buildings – from banks such as HSBC, China Construction Bank, Commonwealth Bank of Australia and BNP Paribas, to student accommodation such as the Nido building.

Mark, however, modestly states that “no one project has been more successful than any others, as there are many Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to monitor that make up a successful project.”

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“We have a far better attitude about solving clients’ problems and taking responsibility, as we continually monitor our Customer Satisfaction Scores to ensure we stay ahead of the field.”

To back up their personal interest in the clients’ requirements, Gloster adopts the latest techniques and technologies in their projects, such as 3D modelling, prefabrication and modularisation, to bring clients fault-free, seamless project delivery every time. As the amount of equipment required by today’s buildings increases, the ability to prefabricate and use modular systems means that Mark and his team can achieve high quality work in a relatively short space of time, which contributes in no small effort towards their market-leading position.

“Our experts understand the full life-cycle of a building and we work to ensure that services can easily be accessed by facilities management for regular maintenance. Our goal is to provide safe, productive and comfortable spaces for clients. Gloster

“As you have probably guessed, we are incredibly selfcritical – we see this as our most positive trait, as we never rest or have time to stagnate.”

“We learn from all of our projects, about how we can do better and what has changed from the market inwards to constantly stay ahead.”

That said, there are a number of standout case studies that Gloster MEP seems eager to draw attention to.

Part of the challenge of working as a Mechanical and Electrical Contractor in the City of London is working on buildings that could date back over 150 years such as Royal College of General Practitioners HQ in Euston or Rochelle School, on Arnold Circus, which is a Grade II Listed building that comprises three Victorian buildings first built in the 1880s – Gloster was tasked with providing Mechanical, Electrical and Public Health (MEP) services to new office space for Frieze, organisers of Frieze Art Fair and publishers of Frieze magazine.

The new open-plan office space, designed by Quinn Architects, accommodates workspace for 30 or more people, with further meeting rooms, kitchen and library; the second-floor office, meanwhile, is built within walls that previously enclosed a rooftop playground. The sum total of this project is a reflection

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of Gloster MEP’s trustworthy credentials when it comes to their consultancy experience, as the project was delivered on time and within budget.

To Mark, success stories such as this are, at least in part, down to an ability to manage staff in a way that is effective, responsible, and constructive. “Set clear guidelines, collaborate on an even level, and lead from the front,” is his only advice in this instance.

As for himself, a stoic determination to always remain professional, non-confrontational, proactive and flexible, go a long way in keeping Mark in touch with his employees and clientele, so they never lose sight of the bigger picture.

“We are constantly trying to make ourselves the best by cultivating new relationships and continually providing the most user friendly MEP solutions,” he says. “We are making headway in achieving this, by constantly working out in the front of the field, collaborating and continually pushing the boundaries.

“We want to increase our organically-grown staff ratio from 74 per cent to 80 per cent, as we see this as the key to being known as the best company with the best people and, more importantly, the best attitude.” This is a central notion of Gloster’s ambitions to become a market leader of organicallygrown regeneration at all levels, from Apprentice to Engineer.

Company: Gloster MEP LTD Name: Mark Aldridge Web Address: www.glostermep.co.uk Address: 2nd Floor, 193 Great Suffolk St, London SE10BX Telephone: 02070896910

Defining the World Awards

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Construction

Chiselling a Presence in the Bronx

Ones to Watch for 2016: Construction

Bayport Construction Corp. is a NYC based construction company that specializes in masonry construction. The team, headed by Hassan Bajwa, have worked on a wide variety of projects from small homes to high rise buildings, and pride themselves on providing safe, timely and quality work for each and every job, regardless of the scale or cost. Further to this, as the New York construction market continues to quicken its pace, Bayport adopts a highly proactive approach to employees that providing them with the tools and people that they want to work with – a very simple and evidently successful solution to maintaining a streak of success. he company, as Hassan describes, works on a transparent culture – people work and ask for help from others as needed.

Employees are welcomed with open arms, and Hassan is keen to foster an environment in which they are able to learn and ask questions openly.

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“Our employees are the key to our success,” he states.

“We give equal opportunity to everyone and make sure they have a pleasant working atmosphere. We take time to hire the perfect mix for the company. How they want to work, what they want to work on and how they can stay productive. New Employees are mentored and trained to make sure they succeed in what they do.”

There are, of course, a fixed set of steps that a new employee has to understand; to aid in this, they are guided properly by seniors and mentors to make sure they catch the smallest detail and are able to work in a constructive manner, which all plays into Hassan’s overall ethos when it comes to creating a forwardthinking workforce.

“Hire the best,” he surmises. “Don’t let just anyone come in and work for you. The people with whom you are working will make the difference between a successful and a failed enterprise. It starts with dedication from owner to tradesman, and you must work as a cohesive team; the team working as a single unit to achieve the goals in an efficient and safe manner is an essential component, and we have robust systems in place that allow employees to feel valued.”

change its colours. Ever since the major recession of 2008 subsided, Hassan and his team have been experiencing a boom in the industry. “We have increased our production value by 300 per cent, in fact,” he reveals. “Because of that, we had to build separate teams for each borough, with experienced engineers and well qualified management, just to stay atop of the surge in demand for our high-level services.”

Bayport Construction Corp. is, indeed, an ever-growing company. While the firm first started off working with very small projects, they have now attained extremely valuable and lucrative experience working on major construction projects, and are finding themselves being involved from the start of the project right through to its completion. “By now, we have a full portfolio of projects of every size, scale, complexity that we have worked hard and left no stone unturned to get results that far exceed the expectation of our clients.”

“As we are expanding more and more, we are getting bigger and better projects from the Bronx borough of New York in particular. Most of our new projects are from that area, and we are redoubling our efforts to work harder and find yet more projects there, so that we can be recognised for the work that we do.”

“Keeping one competent person on a specific task is one of our ways to manage staff,” Hassan comments.

“Thus, a person skilled in one kind of job will focus on a specific task which helps other employees as they don’t need to take part in a task which they are not familiar with. This also creates a helping culture in the company.”

Construction is, of course, an ever growing business, and nowhere can this be felt more than in New York City. “There will never be a shortage of ongoing work,” Hassan believes, “because a safe living space is one of the most basic human needs. Because of the lingering effects of recent economic depression and the speedy recovery that is coming in, the next 12 months will see a noted increase in the amount of construction work that is going to come to the market, especially in New York. The location of incoming projects is shifting from one point the other but in general, we will see more and more projects coming in.

It is this highly positive attitude towards employees that has allowed Bayport to flourish for over 10 years.

In that time, the entire industry has never ceased to

“When we undertake a new client in this competitive environment, we introduce our company by sending a complete company profile. We try to send a

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representative if necessary. We request them for a meeting where we present our company, our projects, introduce the company structure, managers and engineers that the company will be working with. Thus a formal as well as an informal meeting helps in getting the best results.

This is an essential step if Hassan is to realise his aim of growing Bayport to become the biggest construction company dedicated to masonry in New York State, with a view to then expand further. A string of successful projects and an ever increasing portfolio helps forms a strong bond with other companies that help the firm meet this goal.

“From where I can see,” Hassan observes, “we have started a strong foundation on achieving this goal.”

Company: Bayport Construction Corp.

Name: Hassan Bajwa Email: Info@bayportcorp.com Web Address: bayportcorp.com Address: 1286 Prospect Place, Brooklyn, 11213, New York City, NY Telephone: +1 718.439.0400

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Construction

Robust Support for all Clients Vrame Consult GmBH advise builders, investors, planners and product manufacturers on Building information modelling (BIM), with their service offering an approach based on the typical phases of a BIM project; consultancy, implementation and management. o begin any project, Vrame’s BIM consulting leading party approach the client and develop a strategic roadmap.

The next phase in this process is BIM implementation, where they assist in the selection and implementation of the necessary software and system standards that their clients will require to be able to successfully manage their project.

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The continued support that Vrame then offer throughout the project by acting as a BIM Manager ensures the successful and coordinated implementation of the roadmap by their clients.

Vrame have had great success with this three stage process; we profile each step in more detail below.

During the BIM Consultancy phase, Vrame help ‘builder-owners’ acquire BIM expertise. They cooperate closely with the builder, owner, investor or operator, and prepare strategic roadmaps as a basis for implementing BIM. They accomplish this by hosting joint workshops, which are tasked with specifying processes, establishing individual requirements and objectives, and to selecting the best technology for the proposed project. The output from this workshop will include a BIM strategy, a BIM execution plan, and a BIM manual.

stakeholders. Vrame’s BIM Managers take an active role in project events, including kick-off meetings, workshops, coordination meetings and contract awarding processes. They support the participating BIM users in all model-based and coordination activities, such as model-based checking and updating of BIM models or validating BIM targets.

As demonstrated by their exemplary body of work, Vrame’s team members fully support all of their clients

Virtual Construction:

The BIM Revolution

The next phase of the approach is BIM Implementation, which is the stage where they help their client’s integrate BIM into their existing processes. They help their customers to identify new technologies and combine them with existing processes, software environments and standards. Vrame ensure the successful implementation of their suggested BIM strategy by developing guidelines and standards, curricula and training programmes.

Also included at this stage is the implementation of quality assurance processes, model validation, training, BIM support and assistance, and other BIM related services. Vrame’s strategy here focuses on utilising internal resources and methods to ensure successful BIM-based project development.

Finally, the BIM Management stage is reached. At this point, Vrame coordinate and validate the ongoing BIM processes of their clients. Acting as the BIM Manager for any project they have assisted in the implementation of, it is their primary objective to implement consistent processes encompassing all project stages and

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throughout the entirety of the BIM process, and allow for successful outcomes by maintaining their involvement to the highest level.

Company: Vrame Consult GmbH Email: info@vrame.com Web Address: www.vrame.com Address: Anklamer Str. 28, 10115, Berlin Telephone: 030-61 74 28 28

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Practicality Above All Else Pace Consult, which is now entering its 11th year of trading, initially established as an acoustic consultancy. Quickly asserting itself in the market, its services has naturally diversified as the increasing demands of the clientele and their projects have forced the group’s exemplary customer to focus upon other disciplines. Pace Consult’s excellent clients are a large part of the reason that they have managed to grow, even during the recession of eight years past. ur development and growth has very much been driven by our fantastic client base,” states Martin Jones. “We now offer many forms of assistance to projects at planning stage as well as during design, construction and final sign off. These include; vibration analysis in ground and buildings, air tightness testing to residential and commercial developments, energy efficiency calculations, air quality assessments and building thermography.”

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Indeed, the willingness to engage fully with the client and design team, and to be practical, cost effective, and available, are key standpoints in the business philosophy of Pace Consult Ltd. The aim of the business, as Mark puts it, is not about reinventing the wheel; rather, “the business objective is solely to serve our clients; whatever they need, the answer is always ‘yes’.

This is most evidently the case when undertaking a new client or project; engaging with the client to assess their needs is a sure-fire way of attaining the right level of thorough analysis, as well as answering all the burning questions that the client has.

“It might be a very simple thing to say,” Mark adds, “but we encounter so many occasions where a report is almost pre-written and is not dynamic to the client’s and project’s specific needs.” That is where Pace Consult step in to carry the project forwards in a bold new direction, with every intention and available resource to achieve the right results in an affordable way.

Because of these practices, Pace Consult Ltd. are finding themselves being picked up for a number of frameworks with their key commercial sector clients.

“There are so many schools to be built, and we are fortunate to have one of the largest portfolios of completed schools in the country. We know how they go together in a cost-effective manner, and our clients trust us to deliver”, the upshot of which is a portfolio of projects, each instance more successful than the last, and leaving Mark in the impossible position of singling out a particular success story.

Mark is rightly proud of his team at Pace Consult; all of the consultants carry a set of core principles that run like a vein through the entire company: understand the

client’s needs, work with their design ethos wherever possible, and remain fundamentally practical.

In addition, one other added motto, impressed regularly upon newer consultants as well as the veterans, is to not overcomplicate. As Mark explains, “there are far too many examples of reports that set out to show how clever the author is, when through prequalification the client already knows they are qualified. Pace Consult, on the other hand, are not in the business of showing off – we just answer the question and get the job done.”

We are working towards an office in the middle east and hope to realise this within 12 months, subject to continued UK growth. Again I consider myself very fortunate that the relationships I have developed over 20 years in the industry are proving that initially clients have become firm friends and where they move, they take us along with them as a service provider. There is no finer compliment in my opinion.

The industry, according to Mark, is currently relatively strong, and Pace Consult have been working towards establishing an office in the lucrative Middle East region, to take advantage of new consultancy options there. “We hope to realise this within 12 months,” Mark comments, “subject to continued growth in the UK. “Again, I consider myself very fortunate that the relationships I have developed over 20 years in the industry are proving that initial clients have become firm friends – where they move, they take us along with them as a service provider. There is no finer compliment in my opinion.”

As Mark points out, however, the short- and longterm ambitions of Pace Consult Ltd. are still subject to the whims of the economy. The severe recession of 2008 was the biggest challenge to face Mark and his consultants, and it was all that they could do to simply stick to their core values; “this meant that our clients were not paying over the odds on their projects, as we kept every piece of advice practical and costeffective.” Mark knows better than anyone in his firm that experienced clients have been around the block, and should know when there is too much meat on the bone – “this is when we often get a call, and the upshot of this is that we are now recognised as experts in the art of Value Engineering.”

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The more recent economic news from the UK has also forced Mark to reassess the firm’s prerogatives. Back in May, when the political clime of the UK was becoming hot and a bit tense in the build-up to June’s EU Referendum, Mark recognised that the potential upheave had introduced a “subtle air of uncertainty” to the industry. Three months down the line, with a new firm date set for the invocation of Article 50 and the eventual withdrawal of Britain from the EU, Mark is finding himself in a potentially precarious position, but not one that is not also being shared by other such firms in his industry. “We should wait to see the dust settle,” he concludes, “and with it any concerns which have resulted in delays to projects. I believe that we should have many good years ahead.”

Company: Pace Consult Ltd. Name: Martin Jones Email: mj@paceconsult.co.uk Web Address: www.paceconsult.co.uk Address: Pace Consult Limited, 652 The Crescent, Colchester Business Park, Colchester, CO4 9YQ Telephone: 0845 2410142

Ones to Watch for 2016:

Construction

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Construction

Design

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Design

A Crystallised Approach Studio One is a custom design firm specializing in comprehensive architectural services for Hospitality, Wellness, and Single Family Residential markets. Operating throughout the United States, the firm provides architectural and interior design services that emphasize sustainable solutions. With extensive experience in design and client-focused project management, Studio One strives to provide integrated solutions, working with all parties to deliver the best service and outcome from concept to completion.

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Since 2004, Studio One has undertaken a wide array of projects in both commercial and residential sectors across the country.

Founder Stephen Flanagan explains, “at Studio One, we aspire to be a leading force within our target market, developing custom solutions others imitate. While we expect to expand our footprint and our firm, we want to stay nimble and give our clients the time and energy they so deserve for the generous opportunity we are granted in working with them every day.”

“As a major component of this, we have developed strategies to seek out and uncover both latent challenges and opportunities through a careful reading of the landscape and collaborative dialogue with our clients. With attention to detail and sustainability, we seek to produce projects intrinsically connected to our clients’ aspirations, site, and budget by seeing beyond expectations, weaving the art of listening into the contextual fabric of each design endeavour.”

With ever-increasing benchmarks for building in the developed world, site-specific strategies for sustainable solutions will be expected to work in tandem with the local environment. For Studio One, employing the best practices in meeting these objectives will focus on the art of blending in a way similar to Aikido: yielding to some forces so as to be nearly invisible while simultaneously reinforcing and redirecting others to produce more concentrated outcomes.

“However,” Stephen adds, “even with the added mandates, our market niche is rapidly expanding and we see that only improving over the next 12 months, specifically in the Wellness and Hospitality markets.

As vital as sustainability is for the industry, the planet, and the future, Stephen, like the rest of his team, believes that “architecture’s true

impact is not on our surroundings, but within us.

We focus our efforts on designing around the five senses and developing a special kind of order that is intended to promote joy, calm, healing, and rejuvenation.

“We look to create site-specific solutions that are not just unique, but uniquely suited to our clients. This requires us to be untethered to any form-based solution in order to develop strategies that are inherently deeper than stylistic expression. For us, innovation comes not from using a new tool or learning of a new material, but from finding unique opportunity in the overlap between the physical realities of the context and the more ephemeral aspirations of our clients.”

As an example of putting these ideas into practice, Stephen reflects upon some of his firm’s most outstanding successes. “We are still in the process of developing a winery, which combines the functional requirements of all-new operational facilities around an existing vineyard, with a more extended program that goes beyond a tasting room to include a restaurant, bed and breakfast, event centre, amphitheatre, retail space, retreat house, extensive outdoor amenities, and support spaces on a 40-acre site. This project has been the most intriguing for us because of its extended program and focus on place making.

“Before we even started the design of any of the buildings, developing the master plan crystalized the approach to each component, and helped us leverage our design strategies to assist our client in achieving his commercial objectives by focusing on the patron experience. It is this project that has helped us to see how all these vectors best intersect.”

Alongside this prominent project, Stephen Flanagan and his designers have also embarked on a range of other design challenges, all of which have cemented their hard-earned reputation as designers with purpose and style as guiding

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principles. From an Asian-fusion contemporary restaurant, to a non-denominational contemplative space perched high above the North Carolina Blueridge Mountains, Studio One’s increasingly diverse portfolio is a true demonstration of the firm’s versatility, and a lesson in how masterful planning can provide a road map for development over time.

Company: Studio One Architecture Name: Stephen R. Flanagan Email: s.flanagan@studioone.us Web Address: www.studioone.us Address: 515 Greenland Rd NE Atlanta, GA 30342 Telephone: 404-549-7084

BUILD’s Most Innovative Designers of 2016 & BUILD’s Best Architecture & Interior Design Firm

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Collaborate for A Better Tomorrow

Best Sustainable Urban Design Firm 2016 - USA

rePLACE is an urban design lab committed to shaping a healthier urban future. Tailored to address the unique challenges of each project, Founding Partners Philip Palmgren and Peter Syrett built the foundations of their company upon data, research, collaboration, exploration, and creativity. This, along with their cross-discipline expertise, positions their team to conceptualize a full range of urban design services from small-scale cost effective urban interventions that build early momentum ranging up to large-scale sustainable visions for the future. e see ourselves as a part of the continuum of urban thinkers who understand that place matters,” Peter comments. “Unlike our predecessors, we have access to the rich bounty of data of our information age. An essential part of practice is developing new data driven tools to find hidden patterns, show unrealized potential, and see emerging trends.

first in a series of larger steps towards implementing a vision. As the initial step of a long-term effort, a master plan must be rooted in logic, it must be persuasive, and it must generate momentum. With this understanding, our design process has been fashioned to result in a cogent vision that will articulate the structure, space, and character of the study area and provide a convincing roadmap for the future.”

“One key way we use technology is to hear the many voices that shape the urban environment from the private and public sectors. We use technology to gain an understanding of stakeholders’ distinct points of view, concerns, and drivers. For example, The Community Dashboard is an interactive application that links stakeholder input to location. This allows rePLACE to have real time input on a design as it evolves. We believe this sets apart from our peers.”

The firm’s work in Newark, which gave them free rein to craft and realise a vision for the downtown district, has been heralded by the Partners as the standout success project for their firm.

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One key principle that the Partners have been diligent to imbue in the rest of their team is that no two projects are going to be the same, so interactive application of ideas and a constantly evolving view on their work are essential in order to make headway in the industry.

“The ecological, cultural, social, and economic factors that our clients experience all converge to make every project distinct and unlike any one other,” Peter says, expanding on the point. “Our approach is based upon this reality. We believe that design solutions cannot be endlessly repeated from one master plan to another master plan, rather a unique set of solutions needs to be crafted for each place. In other words, a successful master plan can only come out of a process that generates implementable solutions that are built upon the strengths of a place while also addressing its challenges.”

“To achieve this,” Philip continues, “our collaborative process is based upon a model that is used in the technology sector to develop new products. As a process its primary advantage is that design concepts can be quickly vetted, tested, adjusted, and integrated – covering a wide range of possible solutions without having to fully implement an entire plan to understand the ultimate results. This approach recognizes that a master plan is not an end unto itself, but rather the

“We have learned the value of creating a collaborative network that allows us to broaden our work beyond design realm into investing and being active participants in building upon the social, economic, and ecological capacity of a community.”

In the years since inception, and building a firm base in their native Newark, the steady growth in opportunities has continued to offer the Founding Partners of rePLACE Urban Studio a steady stream of high-profile projects, from which they have emerged with proven mettle and ability.

“We have worked with a wide range of private and public sector clients,” the Partners explain. rePLACE have recently found numerous such opportunities in the rich apple that is New York City, in particular the Department of Planning and Columbia University.

Elsewhere in the State of New York, the Empire State Development has been an important link to spread rePLACE’s signature further afield, in places such as the Village of Mamaroneck.

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Not only that, but their proximity to New York has also contributed towards rePLACE gaining exposure to international clients - the City of Shanghai in China has seen the impact on rePLACE’s commitment to collaboration and masterful urban design.

Over the last decade in the US, Philip and Peter have witnessed a shift in their respective market, where architectural practices have merged or have grown through acquisition. This trend, they are sure, will continue for the foreseeable future, but this will also lead to more people seeing a growing gap in the industry between the corporate mega-firms and the smaller, more boutique practices, leaving very little in between these two extremes.

“We believe this is an opportunity for smaller, more facile, practices to carve out and dominate segments of the marketplace where clients are seeking something more thoughtful than the fashion of the moment produced by most corporate practices.”

Looking to take advantage of this situation fits well within Philip and Peter’s aspiration to evolve into an urban think tank “that is vertically integrated to design, invest, and build.” The duo plan to continue the work that they have begun in Newark by expanding their presence into other, neighbouring cities.

In their words, remaining as they are for too long is too risky for them, so responding to the market and evolving in kind is the way forward. “Simply put,” Peter explains, “those who don’t evolve don’t survive. We believe that for our business to be an enduring success we must always being seeking new and creative solutions.”

Company: rePLACE Urban Studio Name: Peter Syrett / Philip Palmgren Email: peter@replaceurbanstudio.com / P hilip@replaceurbanstudio.com Web Address: www.replaceurbanstudio.com Address: 12-16 Vestry Street, 7th Floor, NY, NY 10013 Telephone: +1 212.380.1079

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Finance

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Design

The Pioneer of E-Commerce Solutions With a presence felt across a wide range of industries, from customer support, to product development, to IT, Doctor Andy Khawaja of Allied Wallet represents a centrepiece role as a hub figure; indeed, as a top CEO of the Year, he is fixated on delivering the highest quality services to his clients, and on achieving a market-leading status within the field of e-commerce. Having already achieved major market penetration in local economies around the globe, from China to Germany, Dr. Khawaja now sets his sights upon newer opportunities.” octor Khawaja is a very hands-on leader.

Being responsible as the CEO for a company like Allied Wallet certainly demands a certain level of tenacity and devotion, and Andy delivers these attributes through his willingness and determination to know every single thing that goes on in every sector of the company. He stresses that this is an easy task for him, in no small part, due to the free and open nature of the workplace that he oversees.

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“Most days are like a walk in the park,” Dr. Khawaja describes. “I can come to work knowing that my team will be getting on, and given the way that we are expanding currently, they will be rewarded for doing so. It is essential for them to feel that they have the freedom to be innovative, because in my experience that is what breeds innovation to begin with. That will give them the hope and the credibility to feel that the product is really something tangible, and not just something that they are selling on behalf of someone else.”

Put in these terms, there is not a lot to separate Dr. Khawaja’s work with Allied Wallet from the efforts that a manufacturing firm might go to on a daily basis to make their products leaders in their respective fields.

The various sectors of the AEC industry, all told, represent an enormous contribution to the world economy, and its growth is considered a vital statistic for its overall health. As the pace of technology quickens at a faster rate than the construction industry, the question has to be posed to firms within the industry as to when – rather than if at all – they will embrace the e-commerce trend.

Already, various international government initiatives are involved in encouraging businesses to switch over into this electronic frontier.

Added to this, as more and more clients – including construction clients – look to switch onto e-commercial pathways, the wider construction industry cannot afford to turn a blind eye; to do so

would be to risk profitability, and run the additional danger of becoming mired in a technological world that is moving too fast for them to keep up.

E-commerce certainly has the potential to enable new trade, opening numerous new avenues over the Internet for transactions. There are, however, a number of factors that limit or otherwise restrict its suitability for deployment in the construction industry. The point-to-point (P2P) nature of communication can be difficult for smaller construction firms to work within, as can the need to agree upon standards for the sending and receiving of structured, formatted documents. As for larger firms, large supply chains can get in the way. The high initial investment that construction firms would need to shell out in order to participate in the e-commerce trend might not be easy for companies with limited budgets, either. Not only that, but the prospect of multi-party construction projects can add a new and often unnecessary layer of complexity should e-commercial networks be needed in order to facilitate proper and effective project management.

Having been in this position for 14 years since 2002, Dr. Khawaja has seen his fair share of challenges when building up the company to having worked with and feature in a number of prominent American institutions, including TIME Magazine, CNN, Forbes’, The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg.

These institutions, representing the media, are among the most flexible, and therefore more willing and able to make the transfer to e-commerce. The construction industry, meanwhile, as stated above, is a significantly harder nut to crack. Rather than focussing on those potential hurdles, however, Dr. Khawaja always finds himself focussing his efforts on the light at the end of the tunnel.

The complexities of introducing e-commerce to the construction industry on a wide scale ought not to be a discouraging factor, he says, because the restraining influence of these factors are being lifted gradually. The practices of BIM are indeed

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making it easier and easier for multiple construction firms to be involved in a project concurrently, and that provides an opportunity for e-commerce to flourish in a new direction, and Allied Wallet is an e-commerce provider with a particular focus in processing payments for clients all around the world, giving the company an ideal platform from which to provide great support to the construction industry should it be required. That gives Dr. Khawaja further incentive to motivate and lead his team into developing new, innovative ways of gaining a foothold in this key new branch of their industry.

This leads Dr. Khawaja to reflect upon his own qualities as a business leader and CEO. Citing his own career milestones as evidence for the importance of adopting such a tenacious pursuit of technology. From his relatively humble background, he has come to define his success as the result of a combination of hard work, dedication and understanding. Citing his travels across the world, from the USA to Japan, he draws influence and aspiration from the wider FinTech industry, and applies its best practices to Allied Wallet.

“I have a global reach as far as financial technology is concerned,” he states outright.

“I gain pleasure from being able to highlight the most cutting-edge aspects of the technology that’s out there, and then handing it over to my developers and coders and working closely with them on taking Allied Wallet’s services to the next level.”

Allied Wallet, under Dr. Khawaja’s mentorship, has

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grown to foster an educational work culture, which is a particular source of pride for the CEO. “It’s a culture of respect and friendship, where we understand that working as a part of a team means to take care of one another. We are a creative lot – we are friendly and supportive to everyone that we work alongside here, across all levels of the organisation, but the same time we expect our people to get the job done. Of course, we do have our company rules and regulations in place, but so long as our team members respect and do not abuse them, they find life here at Allied Wallet to be a walk in the park.

“By working smart, and by participating actively in moving the company forward, you are ahead of the game, and you have the opportunity to share in that.

For instance, our people benefit from awards schemes that we have set in place: from awards cards and free lunches to cash bonuses and trips away.”

Channelling this passion and belief in his company’s many virtues towards future goals and aspirations, Dr. Khawaja uncovers a single-minded tract down which to take Allied Wallet as it continues its expansive growth across the FinTech industry. “We want to make the future easier for the next generation to make the most of, and that starts with e-commerce.

All of this has had a remarkable effect on Dr. Khawaja’s outlook on not just his work as an entrepreneur, but also on his life ethos. “Life isn’t going to be easy on you,” he states, “so you need to be able to get back up when it knocks you down.

The harder you work, the more obstacles you are going to encounter, but if you stick to your goals and keep forging on, you can be assured that things are going to be a lot easier further down the line.

“Just look at my history – when founding Allied Wallet, I was roundly dismissed by a lot of industry professionals that looked at my business ideas and scoffed – there’s no future in e-commerce, they would say; it’s not a profession that’s going to be conducive to an honest, worthwhile living. But looking at us now, we have a global presence, we are helping thousands upon thousands of clients make their digital payment solutions easier than ever before, and it all started from such small origins.

Allied Wallet certainly did make an effort to hit the ground running. Dr. Khawaja differentiates his company’s origins from that of other FinTech services – PayPal, for instance, began as an alternative form of payment over eBay.com. Dr. Khawaja, when founding Allied Wallet and tapping into the challenging world of B2B, chose to cast a wider net. “We went in hard,” he recollects.

“We wanted to establish ourselves globally, taking advantage of just how easy technology at the time had allowed that to happen; within our first 12 months, we had serviced clients in 58 countries around the world, after eight years this grew to about 67 countries. We had the means of communication, and we had the drive to go out there and seek our customers; furthermore, we had the relationships established in international industries. The rest writes itself.”

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CEOs of Distinction

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Company: Allied Wallet Ltd Website: www.alliedwallet.com

While the company today maintains a cutting-edge discipline when it comes to making use of the most modern technology, their approach to dealing with customers, as Dr. Khawaja describes, is distinctly old-school. “Rather than relying on voicemails to take messages from clients with a promise to get back to them at the earliest convenient moment, we will take the time that is needed to answer the call, listen to the clients directly and answer their queries, whatever they may be. This is something that Allied Wallet pay especially close attention to that others in the industry do not do.

Allied Wallet’s company values remain strongly devoted to its customers, and to further extending its personal client communication services to a broadening spectrum of professional industries across the globe. Remaining so robust in these principles, believes Dr. Khawaja, is what has put Allied Wallet way ahead of the curve, setting the example for those that follow in the company’s wake.

“This is why I, as CEO, have been called ‘The Messiah of E-Commerce,” he says.

“We are, ultimately, in the business of caring for people, as well as their businesses. It is their support and their custom that contributes to the growth and continuous movement of Allied Wallet, so we take it very personally when we get involved with the customer and assist them to the best of our abilities; I would even go so far as to say that we treat their business as our own.

“Don’t be mistaken – success can take years, and it certainly won’t happen overnight. If you plant a seed one night, you’re not going to wake up the following morning to find that it has grown into a tree coming into fruit.” Dr. Khawaja believes that this philosophy is also true of the construction industry. “It’s same principle when you start a business – especially in such a competitive market as construction: you have to stick with it, have patience, take care of it, and not lose sight of the endgame.”

“This works on a number of levels, not least of all because the newer generation tends to communicate more through electronic means – emails, instant messaging and online chat services. That is all well and good, and it clearly shows the direction in which communication is moving nowadays, but we believe that communication needs to have a voice to it – especially when you are talking with a member of a large company. Allied Wallet prefers a much more down-to-earth, personal touch with its customers.

“Don’t give up. Be yourself, work hard, be persistent, and above all have hope.”

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Interior Design

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Interior Design & Decorating

Capital Construction Coordination To offer but a brief summary of Avalon Building & Decorating, would be to describe them as a firm dedicated to turning clients’ dreams into reality. In a more technical sense, this London-based construction and design firm offers complete renovation and refurbishment building projects, which transforms the homes of their clients and brings them to a level of space, quality and value that are unrivalled on the market. iros Bogdantsaliev provides insight into the most important considerations that are faced by not just his own firm, but by the wider industry. “Although the highest quality is always and undisputedly the predominant aim for every client, for some clients timing is the next important thing, for some is the cost, for some is the maximum space, for some is the maximum comfort where space can be maximised or indeed minimised to achieve this, or it is creating more value of the property.

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“These require different approaches and can be dealt with most efficiently only when have been clearly defined from the planning stage of the project.”

Drawing upon his own experience, Miros comments upon how Avalon compares to his competitors, focussing on the way in which they approach their newest projects.

“Most companies would focus mostly on quality of finishes and ability to carry out building work efficiently and within the established time parameters,” he says.

“Although these are always a must, there is much more that must be considered, to ensure that a company can deliver the best service to its clients.

“As such, setting out the aims and the most important priorities for the client from the get-go, and taking a tailored approach to achieve these, will be a different experience for each project and client. It is important to always be guided by the client’s best interest, and to ensure that this is achieved through a very good line of communication, as well as by going the extra mile when necessary.

Avalon is a specialist company covering a broad variety of works, expertise and competency, and this is of great benefit to the discerning client; very often, more narrowly specialised companies struggle to deal with unexpected problems or works that require different and more unconventional approach and specialities, expertise and experience. Miros comments as such; “this is when problems would very often start and sometimes escalate greatly by the end of the project. In fact, it is more certain that these

problems and unexpected issues will arise at some stage of any project than it is an exception so it should be very much anticipated.

“Avalon has already been asked to rescue some projects and take over from contractors who failed to deliver the projects precisely because of the above reasons.

“A usual project,” Miros describes, “would include the following works: building and structural work, basement creation, water proofing/tanking, mechanical and electrical and gas engineering, bespoke designer finishes and features, decorating and finishes, landscaping work and loads more works and trades which is difficult to list in a brief description.

“In regards to design and build projects, the above would be complemented by Planning and Architectural drawings, Construction and Services drawings and design, Interior design, Planning applications, Structural drawings, and so on.”

With all of this in consideration, Miros highlights the main business objective of Avalon in simple terms.

“Our aim is to broaden our design, planning and architectural capabilities and include all trades and professionals in-house. We have already created a team geared towards basement excavation and structural works, as well as a gas and plumbing engineers team. In addition, we have substantially strengthened our management team, with a Project Coordinator and Architect to give us even better control and ensure that the projects will be carried out to the required highest level of quality and service from the design stage to completion.

“By employing these ambitious and creative professionals, who are not afraid to suggest and look for alternative solutions, materials and methods, as well as keeping always informed with the current trends and news in our business, we can guarantee ourselves a place among the upper echelons of design and construction firms within our industry. This also allows Avalon to work successfully with Private clients, as well as Developers, Architects and Designers.

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“In short, being professional, experienced, trustworthy and honest is the best approach to ensure that the project will be planned properly, started properly and will achieve the best outcome when completed.”

The changes that Miros and Avalon anticipate are intimately connected with the business development plans that they aim to implement across the company, so any current economic environment has not a top priority for the firm until now. That said, in the wake of the Brexit referendum, “the current economic uncertainty means that it is possible that some developing projects, which are at the very early stage of planning, will be postponed for a while.

“We expect to undertake more design and build projects and possibly the majority will be for private Clients rather than developing projects as this is also the sector where we would like to grow predominantly.”

Nonetheless, Miros and his team continue to be inspired by beautiful design, modern or traditional and are well prepared to take this passion and knowledge of the industry forward, with a view to continue transforming their clients houses into their dream homes.”

(Avalon’s Project photos below: Interior design by Gordon Duff Linton) Company: Avalon Building and Decorating Contractors Ltd. Name: Miros Bogdantsaliev Email: info@avalonbuild.co.uk Web Address: www.avalonbuild.co.uk Address: Britannia House, 1-11 Glenthorne Road, Hammersmith, W6 0LH Telephone: 020 7348 9058

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Interior Designs: Best of 2016

- UK

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Investment

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Investment

Paraplanning Support Set to Step Up at Seven Investment Management Structured sessions include introducing the role of market makers through to why there is a grasshopper perched over Lombard Street, and Bloomberg’s introduction to the role of data through to why the 1698 equivalent of Starbucks was vital to the development of the stock market. even Investment Management (7IM) today announced plans to expand its structured support and training programme for paraplanners in the last quarter of 2016 and into 2017 through the Paraplanner Pop Up Series.

are not aware of the important role they play. Our programme is not just aimed at improving the technical skills and wider industry knowledge of the paraplanners we support. It also helps them improve their understanding of the needs of actual investors.”

The firm, which organises a number of events itself and is a key partner of The Paraplanners team Powwow events, among other initiatives, made the announcement as it hosted its first of three planned sessions for Q4 2016.

Each 7IM paraplanning training session is not just full of the usual industry ‘guff’. They typically involve a full day programme including an update on the investment markets, research from 7IM on important factors affecting retirement planning and an introduction into the risks that impact a financial planners’ clients beyond investment risk. 7IM also looks to introduce things that paraplanners would not usually get to see – like market makers or how Bloomberg works – and includes a short tour of the City with Justin.

History is introduced with Justin’s personal coin collection to bring the accounts to life.

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The first session is being hosted at 7IM’s and the London Metal Exchange offices today and sees 20 paraplanners join from 15 firms across the country. The second is being held on 27 October in Manchester and will see 60 participants attend – double the number originally projected due to demand from the sector. This second session is the first that 7IM will host outside London and is being run in conjunction with AXA and Liberty SIPP. The final event is on 15 November in London and participation will be limited to 30 paraplanners.

Justin Urquhart Stewart, Head of Corporate Development and co-founder of 7IM, stated: “Paraplanners provide a vital role in advisory firms, but because of their limited interaction with end clients, many even within the industry

The event is also set up to allow the paraplanners the opportunity to meet and exchange views with their peers given the minimal number of events aimed at the segment.

Richard Allum, founder and managing director of The Paraplanners team with whom 7IM partners for the Powwow events, added:

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“Paraplanning and paraplanners have never had such a high profile and demand for high quality practitioners is outstripping supply. At the same time, paraplanners themselves have a strong desire to improve standards because they want to and not because they have to.”

“High quality CPD events focussed on and understanding the role of the paraplanner have become more frequent in recent years with initiatives such as CISI & PFS Paraplanner Conferences and the Powwows which have benefited from 7IM’s support.

It’s good to see that 7IM is stepping up its own events now for the paraplanning community and I’m looking forward to attending the one in Manchester.”

Since 7IM launched back in early 2002, it has pioneered a continuous stream of developments regarding how investment services are provided and charged for. “We could just provide a list of our awards but actually think it is more useful to tell you what we have done and what we have provided for clients and their planners - and there is still more to come.” In 2017, the firm is looking to expand on the Manchester experience and has plans to see up to seven events being held across the country with up to 30 participants per session.

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Green Light for New Norwich Student Housing Celebrating City’s Unique Link with the Beatles The UK’s specialist student housing developer Alumno has been awarded planning consent for a state-of-the-art scheme in the centre of Norwich. Norwich City Council gave the go-ahead on Thursday for The Quad, which will cater to Norwich students when it opens in September 2018.

lumno is a property company which specialises in developing student housing. It was established in 2006 and works in partnership with universities, colleges and other key stakeholders to provide homes across major student towns and cities.

This includes projects in Glasgow, St. Andrews, Birmingham, Norwich, Southwark (South London), Stratford (East London), Durham, Leamington Spa and Aberdeen.

The development has been designed to encourage energy efficiency and sustainable travel, with no cars permitted at the site or parked locally (with the exception of students with disabilities).

Recently completed projects include the scheme at All Saints Green in Norwich, Postgraduate accommodation for St Andrews University, and Camberwell Campus, Peckham Road.

In addition, an economic impact report from Jeremy Leach Research Ltd concluded that additional spending in the local area by the 244 students will reach £1.25 million per year; accordingly, the value of the construction will be between £11 million and £14 million. Another survey, this one of Norwich City Centre retailers in July 2016, found that 20 out of 22 businesses felt that introducing more student accommodation, with a more direct link to the city centre, would be ‘good’ or ‘very good’ for their prospects.

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Alumno’s vision is to create communities that appeal to a diverse range of students, while providing both sustainable and affordable accommodation, and the new project in Norwich is set to be a major step forward for them in broadening their appeal.

The 244-bed purpose-built development has won support for regenerating the site of an old Mecca Bingo Hall, which has lain vacant for more than two years. The site has a colourful history, having previously been home to an art deco cinema and later the Gaumont Club, a music and entertainment venue where acts like The Rolling Stones performed in the 1960s. Unused since 2011 and demolished in 2014, this site is to receive a new lease of life under the new scheme, which will see the construction of five buildings ranging from 8 to 13 storeys above mixed-use ground floor.

There will be a full-time onsite management team provided by Derwent, who currently manage All Saints Green. Student wardens will be available by mobile phone out of normal hours, to address any issues of antisocial behaviour or safety.

Norwich has a clear need for expanded student accommodation, with the City College, University of East Anglia and Norwich University of the Arts all projecting an expansion in their student numbers, estimated to reach 20,000 by 2018.

The five-block development is the second Alumno development in Norwich, following the successful completion and ongoing management of a 220-bed scheme opposite the Bus Station nearby, which opened a year ago. Like that scheme, The Quad has been designed by award-winning architects Carson & Partners. Alumno were advised by local town planning consultants Brown & Co. In addition to the accommodation, shared kitchens and communal areas, The Quad will deliver new business space and include a vibrant courtyard for residents. The development will be free from cars and have space for bicycle racks to support the pedestrianizing of the city centre, and is located just minutes from Norwich Bus Station.

The development is expected to boost spending in the local area by £1.25m a year, with total

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investment during construction predicted to be up to £14m. New jobs will be created in the local area, with a construction team of more than 150 people.

The scheme will draw on Norwich’s heritage with public artwork celebrating the city’s little-known place in music history and commemorate the pioneering black entertainer, William Darby, who lived locally.

Darby, who was better known as Pablo Fanque, was Britain’s first black circus proprietor. Born at the end of the 18th century, but orphaned at a young age, he joined the circus as an apprentice and worked his way up to start his own show and become a celebrity of the Victorian era. Almost a century later, John Lennon saw a poster from his circus and included the lyric ‘Late of Pablo Fanques Fair, what a scene!’ in the song Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite!. The song appeared on the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper album.

The Quad will feature a specially-commissioned sculpture of a circus acrobat to mark Fanque’s story, along with a poetry wall relating to him, his circus and his link with one of the most influential acts in musical history.

David Campbell, Managing Director of Alumno Developments said: “We are delighted to have secured the green light to build The Quad and continue our investment in Norwich city centre.

There is a clear need and demand for more student accommodation in Norwich and this is an exciting project to add to Alumno’s growing portfolio of highquality, purpose-built university accommodation.

“This development will regenerate a vacant site and help bring new vibrancy to this area, while also celebrating the contribution of a pioneering figure in entertainment and the long legacy he had on British culture.”

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Steelwork Giant gets Fit for Nuclear Recent news that the UK government has approved plans for the construction of a new £18bn nuclear power station, Hinkley Point, Somerset, could signal a significant boost to UK manufacturing. Keen to capitalise on this growing sector, leading Steel Fabricators, Adey Steel Group are seeking accreditation for the Fit for Nuclear scheme.

he scheme, developed by the Nuclear AMRC, aims to help UK manufacturing companies equip themselves with the skills and processes needed to supply the rigorously regulated nuclear sector.

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Through Fit for Nuclear, Adey Steel Group have been able to benchmark their current working operations against those needed to supply the industry and where gaps have been identified, adapt their processes to ensure they meet the necessary criteria.

The Adey Steel Group, which recently celebrated its 90th anniversary, operates across the construction and engineering sectors across its four business areas; Adey Steel, Adey SteelShop, Adey Technical and Adey Transport. The company has worked on both large and small scale projects such as Battersea Power Station, Selfridges London and the University of Nottingham.

“In working through the Fit For Nuclear programme we have noticed wider benefits throughout our business.” continued Andrew, “The journey has improved key processes within our business and seen us revising core polices as well as benefiting from a positive culture change.”

A recent rebrand saw the company merge its four businesses under one overarching brand, the Adey Steel Group. The new rebrand also saw a new company website as well as new marketing materials.

While still working through the programme, the Loughborough based firm are already seeing some benefits, as Andrew Adey, Managing Director, outlines, “We are already seeing tenders coming in, simply because we are in the latter stages of the fit for nuclear journey and passed various audits and quality checks.”

In addition to getting the business ready for nuclear project tenders, Adey Steel Group has seen other benefits to adopting the scheme.

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The process involves a capability questionnaire, online assessment, site visits, creating an action plan along with support from nuclear specialists and advisors.

With previous experience supporting the nuclear sector, Adey Steel Group are keen to build on this knowledge and develop into this growing area.

Branching out into the nuclear sector follows a successful period for the company which has recently secured supply to a range of high profile projects, including steelwork to Crossrail, London, as well as continuing their ongoing relationship with Network Rail.

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Manufacturing & Supply

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Manufacturing & Supply

In the Limelight of Photovoltaics The photovoltaics (PV) industry is growing by the day. As energy demands require nations around the world to increase cast their eyes upon the potential of renewable energy sources, there is no one sector is as much potential as solar. This is where Solfit Ltd. find themselves at home – the team members of this Penrith-based firm have cast themselves an illuminating presence in an increasingly competitive industry, as a highly innovative manufacturer of Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) framing systems, catering across the market to the distributor, the installer, and the end user. he conventional roof top domestic solar market might be showing some signs of stagnation, but the BIPV new build market continues to grow at 20 per cent every year. As a result of this, PV manufacturing companies like Solfit are increasingly sought after, as End user customers, mass house builders, housing developers, PV installation companies, and selfbuilders alike, are on the lookout for an off-the-shelf, fully tested in-roof PV solution.

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In the face of all this demand, Solfit proudly demonstrate their potential as market leaders through their flagship product, the SolFiT Top Loader.

With a framing system fitted to the laminate in the solar panel factory, the system is usually installed on new build properties or re-roofs, and fits to vertical battens fixed to the existing battens; each panel interconnecting with the next forms a strong and waterproof seal that can be installed from the top of the roof downwards, ridge to eaves, which increases the ease, efficiency and safety of fitting.

“We are working with Bisol to manufacture the panels in order to provide this complete in-roof BIPV solution,” Ewen says. “The product is very new and has just attained its MCS certification for sale in the UK. We are also in talks with some major European and world players in the PV panel manufacturing industry.”

This comes off the back of recent success for Ewen’s growing enterprise; “our first commercial projects were two Listed Buildings in Cumbria, which required a highly aesthetic and sensitive PV product.”

The major challenge that Ewen has faced up to now has been to provide a product that is not only the simplest and fastest product to assemble in the PV factory, but also the simplest and fastest to install on the roofs – all of which has to be done at a price that is highly competitive.

Additional hurdles to overcome were intrinsically linked with the growth of the market sector – increasingly, these issues have been put to rest by further investment, but Ewen is eager to cast reflection on his own experiences in earning Solfit its reputation for excellence.

about their prospects for further growth as a business. In particular, the ongoing Brexit fallout is a potential spanner in the works, bringing into question whether the beneficial EU regulations on BIPV systems will make themselves heard in the UK. Ewen, however, remains optimistic, and sets out a clear plan for the future.

“The hardest part is establishing a well-known and established brand that is recognised as the industry standard. We have to prove that our system is the fastest and easiest to assemble product to PV panel manufacturing companies. We also need to prove to PV installation companies that our product is the fastest and easiest system to fit and install, saving time and money on installation time.”

“As in-roof PV is going to become a standard through the UK, Europe and beyond, we plan to be at the forefront of the changes and become an established industry brand.

These challenges aside, there are exciting times ahead for Ewen and Solfit. The in-roof and BIPV for new builds in the UK and across Europe is a massively growing one, with the latest figures estimating its growth at approximately 20 per cent over the last year. End users are demanding an aesthetically pleasing and easy-to-fit solar solution with built-in ventilation to increase output. Likewise, manufacturers are demanding a product that can be assembled by automated process on production lines. “This is what Solfit offers,” Ewen states simply.

Not only that, but in Scotland it has become a legal requirement for all new builds to have renewables built into the fabric of the building, and in-roof PV is proving itself to be an increasingly popular choice to meet the requirements. Throughout England, a lot of local planning authorities are beginning to follow suit, demanding that new build properties have PV facilities built in to meet SAP requirements.

Elsewhere, EU and Japan are proving to be world leaders in regulation for these industries.

In spite of these clear signs of growth for the industry, it is no reason for Ewen and Solfit to get complacent

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“We are a very new and very small company but we really believe that our product is going to become the in-roof BIPV product of choice, it’s a very exciting time as we are just in our infancy but we are getting some amazing feedback and are talking to some major European PV manufacturing companies who are showing real and genuine interest.

“There is not a product on the market apart from Solfit that can be assembled on to PV laminates using automated robotic processes, this is a huge advantage for our product.”

Company: Solfit Ltd. Name: Ewen Estill Email: info@solfit.co.uk Web Address: www.solfit.co.uk Address: Noon Howe, Melkinthorpe, Penrith, CA10 2DR Telephone: +44 01931 589 052

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Solar Energy Specialists of the Year & Best Innovative Renewable Energy Product – UK

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Manufacturing & Supply

A Family of Innovation The ASSA ABLOY Door Group manufactures and distributes industry leading doors and frames with a reputation of innovation and high quality for commercial projects throughout the United States.

The company’s products are intended for, but not limited to, healthcare, education, hospitality, government, military, and multifamily housing projects.

he ASSA ABLOY Group consists of five American brands providing doors and frames primarily to the United States construction industry. Ceco Door and Curries provide steel doors and frames for a wide range of applications including high-performing specialty doors such as hurricane and tornado re-sistance, radio frequency (RF) shielding, bomb and ballistic resistance, and high level sound transmis-sion classification (STC). ASSA ABLOY Wood Doors offer industry leading flush wood doors, stile and rail doors, plastic laminate doors and wood frames targeting schools, healthcare and office buildings.

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The Frameworks brand manufactures aluminium doors, frames and windows primarily for interior of-fice space. Dominion Building Products provides assembled commercial doors, aluminium windows, canopies and related accessories to the pre-engineered building industry with mounting systems for simple, secure and efficient installation.

All of these brands have their own unique history prior to being acquired by ASSA ABLOY, but the common thread is that all brands were already industry leaders within their respective markets.

Ceco Door and Curries both began manufacturing steel doors as early as the 1950’s. The ASSA ABLOY Door Group was formed in 1996 when ASSA ABLOY acquired the US company ESSEX Industries, Inc. which included the Curries and Graham door brands. In 2001 Ceco Door and Dominion Building Products were brought in before Maiman (stile and rails wood doors) in 2009, Security Metal Products in 2010, and Frameworks in 2012. The Graham and Maiman brands have recently been combined to form ASSA ABLOY Wood Doors and Security Metal Products are now offered as part of the Ceco and Curries product portfolios.

“To supplement these brands, ASSA ABLOY has eight regional service centres strategically located across the United States that bring our top quality doors and frames closer to distributors and local

job sites. These modern, fully equipped facilities represent the largest and most responsive delivery sys-tem in the industry. All of the service centres stock standard products from the various ASSA ABLOY Door Group brands, and certain locations also stock ASSA ABLOY hardware and have frame manufac-turing capabilities as well. Expanding our manufacturing footprint and making our products more readi-ly available has been an extremely valuable strategy for the ASSA ABLOY Door Group as we are able to get our products on site and installed faster than if they were ordered directly from the manufacturing plant.”

This expanded footprint coupled with the large breadth of products manufactured creates a distinc-tion between the ASSA ABLOY Door Group and the rest of the industry. It provides customers access to all of their door and frame needs from a single source. This not only makes ordering product easier, but managing the project schedule, delivery, installation and changes become easier as well. This add-ed value is not only appreciated by the distributor of ASSA ABLOY door and hardware products, but by the architect, general contractor and end user as well.

The door industry has changed immensely over the last 20 years. The complexity of the projects has been the most significant change.

As security needs progress, the technology of door hardware con-tinues to develop as well.

This creates seemingly endless options, with specific combinations of prod-ucts required for each specific door opening. “The result for our manufacturing plants is that the or-ders we are fulfilling for each project are gaining complexity, and a project that would have been con-sidered custom twenty years ago is now the standard.

ASSA ABLOY Door Group engineers and plant managers had to think innovatively to react to this shift and set up our manufacturing lines so products are still able to flow through the process smoothly and keep our lead times down.”

Innovation is a key component to the success of the ASSA ABLOY Door Group. Employees

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are encour-aged to share innovative ideas through company contests and designated time to brainstorm in groups. This contributes to the culture of the ASSA ABLOY Door Group, where an employee can make their mark no matter where they are in the company. We believe in the power of the individual and the strength of the combined team, so we reward enthusiasm and initiative while seeking out ways to collaborate and learn from each other.

Another example of innovation in the manufacturing process is utilizing advanced technologies, such as robotics. This can provide a huge boost in efficiency while ensuring consistency. A pragmatic ap-proach to technology is employed where the aim is not to replace employees, but to utilize these ad-vancements to make employees more effective in their job.

Product development is clearly an area where innovation drives us forward. Whether it is finding a quicker, better way to build an existing product or designing a completely new product that the market needs, teams are constantly looking at the latest technology and materials for new ideas. The Group invests heavily in product development in support of innovation. “We may be looking for a lighter weight material to reduce shipping costs and increase the life span of our products, or trying to find an alternate way to insulate doors that increases the energy efficiency of the opening.”

Energy efficiency and sustainability play a pivotal role in the ASSA ABLOY Door Group’s product development. This is another area where the industry has and will continue to change. Architects and end users are requiring sustainable products be used in the construction of their buildings. Programs such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and The Living Building Challenge closely track the products installed in building projects. The Group has been an early adopter of these pro-grams which help them to be transparent with their customers.

“We have led the industry with the first Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), Health Product Declaration (HPD), and Declare Label for commercial door products. These declarations take into account

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every component that makes up a product and weighs their impact on the environment and the per-sonal health of those building, installing or using the products.” The most rigorous program, The Living Building Challenge, has a red list of materials that cannot be used in any capacity of a building compo-nent.

The ASSA ABLOY Door Group has made a commitment to finding alternative materials and remove any chemicals on the red list from the manufacturing processes. The company’s engineers and product managers are provided with robust training on environmental impacts and trends, and work closely with sustainability teams to ensure that new product development and designs utilize environmentally friendly components to create sustainable building solutions.

Another element that helps to drive the Group’s success is customer relevance. “Although we sell our products through distributor partners, we know we have to stay relevant with everyone in the pro-cess. Our sales agency, Door Security Solutions, is set up to ensure we have coverage of all parties in-volved.”

The Group distributors are carefully selected to become valued partners in supplying products to gen-eral contractors. In order to keep these partners educated on the latest products and processes, the various brands offer training at the manufacturing facilities. These educational sessions subsequently offer the ASSA ABLOY Door Group valuable feedback from customers too. In cases where customers may need training but cannot make the scheduled class at the factory, Door Security Solutions sales representatives are available to do local training.

This training is an intentional effort to make it easier for customers to do business with the Group. Other such efforts include various e-business programs, such as online quoting and ordering. “The AS-SA ABLOY Group has developed our own estimating software that is available to customers.” The data that makes up this program is shared with similar software programs in the industry for customers who prefer those platforms. Other resources are available that allow customers to track the status of quotes and projects once they’ve been entered.

The Door Security Solutions representatives help the Group reach architects with its messages and provide further tools that make specifying their products easier than competitors. Having invested in Building Information Modeling (BIM), architects can pull out details and models directly into their pro-jects. This in turn adds value to the general contractor and end user of the project as it provides a vir-tual building prior to construction.

It points out holes in information and issues that normally would not be caught until the time of installation. This saves a tremendous amount of time and money on chang-es during the construction process.

USA Construction Excellence Award

Door Security Solutions also help architects understand which ASSA ABLOY Door Group products best suit their project’s applications.

Sales representatives offer product training to architectural firms and supply technical information regarding the products and typical applications. Another available option, Door Security Solutions can offer is to write the specification for the project. This saves the architec-tural firm valuable time and resources.

The Group is extremely active at industry trade shows where they take the opportunity to showcase their newest products. “At large national trade shows, we host scheduled press conferences and per-form other activities that keep our booth well attended.

Attendees are offered on demand electronic literature emailed upon request. This also allows for the capture of contact information with com-ments or questions so that follow up communication can be performed quickly and effectively.”

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As they work toward continued success in the future, it is imperative for the ASSA ABLOY Door Group to continue to build and cultivate relationships with theiy distributor partners, architects, influencers and end users, so that the company know their needs and are diligent in exceeding them. “We will continue to focus on innovation with an emphasis on sustainability and incorporating cutting edge technology.”

“We will continue to focus on innovation with an emphasis on sustainability and incorporating cutting edge technology.”

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Digital Strategy Consultancy Solutions Waldeck are a unique specialist multidisciplinary technical and management consultancy who are focused on its BIM expertise and capabilities through its R&D advances.

With digital at the core of everything we do, and with BIM now central to the construction process following level 2 mandate, Waldeck are positioned to provide unique strategic and implementation solutions through our BIM based Enterprise Lifecycle Management (ELM) offering.

Waldeck offer fully intergrated BIM based ELM Solutions across 3D, 4D, 5D, 6D and 7D BIM, across a wide range of industries including; Nuclear, Renewable Energy, Utilities, Logistics, Rail, Manufacturing and Defence.

We understand the importance of starting with the end in mind, offering clients a BIM based cradle to grave solution, which adds value, create efficiencies and reduces risk.

For more information on Waldeck’s BIM experience and expertise please visit the Waldeck website. www.waldeckconsulting.com

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JPro Services JPro Services is a business that supplies and fits fire alarms, fire extinguishers, intruder alarms, CCTV and access control systems as well as providing all of the servicing requirements for these products. We also perform fire risk assessments and fire awareness/training courses for schools and businesses.

hat does the firm’s client base look like?

JPro Services’ client base is a varied one. Comprising of a mixture of domestic and commercial clients, with a huge variation in the size of their sites and systems in place at those sites. We do however have a concentration of clients in a particular area.

Schools are a relatively sizeable chunk of our customer base because, as they only make up about 10 per cent our total clientele, it is constant repeat business with new development happing all the time.

more expensive product often forgetting all the benefits that come with that service (e.g. higher quality, customer advice, etc.) Therefore, a saturation of the market with low end stock and services is the greatest threat to our business at this present time.

However, the overwhelming majority of our customer base comes from the commercial market, covering a wide variety of sectors, from restaurants too nuclear production facilities. We support an ever increasing domestic clientele as well.

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Continue to grow customer loyalty

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Continue to grow our reputation in the south of England as a quality business with integrity

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Expand our B-to-B relationships, continuing to make links with both local and international businesses

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Increase education awareness on the areas of Fire Safety & Security – we are currently broadcasting weekly podcasts that focus on different matters each week.

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What sets your firm apart from others in the field?

Unfortunately, in our field of fire safety and security, the regulation of individuals setting up in competing business and of their practices is quite minimal. Therefore, JPro Services prides itself on being highly accredited, in order to set itself apart from our competitors.

We are BAFE accredited for our fire extinguishers and fire alarm work, NSI Silver accredited for all our security services, as well as being a CHAS approved contractor, registered members of the Fire Industry Association and operating to UKAS ISO 9001 standards. These accreditations mean that JPro Services set themselves apart from most of their competitors and we also pride ourselves on our 365 24/7 call out service; ensuring that we will always go above and beyond expectation for our clients.

What are the main challenges facing your business at present?

The lack of enforced regulation in our sector can be a real challenge. Cowboys flooding the market with cheap deals and low quality can often make customers question why they would pay for a

What are the key objectives for your business in the months and years ahead?

• Our main objective is to grow our customer base to 500 customers by the end of our tenth year of trading – we are currently in our ninth year

What individual in your industry and beyond do you admire the most and why?

Although not directly in my field but definitely related, I am inspired by Ann Millington, who was appointed as the first female ‘Chief Fire Officer’ in Kent in 2011; succeeding in a male oriented business which is something that is both relatable and inspiring.

Name: Colette Wallace Company: JPro Services Ltd Email: info@jproservices.co.uk Web Address: www.jproservices.co.uk Address: PO Box 176, Edenbridge. Kent.

TN8 9DG Telephone: 01732 356242

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Personnel

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Strength, Prosperity, and Adaptability Dribuild Group might be new on the scene, but it has shown all the signs of a rapidly growing contracting business, and is enjoying strong and robust growth based on a reputation for quality, service and, crucially, adapting its offer to perfectly serve the specific needs of the South West of the UK. This has included the introduction of a new division dedicated to serving and supporting the all-important affordable housing market. It achieves this through having diversified into a number of divisions, giving them a greater degree of flexibility than most competing firms in their industry, and a much broader understanding of what it takes to succeed as a construction contractor. ounded in 2008, Dribuild was initially set up as a sub-contractor offering ceilings and partitioning services. In 2012 the management embarked on a programme to develop and expand the company’s core services and enable the transition from sub-contractor to main contractor. Today, the Dribuild Group portfolio operates across a number of vertical markets, from developments, new build construction and interior fit out to marketing services, working with public and private sector clients. In doing so, Dribuild has enjoyed significant year-on-year growth in revenue, profitability, and staff numbers.

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As Matt Tyler explains, “we approach all business with new and existing clients in the same way – our business and staff are totally committed to providing The Total Business Experience (TBE).”

Through their successful model, Matt and his team evaluate all aspects of contact with their evergrowing base of customers. This proven model includes what Matt describes as the traditional ‘4Ps’ of marketing – place, price, promotion, product – along with people process and service. “This is known as our ‘value chain’.

“In addition, we regularly take part in client framework meetings and workshops; not only that, but we also advocate the sharing of best practice and knowledge with clients, suppliers, supply-chain and competitors.”

Dribuild Group has also proved itself as an employer of choice and a business that, although still growing, makes a conscientious effort to support the local communities in which it operates. For instance, the establishment of the new Dribuild Developments division has already been successful for the Group in providing a local ‘Starter Home’ concept, working with the Government’s Homes and Communities Agency to deliver low cost homes.

Delving further into the diversification of the Dribuild brand, Matt reveals that it was the diversification of the company in the wake of a restructuring that has enabled them to make such dramatic headway in their industry. “The external visibility of the Dribuild brand in the marketplace has increased significantly following our successful rebrand and reorganisation,” he says.

“This led us away from thinking of Dribuild as a single business entity, and replaced it with the creation of Dribuild Group that incorporated four core divisions within the business; the Group now encompasses Dribuild Ltd, Dribuild Developments, Dribuild Rail, Dribuild Construction, and Dribuild Interiors. This fundamental restructuring has also had the added benefit of refocusing staff and internal management processes to great effect.

“As well as the establishment of the Dribuild Developments division, the Group has grown its client base, seen repeat work from existing long-term clients, grown its reputation and profile across the region. We have also opened two new regional offices to facilitate our expansion into new territories.”

These represent just a few of the most exciting developments for the Group, but it is also worth Matt’s consideration that there are certain challenges facing the company as they continue to embark on ambitious growth projects.

“Following Government cuts to housing association budgets,” Matt relates, “many associations have cut their in-house development teams to make necessary savings. Dribuild identified an opportunity to offer a development solution for housing associations that would share the risk and still support the building of affordable homes.” This led the company to speak to housing associations in the South West, and after conducting extensive market research on their future plans for development, they have emerged in a stronger position than ever, poised to take advantage

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of an industry under increasing demand for the sort of highquality, client-friendly service that Dribuild have become known for. This gives Matt especial hope for the future of the Dribuild Group.

“We expect to see further growth opportunities within Hotel & Leisure, Retail, Education and Commercial offices,” he says. “Market sector growth is a major target for our business as we continually evolve to ensure that our key divisions are aligned with the market shifts. Our key successes during 2015/16 have provided a solid platform to build upon.”

Further consolidation of smaller competitors is likely during the next 12 months, but this may lead to lucrative acquisition opportunities for Dribuild Group.

Company: Dribuild Group Ltd Name: Matt Tyler Email: matt.tyler@dribuild.com Web Address: www.dribuild.com Address: Milands House, 4 Rock Road, Keynsham, Bristol, BS31 1BP Telephone: 0117 986 1020

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Defining the World Awards

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Staffordshire Housing Group Extends Use of Carval HR Unity to Include Payroll, Time and Attendance and Self-Service Carval Computing is to provide HR Unity, its fully integrated suite of HR, Payroll, Time and Attendance and Self-Service software, to Staffordshire Housing Group. An existing user of Unistaff, Carval’s HR software, the Housing Group is extending its investment with Carval significantly. taffordshire Housing is replacing its current payroll system with Carval’s Uniwage, and plans to roll out SelfService via a Mobile App to its 300 staff, across eight sites. In addition, the new integrated solution will enable easier management of the Group’s range of flexible working options for staff and auto enrolment.

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Based in Stoke-on-Trent with homes and services throughout Staffordshire and East Cheshire, Staffordshire Housing Group is dedicated to creating opportunities and changing lives by providing high quality homes and services to a diverse range of people. Parent company Staffordshire Housing Association owns and manages around 3,000 homes for rent and sale, and also delivers regeneration and housing development.

Helen Martin, People Manager (Projects) at Staffordshire Housing Group commented; “We have a complex payroll requirement, with many different types of employment contracts to manage, including staff with dual roles. Some of our staff work flexitime, with others on different types of flexible working, and we also have an extensive range of shift patterns. The Carval solution is one of the few that can easily manage the complexity of our working hours within one complete, fully integrated package.”

its accuracy, which is expected to enhance staff engagement. Through the Self-Service Mobile App and the Time and Attendance modules, Managers will have access to their team information, and will be able to see at a glance, who is working, when and where.

Helen Martin added; “As existing users of the Carval HR software, we have seen at close hand that they are always evolving and improving the system with regular updates to meet customer needs and maintain competitive advantage. We are confident that extending our use of HR Unity will help the People Team at Staffordshire Housing to support the future development of the Group.”

Founded in 1986, Carval is a leading provider of Human Resource Management and Payroll software and services. The company’s HR Unity range of flexible and easy-to-use solutions is the

HR Unity will provide time and cost efficiencies for the People Team at Staffordshire Housing, by enhancing processes and removing manual systems. The team will now have just one point of entry for all HR and payroll data, which will reduce the likelihood of rekeying errors and potential losses due to overpayments for salaries, absence, holidays and other payments. Staff will have access to their own personal information, via the Self-Service option, and will take responsibility for

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only truly integrated HR, Payroll, Time & Attendance and Self-Service software available in the UK. The company also provides a range of outsourced services including Payroll bureau, hosted and managed services.

Designed to provide a future proof solution, Carval’s HR software harnesses the latest proven technology platforms, resulting in flexible and modern solutions based on industry best practice that are guaranteed compliant with current legislation.

John Ovington, Sales and Support Director at Carval said; “At Carval we are dedicated to continual improvement of our products and services, above and beyond simply keeping pace with new legislation. We listen to our customers, and aim to provide a solution that streamlines as many processes as possible, enabling HR functions to focus on their area of expertise, supporting the business and the people that work within it.”

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Real Estate

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London’s House Price Extinction Tracker Jackson-Stops & Staff has more than a century of experience in the prime property market with 45 offices nationwide, from houses and apartments in London’s smartest districts, to country houses, farms and estates and listed buildings, from residential development and new homes sales to professional services. New data released by the firm uncovers recent trends in London real estate that signify a dramatic rise in property values, and the looming extinction of more affordable housing in the capital.

Surmising their uncovers that: •

findings,

Jackson-Stops

The average house price in London is now £484,700, having risen from £72,778 in 1995, representing a 566 per cent (6.7fold) increase in nominal terms. London’s average house price is over twice the national average of £216,750.

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Homes priced below £100,000 are now extinct, having disappeared from the market in 2008 - see table overleaf.

In 1995 nearly 75 per cent of London properties sold were less than £100,000.

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In 1995, 93 per cent of sold London properties were below £200,000. Now 93 per cent of properties sold in London are over £200,000.

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This year houses under £120,000 will totally vanish and those valued at less than £150,000 are likely to disappear from the market by 2020.

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Jackson-Stops & Staff estimates that homes sold at less than £200,000 will also vanish by 2025.

•

Jackson-Stops & Staff expects London house prices will remain robust over the next 12 months, with any weakness at the very top end of the market compensated by activity and price increases at the mid to lower end of the market.

ew research from estate agency, Jackson-Stops & Staff, also shows that in 1995, 87 per cent of properties sold in London were for less than £150,000.

Today the market has undergone a complete reversal with only 2 per cent of homes sold today now fetching below this price. Jackson Stops & Staff anticipates that homes sold below £120,000 will completely disappear from the market this year.

often one or two properties in each lower price bar but these are invariably anomalies, like a garage, and are best ignored.

Robert Butterworth, Head of Research at JacksonStops & Staff, comments, “our research highlights the incredible changes in the London property market over the last 20 years. Back in 1995 homes valued under £200,000 made up the majority of the market profile, but today they are an endangered species. The entire profile of the market has been flipped on its head – a seismic shift that even a betting man would not have put his money on.”

Meanwhile, in 1995, 93 per cent of properties sold were below £200,000. Presently 93 per cent of properties sold in London are above £200,000.

This year the “under £120,000” property will disappear in London and Jackson-Stops & Staff estimate that in four years’ time, homes under £150,000 will disappear. Within 10 years they predict that all homes under £200,000 will be gone in London.

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London has seen a near seven-fold increase in house prices over the last 21 years, with the average price of properties sold in the Capital currently sitting at £484,700.

Simple averages hide the distribution of prices however. Surprisingly, 27 per cent of properties sold last year, amounting to some 290,000 sales, were completed at under £300,000.

For home buyers seeking to acquire lower priced properties in London, the choices are sharply reducing. Looking back to 1995 reveals how over the space of the year house prices below a certain value all but disappeared in London. JacksonStops & Staff define house prices as being “extinct” if the number of properties sold at or below this price is less than 0.005 of all properties sold in the year, (i.e. less than 1 in 200.) There are

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In 1995, when the “£10,000” London property disappeared from the market, nearly 75 per cent of properties sold were under £100,000. Now there are no properties priced at £100,000 left on the market. They died out completely in 2008.

Robert Butterworth continues, “rapid property price growth has a significant impact on an area and changes how it is perceived by both homeowners and those looking to make an investment in property. While average prices of lower value properties are currently rising at a faster pace than more expensive ones, good investments and opportunities are still out there which carry the attraction of living in the more central regions.

London’s past and recent performance still drives consumer sentiment. The figures really say it all – a house bought for £198,000 in 2002 is now worth more than £550,000.”

Instinctif Partners Kaylene Oliveira, Associate Partner kaylene.oliveira@instinctif.com

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Sustainability & Eco

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Efficiency, Safety, Responsibility ARP Associates and Geotechnical are one of the leading developer focussed consultants in the UK. Operate from a strategic base in the North, which allows a national footprint for clients and projects, ARP Associates have fully established pre and post planning service lines that can take sites through the full planning and development life-cycle – from due diligence and initial site assessment, through full coordination of planning applications and Environmental Impact Assessment, through to construction review. atthew Stokes provides a comprehensive breakdown of the services provided by ARP: “we provide expertise and knowledge in Project Management, Building Surveying, Geotechnical and Geochemical Investigations and reporting, Geo-environmental Investigations and reporting, Topographical Surveys, Infrastructure Design, Specialist Foundation Design, Refurbishments and Flood Risk Assessments, all of which complement the core business of Civil & Structural Engineering.

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“At ARP,” he mentions, “our professional team have a common aim and purpose which is to create environmentally sustainable developments with a sense of community at its heart.”

Positive engagement with the client and key stakeholders is vital to understanding the basis of any concerns and ensuring the project starts in a position of open trust and everyone is working to a positive outcome. ARP maximises and communicates the wider benefits the scheme can deliver to the community and explore opportunities for amenity improvements with the local community.

In addition, the right people talking to the action groups, stakeholder representatives and wider community at the earliest stage is imperative, Matthew stresses the virtues of ARP’s methods in achieving this.

“Presentations and workshops are held with key stakeholders throughout the project to seek feedback and keep all parties informed of developments as the project evolves. We work closely with local authority officers to address concerns and provide appropriate mitigation common to all areas.

“We assess and understand the position of local council elected members. Overall we will consider what is needed for positive outcomes to move parties from a potential position of opposition to support. We also promote less formal events such as exhibitions in public areas and site walkovers to the site and surrounds.

“In our experience these type of events can often capture feedback which would have remained silent had the right, informal forum not been available at which those views could be aired. Site visits are also invaluable in putting issues into perspective and encouraging enthusiastic participation.”

As the firm’s sustainability and flood risk specialist, he himself is a global thought leader in Water Sensitive Urban Design and Place-making. “Such participation in the wider industry is something that ARP throw themselves into, willingly and with every intention of coming away from having changed the industry in some way. “We actively encourage our staff to attend and participate in conferences and share our knowledge across the industry,” Matthew describes.

Holding true to his word, Matthew has addressed a number of conferences over the past two years. These include CIWEM, where he spoke on European Flood Risk Management, as well as the World Symposium on Climate Change Adaptation, addressing the matter of Water Sensitive Urban Design. He has also lectured at Manchester Metropolitan University on Water Sensitive Urban Design, and the University of Huddersfield on catchment dynamics.

Matthew also co-authored ‘Visioning a Water Sensitive Yorkshire’, which aims to show how innovative spatial planning and good building design can reconnect the communities of Yorkshire with their water scape and how water can be utilised for place-making opportunities.

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In addition to addressing our peers, ARP also try to influence and guide the next generation of engineers; “for example, in October, we are spending time in a local primary school, leading a practical lesson on tower building. Children are often the most receptive members of our society, with school site visits and presentations a valuable tool of disseminating information not only between their peer groups but also with their parents. Promotion of environmental, health and safety and sustainability issues can be included at the same time.

“As we have both pre- and post-planning service lines, we believe the synergies we can offer, between planners, environmental scientists, engineers and contractors, can provide exciting new opportunities and considerable efficiencies for developers. We aim to challenge our clients by exposing them to new best processes and procedures in the industry by meeting with our client’s senior staff. These meetings showcase innovations that are occurring both nationally and globally that may be incorporated into client’s procedures to obtain higher efficiencies and quality.

This is a no-cost benefit.”

Establishing effective liaisons with the wider industry, as well as creating meaningful public outreach, are both

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especially important concepts to Matthew and to ARP, because in recent years, public opinion and the media has tended to describe the need for more investment in flood defences and other traditional infrastructure; this is particularly evidenced in the aftermath of flood events, such as those recently observed across the North of England over Christmas 2015.

However, is there a more sustainable, alternative, less intrusive solution that provides a suitable level of protection and at the same time provides added environmental benefits?

Human intervention in the form of flood protection schemes provide protection to some and reduce the overall impact. However, not everyone can be offered the protection needed. And in this time of limited budgets coupled with our wider sustainability goals should we be turning our focus to climate adaptation and community resilience rather than the traditional route of ‘greyinfrastructure’ and permanent defences?

Both Local and Central Government budgets are under strict scrutiny in all areas, not just flood risk management; therefore, according to Matthew, as the requirement for increased partnership funding and improved cost benefit analysis comes more into play, firms within this increasingly important industry need to develop more innovate, holistic and adaptive ways of living with our natural system. As he describes in elaborate, professional detail, •

•

•

environment from the community environment.

On the part of ARP, Matthew sees their role as being a leading one; by employing global thought leaders, they have already achieved such a universal standard of service that Matthew is unable to single out a particularly standout project, as to call that one a success would be to discredit the fact that all of the firm’s projects have been consistently delivered to the highest specification. This, he believes is the key to ARP one day becoming the leading developer-focussed consultant in the UK. “Our approach is to involve our full spectrum of engineering and environmental staff from inception, starting with a joint site visit to understand the existing environment and its opportunities. We work with stakeholders and communities to encourage inclusiveness throughout the appraisal and design process by holding design workshops at key stages of projects. These help us understand what local people consider to be good outcomes, to test our ideas and designs and to agree the design objectives/desired outcomes.

“Further workshops ensure that the emerging design delivers in line with these initial objectives and outcomes (and others that are identified during appraisal). This interactive design development approach forms an integral part of our environmental assessment and project work, by ensuring that desired outcomes are translated into assessment criteria and incorporated into metrics for option selection.

“This approach creates exciting, innovative, creative and sensitive design solutions which benefit local communities, but are backed by thorough appraisal and efficient, safe design.”

Company: ARP ASSOCIATES Name: Matthew Stokes Email: leeds@arpassociates.co.uk Web Address: www.arpassociates.co.uk Address: 5/6 Northwest Business Park, Servia Hill, Leeds, LS6 2QH, UK Telephone: 0113 245 8498

Flood: Come Rain or Shine

“Natural Flood Risk Management (NFRM) and Eco-system services in the uplands would employ techniques that work with natural characteristics of the catchment and reduce flood magnitude downstream.

These techniques include the restoration, enhancement and alteration of catchment features which would naturally attenuate flood flows.

“Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD).

Such a technique considers how landscapes and buildings – can be designed to capture, treat, store and re-supply water locally to minimise pollution impacts, reduce urban flooding and to make the built environment more resilient to climate change.

“Tools such as the United Nations Disaster Resilience Scorecard can be used to test the resilience of an area or group of communities to climate change and natural disasters to ensure residents are educated and have an understanding of the potential risks. The deployment of resources at the correct time and to the correct areas to try and minimise the potential impact.”

Overall, Matthew believes that a longer term solution must be sought in order to provide sustainability going forward, which might involve avoiding the need for building bigger and bigger flood walls, and potentially disconnecting the river

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Putting the Future First SM Associates provides high-quality ground investigation and geotechnical consultancy services both within the UK and overseas. The company has a fleet of rotary drilling rigs and a team of expert site staff and geotechnical specialists. The services offered by the firm are very much as a collaborative partner, providing the client with specialist geotechnical advice from project inception to foundation design. round risk is often the single biggest contributor to construction delays, over engineering and additional costs and this is often due to the risks not being managed. The SM Associates team has a wealth of knowledge and expertise within ground engineering and can help the client to manage this risk, through the provision of high-quality specialist ground investigation services to the built environment sector.

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A relatively new company in the industry, SM Associates was established by leading experts in the fields of ground investigation and geotechnical engineering, and has used its collective knowledge of the industry to establish a unique but cost effective service.

“We often work very closely with Consulting Engineers who have been employed by the client to provide design for their projects,” says Julian Lovell, Director at SM Associates. “Often, the client and many of the consulting companies do not have the ground specialists in-house to do the job themselves, and so SM Associates approach is to become part of the client’s team as their specialist. We always encourage the client to engage or preferably appoint the ground specialists early on in the project. This allows us to build up a better appreciation of the site and the project and design the ground investigation and subsequent geotechnical work to hopefully eliminate or at least reduce the ground risk of the project.”

It is true that S M Associates have access to a depth and breadth of experience that is, according to Julian, becoming increasingly rare in the industry. “Clients have expressed concerns over the quality and reliability of the Ground Investigation data that they are being provided with. To overcome this, we look to get the basics right, which may seem like a simple enough aim, but many within our industry have been struggling with a lack of investment. As a result, there is a tendency to blame poor performance on low margins, and we are determined to avoid falling into that trap.

“We at SM Associates are passionate about what we do and the industry we work in,” Julian announces. “We are strong believers that the statement ‘we have always done it this way’ is a dangerous one, as it leads to apathy from within.

We always believe that there is a better way of doing our work, and whilst good practice is a perfectly acceptable goal to aim at, there should be no reason not to aim for best practice.

“We are also actively involved with the British Drilling Association which represents the drilling contractors and the Association of Geotechnical and Geo-Environmental Specialists which represents the consulting engineers. This allows us to keep abreast of the industry but also to be involved in and support any initiatives for improving safety and quality.

According to Julian, the industry is very buoyant at the moment, with major infrastructure projects including rail, smart motorways, and power stations in the pipeline, as well as a multitude of small to medium construction and development projects. Unlike other busy periods, where the work was often concentrated in the South East, there is a spread of work from Scotland to the south coast. Julian brings especial attention to the positive impact that new rail projects like HS2 will provide for companies such as S M Associates.

“HS2 is currently keeping about 40 per cent of the UK drilling capacity busy, and is likely to require this level of resource for the next two to three years. HS3 and HS4, which take the connections north of Birmingham to Manchester and Leeds, are also likely to require preliminary geotechnical work from 2017 onwards. Crossrail 2 is also scheduled for 2017.

“On top of this, works are currently underway or planned for the next phase of nuclear power and possibly even shale gas – if the politics and environmental concerns can be resolved. So currently, the projected workload is more than enough to keep everybody in the industry busy.”

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As Julian reveals, the numerous new opportunities on the horizon are giving the industry cause to reflect upon its practices, and how they might be applied in these future projects. Currently taking stock of their current situation, and asking if the current plant and techniques are appropriate, SM Associatesand its competitors are coming to the conclusion that some of the drilling techniques that they employ are becoming aged and obsolete. Although effective in variable ground conditions, these methods are not always the safest. This is an important concern for Julian, especially with environmental protection taking such a key position in the debate as the new bank of projects looms ever closer.

“The industry has been slow to innovate,” comments Julian, “and those who have are not always rewarded especially as these older and often more simplistic techniques are cheaper. Therefore, innovation is important, but it has to go hand in hand with improved efficiency and safety. There are often better alternatives, but clients are reluctant to adopt them if they are significantly more expensive. As technology is embraced more and more, cost typically reduces, and this will allow the sector to become more efficient, safer and cost effective.

On the back of this revelation that technological innovation is key to the industry moving forward and developing new, affordable methods of drilling, Julian discusses the role that his firm plays in cultivating this creative mindset within the industry, and expresses immense pride in playing a leading role in this area.

“SM Associates have formed a number of strategic partnerships with technology companies, as we believe that technology based solutions are another way to move the industry forward and keep us at the forefront.

These partnerships have so far involved the adoption of an innovative tablet based digital logging system called KeyLogbook which captures driller’s data at source (on site) and allows it to be sent directly from site in real time using the industry standard digital format (AGS).

The SM Associates drilling rigs are also equipped with a sensor based guarding system which means that the rigs are safer and more efficient to use than rigs with the normal heavy safety cages.

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“The team are also now looking at advanced technologies which could obtain information about ground conditions using in-situ testing and geophysical techniques. This has in the past been seen to be a ‘black art’ but it is used very successfully in other sectors particularly the oil and gas sector and across Europe.

“We are aiming to establish ourselves as a specialist within a specialist industry. We plan to get the basics right but also to provide our clients with the benefit of some of the UKs leading experts in our industry. As their experts we can minimise their exposure to ground risk and this will inevitably lead to better and more lean designs. It will also result in no nasty surprises due to ‘unforeseen’ ground conditions which should reduce programme delays and project overruns.”

SM Associates has been established to become a leading provider of specialist geotechnical services both in the UK and overseas. This, as Julian concludes, will be achieved by a commitment to safety and quality, by employing and training the best people and by continual investment in plant and equipment.

Company: S M Associates Name: Julian Lovell Email: julian.lovell@smageo.com Web Address: www.smageo.com Address: The Paddocks, Home Farm Offices, Banbury, Oxfordshire, OX15 6HU Telephone: 01295 670990

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The Consultant’s Consultant on Flood Defence Since being established in 2007, UK Flood Barriers has grown to become one of the UK’s leading specialist flood contractors, project managing multiple high profile contracts across domestic property schemes for both public and private sector organisations at any one time. Working closely with end clients, such as the Environment Agency and local authorities as well as main scheme contractors, Frank Kelly oversees the provision of ‘end to end’ project management services, supporting all stages of the contract delivery process, including survey, product specification, installation, client/customer communication and ongoing maintenance. n the aftermath of the spate of UK floods between the years 2002-4, Frank Kelly realised that there was a distinct gap in the market for a company to safeguard the country’s infrastructure – from roads to ‘heavyside’ nuclear power stations – against future floods. Using his engineering background, Frank spent the next three years headhunting the best civil, structural and design engineers, Frank laid out his vision for a holistic view of the industry, leading him to establish UK Flood Barriers as an end-to-end service company that designs and manufactures flood defences across the country for both domestic and commercial environments.

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After developing and submitting patent applications for prototype designs that would help to solve the problem and allow him to break into the industry, the team developed their flagship product: a specially-designed airbrick that closes off automatically when it comes into contact with rising water. A standard airbrick, Frank explains, is unprotected and could allow over 5,000 litres of water per hour to enter a property; it is a common feature of flooding that water will often pour in through an unprotected, low-level airbrick and fill up a property from below the floorboards before it even enters the building at ground-floor level via a doorway aperture.

“You have to consider that a lot of properties in the UK – be they Victorian-built or even some modern ones – are built with as many as 34 airbricks, which equates to an awful lot of water being allowed into the property if there is a flood.”

The airbrick that Frank developed has brought about a flourishing of understanding within the

industry about the reality of how a property floods, and what it needs in order to survive.

“The bottom line is that you cannot protect a building with just one product,” he states. “There has to be an engineering solution.”

As such, UK Flood Barriers have continued to push the boundaries on domestic flood defence, with a concentrated focus on good, sturdy, value engineering. Self-actuating systems, such as those seen in the airbrick, are especially prominent, so that they require minimal effort on the part of the customer. In particular, the firm’s new range of backflow valves work in reverse, leaving the flap open to allow maintenance, whilst allowing it to close off in the event of a flood, thereby preventing the backflow of sewage back up the system into the property. “We do a lot of property-level protection - especially in the UK, where we have done work for over 10,000 properties,” Frank says. “We work closely with local authorities and utility companies, as well as the Environment Agency.”

With myriad product ranges at their disposal and a holistic view in mind to providing flooding solutions to both domestic and commercial properties across the country, Frank and the team at UK Flood Barriers like to leap into a new project with both feet – for them, it makes sense to be involved right from the start. “If we can get in an early-stage design,” Frank justifies, “we can demonstrate so much value engineering and cost-saving in the lifetime of the building”.

As of late, Frank and the team have been working on new projects for Crossrail, including the new stations at Bond Street.

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While the British market is by no means fully saturated yet, UK Flood Barriers has already set its sights upon foreign shores, with a total of 18 projects in the design stage and plans for a new office in Manhattan, New York. The ongoing acceleration in the construction industry, with new construction projects emerging constantly, creates numerous opportunities for Frank to get involved from the outset and have an influencing role in designing the foundations of these new buildings to work synergistically with his products.

“There seems to be an understanding among our American clients,” Frank observes, “that by bringing us in, we actually add value to the property.

“In this sector,” he continues, “we are probably the only firm that actually has an engineering/ construction background and focusses solely on flood defence solutions. We are seen as specialists as a result, and we carry design & build teams.

“Truthfully,” he adds jovially, “we understand how buildings should be built – with well-designed defences in place in the event of flooding. We are not product suppliers, but we are solution providers.”

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Taking their nickname in the sector of ‘the Consultant’s Consultant’ in their stride, UK Flood Barriers strive to provide flood expertise at the point where it matters, when the project is under initial consideration.

Maintaining their hegemony of the industry, Frank and his firm find themselves involved in a lot of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programs with their clients and other architectural companies; two new facilities in the UK, as well as a training facility to create new experts in the industry, are further demonstrations of Frank’s ambition.

“I want local companies to be able to provide flood defence solutions within their area,” Frank explains, “because that will give people confidence for the future, and will be a great boon to the local economy besides.”

Frank explicitly refers to the government policy of recent years, when the Conservative Government under David Cameron announced plans to give £5000 to every flooded property in the Lower Thames and South-East area as well as Cumbria; Frank candidly points out that this ‘famine and feast’ solution is in fact disruptive to the growth of the sector. “There is no incentive for property owners to protect their homes from floods, if they know that they can rely upon the government,” he explains. In order to prevent a certain ‘cowboy element’ from setting in, Frank’s alternate proposal to the government entails a £2000 grant to any home in a flood-risk area, with the intention of it being spent on flood defences.

“I am a big believer in standards,” Frank states passionately. “With flood defence, you don’t really get a second chance. And if flood defence is going to be the fastest-growing construction sector for the next generation - on an international scale – what needs to happen is that we learn the lessons from more established sectors: UPVC and doors, as well as the ‘Green Agenda’.”

Flooding: Come Rain or Shine

As if to prove Frank’s point, while the most recent spate of floods in the UK was a further demonstration of the progress that needs to be made in the UK flood defence sector, the new Cockermouth flood barrier, built according to plans by Frank and his team, was fully effective, and a riverside road in the Cumbrian town that has in previous years been the victim of floods was left virtually unscathed.

Company: UK Flood Barriers Name: Frank Kelly Email: info@ukfloodbarriers.co.uk Web Address: www.ukfloodbarriers.co.uk Address: 9a Wassage Way, Hampton Lovett Industrial Estate, Droitwich, Worcestershire, WR9 0NX Telephone: 01905 773 282

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Looking to the Future Peter Brett Associates LLP (PBA) is an independent practice of engineers, planners, scientists, and economists delivering major development and infrastructure projects. Our clients are at the centre of everything we do. We develop teams to work with our clients rather than for them, to understand their needs and drivers, and deliver solutions which create value for them and the communities in which they work. e are committed to furthering our industry, and support many professional institutions, present at global conferences and produce technical papers for leading publications.

More than this however, we also take the lead in developing the agenda for key areas of the industry. For example, our chairman, Keith Mitchell, was the founding Chairman of the National Infrastructure Planning Association (NIPA) which plays a key role in developing the Planning Act regime for major infrastructure.

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Our flood management team works with public sector bodies like the Environment Agency to develop new flood defences and protect communities, and with developers and planners to help manage the risks associated with new development. Britain is exposed to a highly variable climate and it is difficult to ascribe trends to relatively short periods of data making it hard to determine whether recent events are normal infrequent floods or whether they form part of a wider trend. However, all the evidence suggests that we will be subject to more extreme weather events in the future.

Flooding: Come Rain or Shine

We cannot easily predict how much emissions will increase, how the climate will change or how this will impact flood risk through the hydrological cycle. However, we can be certain that much of our critical infrastructure and many properties are at risk of flooding and erosion and it is unlikely that this will reduce without significant intervention.

At PBA we recognise that new development is required to satisfy ever increasing demand but we also understand that we cannot abandon existing

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communities to the impacts of climate change.

So we aim to work collaboratively with developers and government agencies to facilitate sustainable development which can contribute to an overall reduction in risk.

The Mayor of London’s recent move to pass the planning decision for Wimbledon Stadium back to the London Borough of Merton completes a lengthy planning process to create a new football stadium and 600 residential properties.

PBA worked closely with key stakeholders to develop a scheme which satisfied flooding policy requirements by incorporating sustainable drainage systems and using a raised platform to create additional flood storage.

There are many challenges ahead: Brexit, global financial uncertainty, climate change, shifts in the traditional political consensus are among them. However, at PBA we feel confident that there are many opportunities for businesses like ours to provide our personal brand of clientcentred consultancy and to continue to develop value for our clients and our communities.

Company: Peter Brett Associates Name: Paul Jenkin Email: pjenkin@peterbrett.com Web Address: www.peterbrett.com Address: Peter Brett Associates, Caversham Bridge house, Waterman Place, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 8DN Telephone: 01189520349

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Transforming Our Idea of Solar Energy Peka Solar and Renewable Energy are a Florida based company providing renewable energy services to firms around the world. We invited President and Owner Willer Saldana to talk us through the firm and the services it provides.

eka Solar, who offer solar panel installation for both commercial and residential properties. Willer outlines how the firm is aiming to make a difference through its service offering.

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“Here at Peka Solar we are committed to supporting clients in reducing their energy, and we serve people around the world, working on a wide variety of projects, from commercial buildings to high end houses.

“Our mission is simple: create a better environment while saving our clients money, and also providing then with the best services.

“Our overall aim is to reduce the world’s carbon footprint, one project at a time. To achieve this, we try to educate our clients about the benefits of solar energy, which is a pure energy source, safe for the environment, and totally free.”

Although the sustainable energy market is growing globally, electricians and other members of the construction market still do not understand solar energy, which proves a challenge for firms such as Peka Solar.

Despite this challenge Willer is keen to emphasise the firm’s positive points, including its dedication to hiring skilled staff and the advantages it finds being based in sunny Florida.

“We are very selective about the staff we hire, as they have to be dedicated to providing our clients with the very best solutions and the very highest standard of fitting. Our technicians are NABCEP (gold standard) certified with accredited schools in the US. We take pride in what we do, seeking quality rather than quantity.

“Being in the ‘sunshine state’, we feel that we should tap into clean and natural resources like the sun, wind, and even local water ways, to lower our costs in utilities. Using less oil and gas saves the us money and makes the property more valuable, all while being environmentally responsible.”

Willer also notes the opportunity for Peka Solar to take advantage of transformations within the construction industry, particularly as residential properties increasingly look to solar energy as a viable long-term investment. “Within the wider sustainable construction market, we are noticing that more homes are being built with solar technology already integrated into the property, and this will help us in our quest to expand.”

Moving forward, Willer is keen to emphasise the firm’s continued focus on providing high quality as it seeks to offer its services to a wider client base.

“In the future we are committed to continuing our expansion plan so that we can serve a greater variety of clients in a wider range of countries around the world.

We have upcoming projects in the US and the Caribbean, and we hope to move further afield in the future, whilst retaining the high standards of quality which we pride ourselves on.”

Company: Peka Solar and Renewable Energy, Inc. Phone: 239-687-6997 Email: wsaldana@pekasolar.com Web Address: www.pekasolar.com Address: 909 SE 47th Terrace Suite 201-1, Cape Coral, FL 33904, USA

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Best Renewable Energy Engineering Design & Installation Firm - USA

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Mygardenschool Enables Anyone, Anywhere, to Design Their Own Garden with New Beginner’s Online Garden Design Course MyGardenSchool, the rapidly growing online horticulture and garden design school has launched its first Garden Design Course for beginners. For only £480 (a fraction the price of most garden design courses), MyGardenSchool is opening up the idea that anyone can design their own garden, wherever you are in the world. The garden design course is bookable from now and students can start their courses from mid-October onwards (an optimum time of year to plan your design). he leading independent telecommunications and internet service provider (ISP) currently has more than 270 Points of Presence (PoPs) in BT exchanges, a figure that will rise to more than 400 by January 2017. The company will add 20 PoPs in London alone, bringing its presence in the capital to 60. All PoPs are enabled for Ethernet, FTTC, FTTP, EFM and ADSL.

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Zen Technical Director Jon Bauer says the multimillion-pound investment will support Zen’s long-term aim of providing quality, carrier grade services to customers.

He said: “Zen’s expanded network has been designed and built to support the growth of the business and that of our corporate and midmarket customers, as well as bolstering our Wholesale, Channel and voice-based ambitions.

We are building a network that is ‘Fit for the Future’, and one which will support our customers’ future growth by delivering an ever wider portfolio of services.

“Carrier grade means customers can run their connectivity requirements on a network that has been tested and engineered to meet and exceed

five nines high availability standards, with fast and automated fault detection, and recovery that can be achieved in milliseconds.”

This major expansion will spread Zen’s reach to well over 500,000 postcodes, covering nearly every corner of the UK. The growth of its robust on-net presence gives Zen real end-to-end control over performance, pricing and service, and means even more businesses will have access to costeffective connectivity coupled with Zen’s awardwinning support.

Dubbed Project Plexus, the new network is currently being rolled out across the UK and Zen expects it to go live in the New Year.

Mr Bauer said: “Zen already has a reputation for reliability. When complete this major expansion will deliver even greater flexibility, giving us the performance and capacity to supply all the industry-leading services our customers demand today and will increasingly demand in the future.”

Cisco estimates that annual global IP traffic will pass the zettabyte (1000 exabytes) threshold by the end of this year, and will reach two zettabytes a couple of years later. As companies demand

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ever-increasing amounts of data they need robust and affordable infrastructure to carry it. That, along with the increasing demand for bandwidth in homes across Britain, has fuelled Zen’s desire to further invest in its network.

Zen Technical Architect Andy Furnell said: “Zen will build upon our existing network assets, extending into two additional core network locations, and refreshing our national core network technology to meet the growing demands of our connectivity customers.

“Our new network will be built using the latest software-defined technologies, to deliver an even more efficient and flexible service for new and existing customers. We are very excited to be working with market-leading vendors and technology to deliver a network that will be the beating heart of our business for the next five years and beyond.”

Zen believes that services like voice and cloud hosting will drive expansion in the medium term.

Zen’s voice platform currently delivers more than 1.1 million calls every month, equivalent to 33,000 hours of talk. Meanwhile, demand for storage has grown by 65% in the past three months.

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Kebony Cladding Exceeds Expectations Architectural firm Arches has recently created a contemporary, eco-friendly villa within close proximity to Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania and the country’s largest city. Clad in 650 square metres of sustainable Kebony wood, this unique property has been built to complement the scenery, with natural timber cladding and irregular pitched roofs, characteristic of the neighbouring surroundings and in harmony with the hillsides and pine trees; the villa strikes the perfect balance with an architectural style that is simultaneously modern and traditional.

he clean, angular design creates a minimalist exterior with Kebony as the prime material contrasting against the black slate at the building’s base.

Architect, Arūnas Liola, aimed to design a structure that is both ecologically friendly and striking in appearance, interweaving natural materials with a bold sculptural form. The firm has frequently chosen to work with Kebony due to the fact that it is a natural material but with the resistance to stand up to testing conditions far better than softwood. The quality of the wood, and through the skills of an exceptional carpenter, meant the timber could be sculpted and worked with easily for this particular project. Kebony requires no additional treatment even when used as an external cladding, the material simply develops a silver-grey patina which will allow the house to adapt naturally to its surroundings over a period of time.

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The patented Kebony technology is a patented process that enhances the properties of non-durable wood species to give them similar characteristics to the best performing woods. Through a sustainable process wood species such as pines and some nondurable hardwoods are impregnated with a bio-based liquid derived from agricultural crop waste. With the addition of heat, the furfuryl polymer is permanently grafted into the wood cell wall. By polymerising the wood’s cell wall, the softwoods permanently take on the attributes of tropical hardwood including high durability, hardness and dimensional stability, without the need for tropical deforestation, whilst also resulting in a high performing, beautiful wood product.

Arūnas Liola, Architect at Arches commented: “Every time we use Kebony we learn more and more about

A recent study by Norwegian environmental consulting firm Bergfald & Co. demonstrated that Kebony wood has a substantially lower carbon footprint than its tropical hardwood equivalents. Kebony is suitable for both internal and external applications that demand high performance and great aesthetics including: decking, flooring, cladding, roofing, windows, indoor and outdoor furniture. Over time Kebony acquires its characteristic silver-grey patina whilst not losing its performance characteristics.

With improved durability and dimensional stability, Kebony is becoming increasingly the choice of leading architects and developers enabling them to use wood in projects without causing environmental degradation. Kebony has been used internationally in projects from commercial, public, residential and marine, for example Hunter’s Point in New York, the Mary Rose museum and both residential and commercial buildings on the UK’s seafront.

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its creative capabilities, the possibilities are endless. It is the perfect sustainable, natural and multi-purpose material for our designs, always providing an impressive final product with a striking and natural appearance.”

Gytis Korzinskas of HOTA, Kebony’s distributor in the Baltics added: “This is a remarkable project and it has been fascinating to see how such a modern architectural triumph has integrated itself beautifully into its surroundings. We at Kebony are so pleased to have been involved in such a project, and look forward to seeing what the team at Arches can design next.”

Jamie Smith 020 7630 3836 www.thecommunicationgroup.co.uk jsmith@thecommunicationgroup.co.uk

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d-ark is an independent architecture firm based in Copenhagen, Denmark. d-ark offers a holistic approach to architecture, design, environment, surroundings, people, and resources. Within this frame d-ark strategically works with optimization, organization and prevention without compromising functionality and aesthetics.

Fields of expertise: • Sustainability • New build // Additions // Insertions // Fill-ins • Restoration • Renovation • Transformation • Consultancy // Counselling • Planning • Custom interior and exterior design

For any inquiries please do not hesitate to contact d-ark via d-arks webpage: www.d-ark.dk Build Magazine

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Energy from Waste: At a C rossroads

By John Ord, Business Director for Thermal Power and Energy Networks at MWH, now part of Stantec.

e’ve come a long way with our approach to dealing with waste. Not more than 20 years ago, the default position in the UK was to dispose of waste by putting it in a hole in the ground.

This poses another set of tricky questions.

Firstly, what form will the necessary funding and development of energy from waste plants take?

Secondly, what will stimulate the evolution of ever more efficient facilities?

Fast forward to today, and we see quite a different picture. Bioenergy has developed rapidly: there are now Mechanical Biological Treatment Plants creating high quality fuel coupled with advanced thermal conversion technology which is generating energy efficiently.

The current climate is not supporting the creation of entirely new energy from waste projects.

Instead, we’re seeing development of projects that have taken a while to reach fruition. This might be because of issues such as planning, feedstock contracts or grid connection holding up progress. So the financing of “new projects” isn’t really happening at the moment. Rather, projects that have a slow burn that have been mooted for several years are being branded as “new”. This will remain the case until government policy becomes clearer.

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Along the road to the state of the market today, we’ve seen regulations and incentives, to nudge the energy from waste sector along, come and go.

Two opposing conclusions might be drawn from this: either that bioenergy can now stand on its own two feet and has entered the mainstream, or that government has run out of patience with bioenergy and now intends to let the market decide if it has a commercially viable future.

Crossroads However, the reality is that we’re at a crossroads.

On the one hand, we as an industry could sit back and hope for a favourable policy to prompt renewed development, on the other hand we have an opportunity to push forward the development of sustainable energy from waste facilities.

It’s certainly clear that there is a feeling of uncertainty in the renewable energy market.

Large scale subsidies, such as Feed-in-Tariffs have had their day, and the government seems to have set its sights and bulk of its investment on offshore wind.

The source of the uncertainty is a simple lack of clarity about whether incentives for generating electricity from waste will exist in the future at a level that will make an impact. The sense is that the energy from waste industry cannot rely on government to provide the subsidies needed, the industry will need to take it upon itself to find the funding and investment required.

Subsidies or not, we need to make the case for energy from waste plants. On a community scale, energy from waste facilities provide local and national benefits. First and foremost it provides a local sustainable, renewable form of energy, but it also insulates us from the EU’s energy from waste market, which will become less financially attractive as existing aging infrastructure and assets are retired and replaced.

Turning up the heat We must also look beyond electricity generation with energy from waste. The UK has a big demand for energy for heating, which also needs to be decarbonised. Increasing the generation of heat from renewable energy sources will help the UK reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Crucially, this is a separate issue to decarbonisation of the electricity grid, and requires substantial progress.

At present, the UK imports an enormous amount of natural gas for heating purposes. Energy from waste facilities offer an opportunity to generate the heat we need. Thermal conversion systems, though limited at the moment, may provide the key at a local level. At the moment, we still have Renewable Heat Incentives, a government subsidy

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to help push through renewable heat, so there is a chance for energy from waste to capitalise on this.

This idea of decentralised energy generation is developing in the UK, and small scale energy from waste facilities can make a real difference at this level. Together with the innovation in smart grids, these facilities can provide both heat and electricity to meet local demand.

Another emerging trend is private wire network arrangements. These are small scale energy schemes which generates energy close to the location it is supplying. By creating a direct connection between the consumer and the energy generator its cuts out distribution operators and their infrastructure costs. These savings are passed onto the consumer, thereby reducing their energy bills.

Combining community scale energy from waste facilities with private wire networks to businesses through land developers is certainly an interesting prospect, and one that would provide a guaranteed stream of income.

It’s clear that the energy from waste industry has many roles to play in the future of the energy mix in the UK. It not only acts as a source of electricity generation, but also as a vital component in the development of decentralised power generation and smart grids. It is also a crucial means of protecting the UK’s security of supply. Ongoing investment in thermal conversion technology and infrastructure will shield the UK from declining natural gas.

So, we are at a crossroads, but there are many opportunities for the industry in the coming future.

We need to look ahead and prove that energy from waste can make a sustainable and valuable contribution to the UK.

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Company: Dynamic Air Quality Solutions Name: Rob Goodfellow Email: info@DynamicAQS.com Web Address: www.DynamicAQS.com Address: P.O. Box 1258 Princeton, NJ 08542 Telephone: +1 (800) 578-7873

Company: Powell Custom Homes and Renovations Name: Brooks & Todd Powell Email: brooks@powell-homes.com Web Address: powellrenovations.com Address: 22211 Marine View Dr. S., Des Moines, WA 98198 Telephone: 206-824-8001

Company: Southern Asbestos Solutions Name: Simon Walker Email: sales@southernasbestosgroup.co.uk Web Address: www.southernasbestosgroup.co.uk Address: Building 1000 Lakeside, North Harbour, Portsmouth, PO6 3EZ, UK Telephone: 02392 344 054

Company: Clugston Construction Name: Paul Gouland Email: group@clugston.co.uk Web Address: www.clugston.co.uk Address: St Vincent House, Normanby Road, Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, DN15 8QT, UK Telephone: 01724 843491

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Winners’ Directory

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Be part of the one of the UK’s leading areas of economic growth and development The Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire area boasts one of the fastest growing economies in the region. Now’s your chance to be part of its exciting future as the second most influential powerhouse in the South of England.

Property developers, businesses and residential buyers continue to see Milton Keynes as a prime location to live, work and invest due to its:

Superior infrastructure with easily accessible amenities Well-designed road systems and easy access to the M1 and London Affordable new homes and development opportunities Working on behalf of Developers, Builders, Investors, Land and Property Owners, The Wilkinson Partnership is helping to shape Milton Keynes’ future by sourcing potential development sites, negotiating with planning authorities and effectively marketing rural property and land and more.

For detailed information on how we can also help you become part of the second Capital of the South’s future, please contact us today.

Leighton Buzzard

Winslow

01525 851616

01296 712717

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lbres@qualityhomes.co.uk winres@qualityhomes.co.uk