Premier Construction 17-7 by PHIL AINLEY

Roma Publications

Volume 17 - Issue 7

Google Office Fit Out

Admiral Network Infrastructure -working directly for Google on their prestigious office fit out project

Jamie’s Italian

Conwy and Denbigh Castles

Bringing the past into the future: Grosvenor develop state-of-the-art visitor centres at two historical castles

Jamie’s are using the latest hi-tech CCTV for quality control by MRFS Group

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Contents PREMIER CONSTRUCTION Dear readers, One of the most exciting aspects of the construction industry is the constant drive to improve and transform. In this month’s edition of the magazine, we explore a dazzling array of projects which aim to enhance the areas in which we live. One such project is the £3.5 million refurbishment of 177 properties at Greenhill Court in Rutherglen, Scotland. Due to be completed in January 2013, the project will include the upgrade of all heating systems, the creation of a new concierge station and the provision of car park spaces. Energy efficiency is a key priority for South Lanarkshire Council and the improvements at Greenhill Court are expected to significantly benefit residents by reducing both costs and carbon emissions. Often our buildings cater for exciting new advancements in sport, technology and education. The new £80 million St. George’s Park development in Burton upon Trent will inspire world-class performance for all 24 England football teams, whilst Loughborough College will soon celebrate the arrival of The Elite Athlete Performance Centre (EAPC) – an innovative concept that will help to develop the sporting prowess of gifted youngsters. Every once in a while, a truly inspirational project will catch our eye. When it opens later this year, the Newbrook Farm centre in Worcestershire will be the first in the UK to include all of the different RSPCA disciplines. Covering an impressive 16,000 square metres, the development will also house the UK’s only two-storey cattery. As much as the construction industry aims to evolve, another important element is the conservation and restoration of existing infrastructure. This is certainly the case for the Grade I listed Nanteos Mansion in Wales, where a £3.5 million refurbishment project will see the extensive repair of the building’s stunning original features. Over in Fochabers, Scotland, the early 19th century Swiss Cottage has been lovingly restored by Gordon Christie, ensuring its survival for another 50 years. Developments can inspire, impress and astound, whilst evoking feelings of great pride and admiration. One particularly poignant project is the new Titanic Memorial Garden in Belfast, which is the first in the world to celebrate a memorial for all 1512 victims of the 1912 tragedy. Completed just in time for the 100th anniversary of the tragedy, the garden boasts a selection of beautiful springtime flowers including magnolias, forget-me-nots and rosemary. We now invite you, readers, to join us as we examine the projects that are shaping the world around us; the projects that are there to remember, and those that we will remember in years to come.

Volume 17 • Issue 7

St. Regis Abu Dhabi..........................................................................................12 Nando’s.............................................................................................................16 Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte.......................................................................18 Pho....................................................................................................................23 Wagamama......................................................................................................26 Jamie’s Italian..................................................................................................29

North West Kinder Interiors................................................................................................36

North East & Yorkshire Constructing Excellence in the North East Awards......................................39 Leafields...........................................................................................................42 York Sport Village.............................................................................................45

Midlands & East Anglia Newbrook Farm Centre...................................................................................48 De Montfort University....................................................................................52 Loughborough College....................................................................................57

London & South East Cutty Sark.........................................................................................................58 Jubilee Gardens...............................................................................................65 Google UK........................................................................................................75

Scotland Airdrie and Coatbridge Transfer Tunnel..........................................................83 Antonine House................................................................................................88 SportScotland National Sports Training Centre............................................89

Ireland Titanic Memorial Garden.................................................................................95

Wales Hensol Castle Park.........................................................................................103 Denbigh and Conwy Castle...........................................................................104 Heritage Clissold House................................................................................................114

Follow us on twitter.com/pcbyroma and www.premierconstructionnews.com Managing Director: Marcus Howarth Editor: Charlotte Emily Brazier Assistant Editor: Alex Wiggan Production Manager: Nicola Owen Customer Manager: Joanne Murphy Published by: Roma Publications Ltd. t: 01706 719 972 f: 0845 458 4446 e: admin@romauk.net w: www.romauk.net Graphic Design by:

www.marcusmacaulay.co.uk

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i n d u st ry N E WS

Harris trebles office space

Zapp provides branding solutions Zapp is a leading supplier of umbrellas and screen brands for use in the restaurant and bar industry. The company offers a range of branded products including the AGS terrace screen, a solid fixed laminated glass structure that can be adjusted to suit the ever changing demands of the British climate. Zapp Managing Director, Mark Parry, said: “The smart appearance of umbrellas and screens branded with your business name and logos can be a winning partnership to get noticed and bring in more of the public.” Zapp is renowned both for their quality products and services and for providing bespoke solutions to customers with unique branding requirements. The company has recently supplied products to Raven Café Tower of London, Fish in Borough Market and Leonardo’s in Hove.

New blasting technique for Gallagher Group Building, civil engineering and quarry specialist the Gallagher Group has adopted a new blasting technique. The brand new technique provides the Gallagher Group with the ability to produce high-quality lump rock to meet the ever expanding requirements of architects and planners who use Ragstone. The smooth blasting technique minimises blast-induced fragmentation and increases production of high quality block stone for use in heritage and new build projects. Gallagher Group Chief Executive, Nick Yandle, said: “Gallagher will continue to introduce new innovations such as this blasting technique so that the growing requirements of Ragstone can be met. “The stone is increasingly being specified by architects and planners who are becoming aware of its attributes in projects that require a continued source of high quality original material. “The technique will also ensure that as the last remaining supplier of Kentish Ragstone, Gallagher is able to continue to supply the high-quality Kentish Ragstone blocks needed for new build and restoration projects.”

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Harris Construction Management (HCM) has relocated to new offices in Yorkshire. Originally based at Thorpe Park outside Leeds, the company has moved to a 7,000 square foot office suite on Elmsall Way. Harris Construction Management Managing Director, Jason Adlam, said: “Since the start of the year we have created four new jobs and are continually recruiting in-line with our ongoing expansion programme. “The new office gives us three times more space, improved IT infrastructure, unlimited parking and offers easy access to the A1, M62 and M18. In addition it also offers a great layout for our individual divisions, consisting of ‘HCM projects’, ‘HCM interiors’ and ‘HCM facilities’. “This expansion follows several key contract wins as we look to develop a fiveyear relationship strategy with ASDA whilst we are continuing to win work from lots of our established bluechip customers including

Nando’s, Coca Cola and Arla Foods. “In addition we have a healthy pipeline of contracts that we’re due to start later this year in the industrial, facilities management, retail and residential sectors.” HCM was founded in 2007 and has an annual turnover of £20 million. By 2014 HCM plans to double its turnover and create 8 new jobs.

Crossrail excavates material from west London The first trainload of excavated material from Crossrail tunnels has left west London. Thirteen wagons left Crossrail’s Westbourne Park site for Northfleet, Kent, carrying 492 tonnes of earth. From Northfleet, the material will be transferred by ship to regeneration sites, including a new RSPB nature reserve at Wallasea Island, Essex. Crossrail’s Western Tunnels Project Manager, Andy Alder, said: “At the peak, the tunneling

machines constructing the western tunnels will extract 7,000 tonnes of excavated material a day from underneath the streets of London. This excavated material will be used to help create a RSPB nature reserve at Wallasea Island that will be enjoyed for generations to come.” More than 1 million tones of earth will be excavated during the tunneling works for Crossrail’s 6.4 kilometre western tunnels project.

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A range of sample boxes

Following the successful launch of the Regal Range earlier this year, Knauf Marmorit is to showcase their latest selection of Presto scratch render via an attractive array of sample boxes. Fifteen aesthetically pleasing render colours have been chosen and represent the most popular scratch render in the UK. Knauf Marmorit Product Manager, Steve Webber, said:

Sustainable fencing One of the UK’s largest social housing providers – Your Housing Group – is to use eco-friendly fencing for its residential development in Partington, Manchester. Made from Zyplex, the recycled plastic lumber is being supplied by Colne-based family business Kedel Ltd and is ideal for replacing wooden fencing in need of refurbishment. Skills2Build – a supported employment programme– has recruited local Partington residents to construct and install the fencing on the 120-house scheme. Dermot Walch, Managing Director of Kedel, said: “Using Zyplex offers potentially significant cost and performance advantages over traditional materials. This fencing won’t rot, chip or fade, and will last about five times longer than wood without any need of maintenance. “We’re delighted to be involved in this project. The fencing is truly sustainable in every sense, and the fact it was formulated for strength, durability and stability will now be demonstrated to the full in Partington.” Founded in 2009, Kedel Ltd supplies products made from recycled plastic including synthetic wood, mixed plastic lumber, ground reinforcement grids and a wide range of garden and street furniture. For more information contact 01282 861325, info@kedel.co.uk, or visit www.kedel.co.uk.

SDS stormwater system for new Morrisons manufacturing site

“We felt that the sample box would be a great visual aid for specifiers enabling them to decide on colour first hand rather then looking at a brochure.” The Regal Range is an inexpensive product that provides an excellent finish to a project. The Range offers a quick-dry application and can be used as a finish or a basecoat for Knauf Marmorit top coat renders. For more information on the Regal Range email steve@marmorit.co.uk or visit www.marmorit.co.uk.

VINCI Construction UK makes a generous donation

Almost 4000m³ of a GEOlight stormwater management system has been installed at a new Morrisons packing plant in Bridgwater, Somerset. The stormwater system was supplied by SDS Ltd and comprised an ultra lightweight preformed modular structure, made from recycled PVC. Benefits of the system include a high void rate of up to 97%, a high compressive strength of up to 1000kN/m2 and a low resistance to water flow. The SDS GEOlight stormwater management systems are manufactured entirely from post consumer PVC waste, which reduces the carbon footprint and helps development projects achieve a higher BREEAM rating. BSCP Civil Engineer, Roy Fowler, said: “The site is very flat and the outfall extremely shallow, so the GEOlight system has proved to be a practical solution to meet the contractor’s requirements.” For more information on SDS products and services please contact info@sdslimited.com or visit www.sdslimited.com.

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VINCI Construction UK has donated £200 to the Broughton and Bretton Motor Club during a fundraising event for The Prostate Cancer Charity. The event took place to celebrate the life of Elwyn Lloyd, a highly respected member of the club who sadly passed away from prostate cancer. During the event an auction and raffle were held, raising a combined total of £1,616.20. VINCI Construction UK Building Division North Contracts Manager, John Roberts, said: “It was great to be part of an event which raised money for a charity that has a lot of meaning to the clubs’ members and me. “VINCI Construction UK will continue to raise money and support charities and the local communities wherever it is possible.”

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Comfort and style at St. Regis Abu Dhabi Located within the Nation Towers development in the centre of The Corniche, St. Regis Abu Dhabi is the latest in a long line of luxurious hotels from Starwood Hotels & Resorts. Set to open in September 2012, the hotel has been designed by HBA International and features 243 distinctive guest rooms, 40 grand suites, eight restaurants –including the prestigious Rhodes 44 – and Abu Dhabi Suite located on the 48th/49th floors. The hotel also boasts more than 4,800 sq. metres of meeting and event space, over 3,000 sq. metres of health club facilities – including two stunning outdoor pools – and a magnificent spa. Arabtec Construction LLC and NPC are the main contractors on the project, whilst Webb Zerafa Menkes Housden is the architect and HBA International is the interior design architect. Sayed Tawfiq Altabbakh of Hill International is the project manager and Roya International is providing interior design supervision services. The stylish design of St. Regis Abu Dhabi takes its inspiration from all over the world, but the interior of the hotel can be best described as art deco with Arabic influences. Upon arrival at St. Regis Abu Dhabi, guests will be instantly greeted with the highest standards of quality from fixtures and fittings to stateof-the-art facilities. Guest rooms are decked out in a red and gold colour scheme, whilst guest bathrooms are detailed with stunning decorative

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finishes and include a WC/bidet cubicle, shower and bath. Each guest room includes two chandeliers – one in the bedroom and one in the bathroom – creating a magnificent canopy that incorporates sparkling strands of faceted hexagonal crystal. In addition to traditional guest rooms, a range of suites are available to visitors. These include the Al Mushref suite, the Al Manhal suite, the Al Hosen suite and the Abu Dhabi suite. Each suite features a stunning array of finishes and has incorporated a mixture of living quarters and relaxation facilities. Another welcoming feature is the luxurious Remede Spa, which has been designed to cater for both male and female guests. The male-orientated half of the spa is decorated with dark Ziricote wood millwork and dark Emperador marble, whilst the female half features a lighter palette of colours with white Calacatta Oro marble and pearlescent plaster. The female section also includes a salon – with pedicure, manicure and hair dressing stations – a fitness zone, wet and dry changing areas, a sauna and vitality pool. A unique feature of St. Regis Abu Dhabi is the Sky Suite, a lavish private suite that is located on bridge level which connects both sides of the Nation Towers development at the 56th floor. The interior design of the Sky Suite features a mix of distinctive styles, including eclectic furnishings, bespoke embellishments and a warm and inviting colour palette. Local design motifs are incorporated into the floor patterns and additional features include bespoke hand-tufted carpets

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and rugs – supplied by ICE – and a sparkling crystal chandelier. The chandelier is formed with a mixture of crystal and antique bronze accents and is suspended from an intricately detailed carved gold leaf finish, creating an intensely dramatic feature. The Sky Suite also includes a five-seat cinema, a master bedroom, a gym and a spa. The spa features a treatment room with two beds, a duel rain shower, a large steam room & sauna and a two-person whirlpool tub. All of the furniture in the Sky Suite is custom-made and incorporates a mixture of materials and fabrics, including mahogany, metal, stone, silk and velvet. In addition to the already impressive features of the Sky Suite, a Master Suite is also available to guests. Situated in the upper wing of the Sky Suite, the Master Suite features a private library, a lounge, a dining area and office space and is serviced by a dedicated elevator. Additional features include a games table, spacious wardrobes and a large bathtub, whilst finishes include upholstered walls and gold leaf accent tiles. As part of the new development guests will also be treated to fine dining at the brand new in-house restaurant, Rhodes 44. The restaurant is a brand new venture for celebrity chef Gary Rhodes and has been designed to appeal to both national and international guests. The restaurant offers signature cuisine with Arabic influences and will cater for guests from breakfast through to dinner. The lavish restaurant comprises a number of food stations – including a bakery, a salad bar and a take-away cafe – and allows guests to feel as if they are present in Gary Rhodes’ kitchen. St. Regis Abu Dhabi General Manager, Oliver Key, said: “We are proud to unveil the new St. Regis Abu Dhabi hotel and we look forward to offering custom-tailored guest experi-

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ences and unparalleled luxury for which the St. Regis brand is renowned. “This magnificent hotel has been meticulously designed to meet the needs and desires of global travellers and local residents alike, offering bespoke luxury, rich amenities and exquisite culinary experiences.” Additional features of the restaurant include floral pattern ceilings – which take inspiration from the food court in Harrod’s – and an external terrace. The exterior dining area includes a lounge, fireplace and a bar designed to look like a traditional Abu Dhabi wood hulled boat. Rhodes 44 is Gary Rhodes’ first restaurant in Abu Dhabi. The Michelin-starred chef has already celebrated success with overseas restaurants including Rhodes Mezzanine at Grosvenor House and Rhodes at the Calabash on the Caribbean, Grenada. Gary Rhodes commented: “To be co-creating a signature dining outlet with the St. Regis brand in a hotel of such exceptional calibre is an exciting adventure for me and my team. “The UAE is becoming such a central culinary point in the world with so many great chefs and great food on offer. We are pulling in all these top chefs, you’ve got Pierre Gagnaire, you’ve got Giorgio Locatelli – you’ve got all these great chefs that are coming in now, they are coming to set up here. “There is a restaurant from every part of the world in Dubai. We feel privileged to be part of what’s happening. Rhodes 44 intends to deliver on its promise, making dining an unforgettable event.” Additional features of St. Regis Abu Dhabi include a reception hall, a crystal lounge, a range of junior suites and the Al Mudhaif ballroom. St. Regis Abu Dhabi will open to guests in September 2012.

ICE CEO/Owner, Marc Janssen, said: “The combination of our talented Dutch design team, high-end products and the focus of our people on providing the best services to our clients turns out be a successful mix in the market. Within 5 years we have become a global player supplying area rugs and carpets to beautiful high-end hotels.” Marc Janssen added: “It is a great honour for us to supply to such a high-esteemed project as the St Regis Nation Towers and to work so closely with Hirsch Bedner Associates on achieving the best result. They are great to work with and we feel very proud to be a partner in this project.” ICE International BV, Holweistraat 2, 4181 CC Waardenburg, The Netherlands, Ph 0031 418 65 4858 For more information on ICE email: info@rugs.nl or visit www. rugs.nl .

HBA Since 1964, HBA/Hirsch Bedner Associates has provided interior design work for the high-end leisure sector. HBA provides a comprehensive package of interior design services – including graphic design and art consultation – to take projects from planning through to implementation. HBA has been instrumental in the design of some of the world’s most prestigious hotels, including the Ritz-Carlton, Shenzhen; Mandarin Oriental, New York; and InterContinental Phoenicia Beirut. In addition the company has a great working relationship with Starwood Hotel & Resorts, having previously completed design work for St. Regis Atlanta and St. Regis Grand Hotel, Rome. As a forward thinking company, HBA is always adapting concepts to meet the ever changing needs of technology and sustainability. All of HBA’s designs push the aesthetic envelope to create inspired and revolutionary projects.

ICE With its headquarters in the Netherlands, ICE supplies bespoke hand knotted and hand tufted carpets for the high-end residential and 5* hospitality sector. ICE has supplied carpets to many leading hotels around the world including The Plaza Hotel New York, The Ritz-Carlton Toronto, Four Seasons Guangzhou, Le Royal Monceau Paris and The Savoy London. Recent projects in the UAE include the Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, St Regis Saadiyat, Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi, Hyatt at Capital Gate and Fairmont Palm Jumeirah. With a history of more than 40 years producing rugs and carpets in India and Nepal, for the past 5 years ICE has been rapidly growing in the hospitality market working with the top design firms in the world like Hirsch Bedner Associates.

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Spicing up the UK with Nando’s With over 300,000 Twitter followers and more than 900,000 ‘likes’ on Facebook, it is fair to say that Nando’s has tickled taste buds across the globe. Founded in 1987, the Nando’s chain now operates in thirty countries spanning five continents. Boasting a scrumptious menu that is bursting with authentic Afro-Portuguese flavours, the family-friendly chain has since become synonymous with delicious flame-grilled chicken and spicy PERi-PERi sauce. In 1992, Nando’s expanded to the UK, opening their first restaurant in Ealing, London. The organisation now celebrates over 250 restaurants across the United Kingdom in locations including Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield and Leeds. One factor that has remained constant throughout the expansion of the Nando’s chain is leading international design consultancy Harrison, which has completed over 200 projects for the organisation over the last 14 years. Harrison Director, Dean Concannon, said: “It is always fantastic to work with Nando’s as they are all creative and passionate about everything that they do, which makes our job a pleasure. It came as no surprise that the company was voted The Sunday Times’ best big company to work for in 2010 because they are such an innovative, energetic team and they are bursting with ideas that we are more than happy to help implement. “The best thing about working with Nando’s is that each project is completely different. Whilst we are still mindful and true to the roots of tradition and utilise materials such as terracotta and reclaimed timber, the design is constantly adapting and

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changing and we are continually adding new elements to keep the Nando’s experience fresh.” One particularly striking Nando’s restaurant is Stratford, which is based in the Westfield Stratford City shopping centre. Occupying over 7,500 square feet in a prominent second floor position within the mall boulevard, the restaurant has managed to complement the grandeur of the Stratford development whilst embodying Nando’s unique Afro-Portuguese brand essence. Up to 200 customers can access the restaurant via an avenue of olive trees and once inside the building they are immediately greeted by a luxuriously patterned black and gold mosaic tiled floor which leads to a sweeping seven-metre server that flaunts an organic rolling oak countertop with a snaking frontage clad in polished copper. The timber floor provides natural warmth and is contrasted by the raw concrete circular booths and red leather and oak tables. Another central feature is the single flowing curved wall, which transforms across its length into varying textures including: reclaimed cedar timber shingles, vibrant South African art panels and handmade ceramic tiles. All of these exciting elements combine to form a pixelated wave that flows through the full length of the space. Perhaps the most striking feature is the textured hazel ceiling coffer, which was formed using ten-metre long panels that were woven in Suffolk by hurdle maker David Downie before being transported to the site by lorry and carefully knitted into place. Four enormous circular columns punctuate the hazel weave. Two of these were created through the artistic arrangement of

recycled bottle tops, whilst the remaining two were created by Spiers Arts Academy and are composed of thousands of tightly coiled paper rolls from unwanted magazine publications. To soften the effect of the high ceiling, Harrison dropped sparkly glass pendant lights and a swarm of tiny ‘firefly’ lights through the central areas at varied lower levels, which has in turn created sparkle and movement. The development has also incorporated a six-metre long coordinator, along with 30 square metres of cold room storage and a separate room that houses four combi-ovens, a washup facility and a full recycling waste management area. Dean Concannon continued: “Shopping centres are always a challenge because everyone in the building finishes at the same time – for the Stratford job, this was around 7,000 people per day and as a result, we had to work around the clock. Luckily we have an excellent working relationship with the main contractor for the project – French Joinery – and we were able to launch a fully coordinated attack. Jobs like this have to be completed like a military operation or they just won’t happen.” Another unique Nando’s restaurant is the Clink Street offering. Located on the banks of the Thames, the 200-seat restaurant is built on three levels and offers stunning views of the surrounding area. The innovative development has incorporated the Nando’s signature materials palette, along with a copper ceiling that vitally diverts water ingress and regulates the temperature, as Dean Concannon explained: “This was a challenging project as the Cannon Street station is located directly above the restaurant. When it rains, it can take a week or more for the water to percolate down through the soil and we then had to work out where the water would come out. Heating was another issue and we had to introduce underfloor heating as some of the ceilings were ten metres high. “However, we love a challenge and working in such varied locations always keeps the work interesting. Furthermore, French Joinery were able to demonstrate their practical approach when faced with such technical difficulties and their work was both efficient and effective.” One of the most recent additions to the Nando’s chain is the Kensington restaurant, which has been created through the conversion of an Italian restaurant. The two-storey restaurant features a beautiful external courtyard and peach-pip textured walls. Furthermore, the development has incorporated polished concrete floors and 100 terracotta pots which are spread across the back wall. In April 2012, the restaurant celebrated a secret gig with acts including Conor Maynard, Clement Marfo, The Frontline, Cleo Sol and Tanya Lacey in front of 200 Nando’s VIP fans. A Nando’s spokesperson commented: “It was an incredible way to show off our latest restaurant. Everyone had an amazing night thanks to Conor and all the other performers and of course our Nando’s team who kept us all topped up with PERi-PERi treats.” One aspect that the Nando’s chain is dedicated to is ensuring that their restaurants remain sustainable. Along with the use of recycled materials and reclaimed timber for their construction projects, the organisation also incorporated low & zero carbon technology within their Leeds restaurant, which was completed in January 2009. Dean Conannon designed the building, which was to be Nando’s first Eco development. Architects Aedas then worked with main contractor McGoff & Byrne to incorporate a range of exceptional features including a grass roof, a biodiesel fuel plant and photo voltaic cells. In addition, the innovative restaurant also boasts rainwater harvesting, heat recovery systems and high levels of insulation. Head of Development at Nando’s, Stephen du Plessis, said: “McGoff & Byrne were engaged early in the life of this project in order to release construction intellect into the early design stages, eliminating waste from the design review cycle and de-

livering a safe, more sustainable building. This early contractor involvement definitely encouraged collaborative working and joint decision-making and we are delighted with the end result.” The £1.2 million project was delivered in just 20 weeks, including a six-week design team lead-in. The building was granted its HM Government Energy Performance Certificate and has an energy performance rating of 7, achieving an A+ Excellent rating. With more Nando’s restaurants in the pipeline, the chain is expected to eclipse its rivals in the following years. The organisation now offers a range of exciting products, including sauces and even a Nando’s app for your iPhone, iPad or Android mobile device. Dean Concannon added: “Nando’s is one of the fastest-growing chains in the UK and we are very excited to be a part of their success. We enjoy every project that we undertake with the chain and look forward to developing our working relationship with them through future projects.”

Eclipse Contract Furniture For over 30 years, Eclipse Contract Furniture has specialised in the design, manufacture and installation of fine furniture for the hospitality and leisure industry. For Nando’s, Eclipse design, manufacture and install all aspects of indoor and outdoor furniture. To date Eclipse Contract Furniture has supplied many new and existing Nando’s sites with furniture. Eclipse Contract Furniture Marketing Director said: “To maintain a very close working relationship with Nando’s is extremely important to us due to their profile in being market leaders within the restaurant industry.” He added: “Our aim at Eclipse is to provide the best possible service with quality products to all our clients at every level.”

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A taste of Paris: Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte For more than 50 years, Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte has impressed diners with its uncomplicated approach to dining. The prix fixe menu offers one simple dish – a green salad starter tossed with mustard vinaigrette and sprinkled with walnuts, followed by the restaurant’s signature steak-frites, and an accompanying secret sauce. This simple approach to cuisine has provided the brand with a winning formula that has taken it from Paris through to London and New York.

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With each Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte restaurant proving to be a hit with customers, the formula has once again been replicated at two brand new brasseries. Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte Manchester opened in late April 2012 and was quickly followed in May by Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte Canary Wharf. Each restaurant has been designed to mimic the features of the original Parisian eatery by offering an intimate dining experience that is quick, inexpensive and welcoming. Both sites include the brand’s signature dish, whilst to accompany the meal a collection of wines is also available along with a selection of cheeses and desserts. Work began on Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte Manchester in April 2011. The two-storey restaurant is located within a Grade II Listed building on King Street and is spread over the ground and basement levels. The historic building was built in 1841 and prior to its transformation operated as a bank and retail outlet. Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte Manchester is a 138-cover restaurant that is conveniently situated in the heart of the city centre, close to a large number of retail outlets. Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte Manchester features panelled ceilings, an oak and bevelled glass entrance lobby and banquette seating. Upon entry into the restaurant, diners are met with a large display cabinet that is loaded with desirable desserts. A red, white and blue colour scheme runs throughout the interior design of the restaurant and glass and timber shelves are filled to the brim with bottles of delicious house wine. Seating is arranged in a tight formation to create a compact dining area, whilst antique mirrors and lighting help to create a warmth and depth to the interior. Additional features of Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte Manchester include murals, LED lighting and a bar. The existing timber floor of the building has been removed and replaced with red hexagonal ceramic floor tiles that run throughout the restaurant. Internal canvas awnings –featuring the name of the restaurant – have also been installed around

the windows. Due to the building’s Grade II Listed status a number of original features have been retained, whilst large oak framed windows have been reinstalled to recreate a feature that had sadly been missing from the site since its original construction. Shortly after the Manchester site opened, it was followed by the completion of Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte Canary Wharf. The 140-cover restaurant is housed within an office building just off Cabot Square in London’s famous Canary Wharf financial district. As each Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte is designed to mimic the thematic style of the brand, the restaurant boasts similar features to the Manchester site including similar fixtures and fittings. Works began in January 2012 and were completed just ahead of the opening in May 2012. Features include down lighting, brass spindles, stained oak waiters’ stations and modesty curtains that provide an intimate dining space. A timber and bevelled glass screen has been installed in front of the kitchen in order to allow diners to see a glimpse of the internal work areas, whilst all of the extracting systems are located at low level. External work on both restaurants was kept to a minimum. However, the entrance doors on the Canary Wharf site have been removed and replaced with new doors to provide a more appropriate entryway. M C Shopfitters (North West) Ltd was the main contractor on the Le Relais de Venise Manchester L’Entrecôte project, whilst PBH Shopfitters Ltd was the main contractor on the Canary Wharf site. Stiff+Trevillion Architects were the interior design architects on both restaurants and to date have provided interior design work for all UK branches of Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte. Stiff+Trevillion Architects were also responsible for the interior design work on Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte New York. Stiff+Trevillion Architects Company Director, Richard Blandy, said:

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“Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte began as a single site in Paris that opened just after the conclusion of World War II. The restaurant offered a simple meal of steak and chips, however it became incredibly successful and the restaurant quickly took off. “When the concept was transported to the UK the idea was to mimic this format down to every detail. Not only did the food remain the same but so did the interior design of each restaurant, right down to the fixtures and fittings. This means that each site has similar stencils, light fittings and colour schemes and we also try to keep as many of the features as close to the original as possible. “In the event that we can’t implement certain aspects of the brand’s design, we introduce an alternative that still retains the same thematic style. We also take on board the existing architecture of the site so that we can enhance features to make the best use of the space available. “Our brief is always to introduce a slice of Paris into each location and both the Manchester and Canary Warf sites reflect this perfectly.”

Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte The City Located off Old Broad Street within the heart of London’s financial district, Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte The City opened to rave reviews in 2008.The 160-cover restaurant was the first Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte to open in the UK and benefits from a close proximity to tourist attractions such as St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Barbican. In keeping with the unique dining practices of the brand, Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte dispenses with the concept of a menu and instead encourages diners to simply state how they would like their steak prepared. The restaurant features a corner entrance – similar to Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte Paris – and large floor-to-ceiling windows. Further exciting features include mirrored walls, wooden tables and paintings that depict Venetian market scenes. In addition to the standard features of the brand, Stiff+Trevillion Architects also constructed a stained oak shop front to the

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entrance of the building. Like all Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte’s, The City has a strict policy of no reservations, however this has not hindered the restaurant and it continues to remain a successful site for the brand. Stiff+Trevillion Architects Company Director, Richard Blandy, said: “Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte The City was a very important site for Stiff+Trevillion Architects as it provided us with our first opportunity to work with the brand. “Before this restaurant opened the Paris site was the only Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte in existence, so we were delighted to be a part of its move to the UK. We are extremely proud with of our work and we must have done something right as this led to our involvement with the next three sites.”

Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte New York Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte New York opened in 2009 as the first site in the USA. The restaurant is located at 590 Lexington Ave – on the corner of 52nd Street – and is housed within a large office building. Le Relais de Venise is situated close to a number of tourist spots, including Sachs Fifth Avenue, Rockefeller Centre and the Waldorf Astoria Hotel and retains the Parisian theme that has become synonymous with the brand. The restaurant is spread across one floor and upon entry diners are immediately presented with a view of the bar and kitchen. Additional features include low lighting, colourful table cloths and oak panelled red banquette seating. To complete the Parisian style, front of house staff are dressed in traditional black & white uniforms and even the frites are cut to the same dimensions as they are in France. Stiff+Trevillion Architects Company Director, Richard Blandy, said: “Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte New York was another great site for us and a pleasure to be involved with. We value the work that we conduct for Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte. “Each restaurant has its own challenges but we are pleased to be a part of the continued development of Le Relais de Venise

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L’Entrecôte restaurants and we look forward to continuing this working relationship with the brand.”

JRB Systems For more than 30 years, JRB Systems has specialised in the design and installation of electrical systems for use in the retail and restaurant industry. The company’s work includes the installation of lighting circuits, power systems and fire alarms. Previous clients include ASDA, Comet, Brighthouse, Debenhams, Boots and Next. For Le Relais de Venise Canary Wharf, JRB Systems were responsible for the entire electrical installation of the restaurant. JRB Systems Contracts Manager, David Harvey, said: “Working on Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte Canary Wharf was very important for us, they are a great chain and this was an exciting project which we were pleased to be involved with.” David Harvey added: “JRB Systems provides clients with a single source solution for any project and our client liaison team is second to none.”

Catercraft Supplies Ltd Based in Brighton, Catercraft Supplies Ltd specialise in the design and supply of catering and kitchen equipment for use in the construction industry. With over 25 years worth of experience Catercraft Supplies Ltd has designed and supplied equipment for use in numerous projects including restaurants, public houses, nursing homes and local Government schemes. For Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte, Catercraft Supplies Ltd design, install and project manage the installation of all of the restaurant’s kitchen equipment. Catercraft Supplies Ltd, Mike McKeown, said: “At Catercraft Supplies Ltd, we have a large service and maintenance side to our business which makes up 50% of our turnover and this means that we can look after our customers from the initial concept right through to the after sales service and maintenance. “We pride ourselves on our reliability to completing all of our work within a set timeframe and this has helped us to develop a continuing relationship with many of our existing clients.”

Radiant Blinds Ltd Radiant Blinds Ltd manufacture blinds, external awnings, alfresco barriers and umbrellas for use in private and commercial properties – specifically the restaurant trade. Radiant Blinds Ltd is a family-run business with over 100 years experience in the trade. The company has previously provided internal and external products for restaurants such as Café Rouge, Bella Italia and Frankie & Benny’s and has worked on all of the UK based Le Relais de Venise restaurants. Working on the Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte Manchester, Radiant Blinds Ltd provided the site with internal display sheets with gold leaf lettering and edging. On Le Relais de Venise Canary Wharf the company provided the site with external bar-

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riers and triangular awnings. Radiant Blinds Ltd Company Director, Ian Atkinson, said: “We like working on Le Relais de Venise as they are interesting sites that allow us to create bespoke designs. Ian Atkinson added: “At Radiant Blinds Ltd we provide our customers with a service that is unmatched.”

PBH Shopfitters Ltd Manchester-based contractors PBH Shopfitters Ltd specialise in internal fit-out and refurbishment works for the retail and leisure sectors working closely with project managers and architects to ensure designs are completed to the highest standard. The company has over 22 years experience in the industry. PBH Shopfitters Ltd has previously completed work for many well-known high street retailers throughout the UK, together with a growing number of high profile restaurants in both Manchester & London. PBH Shopfitters Ltd was the main contractor on Le Relais de Venise Canary Wharf where the company oversaw all aspects of the fit-out works as principal contractor supervising and liaising with all subcontractors. All bespoke joinery items were manufactured in house by PBH. PBH Shopfitters Ltd Contracts Director, Steve Moss, said: “Working with Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte was very important for us as the theme and style of the brand is very much in keeping with the work that we conduct. “Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte Canary Wharf is the first site that we have been involved with for this particular client but we hope to work with the brand on future projects.” Steve Moss added: “At PBH Shopfitters Ltd we provide a high quality service that meets the clients’ expectations every time.” For more information please visit www.pbhshopfitters.com

Pho is set to conquer the UK Since opening their first restaurant in Clerkenwell in June 2005, independent restaurant group Pho has set a precedent for providing authentic Vietnamese street food within a contemporary, vibrant and affordable setting. Pho is the brainchild of husband and wife team Stephen and Juliette Wall, who developed the concept after being inspired by the Vietnamese cuisine whilst travelling in 2003. Pho now has six restaurants in locations including Brighton, Oxford Circus, Soho, Westfields White City and Stratford — the seventh restaurant is set to open in Spitalfields in summer 2012. Their menu is centred around the Vietnamese national dish, pho, which is a bowl of rich stock brimming with nutritious, tasty ingredients like noodles, lean meats, fresh herbs and spices. Often referred to as the ‘soul of the nation’, pho is eaten every day by the Vietnamese for breakfast, lunch or dinner – or sometimes for all. The meal began life in Hanoi and although Vietnamese by birth, it was also influenced by Chinese neighbours and French colonists. Pho was the first restaurant in London to specialise in pho and Vietnamese street foods and the menu continues to use only the freshest, high quality ingredients. Pho chefs prepare everything on site using authentic recipes and techniques. Each Pho restaurant is slightly different, as Neil Masters from MBDS explained: “We have worked on four projects for Pho – Brighton, Soho, Stratford and the most recent, Spitalfields – and each one of them have been unique. Each site that we work on is tailored to the context of the surroundings, and we endeavour to ‘listen’ to the building in order to create a distinctive, high quality restaurant every time. “It is always great to work with Pho because Juliette and Stephen are extremely focused and know exactly what they want. They are excellent at creating a dialogue and it is a pleasure to help them achieve their vision.” MBDS are currently hard at work at the seventh Pho site at Brushfield Street in Spitalfields, East London. Under the project, the 3,000 sq metre former S&M Cafe is being transformed into

a two-storey Pho restaurant with an additional floor of office space. Located in one of London’s most popular areas, the new Pho restaurant is situated in a luxurious setting that celebrates the newly completed Bishops Square and Crispin Place. Speaking of his excitement at securing such a prestigious site, Pho cofounder Stephen Wall, commented: “We’re thrilled to have finally secured this site after chasing it for a long time. Pho’s original business plan from eight years ago was based on this exact site, a wonderful building with bags of character and a prime location. We’re confident Pho will appeal to both office workers as well as weekend and evening crowds. Juliette Wall added: “Stephen and I, along with the rest of our team, have worked incredibly hard over the years to make Pho a success. We believed in the concept from the very beginning so to be opening our seventh restaurant, seven years after the first is a real milestone.” The new Pho restaurant at Spitalfields boasts a range of fascinating details, including original brick work and fireplaces. As a result MBDS is working to carefully restore the character of the building whilst creating a restaurant that is suitable for a decidedly modern clientele, as Neil Masters discussed: “What we’re trying to do here is rediscover some of the original features and give the building a new lease of life. By exposing the brick work and taking up the floorboards, we hope to expose the character that has been hidden over the years – in the process bringing some of the love back to the building. “As with all old buildings, there have been some challenges. However, we are working in close consultation with a structural engineer in order to overcome any difficulties that we may encounter and are confident that all issues will be resolved efficiently and effectively.” Like the Spitalfields site, Pho’s Soho offering has also been created within an existing building. Situated within a listed building that dates back to 1790, the development celebrates a variety of interesting features including original brickwork, sash windows and three fireplaces. ROMA PUBLICATIONS

Salix Commercial Kitchens & Bars

Due to the age of the building, the restaurant underwent a substantial programme of alterations before it was completed in the summer of 2010. The unique U-shape can be attributed to the innovative design, which has seen the unification of two separate units through the creation of a new bar that runs along the back of the main restaurant. Neil Masters commented: “This was probably one of the most interesting Pho projects, as we were working within a beautiful old Italian restaurant that had a great deal of character. Originally we had a long, dark corridor that ran between the two units. However, we have now created a very seductive bar area that will draw customers in. “Like the Spitalfields site, we were keen to expose the original features rather than try to hide them. For us, the flaws – perhaps crooked floorboards or crumbling brickwork – are testament to the original beauty of the building and should be celebrated.” One of the most exciting things about Pho restaurants are

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Salix Commercial Kitchens and Bars design, build and supply industrial kitchens for use in restaurants, hotels and bars. The company has been in operation for over 20 years and has recently completed work for Jason Atherton at Pollen Street Social and Marcus Wareing at The Gilbert Scott. Salix design, manufacture and install kitchen equipment for Pho Restaurants. To date, Rod Cullen, Sales Director of Salix has worked on every Pho Restaurant project. Rod Cullen, Salix Commercial Kitchens & Bars, said: “We’re involved from the very beginning of the project. We’ll survey the site, provide designs, and then liaise with sub contractors to make sure the framework is in place ready for the installation of the kitchens and bars. “After the installation is complete Salix continues to service and maintain the kitchen and also provide preventative maintenance contracts as part of a complete package. “Working with Stephen and Juliette is very important to us and every job that we undertake is carried out to the best of our ability for them. We hope to be working with them well into the future.” For information on Salix Commercial Kitchens & Bars please visit: www.salix.co.uk e. rod.cullen@salix.co.uk t. 01268 530980

their versatility. The first restaurant in Clerkenwell seats just 35 people, whilst the Brighton offering covers an impressive 400 sq metres and can seat 100 people. Furthermore, whilst the Soho and Spitalfield restaurants were created within existing sites, the Westfield and Brighton restaurants are new builds. Despite their flexible approach Pho has established a distinctive and recognisable brand, as Neil Masters explained: “Although the restaurant sites may differ from project to project, elements of the design remain the same. We tend to work with the same materials – including bamboo, oak, blackened steel and glass – in order to create an authentic Vietnamese feel for each restaurant. “This was particularly the case with regards to the Westfield site, where we had to consider the context of the surrounding units. As Pho brand is relatively understated, we wanted to create a restaurant that remained as close to the Vietnamese street food concessions as possible without feeling too ‘themed’. “Brighton was another interesting site. The challenge here was to make the restaurant comfortable, and we achieved this by layering the height of the seating and providing a selection of sumptuous booth seating at the back of the restaurant. We also created a central feature bar, which has become the main focus of the restaurant. “MBDS are delighted to be able to work alongside the Pho restaurants. Every project that we have completed for Pho has been unique, and we hope to develop our working relationship with them through future projects.”

About Pho Restaurants Pho are specialist Vietnamese restaurants serving traditional food in a contemporary environment. The menu specialises in pho noodle soup complemented by other authentically prepared Vietnamese foods including goi (salads), bun vermicelli noodles and side dishes such as goi cuon and cha gio (summer and spring rolls).

At Pho, the specialised menu helps to maintain the quality and authenticity of the cuisine whilst introducing diners to a new, casual and modern concept in Vietnamese dining in the UK. All of the dishes at Pho are made in-house to traditional recipes, and the Pho stocks take up to 12 hours to prepare. Pho uses only fresh, high-quality ingredients, either from local suppliers or imported from Vietnam. Pho was the first to deliver a speciality Vietnamese restaurant in the UK, after the concept was proven very popular in North America and Australasia. The small number of Vietnamese dishes on the menu sets Pho apart from other Vietnamese restaurants in the UK. Stephen and Juliette Wall set up the business after travelling to Vietnam and being inspired by the culture and the cuisine. Stephen and Juliette realised the lack of fresh, quality Vietnamese cuisine in the UK and decided to launch a restaurant to deliver a unique dining concept.

Timeline: June 2005: the first Pho location opened in Clerkenwell (32 covers) March 2008: Pho opened in Great Titchfield Street (60 covers) October 2008: Pho opened in Westfield White City (unlimited covers; food court) May 2010: Pho opened in Brighton (130 covers) September 2010: Pho opened in Wardour Street, Soho (60 covers) September 2011: Pho in Westfield Stratford opened (unlimited covers; food court) April 2012: Spitalfields confirmed as the seventh location for the growing independent restaurant group. (85 covers)

Find Pho online: www.phocafe.co.uk/ Twitter: @PhoRestaurant Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhoRestaurant

Hansens Kitchen Equipment Established in 1946, Hansens Kitchen Equipment specialise in the supply of kitchen equipment for the restaurant, hotel and leisure industry. The company has supplied kitchen equipment to many high-profile restaurants including Hawksmoor, Zucca, Angus Steak House and most recently the Marriott Hotel in St. Pancras. For Pho Restaurant, Hansens Kitchen Equipment are responsible for the complete design of the kitchen and food service operations and to date, the company has worked on all of the Pho sites. Hansens Kitchen Equipment Company Owner, Peter Hansen, said: “Pho is an up and coming chain that continues to move forward and we’re very pleased to be involved with each of their restaurants.” Peter Hansen added: “At Hansens Kitchen Equipment we have an in-house design team, along with dedicated service engineers that can provide after sales back up and support. We pride ourselves on our approach to our work and we bring professionalism and experience to each job.”

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Freshly prepared noodles and oodles of style for Wagamama Since the first Wagamama restaurant opened in London’s Bloomsbury in 1992, the company has developed an envious reputation for their delicious food and great service. Wagamama is now an award-winning global brand, with accolades including ‘London’s most popular restaurant’ (2006-2010) and ‘official coolbrand’ (2003-2011). The chain prides itself on using only the freshest ingredients, and their Japanese-inspired menu offers an extensive range of tasty noodles, rice and side dishes. Some of their most popular dishes include deep-fried chicken breast in panko breadcrumbs and the teriyaki steak soba, along with their signature dishes like chilli beef ramen, yaki soba and ginger chicken udon. Throughout the years, Wagamama has experienced a huge expansion across the globe and the chain now boasts an extensive portfolio of restaurants across the globe – including 71 in the UK alone. One of their most recent offerings is a stunning new restaurant in the Grade II* listed Regent Hotel, which is located in Leamington town centre. Handed over in June 2012, the restaurant boasts a number of original features – including marble

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fireplaces, chandeliers, wall panelling and ornate ceilings. Working within a listed building posed several challenges, as Stephen Gee from G4 Design explained: “We worked very closely with a conservation officer throughout the project, and it was agreed that we could form some openings through the existing walls to open it out and carry out some structural works. Whilst this enabled us to make the building work for the client, it also facilitated the marrying of the Regency-style building features and the contemporary style that Wagamama is famous for. “Since we began working with the Wagamama chain on our first project at Camberley, we have noticed subtle variations in their distinctive brand design. For instance, whilst the majority of the restaurants feature fixed seating in a booth and oak bench format, we have begun to introduce free-standing furniture in order to create a more flexible seating arrangement. “The Cambereley offering, which was completed in October 2010, allowed us to come up with a slightly bolder colour scheme. We also incorporated backs for the seats and seat padding, which was a first for the Wagamama chain. We worked

closely with main contractor Crane Interiors to produce a restaurant that we were proud of, and happily this led to more work with the fabulous Wagamama chain.” Wagamama restaurants can be recognised not just by their delicious food, but by their distinctively simple interior design. Each of the restaurants features trademark oak bench seats, along with a fresh and bright colour scheme. The chain is also committed to their environmental responsibilities, having already implemented a successful nation-wide Clean Advertising campaign. Further sustainable schemes include the installation of LED lighting and eco-friendly heating and ventilation systems throughout their restaurants. Whilst the restaurants may vary in location and size, Wagamama’s dedication to providing high quality restaurants for their customers remains constant – as Stephen Gee explained: “All of the Wagamama restaurants are interesting to work on, and have enjoyed all of the projects we have completed so far. We have particularly enjoyed working with main contractor McGoff & Byrne on the Salford, Cheshire Oaks and Brindley Place developments. “Wagamama Salford is £700,000 modern new build with the capacity to sit 96 inside covers and 20 outside covers. The 8-week project was completed in November 2011 and has created a top quality restaurant in the heart of the bustling Media City. “We have also recently completed the new Cheshire Oaks Wagamama. This was a particularly interesting project as we had to transform an existing record store, which involved the installation of new drainage and a new shop front. Furthermore, we were able to incorporate a striking ceiling using angled ceiling rafts that clearly define the space. “For the Brindley Place Wagamama in Birmingham, we were working within an existing first-floor restaurant. The development already featured a ground floor entrance lobby with

staircase access, so our first challenge was to make it more accessible in order to entice customers to enter the restaurant. We achieved this by installing a glass lift, which has really opened up the space and made it feel much more light and airy. “We are very excited to start working on a new Wagamama at Brayford Wharf in Lincoln. Amazingly, the developer is building a free-standing two-storey building on piles in the water. Set to become a landmark building, the restaurant will feature open decks at ground floor and first floor – along with external seating. “Our company has been working in the restaurant sector for 15 years, and we look forward to continuing our strong working relationship with Wagamama in the future.”

Spectrum SG Limited Spectrum SG Limited is an innovative sign company with extensive experience and expertise in successfully delivering

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rectify them as soon as possible to ensure that all of our work is completed to the highest standards of quality. “We work across a range of sectors, from small manufacturing plants and distribution sites through to restaurants and retail establishments. “Wagamama is a fast-growing and very successful company and we are very pleased to be associated with the brand.”

Designed To Save Design, procurement and project management company, Designed To Save, provide everything needed to design, supply and install catering equipment for use in the restaurant industry. Designed To Save has worked with Wagamama for over two years and the company regards the restaurant chain as one of its key accounts. In order to provide services to Wagamama, Designed To Save Ltd collaborate with architects to create a design that incorporates the operational needs of the restaurant, in line with the brief, specification and budget. The company then fully coordinates with the project team on the clients’ behalf on all procurement and project management services to create an efficient and cost effective process. Designed To Save Managing Director, Steve Thompson, said: “Our USP is that Designed To Save take clients direct to the manufacturer. “We provide impartial design and specification project management services, to provide a turnkey consultancy package which we believe is unique, offering key benefits to national account clients and main stream manufacturers”. projects nationwide across all sectors, with particular focus on the restaurant, leisure and retail industries. Spectrum offer conceptual design, bespoke sign manufacture and installation of a full range of internal and external sign systems, graphics and display solutions, perfect for all environments. They also manufacture and install branded café barriers, awnings and parasols, and regularly deliver projects on behalf of Orchid Group, Barracuda Pub Group Ltd and Tragus Group. Spectrum has worked with Wagamama since 2010, providing the restaurant chain with survey, design and manufacture of internal and external signs, awnings, parasols and café barriers – as well as a nationwide installation, maintenance and call out service. Spectrum SG Limited’s Project Director, Darren Watt, said: “Spectrum specialise in the manufacture and installation of internal and external signage, ranging from simplest traditional sign writing to the most contemporary designs and specifications.” “Wagamama is a great client to work with and are always very clear with their requirements. This really helps us, as it allows us to complete each job on time and we’ve never missed a deadline.”

ICH Ltd For over 20 years, ICH Ltd has specialised in the design, installation and maintenance of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems for use in the commercial and industrial sectors. ICH Ltd provides services for many high profile companies. Working with Wagamama, ICH Ltd design and install heating and ventilation systems and provide a full maintenance service for each of its sites. To date ICH Ltd has provided services to six Wagamama restaurants. ICH Ltd Commercial Director, Steve Cooper, said: “At ICH Ltd our attention to customer care is what we are most proud of. When we encounter problems we will address and

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Jamie cooks up another hit A brand new £1.5 million restaurant for celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has opened in the Maltings Shopping Centre in St Albans. Jamie’s Italian opened on 6th February and replaces the 18th century Bell Public House. It is the 25th Jamie’s Italian to open in the UK and the first to open in Hertfordshire and is the latest addition to works that are currently underway to revitalise the Chequer Street area of the city. Jamie Oliver said: “We’ve opened in what was the Bell Public House on Chequer Street – a building that’s steeped in local history and an important part of the city’s heritage. It’s certainly not our biggest restaurant, but with room for 150 guests it still really packs a punch. “Since I was a teenager I’ve been totally besotted by the love, passion and verve for food, family and life itself that just about all Italian people have, no matter where they’re from or how rich or poor they may be. And that’s what I’m passionate about – good food for everyone, no matter what.” Jamie Oliver Restaurants Group Managing Director, Simon Blagden, added: “Opening our first Hertfordshire Jamie’s Italian is an exciting new venture for us. The Maltings is the ideal location for the restaurant as it is located centrally and offers guests a place to enjoy great food and a relaxing atmosphere after a long day of shopping.” Works began in October 2011, with Tekne Shopfitting Ltd as the main contractor and Martin Brudnizki Design Studio as the architect. The 12-week contract saw the two-storey building undergo a stunning makeover. As with all Jamie’s Italian restaurants, substantial efforts were made to retain the existing features. This included leaving the existing fireplaces and exposed brickwork untouched. Additional improvements included the installation of flagstone slate and reclaimed timber flooring, along with bench seating, marble counter tops and Moroccan handmade ceramic tiles for the bar fronts.

An impressive glazed walkway has also been installed, subsequently linking into the Maltings shopping centre in order to create synergy between the two buildings. As the restaurant is located within the shopping centre, busy shoppers can take a well-earned break from spending without even having to leave the building. The Maltings Centre Manager, Phil Corrigan, said: “The Maltings is extremely proud to open a Jamie’s Italian as it promises to be a fantastic asset to the shopping centre and to St Albans itself.” The project was officially handed over in January 2012 in time for the grand opening, although some additional work will take place in the coming months. Planning permission is currently being negotiated to extend the restaurant’s dining space through an external seating area at the rear of the building. This phase is likely to be completed in the summer of 2012. Tekne Shop Fitting Ltd Contracts Director, Phil Mansbridge, said: “We’ve worked on nine of the Jamie’s Italian restaurants so far and the St Albans site was just as varied and challenging as the previous eight. “What makes these projects so interesting is that we get to do something at each site that is very different to the next, so diners are offered a unique experience at each restaurant. This is achieved by taking on themes and iconic imagery associated with that particular location and incorporating them within the building where possible. “Of course that’s not to say that there are no similarities between the sites, because a general theme does run through each of the restaurants. Diners who visit other Jamie’s Italians will notice the Thomas Crapper toilets and the blackened steelwork that runs throughout the buildings - this is something that helps to retain the brand for Jamie Oliver.” He added: “This Jamie’s Italian has benefited from great organisation. The work ran to schedule and from our point of view it was what we would call a low-hassle project. It’s great to see another completed restaurant and it is also very important for us to be able ROMA PUBLICATIONS

to continue this successful working relationship with Jamie.” Tekne Shopfitting Ltd is a traditional shop fitting specialist with over 30 years of experience in the industry and in addition to contract management the company manufactures all of the joinery at its factory in Poole, Dorset. The company has worked on nine Jamie’s Italian restaurants so far including: Guilford, Reading, Leeds, Glasgow, Bath, Bristol, Portsmouth and The Angel, Islington. Phil Mansbridge said: “The Jamie’s Italian we worked on in Leeds was a former bank, whilst the site in Guildford had been a record shop. Our next site will be Jamie’s Italian in York and then we’ll be looking forward to seeing what other sites are on the horizon. “We’re also getting involved with the latest line of eateries from Jamie Oliver – Union Jacks. This is a new chain that is built around wood-fired cooking methods. “Having completed the flagship Union Jacks at Holborn we are now involved with the roll-out of Union Jack venues in Winchester, Bluewater and Covent Garden.”

concrete and features a brick facade, ground-to-first floor windows and ample space for up to 160 diners. The building operated as both a bank and a record store before it became a Jamie’s Italian. One of the most noticeable features is the circular shape, which gives this particular Jamie’s Italian a very unique layout. Inside the restaurant, the interior features reclaimed timber and marble, whilst the furniture is a mixture of steel chairs and purpose-made booths. In order to make the steel and timber roof visible, ceilings and partitions were removed during the redevelopment works. Split over two floors, the building boasts two very distinct levels. The ground floor features exposed services, marble counter tops and a polished concrete floor, whilst the first floor showcases purpose-made floor tiles. Suspended meats create the impression of real home cooking and the wood-burning ovens create appetising aromas, whilst the view of the kitchen allows diners to see all of the hard work in action.

Jamie’s Italian Islington

Jamie’s Italian Leeds

Jamie’s Italian Islington opened its doors in August 2011 at the intersection between Islington Upper Street, City Road, Pentonville Road and St John Street. The diner boasts 250 covers with outside seating and has a coffee van conveniently parked outside the front door to dispense refreshments throughout the day. The restaurant is also located close to Fifteen, the first-ever restaurant opened by Jamie Oliver. Jamie Oliver said: “Islington’s such a foodie part of London so it was just perfect for Jamie’s Italian where our gorgeous, affordable Italian food in a stunning setting, really does have something for everyone.”

Housed within a former bank, Jamie’s Italian Leeds opened in 2010 and became the first northern branch to open in the UK. The restaurant has retained several original elements, including large Roman pillars and a grand staircase. A large open kitchen dominates the ground floor, whilst exposed brickwork and vibrant tiles create an exciting mixture of Italian and English styles. Jamie Oliver said: “We converted a grand old bank into our first restaurant to open in the north of England and it was a real beauty. “We were inspired by the wonderful old ceiling downstairs and stayed as close to the original as we could. Upstairs a bank of windows ensures that it’s always light and airy and the effect is gorgeous!”

Jamie’s Italian Guildford Like the St Albans site and the Jamie’s Italians in Bath and Reading, the Guildford site is housed within a shopping complex. The two-storey building was constructed using reinforced

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Jamie’s Italian Glasgow The 250-cover Jamie’s Italian Glasgow opened in May 2010 on

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George Square in the city’s General Post Office (GPO) building. Prior to the creation of the new restaurant, the building had sat empty for ten years just waiting to be brought back to life. Jamie’s Italian Glasgow is housed on the ground and lowerground levels of the building and features an open plan interior with a mixture of glass, leather, timber and exposed brick features. Jamie Oliver said: “This was the first Jamie’s Italian in Scotland and what an amazing start! We got ourselves one of Glasgow’s top spots – the old GPO building on George Square – and thanks to the ability of our designers to brilliantly blend classic architecture with rustic Italy and a twist of Jamie’s own contemporary style, Jamie’s Italian has really created a stir.”

Jamie’s Italian Reading Jamie’s Italian Reading opened in March 2010 at The Oracle shopping centre. The Reading site was designed as a relaxed eatery aimed at hungry workers on the go, yet offers diners everything they’ve come to expect from the Jamie’s brand. Jamie Oliver said: “We really came up trumps with our site in Reading; a cracking building overlooking the river. The centrepiece is the whopping bubble-shaped chandelier which – especially at night – really sets the whole place off a treat.”

MRFS Group For the Jamie’s Italian projects, MRFS Group was contracted to design, supply and install HD CCTV and Intruder Alarm systems. Tony Bygraves Chief Executive, MRFS Group, said: “We are very proud to have been involved with Jamie Oliver and his exciting projects. Jamie’s Italian is a very big brand, it is a privilege to work so closely with them so to ensure we surpass their needs and expectations.” “What is particularly pleasing for us is the way that this fast

growing chain of restaurants has acknowledged the potential use of CCTV, not just for security, but for other aspects too. For instance, in the case of Jamie’s Italian, with high definition mega –pixel CCTV technology they are able to monitor the quality of food dispatched from their kitchens at each restaurant, remotely by the Executive Chefs at Head Office, and shortly ‘on the move’ with iPad technology.” “They can use the system as a training tool, observing staff behaviours and performance plus key features are theft deterrents and use with health and safety issues. Jamie’s are constantly looking for new ways of improving their own Customer service and management of a growing portfolio with the use of high definition mega-pixel CCTV.” “CCTV can be a powerful tool and has much broader horizons than people realise, which is an idea that we are trying get out there.” MRFS Group was incorporated in 1983, originally as MR Security and through its growth have become one of the largest independent Company’s in the United Kingdom offering consultation, design, supply, installation and maintenance for Audio Visual, Fire & Security Systems within the residential, commercial and industrial sectors including: Architects*Building Contractors*Colleges*Commercial *Consultants* Developers *Electrical Contractors*Estate Agent*Housing Associations Trusts*HM Government* Hospitals*Hotels*Interior Designers*Local Authorities*M & E Contractors*Managing Agents* Residential*Restaurants*Retail* Schools* Surveyors*Universities They comply with the Highest Industry Standards; the Company are NSI (National Security Inspectorate) Gold installers for Access Control, Burglar Alarms, CCTV and Fire Alarms together with BS EN ISO 9001:2008, and also are BAFE ( British Approval for Fire Equipment) certified. Members of the BSIA (British Security Association) and FSA (Fire Security Association), we are also accredited by Achilles, Constructionline, CHAS and ROMA PUBLICATIONS

Safe Contractor and are recognised by all leading Insurance Companies and Police Constabularies nationwide. Their multi-discipline skill set encompasses the following systems: *Access control*Audio Visual & Automation*Burglar Alarms*CCTV*Data Cabling & Infrastructure*Door Entry*Fire Alarms*Fire Appliances*Gates and Gate Automation*Grilles & Collapsible Gates*Home Cinema*HD-CCTV*Information Technology*Integrated Reception Systems*Lighting control*Locks*Monitoring services*Perimeter Security*Public Address*Security Doors*Security Lighting*Safes* Telecommunications For more information on MRFS Group and more information on our Company’s services please visit www.mrfsgroup.com or call us FREE on 0500 288 999.

South Coast Stone South Coast Stone specialises in the supply and installation of all types of natural and engineered stone including marble, granite, slate, limestone and quartz. The well-established stone masonry company has substantial experience in completing commercial projects for clients including the Jamie Oliver and Pizza Express restaurant chains. Whilst South Coast Stone Ltd mainly completes kitchen work, they are also adept at bathroom stonework and all types of tiling. South Coast Stone source materials from around the world and import slabs from China, Turkey, Italy, Belgium and France. The company uses the latest CNC machinery that works from CAD drawings to assist the manufacturer. South Coast Stone Managing Director, Andy Croce, said: “We have over 60 years combined experience in our industry and we have been involved in many large projects within the UK working directly for main contractors. “These projects have involved paving, cladding and tiling a wide range of stone products and recently included the impor-

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tation and installation of granite cladding with a flamed textured finish for Willmott Dixon Construction at the ex RAF Hendon airbase. “A factor that has contributed to the success of our Company is having control of our supply chain. We select and import our stone directly from our overseas suppliers and then design and manufacture the finished products in our factory using the latest CNC machinery. “This ensures we are able to control all aspects of product quality and make cost savings which we are able to pass on to our customers.”

Real Flooring Solutions Ltd Real Flooring Solutions Ltd is a contract floor specialist that provides soft and timber floor finishes for commercial interiors. The company offers a competitive and cost-effective product that meets the needs of its clients. Real Flooring Solutions Ltd has previously provided flooring solutions for a number of high-profile projects including McDonald’s restaurants and Gant and Coach retail stores. Presently Real Flooring Solutions Ltd is delivering timber floor finishes for Urban Outfitters. Working with Tekne Ltd, Real Flooring Solutions Ltd has been involved with six Jamie’s Italian restaurants, providing both soft and timber floor coverings for front and back of house areas. As well as providing floor coverings for new installations, the company also restored and renovated an existing timber plank floor at the Leeds site. Real Flooring Solutions Ltd Company Director, Mark Thompson, said: “We provide a personal service from conception to completion and we are always aware of our clients’ requirements.”

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Shaping the North West: Kinder Interiors For over 36 years, family-run internal refurbishment specialist Kinder Interiors has been involved with many leading projects in the North West. The company specialises in the installation of SFS, dry-lining, partitioning and suspended ceilings for use in the commercial, health care, residential, retail and leisure sectors. Although Kinder Interiors carries out the vast majority of their work in the North West, the company also undertakes operations nationwide. Paul Leigh, Kinder Interiors, said: “We have been involved with numerous types of project, however in the early 00s we primarily carried out works within the residential sector – including building large apartment blocks in Manchester. Following the global financial crisis, work seemed to dry up over night and our focus changed from the private sector to public-funded projects like schools and hospitals.” Kinder Interiors’ current projects include BAE – Warton in Preston, Trinity C of E High School in Manchester, Colonnade House in Bradford and Rudheath Primary School in Northwich. The company is also involved with the Surgical Skills project at the University of Manchester. Kinder Interiors believe the key to success is the development of a lasting working relationship with both clients and staff and many of their team of skilled professionals have been a part of the Kinder family for over 25 years.

Trinity High School Located within the Hulme regeneration belt in the heart of Manchester City Centre, Trinity High School is currently undergoing a £21.5 million redevelopment scheme. The project comprises the construction of a brand new three-storey teaching and administration block and the modernisation of the existing four-storey Greer Building. Work began on the project in August 2010. The main contractor is Willmott Dixon Construction and the architect is Ellis Williams of Preston Brook (EWA). Kinder Interiors is involved with the installation of the perimeter steel framing system (SFS) on the project, along with the installation of internal wall linings, partitioning, acoustic panelling and suspended MF plasterboard ceilings. The company are also installing a Metsec roof, a reception counter with roller shutter, metal stud partitions and wall linings. Finishes will include the application of a two coat insulated render system, plastering and cement sheathing board. The project is being publicly funded as part of the Wave 4 Building for the Future Programme (Manchester). The majority

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of work on the project has been completed with only some external render and ceiling and partition works remaining. The Trinity High School project is due for completion in September 2012. Gary Bouttell, Kinder Interiors, said:

“After two years of work on the project, everybody at Kinder Interiors is immensely proud to have taken part in a piece of Manchester’s future. Having been heavily involved in the design process from mid-2010 this is an achievement for Kinder Interiors and our colleagues – including Willmott Dixon – as we work through difficult economical times.”

Blocks A & B, Salford Royal Hospital Kinder Interiors has recently been involved with the construction of a state-of-the art health facility at Salford Royal Hospital - part of Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust’s £200 million redevelopment programme. The £90 million project forms the new 242-bed A & E department and comprises a 55-bed emergency assessment unit, a 32-bed critical care unit and additional renal, intestinal and urology facilities. Kinder Interiors was responsible for the installation of all suspended ceilings and feature bulkheads on the project. Balfour Beatty Construction Limited was the main contractor. Paul Leigh, Kinder Interiors, said: “We achieved a very high standard of finish throughout this project and completed all work within the required timescale. “As an Armstrong Omega Specialist Ceiling contractor, we are regularly vetted on site by Omega to ensure that we are maintaining a standard of workmanship which is compliant with the current Omega criteria. “Omega visited us on site at Salford Royal Hospital to assess the standard of our installation. During the site visit we were evaluated against the current Omega workmanship checklist and achieved a score of 100%. “Throughout the course of this project a number of our opera-

tives were specifically awarded the Balfour Beatty NBHJV Site Safety Award due to their ongoing contribution to safety and their 100% compliance with the site safety procedures.” Paul Leigh added: “During the course of this project we were also working in partnership with Balfour Beatty and Armstrong World Industries to utilise Armstrong’s revolutionary Off-Cut Recycling (OCR) Scheme. “Due to our continued involvement with the scheme, we were asked along with Balfour Beatty to participate in a promotional video that details the process involved and the benefits of running such a recycling scheme.” To view the promotional video or to find out more information about Kinder Interiors please visit www.kinderinteriors.co.uk.

First phase of Barton Village development is complete An exciting project has seen the transformation of the Engels tower block at City West Housing Trust’s flagship Barton Village development. The canal-side block is the first of four to be completed in a £14.3 million retro-fit refurbishment programme for the area. City West Housing Trust has transformed the 1960s concrete tower block to create a modern residence that is eco-friendly, secure and energy efficient. Under the 50-week project, all of the one and two-bedroom apartments have been remodelled to provide occupants with an open plan kitchen and living space, whilst the balconies have been enclosed to create a conservatory area. In addition, all of the windows have been replaced with self-cleaning and energy efficient panes. Further improvements include the fitting of new kitchens, bathrooms and radiators. Furthermore, the exterior of the building has been completely wrapped with a thermal cladding, which has improved the thermal efficiency and made the building more aesthetically pleasing. Main contractor for the project is Bullock Construction and the architect is the Halsall Lloyd Partnership. Collette McKune, Director of Asset Management for City West Housing Trust, said: “We are delighted to be welcoming residents home to their newly modernised apartments, which provide some of the most cutting edge technology to keep their homes safe, secure and warm at a much lower cost. “Work finishing on Engels is a very significant milestone in City West’s high rise improvement programme. It is the first of our 12 tower blocks to be completed and it sets the standard for the remainder of the programme. We will be providing sustainable, modern affordable homes for our customers.”

Michael Barton, 49, has lived at Engels House for five years. He praised the project, saying: “The refurbishments will bring the area into the 21st century and give people real pride in their homes. Because we have been consulted throughout, the work has really brought the community together – community spirit has returned. I can’t wait to move back in.” One of the most exciting aspects of the project is the wealth of green technologies that have been implemented. Along with a state-of-the-art ventilation system and high insulation cladding, the development has been fitted with the award-winning EcoPod system. Designed by Belfry, the EcoPod combines highly efficient cascade boilers with solar power. The free energy provided by the solar gain will be used before the cascade boilers switch on and

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N o r th We s t will top up the heating and hot water supply. It is expected that the EcoPod will eliminate fuel poverty and reduce heating costs and carbon emissions by more than 40%. Collette Mckune said: “In the past, residents living in these blocks have been faced with fuel poverty, as many of the people who live here are our older and more vulnerable customers, so we knew we had to provide a solution that would address this. The EcoPod allows us to heat these apartments at a cost that the people who live here can more readily afford, so we are tackling fuel poverty head on. “Crucially, it also alerts us when vulnerable residents are not using their hot water, which is a great early warning mechanism when temperatures plummet in the winter. We can then step in and offer any additional support or sign post them in the direction of where they can access any winter fuel allowances.” The refurbishment of Barton Village heralds the start of a wider regeneration programme in the Barton area of Eccles, which lies at the heart of the industrial revolution on the banks of the Bridgewater Canal. The second phase of the high rise improvement programme will see £20 million invested in improving blocks at Ladywell Green in the heart of Eccles. In total, 349 homes at Craunton, Cremer, Ewood and Kemball will be refurbished to the same high standard as Barton Village. Jon Hinson, Regional Director for Bullock Construction, commented: “The Engels building at Barton Village is a great example of a tower block, built in the late 1960s, brought back to life in the 21st century, through careful design and considerate construction. “The building typifies how sustainable methods can be applied successfully to mature buildings to reduce carbon emissions and save on energy costs for the benefit of customers. “Bullock Construction looks forward to continuing the strong partnering relationship with City West on the following phases at Barton Village and supporting local employment initiatives to get skilled tradesmen back into work.”

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Constructing Excellence in the North East (CENE) Awards The eighth annual Constructing Excellence in the North East (CENE) Awards took place on 11th May 2012. Over 500 industry professionals attended the event, with 14 awards being handed out to celebrate the latest developments in construction industry. One of the biggest winners of the night was Ferndene, a new build facility constructed on the site of the old Prudhoe Hospital in Northumberland. The facility was designed for the treatment of child and adolescent mental health and learning disabilities and received three awards - including the prestigious Project of the Year accolade. Additional awards included Contractor of the Year, Achiever of the Year and CIBSE North East Building Services – Best Practice Award. Amongst the winners was the Restoration of Tynemouth Station project, which picked up the Heritage Large Project

Award. The award recognises the high standards of the restoration work and the judges highlighted how the technical repair work was completed to a very high standard of quality. CENE Chief Executive, Catriona Lingwood, said: “I was absolutely amazed by the response to this year’s awards. We are proud that our Awards showcase and celebrate achievements by projects and organisations from across the built environments and that they continue to set the benchmark for excellence. “The quality of submissions this year was once again outstanding and all of the shortlisted entrants should be congratulated for reaching the final stage. “Our 14 category winners join other regions in going forward to the national final that will take place in London in November, giving them an opportunity to receive further recognition and acclaim on a truly national level.”

Accessing the arts: Theatre Royal Newcastle The £6 million restoration of Theatre Royal Newcastle was completed in September 2011. The project has restored and modernised the Grade I listed theatre whilst at the same time making the building DDA compliant. Works included the complete internal redecoration of the building and the improvement of disabled access through the

Theatre’s main entrance. New toilet facilities were also installed in the building, whilst a new lift was added to the orchestra pit and technical lighting was repositioned onto a high level gantry. To complete the internal work, original carpets were rewoven, original wallpapers were reprinted and all existing light fittings were remade. In addition, a seating specialist from Belgium was brought on to the project to design and manufacture new seats for the auditorium. The seats were designed to look as if they were manufactured during the 19th century yet at the same time offer the comfort of 21st century living. ROMA PUBLICATIONS

N o r th E a s t & Yo r ks h i re As well as the internal makeover of the building, a small amount of exterior work was completed to repair damaged areas of the stone elevation. Work began on the restoration project in March 2011, with Newcastle-based company Surgo Construction as the main contractor and Sansome Hall Architects as the architect. F K Howard was the cost consultant. Newcastle City Council was the project manager for the restoration work, whilst Cundalls was the structural engineer and Max Fordham LLP was the mechanical and electrical consultant. Theatre Search Ltd Company Director, Dr. David Wilmore, said: “Before the restoration work was conducted wheelchair access to the building was to the side of the Theatre, which wasn’t

ideal. As a result, we made alterations to allow disabled visitors access through the main entrance just like everybody else. “We were initially commissioned to provide a conservation management plan for the building and from there we developed a restoration strategy, put together a team and took the scheme from a proposal through to construction and completion. “To be nominated for an award at the Constructing Excellence in the North East Awards is fantastic as there’s a lot of fierce competition in the industry so it’s great to know that we’re doing our jobs well. “Throughout 2011 we had a very busy construction period and we are currently in the running for three more awards, which is just brilliant.”

Maximising the potential: South Tyneside College Work was completed on the £3 million South Tyneside College Enhanced Renewal Grant project in September 2011. The project comprised the installation of a new dining facility, associated kitchens and a new beauty department for South Tyneside College. Work began on the project in late 2010. Surgo Construction was the main contractor for the project, Faithful+Gould was the project manager/cost consultant and Howarth Litchfield Partnership Ltd was the architect. Cundalls was responsible for all of the mechanical, electrical and structural works during the refurbishment.

The first phase of works involved the installation of the dining hall, kitchens and associated areas. The brand new dining facility was built within the site of a former theatre and stage replaces a previous kitchen and dining area located at the college. Once works on the new dining facility were completed, kitchen staff were relocated and the existing kitchens were closed. With Phase One complete, Phase Two got underway to transform the former kitchen into a modern hair and beauty department. The existing kitchens were removed and new walls were installed to form the salons and ancillary areas. The brand new facility comprises 4 hair salons, 3 beauty salons and associated treatment areas where students can put their training into practice.

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As part of the refurbishment works, alterations were also made to the main entrance to modernise the main entryway into the College. In order to help facilitate this stage of the refurbishment a temporary entrance was installed to allow access into the building. During the entirety of the works the College remained open to students. As a result, extensive planning was required in order to reduce any possible disruptions to student life. Although the project didn’t win an award at the Constructing Excellence in the North East Awards, it was nominated for a Value Award because of the way in which the work helped to maximise the potential of the facility. Howarth Litchfield Partnership Ltd Associate Architect, Dave Haskins, said:

“A lot of students live on site and the kitchens serve up meals throughout the day so the facility was designed to cater for the needs of the students from breakfast through to their evening meal. “By completing the dining and kitchen facilities first, we were able to decant staff and students from one area of the building to another in order to make better use of the space in the College. “The response from the students and staff has been fantastic and everyone was amazed at how well we’d improved the college, both from a visual standpoint and an operational point of view. “As the architect for the project it was a great pleasure for Howarth Litchfield to be involved with the refurbishment work at South Tyneside College. Everyone involved on the project worked well together and it was great to see our work nominated for an award. “We’re currently working with the college to relocate marine equipment to make better use of facilities and we are pleased to maintain this productive working relationship.”

Rewarding restoration: Tynemouth Station The award-winning Restoration of Tynemouth Station project was completed in March 2012. The £4 million project comprised the complete restoration of wrought iron work over the east concourse, the replacement of roof glazing and the removal of the old track beds. Work began in March 2011 and the project was implemented by Station Developments Limited in order to transform and revitalise the facility after it had fallen into a state of disrepair. Prior to work taking place, Tynemouth Station was listed on the English Heritage At Risk Register and was surrounded by scaffolding. One of the principle concerns of the project was to ensure that the fabric of the building remained in place whilst the facility was once again made safe for public use. As work on the project took place next to a live railway, a series of night time operations were conducted in order to complete the work. Charlie Laidlaw from Lambert Laidlaw and Jim Grey of Station Developments Limited were the project managers for the restoration of Tynemouth Station, whilst Mansell Construction Services Ltd was the main contractor and Lathams was the architect and historic building advisor. Lambert Laidlaw also provided quantity surveyor services, whilst Ramboll UK Limited was the structural engineer. Eura carried out specialist iron work services. Lathams Company Director, Stuart Hodgkinson, said: “Tynemouth Station was a tremendously enjoyable project to be a part of and there was a real sense of team work as we returned this facility back to what it once was.The Station was in such a dreadful state before we started but now that it is complete, we’ve had some good feedback from English Heritage and that is a reward in itself. “The project was close to the hearts of many people involved and to walk through the Station now knowing what it was like is an absolute delight. Historic repair is something that we at Lathams specialise in and it was an absolute privilege and joy to be a part of this project. “We’ve won awards before, but it was the first time to be working on a project in the North East and we’d certainly like to come back and be involved in more projects in the future.” ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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Developing Leafields Located in Southwick, Leafields is a modern development that features a mixture of two, three and four-bedroom properties. The contemporary development was built in three phases, with Phase One comprising the construction of 16 houses. Phase Two involved the construction of 121 homes and Phase Three saw the creation of 79 new houses, whilst the development also includes associated paths, landscaped areas and a pedestrian walkway. All of the houses on Leafields have been designed to be ecofriendly and include a number of environmentally aware design features, including Photovoltaic panels, energy efficient boilers and high levels of insulation. Water butts are also installed in each garden in order to allow residents to collect and re-use rain water. Additional features include front and back gardens, driveways, garages and sheds. With all three phases of the development now complete, work is currently underway on a brand new children’s hospice situated adjacent to the Leafields Housing Development. Grace House will be the first standalone children’s hospice in the region and will provide care for children from birth through to their early 20s. Grace House will provide a safe and supporting environment where families can spend quality time together. The development will comprise six individual bedrooms with en-suite facilities, four family rooms, a library, music room and a multisensory room. The building will also include designated areas for technology, therapy and dining, whilst external areas will include a garden and inner courtyard.

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People, planet and property business, Gentoo is currently working with Cundall consulting engineers to complete Grace House, which is being built for Grace House Children’s Hospice Appeal. The project is being built ‘at cost’ and has received generous support from Gentoo Group’s construction supply chain to ensure that all funds are maximised. In addition to the hospice, Gentoo was also the main contractor on all three phases of Leafields. Ian Darby Partnership was the architect on Phase One and Two of Leafields and Gentoo Group was the architect on Phase Three. Southern Green Partnership

was the landscape architect on Phase Two and Three of the development. Throughout the construction of Leafields, NIS Systems provided Gentoo with a professional security service to monitor and protect the site. NIS Systems employed a remote monitored CCTV system, which helped to deter thefts and ensure the safety of all staff working on Leafields. Gentoo Project Manager, Peter Allsop, said: “It’s great to be involved with Leafields and it is fantastic to see a brand new community generated in Southwick. There’s a nearby school that now has a new intake of students and with new friendships being created as people move into Leafields, we are proud to have been a part of such a grand scale development. “All of the houses on Phases One, Two and Three of the estate are fully occupied and we’re now busy with the construction of Grace House - which borders the Phase Three site. “Once this is complete, we will be constructing 12 additional houses next to the site of Phase Two.”

Reopening Talbot Hotel Following a £2.6 million refurbishment scheme, Talbot Hotel in Malton has reopened to guests. Work was completed on the Grade II Listed building in April 2012. R N Wooler & Co Ltd was the main contractor, whilst conservation specialist Francis Johnson and Partners was the architect. Thornley & Lumb Partnership was the mechanical and electrical consultant and LHL Group Ltd was responsible for all the external work on the project. Trevillion Interiors completed the internal design work on the hotel and acted as project manager for the contract. Work began in August 2011 and the project has seen the transformation of a former 33-bedroom hotel into a 26-bedroom hotel with en-suite facilities. Whilst work took place on the building, the hotel was closed to guests. With the hotel vacant, a full strip-out of the existing services took place along with the removal of all the building’s internal features and a number of structural alterations. All work was completed to modernise the building whilst at the same time retaining its unique character and historical value. Although the refurbishment was extensive, a number of the building’s original features were retained and repaired - including decorative panelling, doors and ceilings. A number of external improvements also took place and the

exterior of the hotel has benefitted from a scheme to clean, repoint and replace damaged stonework. To complete the project, a significant amount of landscaping work was also conducted. The work involved the construction of a new dining area located on the lower terrace and the creation of additional car parking provisions. Gardens and walkways were also restored and now include fruit trees and a new wildflower meadow. With the hotel now open, guests can enjoy a number of stunning features. These include a mixture of double, twin and fam-

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N o r th E a s t & Yo r ks h i re ily bedrooms, a private dining room, a meeting room, drawing room and bar. In addition, the hotel also includes a restaurant with a menu overseen by executive chef James Martin. Sylvan Furniture manufactured all of the casegoods in the hotel, including headboards, bedside cabinets, wardrobes and desks. The furniture was manufactured at Sylvan Furniture’s UK-based factory in Nottinghamshire. Trevillion Interiors Company Director, John Mather, said: “There were a number of internal alterations made to the building in order to complete the refurbishment of the Hotel. “Through negotiation with the building inspector and the installation of a sprinkler system, we reworked an internal area of the building and turned it into an enclosed atrium to increase the usable space within the hotel. “A service route into the building was also constructed as one of the problems prior to the refurbishment was that all services came through the main entrance. With the new service route in place, the main entrance will now be kept for guests only.” John Mather added: “It was a joy to be involved with the refurbishment of Talbot Hotel as we’ve brought a historic building back to life in a way that is very sympathetic to the period of the building. Malton needed a good quality hotel in a central location within the town and this is what we’ve created.” Sylvan Furniture Sales & Marketing Manager, Amanda Page, added: “At Sylvan Furniture we can produce any type of furniture from contract work to bespoke items. We’ve worked with Trevillion Interiors on a number of projects and we look forward to continuing our great working relationship with them in the future. “We enjoyed working on the refurbishment of Talbot Hotel as it was a good, meaty scheme for us to get involved with and the hotel looks great.”

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Revealing York Minster An extensive restoration project to conserve and modernise York Minster continues to make progress.

York Minster Revealed is five-year project that is currently taking place at what is the largest Gothic cathedral north of the Alps. The project began in early 2011 and is the largest conservation project in the UK. The project has been divided into smaller projects, including the Chapter House project and the Great East Window project. William Anelay Ltd is the main contractor for the Chapter House project, whilst Minster Stoneyard and York Glaziers Trust are the main contractors for the Great East Window. Conservation specialist Arrol & Snell is the architect for the entire York Minster Revealed project. The Great East Window is the largest window of its kind in the UK and is therefore a

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significant feature of the cathedral. The £9 million Great East Window project comprises the complete restoration of a medieval window and associated masonry work across the whole east front of the cathedral. In order to complete the work, careful and considered restoration will take place to correct damage to the window, whilst the original lead work will be replaced. Meanwhile the £750,000 Chapter House project comprises the conversion of rooms into public toilets and staff facilities. The project will also see access to Chapter House improved through the provision of DDA compliant wheelchair ramps. Arrol & Snell Ltd Managing Director, Andrew Arrol, said: “During World War II the glass in the Great East Window was removed and then subsequently replaced. However some of the glass was installed incorrectly, whilst other areas of the window have been damaged. “The glaziers will strip back the lead, reassemble the glass and protect the window against future damage using a technique called Isothermal Glazing which will place the window

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behind an additional layer of glass. “As the Cathedral Architect I have a lot responsibility for the fabric of the whole building so it’s great to see the work that is being conducted on York Minster. “It is very exciting to see work progressing on a project that will make the cathedral more accessible and enjoyable. The work will create a greater understanding of the building for visitors and will subsequently increase the number of people who get to see the building. “Projects of this level don’t come along very often, so it’s a great privilege to be involved with this one.” York Minster Revealed is scheduled for completion in summer 2016.

£9 million York Sport Village is on track for success The development of a brand new campus at the University of York has seen the creation of a state-of-the-art sports village. The £9 million York Sport Village project has been jointly funded by the University and the City of York Council, with support from Sport England. As part of a master plan for the University’s Heslington East campus, the village will boast a competitionstandard eight-lane 25-metre pool and a training pool. Further facilities will include a 120-station fitness suite; three studios for dance, spin and aerobics; a full-sized 3G Astroturf pitch and three further five-a-side pitches. All of the facilities will be available for use by students, staff and the public. Main contractor for the project is Sir Robert McAlpine and the

architect is Space Architects. Professor Cantor from the University of York said: “York Sport Village will be a superb sporting asset for our students and for everyone in the city. It reflects our commitment both to enhance our students’ experience at a world class University, and to contribute to the health and well-being of people throughout the city. “Our sports and recreational facilities for students, staff and the community are already outstanding, and York Sport Village will take them to an even higher level.” Councillor Sonja Crisp, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture and Social Inclusion, added: “York Sport Village will provide a state of the art facility for

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N o r th E a s t & Yo r ks h i re residents across the city and I’m delighted that work has started in this, an Olympic year. We know that an active lifestyle brings a wide range of long term benefits and I hope that people of all ages will enjoy the fantastic facilities on offer at the site.” The stunning York Sport Village has incorporated coloured metal cladding panels with resin-faced architectural blocks in light blue and dark grey-blue. Featuring extensive glazing throughout, the centre also celebrates metallic silver standing seam roof that curves down gracefully from the double-height space above the pool hall. A large overhang shades the glazed façades from the sun, whilst the pool boasts unrivalled views of the surrounding countryside. Interestingly, the first-floor gym can be seen clearly outside the building – providing a tantalising glimpse of all of the sporting activities on offer.

David Coundon, Space Architects, said: “This is a landmark building in a prominent position; it is important within the campus and very visible from outside the campus – most noticeably from the A64 and A1079. As a result, the building not only satisfies its purpose as a sports and leisure centre, but also serves as a landmark for both the university and the city. “This has been a great opportunity for us to work with an innovative client who has both the vision and the know-how to create a truly magnificent development. It is a prestigious building with high quality finishes – both inside and out – and we have managed to achieve this with a relatively modest budget. As a company, we are very proud to be involved with this fantastic new building for the University of York.”

In Northfield Hall we trust Northfield Hall in Sheepridge, Huddersfield has now opened. To welcome the building into the community, local residents from Brackenhall and Ferndale were invited to an opening ceremony to mark the occasion. The event took place on Saturday 26th May and featured performances from a number of local groups, along with stalls and a range of activities for all ages. Northfield Hall was the vision of Brackenhall Community Trust and was built to replace the aging Brackenhall Community Centre on Longhill Road. Work began on Northfield Hall in July 2011 and was completed in April 2012. Deighton and Brackenhall Initiative Limited (DBI) provided funding for the project and now that the building is open Fresh Horizons – a local social enterprise – will manage the facility. QSP Construction was the main contractor on Northfield Hall,

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whilst Watson Batty Architects Limited was the architect and CDM health & safety co-ordinator. The project was managed by William Saunders. Chair of the DBI Ltd Board, Councillor Jean Calvert, said: “A new community facility for the Brackenhall and Ferndale estate has been one of the DBI’s priorities since the very beginning and the time and commitment we have put into the project along with the Trust, not to mention the major funding DBI has invested, shows our intent to make sure that the community has received the best possible facility. “We were aware of the need to ensure Northfield Hall is sustainable so it can serve the local community for years to come and that is why we worked closely with a wide range of partners to achieve this goal. The project is further proof of DBI’s commitment to developing better facilities and services within the area,

with the aim of improving the quality of life for all its residents.” Brackenhall Community Trust Chair, Graeme Penwright, added: “A new community facility to replace Brackenhall Community Centre has been the vision of the Trust and DBI for many years and for everyone involved it is fantastic that Northfield Hall is now a reality. The turnout on the day for the launch event was overwhelming and is hopefully an indication that the community will make good use of the facilities. “Our goal for the future now is to ensure we continue to provide a high quality facility that local people can be proud of for generations to come.”

Restoring St. Marie’s Catholic Cathedral A £1.1 million renovation project to restore St. Marie’s Catholic Cathedral is currently underway. Located on Norfolk Row, Sheffield, St. Marie’s Catholic Cathedral is a Grade II listed building that was constructed in 1850. The Cathedral opened at a cost of £10,500 a year after its founder Fr. Charles Pratt died and the present restoration marks the first time work has been carried out since 1970. Conservation and preservation specialist Maysand is the main contractor for the project, whilst Buttress Fuller Alsop Williams Architects is the architect. The restoration of St. Marie’s Catholic Cathedral comprises the complete internal strip-out of the building – including existing flooring – and the installation of new features in order to modernise the facility. Once the floor has been removed from the building, the existing slab will be replaced with limecrete stone flooring. During this phase of the works a sarcophagus containing the body of Fr. Charles Pratt will also be removed from the building. During the restoration work two key features of the building will be restored to their former glory. Lewis Organ is undergoing extensive reconstruction, whilst the main alter will also be carefully renovated. Additional work includes the installation of a new lighting and audio system, along with associated decoration works and general maintenance work. Work is also being undertaken to cor-

Northfield Hall is divided into a number of internal areas, including two meeting rooms, an activity room, an exhibition space and a large hall that can be partitioned into smaller spaces. The building is also home to Jolly Roger’s Play Gym – a soft play area for children aged 0-8 years old – and Cafe in the Hall which opens during the day to serve sandwiches and hot food. Both of these facilities are run by Local Services 2 You Limited, a brand new company set up by DBI to provide useful services and local employment opportunities. Outside Northfield Hall is a multi-use games area (MUGA) and playing fields featuring adult and junior football pitches. Northfield Hall also includes shower and changing room facilities. In addition to serving the community, United Reformed Church Brackenhall has a purpose-built space on the site for their services and activities. Watson Batty Architects Director, Richard Merrills, said: “Having been involved with the whole DBI regeneration project since 2000, Watson Batty Architects is delighted to see the Northfield Hall scheme come to fruition. We have worked closely with the DBI, Brackenhall Community Trust, United Reformed Church Brackenhall and the Local Authority to help deliver such an important local landmark. “This new building is the culmination of a great team effort and represents how integrating a number of good ideas can ultimately create a terrific shared facility.” QSP Construction Director, Martyn Brown, added: “We sincerely hope that we have contributed to and complimented this award-winning partnership between the local community, public bodies and local businesses to enhance the quality of life for the local residents.”

rect structural problems that have existed since the Cathedral was first built. A new Planar glass canopy is also being fitted to the external facade of the Cathedral. The canopy will span the length of the building’s west end and will provide an exciting focal point for the Cathedral. Bryn Lisle, Maysand, said: “The work will make a significant difference to the Cathedral when complete and taking up the existing floor and replacing it is a substantial undertaking in its own right. “We will be installing underfloor heating and laying York stone to create a new paved floor that will give the church a completely different look.We have worked with limecrete in historic churches before and are drawing on that experience for this project. “Limecrete was the preferred option over cement-based concrete because it is a more breathable and lightweight alternative. It has clear advantages for use on historic buildings like the Cathedral. We have also conducted some research that shows it is a more environmentally friendly option too.” St Marie’s Catholic Cathedral is scheduled to re-open in autumn 2012.

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Revolutionising education with the new Pakefield High School The state-of-the-art Pakefield High School is set to change the way that education is delivered in Lowestoft once it opens in September 2012. Following a school organisation review process, all of the middle schools in Lowestoft closed in 2011 and a new high school and sixth form college opened in September of the same year in order to complement the three existing high schools. Works began onsite in January 2010 and Phase One has comprised the construction of a new £12 million building as the first part in the development of the new high school, whilst Phase Two will be built on the front of the first phase at the London Road end and Phase Three will include the demolition of the existing Pakefield Middle School. The project has been funded by Suffolk County Council and is being carried out by Barnes Construction. Pakefield High School will boast a wide range of specialist accommodation including science laboratories, resistant materials and food technology rooms, art and music performance spaces and a main assembly hall. All of the classrooms are spacious (100 sq metres on average) and each room celebrates wireless

capacity. Designed by Colin Leisk of Pick Everard Architects, the two-storey building features a unique ‘street’ that runs through the centre of the development. The ‘street’ has a staircase that sweeps up to a bridge that crosses it in its central position, creating a very unique focal point. Interestingly, the roof has been constructed using the same materials as those used on the Eden Project in Cornwall and can regulate the temperature of the school. Sustainable features include a biomass boiler that uses woodchip to heat the school, whilst the development is expected to achieve a BREEAM rating of ‘Very Good’. An ecological survey conducted in the early stages of the project led to the conservation of a pond for grey crested newts. Furthermore, archaeologists working on the site discovered evidence of Roman and Neolithic settlement. Head teacher Perry Linsley commented:

Flagship RSPCA centre will set an example for the UK When it opens later this year, the Newbrook Farm centre will be the first in the UK to incorporate all of the different RSPCA disciplines. The project has seen the RSPCA relocate from their premises at Barnes Hill in Northfield, where they had operated since 1962. Located in the rural Frankley Green in Worcestershire, the site covers an impressive 16,000 square metres and will include a range of facilities housed within 10 separate buildings. These include a C-shaped barn that has been converted into a twostorey animal centre with a main reception and offices; and a two-storey animal hospital with associated treatment, consultation and ancillary rooms. One of the most exciting additions is the cattery, which will be the only two-storey RSPCA cattery in the UK. Interestingly, the cattery has incorporated an integral balcony that visitors may walk across to view the cats. Further facilities include: holding kennels, long stay kennels, an isolation unit, a small animals building, a training facility and an overnight holding facility. In total, the centre will have the capacity to house 160 cats and 60 dogs. An education and training centre, visitor centre and cafe will also be created; whilst there will be increased outdoor space

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“The substantial investment that Suffolk County Council has made will ensure that the school’s legacy will live on for another 100 years. It really is a ‘Rolls Royce’ of a building, and will allow the children to be educated in a truly 21st century setting. “As a nation, I believe that our children are our greatest asset and to put that money into a building that has all of the facilities and resources that they require to develop their full potential is just wonderful.”

for staff and volunteers to exercise and rehabilitate a range of animals including: rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs and birds. The scheme was designed and project managed by the Gould Singleton Partnership and has incorporated a range of sustainable solutions including air source heat pumps, rain and grey water recycling and solar generation of hot water. In addition, the centre will boast passive ventilation and reed bed microorganism technology. Challenges have included working within a rural location where electricity is unreliable and the water mains are limited to the area. Furthermore, as the site already housed four homes for RSPCA representatives, a new temporary road had to be constructed in order to allow them to get in and out of the site. However, main contractor GF Tomlinson has overcome all challenges efficiently and effectively and the project continues to progress well. David Tomlin, GF Tomlinson, said: “As the only RSPCA centre in the UK to house all of the differ-

ent disciplines, the Newbrook Farm addition will provide vital care for animals across Worcestershire. “Although the project has been challenging, we have loved every moment of it. We always welcome working with the RSPCA and have liaised with them very closely throughout the duration of the project. This is a prestigious project that we are very proud to be a part of.” The scheme has been supported by capital appeal manager for the RSPCA and former Coronation Street star, Adam Rickitt. Commenting on the Newbrook Farm development, Adam Rickitt said: “This flagship facility is the embodiment of all the RSPCA stands for. It will be the only site in the country that can complete the full journey for an animal in our care from rescue, remedy and rehabilitation to re-homing. “The RSPCA is so excited to be creating a new chapter in animal welfare for the whole country and we knew we could trust GF Tomlinson to deliver this moment in history.”

£80 million St. George’s Park edges closer to the goal line As the new National Football Centre, St. George’s Park will inspire a generation of football fanatics when it opens in the summer of 2012. St. George’s Park is located on a 330-acre site in Burton upon

Trent that was purchased by The FA in 2001. Construction work for the £80 million project began in February 2011 and the project has been fully supported by partners Umbro and Hilton Worldwide. The aim of the project is to establish St. George’s Park as the sporting destination of choice for coaches, players and officials in order to inspire world-class performance. As a centre of excellence for football development and coach education, St. George’s Park will be home to all 24 England teams from the seniors through to the juniors and teams with cerebral palsy and partial sight. In total the site will boast 12 pitches, including an elite full-sized pitch that is an exact replica of Wembley Stadium, a full size indoor 3G pitch and an external all-weather 3G pitch. Three of the pitches will be available for community use. Along with an extensive range of sporting facilities, the site will incorporate a 25,000 sq ft medical complex that will become the first FIFA Centre of Medical Excellence in England. Boasting specialist clinicians and cutting-edge technology, the centre will provide screening, diagnosis and rehabilitation of football and sports injuries. ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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The sports science complex will also house offices for FA Learning, who are relocating from Wembley. In addition, there will be a hydrotherapy suite and three gymnasiums – one of which is a biomechanical gym that incorporates an altitude gym. Another exciting feature is a new 228-bed hotel that will be operated by Hilton Worldwide on behalf of the FA. The development will comprise two separate hotels – an 86-bed Hampton by Hilton budget hotel, and a 142-bed Hilton hotel. The new hotel will also include conference and dining facilities, along with a high-end leisure facility. Main contractor for the St. George’s Park project is Bowmer & Kirkland Group and the architect is RedBox. The project is being managed by leading professional services provider Turner & Townsend. Mark Smith, Director Turner & Townsend, commented: “This has been a challenging project due to the pace of the scheme, which has demanded a contract period of 18 months. Furthermore, the principal challenge has revolved around stake-

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holder management, as there are a huge number of stakeholders whose needs all had to be incorporated within a very tight budget. “Despite this challenge, this has been an extremely rewarding project for Turner & Townsend. We are enormously proud to be able to deliver this legacy for English football, both on time and on budget. We believe that this is a terrific achievement and the FA is very pleased with what we have managed to achieve so far.” Former Sheffield United and Bristol City striker, Wayne Allison, now serves the role of Research Manager for Coaching at St. George’s Park. He said: “I was a professional footballer for over 20 years and I’m delighted that the next stage of my career will be playing a part in the future of English football at St. George’s Park. It’s going to be an exciting time for everyone involved in the game and St. George’s Park really does signal a new era for football development in this country.”

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£3.2 million care home is completed The state-of-the-art Jubilee Court care home will soon provide vital support for younger adults with learning and physical disabilities.

The three-storey development is located adjacent to Central Drive in Coseley, Bilston, and includes 30 en-suite bedrooms and a range of exciting facilities. These include two large lounges, a communal kitchen and a cinema room along with a sensory room and media facilities. Designed by Clive Walker of Clive Walker Associates, the brick building features a stunning entrance foyer with curtain wall glazing to the front and rear. The light and spacious area utilises the available natural light

and creates a feeling of openness, as Clive Walker explained: “Once a visitor enters the foyer they can see right the way through the lounge, which in turn overlooks the canal. This has created a very spacious and welcoming entrance for visitors, and really sets the tone for the entire development. “When designing the building, it was important to bear in mind its purpose – which is to provide care for those with neurological disorders. As a result, it was crucial that the building was easy to navigate and respected the needs of the residents. “In order to facilitate this, we have clearly sectioned the bedroom wings from the living spaces – which has subsequently ensured that the residents are not disturbed by people using the other facilities. We have also incorporated an attractive colour scheme that runs throughout the building.” The £3.2 million project was privately funded by Select Healthcare and has been carried out by main contractor Gerlando Construction.

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Joe Cacciatore from Gerlando Construction discussed the challenges of the scheme, saying: “We were working on a sloping site that is sandwiched between a road and a canal, which meant that we had to incorporate a lower level slab and retaining walls for approximately two-thirds of the building at lower level. “However, this has been a very enjoyable project and we are proud of what we have managed to achieve.” Landscaping has included the creation of a low-maintenance grass area, along with gabion baskets to provide a new home for the canal’s plentiful flora and fauna.

De Montfort University leisure centre will open in time for the Olympics A new £8 million state-of-the-art leisure centre is under construction on Western Boulevard, next to De Montfort University’s current John Sandford Sports Centre in Leicester’s West End. The centre will boast a 25-metre six-lane swimming pool, a fitness gym and multipurpose studios that can be used for activities such as aerobics, pilates and yoga. Further facilities include a climbing wall, a cafe and eight courts for sports such as basketball, badminton, netball and five-a-side football. Umesh Desai, Deputy Director of Estates at De Montfort University, commented: “The new facility will be a fantastic addition to the university and will provide a landmark entrance to the campus from the

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West End. “It is great that we have some of the leading experts in the field working on the project – from the design right through to the build itself. We are really please that everything is on schedule and that we are on track for a July completion. Works began in April 2011 and the centre is being built by leading UK construction, infrastructure and design company Morgan Sindall. Architects for the project are S&P Architects, who are also responsible for the detailed design of the London Olympics 2012 Aquatics Centre. Mark Gowdridge, Project Architect at S&P Architects, commented: “The university wanted a facility that would serve as a land-

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Midlands & East Anglia mark with an iconic feel. Glass is used dynamically throughout the building in order to create motion and activity, whilst the use of natural cedar tongue and groove wood creates a feeling of warmth. “The building has also been designed with features that have metallic outer shells and cedar-lined interiors. These form towers and overhangs, creating views in and through the building to public areas whilst also creating filtered light inside. “The leisure centre was designed with careful attention to accessibility and sustainability. Sustainable principles are employed throughout the building; including the use of natural daylight, zoned lighting control and passive ventilation systems.” Nick Seddon, Area Manager at Morgan Sindall, added: “Morgan Sindall has a wealth of experience in both the leisure and higher education sectors and we’re delighted to be able to utilise this on the project. The new leisure centre will provide fantastic facilities for both DMU students and the general public.” To tie in with the start of the Olympics, De Montfort University will be offering taster sessions and tours when the doors to their new facility open on Monday 30th July 2012. During the two-week period between 30th July and 17th August, members of the local community – along with staff and students – will be able to take advantage of a range of exciting facilities. These include the swimming pool, climbing wall, courts and fitness classes. Visitors will also be offered a tour of the new state-of-the-art gym. Professor Dominic Shellard, Vice Chancellor of De Montfort University, said: “We hope that during the Olympics everyone will be taking a keen interest in sport, so I’m really pleased that we are able to offer two weeks of free taster sessions to local residents. “At DMU we believe that universities should be a public building and that they should make a positive impact in the local community. We are already achieving this through our award-

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New 88-bedroom care home will provide vital care for the elderly Covering an impressive 3968 sq metres, the new care home on Shrewsbury Road in Owestry will significantly enhance available care services in the area.

Main contractor Castlemead Group Limited is carrying out the £4.8 million project for Coverage Care Services Limited. The project began in September 2011 and is expected to be completed in January 2013. The 88-bedroom care home will replace and extend the existing Fairhome facility at Morda Road in Owestry, and compliment Coverage Care’s award-winning Greenfields care home in Whitchurch, North Shropshire – which was also constructed by Castlemead Group. Chief Executive of Coverage Care, David Coull, said: “We are pleased to be working with

winning Square Mile project and the great work of our student volunteers, but I hope that the opening of this facility will encourage more interaction and I look forward to seeing more local residents on the campus.” Opening times will be Monday-Friday (7am-10pm), Saturday (8am-6pm) and Sunday (9am-6pm). The swimming pool will be open subject to use by classes and clubs; whilst the courts, classes and climbing wall will require booking.

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Castlemead on this important new project. The design for the new home is based on our experience of building and operating new care homes in Telford, Bridgnorth and Whitchurch. “We are confident that the new home in Oswestry will enhance the care services available in the area, especially as we plan to offer residential care with nursing care for older people. “The plan is to transfer the 40 residents and all the existing staff from Fairholme in Morda Road Oswestry to the new home when it is complete and to then return the existing building to Shropshire Council.” The fully-accessible building has been designed by DWA Architects and features two two-storey wings containing bedrooms, along with a three-store central admin and services area. Constructed using traditional methods, the building features concrete foundations, a brick and block work superstructure and timber roof trusses. Full external hard and soft landscaping will be carried out, including attractive residents gardens. Joe O’Donnell, Castlemead Group Limited,

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said: “This is the second scheme that we have worked on for Coverage Care. We cherish our long-term relationship with Coverage Care and hope to complete more work for them in the future. “Whilst initial challenges included gaining planning permission for the Greenfield site and diverting existing services, the construction programme has been relatively straight forward. “This has been a very exciting project for us to work on; it is a great scheme for Castlemead Group to be involved with and it will be a very attractive building when it is complete.”

116 High Street is to be transformed in £1.6 million project A Grade II* listed townhouse is being lovingly restored by the Heritage Trust of Lincolnshire. The 18th century building has been on the English Heritage ‘Heritage at Risk’ register for more than 15 years and the project is seen as the last opportunity to save this nationally important building. William Garfit II (1700-81) founded Lincolnshire’s first private bank in the building in 1754, and it remained in use until 1891 when the bank was relocated to the market place. Since then, the building has been the ‘Lincolnshire Diocesan Home for Fallen Women’, a private house and the offices of various local businesses. Sadly the building had fallen into disrepair over the years and despite the efforts of local people was at risk of imminent collapse. The project – overseen by main contractor Lindum BMS and architect Anderson and Glenn – will see the extensive refurbishment of the building in order to restore it to its former glory. The project began onsite in April 2011 and works have included a significant amount of structural repairs to the masonry and timber, along with repairs to the roof and the floor. In addition, the sash windows, panelling and staircases have been carefully restored. A 1950s single-storey extension has been demolished, which has in turn led to the challenging recreation of a large brick bow. In turn, a new two-storey extension has been constructed to the rear of the development. The new extension features a stunning design that has incorporated hand-made brick, slate and timber windows whilst remaining sympathetic to the existing building. Landscaping has included the provision of a new access drive, car park and footpaths, whilst the site will also benefit from an

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its sustainable future within the community.” The project is scheduled to be completed in August 2012.

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attractive garden area. Mary Anderson, Anderson and Glenn, commented: “This has been a challenging project, especially as we had to contend with a flooded cellar and rebuild large sections of walling. It has been difficult to organise due to the critical condition of the building and the way in which it has been continually altered over the years. “What makes this project particularly interesting is the numerous phases of construction that have taken place since the building was originally constructed in the early 18th century. The historic development has seen a mid 18th century extension, a later 18th century alterations and a late 19th century staircase in a Tudorbethan style – and we had to work with all of these different periods and make it blend together.” In February 2011, the national board of English Heritage Commissioners visited the development at 116 High Street. Simon Thurley, Chief Executive of the organisation, accompanied the commissioners, who are appointed by the government to establish the overall direction of English Heritage. Baroness Andrews, Chair of the commissioners, commented: “It is a testimony to the Trust’s endeavour that those who knew the building previously could appreciate immediately the important initial steps that you have taken already to safeguard this fragile piece of Boston’s heritage. We shall look forward to playing our part in the final push to rescue the building and ensure

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Heritage Lincolnshire was founded in 1991 and has to date completed 6 projects with the support of key organisations such as the Association of Preservation Trusts, the Architectural Heritage Fund, English Heritage and the Heritage lottery fund – along with local Lincolnshire authorities and other funding bodies. They are a member organisation of the Association of Preservation Trusts (APT), who provide an invaluable network offering support and advice. Heritage Lincolnshire aims to be proactive in finding new uses for historic buildings that have fallen out of use or started to suffer from neglect. They promote positive action on heritage at risk as they believe that the conservation and regeneration of the historic environment can bring positive benefits for present and future generations.

Loughborough College goes for gold with £3 million performance centre Loughborough College will soon house one of the most innovative sports performance centres in the UK. A £3 million project has seen the redevelopment of the Gables to create The Elite Athlete Performance Centre (EAPC), along with the construction of a 72-bed hall of residence named White Flats. The concept has been developed by Loughborough College and will provide facilities for elite athletes between 16 and 18. As the first facility of its kind in the UK, the EAPC will give the College the opportunity to work on an individual basis with gifted youngsters in order to develop their sporting prowess and provide them with a solid grounding for their future ambitions. Jim Mutton, Principal of Loughborough College, said: “The Elite Athlete Performance Centre has been specifically developed to address the gap in professional and tailored support for some of our most talented young athletes.

three LV cables and the gas mains. Car parking facilities will be provided for up to ten vehicles, whilst a new access route will be formed to existing car parking facilities for disabled drivers. Main contractor for the project is ISG and the architect is Marcini Curran Associates. Jonathan Kell, Midlands Managing Director for ISG, said: “Access to the site is tight, with a number of TPOs in place which require that tree root protection is undertaken for approximately 20 trees. We are also protecting a commemorative tree that was grown for a young student who sadly died last year. “We are also working alongside student accommodation that is currently occupied, so we have established Considerate Constructor protocols in order to minimise any potential disruptions during the works. “Creating the new EAPC building from the existing Gables building has been a great challenge. As with any historic buildings, we have had to deal with what lies beneath the surface – and there have been some really fascinating discoveries along the way. “We have uncovered some beautiful fireplaces, whilst the quality of the new carpentry work that has gone into replacing damaged sections and creating new elements is equally impressive.”

“It seemed fitting that the pioneering project should be housed in a building which appeared at around the same time as the modern Olympics (1896). The building had been allowed to get very run down so planners – and local residents – were more than happy to support the development. “I am proud to know that Loughborough College is blazing a trail for young elite athletes in the UK, which could mean we see even better results for individuals and teams in the Olympics and beyond. The Elite Athlete Performance Centre at Loughborough College will offer the opportunity to deliver more world class performers, who will also have had a superb education.” Along with the transformation of the listed 19th century Gables building, the project has seen the creation of 72 new bedrooms at a state-of-the-art accommodation block. The new three-storey, timber-framed White Flats development covers approximately 5,500 sq ft and features an attractive external facade that has incorporated brick, render and timber. Further features include a pitched roof with a zinc finish, and aluminium double glazed windows. All of the rooms are en-suite, whilst four of the bedrooms have been specifically designed for disabled students. The rooms are arranged in twelve clusters of six, and each of the clusters boasts a spacious kitchen and all of the required security and fire protection features. Additional works have included the demolition of two existing buildings on the site, along with the diversion of four HV cables, ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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Restoring the Cutty Sark A ÂŁ50 million project to conserve and restore the historic Cutty Sark has been completed. Work finished in April 2012 following a complex series of works to restore the vessel back to its former glory. As part of

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the project a number of new visitor facilities were also installed around the museum ship to highlight the historic significance of the vessel. Alongside the restoration of the Cutty Sark a number of ad-

ditional projects, including the redevelopment of Cutty Sark Gardens, also took place. Located within Greenwich in South East London, the Cutty Sark is the world’s last surviving tea clipper and is one of just three vessels in London to be listed in the Core Collection of the National Historic Ships Register. On Wednesday 25th April, Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh officially reopened the Cutty Sark to the public during a ceremony that marked the first time since 2006 that the site had been open to visitors. Now that the vessel is open to the public, Royal Museums Greenwich will be responsible for the operational management of the site. Ellmer Construction was the main contractor, whilst Grimshaw Architects was the architect. The construction manager was Gardiner & Theobold, Buro Happold was the structural engineer and Lorne Stewart was the service engineer. Specialist Construction Managers Fraser Randall were employed to manage the delivery of the interpretative exhibition works that detail the historic story of the Cutty Sark. Fraser Randall has a long history of collaborating with the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich and some of the Museum’s figure head displays feature in the exhibition. Funding for the ship’s conservation and restoration programme was provided by many different contributors including: Greenwich Council, Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), DCMS, Greater London Authority, The Stavros Niarchos Foundation, Berry Brothers & Rudd, Sammy Offer Foundation, Michael Edwards and Alisher Usmanov. Chairman of Royal Museums Greenwich and the Cutty Sark Trust, Lord Sterling, said: “Cutty Sark holds a unique place in the heart of the people of Greenwich, Great Britain and indeed the rest of the world, and it is splendid that she is re-joining the London skyline once again. Cutty Sark is set in the newly-landscaped Cutty Sark Gardens,

created by Greenwich Council - one of our strongest supporters. “We are indebted to those members of the public from all over the world who have generously contributed to the preservation of this much-loved national treasure. We are also deeply appreciative of the many other major institutions, government bodies and foundations that have played a key role in providing the funds. In particular our deep thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund, who have supported the project and stood by the Cutty Sark through difficult times and allocated £25 million of public money raised through the National Lottery.” Lord Sterling added: “Cutty Sark’s re-launch comes in an exceptional year for Greenwich, which was granted the status of Royal Borough in February 2012 and will have the eyes of the world upon it during The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the London 2012 Olympic Games this summer. “On 25th June 1957 Her Majesty opened the Cutty Sark to the public the first time and we were delighted that The Queen and HRH Duke of Edinburgh – who has been President of the Cutty Sark Trust since 1951 – returned to reopen the ship.” Work began on the restoration of the Cutty Sark in November 2006 with the dismantlement of the ship. Unfortunately this initial phase of works was interrupted in 2007 by a fire, which caused damage to the ship and delayed the programme by six months. A recovery operation then took place before the project was restarted in 2008. As a result of the fire a number of structural problems were uncovered that had not been encountered during the initial stages of work. This led to contractors having to devise new ways to strengthen the structure of the ship in order to move forward with the project. This period also allowed for a few alterations to other areas of the project. Cutty Sark Trust Director, Richard Doughty, said: “It was recognised in the 1990s that the ship’s structure was

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very fragile and that it was likely to become a dangerous site in a matter of years. That’s what propelled the structural refurbishment work, however the fire made us aware of additional problems that didn’t present themselves in the initial surveys. “Although the fire did cause us a number of delays, the recovery period presented us with time to rethink the more detailed areas of the project and redefine our vision. As part of this rethink, we changed the design of the glass canopy on the ship, altered the basement area and increased the size of the access tower.” The next phase of the project involved raising the ship 11 feet off the ground to address issues with the weight of the vessel. As the bulk weight of the ship bears down on the lower sections of the vessel, the weight needed to be transferred to the ground in order to create a more even distribution. Twelve support beams were installed into the lower hold of the Cutty Sark to help with the reconfiguration of weight and then a new structure was installed below the ship. Located underneath the ship is the Sammy Ofer Gallery, a newly created glass-covered facility that acts as a viewing area for visitors. The gallery is named after late philanthropist and international shipping magnate, Sammy Ofer KBE, and for the first time ever allows visitors to walk underneath the hull of the ship. Due to a long-standing relationship with London’s shipping community, Sammy Ofer KBE donated £3.8 million towards the restoration of Cutty Sark. In 2008 Sammy Ofer was appointed an Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in recognition of his support for maritime heritage. Fit-out works were then conducted to complete the project, including three main trade package contracts across the interpretative fit-out works. SI Electrical undertook the lighting and electrical works, whilst Workhaus was responsible for all set works and graphic elements and Integrated Circles undertook the audio visual hardware and software works. Royal Museums Greenwich Director, Kevin Fewster, added: “Cutty Sark is an iconic London landmark and a much-loved part of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site. Bringing Cutty Sark into the Royal Museums Greenwich family strengthens the links between some of the key attraction of this unique World Heritage Site and helps us to explore the extraordinary maritime stories we have to tell.” Global banking company HSBC is the primary sponsor of the Cutty Sark restoration project whilst trading partners include tea and coffee specialist Twinings, leading textile manufacturer The Woolmark Company and international premium spirits company The Erdington Group. HSBC Group Chairman, Douglas Flint, said: “HSBC was founded in Asia to finance trade with the West five years before Cutty Sark first set sail in 1870. Although times have changed, we still see trade as the biggest driver of economic and business growth. So while Cutty Sark is an emblem of past glories, she is also a reminder of the opportunities and

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excitement that global trade represents. HSBC is delighted to have this opportunity to support the Cutty Sark.” Richard Doughty said: “The Cutty Sark Trust was set up for the conservation of the ship and the fact that we’ve completed this restoration project to realise the Trust’s vision is something we’re all enormously proud of. “Everyone who has been involved on this project has come from all works of life and from all around the country. Everybody – including myself – has gone the extra mile to complete this restoration and it’s been a privilege for all of us to have played a part in giving Cutty Sark a future. “We worked down to the wire to complete this project on time for the official opening ceremony and what we’ve achieved has been fantastic. We have preserved this ship for future generations and in such a way that will ensure that we can maintain the Cutty Sark’s upkeep in the future.” Richard added: “The Cutty Sark is unique in all sorts of ways. The vessel has been in Greenwich for the last 55 years and it symbolises the importance of trade to this country. It is very unique to have a merchant ship like this still here and it indicates an important time in our history where a vessel such as this helped to create employment and prosperity in this country. “The Cutty Sark serves as a reminder that the sea was very important in transporting goods around the world and she captures that excitement and adventure of sailing across the open water. “The ship was built to have a working life of 25 years, so the fact that it is still here is quite simply amazing. The Cutty Sark represents hundreds of year’s worth of design and development which is perfectly personified in the quality of the structure. As the Cutty Sark has inspired generations before, she will continue to inspire generations to come.”

Cutty Sark Gardens Situated adjacent to the Old Royal Naval College Grounds, Cutty Sark Gardens forms an integral part of Greenwich Town Centre and is the major arrival point for visitors arriving by boat. Alongside the restoration of the museum ship, Greenwich Council organised the redesign of the Gardens to reinvigorate and reflect the improvements being made in Greenwich. Although Cutty Sark Gardens is predominately an area of hard landscaping, an extensive planting scheme took place and a new lighting system was installed as part of the redevelopment works. The lighting scheme not only enhances the Gardens, it also accentuates the lighting scheme of the Cutty Sark. As well as the redevelopment of Cutty Sark Gardens, a number of redevelopment works also took place at Greenwich Pier and the Old Royal Naval College and the Greenwich Foot Tunnel. Cutty Sark Trust Director, Richard Doughty, said:

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Lo n d o n & S o u th E a s t the ship and the surrounding Gardens. “A significant number of local residents were employed on the project and hundreds of local school children enjoyed welcoming The Queen and HRH Duke of Edinburgh when they visited Greenwich for the first time since bestowing Royal status upon us. “Whilst it was a day to remember for everyone involved, the ship will provide a lasting memory for the 18 million people who visit Royal Greenwich each year and view the borough’s most iconic gateway.”

Grimshaw Founded in 1980, Grimshaw is an award-winning architectural practice that operates across the globe. The practice has offices in London, New York, Sydney and Melbourne and employs over 300 members of staff. Grimshaw is currently providing design work for Miami Science Museum and the ‘Wimbledon 2020’ masterplan project. Previous projects include International Terminal at Waterloo Station, the Southern Cross Station in Melbourne and the Eden Project. Grimshaw has a very hands-on approach and delivers the highest possible standards of excellence with each design. The company is defined by its innovation, its eye for detail and its sustainable designs.

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“With all of these projects taking place within a close proximity of each other and within similar timeframes, everyone acknowledged that there would be a number of inconveniences on their project, including access to their site. “Each contractor made allowances and it was extremely satisfying for all involved parties to be able to coordinate a complex programme of works that would take into consideration everyone else’s needs.” Royal Borough of Greenwich Council Leader, Councillor Chris Roberts, said: “The Cutty Sark is an iconic symbol of our Maritime Heritage and I’m proud of the role we played in restoring and conserving

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For over 40 years, Accord Engineering has specialised in the manufacture of architectural metal work for use in projects within the commercial sector. Accord Engineering Ltd’s work primarily includes manufacturing curtain walling, balustrades and handrails however the company also produce associated metal work. Accord Engineering Ltd has worked on many high-profile projects including Gatwick South Terminal, Heathrow Terminal 5, the British Library and Olympic Park. On the Cutty Sark restoration project Accord Engineering Ltd produced window frames, louvre panels and brackets, along with the framework for the lift shaft and staircase. Accord Engineering Ltd Sales & Production Manager, David Levett, said: “It was incredibly important for Accord Engineering to be involved with the restoration of the Cutty Sark especially as we were involved with a very visible area of the ship. “We specialise in bespoke work with a quick turnaround time and we completed work on the Cutty Sark within 6 – 8 weeks.”

Vitrine Systems Ltd Established in 2001, Vitrine Systems Ltd specialise in architectural glazing for the commercial and retail sectors. Vitrine Systems Ltd design bespoke glass structures tailored to the needs of their customers and the company has previously completed projects for The Bullring shopping centre Birmingham, Corinthia Hotel in London and Ascot Racecourse.

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Lo n d o n & S o u th E a s t Vitrine Systems Ltd believe that its main strength lies in its flexible approach to meeting their customers’ requirements and ensuring that all projects are designed, manufactured and installed to the highest standards. On the Cutty Sark project, Vitrine Systems Ltd designed two glazed enclosures on the deck of the ship, along with the total envelope of the access tower including four elevations of glazing, copper louvres, panels and the Kalzip roof. These were all bespoke designs created especially for the Cutty Sark. Vitrine Systems Ltd Contracts Manager, Anthony Williams, said: “It was great to be involved with the Cutty Sark restoration. We got to work with prestigious clients like Grimshaw and as the ship was being opened by the Queen it added an extra dimension to the project.” Anthony Williams added: “At Vitrine Systems Ltd we like to partner with our clients in order to ensure the architects’ vision is achieved and meets the highest standards that our customers expect.”

Steel Protection Consultancy Formed in 1992 – but with over 40 years of professional experience – Steel Protection Consultancy provides advice for owners and specifiers on the optimum method of preserving iron and steel structures. The company provides consultancy services to many Government departments in the UK and overseas and has a successful track record of completing works for numerous major projects throughout the world. On the Cutty Sark project Steel Protection Consultancy were retained as corrosion and coating project specialists to devise the optimum method for surface preparation, whilst identifying a coating system for the iron frame that would protect and last for the next 50 years. Steel Protection Consultancy Managing Director, David H Deacon, said: “We’re known as a Steel Protection Consultancy but a lot of our work involves iron and so we’re very experienced in this area of preservation. Many people think that the Cutty Sark, particularly after the major fire, is constructed from timber but the whole vessel is dependent on the iron frame, without which the vessel would collapse, so it was vital to ensure this was protected to the highest possible standard.

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MSS (Steel Services) Ltd MSS (Steel Services) Ltd specialise in all aspects of structural and architectural metal work for use in domestic, commercial and industrial sectors. For over 23 years MSS (Steel Services) Ltd has worked on projects predominantly in the UK but has recently completed works in Europe. On the Cutty Sark project, MSS (Steel Services) Ltd manufactured and installed structural frames and bespoke skirting for the glazed areas of the ship’s deck. MSS (Steel Services) Ltd Contracts Manager, Dave Manners, said: “Being involved with the Cutty Sark restoration was very important to us, it was a great project to work on and we enjoyed being involved with such a historic vessel.”

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New homes for Hophurst Lane An exciting £3.4 million project has seen the construction of twenty-five affordable homes in Crawley Down, West Sussex. The project was carried out on behalf of the Hastoe Housing Association and has delivered 12 one and two-bedroom flats, 2 two-bedroom bungalows and 11 two, three and fourbedroom houses. Nineteen of the homes are affordable rented accommodation, whilst six will be shared ownership properties. All of the homes are built in a contemporary style and feature large glazed windows with brick and cladding. In addition, each of the houses has their own garden, whilst the flats celebrate an attractive community space. Sustainable features include photovoltaic cells and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery. James Gallifent, Regional Head of Development for Hastoe, said: “This is a very unique scheme that will provide much-needed affordable accommodation for local people. I would particularly like to thank Crawley Down Parish Council, who have worked very closely with us to develop and

“Many clients are looking towards achieving the optimum life from each paint application and that’s something we can help with. “We’ve been involved in a large number of prestigious structures and buildings, including the Forth Rail and Road bridges, the Thames Barrier, and many new and old structures. We can identify, for our clients the correct system specification for any structure.”

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produce a high-quality scheme. “Challenges have included procuring the planning through a rural exception site policy. This in turn demanded the full support of the council and the local community for the planning application – and luckily we were able to get this. “House prices in this area – for rent and for sale – are out of reach for many of our local residents and this development will enable them to find an affordable residence that is close to home.” The scheme began in January 2011 and was completed in May 2012. PCKO Architects were responsible for the design, and the works were carried out by main contractor Osborne. Jason Glue, Director of Osborne’s Homes Sector, commented:

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“The idea of a village green provided the focal point for the development, surrounded by groups of housing and meandering garden walls to create an informal and organic feeling for the development. “A housing needs survey has identified a shortage of affordable homes in the parish and when the homes are complete priority will be given to local people.”

Jubilee Gardens project blossoms As the capital’s newest landmark, Jubilee Gardens has finally opened to the public. Located on London’s South Bank, the £3.6 million project reached completion in May 2012, ahead of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations. The project has been implemented by the South Bank Employers Group and comprises the regeneration of 1.6 hectares of existing garden space. The project began in September 2011, with Frosts Landscapes Construction as the main contractor and urban planning and landscape practice West 8 as the landscape architect. The scheme has been managed by the Jubilee Gardens Project Board, which comprises Southbank Centre, Lambeth Council, the Jubilee Gardens Trust and Transport for London. Now that the project is complete, the ongoing maintenance of Jubilee Gardens will be managed by Jubilee Gardens Trust. Work on Jubilee Gardens included the installation of new top and sub soil, the installation of 3,675 square metres of granite paving and the introduction of a new irrigation and drainage system. Approximately 1200 linear metres of curved white granite seating was also installed at the site, whilst new tree planting also took place. Funding for Jubilee Gardens was provided by Transport for London and Lambeth Council, with additional contributions from a number of charitable trusts. Frosts Landscapes Construction Contracts Manager, Martin Wiles, said: “It is a privilege to have been part of the Jubilee Gardens project. We are very proud to have helped to create a high quality green landscape in a prime location in London over such a short period of time.

“During the course of the work we removed approximately 6,000 tonnes of concrete from the site and created a vast and expansive grass-covered area that is accessible to the public. “Jubilee Gardens will be a major asset for London and will receive a phenomenal amount of attention throughout 2012. For London’s South Bank this project is something to be very proud of.” West 8 Project Manager, Maaten Buijs, said: “Jubilee Gardens is a quintessential English park with undulating lawns, large lush trees and boldly coloured flowerbeds. The wide granite pathways – with their generous flowing alignment – will meander in between the trees, providing constantly changing views across the site and over the Thames towards Westminster. “The paths and granite seating will accommodate the many visitors who will come to the South Bank to discover the park and to enjoy this fabulous green space in London’s key cultural area.” Lambeth Council Leader, Steve Reed, added: “This is a really exciting moment for the borough – and for London – because Jubilee Gardens is one of London’s truly great green spaces, and a major new cultural centre to be enjoyed not just by Lambeth residents, but by visitors from across the world. “Lambeth has undertaken a range of important regeneration schemes over the last few years and the Jubilee Gardens scheme is a fantastic complement to these.”

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Helping the homeless with the Agnew Family Centre A vital facility for homeless people has been transformed in a £1.2 million project to improve provisions for vulnerable people in Gosport. Agnew House, a former sheltered housing complex in Mill Lane, will now cater for the region’s most vulnerable homeless people, from single pregnant women to families with up to four children. It will provide temporary accommodation for families with a local connection who have become homeless and are waiting to be re-homed by the council. Councillor Graham Burgess, Chairman of the Community Board, said: “The Council has a statutory duty to secure the provision of accommodation for people who are homeless pending assistance. The Council should be offering families suffering the shock of losing their homes a high-quality placement that provides for their needs. Previously all the Council could offer was temporary accommodation in a building that was beyond its useful life with poor facilities, security and room layouts.” Under the project, 38 flats formerly designated for the elderly have been converted to 55 accommodation units of varying sizes. Each of the one, two or three-bedroom units will have its own WC and bathroom facilities, whilst all of the units have been designed to be flexible in order to link accommodation and provide larger or smaller units as demand dictates. Thirteen communal kitchens will be provided, each of which will be fitted with hobs, ovens and fridge/freezers. Further facilities will include a communal laundry room and communal bathrooms, whilst a modern new lift will be installed to replace

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the existing unit. In order to ensure a future life cycle of at least 30 years, the building – originally constructed in 1974 – has been updated using the latest building materials and state-of-the-art equipment. An advanced CCTV and fob key system will provide additional security for the building, with the latter restricting resident access to essential areas of the building. Works have included a replacement flat roof that complies with the latest insulation regulations and the fit out of all corridors and rooms to comply with sound and fire regulations. For instance, the ceilings and walls have incorporated fully dry lining and skim plaster to prevent the spread of flame, whilst new vinyl flooring has been laid throughout to maintain policies of sterility. Finishes include whiterock wall cladding, PVCu windows and entrance matting. Sustainable features include photovoltaic cells on the roof, which will in turn offer cheaper communal electricity and offset running costs and service charges. Leader of the Council, Councillor Mark Hook, said: “I am delighted that we have found a solution for those residents who find themselves homeless in our Borough. The Agnew Family Centre will provide good temporary accommodation and will help families at a very difficult time. None of us know what is around the corner and we need to look after those families in our community who find themselves homeless. I believe we will all be proud of the new Agnew Family Centre.” Main contractor for the project is Kier Services Ltd and the architect is The Martin Ralph Group.

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Building accommodation for the future at St George’s, University of London Willmott Dixon has almost completed an £8 million project to create modern accommodation facilities for students at St George’s, University of London. Horton Halls Phase II began in July 2011 and has seen the construction of a new development on the Grove site in Tooting that replaces the existing student housing. The project follows on from Phase I, which was completed in 2007, and has reunited main contractor Willmott Dixon and leading architectural practice Hunters. Comprising approximately 3,000 sq metres of space, the fivestorey development includes 154 en-suite bedrooms in a mixture of four to eight-bedroom flats. All of the rooms will benefit from wider beds, softer carpets and larger en-suite bathrooms. Additional facilities will include a communal lounge/recreational area and a laundry, along with bike stores for eco-friendly students. Ian Penistone, Assistant Director of Estates and Facilities at St George’s, commented: “Horton Halls Phase II responds to an increasing demand for high-quality halls of residence. The new development will improve quality and increase capacity, whilst the en-suite pods cleverly maximise the use of available space. “We have designed the building using feedback from former residents, which has allowed us to address any issues. In addition, we held informal meetings to review certain aspects of the design – including some of the colour schemes. “One of the main challenges has been the speed at which we have had to get the building up and operational for the students, who will be arriving at the end of September. As a result, we got Willmott Dixon on board as early as possible and have liaised with them closely throughout the project. “We are very excited to deliver this new accommodation for the students of St George’s and at the risk of scuppering it, the project is going very well, so far.” The development has been built using a steel frame construction that is clad in brick and render. Designed to achieve BREEAM Excellent status, the accommodation features a range of sustainable features, including high quality insulation and a combined heat and power plant for heat and electricity. At St George’s Grove, EOS designed, manufactured and installed the primary structure of all walls, floors and roofing adopting their factory assembled, pre-clad load bearing panel system. EOS Managing Director, Steve Thompson, commented: “This project was very important to us as it was a major development. The success of this project led to a number of additional projects with Willmott Dixon which has also been equally as important.” “The speed of the project was a key factor in the decision making process of Willmott Dixon. By manufacturing offsite, the EOS Load Bearing System allows the build programme to be

significantly reduced whilst minimising time spent on-site.” Horton Halls is named after Professor Roger Horton, who joined St George’s, University of London in 1979. During his time at the university, Professor Horton rose from lecturer of pharmacology to Vice Principal, and held a range of appointments including Vice Dean of Undergraduate Medical Education and Dean of Preclinical Studies. Professor Horton retired in August 2007 and Horton Halls Phase I was officially opened by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal on 23rd January 2008. Among his many achievements, Professor Horton was involved in improving student support facilities and rebuilding student residences. The new Horton Halls accommodation, named in his honour, is scheduled for completion in August 2012.

EOS Established in 2006, EOS is a leading manufacturer of light gauge steel frame solutions for use in the construction industry. The company design and manufacture steel for use in a number of applications including Load Bearing Systems (LBS) that is NHBC certified up to 9 storeys, in flooring and roofing and for use on external facades. EOS has been involved in a number of interesting projects with Willmott Dixon in the past including Shortheath , Birmingham; Bedford Academy, Bedford; Basingstoke Road , Reading; Waterhead Academy, Oldham; and Eltham Baths, London. Other prestigious jobs include King’s Cross Station, Victoria Halls, and Copenhagen Place all based in London.

Fit-out for success A major fit-out project to create state-of-the-art office space for an international law firm is nearing completion. The project is taking place at 65 Fleet Street and involves the complete redesign of four floors of office space. The project is being conducted for Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP and once complete will vastly modernise and improve existing facilities. The project comprises the installation of new meeting rooms,

four new dining areas, a number of client meeting spaces and a fully stocked restaurant. A health suite created especially for staff will include a doctor’s surgery, dentist suite and treatment rooms, along with a fully equipped gym and associated changing rooms. Two new internal staircases are also being fitted, whilst a lobby and reception will benefit from additional improvements. All of the work has been implemented by Freshfields Bruckhaus ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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Deringer LLP in order to provide staff with an excellent working environment. Work on the project is currently being undertaken to complete meeting rooms on the fifth floor, whilst a few final touches are also being made to the health suite. The health suite will include a contemplation room and parent & baby room, as well as dedicated video conferencing rooms featuring high-tech sound proofing. Work began on the Fleet Street site in August 2011. Specialist refurbishment and fit-out contractor Overbury Plc is the main contractor for the project and Tp Bennett is the architect. Gardiner & Theobald is the project manager and the mechanical and electrical consultant is Chapman Bathurst. The main works on the project have centred on the fit-out of meeting rooms, which will be used by both staff and clients. These are very important work spaces within the building and will therefore feature high quality finishes and state-of-the-art technology including microphones and desk top connections for laptops and phones. The meeting rooms also include flatscreen LED televisions and new furniture and are carpeted throughout. The circulation space benefits from stone floor finishes and creative feature ceilings. Another notable feature of the building is the installation of the brand new restaurant, which is installed within the central atrium. The restaurant will create a lively meeting area for staff and has been designed to help increase cross communication between the different departments of the building. On the sixth floor of the building a new staircase has been installed to improve access between Levels 5 and 6. Two new lifts have also been installed and will transport food from the pantry through to the dining areas. A large part of the scheme has involved the opening up of sections of the building in order to create a sense of space. Each of these areas will be fully furnished and the surrounding walls will feature a vibrant colour scheme. Additional features of the Fleet Street site include coved ceilings, copper feature lights, wall decorations and plants.

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Comfortable seating – in a range of shapes, sizes and colours – is also dotted around the building and has created an interesting and functional aspect to the interior design. An extensive yet understated lighting scheme is also being used throughout the building, whilst a brand new glazed screen entrance and refurbished revolving door has been installed at the main entrance. Upon entry into the building clients will also notice the use of walnut and oak panelling which stretches throughout the reception. Exterior work on the project has been kept to a minimum but has included the installation of a glazed facade to the front reception in order to create a stunning focal point. Throughout the duration of the works Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP has continued to operate from the building in order to provide legal services to their clients. In order to work around the operational hours of the practice, construction teams organised some of the more extensive operations to take place outside of working hours. Overbury Plc Project Manager, Graham Holland, said: “As with most office fit-out projects in London, the usual noise restrictions apply - which means that we have to be mindful of the building’s occupants and its neighbours. However we quickly realised that lawyers work all hours of the day, which meant we suddenly had added challenges to consider. “We have had to keep an open line of communication with the practice throughout the fit-out works and at times completing work has been a bit tricky. However, we have made plans to allow for this and it’s not caused too many problems. “We continue to liaise with everyone as best as possible so that we are not disrupting anyone at work and that has helped us complete each task to the best of our ability.” Graham Holland added: “With the Fleet Street project close to completion, we’ve already started to get some feedback from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP and I’m pleased to say that they are delighted with the quality of the fit-out. This work has transformed the facilities of the business and once it is completed the new features of the

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Lo n d o n & S o u th E a s t building will be a great benefit to staff. “Due to the working restrictions and the extensive nature of the works this hasn’t always been an easy job but we have managed to keep disruptions to a minimum and on the whole this project has been a huge success. “For Overbury Plc it is extremely important to be involved with a project of this size and nature and it will no doubt enhance our reputation for working in restricted environments. The level of quality that we’ve achieved with the transformation of this building is amazing and it’s also a good indication of how well Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP treats their staff.” The fit-out project at 65 Fleet Street is due to reach completion in early July 2012.

Overbury Plc Overbury Plc is a specialist office refurbishment and commercial fit-out contractor. The company completes projects across a variety of industries – including office, retail, leisure, technol-

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ogy and education – with projects ranging in value from a few thousand pounds up to £100 million. Over the past ten years Overbury Plc has completed more than 60 million square feet of office fit-out works. Previous projects have included BBC MediaCity Salford, Guardian News & Media London and the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) Southampton. With offices in Birmingham, Bracknell, Manchester, Leeds and London, Overbury Plc can provide services to clients anywhere in the UK. The company always strive to ensure that projects meet the highest levels of quality and will undertake works to meet the needs of its clients. As part of its continued commitment to provide the best possible service, Overbury Plc has also extended its working practices outside of the UK. In September 2011 Overbury Plc formed its first partnership with Australian fit-out and refurbishment specialist, ISIS.

Cameron Black Googles it Fit out and refurbishment specialist Cameron Black has completed a prestigious 40,000 sq ft high end fit out for the Google Engineers HQ at Belgrave House, Buckingham Palace Road, London. As the second largest engineering office in Europe (after Google Zurich), Google’s UK office in London is a busy mix of technical Googlers, direct advertising sales and a variety of other essential business and administrative functions. Google Search is now the most-used search engine on the World Wide Web, receiving several hundred million queries each day through its various services. Developed in 1997 by Larry Page and Sergery Brin, Google Search provides over twentytwo special features beyond the word-search capability. These include maps, film show times, time zones, weather forecasts and synonyms. In order for the new Google HQ to reflect the exciting progress being made, Cameron Black was contracted to transform the office development. Duncan Taylor, Cameron Black, explained:

“We’ve been involved with Google for a number of years now and this is by far the most exciting project that we have undertaken for them to date. “The space was fully fitted out so we stripped it back to open plan, reconfigured all of the services to match the new layout and installed the new partitions and ceilings. Following this, we installed the flight pods, VC booths, meeting rooms, state-ofthe-art Tech Talk, flooring and signage. “Regarded as one of the funkiest workspaces in London, this is one of the most high profile projects that our company has been involved with. Although we were faced with the normal pressures of high specification, fast-paced fit out, for Cameron Black it has been one of the most enjoyable projects that we have had the opportunity to work on. This was largely due to the team effort from everyone involved, including the client, architect and consultants.” Architects for the project, PENSON Group, produced a unique design that incorporates high-tech features and the creative flair that has made Google so successful. The space works around the Googlers and not the other way around. Along with a range of collaboration and working spaces, the development comprises an exciting mixture of spaces, gaming rooms, music studios and flight pods. In addition, there are lounges and kitchens, along with a park, coffee lab and an amazing auditorium labelled ‘Tech Talk’. One of the most exciting features is the installation of flight pods, which PENSON Group invented especially for Google. These pods look amazing and solve a number of programme, landlord and technical problems by allowing for supersonic fit out speeds. They also appease acoustic issues and provide semi-private seating opportunities, providing an exciting alternative to meeting rooms. Corridors are nonexistent due to the shrewd maximisation of the existing footprint. In order to stop the areas from becoming blocked off, large isles of walkways feature interconnecting lines that create a joined-up approach, in the process breaking ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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up the floors whilst keeping the space open. Most of the walls across the space are magnetic white board laminated and allow scribbles across the entire floor. In addition, all of the desks are fully height adjustable and screens are framed with self-illuminating Perspex. Another interesting feature is The Coffee Lab, which is made from compressed sheets of spent fresh coffee shavings and overlooks the internal park. Also included in the space is the Android studio, which is responsible for all Android developments. The space has electrically adjustable studio tables for working whilst standing or collaborating at low level, whilst magnetic walls feature throughout in order to allow for the pinup presentations of software or new patents currently under development. Other schemes that have been considered include acoustics, day-lighting, zoning and socialising. Lee Penson, PENSON Group, said: “This was a high profile, high class and quirky interior fit out and design to a budget within normal high class perimeters. “This project for Google underlines our position within the media and office sectors, not only exposing our supersonic design flair, but also our delivery capabilities. Handing over 300,000 sq ft for Google in less than a year from start to finish to this level is no mean feat and as the remainder of the Google programme is released, the underline will simply get thicker. This is a good looking, functional, commercially and forward thinking project.” Henrique Penha, Google, added: “Working with the team at PENSON was a pleasure; they truly understood the functional and aesthetic attributes we were after when redesigning Google’s new engineering offices in London. Together, we pushed the ambition of the project into every phase, giving the Engineering teams in London a place to incubate and execute on numerous Google projects and products.” In addition, Scott Brownrigg Interior Design has now completed two floors at 123 Buckingham Palace Road, in the process creating a combined 77,500 sq ft of innovative, inspiring office space for over 60 Google staff. Phase One of the project comprised the creation of a dynamic and collaborative work environment on Level Three. Like many other Google offices worldwide, the office has a strong local theme. Joe Borrett and Jane Preston from Google, working with the Scott Brownrigg Interior Design Team, chose a theme of London-Brighton. Many iconic elements are incorporated into the office design. For example, the meeting rooms are brightly coloured timber beach huts and giant colourful dice accommodate individual conference booths. In addition, original dodgem cars and

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traditional red telephone booths are all work spaces that are available to both staff and visitors. Open plan workstations for all staff are mixed with a few offices, meeting rooms, open break out seating areas and support spaces for printing and IT technical support. In order to accommodate for the health and welfare of Google staff, the development also includes a fully fitted gym and shower facility, massage and spa treatment centre, and an Asian Fusion/Sushi restaurant that is free for all staff. Ken Giannini, Interior Design Director of Scott Brownrigg, said: “It is little wonder that Google is one of the most desirable places to work in the UK. We have enjoyed every minute of this exciting project. All of the Google staff are up for innovation, brilliant ideas and they like to be challenged. We also recognise that Google is a serious business and demands efficiency, value and solutions that can support their business practices. This project has it all – a fun working environment that also incorporates lots of practical solutions.” Joe Borrett, Head of Real Estate and Construction for Google, added: “The office was designed and delivered in a very fast timescale (four months) and the team of consultants and the contractor pulled out all the stops to get it done. It was an impressive effort.” Jane Preston, UK Facilities Manager at Google, said: “The first impressions by visitors and our staff has been very positive. The project fits well with our real estate and HR strategy and will definitely help support our growth plans. We see the work environment as a major recruitment factor for us to compete for the best talent and this new office certainly does that.” Phase Two of the project continued with the London-Brighton theme, but aimed to offer a more sophisticated design twist. The development contains both open plan and cellular spaces, along with significant support and welfare space for over 300 staff. A variety of work settings have been created, including a 70-person events space, a mixture of meeting rooms to accommodate 12-16 people, individual video conferencing booths and various huddle areas. Upon entering Level One, visitors are greeted by a 3D Union Jack wall, which on closer inspection is composed of layers of postcards and overlapping transparencies. The adjacent entrance houses 120 scooter mirrors, which splay out from a central scooter parked on Brighton beach and catch the reflections of people passing by. Punch and Judy themed meeting rooms have been stripped of their classic design to create a modern offering of glazed interlayer panels and graphics. In addition, the graphic of a swarm of starlings has been used on the office glazing throughout. All of

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these elements create a dynamic sense of movement, making the space a more interesting place to work. The Pavilion Cafe is adjacent to the main entrance and is a nod to the Mods and Rockers era, albeit with a decidedly modern attitude. The light enters via two black glass clad portals and reflects against the dark, shiny surfaces. Interestingly, reclaimed flooring has been used under the seating area. Lightly sanded, the flooring gives the space a truly authentic look and a feel that is similar to walking on Brighton Pier. Level One has also incorporated a fully operational kitchen, two micro-kitchens and a supporting cafe to seat 120 people. In addition, a Yoga/Pilates studio is available and has the ability to separate into two individual rooms for maximum flexibility. The ‘Creative Lab’ department worked closely with Scott Brownrigg Interior Design to inform their unique space. In order to create a college reel, raw concrete wallpaper has been used and wrapped around the core and a large bespoke collaborative desk with edge lit acrylic has been installed. Sarah Simmonds, Senior Designer from Scott Brownrigg, said: “The design has evolved from Level Three in the sense that we wanted to create a dynamic environment, but in a less obvious way. We made a conscious decision to not use the brand colours, but similar to Google, who are a layered organisation, look closely and you will discover more than what is on the surface.”

Admiral Network Infrastructure Admiral Network Infrastructure is part of the Admiral Group of Companies established in 1996. Admiral Network Infrastructure specialises in delivering data and fibre optic cabling, wireless networks, and fully resilient network infrastructure systems. Based in Milton Keynes the company employs 165 staff and works with a number of high profile companies including Google and Georgian hotels, as well as local councils. With an experi-

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enced team in place, Admiral Network Infrastructure can install cables from one network point in an existing office through to the networking requirements of a 12 storey building. Admiral Network Infrastructure’s Director Adam Sullivan said: “A lot of the work at Admiral Network Infrastructure tends to come from referrals from existing clients. Clients often recommend us to other companies that they are affiliated with, our new clients appreciate the recommendation and our knowledge. They can trust the Admiral Group to complete the job to their requirements and to a high standard. “There’s no job too small and even some of our smaller-scale jobs evolve into larger contracts.” He added: “Admiral Network Infrastructure falls under the umbrella of the Admiral Group who specialise in integrated technology communications. When we install cables on one project, it can often lead to enquiries for other products and services at the Admiral Group.” On the Google Office fit-out project, Admiral Network Infrastructure conducted design work alongside Google project manager Simon Hall. This involved deciding the best course of action for cabling the office from the communications room to 1400 locations. The project also involved installing low smoke cables throughout the site; setting up switches and completing patching work. Admiral Network Infrastructure also installed fibre links and copper link cables between the floors and a modular panel to the modular outlet. Admiral Network Infrastructure was one of the few companies on the site that worked directly for Google. Admiral began and completed the project in less than 2 ½ months, with 4 – 8 members of staff working at any one time. At the peak of the operation 10 men worked on the site. The operation ran smoothly for most of the project’s duration, however the team did encounter one setback.

Describing the difficulty that arose, Adam said: “A week prior to the opening day, an air conditioning unit flooded, this damaged a quarter of the cables that we had previously installed. “It was a race against the clock to terminate and remove the old cables and then reinstall 450 new cables. This is usually a three week operation, so we were pleased to complete this task within 5 days.” In order to achieve this operation Admiral Network Infrastructure worked closely with the electrical contractors and a number of additional on-site teams to turn the situation around. Admiral Network Infrastructure is currently working on a num-

Carlisle Street conversion A £9.5 million project to convert an industrial building into a contemporary 79-bedroom hotel is currently taking shape. Located at 10 Carlisle Street, the base2stay Soho project comprises the conversion of a five-storey 19th century building and the erection of a brand new extension. In addition to guest bedrooms, the building will also include meeting rooms and ancillary areas. A bronze statue – designed by renowned artist Hew Locke – will also be installed over the main entrance of the hotel. Work began on the project in August 2011. Blenheim House

ber of projects including Google Innovation; Google Rome; Basec in Milton Keynes; and various projects for Milton Keynes Council. It is also in talks with Yahoo Paris, following a referral from Google. Admiral Network Infrastructure Marketing Manager Krishna Chauhan said: “Admiral Network Infrastructure specialises in managing and delivering all manner of builds; from single site installations to comprehensive multi- site projects. This includes all elements of design, technical, engineering, procurement, site management and project co-ordination” “The Admiral Group of Companies provides a range of services including; Network Cabling, IT Services & Support, Telephony and Audio Visual & Conferencing. Whether you want to upgrade your systems, expand your business or you’re moving offices, Admiral offers a broad range of integrated technology solutions.” She added: “Working directly with Google was fantastic, as Adam mentioned, projects like this really help to raise the profile of the Admiral Group and highlight our expertise and our excellent customer service. “We are a medium size company with a head office in Luton and offices in London, Milton Keynes and Leeds, we offer our customers the resources of a major national group delivered through local points of contact. “Our main aim is to offer a reliable service that delivers on time to meet the clients’ requirements.”

Construction is the main contractor and Peter Clack is the project manager. Building Services Group is the mechanical and electrical consultant and Muir Associates is the structural consultant. Architectural services are being supplied by ADAM Architecture with Aaron Evans Associates acting as Executive Architect on behalf of Blenheim House

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Lo n d o n & S o u th E a s t Construction. In order to accommodate the new extension, the existing building is undergoing a complete strip-out and modification programme. The extension is being constructed using a posttensioned concrete frame and internally will comprise a mixture of brick and block work. As part of the modification of the existing building, a number of internal spine walls will be removed and new lifts and staircases will be installed. In order to facilitate this phase of the project a number of internal structural strengthening works will take place. Features of the hotel will include Sedum green roofing, air conditioning and double glazed windows with safety glass. In addition, security and detection alarm systems will be installed. In keeping with the traditional concept of base2stay hotels, guest rooms will contain a mini-kitchen that includes a fridge, microwave, kettle and sink. Each room will also include an interactive directory that provides guests with a guide to local services and facilities. Additional features of the hotel will include HDTVs, free internet access, bathrooms, a daily maid service and a 24/7 reception and concierge. Extensive planting will take place around the site once the main construction work is complete. Work on the project is currently focused on constructing the extension and completing the design work for the Portland

stone facade, which is being formulated by Robert Adam of ADAM Associates. As the base2stay project is being constructed in a designated conservation area within the city, all of the works are being conducted with great care and attention. Blenheim House Construction Project Design Coordinator, Martin Knibbs, said: “Internally the hotel will be modern in style, however the external design is in the progressive classical style with a Portland stone facade at the main entrance, rusticated brickwork and copper and zinc roofing. This is also a feature building in a high profile area of London so every effort is being made to ensure that the completed hotel complements the surrounding architecture. “We’re currently on schedule and we’ve not encountered any major problems. “Blenheim House Construction is involved in a lot of projects in Central London – especially in areas of the city and the West End where access can often be restritcted. This is something that we’re known for being very good at and our clients seem to recognise this and trust that we will complete each job to the highest quality, on time and to budget.” base2stay Soho is scheduled for completion in April 2013.

Catering for the M25 A project to build a 60-acre motorway service area (MSA) in Cobham is now complete. Located between Junctions 9 and 10 of the M25, the £60 million scheme saw the construction of a brand new MSA and an associated motorway junction. The new Cobham MSA will provide an important rest point for passengers and also includes a mixture of food and retail units along with a linked hotel. London based practice Project & Building Consultancy Ltd (PBC) was the contract administrator and project manager on the scheme. BAM Construction was the main contractor, whilst Balfour Beatty completed the associated M25 highway junction located approximately 2 miles south of Junction 10. The new MSA includes a main amenity building that comprises a mixture of food and retail outlets, a gaming/amusement unit, a business centre and associated ancillary facilities. A linked 75-bedroom Days Inn Hotel, a Shell filling station and 900 parking spaces are also located at the site. The MSA scheme was developed by the Extra MSA Group after planning permission was granted by the Secretary of State in 2005. The amenity building on the Cobham site has been designed in a style similar to the Group’s Beaconsfield MSA and offers road users a relaxing and comfortable rest stop alongside one of the busiest stretches of the M25. Extra MSA has previously developed MSAs at the A1M J19 Peterborough, A14 (M11) Cambridge and A1M J10 Baldrock. MSA Group Chief Executive of Extra, Andrew Long, said: “Extra is pleased to see this long running project has now come to successful fruition and ahead of programme. I first put the land under control in 1994 and following promotion of this scheme at five public inquiries – dealing with a High

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Court quashing and a re-opened public inquiry – Extra has now been actively pursuing this scheme for some 18 years. “The Cobham MSA will be one of the largest and busiest facilities of its kind in the UK, in a truly unique location midway between Gatwick and Heathrow Airports.” PBC Managing Director, Paul Philips, added: “Our experienced project managers have successfully addressed the significant challenges of planning and supervising the construction of a new underpass below the busiest section of the M25 motorway. “The development is in a key location for the M25 travelling public and will undoubtedly be in great demand. PBC are delighted to have managed this exciting and challenging project, having previously delivered the MSA at Beaconsfield on the M40 in Buckinghamshire and other service area developments around the UK.”

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Completing the Airdrie and Coatbridge Transfer Tunnel A £22 million project to minimise flooding and environmental pollution in Airdrie’s South Burn is close to completion. The Airdrie and Coatbridge Transfer Tunnel project has been implemented by Scottish Water and is one of the largest projects in the 2010-2015 investment period. Byzak is the main contractor for the project, which is currently entering the final stages of the scheme. Scottish Water designed the scheme after the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) identified that the water quality in the South Burn had been reduced due to a number of storm water discharges in Airdrie. The aim of the scheme was to remove these discharges and redirect water into a new 1.2km storm transfer sewer located at the Airdrie Waste Water Treatment Works. As part of the scheme, work is also been conducted to remove eight properties from the National Flood Risk register by reducing the risk of flooding in their area. Scottish Water Project Manager, Brian Dalton, said: “Main contractor Byzak has been an invaluable part of this project as they redesigned our original plan in order to radically reduce the amount of disruption this scheme could have had on the community. “Their expertise led us away from our original route through a main street in Airdrie and allowed us to bypass this area altogether – which was a great idea. Byzak’s route did exactly the same thing that ours did, except it was quicker, cheaper and

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S c otl a n d much easier. Everything about the redesign has really helped this scheme come together. “In fact Byzak have been brilliant, both in terms of this project and their involvement with the local community. Throughout the Christmas period they handed out cards to local residents to thank them for their support and if any issues have appeared then Byzak have been on top of them straight away.” Throughout the scheme Scottish Water and Byzak have continually worked with the local community to keep residents informed of the work’s progress. Newsletters, a dedicated website and national TV coverage have kept local residents up to date, whilst local school children were involved with naming two of the scheme’s tunnelling machines – Mollie the Mole and Wullie the Worm. Mollie completed work on schedule with only two minor issues and Wullie the Worm completed a number of transfer tunnels without any problems. Brian Dalton said: “This project has been a major undertaking for Scottish Water as the South Burn feeds into the River Clyde catchment –Scotland’s equivalent of the Thames – and we’re currently involved in a big drive to get this river cleaned up. “Work has taken place throughout a number of locations in Airdrie and we’re now on the final stages, with just a few finishing touches and commissioning works remaining. “Once we’ve completed the scheme, we will mark the occasion with an official event. However, for local people the important aspect of the scheme is that the flooding risk will finally be removed from the area.”

Plenty of fishy business for new processing plant An exciting extension project will allow the Edinburgh Salmon Company (ESCo) to increase sales by £20 million a year, in the process creating 100 jobs for local people. As the largest fish processor in the Highlands, ESCo has recently been bought over by French company MerInvest - the parent company of MerAlliance. MerInvest has a turnover in excess of £75 million with businesses in France (Amoric S.A.S and Narvik S.A.S) and Poland. With the addition of The Edinburgh Salmon Company (ESCo) turnover, this will increase beyond £110 million and over 800 employees. Over the last six years the company has experienced a massive growth in sales from £8.5 million to over £35 million, which has led to a need to expand the current facilities. ESCo is now the sole-supplier of ASDA-branded smoked salmon products to all of its 480 stores. The new £2 million building is attached to the existing development at the Strathview Business Park in Dingwall and comprises approximately 7,000 square metres of space. Along with stateof-the-art raw fish processing facilities, the development will include two production offices, toilet facilities and a canteen. Additional facilities will include a 63-space car park. The building has been designed with future expansion in mind and will have the capacity to expand by additional 3-4000 sq metres. Composed using a steel portal frame with insulated profiled cladding, the building also features food-safe panelling for the interior temperature controlled environment. Sustainable features include low energy evaporators and condensers within the plant and low energy lighting throughout the facility. In addition, a bio-chemical effluent treatment plant will process waste water. This will allow the Edinburgh Salmon company to comply with the regulations set by the Scottish

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DTECT Security With over 30 years of experience in the security industry, DTECT Security’s Director Alexander Love founded DTECT Security in 2009 to become a leading provider of specialist security services and equipment. DTECT Security’s services include mobile surveillance vehicle patrols, static manned guarding and laser perimeter protection systems. The company also provides conventional CCTV systems – with on-site recording and monitoring – and rapid deployment CCTV towers. DTECT Security is registered with CHAS, Constructionline and The National Association of Security Professionals. The company is currently working towards the SIA Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) accreditation and ISO 9001. On the Airdrie and Coatbridge Transfer Tunnel project DTECT Security provided the site with gatemen, static guards, laser perimeter protection systems and CCTV. DTECT Security Company Director, Alexander Love, said: “At DTECT Security we provide specially tailored security systems and personnel to all areas of the construction industry. At present we’re involved in many projects within the construction industry although the largest at present, other than with BYZAK on this Scottish Water project, is the Clyde Wind Farm at Abington, South Lanarkshire – the biggest wind farm site in Europe.” Alexander Love added: “We pride ourselves on our professional and diverse services and we’re the only security company in Scotland that is able to deploy mobile CCTV surveillance vehicles to sites. “It has been a pleasure dealing with BYZAK on the various locations we have protected for them during this project.”

Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), who regularly monitor the site. The Extension has been designed and project managed by Thomson & Partners – Edinburgh the leading designer of Food Factories in Scotland. The main contractor for the project is McGregor Construction, with Korrie Mechanical & Plumbing Limited responsible for the mechanical side, including the heating & ventilation. SSE Contracting have installed the electrical plant, whilst ACE Refrigeration is responsible for installing the refrigeration plant and ADT are installing the fire protection system. Food Processing Engineering have installed the food safe panelling installation and John Lord Ltd laid the resin flooring. Alasdair MacIver, Edinburgh Salmon Company, said: “One of the major challenges that we have experienced during the construction stage is the drainage of the site, which has a relatively high water table. McGregor Construction, due to their knowledge of the area, had no problems dealing with

this situation. “All of the teams are working very well together. It has been a pleasure to work with the various contractors and all potential issues under the management of Thomson & Partners have been dealt with quickly and efficiently. We are particularly delighted to be working with McGregor Construction, who has already built various structures around the business park – including our original building. We have fostered a very good working relationship with the main contractor over the years and look forward to continuing working with them in the future. “It genuinely has been a relatively plain sailing project - albeit with a couple of bumps along the way - which is all down to the hard work of everyone involved. Our managing director is also something of a taskmaster, which has helped to keep us on the straight and narrow!”

AKP Scotland Ltd puts on a show-stopping performance An important East Lothian hall is currently undergoing an extensive refurbishment project in order to transform it into a multipurpose performance space. Brunton Hall was originally opened in 1971 by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. Designed by Rowand Anderson, Kininmonth and Paul, the building is an excellent example of late 1960s architecture. The three-storey development currently has a range of facilities, including a large first-floor hall (636m²), a theatre, council offices and a restaurant. In April 2011, an exciting refurbishment programme began. Headed by main contractor AKP Scotland Ltd, the project has included the complete internal fit-out of the hall to create a multipurpose performance space with retractable seating for 533 people. In order to accommodate the new performance space, a new technical access ceiling has been installed, along with a stateof-the-art control box and a sophisticated air handling plant. Further modifications include the creation of a mezzanine gallery to house back stage facilities including dressing rooms, equipment stores, stage management office, showers and toilets. Additional facilities include a kitchen and bar area, whilst two new lift towers have been constructed for improved passenger access and the delivery of goods. Acoustic wall panelling that has incorporated artist designs has been installed, along with state-of-the-art lighting and sound facilities. Throughout the project PK Joiner & Building Contractor Ltd is also executing a full joinery package, which includes technical walkways, acoustic boxes and doors. Patrick Herraghty, Architectural & Surveying Team Leader for ROMA PUBLICATIONS

S c otl a n d East Lothian Council, said: “Although challenges have arisen from working within an existing building, the project is progressing well. We are excited to deliver the new performance space, which will provide a state-of-the-art combined arts venue for Musselburgh and East Lothian.” The new hall will now be suitable for a range of purposes, from standing events and conferences to trade events, community activities, catered functions, cinema and concerts. It is hoped that the hall will attract a wide range of people and encourage community involvement and celebration. Councillor Roger Knox commented: “As chairman of the Brunton Theatre Trust, I see this as a huge opportunity for Musselburgh and the whole of East Lothian.”

Merchant Homes will deliver 31 new homes in Motherwell A £3 million scheme for Clyde Valley Housing Association is well underway in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The innovative project will see the transformation of the town’s Mason Street, which was formerly a car park. Known as ‘Mason Gardens’, the 31-apartment development has been designed and constructed on a ‘secured by design’ principle and will include housing for varying needs. In total, the development will comprise 5 one-bedroom and 26 two-bedroom homes, along with 40 car parking spaces. Landscape Architects CD Design have also created a low maintenance space that features bushes and herbs to the front, and planters to the rear – which has formed an attractive space where residents can socialise. A number of the homes are also wheelchair accessible, whilst all of the homes have incorporated sustainable features such as LED lighting and low-energy boilers. Each of the properties has been built to Merchant Homes’ exacting standards, as the Managing Director of Merchant Homes, Alan Brander, explained: “All of the homes are built to very high standards, not just to meet current building regulations, but to create properties that cater for varying needs. The ground floor apartments all have a main entrance and excellent communal access, whilst other access includes stairwells and a reception hall. “As with all of our projects, we have paid keen attention to detail. The homes have incorporated generous ceiling heights (150-200mm higher than the building regulations) and a crisp, contemporary style that belies their affordability. Furthermore

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as the development is fronted on a main street, the planner was keen to ensure that the flats were doubly elevated in order to make the front and back equally attractive. “We have managed to not only meet all of the requirements, but also create housing that is so high quality that it could be for market rent. In some ways it is similar to a hotel; it is light, welcoming and spacious, whilst also somewhere that you can enjoy a coffee with your neighbours. “Our partnership with Clyde Valley Housing Association continues our work to provide high quality affordable accommodation to communities across Scotland. We are very much looking forward to delivering a first class development in Motherwell.” Colin Cumming, Chair of the Investment Committee at Clyde Valley Housing Association, added: “This development will provide much-needed accommodation for social rent in Motherwell, in an ideal spot in the town centre.”

About Merchant Homes Merchant Homes is a specialist company that is dedicated to building comfortable homes within a safe environment. All of their homes benefit from a wealth of specialist experience and expertise from professional engineers who deliver high-efficiency and low-maintenance homes as standard. Other recent projects include Woodland Gait – a range of beautiful 4 and 5-bedroom detached homes set within a stunning wooded area in Inverkip. Merchant Homes has also completed 48 apartments at Park Court and the 24-apartment Trafalgar Court development. They have also newly launched their Ailsa View development in Stevenston, North Ayrshire providing 20 two and three bedroom semi detached homes.

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Providing care at Antonine House A £9.1 million state-of-the- art care facility is currently under construction in Bearsden. Antonine House is a three-and-a-half storey facility being built on Roman Road to provide care for the elderly and those living with dementia. Muir Construction is the main contractor for the project, whilst McLennan Partnership Ltd is the architect. Antonine House will be owned and operated by family-run care provider Meallmore Ltd with funding from the Bank of Ireland. Meallmore Ltd is the largest privately-owned care provider in Scotland and the completion of Antonine House will be the company’s twentieth care facility to date. The building has been sensitively planned and designed to tastefully blend contemporary features with a traditional form that works well with the surrounding neighbourhood and historic location. Work began in January 2012 and the building comprises a lower ground floor, ground floor and first floor, with a second floor housed within the roof of the structure. Precast concrete panels are being installed in order to form the internal and external walls of the building, whilst the roof will be covered in slate. Each floor within Antonine House will comprise bedrooms and associated living accommodation, whilst all of the living areas will include modern fixtures and fittings, with a number of hightech and luxury finishes. Executive suites will be available and in total, the care home will comprise 81 bedrooms. Additional features will include a state-of-the-art cinema room, hairdressing and beauty salon, external roof terrace, underfloor heating, timber frame windows and a duel heating system that comprises natural gas and biomass. Pod en-suite wet rooms are also being incorporated and will be installed via a crane as the superstructure is erected. All of the plant equipment and ancillary areas will be located on the lower ground floor of the facility, away from residents’ living quarters. The ancillary rooms have been designed to fit around the structure’s retaining walls in order to make the best use of the facility’s space. External features include a secure courtyard garden which has been sensitively designed to consider the needs of older people. Efforts have been made to retain existing trees where possible, which will be supplemented with additional landscaping. A car park will also be provided. Michael Gillespie, Facilities Manager, Meallmore Ltd, said: “Antonine House is being built in a very historic area of Scotland as it’s located on a former Roman site opposite Bearsden Roman Baths. Part of the Antonine Wall is located on the site so the planning and design process for this project had to be sensitively managed and developed to ensure we could bring forward proposals for a building that was sympathetic to the surrounding area. “For example, the external finishes will include slate, stone and render – not your typical materials for a care home. These are being included to respect the historic look of the surrounding area, whilst we’ve also designed the building to work around the Antonine Wall so that it doesn’t get disturbed.”

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“The site was definitely challenging but we’re confident we’ve found the perfect solution for developing on this sensitive site. We’ve had a lot of positive support in the area, which makes all the difference when working on a site, and we anticipate that this will be a great facility when it is completed. “At Meallmore Ltd our aim is to provide top quality care and Antonine House will provide the best possible environment in which to do this.” McLennan Partnership Ltd Company Director, Steven Innes added: “We’ve previously worked on three or four care homes but Antonine House is slightly different as it is a care facility aimed at the higher end of the market. This is a great opportunity for McLennan Partnership Ltd to be involved with and once it is complete it will become a valuable asset for the community.” Antonine House is scheduled for completion in December 2012.

Raising the bar in Scotland An extension to improve gymnastics provisions at the sportscotland National Sports Training Centre, Inverclyde in Largs, Scotland has been completed. The £310,000 Scottish Gymnastics Facility extension project was completed in May 2012. The project was implemented by sportscotland – the national agency for sport in Scotland – to provide the Scottish National Gymnastics Team with suitable training facilities ahead of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. Clark Contracts was the main contractor on the project and McMillan & Cronin Architects was the architect. ATK Partnership was the structural engineer, T C Stewart was the quantity surveyor and the CDM co-ordinator was CDM (Scotland) Ltd. Works began in January 2011 and saw the existing hall extended by 11 metres in order to provide additional floor space for new equipment. The new hall has been fully equipped with all relevant equipment and features include low energy lighting, a suspended concrete floor and improved air conditioning and heating systems. Work on the external facade was completed to match the design of the existing hall and landscaping included the construction of a walk way and improvements to a main access route. sportscotland National Sports Training Centre, Inverclyde remained open to the public throughout the project. In order to facilitate the operational hours of the building, work areas were sectioned off to reduce any potential disruptions for visitors.

sportscotland Inverclyde Principal John Kent said: “sportscotland National Sports Training Centre opened the existing gymnastics facility in 1984 and it was always our intention to extend the hall as part of a second phase of works, but it just never happened. Now that the work has been undertaken it is great to see those original intentions complete. “McMillan & Cronin Architects designed the extension to work around the space requirements of the new equipment and they handled the operation perfectly. “In total the Centre caters for 23 different sports and provides a training space for national teams, school groups and colleges, as well as the local community. With the work complete, not only will gymnasts be able to train up until the Games but also the local gymnasts will be able to use this facility for years to come.” A spokesman for McMillan & Cronin Architects added: “McMillan & Cronin Architects was appointed to provide multidiscipline professional services utilising a team of consultants from the local area. Working closely with sportscotland, a variety of design options were explored to provide the necessary footprint that could accommodate the additional training provision. “Given a challenging budget and a tight delivery programme, value engineering and a proactive partnering with Clark Contracts enabled us to deliver a building that has fully met the requirements of sportscotland and the National Gymnastic squad.”

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Greenhill Court will soon be as good as new An exciting £3.5 million project will see the extensive refurbishment of 177 properties at Greenhill Court, Rutherglen. The development, owned by South Lanarkshire Council and varying between five and nine storeys, comprises five blocks of one and two-bedroom flats, each of which will be carefully renovated. Works will mainly include the application of external insulation to the external walls and the installation of new windows in all the flats. The heating system is also being changed from electric to gas, which has required the installation of a new gas infrastructure. Another major feature is the provision of a new concierge station to improve security and a range of environmental improvements – including the painting of the blocks, the provision of parking and landscaping. The project began in October 2011, with Lovell as the main contractor and Cooper Cromar as the Council’s representative. Partial funding for the external fabric upgrade,

energy efficiency measures and heating replacement has been sourced from the Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP), which aims to reduce carbon emissions and alleviate fuel poverty in areas of low income through the development of community-based partnerships between Local Authorities, community groups and energy companies. Alan Taylor, Regional Director at Lovell, said: “This latest contract win shows that Lovell is continuing to reinforce its position as a market leader, with a proven reputation for delivering successful energy efficiency projects in the affordable housing sector. “The project is expected to take just over a year, during which time the improvements to the existing flats will have a significant impact on tenants’ fuel bills while also reducing carbon emissions.” Energy efficiency is a key priority for South Lanarkshire Council and the improvements at Greenhill Court will have significant benefits for

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its tenants, who will remain in residence during the project. The project is expected to be completed in January 2013 and is part of South Lanarkshire’s Housing Investment Programme – HomeHappening. Over the last eight years, HomeHappening has improved the quality of life for thousands of South Lanarkshire Council tenants. One of their most important aims is to ensure that all of their homes meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard by 2015, and the HomeHappening programme is concentrated on upgrading and improving properties to meet this target.

Safeguarding Musselburgh Road A project to transform an 18th century historic building into a luxury housing development is now complete. The scheme was identified as a priority project as part of the Dalkeith THI/CARS grant scheme and has received a grant to repair and restore the building. 1 – 3 Musselburgh Road is a two-storey building that is located adjacent to Dalkeith House and Park conservation area in Midlothian. The project began in August 2011, with Cruden Homes as the main contractor, Aitken Turnbull as the architect and Wren and Bell as the structural engineer. Mark Nolan from Cruden Homes was the project manager. The £429,000 project was completed in May 2012 and the transformation of the building included the installation of ground floor partitions to provide bedroom spaces, the restoration of a staircase and the repair of the end gable. In addition, all of the windows on the building were also restored. External work included lime rendering on the front and side elevation and the repair of a 2-metre high main boundary wall. Extensive repairs were also completed on the existing stone walls. Prior to work taking place at the site, the building was on the Buildings at Risk Register for Scotland. The Register provides information on buildings of historic significance considered to be a structural risk and is maintained by the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland on behalf of Historic Scotland. The Dalkeith THI/CARS Project Manager, Rod Lugg, said: “1 – 3 Musselburgh Road is a key building for the town centre as it is located at the top of the high street in the Dalkeith Conservation Area. “The building was listed on the Buildings at Risk Register for Scotland because it had been left derelict and vacant and the condition of the structure was slowly getting worse. The register encourages local authorities to do something about this and was vital for getting this project completed.

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“As 1 – 3 Musselburgh Road is a listed building, we had to ensure that the structure was sensitively restored whilst we undertook the transformation. We used stone and lime mortar to match the original materials on the external facade of the building and we also matched the original materials on the roof. “It was extremely important to be involved with this project because it has such historic significance. The building was in a bad shape – more so than we originally thought – but everyone worked together to come up with solutions and the project came in on time and within budget.”

Grade-A restoration project for Fochabers A thrilling project to restore the Grade-A listed Swiss Cottage on the outskirts of Fochabers is now complete. Located just off the A98 Fraserburgh Road, Swiss Cottage was built in 1834 in the style of a traditional Swiss chalet. The twostorey cottage is timber-framed and timber-clad with overhanging eaves and balconies that run along the length of the building. As a result of the unusual design and construction methods, its listing status was upgraded from B to A in 1996. Swiss Cottage is thought to have been constructed by the 4th Duke of Gordon, although historians now suggest that his son George was responsible for its commission. Upon George’s death in 1836 the estate passed to the Duke of Richmond and Lennox, who later added Gordon to the family name. The Gordon estate remained in the Richmond-Gordon family until 1938 when it became part of the Crown Estate. Swiss Cottage was inhabited by the Reich family in the later 19th and 20th century before it was sold by the Crown Estate Commissioners to Charles Laing and his wife Margaret, who lived in the cottage from 1958 to 1995.

Gordon Christie said: “The aim of the project was to try and retain as much of the original building as possible. It was also important to refurbish the property in order to ensure that there won’t be a need for extensive repair works over the next 50 years. “The majority of the repair works have taken place over the lower level, as the eaves that overhang the first floor had protected the top level from the weather. As a result, although the main structure was fairly sound, water ingress meant that the rot was largely confined to the lower section of the cottage.” Refurbishment works have included the restoration of the timber cladding, along with the creation of two small extensions

Over the years the cottage had deteriorated and a £180,000 refurbishment project was therefore launched by current owner Gordon Christie in May 2011. Completed in May 2012, the refurbishment was designed by LDN Architects and carried out by main contractor G&A Construction. ROMA PUBLICATIONS

S c otl a n d for the shower/toilet and kitchen areas. In addition, the garden has been completely renovated and the original wooden fence perimeter has been reinstated. The cottage includes a main sitting room and basic kitchen and bathroom areas on the ground floor and a large double bedroom and small room on the first floor. Gordon Christie commented: “We have worked hard to return the building as closely as possible to how it was in 1834 whilst ensuring that the accommodation adheres to modern health and safety standards. We want our visitors to experience life as it was in the 1830s, which makes Swiss Cottage a unique holiday destination.

“There has been a lot of local interest in the project. It is an iconic building that sits on the A98, so everyone that passes by can see it. They have seen the deterioration of the building over the years, and now they have seen it transformed back to its original state. “This has been a very challenging project and it took a number of schemes to get it up off the ground. However, I am extremely pleased with what has been achieved and I anticipate that there will be a lot of interest in this unusual holiday cottage.” To find out more about Swiss Cottage, visit www.theswisscottage.com

Northcare and One Architecture partnership will bring care back to the community An important project that will provide vital care facilities for elderly people is almost complete in Cathcart, Glasgow. Northcare (Scotland) Ltd is carrying out the £4.4m project, which began in June 2011 and is scheduled for completion in June 2012. The Three Bridges Care Home has been designed by One Architecture and comprises 72 bedrooms over two floors, with two wings located on each of the floors. Each wing contains a dedicated day dining room measuring approximately 90 square metres and a dedicated quiet room to the far end of each of the wings. In addition, an external balcony on the first floor provides external recreational space. Along with special care for high dependency residents – including those with dementia and Alzheimer’s – there is also a range of exciting facilities available for residents. These include a hair salon, beauty parlour and a cafe that is also open to the public. All of the day rooms have been carefully designed to allow maximum daylight through a predominantly glazed facade. The corridors also benefit from natural light and a wall of double doors that are held open in order to prevent the building from feeling institutional. Landscaping has included the creation of an attractive garden to the south, which provides residents with an array of spaces and activities. Included within the green space are a bowling and putting green, various seated areas for relaxing, raised planter beds, wander paths and a large barbeque and patio area. The superstructure of the building comprises a Metsec structural framing system with cast-in-situ concrete floors, therefore making the building extremely robust. Sustainable features include air source heating, whilst the care home features contemporary finishes throughout.

Working together to create a future Northcare (Scotland) Ltd has been established as a family run business for over 20 years. The company owns care homes in the South Lanarkshire region and will expand to Glasgow in the spring of 2012. As one of the few privately-owned care homes in the central belt to have been awarded with a Customer Service Excellence award, the company is committed to operating their homes as a home in every sense of the word. Clients are encouraged to achieve independence and inclusion within the community, whilst any disabilities are recognised and honoured through the provision of a variety of methods of support to suit the individual concerned. With all care undertaken in an environment that is safe and secure, the client will be given the opportunity to work in partnership with the care staff in order to maximise their quality of life.

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All of Northcare’s care homes provide menus that are reviewed by Diet Scotland in order to ensure that clients are offered nutritious and well balanced meals. Other important provisions include activities programmes, outings and regular entertainment. Northcare (Scotland) Ltd pride themselves on their participation strategy. The company holds monthly forums where residents, families and staff make decisions in the running of the homes and the future direction of Northcare. Margaret Sawers, Northcare Director, holds monthly surgeries in each of the homes in order to enable residents and families to raise any concerns or suggestions that they might have in a confidential

environment. If requested, the company is willing to email families an update of their relative’s wellbeing. The homes also boast a Skype facility, which enables families who are unable to visit often to see and speak to their relative on a regular basis. Northcare (Scotland) Ltd and One Architecture have enjoyed a successful working relationship for approximately ten years. Their mutual respect is largely based on One Architecture’s belief that their client’s aspirations are as important as the users of the development. As a result, One Architecture has worked with Northcare (Scotland) Ltd on a number of projects throughout the years, including the Carmunnock Road scheme. The company has stated that it is very proud to be associated with Northcare Scotland) Ltd and it looks forward to continued involvement with them as the architect and lead consultant in future projects.

completed 7 care homes of this size and it was great to work with Northcare (Scotland) Ltd. We hope to continue this relationship on future developments.”

One Architecture One Architecture was established in 2007 and is located in Central Glasgow at 145 St. Vincent Street. The company specialises in several sectors across the construction industry, including: healthcare, residential, care homes, hotels, commercial, commercial refurbishment, residential refurbishment and retail. As a young, dynamic practice of chartered architects, One Architecture service clients and projects across the UK.

Burnawn Services Burnawn Services are based in Ayrshire and are responsible for providing a full mechanical package of works on the Three Bridges Care Home project. The company has conducted work throughout the duration of the project and has supplied and installed all plumbing, heating, under floor heating, air source heat pumps and gas and water connections as per design. Burnawn Services Company Director, Martin Sneddon, said: “Being a part of a project such as this is very important to our company and the work we have completed is in keeping with what is primarily our main line of work. “We have a lot of experience in this sector, having previously

Milton Burn nears completion Phase Two of the Milton Burn Flood Prevention Scheme in Dunoon has reached completion. The second phase of the £4 million scheme involves the replacement of approximately 100 metres of combined sewer pipes and associated manholes between George Street and John Street. The 30-week phase finished in early 2012 and concluded the major flood prevention scheme implemented by Argyll and Bute Council. The scheme was designed as a two-phase operation in order to provide flood relief to Dunoon as soon as possible. Civil engineering contractor George Leslie Ltd is the main contractor for the project. Work began on Phase Two in early 2011, following the successful completion of Phase One. The first phase largely concentrated on improving pipes and associated works to the upstream areas of the burn, whilst Phase Two has focused on downstream improvement works. Milton Burn Flood Prevention Scheme was first announced in 2009 with construction initially scheduled to take place in 2010. However, the project suffered a number of delays and therefore did not commence until the following year. During the 30-week second phase, new retaining walls were built in sections of the burn, whilst a flood relief pipe was installed underneath a Morrisons car park close to the burn. The relief pipe will now direct the overflow water under John Street and out into the sea. A number of roads have been closed so that work can take place. However, local residents have been kept informed of any disruptions throughout the project. Chair of the Bute and Cowal Area Committee, Councillor Bruce Marshall, said: ROMA PUBLICATIONS

S c otl a n d “This work is thanks to the diligence of Councillor James McQueen, who has been fighting to get it done since he became an elected member twelve years ago. It’s great news for local people and businesses, particularly around the Milton Bridge area where they have had to endure being flooded on many occasions over many years in the past. “With these works complete, there will be more work done on connecting the flood relief culvert via a weir in the Milton Burn, together with new burn training walls. This means water will be removed from the Milton Burn when there’s heavy rainfall so there is less risk of flooding downstream.”

George Leslie Ltd George Leslie Ltd is a privately owned civil engineering contractor that delivers infrastructure and engineering projects throughout Scotland. The company was founded in 1964 and includes local councils, water companies and government bodies amongst its key clients. George Leslie Ltd has a reputation in the industry for being a resourceful contractor that works in both urban and rural locations. The company is fully accredited to Quality, Health & Safety and Environmental standards.

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New lease of life for Drogheda Grammar School Students at Drogheda Grammar School in County Louth will celebrate a new addition to the school when they return for the Autumn term in September 2012.

An exciting €2.6 million project has seen the existing school undergo substantial refurbishment works, whilst the extension will house a range of additional state-of-the-art facilities including a library, IT room, design and communications room and a music department. Additional facilities will include two classrooms, two lecture rooms, six offices, two sets of toilets and a staff room. Works have included the complete strip-out and rewiring of the existing school, along with the installation of new heating systems. The modern extension features blockwork and Kingspan roofing and adheres to all of the Department of Education & Skills (DoES) standards. The project is the result of eighteen years of

hard work by Principal Richard Schmidt and has been funded by the DoES. Works began onsite in June 2011, with Manley Construction as the main contractor and McKevitt Associates as the architect. Principal Richard Schmidt commented: “It has taken eighteen years to get this building from the plans to the site, and in this time the student population has grown considerably. We currently have 250 students on roll, and the new extension will increase this capacity to 350. “The school will serve both our students and the wider community, as there may be opportunities for community events in the evenings. Although we may be a private fee-paying school, we are very keen to remain involved with the general public. “I am pleased to report that the project has run relatively smoothly to date, and we hope to continue this level of progress. We have been very pleased with the architectural design team and the main contractor and are very excited to see the project finally come into fruition.” Drogheda Grammar School was founded by Erasmus Smith under Royal Charter in 1669 and is one of the oldest secondary schools in

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Ireland. Originally a boys’ boarding school, it has now been a co-educational boarding and day school for over fifty years. Spread across 18 acres in a beautiful rural setting, the school already boasts a range of impressive facilities. These include a large classroom block with high tech computer rooms, three tennis courts, five playing pitches, an artificial turf pitch and a large gymnasium with four badminton courts and full-sized badminton and volleyball courts. The school offers a comprehensive after school activities programme that includes chess club, cooking for fun, sports, choir and car mechanics. The project is scheduled for completion in August 2012, just in time for the new school year.

John McQuillian (Contracts) Ltd completes a project to remember A prestigious project to create the new Titanic Memorial Garden was heralded a success at a commemoration ceremony held at Belfast City Hall on 15th April 2012. The garden is believed to be the first in the world to have a memorial for all 1512 victims of the 1912 tragedy and was completed just in time for the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the infamous luxury liner. Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Naill O Donnghaile, attended the event, along with families and local choirs. Televised live by BBC Northern Ireland, the event was attended by journalists from all over the world as part of the overall Titanic Festival and featured performances from Brian Kennedy and the Belfast Youth Orchestra. Councillor Niall O Donnghaile said: “In this centenary year of Titanic setting sail from Belfast, we remember the hopes and dreams it carried, the pride and skill with which it was built and the ties which link the past and present. “It’s a time for reflection and remembering those who lost their lives on Titanic. However, we should also be very proud of the Belfast connection and by commemorating the past, and recognising the remarkable engineering feat that was achieved, we are also

ensuring that this important part of our history is not forgotten and that we carry on its legacy by investing in the future. “We hope that unveiling this garden today helps us to do just that by providing a focal point for Titanic visitors in the very ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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heart of the city, an area open and accessible to all.” The new Titanic Memorial Garden is set on two levels above and around the existing Titanic Memorial and its upper level includes five bronze plaques on a plinth that measures 9 metres (30 feet) wide. Works carried out by main contractor John McQuillian Contracts Ltd included the clearance of the site and the installation of new drainage, along with new granite kerbing and paving. In addition, all of the surrounding footpaths and carriageway areas have been resurfaced. The main area of the garden is now bursting with springtime flowers, including magnolias, forget-me-nots and rosemary – the colours of which are intended to instil a sense of calm. Landscape architect Joy Hutchinson explained: “We’ve gone for a colour scheme built around blue, white, silver and green to reflect water and ice. It’s to try to encourage a sense of peace and contemplation.” One of the most poignant aspects of the garden is the memorial, as Reverend Ian Gilpin reflected: “We behold the Titanic memorial, we remember all those who perished and whose names are herein inscribed – men, women and children who loved and we loved, their loss still poignantly felt by their descendants. “In the permanence of granite, marble and stone may there be a permanence in our remembrance, in diversity, in the colour and fragrance of the flowers of the memorial, let the memorial

Boosting tourism with the new City Centre Quayside The development of mooring facilities along the River Foyle is expected to significantly enhance tourism opportunities in the Londonderry area.

be an acknowledgement of humankind.” All 1512 victims – passengers and crew – are listed on the plaques in alphabetical order. Two of the names are believed to belong to passengers who travelled under false names, and as a result are recorded with an asterisk next to their pseudonyms as their real names are still unknown. Under a £1 million project, a new cruise ship quay and pontoon have been constructed in order to create a marine event platform. The project was supported by funds from the European Regional Development Fund, whilst the Loughs Agency was a lead partner in an INTERREG IVA Programme that secured the funding. The Port of Londonderry was the project partner and will be responsible for the construction, operation and longterm maintenance of the development.

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Andrew Sides, Loughs Agency, commented: “The idea is that the large pontoon will act as a platform – a stage, if you like – for events and festivals with a maritime theme, including boat rallies and regattas. “This is a very important project for the community. The river has been underused in terms of water-based leisure and tourism, so the new pontoon and cruise ship quay will add to a necklace of infrastructure along the River Foyle – in turn helping the city to realise its potential for marine tourism. “As a result, the project is also important for the business sector and all of the agencies that are interested in developing the city. I would like to take this opportunity to thank contractors McLaughlin & Harvey, pontoon manufacturers Inland & Coastal Marina Systems and the Central Procurement Directorate (CPD) for all of their hard work.” Port Harbour master, Bill McCann, added: “This is a positive step forward towards harnessing the po-

tential of the River Foyle for tourism and commerce. The new cruise ship quay at Meadowbank, together with the new pontoon, adds significantly to the marine facilities that we offer on the Foyle, which is particularly important with the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race calling at Derry in 2012.” Shaun Henry from the Special EU Programmes Body, said: “This project will allow the local tourism sector to draw on the natural environment of the region and its natural tourism resources. This is likely to attract a higher number of domestic and overseas visitors, contributing to improving the performance of the overall tourism industry, one of the key priorities of the INTERREG IVA Programme. By increasing the offer for high quality marine facilities in the area, it also builds on the strong cultural and economic linkages that exist between western Scotland, Northern Ireland and the west coast of Ireland, where marine tourism is a sector in expansion.”

Galgorm Resort & Spa is transformed As one of Northern Ireland’s most luxurious hotels, the award-winning Galgorm Resort & Spa has a reputation for providing guests with world-class facilities and a first-class service. Indeed, the resort was recently named ‘Hotel Venue of the Year’ at the Wedding Journal Reader Awards 2012. Set in 163 acres of beautiful parkland, the resort sits on the River Maine and is just 30 minutes away from Belfast city centre. Along with 75 bedrooms and sumptuous suites, the resort also offers delightful selfcatering cottages and log cabins that are situated alongside the tranquil River Maine. Galgorm Resort & Spa also boasts some of the most flexible conference and meeting facilities in Northern Ireland, including a state-of-the-art auditorium, boardrooms and a Great Hall that can accommodate up to 500 people. In order to maintain their envious reputation, the resort has undergone a series of improvement programmes over the last five years – including the refurbishment of the Four Seasons Suite, which saw an increase in capacity from 80 to 120 guests. One of the newest additions is the stunning Fratelli restaurant, which will complement the existing Gillies Bar & Grill and River Room restaurants. The Italian restaurant, pizzeria and bar is family-friendly and offers the very best in pizza and rustic Italian cuisine.

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The menu features a range of lovingly created pizzas, delicious pasta dishes and fresh salads, along with gluten-free options. Featuring oak beams with tile and reclaimed brick detail, the single-storey restaurant is completely glazed and offers stunning views of the surrounding parkland. Additional features include a covered outside seating area with tiled seats and heat lamps, whilst guests will also be able to enjoy the attractive barbeque area. Firm favourite Gillies Bar & Grill has also been transformed to

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I re l a n d incorporate a single-storey extension with enough seating for 60 people. A central feature of the extension is the bespoke oak and marble bar, whilst other interesting details include an original stone fireplace and a glazed roof that maximises natural lighting. Outside, the restaurant boasts the new Mulberry Garden. This beautiful green space allows for both outdoor eating in the summer months and a safe playing area for children, due to a large stone wall with controlled access. John Morgan, Contracts Manager for main contractor Patton, commented: “This was a tight project with demanding clients who strive for excellence; they knew exactly what they wanted and we worked hard to achieve that. “Throughout the project we made a significant effort to use reclaimed materials, which in itself was a challenge. After many trips to reclaimed yards, we were able to find oaks and bricks that did the original features justice and we are very pleased with the result. “We are delighted to have played a part in this prestigious project – alongside Douglas Wallace Architects – and would like to thank Galgorm Resort & Spa for all of their support.” One of the most exciting aspects of the improvement programme is the introduction of an outdoor heated Jacuzzi pool at the award-winning Galgorm spa. Boasting stunning views of the River Maine, the ‘Boudoir’ will offer a luxury experience for up to 20 ladies who wish to combine mini treatments and relaxation in their own exclusive spa suite. Measuring an impressive 7m x 3.5m x 1m, the hot tub is fully tiled with reconstituted decking detail. The spa has already celebrated the addition of a luxurious manicure and pedicure suite, which features state-of-the-art pedicure chairs that have been specially flown in from the USA. Further facilities include an extended reception area with a juice bar and a dedicated retail outlet. Yvonne Moore, General Manager of Galgorm Resort & Spa, said: “This is an exciting announcement for both Galgorm Resort & Spa and the wider Ballymena community. The incredible support from the people of Ballymena has helped us grow and invest in our business and we hope they enjoy the new developments at Galgorm Resort & Spa. “We are delighted to reach another significant milestone in our development plans to ensure that, as the number one Spa hotel in Ireland, Galgorm rivals the best in the world and continues to exceed guests’ expectations. “The addition of The Boudoir means we can now cater for a much larger and wider market while maintaining Galgorm’s unique approach to making each and every guest feel special at what is widely recognised as an exclusive, luxury short-break destination. “The wedding market is central to Galgorm and we are delighted to be able to expand our specialty spa offering to cater

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for hen and wedding parties whilst promoting growth within other sectors across the resort. All of the plans have been heavily influenced by customer feedback and have been designed to improve upon existing facilities and reinvest in the future of the hotel whilst keeping the focus on superior quality.” The refurbishment works are estimated to have created 35 jobs for local people, with positions including waiting staff, bar staff and restaurant manager. Paul Smyth, Galgorm Resort & Spa, commented: “This is a very exciting time for the team at Galgorm Resort and Spa and we are delighted that, even in a time of economic downturn, we can continue to invest in and contribute to local tourism and create jobs in the area.”

Cathal McOscar Contracts Established in 2003, C McOscar Contracts is a plastering and floor specialist completing work in the residential, commercial and industrial sectors. The company has previously completed on projects such as the Belfast Metropolitan College and Ulster Museum and is presently completing work for Premier Inn. On the Galgorm Resort & Spa project, C McOscar Contracts completed a number of plastering and concrete works, including the installation of Mapei Topcem – a fast setting floor screed. C McOscar Contracts Managing Director, Cathal McOscar, said: “I’m very hands on with the work and will always attend each site to ensure that work is completed to the highest standards of quality. “The work we conduct is important, but to us it is the relationship that we have with each client that we value the most. “On this project we have strengthened and maintained our close working relationship with the Patton Group and we hope to work with the company again on future projects.”

Maintaining Adelaide Depot Work on a brand new £28 million train maintenance facility in South Belfast remains on track. The Adelaide Train Maintenance Facility project is currently underway at the Adelaide Depot in Belfast. The project has been implemented by Translink and comprises the construction of a new facility for the maintenance and servicing of trains. The Adelaide Train Maintenance Facility is being built on a Brownfield area of land that formerly housed a freight depot. The new facility has been designed to complement other train engineering facilities in Belfast, including a train care depot in Fort William. Work began on the project in April 2011 with Graham Construction Ltd as the main contractor. Mott MacDonald is the integrated design team on the project and is subcontracting all of the architectural work to White Ink Architects. The project and cost managers are Hyder Consulting. The new facility will comprise a maintenance building measuring approximately 5,100 sq metres, a material storage area measuring 20,000 sq metres and 400 square metres of office space and associated accommodation. The main building will incorporate two tracks for heavy and light maintenance work, three gantry cranes capable of lifting trains for servicing and CET facilities that will allow maintenance crews to clean trains once they are removed from service. The building will also undergo a complete fit-out for fixtures and services, including the installation of telecommunications. Infrastructure works on the project will include the installation of fencing, paving, drainage and utilities. Oil storage facilities will also be installed, along with 1600 metres of new railway track that will interface with the main Belfast to Dublin railway line. Additional features will include brand new signalling and operational telecommunications.

To complete the project an acoustic barrier will be erected around the facility to protect surrounding buildings from noise pollution once Adelaide Train Maintenance Facility becomes operational. During the course of the project a number of existing buildings will be demolished and a temporary footbridge will be installed to aid the works. Translink Property Manager, Maurice Wray, said: “We’re on target for completion and everything is running to schedule. We’re currently working on the internal fit-out of the main building – which is progressing well – and the external finishing works.” Adelaide Trains Maintenance Facility is scheduled to arrive in autumn 2012.

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Hensol Castle Park to be transformed in £20 million project Set within the spectacular parkland of the Hensol Castle Estate, Hensol Castle Park is an exclusive collection of two and three-bedroom apartments that are located within walking distance of the world-class Vale Resort. Hensol Castle Park is a Grade I listed development that dates back over three centuries. The stunning grounds were once home to a hospital, and ten of the ward buildings are now being converted into state-of-the-art apartments by the Vale Resort and family-owned retailer Leekes. The £20 million project began in 2009 and will see the creation

of 58 modern two and three-bedroom apartments. Nine of the ward buildings will house six units, whilst the old concert hall will incorporate four spacious units. Although each of the apartments has been individually designed, they will all share a common theme of contemporary charm and sophistication. All of the apartments will span two floors and boast a high quality internal specification that includes top-of-the-range kitchens and modern bathrooms suites. Enviable features will include large windows and high ceilings, whilst the generous room proportions (1100 sq ft to 2000 sq ft) make the most of the natural light. Sustainability is an important aspect of the project and the homes feature climate control technology along with low voltage lighting and natural materials wherever possible. In order to retain the original character of the buildings, hardwood windows in the original design have been installed in all of the stone buildings, whilst replica heritage hardwood entrance doors have also been installed. All of the residents at Hensol Castle are offered free access to facilities at the Vale Resort, which include one of the UK’s finest private member health and racquet clubs, two championship golf courses. Residents at Hensol Castle Park will benefit from free membership of the health and racquets club and those wishing to join the prestigious golf club will be exempt from the joining fee. Managing Director of the Vale Resort, Stephen Leeke, said: “This is an exciting new venture for us, as it is a completely different business sector. Obviously the market hasn’t been brilliant over the last three years, but we have managed to buck the trend – so far we’ve built 46 units and sold 41 of them. “Sales have gone very well and we’ve managed to pace the construction process so we’re selling at the same rate. I think this is testament to the fact that the homes are suitable for a wide range of prospective buyers, from those downsizing due to children leaving the family home to professionals and those who live abroad for part of the year. “It is pleasing to see that a lot of the residents are buying into the lifestyle of the resort. Our health club celebrates 4,000 members and we also have two restaurants and five bars – which all of our residents are welcome to enjoy. This makes Hensol Castle unique, as there aren’t any other developments in the area where you can have exclusive access to such facilities whilst enjoying fully maintained grounds. “The project has progressed very well despite several planning issues and we are very proud to be delivering these beautiful, high quality homes.” ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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Conserving Welsh History The programme of works to preserve and improve Denbigh Castle and Conwy Castle is now complete. The improvement scheme was implemented by Cadw – the Welsh Government’s historic environment service – in order to preserve the unique history of each Castle and improve visitor facilities. The scheme included conservation & consolidation of the Castle curtain walls and construction of a new visitor centre

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at Denbigh Castle, along with the extensive refurbishment of an existing visitor centre at Conwy Castle. Grosvenor Construction Limited was the main contractor for both visitor centre projects. B3 was the architect for Denbigh Castle and R. V Williams was the structural engineer. Ferguson Mann Architects Limited was the architect on Conwy Castle Visitor Centre.

Rory Moore of Grosvenor Construction Limited carried out the conservation and consolidation repairs at Denbigh Castle, whilst William Mellor was responsible for the construction of the new visitor centre. Conservation works at Denbigh Castle included the removal of cement based mortar – left over from previous restoration work – and the removal of vegetation. A series of rebuilding and stabilisation works were then carried out using locally sourced lime stone to match the existing masonry. Work also included re-pointing stonework using natural hydraulic lime mortar. Cintec anchoring systems were also installed to help stabilize & conserve the remains of the Castle’s structure. With the conservation repairs at Denbigh Castle now complete, a brand new visitor centre was constructed to detail the Castle’s rich history. Features of the centre include a shop, cafe and a multisensory interpretation area. A short film designed to help children and families uncover the history of the Castle will play out to visitors entering the centre, whilst interpretative panels that combine reconstruction drawings and informative text have also been incorporated. A display of medieval artefacts found during excavation works and a collection of replica objects are another interesting feature that visitors can now enjoy. Sustainable features include solar panels, a Sedum green roof and a ground source heat pump, whilst LED lighting is installed throughout the building. The new visitor centre at Denbigh Castle was funded through Cadw’s £19 million European-funded Heritage Tourism project, which is backed by £8.5 million from the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government. To complete the conservation and improvement scheme on the two Welsh Castles, the existing visitor centre at Conwy Castle received an extensive makeover. Similar to Denbigh Castle’s visitor centre, the facility includes an informative piece of animation created by Dinamo Productions – producers of BBC Children’s cartoon Rastamouse – and artwork detailing the history of the Castle. The artwork includes an effigy of Edward I, a digital fireplace, stained glass windows and a wooden guard that has been constructed using medieval joinery techniques. All of the artwork is accompanied by information boards detailing the reconstruction works at the Castle. David Penberthy, Head of Interpretation and Lifelong Learning for Cadw, said: “We’re always looking for innovative and creative ways to hook visitors into our history, and using artists opens up a whole new way of examining our past. Being able to offer the story in a variety of ways – be it through a children’s trail, information boards, or through works of art – will open up Conwy to a wider audience.” A smart phone app for the Castle has also been created, whilst the popular Time Detectives trail will remain in use at the Castle.

Grosvenor Construction Limited With years of experience in the restoration and conservation sector, Grosvenor Construction Limited has successfully completed work for CADW, English Heritage and the National Trust. Grosvenor Construction Limited boasts a team of skilled professionals that includes stone carvers, carpenters, plasterers and fixer masons, along with a bank of tried and tested subcontractors all well versed in the specialist needs required when working within this industry. Health and safety is taken very seriously, with Grosvenor Construction Limited employing a full time H&S manager trained to NEBOSH level. Rory Moore, Grosvenor Construction Limited, said: “My own experience is in masonry restoration and conservation and my colleague William Mellor has considerable experience in construction - specialising in new build, design and build and reordering works within Churches and historic buildings. “This experience and our track record enable the company to offer a service that provides clients with modern construction technology in a way that is sympathetic to the historic environment. “Due to the specialist nature of our work, we cover most areas of the UK and Wales.” All of Grosvenor Construction Limited’s staff hold CSCS Heritage Gold Skills Cards and are trained to a minimum of NVQ Level 3 in masonry. Grosvenor Construction Limited is also a member of the Contractor Health and Safety Assessment Scheme, Considerate Constructors Scheme, Stone Federation and has an ongoing programme of CPD.

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Victorian school building is to be renovated in £900,000 project A 19th century former school building on Quickwell Hill in Pembrokeshire is being lovingly restored in order to create an innovative learning facility. The Grade II listed property has been purchased by The Friends of St. David’s Cathedral, who have embarked upon an exciting project to transform the redundant school into an Education and Pilgrimage Centre. The purpose of the centre is to develop and deliver a programme of educational outreach to children between the ages of 7 and 18. This will include day visits to the Cathedral, which will enable groups to engage with the various facets of the Cathedral’s life in conjunction with various areas of the National Curriculum. In addition, themed days will revolve around the key subjects including: religious education, history, art, mathematics and the English and Welsh languages. Further provisions will include adult educational events and community facilities for groups. Built in the 1870s, the school was the Church

School for the parish for almost 100 years. Following the opening of Ysgol Bro Dewi in 2000, the building sadly fell into disuse and had been boarded up for many years. Works include the construction of an extension to provide necessary office spaces and toilet facilities, along with repair and alterations to the Victorian main hall. Additional works include the erection of a pentice alongside the rear of the building, the installation of disabled access and the incorporation of renewable energy systems. The £900,000 refurbishment project began onsite in November 2011 and is expected to be completed in October 2012. Main contractor for the project is Carreg Construction and the architect is Caroe & Partners. Reverend Harri Williams commented: “This is an exciting project for the Cathedral

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and for the city of St. David’s Cathedral. This building has long been an eyesore within this community and this project will not enhance only the beauty of the city, but will also provide a wonderful base for the Cathedral’s educational outreach to the hundreds of thousands of visitors who come to St. David’s Cathedral every year.”

Rewriting history at the Nanteos Mansion A prestigious conservation and conversion project has seen the transformation of the historic Grade I listed Nanteos Mansion and its Grade II* listed stables into a fivestar hotel. Boasting unrivalled views of the Welsh countryside, Nanteos Mansion is set within 30 acres of woodland gardens and features a walled garden and a lake. The mansion is built around the walls of an earlier house, parts of which are believed to date back to the 10th century. Nanteos Mansion itself dates back to 1739 and celebrates a long and illustrious history. Built in the Palladian style between 1739 and 1757, the Georgian development was designed to accommodate the needs of the gentry – particularly those with a penchant for hunting and entertaining. According to folklore, Nanteos Mansion is haunted by a selection of ghosts: a grey lady, a phantom horse and carriage, the so-called Jewel Lady and Gruffydd Evans – a harpist who entertained the gentry for almost 70 years. A family home for the Powells for 180 years, the building was extended by William Edward Powell (1788-1854) in the early 19th century. A butler’s and housekeeper’s quarters were added, along with a larger kitchen, a billiard room and a bakery. The completed house – which boasted an impressive total of 69 rooms – was completed in 1847, at a cost of £2880. In March 2011, another exciting refurbishment project commenced at a decidedly more impressive sum of more than £3.5 million. Headed by Catalina Architecture’s (Aberystwyth) Conservation Architect Rory Wilson, the project has seen the complete renovation of the existing Nanteos development in order to create a luxury country house hotel. The main house has been sympathetically refurbished, with works including full redecoration and a small amount of remodelling. Significant remedial treatment for dry rot works have been undertaken, whilst the old un-insulated lead flat roof has been retained and overlaid (with the approval of CADW) with a rigid

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blown glass insulation and liquid membrane roofing system. The majority of the refurbishment and remodelling has been carried out within the rear ‘bakery wing’, which had become derelict. Works have included reroofing and extensive structural repairs, all of which have been carried out whilst retaining and restoring as much of the original fabric as possible. This included the restoration of the existing windows, along with the reinstatement of lath and plaster partitioning and ceilings. Several improvements to the thermal envelope were made – including floors, walls and roofs – whilst provisions were made for Nanteos’ varied bat occupants. In addition, a new two-storey extension has been attached to the old bakery wing and now houses en-suite bathroom facilities for some of the new bedrooms. Both buildings have undergone a discreet modernisation of mechanical & electrical services, including the installation of a fire suppression system, a complete renewal of electrical and fire alarm systems and the introduction of high-spec IT/

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Communications system. Furthermore, the project saw the complete refurbishment of all sanitary facilities and the installation of a new heating system that is connected to a 195kW biomass heating system located in the newly constructed ‘Plant Room’, which is located away from the house on the edge of the woodlands. To complete the project, a cobbled stable block to the east of the main house has been renovated and now contains a private four-bedroom Mews house. The main house forecourt has also been improved, with extended reinforced grass areas laid to meet the requirements of the Welsh Historic Gardens Trust. Due to the building’s Grade I listed status the works had to meet the approval of both the local authority and Cadw – the Welsh Assembly Government’s historic environment division. A two-year design process allowed Catalina Architecture to create a sensitive design, whilst many local specialists and

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contractors – including main contractor C Sneade Ltd, interior designer Camilla Norberg and local historian Janet Joel – have also had an integral role in the project. Larry Jeffreys, Technical Director at Catalina Architecture, said: “As a practice we have experience and great interest in historic buildings, and this has been a wonderful opportunity to restore a truly unique building. “Working with listed buildings is always a challenge as there is a multitude of constraints that must be adhered to. This project was no exception and we had to work exceptionally hard to protect the historic fabric of the building whilst integrating modern facilities. “In marrying the new with the old, we were able to formulate a sensitive design that respects both the historical significance of the building and the needs of modern guests. Amidst the sump-

tuous decors are state-of-the-art facilities that ensure that each of the guests will enjoy a 21st century experience in an authentic historic setting.” Mark Rawlings-Lloyd, General Manager at Nanteos Mansion, added: “It has been a privilege to work on this project, both with the architectural team and the contractors. We are all very excited to see the renovation and expansion of Nanteos Mansion, and I can honestly say that this has been one of the smoothest projects that I have had the opportunity to work on.” Along with fourteen luxury bedrooms, the hotel also boasts a new gourmet restaurant – The Nightingale Restaurant. Celebrating a team of highly sought-after chefs who will create refined menus using locally-sourced produce, the restaurant will showcase the best cuisine in the region and will be open to non-residents seven days a week. Further leisure facilities – including a possible health spa –are expected to be available in the next few years as the refurbishment programme continues. Nanteos spokesperson, Rebecca Cohen, said:

“Nanteos is steeped in local history and folklore and is deeply ingrained in the minds of local people. In recent decades it was sadly neglected, but it is an exceptional building which richly deserves the commitment and new life that its owners have bestowed. “What we’ve done is tried to create a five-star hotel, where every room is individual. We hope that Nanteos in its new guise will breathe new life into the area and secure its future as an outstanding historic Welsh landmark.” Located between the triumphant sweep of Cardigan Bay and the rolling Cambrian Mountains, Nanteos Mansion is an ideal location for a short break, holiday or overnight stay. With excellent road links just a stone’s throw away, guests can enjoy a range of exciting activities including: windsurfing, scuba diving, pony trekking, white water rafting and fishing for sea bass. For those who would like to explore the local culture, nearby historic attractions include narrow gauge railways, industrial museums and country estates. For more information on Nanteos Mansion, visit www.nanteos. com

A place to worship, laugh and learn As the first centre of its kind in West Wales for over 25 years, the new state-of-the-art Y Ffwrnes development will be a cultural and creative hub for entertainment, arts, education and employment. The £14.8 million centre, opening in December 2012, is located in the heart of Llanelli Town Centre and will comprise a new purpose-built theatre with flexible space for a wide range of community events and activities. Facilities include a studio theatre, office space and a social enterprise centre. Y Ffwrnes will boast a multipurpose 500+ seat auditorium with a stage, orchestra pit and flexible seating system. Once completed, the centre is expected to attract more than 70,000 visitors. It will provide an important venue for drama, musical theatre, opera, concerts and cabaret – in addition to facilitating public meetings and social functions. The development will form part of the Eastern gateway to the town and will play a major role in the £60 million regeneration of Llanelli. Up to 35 jobs will be created in the creative industries sector, whilst the project will also safeguard existing jobs and create new full time and part time opportunities. Incredibly, it will also be the first theatre in Wales to feature full accessibility. There will be wheelchair access to the fly-tower, which will give disabled people the opportunity to be trained and gain employment as lighting and backstage technicians. Additional works include the renovation of the Grade II listed former chapel buildings, known as the Zion Chapel and the Old

Sunday School. Terry Saunders, Zion Chapel, said: “The Chapel was too big for us to maintain as a congregation. We needed to look for a way forward to ensure that we maintained a place of worship and to ensure the preservation of the Chapel and Sunday School buildings. It was important to us that the building was given the respect it deserved and that the Christian tradition was kept alive in the town centre.” Hywel Davies, Zion Chapel, added: “The development and refurbishment being undertaken has been an answer to our prayers. Knowing that the building will benefit the community as a whole whilst retaining a place of

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Wa l e s worship to serve our needs is more than could have ever asked for. “It seemed fitting to the members of Zion Chapel that a place of worship would be retained in the ‘cultural quarter’ of the town. It was viewed as a transformation from dereliction to functionality, breathing new life into the area and into the Chapel itself. “We would like to thank Carmarthenshire County Council and other partners for their support and sensitivity in securing a new modern chapel for our congregation.” Main contractor for the project is T Richard Jones and the architect is Lawray Architects. The project is funded by the European Regional Development Fund, Welsh Government, Carmarthenshire County Council and Trinity St David University.

Developing IBERS at Aberystwyth University A £25 million project to construct two brand new buildings for Aberystwyth University is complete. The new buildings were built for the Institute of Biological Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) department, which are located on the University’s Penglais and Gogerddan campuses. Each building acts as a central hub for IBERS by integrating existing facilities at each campus. The project was completed in early 2012 and both buildings are now occupied by staff and students at the University. Funding for the project was provided by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) through the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW). As part of the financial requirements of the project both buildings were built to achieve BREEAM standards of ‘Excellent’. Willmott Dixon was the main contractor for the project, whilst

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Pascall+Watson architects were the architects and Sean Kenny was the project manager. IBERS is an award-winning and internationally recognised research and teaching centre. Prior to the completion of the project IBERS was located across three campuses in a collection of buildings without a central connection. Aberystwyth University Senior Project Manager, Sean Kenny, said: “Aberystwyth University wanted to construct a building at both campus’ that would link together all of the existing IBERS buildings. “Both buildings were designed to strengthen IBERS by encouraging a community feeling within each campus. This was

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something that was missing prior to construction, but now that work is complete and the buildings are being used I’m very confident that we have achieved this integration. “Academics now connect in a way that they didn’t before and it creates a more stimulating environment for everyone involved with this area of the University.” The project began in 2009 with a lengthy process of enabling works. Construction on both developments then followed in 2010, taking a total of 60 weeks to complete. Both buildings are clad in insulated cedar board and comprise a ground and first floor. In addition, the buildings include a number of energy saving features such as intelligent lighting systems, grey water harvesting and natural ventilation. The building at Penglais measures approximately 1800m² and comprises office space, seminar rooms, teaching laboratories and a cafe located within the centre of the development. A noticeable feature of the new building is the fully glazed office spaces, which were designed to encourage natural light into the building. The development also includes a large communal and social area to encourage interaction between teachers, researchers and students. To complete the integration of the new building with existing facilities, single-storey corridor links were constructed to connect all of the different areas of the site together. The links allow academics to pass from one area of the development to another without having to exit the building. Sean Kenny said: “The building at Penglais looks fantastic and the internal glazing within the development creates a very light and airy interior. This creates a more sociable environment, which is what we wanted to achieve along with the corridors which help to bring everything together.” In order for the corridor links to be incorporated, a number

of alterations were made to the existing buildings in order to redirect services. This phase of the project took a year to complete and ran concurrently with the redirection of services at Gogerddan. The new building at Gogerddan was built between three existing IBERS facilities and includes a collection of state-of-the-art glasshouses located towards the rear of the building. The glasshouses are an important inclusion in the development and will be a BBSRC national facility – The National Plant Phenomics Centre for the study of Phenomics – a biological science that measures the physical and biological traits of organisms. The glasshouses will enable researchers to control and monitor plant growth using a variety of different artificial scenarios. The plants will then be placed onto a scanning system for further study, whilst the Phenomics facility will interact with external laboratories to identify and characterise genes. The Gogerddan development also includes an external grassed area – complete with benches, plants and hedgerows – to provide a retreat for academic reflection. Additional planting also took place around the development. Sean Kenny said: “My role on this project was to ensure that WIllmott Dixon and Pascall+Watson architects were fully aware of what Aberystwyth University wanted to achieve and with the project complete it’s clear to see the new buildings do exactly what we set out to do. “As with any project there were a number of challenges to overcome, however Willmott Dixon took them in their stride and along with a great design team they dealt with any issues very swiftly to ensure that this project was a success. “As the development at Penglais was the first to be completed it was the first to be occupied and the feedback has been very positive. Academics have now started to occupy the laboratories at Gogerddan and we’re getting great feedback about this development too. “It is great to see these buildings being used as we intended.”

Willmott Dixon Founded in 1852, Willmott Dixon is one of the UK’s largest privately owned contractors, providing services for capital works projects and regeneration schemes throughout the country. Willmott Dixon works with a variety of clients including local authorities, private sector clients and the UK government for

projects within the education, commercial, retail and social housing sectors. The company is also actively involved in estate renewal projects working as an equity partner for both private and public sector investors. As a fifth generation company Willmott Dixon is extremely proud of its traditional family values and sites this as a main area of importance for its continued growth. The company has also achieved numerous awards - for two years running Willmott Dixon were named amongst the top ten companies to work for by the Sunday Times.

Pascall+Watson architects With over 50 years of experience in the industry, Pascall+Watson architects boast a very enviable portfolio of projects. The company has provided architectural services for university buildings, museums, offices, airports and residential developments across the globe and past projects include Birmingham Airport International Pier, St Pancras International Station, Cyprus University and the redevelopment of Pulkovo Airport in Russia. Pascall+Watson architects believe in designing high quality buildings that combine elegance with efficiency and for this reason the practice receives a great deal of repeat business. Pascall+Watson architects have also won a number of awards, including the CMG Building & Design Awards Public Building of the Year award in 2010 and the Wandsworth Council Green Business Award 2009.

LOCK-TECH SYSTEMS Welsh firm LOCK-TECH SYSTEMS – one of only 13 UK SALTO Certificated partners – was selected for the specification, supply and installation of the access control system on the Aberystwyth University project. LOCK-TECH’s installation of the SALTO access control system to security strategic doors has further reinforced SALTO’s suitability as the ultimate security solution for integrated systems in the education and health sectors, where it maintains an enviable lead. LOCK-TECH’s significant experience in integrating SALTO as a one-card campus system – together with their excellent after sales service – will no doubt see the University profit from this solution as they roll it out on other doors. ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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Clissold House re-opens following £9 million makeover In January 2012 the 18th century Clissold House re-opened to the public, marking the end of a two-year project to restore Clissold Park. The Grade II listed development now boasts a new cafe, along with beautifully restored function rooms and smaller meeting rooms for private hire and community use. Further benefits include improved access for disabled people and upgraded IT and telephone systems. Along with polished floors and a beautiful spiral staircase, the cafe has also incorporated large windows that offer unrivalled views of the park and church. The cafe is run by Company of Cooks, who already boasts an extensive range of cafes in locations including: Chiswick House and Gardens, the Imperial War Museum, Southbank and Kenwood House. The transformation of Clissold House is part of a £9 million renovation project that has been funded by Hackney Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund. A wide range of improvements have been carried out in order to introduce 21st century facilities and meet the needs of modern day visitors. This includes the refurbishment of the old bowls pavilion and the construction of an outdoor classroom, which has in turn provided a valuable education and community resource. Further improvements include the installation of new signage and a multipurpose play area. Since it opened in the summer of 2011, the play area has offered a fantastic space for five-a-side football, basketball and table tennis. Other welcome additions include two new ornamental bridges,

a pond dipping platform and a water pumping system that will maintain water quality. The Park’s two lakes and New River have also been landscaped and have undergone structural improvement work. The project has also incorporated the creation and renovation of a number of animal enclosures, along with the construction of a butterfly dome. Animals that visitors can interact with now include goats, deer, birds and chickens. There is a publicly accessible walkway between the fenced enclosures, along with landscaped area for park users to enjoy. Main contractor for the project was Mansell PLC.

Ensuring a bright future for the past English Heritage exists to protect and promote England’s spectacular historic environment and ensure that its past is researched and understood. English Heritage is the government’s statutory adviser on the historic environment. Officially known as the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England, English Heritage is an executive non-departmental public body that is sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). The powers and responsibilities of English Heritage are set out in the National Heritage Act (1983) and today they report to Parliament through the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. Although sponsored by DCMS, English Heritage works with a range of government departments, notably CLG and Defra, to help realise the potential of the historic environment. English Heritage is funded in part by the government, and is also part funded from revenue earned from their historic properties and other services. In 2008/09 the organisation’s public funding was worth £132.7 million, and income from other sources was £48.1 million. English Heritage works in partnership with central government departments, local authorities, voluntary bodies and the private sector to conserve and enhance the historic environment, broaden public access to the heritage and increase people’s understanding of the past. The organisation meets these responsibilities by: acting as a national and international champion for the heritage; giving grants for the conservation of historic buildings, monuments

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and landscapes; maintaining registers of England’s most significant historic buildings, monuments and landscapes; and advising on the preservation of the historic environment. English Heritage also encourages broader public involvement with the heritage, promotes heritage-related education and research, cares for Stonehenge and over 400 other historic properties on behalf of the nation, maintains the National Monuments Record as the public archive of the heritage and

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Heritage profile of vocational training and the built heritage construction sector and attracting more young people to pursue careers within it. The plan is also geared towards encouraging the use of suitably skilled and qualified people, and developing qualifications to ensure that traditional building knowledge and skills can be attained from GCSE to Master Craft level. Find out more at www.english-heritage.org.uk

Meet the conservation specialists

generates income for the benefit of the historic environment. English Heritage is currently running a five-year investment programme for its properties. Based on an audit of all the organisation’s properties, £30 million is being targeted at those sites with the most commercial potential, in order to make as many sites as possible self-financing. Projects range from major refurbishment and restoration works at Kenilworth Castle to relatively small but significant improvements to exhibitions and interpretation, catering and retail facilities. In the construction sector, English Heritage has joined forces with ConstructionSkills to call for concerted action across the construction industry, the built heritage sector, educational establishments, careers organisations, funding bodies and government departments to tackle the continued shortage of heritage building skills. English Heritage has also published research demonstrating the shortage of craft skills across the country and a Skills Action Plan which they are now implementing. This includes raising the

Mike and Gary Simpson, a father and son team, run a specialist conservation firm called Heritage Consolidation from their base in Northumberland. Their specialities include stonemasonry and lime-based mortars, along with plastering and render. Recent years have seen them take the admirable and, some would say, bold decision to focus entirely on heritage restoration work. The duo has completed restoration work for both English Heritage and Natural England. Their experiences have helped them to reach the conclusion that not only is a conservationfocused business an extremely viable enterprise, but their traditional skills are lacking across the UK. And that’s without mentioning their love for the work.

Scotcourt Ltd Scotcourt Ltd is proud to have completed numerous traditional masonry contracts, both as principal contractor for masonry projects and as sub contractor for traditional lime works. This work includes re-pointing, lime repairs and masonry restorative cleaning along with replacement operations using traditional methods and techniques of conservation. All work is carried out by trained operatives which ensures that our built environment continue to be in safe hands. A spokesman for Scotcourt said: “Your building’s past is our future.” www.scotcourt-stonemasonsltd.co.uk

Restoration and conservation mortars By Ugo Spano, St. Astier Limes Liaison Office Today all of us are charged with ensuring the survival of our historical and vernacular built heritage through careful and considered conservation, restoration and renovation. All too often, buildings are repaired with inappropriate materials and poor skills. Many are the subject of interventions that in time lead to their total loss. Others are simply changed out of all recognition. In most cases, the mortar used for repairs, restoration or conservation contains cement. In these buildings, the use of cement mortars promote condensation build up, salt reactions and, generally, drastically affects the long term survival of the building. St. Astier natural hydraulic lime mortars provide a valid alternative to cement mortars or cement/lime mixes and, if applied properly, they will have a much longer life. Environmentally, they offer far greater efficiency than cementicious mortars by re-absorbing CO2 and not compromising the recyclability of the building materials. We work with what we call the ‘ten commandments’ when judging the suitability of mortar: Compatibility Low capillarity and shrinkage Adequate Ca(OH)2 or free lime content

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Resistance to frost Resistance to salts Vapour permeability (breathability) & good sands Early setting, good elasticity/workability/re-workability Suitable compressive and bonding strength Environmental considerations Correct working and site practice

In cold rainy weather and when frost is expected, fresh mortars have to be covered to prevent damage. This is normally done with hessian sheeting.

Rule 3: Adequate Ca(OH)2 or free lime content

Rule 1: Compatibility We prefer to look at compatible mortars rather than like for like. The reason for this is that today in most cases, it is not possible to reproduce exactly the mortars of the past. The binders are different; the sands might not be the same. In the EU, a lot of sand pits have closed and some of the historic pits no longer exist. Compatibility should be both chemical and mechanical.. Mortars introduced into existing structures must not react chemically with existing mortars and surrounding masonry by introducing soluble salts such as sulphate (gypsum) or aluminates causing sulphate attack; or alkalis (potassium and sodium) causing a reaction with the sand (alkali-silica reaction). In mechanical terms, mortars should not be too dense to impede breathability or have poor elasticity resulting in cracks that will allow water/moisture penetration.

Rule 2: Look for low capillarity and shrinkage These are both properties affecting the durability of the mortar. High capillarity allows moisture penetration and, if a mortar has poor breathability (such as cementicious mortars), there will be condensation and associated problems. The main causes of high capillarity are poor sands and void structure and high quantity of free lime in the binder. Free lime crystallises in the voids, reducing their size and therefore increasing their capillary action. Poor building details and drainage increases the amount of water in touch with the masonry which can be absorbed by capillary action. High shrinkage is also a source of cracking and it is to be avoided. Shrinkage is caused by: Inadequate suction control of the masonry units. If suction is not controlled by adequate wetting or dampening of the masonry, water in the mortar will be sucked into the masonry. The mortar is therefore deprived of the water necessary for hydration and the mortar becomes friable as its matrix has not formed properly. High free lime content. This is because free lime is very fine and demands more water at the moment of mixing the mortar. The evaporation of this water leaves micro cracks in the mortar (shrinkage). Wrong dosage in the mortar mix. Commonly occurring when too much binder is used. Over-binding produces a heave effect, causing cracks. Poor mixing of the mortar can cause over-binding in certain areas and low binding in other with cracks as a result. Poor protection from drying wind, direct sun, driving rain and frost when the mortar is still fresh will also cause cracking and shrinkage. So will poor curing: mortars, especially lime mortars, need time to cure. So, depending on the weather conditions, mortar needs to be dampened for few days in warm weather or in the presence of drying wind.

Free lime, high calcium lime, available lime, air lime, hydrated lime, portlandite, fat lime and slaked lime are basically all the same and consist of calcium hydroxide - Ca(OH)2. The trade uses all these denominations and sometimes people do not know that they all refer to the same element. They are classified in BS/EN 459 Standard as CL (calcium limes) and are differentiated by the percentage of Ca(OH)2 content. Free lime makes mortars more workable and this is liked by the mason. However, free lime affects a number of important properties in mortars such as: Setting and hardening time: an early set and a relatively quick hardening are important to be able to build with some speed. Initial setting of a hydraulic mortar is within one or two hours; the final set is within 24 hours. The final set determines the moment when the mortar cannot be re-worked. Hardening takes longer. It is the time that the calcium silicates and other hydraulic components in a mortar take to become insoluble. In the European norms, both properties are taken into consideration and the definition of NHL 2, NHL 3.5 and NHL 5 is based on the hardened strength at 28 days expressed in Newton per mm2. Free lime is not hydraulic and needs contact with air to reabsorb CO2 and reconstitute itself to CaCO3 or limestone. This process called carbonation may take a very long time. Damp environment, rain, and the location of the mortar (exposure to air) contribute to slowing and in some cases even stopping carbonation. The result is that the mortar does not harden. Free lime will dissolve in water at a ratio of 1 to 6 and this is the reason why leaching occurs. Leaching not only is an unwanted visual effect but also deprives the mortar of some of the binder with the result that you have a different mortar in the structure from the one specified. Free lime, because of its fineness, increases water demand in the mortar. This is one of the causes of shrinkage, as already discussed. It also increases capillarity by crystallising in the voids, reducing breathability. The reduction of the void size affects also the frost resistance, as we will shortly see. High free lime mortars such as 1:1:6 and 1:2:9 mixes or hydrated (powder or putty) lime mortars might not be as suitable as they are supposed to be. Careful judgement has to be made in relation to their use. This also applies to lime mortars made with hydraulic lime with very high free lime content now being sold in the UK market.

Rule 4: Resistance to frost The reduction in void size - by free lime crystallisation or a poor void structure caused by poor sands and the slow carbonation of free lime - makes the mortar more susceptible to frost damage. Frost starts always from the surface and goes inward. Frozen water particles in the surface voids push the water in the voids behind further in and so on. If there is a good void structure accommodating the water movement, this process will not generate a pressure and the mortar will resist frost. The size of the voids is also important: ice has a volume of 8% greater than water so it will exercise pressure if the voids cannot contain more that the water they already contain. This is the case in saturated mortars where the water absorbed during rain before frost occurs is occupying all the voids. Hardened mortars with a good void structure will resist frost. St. Astier NHL Mortars have been successfully used in areas of extreme cold such as Canada, Alaska, Norway, Finland, Denmark and wet/cold areas as part of Ireland and UK. The basic principle is to avoid saturation of the mortar when still fresh, so protection at this stage is of extreme importance. ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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Heritage Rule 5: Resistance to salts

Rule 8: Suitable compressive and bonding strength

The same mortar will also resist the outward migration of salts contained in the masonry. A macro void structure in the mortar will accommodate the pressure exercised by salts when moving or crystallising. When structures contain salts, it is almost impossible to control them if they become unstable. Their behaviour is linked to the relative humidity which is typical to each salt. A lower RH will cause crystallisation; a higher RH will cause the salt to go into a solution and migrate. If the void space is sufficient, these phenomena will not cause a damaging pressure. If crystallisation occurs, they stay in the wall and if there is no space in the voids the pressure can be great enough to crack the mortar. If they go into solution, they will eventually come out and can be cleaned off the wall. Lime is hygroscopic: it attracts water and by doing so a new lime mortar used for re-pointing or rendering might attract moisture contained in the structure and therefore change the RH of the wall in which the salts are contained, causing their movement. So a high free lime mortar will absorb salts. This is fine if we are using a lime mortar to diminish the salts content in the wall. Once the lime mortar is saturated with salts, it can be removed and the salts with it. It is not so good if we wish to keep the mortar. In this case, a NHL mortar with less free lime and a good void structure will obtain the required result. The same type of mortar will not suffer from salts ingress promoted by external agents such as is common in marine environments. The re-pointing of the harbour wall in 2000 at Atlantic College in Wales is still in perfect condition 10 years later. The mortar is an NHL 5 with very coarse sharp sand (pictured).

It is no good to look just at quick setting and hardening. A very hard mortar, especially when made with cement, is not the solution to all requirements. Quick setting and strong hardening have become synonymous with “a good mortar” since the advent of cement but in restoration and conservation, setting and hardening should be only part of the evaluation to be made on the most suitable mortar for the job. Of course we need setting and hardening, especially in adverse climatic conditions and seasonal work. But this should never be to the exclusion of all other considerations made up to now such as compatibility, breathability, elasticity and so on. In restoration and conservation, St. Astier NHL mortars comply with all requirements. They set and harden faster and stronger than lime putty or hydrated lime without the use of pozzolans ( a “dear” word to many but essentially a poorly known subject, open to uncertain results) or cement. Many producers state that their product contains “pozzolanic” additions. This is in most cases cement. Just ask the question about re-working the mortar within 24 hours. If the answer is no, the mortar most likely has a cement content. The compatibility and other properties of NHL mortars ensure that performance and durability are achieved without the use of cement. They represent a logical and natural choice in the restoration and preservation of our built heritage.

Rule 6: Vapour permeability (breathability) and good sands A breathable mortar is essential in the control of condensation. No damp; no rot; a much better living environment. It also helps in consuming less energy in heating. If a room is damp, a lot of the heating will go in drying out the damp before heating the room. Hardened mortars with good breathability will dry faster than dense mortar. Saturation of the mortar is well reduced and so is the risk of frost damage. St. Astier NHL mortars if compared to cement/lime mortars have a better breathability by 200%. The two main factors in achieving good breathability are: A relatively low free lime content in the binder to avoid too much crystallisation in the mortar voids and the use of well graded sands in the mortar. The choice of good well graded sand is of paramount importance in obtaining a breathable mortar.

Rule 7: Good setting, elasticity and workability Setting and hardening determine the work rate. They are also related to the mortar dosage, the water addition and the weather conditions during execution of the work. Protection and curing methods are directly connected with setting, hardening and curing mortars. Therefore, it is important to have a good idea of the setting and hardening properties of mortar to be able to determine whether it will be suitable for the work, what particular precautions to use and for how long. Elasticity determines the amounts of movement that the mortar will take before cracking. It is also relevant in calculating the positioning of joints. A good elasticity will help in accepting thermal movements. Workability of a mortar is in many cases left to the mason executing the work and, almost invariably, this results in excessive water addition to obtain the “plasticity” that masons like. This is wrong as too much (or too little) water can have serious effects on setting time, shrinkage, capillarity and so on. Information on the correct water addition should be given to the mason and supervisors should check that the instructions are followed.

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Rule 9: Consider the environment Lime mortars re-absorb CO2. St, Astier NHL mortars will reabsorb between 38% and 49% of the CO2 emitted in production. NHL mortars are also non toxic and, once hardened, they will not increase the water pH. Cementicious mortars can contain chromium VI (directly related to skin allergies) and, depending on the type of cement used, components like pulverised fly ash (PFA), granulated ground blast furnace slag (GGBS) and others that contain a number of dangerous elements such as heavy metals and many other toxic elements. NHL mortars will also be easily removed from masonry units, allowing them to be re-cycled. The breathability of St. Astier NHL mortars eliminates condensation and contributes to a better living environment for people with breathing difficulties (asthma, for example).

Rule 10: Correct working and site practice Good materials can become useless if the correct site practices are not followed. Good workmanship and supervision are essential. If mortars are not dosed or mixed properly, if they are not cured and protected correctly, if they are applied badly, if the application surfaces are not properly prepared, if suction is not controlled, if salt movements are not taken into consideration and so on, the result will be a failure. Architects, engineers – specifiers in general – should work with the contractor to ensure that he has the necessary comprehension and skills to apply the mortars and follow the necessary site practice. It is, however, the responsibility of the mortar manufacturer to give specifiers all the information they require for the evaluation of the mortar to be adopted. St. Astier Limes not only provide this information but also, when required, the technical staff actively work with the specifier giving technical advice to establish the most appropriate mortar for the proposed intervention. For more information, clarification or for any query please contact: technical@stastier.co.uk Or ugo.spano@btinternet.com

Stewart & Hutchinson sees the light Stained glass and leadlight specialist Stewart & Hutchinson has restored a historic piece of artwork to its former glory. The company painstakingly restored four irreplaceable stained glass windows at St Cardoc’s Church in Glynneath after two of the window lancets were identified as requiring urgent attention. The work was completed in January 2012 and has helped to revitalise an important area of the church. Each window lancet measures 9ft high and contains two medieval stained glass panes surrounded by a section of Victorian glass. The medieval panes were painted in the 16th century and feature images of abbots, monks and saints. Previous attempts to repair the windows had left the historic glazing showing visible signs of wear and tear so specialised restoration work was therefore required to protect the artwork from further damage. Stewart & Hutchinson removed all of the glass panels from the lancet in order to enable conservator Bryony Benwell to clean, repair and restore the medieval panes. To ensure that the hard work will continue to payoff for future generations, Stewart & Hutchinson then employed a technique called Isothermal Glazing to help preserve the life of the windows. The Isothermal Glazing process involved repositioning the medieval panes so that they sit 30mm in front of the background glass. A sheet of plain glass was then placed in front of the medieval panes to create a space within the lancets where air could comfortably circulate around the frame. The external face of the medieval glass is now protected from acid erosion and other external damage. Stewart & Hutchinson Managing Director, Gordon Stewart, said: “Once we had completed the project I really couldn’t believe the difference that we had made by restoring the windows. “This was the perfect job and we couldn’t have completed it any better if we had tried. The work was finished on time, within budget and to a very professional standard. “At Stewart & Hutchinson we really enjoy being involved in work of this nature. Projects like this come up only once every so often, so we were very lucky to be a part of the restoration of such an important piece of history.”

Hidden cost of lead thefts threatening our heritage Ray Robertson, Secretary, Lead Contractors Association – Stealing lead from a church roof is no longer the victimless crime traditionally portrayed. Record metal prices have resulted in regional / national organised gangs that methodically strip vulnerable sites, with the lead easily distributed through the UK network of metals reclamation merchants. Increasing demand world wide for lead acid batteries has also spawned large scale thefts by the container load to be shipped directly abroad from UK ports. More often than not the ‘vulnerable sites’ are church properties in remote locations where access is open and visitors are encouraged. This has meant the repeat targeting of some churches with the thieves simply waiting for the lead sheet to be replaced before stripping it off again. Although perhaps involving relatively few people directly, the damage caused to the external building structure and internal decoration, as well as its precious, often irreplaceable contents is heartbreaking to those locals affected. ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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Heritage It is reported that between January and August 2011, the cost of lead stripped from ecclesiastical properties had exceeded £3.5M - more then the whole of 2010. More than 5,000 churches in the UK have now suffered from a theft of lead and this is not a problem which is going away. Although lead thefts have been escalating chronically over the past three or four years, it affects relatively few. Ironically it has been the recent increase in the theft of copper cable and resulting massive inconvenience to thousands of rail commuters and cost to transport, power and communication companies (and their insurers) which has dramatically raised the public awareness of ‘metal thefts’ and led to demands for action. Now there are investigations into security systems, alarms, lighting and lead theft deterrents such as Smartwater and Led-Lok. Neighbourhood watch schemes such as Church Care and National Church Watch have quickly become a focal point for the community. The entire UK metals reclamation network (colloquially “scrap metal merchants”) has come under the microscope, with calls for changes to legislation, stricter regulation, licensing, banning of cash scales, improved identification procedures, record keeping, Certificates of Origin, etc. Demands for the skills of the experienced lead craftsmen increased to the extent where LCA members undertook to work to an agreed schedule of rates and an organised system approved by Ecclesiastical Insurance which meant the rapid response by a leadwork specialist when a theft occurred. It also meant an installation carried out in accordance with the UK Code of Practice (BS6915) and which was sympathetic with the demands of the original roof design. In the hands of a skilled and experienced craftsman, lead sheet can be shaped by hand to fit the most complex and ornate details which are found on our historic properties, in order to provide comprehensive and maintenance free weather protection that (untouched) will consistently perform for more than 100 years. Because it is a soft metal, lead sheet reacts to temperature changes by expanding and contracting. The specialist leadworker knows exactly how to allow for this thermal movement in the sizing and fixing of each individual detail. However also because it is a soft metal which moves, lead cannot be sealed down on all sides and still perform, so increasing its vulnerability to theft. Installing lead sheet properly is therefore a specialist craft that requires a degree of skill and knowledge which the general roofing contractor is unlikely to have, regardless of their competence in other materials. When a lead theft occurs there is an increasing temptation to change materials. Even when lead sheet is re-installed, there is the mistaken belief that money can be saved by using a non specialist. These two consequences of lead theft have resulted in a sharp fall in demand for the services of the specialist leadworker, at a time when the entire UK construction industry continues to suffer from the economic downturn. When metal prices ease (as they will), when lead thefts decline (as they will), when demand for lead sheet revives (as it undoubt-

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edly will because of its unrivalled long term maintenance free performance), where will the specialists be to make sure it is fitted with the skill, knowledge and careful attention to detail it deserves? For more information on the Lead Contractors Association: www.lca.gb.com

Associated Leadmills Ltd Associated Leadmills Ltd is one of the largest lead and hard metals distributors in the UK. The company supplies materials to both trade and domestic customers and lists SIG Construction Accessories and Travis Perkins Builders Merchants amongst its clients. Presently Associated Leadmills Ltd is supplying hard metals for a brand new Tesco that is under construction in Woolwich. Once completed the Woolwich branch will be the world’s largest site for the supermarket giant. Associated Leadmills Ltd is ISO9001 accredited and also manufactures bespoke lead pipes and rolled lead for the roofing industry. Associated Leadmills Ltd Business Development Manager, Andy Denham, said: “At Associated Leadmills Ltd we have two sides to our business. The first is the distribution of lead which we sell directly to merchants, whilst the second is hard metal which we sell to the public, merchants and fabricators. Amongst our hard metals we supply copper, zinc, stainless steel and all ancillary products. “If any member of the public requires lead we can also put them in contact with a relevant merchant within our vast network.” Andy Denham added: “At Associated Leadmills Ltd we offer a trusted and reliable service to meet the requirements of all our customers. Our staff are fully trained and with a wealth of experience we provide a high-quality distribution service that is well respected within the construction industry.”

A s s o c i ati o n s

Learning new skills with The National Association of Chimney Engineers A Specialist Apprenticeship Programme (SAP) developed especially for chimney engineers has been set up to provide on-the-job and off-the-job training. The SAP has been developed by the National Association of Chimney Engineers (NACE), working in partnership with CITBConstruction Skills (CSkills), and with the support of HETAS. The programme comprises 65 on-the-job training days and 25 off-the-job training days and includes modules specifically designed to provide apprentices with the required skills for chimney engineering. The SAP modules for chimney engineers will cover all aspects of health, safety and first aid right through to an understanding of the principles of chimney and flue refurbishment. Apprentices will be able to learn the best ways to line chimneys, the correct ways to use hand and power tools, and basic chimney construction skills. As qualified chimney engineers are expected to work on rooftops in a safe and secure manner, one module will even focus on the best ways to undertake work at a height. This module will demonstrate how best to work with PASMA scaffold towers and roof ladders, which will be invaluable for apprentices who come to rely on these important skills on a daily basis. The use of flexible metallic lining systems, cast in-situ concrete lining systems, surveying and testing will also be taught as part of the programme. Most of NACEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s off-the-job training takes place in Derbyshire at Sure Fire Technical Services and regular assessments will take place throughout the two-year duration of the programme. The final assessment will take place on site and upon success-

All Images Copyright, Sure Fire Technical Service

ful completion of the programme apprentices will receive the NVQ Diploma in Chimney Engineering level 2.

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Currently 1 in every 5 employers is hiring an apprentice as they continue to work their way through the current economic climate. Apprenticeships provide businesses with motivated team members who are keen to get ahead in life, and schemes such as SAP help apprentices to achieve their goals with the correct set of skills. The content of each SAP module provides apprentices with the necessary formal training they require to forge a career in the industry and the programme is open to candidates of all ages. At present SAP is limited to 8 places. However, there is scope to develop the programme beyond the initial placements if demand from employers is high. The registration fee for this SAP - including off-the-job training and assessment - is currently £4,590 + VAT and subject to conditions may be paid in instalments. A substantial grant is available for those interested in taking part in the programme. The grant is available for businesses that are registered with CITB-CSkills and may exceed the training and assessment costs over the two-year period of the programme.

More about NACE The National Association of Chimney Engineers was set up in 1982 to maintain national standards of workmanship in the in-

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dustry. The company promotes a high quality product and ensures that the safety of all UK and Ireland fuel users is the Association’s number one priority. NACE provides clients with a register of competent chimney engineers and they conduct all building and repair work in line with Building Regulation Standards. All NACE members are trained to carry out installations to the highest standards of quality and can provide quotes for repair work, undertake surveys and provide clients with the best possible advice. All chimney engineers that take up membership with NACE are required to have an extensive knowledge of the industry and every chimney lined or installed by a member will include a NACE data plate stating the chimney’s compliance with relevant building regulations. To become a NACE member please contact info@nace.org.uk or call 01526 322555. For more information on grants and registration for the Chimney Engineers’ Specialist Apprenticeship Programme please visit www.cskills.org/apprenticeships

Accommodating businesses with MPBA Formed in 1938, the Modular & Portable Building Association (MPBA) promotes and markets volumetric modular buildings for use in the construction, education, healthcare and commercial sectors. The Association acts as a single body and represents manufacturers, refurbishment companies and retail and hire business specialising in modular buildings. MPBA works with BRE, CLG, LABC, NHS, H&S Exec, Carbon Trust and CSkills-CITB, has several published Codes of Practice and also works very closely with Government bodies to represent the needs of the industry. The Association hold regular meetings to keep members updated on the latest industry developments and their main aim is to continually improve the perception of modular buildings and their benefits to end users. MPBA Ltd Chief Executive, Jackie Maginnis, said: “The MPBA members manufacture buildings that provide businesses with much needed space. Modular buildings can be supplied in a variety of shapes and sizes and can also be installed to make an existing site become a much larger development. “The buildings are airtight and energy efficient, and with bespoke designs to suit all types of client they can meet the requirements of any business. “There’s a misconception that modular and portable buildings are manufactured solely for use in the construction industry and that’s something that just isn’t true. The quality and performance of modular buildings has encouraged other sectors to

start using them and the education and healthcare sectors are currently the two biggest markets. “Modular buildings offer businesses instant accommodation that can last in excess of 20 years and some of projects can be completed in just 12 weeks from start to finish. In some cases – particularly within the education sector – module classrooms can be on sites within days from existing stock holdings.” Modular buildings are purpose-built structures that are suitable for a range of uses, including classrooms and office spaces. All of the modules are produced as whole units, with most of the

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A s s o c i ati o n s internal equipment – including meeting rooms, kitchens, laboratories and toilets – fitted during the manufacturing process. Buildings can be designed to meet individual budgets and can be installed quickly. As the buildings are manufactured in a controlled environment, all of the structures are built to the highest standards which ultimately save money and reduce waste. In addition to offering quick installation, certain types of modular buildings can be easily removed and relocated to a new site, providing clients with a fantastic investment for their business. Jackie Maginnis said: “A lot of commercial buildings benefit from the use of modular and portable buildings, as companies don’t always have the funds available to invest in the construction of a brand new building in order to meet their needs. “MPBA member companies make it easy for these businesses to create new working areas within an existing facility. This means that they don’t have to relocate to new premises if their business has outgrown their current home. “Many major companies use modular buildings to solve their space shortage problems, and this has helped them to expand their businesses when the time is right for them.” For more information on the MPBA please visit: www.mpba.biz

Garic Ltd For over 30 years Garic Ltd has specialised in the manufacture, sale and hire of plant, welfare and service equipment for use in the construction, road and rail industry. Garic Ltd acts as a one-stop shop for on-site equipment, including specialist wheel washing solutions and fuel tanks and specialises in the provision of self-contained static and portable cabins. Garic Ltd Sales & Marketing Manager, Steve Booth, said: “Unlike some companies that set up large static cabins we operate small self-contained satellite offices and cabins which can be set up at different locations around a site. These cabins stop construction crews from having to travel across the site, wasting time and money. “We’ve previously been involved with many high profile projects including the Olympic Park, Heathrow Terminal 5, the M1 and M25 widening schemes and Scout Moor wind farm.” Steve Booth added: “We like to build lasting relationships with our customers and this is something we’re very proud of. “We never look at the short-term gain we prefer to focus on the long-term benefits and that’s why we benefit from a lot of repeat business.”

Taking measures to protect you from asbestos Employers of building maintenance and repair workers are required to carry out a risk assessment before undertaking any work which exposes, or is liable to expose, employees to asbestos. They must take the appropriate steps required by the Asbestos Regulations to prevent or reduce these risks. However, in many cases, the employers and their workers have little or no information about the premises where they will undertake work and are not aware if materials containing asbestos are present. Consequently, it is difficult for them to consider the risks, or decide if precautions may be needed. A duty to manage the risk from asbestos in non-domestic premises was therefore added to the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations in 2002 to address this issue. These requirements have since been brought forward unchanged in the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 as Regulation 4. Those who own, occupy, manage or have responsibilities for premises that may contain asbestos, will either have: • •

A legal duty to manage the risk from asbestos material; or A legal duty to co-operate with whoever manages that risk

They will be required to manage the risk from asbestos by: • Finding out if there is asbestos in the premises, its extent and what condition it is in • Presuming the materials contain asbestos, unless you have strong evidence that they do not • Making and keeping up to date a record of the location and condition of the ACM’s or presumed ACM’s in their premises • Assessing the risk from the material • Preparing a plan that sets out in detail how they are going to manage the risk from this material • Taking the steps needed to put their plan into action • Reviewing and monitoring their plan and the arrangements made to put it in place; and • Providing information on the location and condition of the material to anyone who is liable to work or disturb it In the United Kingdom, work on asbestos is by law to be carried out by a contractor who holds a licence under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006, although there are exceptions.

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Normally, non-licensed work includes work on asbestos-containing textured coatings, asbestos cement and certain work of short duration on asbestos insulating board. The duties imposed by regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 supplement the provisions of some of the

duties imposed by other sets of regulations, in particular the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 which require the client to provide designers and contractors who may be bidding for the work or who they intend to engage, with the project’s specific health and safety information needed to identify hazards and risks associated with the design and construction work. Asbestos awareness training is a legal requirement for most employees and supervisors working in the construction industry. In addition to initial training, the Approved Code of Practice which accompanies the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 also states that refresher training should be given at least every year. Therefore, there is an ongoing annual legal requirement for refresher training to be carried out for the identified employees. ARCA is the leading supplier of asbestos awareness training aimed at building and maintenance workers. To find out more or to arrange a no obligation meeting to discuss your employees asbestos awareness training needs, please contact ARCA on 01283 531126.

Apprentices needed as construction sector faces potential retirement time bomb It has been announced that problems could arise in the construction industry due to an ageing workforce and a ‘limited injection of new blood’. Mark Farrar, Chief Executive of CITB-ConstructionSkills, the Sector Skills Council and Industry Training Board for the construction industry, said: “When you look at the age profile demographics across the whole construction industry, there is a tendency towards older employees. Indeed, a significant number are coming up to retirement age in the next five to ten years. “Fewer people are coming through behind them because of the recession in the early 1990s. During this difficult time, the industry lost many people who never returned. “Statistics indicate that in the next 10 years there will be around half a million fewer 16 - 24 year olds in the country as a whole, and this at a time when firms are starting to fight hard for young apprentices or undergraduates to come into their sectors. As a result, the construction industry does have a fight on its hands; it has to make sure that it accesses good quality people from a significantly smaller pooler of talent.” He added: “The sectors’ ageing workforce will need replacing; therefore one of our main focuses is promoting the entry of new talent into the industry and driving young people to us for training.” CITB-ConstructionSkills has organised a series of events which have successfully increased the take-up of apprentices by 47%. The events were run as part of the CITB-ConstructionSkills Positive Image campaign and led to 65 employers signing up to get their hands on the UK’s best young talent.

With over 200 employers now committed to offering apprenticeships in areas ranging from carpentry to craft masonry, CITB-ConstructionSkills calls on companies to follow suit and invest in the skills today that will drive future growth. CITB-ConstructionSkills ran a programme of employer breakfast meetings, construction challenges, careers events and oneto-ones with its staff and staff from the National Construction College (NCC) as part of National Apprenticeship Week (NAW). The event brought employers face-to-face with over 600 young people interested in the sector.

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A s s o c i ati o n s Well over a quarter of the employers who attended an event committed to take on apprenticeships. One employer who attended the event, CMC Ltd’s Martyn Price, said: “I was delighted to be associated with National Apprenticeship Week to support the benefits that apprentices can bring to any business. The pledge demonstrated our ongoing commitment which we anticipate will continue to benefit our business for many future years. The Positive Image campaign’s drive to recruit the brightest and best talent has really paid off.” CITB-ConstructionSkills’ Mark Farrar added: “The events helped show employers the wealth of keen young people who were eager to work in the construction sector. We were delighted to see so many firms sign up to offer apprenticeships. “However, there was an opportunity for many more employers to get involved and leave a lasting legacy for the construction industry. It’s only by investing in the workforce of tomorrow that we will survive.” In July 2011 research indicated that employers felt there were significant gaps in their employees’ skills, which seriously limited the potential for growth in the industry. In a CITB survey of 1450 employers in the sector, specific gaps in skills that were identified included understanding the implications of green issues (43%), identifying potential new business (39%) and not having sufficient IT skills (43%). A further 32% also stated that their management team’s ability to identify the training needs of staff was an area that needed improvement.

IFA (Institute of Field Archaeology) England’s heritage minister outlines new proposals for heritage regulations Submitted by Kathryn Whittington on Wednesday 23rd May 2012 John Penrose MP, England’s Minister for Tourism and Heritage, yesterday spoke of the need to ‘nail for the ever the canard’ that economic growth and heritage are mutually opposed: ‘they coexist brilliantly’. Speaking at the English Heritage event Next steps for England’s heritage, he noted the essential contribution the historic environment makes to the other half of his portfolio, tourism, and to the nurturing spaces that stimulate and support the creative economy. But to make that synergy work, some streamlining is required. Presaging the DCMS consultation we expect this summer, he outlined some important steps to be undertaken by that part of his department not engaged on Olympic duties. Many measures are familiar from the Penfold review and draft Heritage Protection Bill, and include defining the extent of a listed building’s interest, extension to the ability to apply from a certificate of immunity from listing, and a statutory basis for Heritage Partnership Agreements. As might be expected from the Penfold proposals, the proposals include certification of applications for Listed Building Consent from accredited agents. Similar proposals have been made for the natural environment. But disappointingly, once again, there was no reference to any parallel process for Scheduled Monument Consent. IfA has recently obtained confirmation from English Heritage that the process of granting SMC for archaeological purposes continues to be managed without reference to the professional accreditation of the archaeologists concerned. Quite why management of this particular type of heritage asset (some might say the most important type) continues to be operated in an accreditation vacuum remains an enduring mystery, and one that calls into question the extent of HMG’s compliance with the Valletta convention. IfA will continue to press for a more enlightened approach, and hopes that others will too before the consultation process that

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must now be imminent.

Sustainabilitylive! – leading shows united at the UK’s premier energy, water and environmental event Under the banner of ‘leading the way for a sustainable future’, Sustainabilitylive! was once again at the NEC in Birmingham, from 22nd to 24th May 2012. The distinctive individual shows - covering the energy, water, land and sustainability sectors - gave leading companies a chance to showcase their latest products and services and do business. Not only were there hundreds of exhibitors with something to offer, but each show also ran a FREE three-day conference and seminar programme where a panel of experts put the spotlight on the big issues, latest advice and ground-breaking innovations. All of the shows also offered free admission, so visitors looking for joined-up thinking to solve a problem across any environmental sector, could find everything that they needed. And this year, Environmental Technology was represented through a busy seminar programme discussing a wide range of issues, including waste management, zero waste, energy from waste, and driving resource efficiency in supply chains.The programme sat within the Environmental and Land Remediation theatre and ran on Days 2 and 3 of the show.

The latest on saving energy at the National Energy Management Exhibition (NEMEX) NEMEX 2012 featured the latest advances in renewable energy products, energy management services and energy-efficient technologies. In the last two years the UK’s leading event for energy management has seen a 37 per cent rise in visitors and it kept up the momentum in 2012 by marking its 30th anniversary with an additional high-level conference programme. Main sessions on the new stage covered energy policy, EMR - Electricity Market Reform, REMIT, energy saving, carbon reduction, renewables, RHI, smart meters, PV/Solar, CRC and behavioural change. Utility Week ran sessions for its readers, as did the MEUC – the Major Energy Users Council.

Sustainable Business - The Event, offered a unique platform for industry experts to showcase the products and services that are helping to create more sustainable businesses. It attracted high-calibre visitors and environmental decisionmakers across the full range of private and public sector organisations, all of whom have a commitment to respond to the sustainability challenge and find out how minimising environmental impact can maximise profit. For up-to-date exhibitor news, seminar programmes, information on how to exhibit or how to register for free attendance visit www.sustainabilitylive.com or call +44 (0)20 8651 7120.

The International Water and Effluent Exhibition (IWEX) highlighted a new wave of innovation at the 2012 show IWEX is the UK’s leading water industry event with its unrivalled combination of showcasing the brightest ideas, and offering a rich seminar programme with up-to-the-minute insights and advice. The 2012 event once again brought together companies representing the whole spectrum of invention, from small businesses to larger product and service providers, all with the common aim of developing better ways to be more water-efficient.

Leading the way in brownfield regeneration Brownfield Expo (BEX) BEX is well established as the UK’s main event for all those looking to redevelop brownfield sites and attracts civil engineers, house builders, environmental health professionals, manufacturing and service industries, procurement managers and many others from across both the private and public sectors. BEX 2012 once again featured some of the biggest names in the sector including Regenesis, Adventus Europe, PA Geotechnical, Derwentside Environmental Testing, Landmark, Ashtead Technology Ltd and Ground-Gas Solutions.

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