Premier Construction Magazine Issue 17-8

Roma Publications

Volume 17 - Issue 8

WFC Contractors

Award-winning hospitality fit out contractor showcases its exceptional interiors

NHBC Pride in the Job Awards 2012 Celebrating the very best in construction excellence

Forum Interiors Co. Is a company specialised in high end interior design, construction, building & finishes. Based in Kuwait, the company has a considerable experience specifically in the retail sector. The firm has succesfully completed various projects, in banking, restaurants, retail and outlets of various prominent local and international brands.

The company is commited to maintain the highest standards of finishes and competitive pricing.

www.foruminteriors.com

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Contents PREMIER CONSTRUCTION Dear readers, It’s been another busy year for award-winning developments across the UK. In this month’s edition of Premier Construction, we celebrate the projects that are putting our construction industry on the map.

On June 21st 2012, the winners of the 2012 Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Awards were announced. The awards signify architectural excellence within the industry and were presented to fifty buildings in the UK and nine within the EU. Winners included the new BFI Master Film Store in Warwickshire, a Victorian house on Dalling Road in London and the £25 million Exhibition Road project.

RIBA President, Angela Brady, commented: “What really stands out is that even in times of austerity, we can still deliver amazingly clever, high quality buildings that reflect the needs of today and enhance our daily lives. These projects are truly exciting and inspiring.”

Held every two years, the Aberdeenshire Design Awards celebrate the most outstanding achievements in design innovation. With the original 106 designs now whittled down to just 28, the awards ceremony will be held on 6th September 2012.

The shortlist encompasses a variety of impressive projects, including the beautiful Les Enfants Nursery in Inverurie, which also received a Commendation Award at the Aberdeen Society of Architects Design Awards and was shortlisted for the NMT Awards 2011.

NHBC has announced the names of over 400 top achieving site managers who have been recognised in the first round of the Pride in the Job Awards 2012. Names were shortlisted from over 13,000 UK site managers who have excelled in their field over the past 12 months.

Amongst the 2012 winners are: Hugh McKay for Heritage Gate Phase 2, Gerry Rice for The Limes and George Carty for Calderpark.

Our construction contractors are also making us proud. In May 2012, WFC was awarded the coveted NAS Design Award for its exceptional work on The Delaunay. Commenting on their win, Managing Director of WFC, Steve Howle, said: “We are extremely proud to have been awarded the NAS Design Award after working alongside our client Rex Restaurant Associates and designers David Collins Studios, whose approach and level of professionalism enabled us to produce a high quality end product.”

Beardwell Construction Ltd celebrated another win for the construction industry when they were awarded Heritage Project of the Year 2011 at the National Federation of Builders Annual Awards 2012 for their work on the 130-year old Prittlewell Chapel in Southend-on-Sea. We now invite you, readers, to join us as we praise the people who are building our future.

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

Volume 17 • Issue 8

WFC Contractors..............................................................................................10 Ceviche..............................................................................................................17 Wasabi...............................................................................................................22 Wahaca..............................................................................................................25 Tops...................................................................................................................27 Yoobi Sushi.......................................................................................................28 SeftonHornWinch.............................................................................................30

NHBC Pride in the Job Awards 2012 Calderpark........................................................................................................32 The Limes..........................................................................................................33

RIBA Awards 2012 Dalling Road......................................................................................................35 BFI store............................................................................................................36 Exhibition Road.................................................................................................38

North West Walney Offshore Wind Farm............................................................................40 West Gorton.......................................................................................................42

North East CENE Awards.....................................................................................................49

Midlands & East Anglia 116 High Street....................................................................................................69 Wing Yip Centre..................................................................................................77

London & South East Lloyd Park .........................................................................................................84 Prittlewell Chapel...............................................................................................90

Scotland Aberdeenshire Design Awards........................................................................101

Ireland Skainos...............................................................................................................114

Heritage English Heritage................................................................................................117

Associations Lead Sheet Association...................................................................................120

Follow us on twitter.com/pcbyroma and www.premierconstructionnews.com

© Roma Publications Ltd. All contents are copyright. All rights are reserved. No part may be stored in any retrieval system or transmitted in any form without prior written permission from the publishers.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy, no responsibility can be accepted for inaccuracies however caused. Contributed material does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher. The editorial policy and general layout of this publication are at the discretion of the publisher and no debate will be entered into. No responsibility can be accepted for illustrations, artwork or photographs whilst in transmission with the publishers or their agents unless a commitment is made in writing prior to the receipt of such terms.

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Katie takes on the construction industry Katie Constable is a woman on a mission. After setting up her own chocolate fountain business, Fountain Au Choc-o-lat, at the age of 18, the 22-year old Salford University student has embarked upon a career in the construction industry following her appointment as an assistant building surveyor at leading UK commercial property advisor, GVA. In an exclusive interview with Premier Construction, Katie spoke of her determination to succeed in such a competitive industry: “I carried out a lot of research before deciding on a career in building surveying. After looking at a range of options, including architecture and construction management, building surveying was a field that really caught my eye.

“My ultimate aim was to be offered a graduate job, and I am delighted to say that I have achieved this. I initially sent out around 40 cover letters to firms in Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool and Huddersfield asking for the chance to complete a placement. After passing two interviews at GVA, I was offered the position of assistant building surveyor.

“GVA is a company that I thoroughly researched before I applied, as they are the UK’s leading commercial property advisers. It is incredibly exciting to work for such a large company, as it means that I can work on bigger projects – everything is twice the size.”

Katie is currently working towards a BSc (Hons) Building Surveying at the University of Salford, which is accredited by

the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Although the course has provided her with a sound theoretical understanding, she believes that her work placement at GVA has allowed her to really experience firsthand what the industry has to offer: “The most enjoyable part is being able to put the theory into practice. The first year of my course focused on basic construction and design, whilst the second year centred on building pathology and construction technology. Throughout my placement, I have been able to use the ideology I have learnt at university to inform my day-to-day

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i n d u st ry N E WS decisions.

“Every day is different; I will be onsite one day, and in the office the next.

As GVA deal with so many different types of property, I have done absolutely everything – from refurbishments and fit-outs to demolition works, historic buildings and new builds.”

A strong work ethic and a drive to succeed are essential for a career in the construction industry, as Katie explained: “I have always been a very ambitious person; I set up my own business at the age of 18, and it has since been featured on BBC3’s Don’t Tell the Bride. I am currently working on my APC,

which means that I will be chartered by 2014. It is onwards and upwards from there, and in years to come I hope to become a director of GVA. “My advice to other students would be to never give up. There is a lot of rejection due to the current economic climate. I sent off 40 applications and I ended up with 4 job offers, so it is possible – you just have to put the work in.”

Katie has worked on a variety of exciting projects during her 12 months with GVA, which has in turn sparked her passion for ensuring the survival of existing buildings: “My favourite project has to be the restoration of a Grade II listed cinema. After bringing in a conservation officer and assessing the building defects – including water ingress – we were able to bring the cinema back to life.

“Without companies like GVA there would be no buildings, as the existing historic developments would just deteriorate.

Without building surveyors to determine the next step, we would be looking at the end to an era of some of the country’s most important buildings.”

For more information on GVA, visit: www.gva.co.uk

Laser light show marks the opening of The Shard The Shard, Western Europe’s tallest building, was formally inaugurated in London on 5th July 2012 by His Excellency Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassem Bin Jabor Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar and HRH the Duke of York KG. The event marks the physical completion of the exterior of the building – which is fast becoming one of the most recognisable London skyline silhouettes.

The inauguration represents the culmination of a 12-year journey to build a significant new landmark on the London skyline.

Designed by renowned master architect Renzo Piano and

developed by Sellar Property, The Shard stands at 310m (1,016 ft).

Irvine Sellar, Chairman of Sellar Property, commented: “The Shard is an iconic addition to the capital’s skyline and will be one that all of London can enjoy. It will become as essential a part of a visit to London as going to the top of the Empire State building is for visitors on a trip to New York.”

Digging further: Fatality statistics tell a grim story The British Safety Council has, in response to the official 2011/12 worker fatality statistics released by the Health and Safety Executive, expressed serious concern that the reduction in the number of deaths at work has stalled over the last two years.

The number of deaths caused by fatal injury in the last two statistical years – 175 in 2010/11 and 173 in 2011/12 – was an increase from the historically low figure of 147 deaths in 2009/10.

Neal Stone, director of policy and communications at the British Safety Council, said: “While the number of deaths in Britain resulting from workplace injury has halved over the last twenty years, it is a serious concern that the reduction in both the number and incidence of deaths has stalled over the last two years. ”The fatal injuries that occurred in 2011/12 are a tragedy and a stark reminder that the health and safety regulatory framework is a fundamental protection to help keep workers healthy and safe. We must remember those 173 workers and the families and friends they left behind.

“Nor should we forget the thousands of other people who died in 2011/12 as a result of work-related diseases and work-related road traffic accidents. We must better understand the causes of these deaths and why they were not prevented. We owe that to future generations of workers.”

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EPSRC congratulates Sir John Armitt on inaugural Major Projects Award Sir John Armitt CBE, Chairman of the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and former Chair of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), has been honoured as the first recipient of the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Major Projects Award.

As the engineer responsible for delivering the London 2012 Games infrastructure, he has delivered the massive project on time and to budget while under intense scrutiny from the rest of the world.

The project has consistently met targets throughout the building phase and set new benchmarks for sustainable construction and technical expertise, thanks to Sir John’s leadership in coordinating the work of hundreds of professionals to create new London landmarks. He was pivotal in all aspects of the Olympic and Paralympic Games infrastructure project, including: finance, engineering, environment, management and external relations, as well as acting as an ambassador for the project in explaining its complexities to the public.

Congratulating Sir John on his award Professor David Delpy, EPSRC’s Chief Executive, said: “On behalf of EPSRC’s Council, Executive and staff, I’d like to congratulate Sir John on this landmark achievement. The Games and their legacy of world class facilities for the athletes of the future will be a fitting tribute to Sir John and the spirit of 2012.”

Ray O’Rourke KBE, Chairman and Chief Executive of Laing O’Rourke, said: “The success of the London 2012 project hinged on Sir John’s deft leadership and understanding of the delivery requirements for this strategic project. He demonstrated great care in managing the politics surrounding the project and the many stakeholders who had an interest in it.”

Sir John was previously Chair of EPSRC between 2007-2012, was Chief Executive of Network Rail and Railtrack and has extensive experience in the building, civil engineering and industrial construction markets.

HRH The Princess Royal presented Sir John with his award at The Royal Academy’s annual awards ceremony at London’s Royal Opera House.

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Hospitality fit-out contractor WFC showcases its award-winning interiors As one of Britain’s most successful fit-out specialists, WFC has over 30 years’ experience in providing high quality services delivered by excellent people for clients within the UK leisure industry.

WFC was founded in 1976 by Brian Waggett and Lloyd Howle.

Their respective sons Philip and Steve joined the business in 1999, allowing Brian and Lloyd to retire a few years later. The company’s reputation has since spread far beyond its Devonbased office and its ever-expanding portfolio includes: OXO Tower, HIX Selfridges, Rank/Gala Casinos, Royal Horse Guards Hotel (Guoman) and David Lloyd Leisure.

From one-off projects to national roll-outs, WFC is able to deliver high quality project management services using its extensive expertise and flexible approach. The company prides itself on its ability to complete fit-outs and refurbishments in challenging timescales, whilst its high level of client retention – 70% of its work is repeat business – speaks for itself.

In May 2012, WFC was awarded the coveted NAS Design Award for its exceptional work on The Delaunay. Launched to recognise the partnership between shopfitters and designers, the award is viewed as the industry’s seal of approval.

WFC fought off competition from the prestigious Novikov and Wahaca developments, ultimately emerging victorious.

Commenting on the well-deserved win, Managing Director of WFC, Steve Howle, said: “We are extremely proud to have been awarded the NAS Design Award after working alongside our client Rex Restaurant Associates and designers David Collins Studios, whose approach and level of professionalism enabled us to produce a high quality end product.”

Located on the corner of Aldwych and Drury Lane in London, The Delaunay is an elegant café-restaurant that takes its inspiration from the grand cafés of Old Europe. From the special selection of wieners and schnitzels to restaurant classics such

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as salads and steaks, the extensive á la carte menu offers a range of mouth-watering treats to suit any palette.

The brainchild of restaurant duo Jeremy King and Chris Corbin, the stunning restaurant was completed in November 2011 following a multi-million, 20 week fit-out project. WFC was selected as the main contractor after impressing the client management team with its work on the 130-seat Conran Restaurant on Fleet Street and successfully winning the tender for this project.

Nick Moffat, Senior Project Manager for WFC, said: “One of our biggest challenges was adopting a design coordination role. Essentially it was WFC’s responsibility to coordinate every single drawing that was issued from a consultant, and we therefore had to relay drawings and make sure that everything would fit as the designer wanted it.”

Steve Howle, Managing Director of WFC, added: “Another challenge was the fact that it was a tight programme in relatively difficult conditions. Effectively the job was split into three areas: a basement area with back-of-house kitchens and office spaces, the main restaurant area on the ground floor, and the takeaway counter.

“A lot of money was spent on quality finishes, including timber panelling, chequerboard marble flooring, bronze metalwork and gold leaf detailing –lending the restaurant a very authentic, ‘oldie-worldy’ feel. We are particularly pleased with the successful integration of the marble floors and fibrous ceilings.”

WFC was responsible for the complete shell fit-out of the twostorey, 13,000 sq ft development. Works included structural alterations, along with the installation of a new kitchen (and associated mechanical and electrical works) and the fit-out of walls, ceilings, floors and joinery.

All of the front-of-house areas – including the main restaurant and reception, cloakrooms, main bar area and private dining rooms – are located on the ground floor. In addition to the main restaurant area, The Delaunay has also opened The Counter,

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which has an independent entrance and offers take-out food, a local delivery service and relaxed dining throughout the day.

WFC was very happy with how The Delaunay turned out, as Steve Howle explained: “We are honoured to have worked on The Delaunay; a truly stunning restaurant in a prime London location. Both the level of finishes and the level of detailing are extremely high, and the end result is nothing short of fantastic. Indeed, we were able to negotiate our next major project - Brasserie Zédel - off the back of our work on The Delaunay.”

Sited within feet of Piccadilly Circus, Brasserie Zédel was built almost a century ago, originally for use as a ballroom. It was relaunched as the Atlantic Bar & Grill in the 1990s, before closing in 2005.

In November 2011, WFC was selected to work with Rex Restaurant Associates and David Collins Studios once again in order to transform the site into a beautiful Parisian brasserie.

Featuring a stunning art-deco style interior that is adorned with marble, brass, oak and pewter, the three-storey restaurant clearly illustrates WFC’s award-winning craftsmanship.

Through the café, a sweeping staircase then leads down past the Crazy Coq cabaret and event room before opening out into a subterranean foyer that incorporates both a spacious dining room and the Bar Américain cocktail bar.

Already one of the most talked-about restaurants this year, the multi-million Brasserie Zédel was handed over in June 2012 following WFC’s successful completion of an extensive fit-out project. In addition to overseeing all of the joinery and floor finishes, its work included installing the mechanical and electrical works, along with the canopies, cold rooms and cooking equipment.

The project was not without its challenges, as Senior Project Manager, Nick Moffat, explained: “As with The Delaunay, we took on a design coordination role.

The sheer scale of the venue was a challenge, and this was confounded further by the listed status of the building – which would ultimately require us to gain permission from English Heritage for some of the works.

“However, despite all challenges, there was a very smooth transition between us handing the project over and the client taking occupation. In fact, they even took occupation earlier than programmed.”

Managing Director of WFC, Steve Howle, added: “We are very happy with the quality of the finished article. There is such a ‘wow factor’ as you walk down the stairs, and the high ceilings are stunning. Every last detail has been completed to the highest possible quality, which has created a restaurant that everybody is very proud of.”

One of WFC’s recurrent clients is national restaurant group, Aubaine. To date, the company has completed fit-out projects for Aubaine at its Selfridges London, Selfridges Manchester, Kensington, Mayfair and Wimbledon sites.

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Its first site, Selfridges London, required WFC to create an attractive restaurant space within the busy shoe department.

Combining rustic France with a contemporary design, the restaurant features a French country style floor tile and mirrors around the kitchen area to create the illusion of space.

Following on from its success at the Selfridges London site, WFC completed the new Aubaine on the lower ground floor of the Manchester Exchange Square site. The design features Aubaine’s signature palette of grey and neutral tones, along with marble surfaces and antique finishes.

Commenting on their strong working relationship with the Aubaine group, Steve Howle, Managing Director of WFC, said: “We value our working relationship with Aubaine, having worked alongside them since 2010. Our first two projects at Selfridges London and High Street, Kensington were tendered, whilst all of the following fit-outs were negotiated – with the last one at Wimbledon Village completed just last month.

“Aubaine are always a pleasure for us to work with, as we like both the group and the individuals involved. B3 Designers drive the concept, and the relationship between us, the client and the client’s quantity surveyor is very much a working team.

“Although the design for each restaurant is similar in terms of joinery, finishes and overall colour theme, every project has been interesting in its own way. For instance, the Dover Street development in Mayfair was a very fast-track project and we had to liaise very closely with the designer throughout the fit-out to ensure the speed of the delivery and the quality of the end product.”

WFC also has a number of other high-profile projects in the pipelines. The company is currently working on an enabling package for the new Buddha Bar in Knightsbridge.

Explaining the key to WFC’s success, Managing Director Steve Howle commented: “WFC is all about the people. Each person that we work with, from our employees to any of our supply chain, is part of a team.

Our company is not based on individuals, but on a brand that works as one to deliver a successful project each time, every time.”

For more information call 020 7436 1111, visit www.wfccontractors.com or follow WFC on Twitter @WFCcontractors.

Hallmark Kitchens Ltd Hallmark Kitchens Ltd project manage, supply and install commercial kitchens. The company works across the spectrum from schools and blue-chip companies to hotels and restaurants.

On the Delaunay Restaurant project, Hallmark supplied and installed the basement kitchen equipment including cooking equipment and bespoke fabrication. They also worked on the ground floor kitchen, bars and retail counter area.

Chris Douglas, Co-owner of Hallmark Kitchen’s Ltd and Hallmarks Project Manager on the Delaunay project said:

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“This was a challenging job because access to the basement was very limited and the area required careful space planning; however in conjunction with the food service consultant SHW and the main contractor WFC we achieved the objective.

“It was also a pleasure and fantastic experience to be working for Corbin and King who own Rex Restaurants and who are one of the most successful restaurateurs’ in London.

Chris Douglas added: “We are now working on our third Corbin and King project, Cafe Colbert in Sloane Square, after having recently completed Brasserie Zedel in Sherwood Street.

“We think the work we have carried out with Rex Restaurants demonstrates that Hallmark is a company that you can rely on to deliver on time, to clients’ expectations and within budget.”

Scriptus Ltd Scriptus teamed up with Jeremy King and Chris Corbin to provide internal and external signage for The Delaunay. Having previously produced signage for The Wolseley, Scriptus Ltd was employed to manufacture and install the signage in order to complement the unique grandeur of the new restaurant.

Scriptus Ltd worked closely with graphic designers Sands Thomas, King Design and David Collins Studio to manufacture cast bronze curved plaques for the entrance columns. The company also manufactured a series of bronze effect lettering and light boxes, vinyl window graphics and cast bronze ‘D’s’ for use in the entrance ways.

An additional feature included a decorated and gilded glass panel for the counter which was designed to incorporate an aged, distressed appearance.

P A Schofield Ltd For over 20 years, P A Schofield Ltd has provided specialist

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decorating services to the leisure industry. P A Schofield has completed works for bars, restaurants, nightclubs and casinos and high profile clients including Gala Bingo, KFC and Pizza Hutt.

P A Schofield Ltd has an excellent working relationship with WFC and has provided the company with specialist decorating services for almost 18 years. P A Schofield Ltd completed all the decoration works on The Delauney.

P A Schofield Ltd Managing Director, Paul Schofield said: “It’s very important for P A Schofield Ltd to be involved with WFC on all of their projects. We have a fantastic working relationship with them and we have never let them down.”

Gardner & Sons Ltd Gardner & Sons Ltd is a heating and plumbing specialist carrying out work for restaurants, nightclubs and public houses. The

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family-run company has been in operation for over 8 years and has worked as the main plumbing contractor for WFC for the past 5 years.

Working with WFC, Gardener & Sons Ltd has designed and manufactured heating and plumbing systems for David Lloyd Gym, Fitness First, Luminar and Cocoon Restaurant.

Darren Gardner, Gardner & Sons Ltd, said: “Gardner & Sons Ltd liaises with each client to bring jobs in on time and on budget.

“We design and build systems that suit our clients’ specific needs and we eradicate any potential flaws in the design before work is implemented.

“Most recently we have completed work for Aubaine and 28-50 Wine Workshop and Kitchen.”

Halton Foodservice Limited Halton is a global company with representation & manufacturing in many countries. In the UK Halton Foodservice Limited specialise in the manufacture and installation of commercial kitchen ventilation systems for use in the catering industry. The UK branch has been in operation for over 30 years, based in Rochester, Kent, Halton Foodservice Limited employs 67 staff.

The plant has manufacturing, R & D, Showroom and Testing, enabling us to supply ventilation solutions for many high profile restaurants, hotels, business locations and stadiums.

Halton Foodservice Limited Design Manager Marc Byford, said: “Introduced by Sefton Horn Winch, we have worked closely on a number of ‘high end’ restaurants with WFC and are establishing a good working synergy together.”

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Ceviche brings Peruvian cuisine to the UK All Images Copyright Paul Winch-Furness

The opening of the new Ceviche bar and restaurant marks the start of a taste revolution in London’s Soho.

Founder and creator of Ceviche, Martin Morales, left a highflying career as an Executive Director at Disney to follow his dream of opening a Peruvian restaurant in the UK’s capital. His passion for delicious food is fuelled by his proud Peruvian heritage and the menu is therefore brimming with authentic dishes.

In addition to the (marinated fish) ceviches that give the restaurant its name, Ceviche offers a tantalising array of exciting cooked foods, including: braised octopus with Peruvian olive sauce and capers, chicken livers in ají panca chilli anticucho sauce and confit duck in coriander and dark beer rice.

Ceviche is also home to London’s first Pisco bar, which is headed up by mixologist Julian Bayuni. As Peru’s national drink, the Pisco Sour is a delicious combination of Pisco, eggwhite, syrup, bitters and cinnamon, and is definitely not for the fainthearted.

Commenting on restaurant’s innovative menu, Martin Morales, creator and founder of Ceviche, said: “In our cuisine, we bring together more than 3,000 years of produce and recipes. Through migration, the cuisine of our indigenous ancestors was shaped by culinary influences and ingredients from Spain, Japan, China, West Africa and Italy.

“But we have more than that; a depth and technique to our cuisine that brings together people of all the social groups and races that enjoy and cook our cuisine.”

The restaurant has so far impressed customers and critics alike, with a review for The Times stating: ‘This place is brilliant.

The cooking is super-confident, rare and interesting; the look of the room is great and the bar must be fantastic in the evening, the music is lovely, the staff are incredibly sweet. And it’s cheap.

I never really want to go anywhere else again’.

Situated on Frith Street in the heart of Soho, the 62-seat restaurant has been created within an 18th century building that was formerly the home of Cafe Emm. Architects Schneider Designers were subsequently tasked with the challenging brief of transforming the site into an authentic Peruvian restaurant.

The project saw main contractor Metz Construction strip out all of the internal fixtures and fittings to create an impressive new restaurant and bar space, with further improvements including the installation of a new state-of-the-art kitchen and toilet facilities. A sustainable approach has been implemented throughout, including the use of reclaimed tabletops from the previous restaurant and the installation of LED lighting.

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Ceviche is also home to London’s first Pisco bar, which is headed up by mixologist Julian Bayuni.

Work began onsite in December 2011 and the restaurant opened to the public in March 2012.

Dean Sexton, Metz Construction, said: “Because the building is around 100 years old, it had sadly deteriorated over the years. As there are a lot of restrictions on access and noise within Soho, we did have some challenges – however, this just made things interesting.

“We always enjoy working with new clients, as they are really motivated and enthusiastic – and Ceviche was certainly no exception. As there are plans to build more Ceviche restaurants it was very important that we did a good job, and I’m glad to say that I think we did.”

One of Ceviche’s most striking features is the ceviche bar, which has been designed around the concept of a fish market.

The bar can sit 18 people and has incorporated timber slats, corrugated metal and zinc in order to symbolise a fisherman’s boat. Customers will be able to experience their fresh fish being cooked, creating what the designers term ‘a theatre of food’.

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Jack Schneider, Managing Director of Schneider Designers, commented: “Our aim was to evoke the nostalgia of another century by creating a design that reflected the bohemia of Peru. We wanted to create a restaurant where customers could drink, eat good food and spend long nights listening to music.

“It was important to us that the design felt authentic. We didn’t want to simply emulate the Peruvian style; we wanted to create a hidden little treasure in the heart of Soho. As a result, we used a variety of reclaimed materials – including corrugated metal, timber and table tops from the old restaurant – to compose a restaurant that remained loyal to the essence of Peru without feeling too forced.

“We are proud to say that we have developed an excellent working relationship with Ceviche and thoroughly enjoyed working with them throughout the course of the project. In fact, I recently held my daughter’s 18th birthday there!”

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Stuart Consultancy Ltd Stuart Consultancy Ltd is a multi-disciplinary construction and property consultancy with a wealth of experience in the restaurant and leisure sector.

Their clients include: Ceviche, Drake & Morgan, GBK, Wahaca, The Real Greek, Franco Manca, Dishoom & Cote Restaurants.

The majority of their clients have been supported from concept development stage which underlines the practices work ethic of building “long term” relationships with its customers and supply chain.

SCL were involved with the Ceviche project from acquisition to opening, guiding the client through the legal and building processes. The various specialists were managed as “client direct” to optimise construction costs.

Taking design team and client vision and making this a reality merging the practicalities of construction and retaining innovation at an affordable cost is very much the key focus for the company.

Managing Director, Keith Stuart, said: “We were delighted to work on the new Ceviche brand and

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are confident that Martin and his team will drive the business successfully forward.

“Many competitor organisations offer project and cost management, I think what makes us different is that we integrate supply chain management and procurement with the cost management process.

“We deal with every element of the construction process and are committed to driving “best value” rather than simply cost reporting.

“Given the diverse experience within the practice we have the ability to tailor our services to suit any client’s needs”.

Dogstar AV Ltd Dogstar AV Ltd design and install audio visual systems for use in the leisure and retail sectors, supplying many UK-wide highprofile brands, as well as small independent operators.

For Ceviche, Dogstar AV Ltd designed a complete background music system to complement the bespoke dining area.

Dogstar AV Ltd Company Director, Wendy Edwards, said: “We work closely with our clients to ensure that we meet their

individual requirements. We embrace projects large and small and from conception to completion our clients can be assured that their AV requirements are in safe hands.

“We have extensive experience in this sector and have forged great relationships with our suppliers over the years, providing us with the pick of all the best AV brands.

“We are responsive and flexible and pride ourselves on our attention to detail and the personal touch we can give our clients.”

Wendy Edwards added: “With the launch of iPlay in 2007 – our own fully licensed hard disk music player – we are able to offer a turnkey service and provide perfectly profiled music too.”

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Designer Dining: Wasabi Layalina and Wasabi Point 5 Located within a heritage area on the Kuwaiti Corniche, Wasabi Point 5 is a brand new restaurant in the Middle East that is serving up delicious Japanese cuisine.

Owned and managed by the Epicure Group, a food and beverage subsidiary of the Sultan Group, Wasabi Point 5 has opened simultaneously alongside Wasabi Layalina and marks a turning point for the brand.

Forum Interiors was the main contractor on Wasabi Layalina and Point 5, whilst Dubai headquartered Thomas Klein International (TKI) and its Chicago architectural office PS Studio designed the interiors for the restaurant.

Thomas Klein International Managing Director, Daniel During, said: “Epicure Group has five Wasabi restaurants in the Middle East and recently the group decided that they wanted to upgrade the sites to remarket and reposition the brand.

“The Group knew exactly what they wanted to achieve with the new design, so TKI worked with the restaurant’s existing team of chefs to create an environment that enhanced the concept and help re-establish the brand.

“Once opened, the new Wasabi restaurant will set the benchmark in design for any additional Wasabi outlets, and all the existing Wasabi outlets will be transformed to match the new brand and positioning.”

Taking inspiration from traditional Japanese art forms – Origami (folding), Kirigami (cutting) and print making – and the wasabi root, Wasabi’s interior design has been developed to present a unique and memorable experience.

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Architect Eric Schall, explained: “The design concepts for the restaurant were developed at Wasabi Layalina, the brand’s signature restaurant, and further transformed for the Wasabi Point 5 location.

“We have used three traditional and sophisticated Japanese art forms of paper manipulation and print making as inspiration for the design of the restaurant. The ancient art techniques of Origami and Kirigami are used both literally and metaphorically in crafting multiple spaces in the restaurant.

“We wanted to create separate areas within the Wasabi restaurants to provide three very different atmospheres, so we created three folds in the interior space. The first fold was inspired by Origami and defines the entrance. This undulating and creased fold literally wraps around the space from floor to wall to ceiling and back to the floor. It is formed by flat panels of pressed linear bamboo strips, an ecologically conscious material made of renewable resources that is also incredibly strong, lightweight and durable.

“The second fold defines the lofty and light filled two storey connection between the first floor and the second floor at the heart of the restaurant. It also spatially connects the ground floor seating area to the grill and the sushi counter. The design of this metal fold interprets the traditional techniques of Kirigami in a modern way. The design and fabrication was controlled digitally which allowed us greater control over the pattern and the effects of light and shadow on the surface and in the space.

The surface of the metal was laser cut and etched and then assembled and folded to create the wall.

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“The third fold is a printed textile fold which recalls the printed shoji screen. The image of a mature tree literally wraps the floor, wall and ceiling of the second floor dining area connecting to the outside dining terrace.”

Work began on Wasabi Layalina in May 2011 and whilst the exterior of the existing building underwent only minor alterations, the internal layout of the building was completely transformed.

The internal layout is spread across two floors and features a mixture of dining options. On the ground floor diners can either choose to sit at stand alone tables or at benches and communal tables with stools, whilst a central atrium provides 24 additional covers.

On the second floor, two private dining rooms offer a more intimate eating experience. The dining rooms are separated by a movable partition which can be opened up to combine both rooms into one large dining area. In addition, a private terrace offers uninterrupted views and the option for 48 guests to dine outdoors.

A noticeable highlight of the external terrace is the inclusion of calming pools, hydroponic beds for growing wasabi plants, and additional water features. Dehumidifiers and condensers have also been incorporated on the terrace so that water can be collected and recycled to refill pools and water plants.

In addition to these environmentally friendly features, the main materials used in the restaurant are made from recycled or renewable materials.

Architect Paula Palombo, said: “For the Wasabi Point 5 site we chose to highlight a single folding technique utilizing textiles to unify the long curving space.

The radial geometry of the restaurant resembles the Japanese hand fan and inspired the use of pleated and printed fabric in the choice of window coverings, light fixtures and movable partitions.

“All of the window coverings are pleated and can be raised and lowered to achieve the desired atmosphere and open views to the sea. The light fixtures also have pleated fabric, but with a unique shape that adds a new dimension to a familiar shade.

“We created a dynamic, colourful backdrop using a threedimensional ceramic series called ‘Bamboo’. The cylindrical ceramic rods are positioned at various angles and depths along

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the curved wall to create a rich visual texture of light, shadow and colour.

“We also incorporated Torii Chairs by Bensen in the restaurant design, as the design of the chairs is inspired by the traditional wood entrance arches to the Shinto shrines in Japan. These simple yet subtly sophisticated wooden chairs provide a definite sense of harmony and calm within the space.”

Paula Palombo added: “Wasabi is a project that is very close to our hearts at Thomas Klein Group. In developing the concept and creating the physical space of the restaurant we were not trying to imitate the origami, but rather define the spaces with a strong material presence and at a scale that is entirely unique.

“Also of critical importance to us as designers was the full integration of the concept of folding into a building system incorporating all the realities of structure, acoustics, lighting and even the supply of conditioned air. The simple fold, for example, in a metal panel has an aesthetic effect but more importantly it strengthens the panel immensely.

“This is a system that works and now that we have put this system into use we have a great feeling of accomplishment within our company.”

Thomas Klein Group Managing Director, Daniel During, added: “If you want to open a hotel, you go to a hotel chain and they will manage the whole design process and construction process. They will speak to different designers and chefs to look at different concepts and come up with a hotel that meets the needs of the market.

“At Thomas Klein Group we provide a similar service for the food and beverage business. We provide investors with a business plan, we create a concept based on the research and the market and then we look at brand positioning and we start developing interiors and a product range.

“We develop the product alongside the interiors – including seating, tables and dining ware – so that everything works in synergy. We have three very distinctive teams: branding and marketing specialists, a team of architects and chefs that all work on the product.

“In addition a fourth team works on the technical equipment, including all aspects of the kitchen. All of this is then delivered to the client as a package and we supervise the design, the production of branded items and the product development.

“We have offices worldwide and most of our clients are in the Middle East. We have completed two sites now for Epicure Group and we are currently working on the third site in the Wasabi portfolio.”

Forum Interiors W.L.L Forum Interiors W.L.L is a fit-out specialist providing services for offices and retail outlets. The company has several branches covering interior design work and indoor and outdoor printing and has provided services for Yusif Al Ghanim (YAAS) (Chevrolet/Cadillac), Wataniya Airways, Sultan Group and Aja Holding Group.

Forum Interiors W.L.L was the main contractor on Wasabi Point 5 and completed all of the internal fit-out works for the restaurant. The company fitted the metal and wood folds, conducted all of the mechanical engineering works, installed electrical and safety items and furniture and counters. Forum Interiors W.L.L also completed all glass work within the restaurant.

Forum Interiors W.L.L CEO, Yasser Atta, said: “This was the first time that we have worked with Wasabi and it was very important for us to be involved with such a high profile brand.

“We are involved with four additional Multinational Restaurants in the Middle East and this is something we’re very pleased to be a part of.”

Yasser Atta added: “At Forum Interiors W.L.L we are proud of our ability to create and maintain a high standard of values so that our hopes and our clients’ outspoken and hidden necessities meet harmoniously.”

Developing Mexican dining with Wahaca Mexican dining is set to undergo a radical transformation with the opening of two new Wahaca restaurants in London.

Wahaca Southbank and Wahaca Charlotte Street are the latest editions in the Wahaca portfolio and will serve the delicious traditional Mexican market food that has become synonymous with the brand.

In a break from traditional construction methods, Wahaca Southbank has been constructed using a collection of shipping containers that are intertwined to form a fully operational diner.

Meanwhile, Charlotte Street is set to become the largest Wahaca restaurant in the UK when it opens in the autumn of 2012.

Main contractor for both projects is du Boulay Contracts Ltd, whilst Softroom is the architect.

Softroom Director, Chris Bagot, commented: “Our involvement with the Wahaca brand dates back to 2006, before the restaurant chain had even launched. We were asked to create a Mexican restaurant that wouldn’t fall into the trap of employing typical Mexican clichés – and that’s exactly what we did.

“Our task was to come up with contemporary design that was both interesting and stimulating whilst capturing the spirit and energy of Mexico.”

Work began on Wahaca Southbank in November 2011 and was completed in June 2012. The overlying concept was to design a contemporary restaurant for London’s Southbank that could fit into the confines of the tight, yet very prestigious site. As a result, the restaurant was constructed using two rows of shipping containers each measuring 2.4 metres in height.

Chris Bagot commented: “The Southbank is a fantastic location for Wahaca, however as

we didn’t have the space to create a full-sized Wahaca restaurant we had to rethink the concept - which is when the shipping container idea was conceived.”

The back row of containers houses many of the practical elements of the restaurant, including the kitchens, bar and wash rooms. Seating areas, dining rooms and the lounge bar are housed in the front containers. The restaurant is fully fitted with bespoke furniture and all of the finishes are in keeping with the Wahaca style.

An external area at the site houses an alfresco dining space complete with timber decking and seating.

Chris Bagot said: “We don’t know how long the restaurant will be here, but we have plans in place for when the site is officially closed.

“By making the restaurant out of shipping containers, we hope to be able to deconstruct the site and reconfigure it at a new location. It is impossible to say how we will reuse the components but it certainly has potential and this is what has made Wahaca Southbank financially viable.”

To continue the impressive expansion of Wahaca, work is currently underway on Wahaca Charlotte Street. Work began in March 2012 and is scheduled for completion in August.

The restaurant is spread over three floors and as well as offering diners a place to relax and enjoy the delicious food, a separate takeaway service will also be installed on the site. The basement level will comprise the kitchen and back of house services, whilst the ground floor will be reserved for dining and the takeaway counter. The first floor of the Charlotte Street site will house a stunning cocktail bar.

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Chris Bagot said: “Wahaca Charlotte Street was formerly three houses that have been reconfigured into one site, and it is completely different to Wahaca Southbank in almost every way.

“In conceiving the design of any restaurant, we always try to emphasis what the building was originally and then use our imagination to release the potential. Charlotte Street could become the most important Wahaca that we have been involved with, and it is certainly the largest.”

“Working with Wahaca enables us to employ our broad range of skills and experiences. When we see the finished result it really is a big achievement for us and makes all of the hard work worthwhile.”

T R Mechanical Services Ltd T R Mechanical Services Ltd has been a part of the Wahaca team since 2009, when they worked together on Wahaca Canary Wharf. Southbank is the company’s 6th Wahaca restaurant and is without a doubt the most unusual design that T R Mechanical Services Ltd has ever been involved with.

Each Wahaca is different and provides T R Mechanical Services Ltd with a new challenge in getting the correct and most energy efficient performance from the ventilation and air conditioning systems.

When designing the mechanical systems T R Mechanical Services Ltd are very sensitive to Wahaca’s environmental policy and they ensure the kitchen extract passes through various stages of filtration to eliminate odours, smoke and grease before discharging to the atmosphere.

Whenever possible T R Mechanical Services Ltd also recover the lost heat from the kitchen extract and transfer it to the fresh air intake during the colder months. This helps to reduce Wahaca’s carbon footprint and save money.

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Top of the world Located just a stone’s throw away from China Town on Portland Street, Tops Manchester is an exciting new buffet restaurant. Serving up an impressive array of more than 300 dishes, Tops Manchester provides diners with some of world’s most mouth-watering delights in a luxurious setting.

The £1 million restaurant is housed on the site of a former nightclub and is the latest eatery from restaurateur Robin Wang.

Tops opened in June 2012 and it is hoped that this will be the beginning of a long line of high-end buffet diners in the UK. Project Manager, Robin Wang, said: “I’ve been in the restaurant business for over 20 years, mostly in London, the South East and South West – and it now seems the right time to expand into the North West. Tops Manchester is our baby and it is the first restaurant to use the Tops name.

The plan is to branch out nationwide, using this as our starting point.

“It has been a lot of hard work to get the restaurant off the ground, but all of our efforts have paid off and it is great to see us now open for business. We saw the potential in this site and it is now a reality.”

Work began on creating the 400-cover restaurant in November 2011 and the project was completed in June 2012. Pam Construction was the main contractor on the project and ArchNova Architects Ltd was the architect.

Upon entering Tops Manchester, diners are greeted with a stunning reception area that includes marble tiling, a radial ceiling, a fully functional waterfall and a collection of decorative exotic animal statues.

The reception leads into the main diner, which comprises four buffet counters that serve a variety of starters and main meals, a drinks bar, a two-tier sushi counter on a conveyor belt and a live cooking counter.

The live counter measures an impressive 22 metres in length and serves up a variety of culinary delights including Indian, Italian, Thai, Japanese teppanyaki and Malaysian food. All of the delicious dishes are prepared live by skilled chefs, allowing diners the opportunity to see exactly how their meal is prepared.

ArchNova Architects Ltd, Wendy Liu, said: “Tops Manchester raises the standard for buffet style eating by presenting a very unique way of dining. We have incorporated the live cooking counter to give diners something more than just a place to eat, as we believe it adds a theatrical aspect to each meal.

“The live cooking counter creates a performance area that encourages diners to interact with the whole dining experience, which in turn creates a very unique social destination.”

The restaurant incorporates a mixture of traditional Chinese decorations – including porcelain tiles and paper lanterns – with fully functioning equipment such as hot plates, heat lamps and even label placards for individual dishes.

A subtle use of lighting has also been incorporated, which helps to define each dining area as well as create the atmosphere.

LED spotlights and warm amber light boxes provide some illumination, whilst a glass banquet above the life cooking counter provides additional lighting. The light boxes also help to cleverly conceal two pillars that are located behind the buffet counters.

Additional features include stone lanterns, grey tiles, decorative serving dishes and American walnut finishes, whilst an artificial amber onyx wall provides the backdrop for the desert station and bar.

Wendy Liu said: “The concept for Tops Manchester was to infuse a number of modern Oriental styles that would differentiate this site from the more traditional Chinese buffet restaurants. The majority of the materials we have used were shipped in from China, which has helped us create an eatery that would still be instantly recognisable to diners. The feedback so far has been great and we are pleased that our design concept is altering people’s perceptions of buffet dining.

“Working on this project has meant a lot to me. It was my first time working on a project of this scale so it was a great opportunity to be involved with Tops Manchester. I am very grateful to Robin Wang for allowing me to be a part of this restaurant. We had a great team and I’m confident that this restaurant will be a huge success.”

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Yoobi Sushi arrives Yoobi Sushi on Lexington Street is London’s first Temakeria and comprises a takeaway counter and an intimate dining space. The restaurant serves fresh sushi wrapped in a cone and opened its doors for the first time in June 2012.

Gundry & Ducker was responsible for all of the interior design work on the restaurant, whilst Ico Design oversaw all of the branding and graphics.

Yoobi Sushi is housed within a five-storey building and occupies the ground floor and basement levels of the site. Whilst the basement level accommodates the back of house operations – including staff quarters, wash rooms and offices – the ground floor is where all of the action takes place. Comprising a prep kitchen and retail space, the ground level of Yoobi Sushi provides 15 covers and is the busiest area of the restaurant.

Work began on transforming the site in January 2012 and saw Gundry & Ducker’s interior design concept used to rework the former warehouse.

The site was stripped back to basics and then rebuilt maintaining all of the original brickwork. The bricks were painted grey to provide the backdrop, whilst dashes of colour were injected into the site to create an interesting and unusual mixture of light and dark. An angular patterned design scheme was then incorporated across the table tops, whilst brass light fittings were installed to look as if they had risen out of the ground.

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Additional features include glass bowl light fittings, a beverage cooler and wooden panel finishes. The panels also merge with the seating to create a quirky yet intriguing mix of styles that reflect the cross cultural influences of the Yoobi Sushi brand.

To complete the work on the restaurant, a white crystalline sushi bar was installed to create a central hub for the site.

Gundry & Ducker Director, Tyeth Gundry, said: “In Brazil there is a large second generation Japanese community who have been developing this very unique type of cuisine.

It is very much ingredient led, and this is what the Yoobi Sushi brand is all about.

“Gundry & Ducker were involved with Yoobi Sushi approximately 18 months before work began on transforming the site.

We have taken our influences for this site from a number of different locations and we have played around with three dimensional shapes to create a very unique layout.

“This is the first in what will become a small chain of Yoobi Sushi throughout the UK, so it was very important that we got this one right.”

Tyeth Gundry added: “Everything ran smoothly on the project and although it was quite a lengthy programme of works for a conversion of this type, it came together perfectly.

“It’s interesting to watch the site now that it is open. Business

has been doing well and it really seems to have gotten into its stride. I’m starting to see a lot of the branded Yoobi bags cropping up all over London, so I know that word of the restaurant is starting to spread.”

Hakwood Established in 1979, Hakwood is a world-leading manufacturer of high-end hardwood flooring. The company specialises in wide-width, long-length flooring and all of Hakwood’s projects are designed to meet the requirements of designers and architects worldwide.

Hakwood hardwood flooring has been used in a variety of projects including the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Barcelona, the JFK Lounge, Millionaire Fair in the Netherlands and Yoobi.

Mark Hak, Hakwood, said: “At Hakwood we embrace challenges. We have the technical skills, the experience and the creative spirit to design and make THE flooring to fit any interior.”

Mark Hak added: “With Yoobi we saw how involved and passionate the owners were about their project and at Hakwood we feel the same way about our flooring.

“At Hakwood we work directly with the design and construction team to produce and deliver flooring solutions with the correct specifications within necessary timeframes and budget.

“It is a pleasure that our flooring was the choice for Yoobi. It is a great visual showcase for our product.”

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SeftonHornWinch serves up another success at The Delaunay

Over the last three years, SeftonHornWinch has developed a stellar reputation for providing specialist designs for a range of high-profile clients within the food and beverage industry. Their success is set to be cemented after the triumphant completion of projects at London’s Brasserie Zédel and The Delaunay.

The company was formed in spring 2009 through the amalgamation of Ken Winch Design, Creative Kitchen and Restaurant Concepts and Gareth Sefton, formerly of Tricon Foodservice Consultants.

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SeftonHornWinch specialises in the design of food and beverage support and service facilities, from initial concepts and detailed design all the way to completion. Its impressive list of clients includes: Rex Restaurants, The Fat Duck Group, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, Barclays, Royal Bank of Scotland, Deloitte and Stonehenge.

Along with their work on the recently completed Brasserie Zédel, SeftonHornWinch worked alongside Rex Restaurant Associates on The Delaunay.

Named ‘Best Restaurant of the Year’ at the Tatler Restaurant

Awards 2012, the 170-seat restaurant features two private dining rooms to seat up to 24 people, and The Counter – an attractive takeaway and deli.

The Delaunay boasts a stunning interior that features green leather banquette seating, wood, metal, brass and mirrors. All of the graphics have been designed by King Design, including the cast-bronze signs applied to pillars at the entrance and the hand-lettered wording on the windows of The Counter.

SeftonHornWinch worked closely with designer David Collins Studios in order to create the hot display at The Counter, whilst their main challenge was to create a restaurant kitchen in the basement that would be capable of handling up to 1500 covers a day. Whilst this may have been a challenge for some companies, SeftonHornWinch has extensive experience in designing such kitchens: their kitchen at The Wolseley caters for 1,300 covers per day, whilst Brasserie Zédel targets 2,000 covers per day.

Commenting on the efficient design of the kitchen, Head Chef at The Delaunay, Lee Ward, said: “Chefs worry about the kitchen being too hot and badly lit, but there’s no problem with this kitchen as we have a larger propor-

tion of electric to gas equipment, which keeps the heat down.”

SeftonHornWinch has also completed work on the Dinner by Heston Blumenthal restaurant at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London. The restaurant won ‘Best Restaurant of the Year’ at the Tatler Restaurants Awards 2011 and was awarded 1 Michelin Star in the Michelin Travel Publications 2012.

Gareth Sefton, Managing Director of SeftonHornWinch, commented: “It had a large ‘show’ element, and with all the world’s eyes on it, it was vital that service ran smoothly. It was essential that the kitchen had to be efficient so that everyone would stay calm.”

As part of the design process, Gareth Sefton even went to work at the Fat Duck, as Head Chef at Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, Ashley Palmer Watts, explained: “He needed to understand what we were doing, the work flow.

He got to know what I needed, and, when it came to designing the kitchen, it meant that he could ask the right questions.”

The project included the introduction of induction hobs to reduce the heat of the kitchen, which in turn minimises the need for extraction and creates a quieter, calmer working space. A fridge has been installed in the centre of the pass to enable ingredients to remain fresh for longer, whilst dipper wells with running water and a ‘tab-grabbing’ system have also been incorporated.

Speaking about the company’s continued work with high-profile clients, Gareth Sefton, Managing Director of SeftonHornWinch, said: “A continued relationship with a highly admired client such as Rex Restaurant Associates, headed up by Chris Corbin and Jeremy King, means that we are working at the highest level.

Hopefully other restaurateurs will see this and want us to work with them too.

“Our mission statement is ‘to have an eye for and attention to detail’. We pride ourselves on putting the client’s needs first and foremost, and we strive to achieve perfection when creating efficient working kitchens.”

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NHBC

NHBC Pride in the Job Awards 2012 On June 22 NHBC announced the names of over 400 top achieving site managers who were recognised in the first round of the Pride in the Job Awards 2012.

Names were shortlisted from over 13,000 UK site managers who have all excelled in their field over the past 12 months.

Amongst the 2012 winners are Hugh McKay for Heritage Gate Phase 2, Gerry Rice for The Limes and George Carty for Calder Park.

Pride in the Job is the only UKwide competition recognising site managers who achieve the highest level of standards in housebuilding. All site managers registered for NHBC warranty are automatically entered into the competition and to date A Pride in the Job Award is the highest industry accolade a site manager can achieve.

For 32 years the award has been the driving force behind the production of top-quality homes in the UK.

Developing Coatbridge: Heritage Gate Phase 2

Faraday Retail Park.

The success of the Heritage Gate Phase 2 is something that has not gone unnoticed in the industry, with senior site manager Hugh McKay receiving recognition at the NHBC Awards for all his hard work.

Hugh McKay, Barratt West Scotland, said: “Barratt West Scotland has two housing developments currently in this area with a further two planned, so getting recognition for Heritage Gate Phase 2 is very important for the group. It showcases all of our efforts to bring this development together, and this is something that we all really appreciate.

“The award continues to raise the profile of Barratt West Scotland, which is never a bad thing. For me it is an honour and a great personal achievement, as this is the second time my work has been recognised with a NHBC award.

“To date it’s the biggest accolade I’ve achieved in my professional career and to win this award two years in a row is simply fantastic.

“Barratt West Scotland is now looking at opening up two additional sites within the Coatbridge area, which will further enhance our portfolio and provide more high quality homes for Scotland.”

Heritage Gate Phase 2 is scheduled for completion in spring 2013.

Heritage Gate Phase 2 is a housing scheme aimed at bringing high-quality homes to the Coatbridge area. The scheme has been implemented by Barratt West Scotland and is being constructed on a former industrial site just outside Glasgow.

Work began on the Heritage Gate Phase 2 in 2009 with Barratt West Scotland as the main contractor and T Lawrie as the architect.

The project comprises the construction of 67 two-storey houses, offering a mixture of detached and semi-detached properties with associated landscaping.

The houses are being constructed using brick and block and will incorporate concrete tiled roofs, UPVC windows and feature panelling. Most of the houses within Heritage Gate Phase 2 are three or four-bed units, however Barratt West Scotland is also constructing one slightly larger five-bedroom property on the site.

All of the houses on the scheme have a garden and associated paving, whilst they are also conveniently located within walking distance of Coatbridge’s Quadrant shopping precinct and

New homes in Calderpark are nominated for an NHBC award Calderpark near Glasgow is set to see a big change as Bellway Homes continue to build around 300 new houses.

The site has now gained industry recognition by making it into the top 30 for this year’s NHBC Awards.

Located just seven miles from Glasgow city centre, The Avenues is a stunning new development that will feature approximately 300 three, four and five- bedroom detached houses.

Work began in 2006 and the project is expected to be complete in around 12 months’ time.

Bellway was founded in 1946 and has since accrued over 60 years of experience in this field, building over 100,000 homes in the process. This is the first time that Bellway Homes has received such significant recognition by the NHBC and it is fantastic news for the company as Site Manager, George Carty,

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explained: “This is a big project for us, probably double the size of the average site, and it has therefore been very exciting for Bellway Homes and the local community. Once complete, The Avenues will significantly benefit the community and to also be nominated for an NHBC means a lot to both the company and myself.”

The Avenues is close to Bothwell, a picturesque village in the centre of a conservation area. In addition to a range of restaurants, bars and shops, the village also boasts Scotland’s largest 13th century castle – making this a superb location for both city centre amenities and relaxing in the countryside.

The Calderpark site is also well placed for transport links outside the city centre. There is easy access to the M73, M74 and M8 motorways, whilst Glasgow Airport is less than 20 miles away.

Furthermore, the development is within 5 miles of a number of world-famous golf courses including the courses at Bothwell Castle, Calderbraes Clubs, and Bellshill and Strathclyde Park Golf Clubs.

The development has incorporated a range of different house designs, with the homes being finished in a mixture of brick, roughcast and feature Tudor stone. Interestingly, Bellway Homes is also giving residents the chance to choose the finishes for the inside of their property. The bespoke additions scheme gives buyers various options to upgrade a range of elements in their homes, depending on their needs.

Options include additional kitchen features such as granite worktops, stainless steel appliances and an integrated double oven. There is also the option of an E-Life package, which can include a home cinema and surround sound system.

Buyers may also choose to incorporate a conservatory or landscaped garden, adding a special touch to the home.

Site Manager George Carty said: “This has been a steady build, as we have been working on similar sites for years and have the skills and experience needed to make the project as success.

“This is a fantastic achievement and we are over the moon.

NHBC inspectors visit every site in Scotland, and each inspector has 50 or 60 sites and nominates 5 or 10 site to be put forward.

“I’ve been in my inspector’s top list twice before and this is something that I’ve always wanted to achieve – and now I have.”

The Avenues is set to be completed in the summer of 2013. The awards ceremony will take place in October 2012 at the Hilton in Glasgow.

Sweet success again for Gerry Rice at The Limes Site Manager Gerry Rice has won an NHBC award for his work on the Barratt Homes development, The Limes, for the second year running.

“Getting an award is very good for business for any company,” he told Premier Construction. “But to get nominated on the same site shows that we have kept the high standards up. The reaction of the team has been fantastic.”

Situated in the beautiful town of Lindfield in West Sussex, the development comprises 120 family and one-bedroom homes in various sizes and styles. An attractive setting with a country feel, the town boasts a variety of friendly pubs and a strong sense of community traditions. The main road through the town is lined with lime trees, whilst the Eastern Road Nature Reserve is also close by.

The new homes are particularly suitable for young people and families. Traditionally finished with materials such as timber cladding and tile, most of the spacious houses and apartments

are spread over two floors. An exception to this is the Woodcote design, which is a three-storey, four-bedroom terrace with a master bedroom that is served by its own en suite and spacious dressing room.

The site has incorporated wide verges and grassy areas to complement the open spaces and countryside that characterise

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NHBC the local area. The development also backs onto open land that is punctuated by mature trees, creating an exclusive, friendly environment. London and Brighton are within easy distance of the development, whilst South Downs and the coast are just short drives away.

Most of the properties feature off road parking, whilst the Woodcote and the Virburnum have their own integral garages.

The success of The Limes has been further cemented by the completion of the 120 homes, 110 of which have already been sold.

Gerry Rice commented: “Last year when we won the award we were about half way through the site and now the work is complete, it’s a great way to finish off the development. It’s a beautiful area and the internal and external finishes are of an extremely high standard too.

The village of Linfield has a reputation for being a very sought after area and the sales have gone really well.

“It’s all about keeping the standards up and ultimately making sure that the product sellable. The little details make a big difference so we have done our best to ensure that the quality and standard of the development is very, very high.”

Like many site managers, Gerry has been in the industry since he left school. After finding an apprenticeship as a bricklayer on a five-year college course in Scotland, he joined Barratt Homes twelve years ago as an assistant manager and has since worked his way up to site manager.

Once his work on The Limes is complete, he will be working on a 135-home development in the nearby village of East Grinstead. He will be celebrating his NHBC success with his team at the awards ceremony in September.

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RI B A

RIBA 2012 The winners of the 2012 Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Awards were announced on June 21st 2012. The awards mark architectural excellence within the industry and were presented to fifty buildings within the UK and nine in the EU. Well-known architects and smaller architecture practices battled it out to make it onto this year’s RIBA Stirling Prize shortlist, with winners included BFI Master Film Store, the Dalling Road project and Exhibition Road.

The dominant theme amongst this year’s winners was major public arts buildings, ten of which would prove to make the grade. Many are the result of pre-recession arts lottery funding, which has a typically long gestation period.

RIBA President, Angela Brady, commented: “For nearly fifty years, the RIBA Awards have reflected the changing state of British architecture and revealed emerging design trends. What really stands out is that even in times of austerity, we can still deliver amazingly clever, high quality buildings that reflect the needs of today and enhance our daily lives.

“The judges were delighted to see so many well considered, crafted and innovative projects, and the use of beautiful materials. These projects are truly exciting and inspiring.”

Remodelling on Dalling Road The remodelling of a Victorian terraced house in London has been awarded an accolade at the RIBA Awards 2012.

The London-based Dalling Road project comprised the demolition of an existing lean-to, the installation of new structural support system to extend and remodel the private house including the erection of a ground floor extension. Once complete, the building formed a new family kitchen and a dining room, along with a children’s play space.

Work began on the Dalling Road project in January 2011 and the project was completed in October 2011.

Rebuild London Ltd was the main contractor and Londonbased Hayhurst and Co was the architect. The structural engineer was Iain Wright Associates, whilst kitchen design and installation work was completed by Gareth Langdon Furniture.

Works included an excavation operation to create a sunken level at the site and the installation of steel supporting frame with timber infill. Associated connecting works were also completed on the extension, whilst a small amount of hard and soft landscaping works also took place around the property.

Rebuild conducted the extension of the Victorian house for a private client, who in turn vacated the property whilst the work

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RI B A was being conducted.

Hayhurst and Co-Director, Nick Hayhurst, said: “This project was partially an extension and partially a remodelling operation, as we only extended the existing footprint of the property by approximately 10 metres. The remodelling of the building has provided a living space that is more functional for family use and has also created a better connection with the garden.

“The Dalling Road project is typical of the type of work that Hayhurst and Co specialise in, as most of the projects that we work on involve the remodelling and refurbishment of existing properties. All of our work is unique and bespoke in terms of its design and character, and we are always looking for our next challenge. The feedback from our client was very good.

“It was important that the Dalling Road project was recognised

by RIBA. Our achievement demonstrates our commitment to our work, and it is a great achievement for Hayhurst and Co. ”

Iain Wright Associates Ltd

Construction Technologists. The practice is involved with a wide range of projects, with a special emphasis on providing solutions for complex problems.

Major clients include Imperial College, London, the University of Essex and the London Borough of Croydon. Projects vary from new-build commercial and educational buildings to house extensions and alterations, as well as specialist designs for foundation works.

Managing Director Andrew Lucas acted as the Structural Engineer on the project at Dalling Road.

Andrew Lucas said: “We work on a lot of smaller projects like this and each has its own challenges. On this project, the geometry of the building posed some problems with the overall stability of the building and control of deflections was essential. We worked closely with the architect and steelwork fabricator to produce the final scheme.

We aim to provide a high-quality service to our clients, and many of our clients come back to us again with their next project.”

Iain Wright Associates Ltd are Consulting Engineers and

New British Film Institute (BFI) store will revolutionise the storage of film

Completed in December 2011, the new British Film Institute (BFI) store in Gaydon, Warwickshire, has been applauded

by RIBA judges.

The state-of-the-art building is the result of intense research and collaboration between Edward Cullins Architects, engineers, film experts and the BFI. The £12 million project was realised through the Screen Heritage UK (SHUK) programme, a nationwide initiative funded by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.

Under the project, main contractor Gilbert Ash constructed a 3000m² centre containing 30 identical cellular vaults for nitrate film, and 6 vaults for acetate film. Designed to store the collec-

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tion of film for 50 years or more, the vaults will keep store up to 460,000 canisters of film in cold and dry conditions of -5°c at 35% relative humidity.

Precast concrete panels provide the thermal mass required to limit temperature fluctuation, whilst the building is wrapped with a continuous vapour barrier that prevents moisture ingress and interstitial condensation. This layer assists in meeting the air-tightness of 0.28m³/m²/hr@50pa, which equates to 0.03 air changes per hour. This is 97% better than minimum building regulations and 70% better than an even an exemplar low energy building.

In order to maintain the required conditions, the new BFI store

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RI B A has incorporated 4 industrial chillers, 4 dehumidification plant and 12 air handling units. The chillers and dehumidification plant are fitted with heat recovery, which preheats the air required for the dehumidification – saving 15% of the total energy usage.

Edward Cullins Architects’ design is deceptively simple. The central concrete store room is flanked by the entrance and offices at one end of the building, and services at the other.

Externally, the office and service areas are expressed with stainless steel cladding, which contrasts the steel blast door facades of the main store.

RIBA judges praised the building’s innovative marriage of form and function, saying: “The archive could have been a serviceable oblong of concrete bunkers, but this is more ambitious. In plan, elevations and material detailing, the archive’s design draws from both a stripped-down industrial modernism and a very particular kind of 21st century finesse and environmental delicacy.”

Estimates predict that the energy consumption of the new building will be less than 1, 200,000 kWh per annum, which will in turn save over £330,000 in annual energy costs and over 1,500 tonnes of carbon when compared to the refurbishment of the existing 1979 and 1999 buildings to the same environmental conditions. Furthermore, the building will save over £78,000 and 368 tonnes of carbon when compared to a 2006 Building Regulations compliant building.

Carol Costello, Architect and Director at Edward Cullinan Architects, said: “We are amazed how this very unusual building has captured the imagination of so many, and we are honoured to be shortlisted for so many industry awards. Even nicer is winning, as we did recently at the RIBA Awards ceremony in Leicester.

“I think that the very challenging brief of how to store so much film – particularly volatile nitrate film – meant the team had to truly collaborate, or we would fail to find the best solution.

“Through an intense design process, testing many options,

Rewarding design: Exhibition Road Exhibition Road stretches from South Kensington to Hyde Park and covers an area of 26,000 square metres. The road comprises a combination of museums – including the Victoria and Albert Museum – and universities.

The £25 million project was implemented by The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, Transport for London (TfL) and Westminster County Council in order to transform the existing road into a pedestrian friendly world class cultural destination.

Funding for project was provided by TfL, Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, Westminster City Council and English Heritage.

The innovative scheme comprised the installation of 16,700 square metres of granite to dramatically transform the existing road into one large shared surface that favoured pedestrian access over traffic requirements.

Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering Ltd Southern Division was the main contractor on the project and Schal was the project manager. Arup was the structural engineer, Davis Langdon was the quantity surveyor and Woodhouse was the lighting consultant.

The project was designed by Jeremy Dixon and Edward Jones from Dixon Jones Architects, whilst Sarah Rubinstein was the project architect. Project Centre Ltd was the design engineer on the scheme.

Dixon Jones Architects Director, Jeremy Dixon, said: “Exhibition Road hosts a world-class and unique collection of museums, performance spaces and universities all in one area.

However, it had become quite clear that this area of London was considerably under recognised as a public place.

“A number of projects over the years have attempted to cor-

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we were able to settle in the optimum solution. It then became a sort of virtuous circle because we had found a successful method of communicating and satisfying ourselves that each move was correct.

“The building is an expression of the function, but it has been lovingly crafted. We enjoy the detail of how materials are assembled, and the BFI let us do what we do best.”

rect this oversight, but they have never really got off the ground.

The idea behind this design was to create a shared surface that would introduce a continuous space with no major distinctions between the pavement and road. Although traffic can still move freely through Exhibition Road, there is now a greater emphasis on pedestrian usage.

“Dixon Jones Architects was selected as the architect on this project because we put forward a simple design that matched the ambitions of Councillor Daniel Moylan, who was a key driving force in this project. We worked with Councillor Moylan to address the concerns with Exhibition Road and, working together, we were able to devise this scheme.”

Construction work began on the project in January 2010 and was completed in December 2011. Whilst work was being conducted, Exhibition Road was divided into two in order to allow traffic to access the road.

The ground was excavated and a concrete base laid, with Chinese black and pink granite installed using the SteinTec mortar system. Stainless steel restraining strips and lamp masts were then installed, which in turn run through the centre of the route. The lamps provide an interesting design feature during the day as well as much needed illumination throughout the night.

SteinTec supplied specialist bedding and jointing mortar for the 16,700 square metres of granite setts installed on Exhibition Road. SteinTec’s technical director, David Burton, provided expert engineering advice from original concept through to completion in order to ensure that the project was designed and constructed to the most stringent requirements of British Standards BS7533.

David Burton, SteinTec’s Technical Director, commented: “We worked closely with the team on this project and provided most of the technical specifications and method statements for the paving. Our bedding and jointing mortar was used throughout the project due to its high performance for heavy trafficking.

“Exhibition Road was an extremely important project for Dixon Jones Architects and we were absolutely delighted to be a part of it. This ambitious project owes a lot to the power of the people, who have been pushing for its creation. Everyone that has been involved has really helped to bring this together.”

Jeremy Dixon, Dixon Jones Architects, added: “We are always very pleased to be recognised for a RIBA Award. We have received a number of awards over the years and this just further cements our commitment to our work.

“What I think is important about this award is that it has not been given for a building. This award recognises the space that exists between buildings. Increasingly the architectural profession is becoming more aware of the importance of how buildings relate to one another and I think Exhibition Road emphasises this perfectly.”

Project Centre Ltd Project Centre is a registered landscape architecture practice, public realm and transportation consultancy providing its clients with the skills to bridge the gap between concept and construction. The company was a lead highway, traffic and lighting engineer for the Exhibition Road scheme forming a vital interface between design and delivery.

David Moores, Technical Director of the Public Realm, said: “One of our roles was to maintain the design integrity produced

by Dixon Jones Architects and to transfer this into a deliverable scheme. We unravelled the one-way system around the site to enable the larger scheme, produced detailed designs, supervised many aspects of construction, even seconded staff to the council to supervise consultation and publicity.

“Exhibition Road pushed the boundaries of the design philosophy in a busy London street. It was a very significant project, not just for us, but for London, Transport for London and the Borough.”

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The world’s largest offshore wind farm is complete DONG Energy has opened the new Walney Offshore Wind Farm, located 15 kilometres off Walney Island in Cumbria.

The scheme was implemented through a combined partnership of DONG Energy, Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) and OPW, with DONG Energy acting as the lead construction and operations partner.

The £1.2 billion development comprises 102 Siemens 3.6MW wind turbines and has a combined capacity of 367.2MW. Now that the wind farm is complete, it will provide enough energy to power 320,000 homes.

Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Lib Dem MP Ed Davey, commented: “We’re celebrating for Cumbria and for Britain and for the green energy movement this fantastic success, the biggest offshore wind farm in the world, and the fastest built so far.

“Britain has a lot to be proud of in our growing offshore wind sector. Our island’s tremendous natural resource, our research base and a proud history of engineering make this the number one destination for investment in offshore wind.

“Walney is the newest, biggest and fastest-built jewel in that crown, providing clean power for hundreds of thousands of households.”

Anders Eldrup, Chief Executive of DONG Energy, added: “It marks a new era in terms of financing, being the first project in the UK backed by institutional investors. Walney is a landmark in offshore wind and DONG Energy’s strong drive to further industrialise offshore wind power and cut costs.

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“Walney 2 is the world’s fastest installation of an offshore wind farm and underlines DONG Energy’s position as a strong market leader within offshore wind. We’ve developed our techniques for faster and more cost efficient installation methods and this is an important step in the continuing drive to reduce the construction costs of offshore wind farms.”

SSE Chief Operating Officer, Colin Hood, added: “As the UK’s leading generator of electricity from renewable sources, SSE is committed to helping increase the amount of renewable electricity generation in the UK and the export of electricity at Walney is a step towards achieving this.”

Walney 1 Offshore Wind Farm was completed in 2010 and began generating power on 13th January 2011. In October 2011, Walney Windfarms Limited completed the sale of transmission assets of Walney 1 to Blue Transmission Walney 1 Limited for £105 million. Power for Walney 1 is supplied to the national grid through the onshore transformer station in Heysham, with an approximate annual net energy of 663GWh. Whilst Walney 1 took a year to complete, Walney 2 was completed in around half the time due to an overlapping construction schedule that was specifically designed to speed up the construction process.

On 1st November 2011 Walney 2 began delivering CO2-free electricity via turbine F14, the first of its completed turbines.

Power was supplied to the national grid via the Stanah 132kV onshore substation near Blackpool and a further ten turbines began operation shortly afterwards.

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N o r th We s t The operation and maintenance of the wind farms is based in Barrow-in-Furness and the project is estimated to have created permanent job opportunities for up to 60 people.

Batt At Sea Ltd Batt At Sea Ltd is a specialist in wind farm support vessels.

It uses marine vehicles to transport technicians to off-shore turbine towers and to carry out diving support operations.

The company is also involved in Marine Mammal Observation (MMO) and Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) services to monitor wildlife in areas that surround wind farms. Batt At Sea Ltd is an equal opportunities employer, with as many female members of staff to male.

On the Walney Offshore Wind Farm project Batt At Sea Ltd provides a crew transfer service. Originally this involved transporting crews to the site for cabling works, but now Batt At Sea is the main transport vessel for each crew change. It has worked on the wind farm at Walney for 18 months.

Batt At Sea Ltd Managing Director, Terry Batt, said: “At Batt At Sea Ltd we like to view ourselves as the official guardian of the sea and our boats burn approximately a tenth of the fuel of any wind farm vessel in existence today.

“This means our fuel consumption is considerably less than any other wind farm support vessel and as the whole concept of wind farms is to offer a reduced carbon footprint through low emissions, we’re proud that our service fits in perfectly with this operation.”

Regeneration of West Gorton West Gorton in Manchester is being given a new lease of life as Manchester City Council progress with a major redevelopment programme. The West Gorton estate was the setting for the Channel 4 series Shameless between 2003 and 2007, but the council is now keen to banish these associations by completely regenerating the area.

The project will involve a number of different elements, including the refurbishment of existing council-owned homes. Around four hundred existing homes will be demolished, including two tower blocks. Up to one thousand new homes will also be developed, to include both new homes and the re-provision of social rented properties.

New community facilities will include a park and a community hub with a replacement medical centre and new retail facilities.

In addition, the former Fujitsu tower and R&D building has been redeveloped as a key back-office location for council services, with around eight hundred staff located there.

Main contractor for the project is G.B. Building Solutions and the architect is the Bowker and Sadler Partnership. Works are currently underway on the second phase of the three-phase project.

Phase One involved the internal improvements of retained housing stock and the construction of new social rental properties. Guinness Northern Counties (GNC) and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) spent a total of £36 million between December 2009 and March 2012 to deliver the first phase of the regeneration programme, which included the internal and external improvement of 144 properties.

A total of 171 new social rented properties have been built by the City Council using funding provided through the Local Authority New Build (LANB) programme. A further 33 new social rented properties have been constructed by GNC using National Affordable Housing Programme (NAHP) funding.

These spacious and energy efficient homes and apartments are now complete, and the relocation of existing residents into these properties has already commenced.

Phase Two began in April and will run until late 2016. This phase will involve the demolition of vacated housing, the completion of new build rented housing stock and a new build hous-

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ing programme devised by private sector developers. It will also include the completion of the community hub, which will consist of a new medical centre and pharmacy, 5,000 square feet of

retail and commercial space, a new estates office for GNC and several parking spaces. The new community park and other areas of public open space such as the walking trails and cycle network will also be completed.

Phase Three is projected to begin in 2016 and will run until 2020.

All of the remaining improvements will be completed, however the delivery of this phase will be dependent on the market at this time and the work that has already been completed.

In the masterplan for West Gorton, the council set out its long term ambition to deliver a dynamic, forward-looking, environmentally sustainable neighbourhood. Council officers

have worked with key partners to draw up an Environment and Design Framework to guide the development of planning applications and the delivery of future development within the neighbourhood.

The Framework reflects the aims and aspirations set out in the Manchester Community Strategy and the ‘Manchester: A Certain Future’ climate change action plan. The Framework commits the council to take the lead in ensuring that low carbon thinking is incorporated into the lifestyles and operations of the area. Through this process, they plan to deliver significant reductions in CO2 emissions by 2020.

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N o r th E a s t & Yo r ks h i re Construction News

Call our news team on 01706 719972

New rehabilitation centre will help vulnerable adults Vulnerable adults will soon benefit from a new rehabilitation centre sited near the junction of York Road and Old Bank Road in Dewsbury.

Constructed for Montepelier Estates by main contractor G.S Kelsey Ltd, the 32-bed care home will provide specialist treatment and intensive rehabilitation for adults with mental health issues. Along with accommodation, the development includes a gymnasium, training rooms, IT rooms and kitchenettes, along with a laundry and a recreational area.

Independent health provider The Priory Group has invested approximately £5 million in the site.

A spokesperson for the Priory Group commented: “This facility will offer care and rehabilitation treatment for patients with a mental illness who are on a care pathway towards independent living. We have met with people living close to the development in order to allay any concerns that they had.”

The project began in August 2011 and was handed over in June 2012. The development is split into two single-storey accommodation blocks and a U-shaped administration block, and features a traditional palette of materials including a tiled roof and light buff brick and

render.

Landscaping has included the returfing of the land and the planting of flowering bushes to create attractive garden spaces.

James McGarry, Montepelier Estates, said: “Providing good mental health for all requires a modern, caring and secure environment. This care facility will be a benefit to health services in the region who want to deliver treatment and therapies in an effective way.

“We have developed many such hospitals throughout the country and we are confident that local people will adopt a compassionate and understanding stance towards the vulnerable people who will be treated. What is required is careful and thorough explanation and we wish to accommodate and reintegrate patients safely back into the community.”

Peter Hattam, G.S Kelsey Ltd, added: “This has been a relatively straight forward project, and it has been enjoyable working with

www.romauk.net

a developer that has their own way of doing things.”

G.S Kelsey Ltd With a history that dates back for more than 100 years, G.K Kelsey Ltd has a reputation for carrying out high-quality work for housing associations, ecclesiastical projects and the health and care industry. The company deals with contracts ranging in value from £100K to £2.5 million.

£20 million New York Stadium will be the hottest ticket in town Rotherham United’s new state-of-the-art stadium is set to put the team, known by fans as ‘The Millers’, on the map when it is completed at the end of July 2012.

Situated on the former Guest and Chrimes foundry site in the heart of Rotherham, the 12,000 capacity stadium will also incorporate exhibiting and banqueting spaces for around 600 corporate guests. All events at the New York Stadium will be managed by The Lindley Group.

Tony Stewart, Chairman of Rotherham United, said: “The New York stadium is a venue for the people of Rotherham to come and enjoy and engage with. It will be at the heart of the local community and we want everyone to join us and be part of something really special.

“I can’t wait to welcome everyone to this fantastic stadium and share what has been a dream of mine for many years. All local people can be part, supporting the stadium and bringing your business and support back to Rotherham United.

“The support that Millers fans have shown the club has been fantastic and is reflected in the number of season tickets we have already sold. The stadium really is the future of Rotherham and these are very exciting times for Rotherham United.”

The twelve-month turnkey project began in July 2011 with Gleeds as the project manager and GMI Construction as the main contractor. S+P Architects were selected as the preferred bidder in February 2011 following a competitive design process.

The island site is flanked by the River Donne to the east and the railway line to the west. To the north is the new 172,000 sq ft Rotherham Civic Centre and to the south is the spectacular New York Stadium.

S+P Architects’ innovative design has fused the traditional vernacular of the existing Guest and Chrimes site with a decidedly 21st century perspective, as Mark Gowdridge from S+P

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Architects explained: “We have incorporated brick work around the perimeter of the building at the lower level, which ties in with the Guest and Chrimes building. The higher level in turn features cladding panels with a mixture of architectural block work to define the main entrance.

“The roof is particularly interesting, as we have implemented a coffered standing seam roof with polycarbonate sheets.

Stepping down from the main west stand towards the river, the roof allows natural light to penetrate the stands, which will defrost the pitch in winter. In addition, an acoustician was brought in to ensure that all of the fain noise is contained within the

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grounds and is instead amplified onto the pitch – creating a very exciting atmosphere for players and fans alike.

“This has been a challenging project for us due to an extremely tight programme. Normally it is possible for projects to slip slightly, but with the season’s kick off already scheduled this is simply not an option. As a result, we have had to significantly increase our resources and work closely with the client to make sure that all deadlines are adhered to.

“Despite this, it has been one of the most interesting projects that we have worked on. A lot of our team hadn’t worked on a stadium before, so this is an exciting new sector. Furthermore, the club has been very open to suggestions and has allowed us to put our own stamp on the building. It really is very exciting to see that the building we had at design stage is being realised.”

In addition to the state-of-the-art stadium, the site will also include the exclusive 1925 Club, which will set the standard for corporate hospitality.

Heralding a new era in matchday experiences and entertainment, the club will offer world-class facilities and five-star dining in a la carte restaurants. The Platinum, Silver and Gold packages will boast the best seats in the stadium, whilst lucky members will also have access to every game and the stunning lounge, bar and restaurant facilities. VIP parking will also be available.

Steve Lewis, Head of Commercial for Rotherham United, said: “These are exciting times for Rotherham United. From entertaining clients to simply relaxing and watching the game with friends and family, our match day hospitality has been designed to provide a first-class experience in terms of comfort, enjoyment and flexibility.”

Paul Douglas, Chief Operating Officer for Rotherham United FC, added: “Whether it is season-luxury or inviting friends or colleagues for a special occasion, we have designed facilities and packages to cater for every requirement.”

The new stadium has already won the support of loyal Millers fans, who have flocked in their thousands to buy tickets for the new season.

Head of support services, Graham Jamson, commented: “It looks like Rotherham United really will be the hottest ticket in town next season. We have received an incredible amount of phone calls from current season ticket holders keen to attend our presentation events, some of which are now fully booked.

“We would encourage anyone who hasn’t already done so to contact the call centre to make an appointment.”

Tony Stewart, Chairman of Rotherham United, added: “We are encouraging more children to come and watch the Millers with outstanding offers on season tickets in the Ben Bennett Family Stand, where every full paying adult can bring all their own children under the age of eight for free.

“This stadium will bring huge change and enhance the match day experience for all, be it children in the family stand, businesses and VIPs in the 1925 Club or season ticket holders.”

Two of the stadium’s biggest fans are Paul and Barry Elliot, stars of the long-running BBC comedy ChuckleVision. The

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brothers are lifelong Rotherham United fans and honorary life presidents of the club, and tried out the first seat at the stadium during a visit in March 2012.

Chuckle Brother Paul Elliott said: “I don’t think there’s a better stadium in the country. It can only be good for the community in Rotherham and the football club and we can’t wait for the first match here. It’s great to see the progress – it’s really coming along and it’s going to be very special.”

BarhaleWSP BarhaleWSP provided the design and construction of the diversion of a public combined sewer which was located beneath the new football pitch; including a manhole which was virtually on the centre spot.

This involved the abandonment and subsequent construction of nearly 400m of sewer working within a very constrained site alongside the principal contractor building the stadium and underneath the Centenary Way overpass.

An existing sewage pumping station and rising main were utilised and in order to avoid potentially extensive and prolonged upgrading works, a new 100m3 online storage tank was constructed to cope with the additional flow from the 12,000 seat stadium.

Working to a tight timescale the diversion has been substantially completed, allowing Rotherham Football Club to kick-off the new season as scheduled without the possibility of a collapsed sewer affecting their schedule - as it once did at Liverpool FC in the late ‘80s.

GL Events Slick Seating GL Events Slick Seating provides all aspects of spectator facilities, from the design and construction of complete stadia to discreet seating packages for a whole range of venues.

The company is currently working on 12 venues for London Olympics 2012 as well as having a portfolio that includes many Premiership rughby and football clubs.

For Rotherham United Football Club, GL Events Slick Seating is providing a range of seats for the club stadium including 12,000 standard spectator seats, 500 VIP seats and 50 director’s seats.

Slick Seating Systems Ltd Sales Manager, Neil Harrison, said: “GL Events Slick Seating is proud to have supplied Rotherham United with the seating for the New York Stadium development; the sports spectator quite rightly is becoming more and more demanding in the area of comfort.”

“We pride ourselves in being able to accommodate that demand at a reasonable cost and our effective project management ensures the Club’s demands for delivery are met.”

Neil Harrison added: “At the Olympic Park Stadium we are supplying a mix of seat venues from 2,000 to 20,000 and in all shapes and sizes. We are very proud of our ability to respond to our clients’ needs.”

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Jo Brand opens new Emergency Care Centre The new Emergency Care Centre at South Tyneside District Hospital is set to enhance the emergency care patient experience and redesign, integrate and streamline the patient pathway.

Completed in January 2012, the £8 million centre was designed

by Dunwoodie Architecture and Design and constructed by Robertson Construction (North East). The new centre boasts an Accident & Emergency department, an Emergency Assessment Unit and paediatric assessment rooms.

Award-winning comedian, writer and actor Jo Brand officially opened the new Emergency Care Centre on 20th January 2012.

Jo Brand worked as an NHS psychiatric nurse for ten years before becoming a household name and told staff how impressed she was with the new facilities, particularly with regards to how the needs of the staff and patients had been carefully taken into consideration.

Lorraine Lambert, Chief Executive of South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The completion of the project achieves our ambition of bringing all of our emergency care services together to provide fully integrated care in a patient-friendly atmosphere with modern and efficient facilities. The new areas are equipped with the very latest technology, which will enable us to offer our local community the best possible care.”

Chairman of the South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust, Peter Davidson, added: “We are very proud of our new Emergency Care Centre.

Bringing all of our emergency care facilities together and integrating them allows real improvements in the delivery of care to our patients.”

Comprising approximately 2000 square metres of space, the single-storey development features aluminium curtain walling and render for the external finish with Marmoleum flooring, British Gypsum Glasroc Rigidur walls, Leaderflush doors, radiant heating panels and integrated plumbing services all enhancing the ability to maintain high levels of cleanliness and minimising any infection risk.

As part of this prestigious project, the manufacture and fitting of the blinds, curtains, cubicle track and window film was entrusted to Solo Blinds Contracts Division, a regular member of Robertson’s supply chain.

An existing entrance to the outpatient department was remodelled and all external works were redesigned in order to form a patient safety zone and an efficient ambulance drop-off area. In addition, new canopies and seating areas were installed along the new facade, whilst the entire infrastructure was considered and a one-way system was implemented.

Derek Shepherd, Dunwoodie Architecture and Design, commented: “The project was a success due to the ambition and commitment of the NHS to providing a service and building that exceeds the guidance already produced by the NHS. This ambition was shared by the design team and the exceptional design solution was recognised by an experienced and committed contractor.”

The first stage of the development opened to the public in December 2010 and comprised 10 assessment rooms with state-of-the-art facilities for emergency adult patients. Further facilities included a dedicated emergency paediatric care area with five specialist assessment rooms, three beds and a specialist paediatric resuscitation area.

In November 2011, an Emergency Admissions Unit and a major injuries department opened to patients. This department will facilitate the assessment of patients who need to be evaluated

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over a longer period of time or who may require later admission.

Once assessment is complete, patients will be directed to the appropriate ward.

Andy McLeod, North East Managing Director for Robertson Construction, said: “Robertson Construction is delighted to be part of the team that has delivered this fantastic new assessment centre within the Emergency Care Centre at South Tyneside District Hospital.

Working closely with the Trust, their advisors and hospital staff, we have managed to complete the project with minimal disruption to the current care provided by the original treatment facilities.

Patients can now enjoy an integrated Emergency Care Centre.”

Image Copyright Sally Anne Norman

Constructing Excellence in the North East (CENE) Awards: Theatre Royal Newcastle 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.

Awards included Contractor of the Year, Achiever of the Year, CIBSE North East Building Services – Best Practice Award and the prestigious Project of the Year accolade.

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.”

Amongst the nominations for an accolade at the CENE Awards was the £6 million restoration of Theatre Royal Newcastle. Work was completed on the project in September 2011 and was conducted to restore and modernise the Grade I listed theatre whilst at the same time make 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.

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, Max Fordham LLP was the mechanical and electrical consultant and Astryan Ltd was the painting subcontractor.

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.

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N o r th E a s t & Yo r ks h i re “Throughout 2011 we had a very busy construction period and we are currently in the running for three more awards, which is just brilliant.”

Paul Chirnside, Director of Astryan Ltd, said: “It was very important for Astryan Ltd to be involved with the restoration of Theatre Royal Newcastle because for us it was the first time that we had ever worked on a project of this nature.

“Our work was reward enough but to know that the project was nominated at the CENE Awards was even more rewarding.”

Astryan Ltd Astryan Ltd is a nationwide commercial painting contractor based in the North East. The company carries out industrial and decorative painting for all sectors including housing, leisure, retail, schools and local authorities. In addition, Astryan Ltd can also provide packages – including minor building repairs.

Astryan Ltd has grown steadily since 1999 and has gained some high profile clients which include: Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Bannatyne Fitness Ltd, Surgo, Tolent, Lloyds TSB and Newcastle University.

The company was appointed by Surgo as the Painting Subcontractor for the Theatre Royal Project and provided all the decoration services which included the application of emulsion paints, stains, varnishes and the hanging of specialist wallpapers. A major part of the restoration work was the application of gold leaf to specified areas throughout the Theatre.

Paul Chirnside, Director of Astryan Ltd, said: “The restoration of the Theatre Royal was a truly prestigious project for Astryan to undertake. It provided us with an opportunity to bring some experienced painters out of retirement in order to show our younger employees skills that are seldom used in modern times, such as aged metal effects, marbling and the application of gold leaf. In all approximately 36,000 pages of gold leaf were used in highlighting areas specifically chosen by the architect.”

Stewart Park reopens following £8.9 million improvement project The careful restoration of one of Middlesborough’s best loved parks is now complete. Stewart Park was officially relaunched at a special ceremony on Wednesday 23rd May 2012, marking the end of a £8.9 million project to restore the popular park to its former glory.

The project was funded by a £4.4 million ‘Parks for People’ grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and Big Lottery Fund, which in turn encouraged a further £4.5 million investment from other funders and Middlesbrough Council.

Works included the restoration of four Victorian Grade II listed stable yard buildings and the construction of a brand new visitor centre, alongside a number of major landscape improvements to lakes, paths and woodland areas.

Lumsden and Carroll – part of the Esh Group – was the main contractor for the stable yard contract and Hellens was the main contractor for the Parks contract. Napper Architects Limited was the architect and Southern Green Limited was the landscape architect.

Brand new facilities at the park include a cafe, a ranger’s station and an interpretation base. In addition, there are new public toilets, designated events areas and new vocational training facilities.

All of the facilities are DDA compliant and designated disabled car parking spaces have also been created. An existing car park on the site has been upgraded, whilst hard landscaped areas now benefit from external lighting.

Additional landscaping work included the creation of new footpaths and the restoration of a temple, colonnade and com-

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memorative vase.

It is estimated that approximately 400,000 annual visitors will benefit from the improvement works at Stewart Park. The project has been funded by Trustees of Stewart Park, Heritage Lottery and the Big Lottery Fund (BIG).

Works began in March 2011 with Mouchel as the project manager. Although structural alterations to the stable yard Victorian buildings were kept to a minimum, a wall and chimney were removed from one of the buildings in order to increase room size. Furthermore, a section of the first floor of the new cafe was removed to provide a double-height space and expose the original roof beams.

Restoration improvements included re-pointing walls, refitting roofs with original slates and painting refaced internal brickwork.

In addition, decayed timber has been replaced and stone flags in the kitchen and toilet areas have been lifted and replaced.

Services have also been altered to allow for underfloor heating, whilst the cafe has been refitted with commercial catering equipment and sinks.

Every effort was made to carefully restore and preserve the features of the heritage buildings. An archaeologist was onsite during the early stages of construction in order to offer advice and record findings, whilst bat slates and a dedicated loft were fitted to protect the bats that nest on the site.

The new visitor centre is an extension of one of the existing buildings and was designed in a contemporary manner to juxtapose the 1864 Victorian scale and detail of the existing buildings. It was constructed using a laminated timber glulam frame

with double glazed windows, oak cladding and a zinc roof.

All of the facilities are fitted out with furniture including foldaway tables, chairs and desks. In addition, all of the buildings have also been fully fitted with CCTV, smoke detectors, fire alarms and sprinklers.

During the restoration and redevelopment works, the park and offices outside of the construction sites remained open to the public.

Napper Architects Company Director, John Curtis, said: “The majority of the architectural work concentrated on restoring the Grade II listed buildings, however we also adapted them accordingly to meet our brief. We respect the history of the buildings and therefore all efforts were made to conserve the structures as best as we could whilst giving them a new lease of life.

“As a conservation architect, it was wonderful to be involved with a project like this. We used traditional building techniques and materials in order to recognise and respect the heritage values.

“Everyone involved with the project was really positive and that’s a very important aspect of working on any development.

Middlesbrough Council was also a wonderfully informed client throughout the project and fully recognised the need to restore the buildings.”

£75 million Roseberry Park Hospital nears completion Work is now underway on the second phase of the new Roseberry Park Hospital, which is located on the site of the former St. Luke’s Hospital in Middlesbrough.

The first phase of the £75 million PFI project was completed in 2010 and comprised the construction of a central facility and thirteen associated buildings within a campus-style development. Roseberry Park Hospital is a 312-bed inpatient mental health facility with learning disability and forensic services for adults and older people.

Phase Two will include a 51-bed expansion of the forensic mental health unit and is scheduled to be completed by September 2012. Main contractor for the project is Laing O’Rourke and the architect is Medical Architecture (MA).

John Ord, associate director of PFI projects at Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Roseberry Park is a key part of the trust’s plans to fundamentally modernise the way we provide services. The completed facility is truly impressive and has been designed to complement the excellent clinical care we provide.

“As we hoped, the new development has created a wide variety of external spaces that our staff and patients can enjoy. The imaginative approach taken not only presents the hospital in a welcoming, green setting but also provides a series of unit-specific opportunities to engage patients in outdoor therapeutic activity.”

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Images Copyright Jill Tate

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The accommodation is broken down into a number of ‘houses’ that are arranged around large activity gardens and courtyards.

All of the clinical accommodation is at ground floor level, which has allowed physically disabled service users to access all areas and has eliminated the need for lifts, ramps and steps.

Most of the site has been constructed using a lightweight timber frame construction that has minimised the amount of concrete foundations, whilst the majority of the development was prefabricated offsite in panels to reduce wastage. Further features include: a recyclable aluminium roof, a wind turbine and the implementation of sustainable urban drainage to attenuate the surface water runoff.

Bob Wills, Innovation & Technology Lead Architect at MA, commented: “This has been a challenging project due to the speed of the construction and the scale of the site. In many ways it has also been a transformative experience for us; Laing O’Rourke insisted that the project was procured using BIM, which in turn has completely changed the way that we work and design buildings.”

Consultations were carried out with patients, their carers and staff across all elements of the design in order to ensure that the provision was truly representative of their needs. The buildings are flexible and adaptable in response to future changes in guidance and clinical practice, featuring directional artwork to guide users and a colour theme that is based on natural features found on Roseberry Topping.

The stunning design particularly impressed the judges of the RIBA Northern Awards 2011, who awarded the development both a Gold Award and the Hadrian Award for North East Project of the Year.

Eric Carter, RIBA North East Regional Chair (Northern Network Awards), said: “The jury considers this scheme to be an exemplar of its type and was particularly interested by the way the architects had manipulated the design to reduce its significant bulk into recognisably human scaled spaces.

“The integration of the landscape into the design is particularly well handled and the quality of the environment must contribute to the user’s wellbeing.”

Expanding Total Recycling Services A major expansion scheme to extend an existing recycling facility in County Durham is nearing completion.

The £1.2 million project is being implemented by Total Recycling Services and comprises the construction of a new waste transfer station and a brand new recycling building.

Funding for the project is being provided by Yorkshire Bank Investing for Growth Initiative.

Total Recycling Services’ Waste Recycling Facility is located on Former Taylor Woodrow Compound in Darlington. The facility carries out waste management services for many blue-chip North East companies in the UK and recycles a variety of waste materials including paper, card, plastics, chemicals and general waste.

Total Recycling Services also disposes of hazardous and non-hazardous liquids and prevents up to 90% of collected waste from being diverted to landfill. The expansion at the facility will increase the site’s capacity by up to six times, further strengthening its services in the sector and increasing its ability to improve the environment.

Finley Structures Ltd is the main contractor on the project and Elder Lester McGregor is the architect. Alex Foreman of Total Recycling Services is the project manager and the structural consultant is Billinghurst George Partnership.

Eight new jobs will be created as part of the expansion and it is predicted that Total Recycling Services will boost its annual turnover to £6 million by the end of 2012.

Total Recycling Services Project Manager, Alex Foreman, said: “We are experiencing growing demand for our broad-based specialist services and this expansion will enable us to keep pace with customer needs. We created 22 jobs in 2009, achieved a £2.96 million first-year turnover and are very pleased

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to be expanding and creating new jobs in a tough period for the economy.

“The new waste transfer station will facilitate the faster and more efficient sorting of waste and the new recycling building will take more of our operations under cover, which is better for the environment.

“We have invested in brand new, top quality vehicles and equipment from day one and this latest extension follows this pattern. We went to Yorkshire Bank Tees Valley FSC in the middle of the recession to help us to launch, and they have backed us all the way. We would not be where we are without them. It is

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N o r th E a s t & Yo r ks h i re a bespoke, personal service and it is the best I’ve ever dealt with.”

Yorkshire Bank Tees Valley FSC Business Partner, Richard Jackson, said: “The growing need for society to manage waste effectively does not automatically mean that it is easy to build a successful waste management business.

“Alex Foreman and his team are building a first-class operation and Yorkshire Bank is pleased to be backing them through our Investing For Growth campaign.”

Work began on the extension project in January 2012. The new L-shaped recycling unit is being constructed from a steel framed portal and will feature profiled fireproof metal cladding, a concrete floor slab, pre-cast concrete external push walls industrial roller access doors.

Additional features include a number of security measures, including detection and alarm systems and a new door entry system.

In order for the work to be undertaken, Total Recycling Services had to obtain a licence from the Environment Agency. Whilst construction work is taking place at Total Recycling Services’ Waste Recycling Facility the site will remain fully operational, so all efforts are being conducted to ensure there are no disruptions to services.

Finley Structures Ltd Contracts Manager, John Wayper, said: “Despite one of the wettest April’s on record we have remained on schedule and are due to complete the programme on time and within budget. A facility like this is very important to the environment and it will be an important asset to Total Recycling Services.”

Elder Lester McGregor Managing Director, Ian McGregor, added: “The work that we are conducting on this project is progressing well and everything continues to remain on programme. The expansion is being expertly conducted by Finley Structures Ltd and I’m pleased to say that we’ve not encountered any major problems with the work.”

Total Recycling Services’ Waste Recycling Facility is scheduled for completion in late August 2012.

Elder Lester McGregor Elder Lester McGregor is a small-medium practise providing architectural services throughout the north of England. Based in Teeside, Elder Lester McGregor prides itself on its professional design and contract management services for use in building projects. The practice promotes expertly detailed and carefully

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designed solutions and all of Elder Lester McGregor’s staff are passionate about their work.

To date Elder Lester McGregor has completed a wide variety of projects in the commercial, residential, industrial, retail and healthcare sectors.

Elder Lester McGregor Managing Director, Ian McGregor, said: “A project like the Waste Recycling Facility expansion is very important for Elder Lester McGregor to be involved with as we believe that all of the buildings that we design always take environmental issues into account.

“Although this extension isn’t on the same scale as some of our larger projects, being involved with a project that puts recycling at the forefront is of great importance to us.”

Finley Structures Ltd Formed in 2000, Finley Structures Ltd is a family-owned company that carries out structural steel work for the construction industry. From its base of operations on Newton Aycliffe Business Park, Finley Structures offers a wide range of structural solutions, with projects ranging from 100 te to 2000 te.

Finley Structures Ltd Contracts Manager, John Wayper, said: “Finley Structures Ltd core business is structural steel fabrication and installation, and when we first tendered for the Waste Recycling Facility project we were only involved with the steel work and foundations. However, as the project developed our involvement became that of the main contractor and undertook the floor slab work, push walls, cladding and also the shutter doors.

“Finley Structures is very pleased to be involved with this expansion project for Total Recycling Services. We’ve previously completed work for the company and we hope to work with them again on all of their future projects.”

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 family 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.

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N o r th E a s t & Yo r ks h i re “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.”

Salix Salix began 20 years ago and has built up an excellent reputation for providing bespoke catering equipment within the food and drinks industry.

Amongst other notable clients, the company has worked on the Hotel La Tour in Birmingham and the St Pancras Renaissance London Hotel.

Salix were tasked with finding a kitchen solution for the Talbot

Hotel, including: the catering equipment and associated fabrications, washing up facilities, an integrated cold room and ventilation solutions.

Martin Chapman, Salix, said: “The project was quite challenging as we working within a Grade II listed building. The geography was also a challenge as the kitchen is located in the centre of the development and we couldn’t substantially modify the fabric of the building due to the listed status.

“Putting a modern kitchen into building that dates back several centuries was tricky, but we are specialists at providing bespoke kitchens and so we relished this exciting project.

“We also work on smaller catering establishments, which is the beauty of the company. All of our work is bespoke, so we can cater for all requirements.”

Durham Cathedral Work on Durham Cathedral first began in 1093 and now, almost 920 years later, the way that visitors experience this magnificent building is set to be transformed.

The Open Treasure project plans to open up the space in the Cathedral’s Claustral buildings to allow visitors to appreciate more of the beautiful architecture. The development will include a sequence of linked exhibition spaces, a new shop and choir vestries, along with improved access for disabled visitors.

The £8 million project will be split over several phases, with Phase One scheduled for completion in September 2012.

Estimated to have a value of £1.5 million, the phase will see the redevelopment of the area known as the Undercroft, which lies directly below the space known as the Monks’ dormitory located off the Cathedral Cloisters.

In the second phase of Open Treasure, the Monk’s Dormitory will become the start of a new exhibition route which will display both the Cathedral’s own treasures and to house temporary exhibitions, as Head of Property at Durham Cathedral, John Holmes, explained: “Before, the space was an underused area and contained display and exhibition areas which were inadequate. We are trying to get more people to the Cathedral and also provide a better experience. It’s a stunning place already and this will enable them to better enjoy the Cathedral’s treasures.”

This is a major project for the Cathedral and the subject of a major fundraising campaign. A grant application is being submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund. A first stage pass has already been received for £3.5 million which means that HLF support the project in principle and will welcome a more detailed application for the amount proposed. A number of organisations are supporting the work already in progress including the Friends of Durham Cathedral.

Main contractor for Phase One the project is SIMPSON (York) Ltd and the architect is Purcell Miller Tritton. The Cathedral’s own yard staff, comprising a dedicated team of stone masons

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and specialist joiners who continually maintain and conserve the building, carried out the enabling works.

Dunhouse Natural Stone is the stone supplier for the restoration of the Durham Cathedral project.

Dunhouse Natural Stone Managing Director, Paul Allison, commented: “Dunhouse Quarry is proud to have supplied the stone for the ongoing restoration of Durham Cathedral and we hope to continue to do so for the foreseeable future.”

SIMPSON is vastly experienced, having worked on numerous heritage and listed building projects throughout the past, including Bishopthorpe Palace, York and Bowes Museum and Barnard Castle. They also have a large construction arm and are one of the largest fit-out companies in the UK, having recently

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completed work for some of the most established retailers in the UK. The project has involved taking down some of the more recently erected stone walls and lifting sections of the original stone flooring in order to install under floor heating. In addition, a new stone floor has been laid and the existing undercroft ceiling has been lime washed.

Further works will include the installation of a platform lift to help improve disabled access and the fixture of a number of feature glass screens for the retail and restaurant area.

John Holmes said: “Because the development is within the stone vaulted area of the Undercroft, everything has to be approved by the Cathedral’s Fabric Commission for England, a statutory body, as well as other consultative organisations, and has to be carried out in a very sensitive way. The stone needs to match what is already there, whilst woodwork and specialist joinery fittings have to complement the existing structure.

“We are also significantly improving the accessibility. As you can imagine with a Norman and medieval site, access has previously been very difficult. The Cathedral is looking to make all public areas fully accessible for disabled visitors and wheelchair users, which it has never been before.”

“We aspire towards RICS, RIBA and heritage awards in the future and are designing it to the highest quality that we possibly can.”

Mark Cregan Operations Director of SIMPSON, spoke of their aim to make best use of the Cathedral’s amazing spaces: “This project is about improving the whole experience and making it better for visitors – for example the shop, cathedral

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and other facilities are currently tucked away in small rooms, whilst the café/restaurant is located in another area of the building.

“Access to the development has been difficult and it has been approached in a sensitive manner due to the historic fabric we are working on. However, we are professionals in this field so it hasn’t delayed our main schedule in any way. We have taken on the challenges a building of this nature produces into consideration, and have programmed the works accordingly.”

SIMPSON craftsmen are using traditional lime plaster, lime wash and oak for all the feature joinery, including the fit-out of the new vestry and choristers. The company is also fitting feature lighting to enhance the undercroft, with the feature glass screens supplied by OAG - who carried out the glazing works on the recently completed St. Pancras Station in London.

Mark Cregan commented: “We are currently carrying out the ground works to allow the underfloor heating to be installed, whilst all of the bespoke joinery is currently being produced in our own joiners shop. There is an air of excitement amongst our directly employed joiners and apprentices working on the stunning furniture, but the real feature is the space itself- it’s amazing.

“It was a dark dingy place previously unsuitable for the exhibits to be displayed and we’re bringing it to life. Open the Treasures is all about walking around the space and being able to appreciate and absorb all the dimensions the cathedral has to offer. It’s a beautiful cathedral and we at SIMPSON are privileged to have been selected as the preferred contractor to carry out these works.”

Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle. Built using Dunhouse Buff

Durham Cathedral, Durham. Renovations using Dunhouse Buff

Natural Stone Dunhouse Quarry are pleased to have supplied Dunhouse Stone to Simpsons of York for the ongoing restoration of Durham Cathedral

For Sales and advice, Call: 0845 330 1296 or visit www.dunhouse.co.uk Dun ho use Qu a rr y L t d , St a ind rop , D a rling t on, D L 2 3 Q U

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Constructing the Pennine Bridleway Essential maintenance nears completion on Pennine Bridleway.

Pennine Bridleway is a purpose built National Trail in the North of England aimed at horse riders cyclists and walkers. The 320 kilometre route is the first long distance bridleway to be constructed in the UK and stretches from Derbyshire through to Cumbria The last construction works are currently underway to improve a 500 metre section of the bridleway at Swineley Cowm – a remote section 500 metres above sea level. The work is to form a more user-friendly track over a boggy peat section of moorland.

The technique of sub soiling was used to raise the track above the existing ground level by using underlying sub base material (clay and stone) won by forming a drainage ditch to one side.

The work was undertaken to form a harder base and addresses drainage issues. The track will be topped off with 200 tonnes of dust limestone aggregate which will be flown in by helicopter.

The stone will be laid on the track base and compacted down to create a durable surface.

Work initially began on the construction of the 83-kilometre Yorkshire Dales section of Pennine Bridleway in 2003 and the main body of work was completed in 2011. The project is funded

by Natural England, who has also provided funding for the recent maintenance works.

Throughout the development of the Yorkshire Dales section of Pennine Bridleway, a number of contractors have helped to shape the important route. Dinsdale Moorland Services was

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responsible for a number of route restoration works including Cam High Road, Gorbeck Road, Arten Gill and BW 56; whilst Marsden AES was responsible for the restoration of routes including Far Moor, Austwick Garsdale, Stainforth and Banks Lane Settle.

There are no major works remaining on the Bridleway, however additional maintenance works will continue to take place as and

last winter but we will be addressing this in the near future’’ Peter Lambert added: “The Pennine Bridleway runs through a relatively remote area of the country, as well as providing a route for users to enjoy it’s a way of bringing much needed income into the area with many new and existing businesses benefitting from its construction.

“A lot of work has gone into this project and it is great to know that after all this time the route is now open for people to enjoy.”

Dinsdale Moorland Services Ltd

when necessary.

Pennine Bridleway Project Officer for Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, Peter Lambert, said: “The development of Pennine Bridleway dates back to 1986, when a group of horse riders lobbied Parliament for a long distance route. After a lengthy process involving Secretary of State approval, work eventually got started on developing the track and the majority of work reached completion in 2011.

“Essentially our role at Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority was to implement the route on the ground on behalf of Natural England by carrying out extensive restoration and improvement works.

“Additionally we have created and constructed 12-kilometres of brand new bridleway to connect the existing sections where there were no bridleways. The new sections have required legal agreements with Landowners and farmers and as the new sections cross the Settle Carlisle railway at three locations, agreement had to be reached with Network Rail to use underpasses and bridges.

“The new sections of bridleway have required detailed planning applications including commissioning supporting reports on archaeology, ecology and Highway safety.

“The Bridleway gets a great response from the public and is well used. There is a section that we have not worked on during the project and has deteriorated with the heavy rainfall over the

Dinsdale Moorland Services Ltd is a specialist contracting company with extensive knowledge and expertise of working in environmentally sensitive areas. From the upland moors to the lowland mires DMS undertake extensive habitat restoration works, helping to restore nature’s balance. DMS offers a complete and integrated portfolio of services to both the public and private sector, including estate/forestry tracks to public rights of way works/infrastructure; mountain bike trail design and build; and comprehensive GIS mapping, geophysical surveying and consultancy services.

On the Yorkshire Dales Bridleway project, DMS re-surfaced the bridleway and created subsoil tracks as part of the infrastructure surfaces, and installed access furniture.

A spokesman for Dinsdale Moorland Services Ltd, said: “Being a Yorkshire company we were extremely proud and honoured to work with the YDNP on such a prestigious project.

The Yorkshire Dales Bridleway was a large project in terms of the length of bridleway – in total we worked on around 20 km of track, but we pride ourselves in our capabilities and our positive ‘can do’ attitude. “

Holy Island In 635 AD, Saint Aidan chose to found a monastery on Lindisfarne in Northumberland. Today, thousands of tourists and visitors flock to the Holy Island every year.

Now a new building project seeks to improve visitors’ experiences of the island. The conversion of the lookout tower and a new visitor building on the Rocket Field will provide information for visitors to Lindisfarne. The Lookout Tower is on ‘The Heugh’ above the Priory, to the south of Lindisfarne village, whilst the Rocket Field Visitors’ Building is en route between the village and Lindisfarne Castle.

The project is being carried out for Holy Island of Lindisfarne Community Development Trust. Main contractor for the project is DP Builders and the architect is Icosis Architects. The structural consultant is David Narro Associates, whilst John Riley is the Project Manager. The project began in January 2012 and is due to finish in August 2012, with the overall contract value standing at £480,000.

The Lookout Tower is being altered to enable visitors to enjoy

the spectacular views that the island has to offer. The tower was constructed in the 1940s for use by the coast guard, but it has stood empty for many years.

The project includes the removal of the existing upper floor and the introduction of a new glazed lantern with steel fins supporting the roof structure. The remaining stone structure will be sensitively repaired using lime mortar, whilst the original iron studded timber door is being refurbished and reinstalled. A ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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N o r th E a s t & Yo r ks h i re side the road between the village and the castle. Internally, the walls are being clad using specialist panels by Grayconcrete, which is intended to match the colour and texture of the stone.

Using a similar stone and a self-seeded green roof should allow the building to sit comfortably within its natural location, helping visitors to truly appreciate the stunning surroundings of Holy Island.

new steel staircase has been installed to replace the old ladder access to the upper floor, whilst new orientation information is being installed on both levels.

From the glass room, visitors will be able to see as far as The Farne Islands, the Cheviot Hills and the Berwickshire coast.

The Rocket Field visitor building is located on the main route to the castle and will provide a visitor information point for the island’s rich nature and wildlife. The Rocket Field provides an excellent habitat for a great variety of birds, and the building is therefore intended to focus views out over the field and bird activity via a large window. In addition, it is hoped that by detailing appropriate pockets within the stonework at high level some birds might be encouraged to nest within the walls of the building itself.

The building is being constructed using Denfind stone, which is similar in appearance to the existing field wall running along-

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MGM Ltd Over the last twenty years, MGM Ltd has become one of the leading specialist property refurbishment companies in the North East.

The company undertakes a wide range of contracts for local authorities, housing associations, heritage organisations and private customers. From private dwellings and listed properties to large-scale commercial public buildings, MGM Ltd is able to take on a project of any size – whilst their expertise also extends to alterations, extensions, conversions and new build projects.

One of their most prestigious projects is the Spring Residential Centre in Saltburn-by-the-Sea. Completed in June 2011 on time and within budget, the 18-bed care centre is managed by Key Healthcare Ltd and caters for those living with dementia.

The attractive two-storey centre features ten spacious bedrooms on the ground floor, along with a lift, lounge, hairdressing salon and two separate WCs. On the first floor, there are eight en suite bedrooms, a kitchen and laundry facilities.

Residents also have access to a secluded private courtyard, which offers stunning views of the local coastline.

Richard Keys, Chief Executive of Key Healthcare Ltd, commented: “Key Healthcare found the service provided by the team to be of the highest standard. All of the works were coordinated thoroughly, and the assistance through the design, build and

contractual stages was excellent.”

MGM Ltd is currently working on a £280,000 project to conserve and restore the Lifeboat House at Seaham’s North Dock for Durham County Council.

Works will include the refurbishment of existing windows and the installation of a pre-weathered stainless steel standing seam roof. Secondary glazed doors will be installed at the entrance to the Lifeboat House, whilst a removable platform will be created to one side of the building to offer visitors a view of the restored George Elmy Lifeboat.

Further works will include the construction of a new building to house a heritage education, sales and display area. It is proposed that the project will help to develop the economic and cultural potential of the North Dock by creating a popular heritage-based attraction.

Gary Dillon, Director of MGM Ltd, said: “The scheme has given us a great opportunity to work with Durham and meet the challenge of helping to develop the Dock area. We will also work with the Heritage Lottery Fund (Rising Relics Programme) to provide £50,000 of Heritage Skills Training to the local community through works such as lime pointing and consolidation, removal of render, and woodwork skills.

“Skills for the Future offers training in a wide range of skills needed to look after buildings, landscapes, habitats and museum and archive collections. In addition, it also equips people to lead education and outreach programmes, manage volunteers and use new technology. Its focus is on vocational learning, helping to meet the skills gaps identified by heritage bodies, and on encouraging potential trainees from all walks of life.”

For more information on MGM Ltd, visit www.mgm.ltd.uk

Border Stone Quarries Border Stone Quarries is a family run company offering locally quarried Northumbrian and Cumbrian red and buff sandstones.

Established in 1996, they use modern machinery and traditional masonry skills to provide a range of competitively priced products.

Border Stone Quarries supply natural sandstone for use in a variety of MGM projects.

Lisa Charlton, secretary at Border Stone Quarries said: “We have a long standing relationship with MGM Ltd and have worked with them for over five years. It’s very important to us to be involved with MGM Ltd because they do a lot of good work.”

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Boston Castle is restored in £1.2 million project A £1.2 million project to refurbish and improve facilities at Boston Castle has been completed.

The project comprised the construction of a new entrance foyer, the erection of a two-storey extension within the western wall and a number of site improvements. In order to facilitate the new extension at the Castle, sections of the existing Victorian extension were also removed.

To improve access at the 18th century landmark, new stairs and a platform lift were installed and new storage areas, plant rooms and toilets were constructed. In addition, a new onsite car park was formed, access roads were installed and security measures were improved to include CCTV, metal shutters for windows and doors and flood lighting.

As part of the restoration works, battlements on the roof of Boston Castle were also reinstated using ‘Rotherham Red’ sandstone.

Boston Castle officially re-opened to the public on July 4th 2012 and was followed by a family fun day on 7th July.

Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund, Yorkshire and the Humber, Fiona Spiers, said: “This project has totally rejuvenated one of Rotherham’s most important and interesting buildings. The programme of activities that will take place over the next four years will bring Boston Castle to the heart of the community for everyone to explore and enjoy. HLF is dedicated to supporting projects that conserve and open up our heritage for the community and visitors to learn about.”

The Mayor of Rotherham, Councillor Dave Pickering, added:

“Boston Castle is a much-loved historic feature and I am absolutely delighted to see it refurbished and open for public use.

“It has taken quite a while to arrive at this point and my thanks and appreciation go to the various groups of people who have worked long and hard to bring on this wonderful project.”

Work began on the Grade II listed building in August 2011 and the project was funded by Rotherham Borough Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund. The funding will cover the cost of the scheme and also see the implementation of a number of educational activities that will take place over the next four years.

Conservation specialist contractor William Anelay was the main contractor on the project and Paul Hewitt Architect was the architect.

In addition to the main funding for the project the Friends of Boston Castle and Parklands also secured a £50,000 grant from Biffaward. The additional funding was used to create an events space within the exterior courtyard of the Castle for outdoor performances and teaching.

In discussing the new events space, Friends of Boston Castle and Parklands Group Secretary, Janet Worrall, said: “The restoration of Boston Castle will provide Rotherham with a new unique site where visitors can enjoy and experience culture and leisure we well as a new learning facility.

Janet Worrall added: “It has taken ten years for the project to come to fruition and the Friends of Boston Castle and Parklands have supported the Council in their bid for Heritage Lottery funding throughout the process.

“I hope the history of the building will attract visitors from far afield as well as locally and the people of our town will have both pride and take pleasure in the newly restored building, which has been a landmark for Rotherham for nearly 240 years.”

Ability Lifts Abilitylifts were recently asked to supply and install their Optimum 100 Platform lift at Boston Castle to allow access to different levels of the castle, including the viewing platform revealing the panoramas across the valleys of the Rivers Rother and Don.

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Their impressive Optimum 100 Platform lift was ideal for this job, as this extremely compact lift would fit into the limited space available between two main beams. As the lift can be glazed on all or any of the four sides, it was decided that glazing to the outer edge – along with the glazed entrance doors – would allow light to flow into the rest of room.

The Optimum 100 was supplied as a complete structure including the ceiling and did not require load bearing walls, scaffolding or lifting beams for installation. The lift is also up to 75% more energy efficient than other systems, as the drive motor uses only .55kw.

National Media Museum project goes live On 30th March 2012, the first permanent gallery dedicated to exploring the social, technological and cultural impact of the internet and web opened at the National Media Museum in Bradford.

Life Online traces the history of the internet and explores an invaluable public archive of society’s relationship with the internet and the web in the 21st century. The gallery covers two spaces within the museum: a permanent exhibition space in the foyer and a changing temporary exhibition space.

Sarah Crowther, Life Online Content Curator, said: “The Life Online temporary exhibition gallery has been created to enable the museum to explore the key issues around the internet and its impact on our lives.

“The first exhibition celebrates the open source culture of sharing and collaborating online and examines the threats to net neutrality that could change the climate of the open internet as we know it. We hope that the exhibition will enable visitors to enjoy the artworks whilst engaging with the key concepts around our life online.”

The project has included the introduction of a gallery space within the glazed entrance foyer of the museum. In order to provide a calm and neutral environment in which visitors can self navigate, the alignment and positioning of walls, interactive and object displays has been carefully designed to maximise the available space.

Freestanding displays were designed to fit between the planar glazing structures of the glass cladding to the front of the museum, and the use of materials throughout the space is clean, simple and timeless. The space features a white backdrop with black and white glass surface, stainless steel trims and large charcoal tiles. RGBA LEDs have been used within sections of the gallery and are linked by colour code to the mood of Twitter.

As the use of high quality materials was specified, the attention to detail was critical. Specialist materials on this project included everything from structural glazed flooring, specialist lighting, edge lit acrylics, GRP and stretch ceilings to glass and metalwork on top of the bespoke cabinets, furniture and fittings.

In addition, the floor was levelled through in order to form an object display trench that depicts a timeline of personal computers from the 1970s to the present day. In addition, interactive terminals that allow access to the internet are positioned below large-scale overhead projection units, allowing visitors to browse the web and immerse themselves in a rich multi-media content archive.

Challenges included erecting a leaning 11-metre high wall and suspending the projection units from the structure. Main contractor for the project was TTS Interiors and the architect was NRN Design.

Steve Greaves, TTS Interiors, said: “We knew from the outset that this was a unique project with both construction challenges as well as environmental, as we would be constructing an exhibition in the entrance atrium of a museum whilst the museum remained open for business.

“It was an extremely interesting and bespoke design that included everything from object displays to large amounts of technology, and from the outset we worked in close partnership with both the designers at NRN Design and the client to ensure

we achieved both the effect and the quality they were after, whilst maintaining programme.

“Within a space initially without walls and with no two surfaces at 90 degrees to each other, the design managed to work around this to still provide the practical approach we offer in building and installing the exhibition. We are extremely proud of the end result and the team we have worked with on it.”

Tom Woolley, Curator of New Media at the National Media Museum, added: “Although other galleries tell the story of the internet, no other gallery in the world links that ever-evolving history with the impact the internet has on our lives and we are very excited to house the world’s first gallery of its kind in the world here in Bradford.”

Life Online is funded by the regional development agency Yorkshire Forward and the DCMS Wolfson Museums and Galleries and Improvement Fund. The project also has a number of corporate supporters, including: Virgin Media, Brass and Start JudgeGill.

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Refurbishing Durham Castle An extensive refurbishment project to upgrade and improve facilities at Durham Castle, home to Durham’s University College, is now complete.

Main contractor for the £5 million project was Miller Construction and the project was completed in early 2012.

Phase One began in July 2011 and was largely centred on improving the Great Hall, kitchen and dining facilities. As part of the project, the kitchen equipment was completely stripped out and the kitchen was upgraded to a commercial kitchen.

Alterations and improvements were also made to the Castle’s keep and the junction between the keep and the Castle’s northern range of buildings, whilst additional work included the restoration of chandeliers, timber rafters, radiators and oak panelling.

Phase Two involved the upgrading of student accommodation to include en suite facilities.

The residential areas of the building were reconfigured to accommodate the new bathrooms, whilst new joinery mouldings and fittings were also incorporated.

Thirty-six en suite pods were supplied by Taplanes Ltd. The pods incorporate a WC, washbasin, shower fitments, lighting and extraction units. Metal stud work and

plasterboard were positioned around the pod to create a ‘built in’ appearance, with the en suite pod door matching the walnut bedroom furniture.

Due to the building’s significant historical value, all of the original features were maintained and carefully protected during the refurbishment process.

This included protecting doorways and entry points whilst materials were being brought onto the site and modelling all of the fixtures and fittings to match existing features.

University College Bursar, Michelle Crawford, said: “We are delighted with the refurbishment and the Castle’s facilities have been transformed from 1-star to anticipated 4-star Visit England grading. The Great Hall, servery, kitchen and bedrooms look fantastic, and they provide both a great community setting for students to live in and a majestic venue for weddings.”

Durham Castle was constructed as a Norman fortress and the Grade I listed building forms part of Durham’s UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The 11th century castle was home to the Bishops of Durham until 1837 when it was handed over to Durham University by Bishop Van Mildert, who founded the institution. It has been the home of Durham University’s University College ever since.

University College currently provides educational services for 700 undergraduates and 150 post-graduates, whilst the Castle also

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provides term-time accommodation for 339 students. In addition, the development receives tens of thousands of visitors per year and is used for special events and functions including daily conferences.

Regional Managing Director of Miller Construction, Ian Jubb, said: “We are delighted to have completed the student residences at Durham Castle on behalf of University College, Durham University. This was an extremely challenging yet exciting project for the team to work on in terms of surroundings and historical importance. The biggest challenge we faced was preserving the original, historical features of the building.

“We worked very closely with Durham County Council Conservation Department throughout the project, which enabled us to fully understand the limitations and restrictions of working within a World Heritage Site. We are confident that the students will benefit from their newly refurbished facilities whilst still being able to enjoy and appreciate the original features of the Castle.”

Grenfell Club opens its doors The Grenfell Club on Grant Street opened in March 2012 and has replaced a former club building that was no longer able to accommodate its members. The new £675,000 community centre boasts improved access for disabled visitors and exciting facilities such as a large multipurpose hall and a coffee bar.

Work began on the 12-month project in February 2011, with

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Willmott Dixon Construction as the main contractor and Plus 3 Architecture as the architect.

The two-storey Grenfell Club has been constructed on the site of a former town car park and is a timber frame construction with brick walls, rain screen cladding, aluminium powder coated windows and a single-ply roof. Comprising around 450 square metres of space, the building features an L-shaped design and

faces a south-westerly direction.

On the ground floor, the club boasts a large multipurpose hall and coffee bar, multisensory rooms, offices, a kitchen and a toilet block. Additional facilities include a wet room with special hoists for wheelchair users.

In order to facilitate the physical activities taking place within the club, vinyl flooring has been installed throughout the ground floor. The front doors of the main hall also open up onto the garden, offering the opportunity of outdoor activities in the summer.

Club members will notice a clear distinction between the recreational use of the ground floor and the educational purpose of the first floor. The first floor is fully carpeted and features an additional hall, a games room and WC facilities along with storage space, a meeting room and an office.

One of the key reasons for constructing the new club was to make the facilities more accessible for disabled members. As a result, a glass platform lift was installed to offer access to both floors. Special hold-open devices have also been fitted to the doors in order to ensure that they can be kept open with ease.

At the front of the club is an onsite garden that is surrounded by block paving and a fence. Planting has been kept to a minimum so that the garden is a blank canvas for club members to shape as they see fit.

Matthew Glen, Plus 3 Architecture, said: “We visited the original club during the early consultation period of this project and were quite surprised to see how popular it was with local residents. However, as the building was constructed in the 1970s it was no longer able to meet the requirements of its members.

“The new Grenfell Club is a world apart from the previous

building and has been designed to provide the best possible facilities for members. This includes a more flexible approach to the usage so that different areas can be opened up and then rented out to generate additional income for the club.

“We’ve really enjoyed being involved with this project and now that the club is open, it will make a huge difference for the community of Redcar. The building has even been put forward for the RIBA regional awards.”

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Kettering General Hospital is transformed An exciting £30 million project has seen the creation of a new three-storey development at Kettering General Hospital in Northamptonshire.

The Foundation Wing includes a new paediatric outpatient department with six consulting exam rooms and an acute 28-bed medical ward on the ground floor; a 16-bed intensive care unit on the first floor and an integrated 32-bed paediatric unit on the second floor.

The acute care ward features a central nurse base, which is essentially the ‘hub’ of the unit. All of the spaces between the beds are designed to facilitate extra beds in the case of an emergency, whilst the beds can also be separated in their individual cubicles if required.

Two isolation rooms are available to aid infection control, whilst important facilities such as overnight stay areas and waiting rooms are also available. Further facilities include ward administration offices and staff rooms.

Designed with flexibility in mind, the centre also takes into account the patients’ need for privacy and dignity. Most of the rooms in the paediatric unit are single rooms, with overnight facilities for parents available in either the room itself or adjacent to the ward.

The Foundation Wing is set to achieve BREEAM rating of ‘Excellent’ due to the significant emphasis on sustainable construction and the innovative use of the building.

The project has been delivered through the ProCure 21+ framework with main contractor Interserve. Architects for the project are Devereux Architects Ltd. Action Demolition Ltd was responsible for the demolition and soft strip works. As work took place next to live wards, Action Demolition Ltd worked sensitively to minimise dust and disruption at all times.

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Action Demolition Ltd Contracts Manager, Paul Richardson, said: “It was great to be involved with this project as it offered us a new challenge and allowed us the ability to adapt our skills.”

KGH Director of Strategy and Partnerships, Mike Smeeton, said: “The new development is really moving ahead quickly now and we have seen a lot of progress. The facilities it will provide will be a superb and enable us to really modernise the way we provide care – particularly intensive care and care for children.

“For example, the new intensive care unit will have 16 beds when fully open – twice what we have the moment – and each bed area has been designed with 360 degree access so that in an emergency there is plenty of space for teams to work in.

“The paediatric unit will also have flip-down beds at the side of each child’s bedside to make overnight stays more comfortable for parents.

“Overall, this will be a major improvement to the facilities at KGH and it will also help us to free up space in the main hospital for future developments.”

Action Demolition Ltd Action Demolition Ltd was responsible for the demolition and soft strip work on the new link building which connects the old hospital with the new hospital. As work took place next to live wards, Action Demolition Ltd worked sensitively to minimise dust and disruption at all times.

Action Demolition Ltd Contracts Manager, Paul Richardson, said: “It was great to be involved with this project as it offered us a new challenge and allowed us the ability to adapt our skills.”

Construction News

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Rosie Hospital extension will improve neonatal care Located on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, the newly extended Rosie Hospital will provide a wide range of neonatal services for newborn babies and their mothers.

Rosie Hospital is widely considered as one of the best maternity hospitals in the country. The hospital provides maternity and neonatal care to women and babies locally and across the East of England.

The new extension will include the Rosie Birth Centre, where women who have had a pregnancy without complication can receive midwife-led care when they are in active labour.

All 10 rooms have birthing pools and access to a private garden.

In addition, there will be an eight-room accommodation facility (run by the Sick Children’s Trust) for families with babies on the newly extended Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Further facilities include Maternal and Fetal Medicine Clinics, a large staff office suite and a dedicated counselling suite.

The three-storey (6000m²) extension features a concrete frame with brick, render and rainscreen cladding. A new reception and café area open out onto an attractive public garden, whilst a doubleheight glass pavilion links the existing Rosie Hospital to the new building.

Set to achieve a BREEAM rating of ‘Very Good’, the site has incorporated a range of sustainable features – including the installation of photovoltaic panels on the roof of the existing Rosie Hospital.

Kristen Howard, Senior Project Manager for Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The contractors have worked well within the restrictions of a tight site on a busy hospital campus and the existing Rosie Hospital has remained fully operational throughout the construction period.

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“This is an important project for the Trust and the expansion will help to ensure that high quality care is delivered in modern hospital facilities that meet the needs of women and their families.”

The project was handed over to Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in June 2012 and a phased occupation of the building will now follow until October 2012.

Main contractor for the project was Farrans (Construction) Ltd and the architects were Devereux Architects and Allies and Morrison Architects.

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 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

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Midlands & East Anglia 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 its sustainable future within the community.”

The project is scheduled to be completed in August 2012.

About Heritage Lincolnshire

A former wasteland in Staffordshire will be the location for a new waste recycling facility.

The Staffordshire Energy Recovery Facility on Four Ashes Industrial Estate in South Staffordshire will treat around 300,000 tonnes of household waste a year, generating enough electricity to power 38,000 homes per year. It is expected to save the county up to £250 million over the next 25 years as the waste will no longer have to go to landfill.

Veolia Environmental Services are overseeing the PFI project in partnership with Staffordshire County Council. Main contractor for the scheme is CNIM Clugston, whilst the architect for the original concept design was URF Planning Ltd.

Construction began in June 2011 and is expected to be completed by December 2013, meaning that the £163 million project is just under half-way complete.

The building measures 40 metres at its highest point, whilst the chimney stacks will be 80 metres tall. The length of the building is 156 metres and the width of the building will be 81 metres.

Facilities will include offices, a control room, meeting rooms and a visitors centre.

Christopher Swanwick, Project Manager from Veolia Environmental Services commented on the structure of the facility: “For the building envelope itself, we’re using stone filled gabion

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.

New Energy Recovery Facility will save Staffordshire £250 million

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baskets for the bottom half of the building – which itself reaches 9 metres in height. For the rest of the building we’re using insulated cladding. The building will have a living roof with grass, moss and flowers that are ecologically friendly.

“The main bunker has already been constructed. We’ve excavated 12 metres deep, and the bunker wall is concrete and reaches 20 metres in height. The steel work is all going in too now, including the steel work for the administration building, turbo hall and boiler support.”

Veolia also plans to engage with the local community and local schools in order to teach them about resources, recycling and the environment.

Chris Swanwick explained: “We are working very closely with BREEAM at the moment and we have achieved a very good rating for the facility. The most obvious environmentally friendly feature is the roof, whilst we are also water harvesting all of the water from the roof for the toilets using siphonic drainage.”

“We’re fortunate to be in quite a rural area and we hold a community liason group every three months. We invite them down for a site tour and an update on the progress, and monitor all activity on site for noise and dust. When we won planning permission we said we would endeavour to use local labour and local companies for work on site, and at the moment 88.6% of the companies and workforce used live within a 30 mile radius.

“We are also doing a lot of tree planting in the area and the

Veolia Trust has also awarded some money to the community to re-do their church hall and carry out some landscaping and groundwork.

“This is an important project for me as this is the largest power station I have built up to now and it will be one of our largest facilities in the UK. We have a very good relationship with South Staffordshire Council and Veolia are bidding for other works within the region. These facilities are a very good idea and are much more beneficial than sending waste to landfill.”

BRT Phase One arrives Phase One of the £1.5 million Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) scheme in Norfolk is now complete.

The first phase of the scheme took place between Dereham Road and Barn Road in Norwich and was implemented by Norfolk County Council in order to provide the city with a more efficient bus service. The scheme has offered more frequent and reliable services to key routes within Norwich City centre and included the introduction of intelligent traffic light systems, the improvement of roads and the installation of new ticket and information systems.

Work began on Phase One in October 2011 and funding was provided by the Greater Norwich Development Partnership’s Growth Point budget. May Gurney was the main contractor on the scheme and Mott MacDonald Group was the structural engineer.

Dereham Road is an important route in Norwich and provides travel links to the city centre for many residents and businesses. The route provides services for Longwater, Lodge Farm, Bowthorpe and West Costessey and up to 20 buses pass through the route per hour during peak times.

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providing high quality public transport. Norfolk County Council now plans to introduce six bus corridors into the county to improve travel.

As part of Phase One, a number of improvements were carried out including the narrowing of junctions at Golding Place and Charles Square and the widening of a junction at Grapes Hill and St Benedict’s Street. New traffic lights were introduced at Grapes Hill, whilst a new 24-hour bus lane was constructed between Orchard Street and Barn Road and works were carried out to enhance an area of St Benedict’s Street.

Work was also carried out on the southern footway, which is situated adjacent to the petrol station and cycle path on Boatman Way. Additional works on the scheme included constructing tactile paved crossings, the planting of trees, the introduction of new bus and cycle route signage and a number of streetscape, landscape and resurfacing works.

As the programme of works commenced prior to the Christmas period in 2011, works were reduced in December to minimise the impact the scheme would have on the increased amount of traffic at this busy time of year. As some pedestrian and cycle routes were affected by the scheme, a number of signed alter-

native routes were provided throughout this month. Works resumed in full in January 2012 until the scheme was completed.

FW Hall & Son Ltd FW Hall & Son Ltd was established in 1893. Now in its fourth generation, the family-run business will celebrate its 120th birthday next year.

The specialist fabrications company mainly completes oneoff bespoke work and is heavily involved in the marine trade for luxury yachts, in addition to producing high-end bespoke staircases and refits for luxurious hotels.

FW Hall & Son Ltd worked closely with Norwich City Council to help formulate a design for the Bus Rapid Transit scheme. The company supplied stainless steel work for the project, along with a bench and associated woodwork.

Ian Hall, Managing Director of FW Hall & Son Ltd, said: “The job involved creating a large sign – ten feet by five feet – and a high quality stainless steel sculpture of St Benedict that is mounted on the other side.

“We welcome all inquiries and we can turn our hand to most things. We can work with stainless steel, aluminium, copper, brass, bronze and mild steel.”

Brooks & Wood Limited carry out prestigious project for West Suffolk Hospital A two-phase project will enable Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) facilities within the grounds of the West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds.

Ipswich-based Brooks & Wood Limited have recently completed the first phase of the project, which has seen the erection of new handrails and the installation of anti-slip treads within existing steps. The twelve-week phase was completed in March 2012 at a cost of £360,000 and also included the installation of ramps, which will enable easier access for wheelchair users.

Further works have included the erection of barriers for the car parks, which will in turn ensure safety and security for staff via a swipe card system.

The second phase of the West Suffolk DDA Refurbishment project is scheduled to commence in June 2012 at a cost of £200,000. The architect for both of the phases is KLH Architects.

David Mason, Brooks & Wood Limited, said: “This was a challenging project as we were working within a fully operational hospital. As a result, we had to deal with a substantial volume of foot traffic and divert pedestrians to other

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Midlands & East Anglia routes whilst we closed off a section steps.

“We are very pleased to be working with West Suffolk Hospital again as they are an esteemed client and we value our strong working relationship with them.”

The project is part of an extensive programme of improvement works that is being carried out by West Suffolk Hospital.

In October 2011 an £800,000 project to relocate and refurbish the F8 ward began, promptly followed by a £522,000 backlog maintenance project that comprised a range of works to ensure the hospital’s compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act. These works included the replacement of lighting, the cleaning of theatre ventilation equipment and the upgrading of medical gas systems.

In order to allow the hospital to continue carrying out minor procedure during the project, a waiting room was converted into a local anaesthetic theatre. The extra theatre has remained in use and has increased the hospital’s capacity in order to allow it to cater for more patients.

Commenting on the project, Gwen Nuttall, Executive Chief

Operating Officer at West Suffolk Hospital, said: “This major investment underlines our commitment to continually improving both the fabric of the hospital and our services for the benefit of the patients we care for. Not only will the refurbished unit provide patients with a nicer environment in which to receive treatment, but will also help us to work more efficiently.

“Relocating our EAU to a new base directly above the A&E will also make it easier to transfer patients between the units, further improving the experience they have while using our services.”

Reverend Martin Green praises the new St. Nicholas Church When the St. Nicholas Church was destroyed by a terrible fire on Palm Sunday in March 2008, the village of Radford Semele, Warwickshire, was left horrified. Thankfully, a £2.2 million project headed by Reverend Martin Green is set to restore the damage caused by the fire and return the church to its rightful place at the heart of the community.

Reverend Martin Green explained: “The project began when the church was burnt down by arsonist. Tragically, the whole church was destroyed and we were left with just a stone shell. Our aim was therefore to sympathetically rebuild the church whilst redeveloping it so that the facilities meet community requirements.

“The main body of the church will be a spacious, open area with chairs. As a highly flexible space, it may be used for a variety of activities including worship, exhibitions and concerts. The

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chancel area will have a moveable glass screen with a separate heating and lighting system, enabling it to be used as a separate room during the week. This is a project that has been designed with the community in mind, and we are therefore trying to make the building as accessible for the public as possible.”

The project began onsite in April 2012 and is scheduled for completion in April 2013. Main contractor for the project is Croft Building and Conservation, and the architect is Caroe & Partners.

One of the requirements of the village community was that the church was respectful of the original design. As a result, the church exterior has retained the original Victorian stone, whilst the south wall will still incorporate the old medieval stone and the tower its original 14th century stone.

Although the exterior of the church will be almost indistin-

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Midlands & East Anglia “The site was saturated with important archaeological finds, including coffins and the bodies of the deceased. As a result, the archaeologists remained onsite for the first 5 weeks of the job and painstakingly recorded all of the finds before they were reburied by Reverend Martin Green. We will be delighted to see the church once it is completed.”

Reverend Martin Green added: “We have had an excellent response from the community, and have managed to raise approximately £150,000 through generous donations and small grants from various funding bodies.

As a result, we have compiled a priority list, and we will add back items from that list as any further funding comes in.

“I am extremely pleased with the work of Croft and Caroe & Partners, both of whom have been very helpful and conscientious.

We have had an excellent, professional team working with us and I am just really pleased that the work has actually started and excellent progress is being made.”

guishable from the original, the interior will be changed dramatically. Featuring a more open plan design, the new church has also incorporated a new glass gable to the north side of the development that will in turn create a very different experience for visitors.

Further additions include two small single-storey extensions that will house offices and toilets. The tower will feature a gallery room for bellringers that will be accessed via a stone staircase, whilst the church will be served by a new underfloor heating system.

Decorative features will include new stained glass windows that have been designed by an artist who worked on the prestigious Westminster Abbey. A former Millennium window will also be restored, whilst two of the windows will be carefully etched to create a stunning visual feature.

One of the most important aspects of the project is the full restoration of the church’s clock. This element of the works will be carried out by Smith of Derby, who are recognised as the premier clock specialists for all diocesan regions.

Jane Arnold, Smith of Derby, said: “Smith of Derby has serviced this clock at St Nicholas for many years. We were naturally invited to assess the damage.

“Sensitive work of this type is about confidence and trust. A limited number of specialist firms in all disciplines are on an approved list for dealing with devastating damage such as that caused by fire.”

Landscaping will include the replacement of grass in the church’s courtyard.

Steve Cooper, Croft Building and Conservation, commented:

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Construction News

Call our news team on 01706 719972

The Great Hospital expansion Work is currently underway to extend residential accommodation at The Great Hospital in Norwich.

The £5.2 million project comprises the construction of 24 new flats, a community hall, a shop, a maintenance workshop and a car park. VINCI Construction is the main contractor on the project and Cowper Griffith is the architect.

Work began on the project in April 2011. In order to accommodate the new buildings on the site, six existing cottages were demolished to make way for a new two-story block of flats.

The new building will comprise 18 flats, whilst the remaining six in the scheme will be contained within a brand new extension to an existing building.

The new build is being constructed using brick and steel and will feature a zinc and tiled roof, powder coated doors and windows, and a red brick finish. The building will also benefit from high levels of insulation throughout.

An existing gravel car park on the site will also undergo a makeover to accommodate the eventual increase in residents. In addition, the site will be landscaped to include new plants

and shrubs around the new building.

The Great Hospital is located on an historic site in Bishopgate and provides accommodation to elderly residents. As the site contains many Grade II Listed buildings, archaeologists are being consulted throughout the duration of the works.

Philip Pank & Partners Project Manager, Mike Harris, said: “We have completed construction work on both the maintenance workshop and the car park and we are now coming to the end of construction on the new block of flats.

“Following on from this, we will begin work on extending the existing block to incorporate the six additional flats on the site. All work being undertaken on the extension aims to match the design of the existing buildings.

“I have been involved with The Great Hospital for a while and to date this is the biggest project

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that Philip Pank & Partners have undertaken on the site.

“The residents at The Great Hospital are very impressed with the work so far and they look forward to seeing the site once it is completed.

Work is progressing well, and with up to 50 staff working on the site during peak times we are currently on programme.”

The Great Hospital is scheduled for completion in April 2013.

Wing Yip Business Centre in Birmingham undergoes redevelopment The Wing Yip Centre on Nechells Park Road in Birmingham is being redeveloped in order to keep up with the growing demands of the business.

Wing Yip are importers and distributors of genuine Chinese and Pan-Asian produce. They are the UK’s leading Chinese and Oriental suppliers and supply to most of the Chinese restaurants and takeaways throughout the country. With over 40 years’ experience in the business, Wing Yip’s Head Office in Birmingham is now ready to expand.

Work started on the site in February 2012, with A&H Construction and Developments PLC as the main contractor.

The main cash and carry will remain open throughout the project, which is scheduled for completion in October 2012.

David Futter Associates Ltd are the architects, consulting engineers and quantity surveyors on the project. They enjoy a longstanding relationship with Wing Yip and have worked with them on both new and refurbishment projects since 1986.

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The £5 million project will include alterations, extensions and façade improvements to the existing cash and carry store, along with the erection of a new 3,000 sq m warehouse with ancillary offices on adjacent land.

The cash and carry building has had several uses over the years, including a Marks & Spencer distribution warehouse and a GKN Nut & Bolt factory. The Wing Yip Centre currently includes a cash and carry supermarket, financial and professional services, restaurants, cafés and an office.

The buildings are steel-framed and the façade is made up of facing brick plinths with either insulated flat panel cladding or profiled cladding above. The curved and featured tiled roofs punctuate parts of the building, whilst the curved roof of the new warehouse is composed of insulated profiled metal sheeting.

The roof tiles have been made by Santoft and feature warped horns, finials and ball caps, and collared ridge tiles.

The interior features include suspended ceilings in the small goods cash and carry area, along with Polyflor finishes and new lighting. The bulk goods area will have resin floors and specialist low key light fittings, whilst all of the buildings will incorporate security and fire protection, CCTV, secure access and alarm lockdown.

Landscaping will include the planting of three trees, and the creation of car parking spaces.

Wing Yip are proud of their heritage, as reflected in the design and quality of the build.

£2 million refurbishment project will restore much-loved town hall Great Yarmouth Town Hall is to be transformed in a £2 million refurbishment project that will see the building returned to its former glory.

Built in the 1880s, the town hall is a classic example of Victorian gothic architecture and dominates the view of Hall Quay. In order to rectify the damage caused by harsh weather conditions and unsympathetic repairs over the last 125 years, an intensive refurbishment is currently underway.

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Councillor Barry Stone, Deputy Leader of Great Yarmouth Borough Council, said: “This is a Grade II listed building and it’s part of the town’s heritage. It’s our responsibility to look after it on behalf of the people of Great Yarmouth. Even though it’s costing us a lot of money, the work should leave it in good order for at least several generations to come.”

Head of Wellbeing Services at Great Yarmouth Borough

Council, Jane Beck, added: “We are going to make much more use of the civic rooms and it will enable us to give up other buildings. Previously we used to rent five buildings and we have managed to give up Maltings House, Trafalgar House and the old fire station. It’s saving us hundreds of thousands of pounds a year.”

The project began in October 2011 and the first phase is now complete. Main contractor for the project is Quinn Construction Service and the architects are Jeremy Stacey Architects.

Phase One saw the restoration of the assembly room, which in turn involved the removal of the stage, the implementation of a bright colour scheme and the buffing and polishing of the original wooden flooring. The room will be divided into pods and used as office space for Great Yarmouth Borough Council staff who are not permanently based in the building or who need to use a hot desk.

In addition to the restoration of the assembly room, three rooms below the minstrels’ gallery have been created for video conferences and private meetings, whilst there is now a new staff kitchen.

The old courtroom, which had been unused since the 1990s, has also been refurbished and has in turn become the new council chamber. Original features such as the wooden benches have been retained, whilst new technology – including electronic voting, microphones and cameras – has been installed, along

with new carpets and seating.

David Frowde, Architect for Great Yarmouth Borough Council, commented: “We’re doing a full re-roof of the Town Hall and we are sorting out some stonework problems, some lead work and other various pieces that have deteriorated over the years. It’s a really major refurbishment project for us.

“It’s a really exposed site, particularly on the west where it faces directly onto the river. We’ve also had a problem of correcting repairs that have been done in the past, where materials that were state-of-the-art years ago are found to be no longer appropriate. It’s really been quite a complicated project for us.”

Managing Director of M.S Oakes, Mark Oakes, said: “Everything that’s done here is very traditional, using top quality materials. It’s a pleasure working for something like this – it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity and it won’t be done again for a very long time.”

Phase Two will see the strip-out of the old 1930s council chamber in order to create a new meeting room. In addition, the currently unused supper room will be converted into office space.

In the central area, the toilet block will be demolished and a new passenger lift will be installed.

The restoration of Great Yarmouth Town Hall is scheduled to be completed in time for town’s Maritime Festival on 1st September 2012.

The largest parish church in England undergoes refurbishment Great Yarmouth Minster (The Minster Church of St. Nicholas) was founded in 1101 by Herbert de Losinga, the first Bishop of Norwich. Now, over 900 years later,

the church is being carefully restored by main contractor Universal Stone.

The project is focused on repairing the parapets and four mid

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Midlands & East Anglia 19th century pinnacles at the corners of the tower. Over the years, the pinnacles had failed due to general erosion and fire damage caused by bombers during WW2. In addition, the internal ironwork was rusting and expanding, which served to push the stone out of its position. During the course of the project, the damaged stone will be replaced with stone sourced from Lincolnshire.

Work began onsite in April 2012 and is scheduled to be completed in November 2012.

Philip Orchard, The Whitworth Co-Partnership LLP, said: “As the building is Grade I listed, a detailed historical analysis was carried out as part of the early works. We also had to conduct an early investigation contract to open up the walls and see if the iron was causing the cracks. As a result, we had to check each individual stone and decide whether it should be retained or replaced, which was a painstaking process.

“Although there have been some delays – mainly due to the appalling weather during May, and the fact that we are working on a very tall church tower that is situated on the coast – we are hopeful that some of the lost time will be recouped. Access has also been a challenge, as the contractors are unable to rest the scaffolding on the roof and instead have to operate using a series of beams that go through the tower and out of the other side of the windows.

“This has nevertheless been a fascinating project for us. I have found it particularly interesting to discover evidence of the 12th century tower and see how it has changed through the Middle Ages, the 19th century and the fire of WW2. It is an honour to be working on such a large project, especially during the recession, and once work is complete the minster will be absolutely wonderful.”

The project has been funded through the Repair Grants for Places of Worship scheme, which was implemented by English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). Since 2002, almost £140 million of grants have been awarded for more than

1500 projects at Grade I and II* listed places of worship, with 18 such projects located in the Norfolk region.

Greg Luton, Regional Director for English Heritage in the East of England, said: “Thanks to the generosity of the Heritage Lottery Fund, and ultimately therefore of Lottery players, our historic places of worship in direct need still have the vital safety net of the Repair Grants scheme.

“Without it, many brave but struggling congregations would be faced with watching their beloved churches and chapels falling into ruin. Instead, the combination of Heritage Lottery Fund money and English Heritage advice is seeing these wonderful buildings revived and restored and becoming ever more central to their communities as places of prayer and celebration and as a hub for local services.”

£40 million pipeline for Boston The construction of a 61km underground drinking water pipeline is currently underway in Lincolnshire.

The £40 million project has been implemented by Anglian Water and once complete will see the pipeline transport water

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from Covenham Reservoir through to Boston. The scheme is vital for the continued development of Boston and will provide much needed drinking water as the town expands over the next 25 years.

Anglian Water Special Projects Enabling Manager, Steve Swan, said: “The population of Boston is expected to rise significantly over the next 25 years and that will put pressure on existing supplies.

“We want to make sure supplies are protected in the unlikely event of a problem with the water treatment works supplying the town and this pipeline is our response. It is also a major investment in Lincolnshire and its future.

“The reservoir at Covenham has more than enough water to supply its local area and other parts of the country, so a pipeline from there to Boston was an obvious solution.”

The Covenham to Boston Transfer Pipeline project is one of Anglian Water’s largest capital investment projects and falls under the company’s ‘Love Every Drop’ campaign, which is a scheme to place water at the heart of sustainable living. Once work is complete, the Covenham to Boston Transfer Pipeline will transport up to 26 million litres of water every day.

Work began in January 2012 and the project has been divided into two phases in order to reduce the impact of the construction work on the landscape.

Phase One will see the construction of a 40km pipe that will stretch from Covenham to Anglian Water’s reservoir at Miningsby. The pipe will measure 500 metres in diameter and has been constructed from high-density polyethylene (HDPE).

Phase One is scheduled to reach completion in early 2013.

Phase Two will begin in 2013 and will see the installation of 21km of pipeline measuring 450 metres in diameter. Phase Two will connect Miningsby to Boston and once completed the pipeline will connect to Boston’s existing pipe network.

A new pumping station will also be installed as part of the project.

JN Bentley is the construction contractor on the project, whilst Mott MacDonald is providing design work for the scheme. As framework contractors JN Bentley and Mott MacDonald have previously worked with Anglian Water to provide design and

construction services for the company’s 41km Wing pipeline.

As part of the project, JN Bentley and Mott MacDonald are working towards reducing the scheme’s proposed embodied carbon emissions by 50%. To help achieve this goal, the two contractors have developed two new products in order to reduce the use of concrete on the project. Due to their combined efforts in this area, the project has already achieved a provisional ‘excellent’ rating from the CEEQUAL assessment scheme.

Steve Swan commented: “Currently 8km of pipe has been installed on Phase One and we’re on programme. This is clearly a big job but we and our contractors are determined to keep disturbance to a minimum and make sure people are kept informed throughout.

“Much of the work will take place on farmland and away from people’s homes. However, there will be increased traffic in some places from time to time. There will also be work compounds along the route and some of the work may well be visible to a lot of people.

“We have made alterations already to improve the scheme so we can provide a better route for the pipeline. In Hundleby we altered the route of the pipe to reduce disruption to an environmentally sensitive area and we’re also taking care so that we don’t disturb the great crested newts that live along the way.

“We live in a region with low rainfall, faced with a growing population and the threat of climate change. If we are to meet these challenges and continue to thrive then projects like this are vital.

“Our job is to provide the region with a safe, secure supply of high quality drinking water. To do that into the future, we need to plan ahead and continue to invest in our network. This scheme is proof of our determination to do just that.

“This scheme will give us more flexibility to supply water to the areas between Covenham and Boston and if we encounter a drought we will have greater resilience in the future.”

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Successful start for Higher Lydney Park Phase One of the Higher Lydney Park project has been hailed as a ‘fantastic success’.

The first phase of the brand new housing scheme in Gloucestershire is being implemented to bring much needed accommodation to the area.

Phase One is valued at £13.5 million and comprises the construction of 135 units, including 80 houses built especially for Bromford Housing Group and 55 units constructed for the open market. An additional 800 units are tentatively planned for the site once Phase One is complete and will be constructed in subsequent phases.

Funding for Phase One of the project is being provided by the Homes and Communities Agency, Bromford Group and Kier Partnership Homes. Kier Partnership Homes is the main contractor on Phase One of the scheme, whilst Pro Vision Planning & Design is providing design work for the site and BM3 Architects is the architect.

Work began on Phase One in April 2011. The houses comprise a mixture of two and three-storey buildings and they are all being constructed from block and brick. All of the flats on the site will be contained within a single four-storey structure.

All of the houses that are being built for Bromford Group will achieve a standard of Code 3 and will feature integrated drainage systems. All Bromford Group houses will also feature solar panels. As there is a history of flooding in the area, the site will also feature a number of flood prevention measures so that all storm water can be controlled through the use of retention tanks.

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In addition to the construction of the housing units, a major new roundabout was installed adjacent to the site following a substantial amount of excavation work.

The site will also be extensively landscaped and stone walling is to be installed around the main entrance. Prior to work starting on the project a full clerk of ecological works took place and

houses to construct but most of the units are now at roof level.

The units that we have handed over are now being fitted out.”

Ron Hobbs added: “Seeing work being completed on this scheme gives me a real sense of job satisfaction. In two or three years I will return to the site and will be amazed at how the community has developed.

“We are now in the process of signing contracts for Phase Two of the scheme, which will comprise construction of 70 units.

Bromford Group has been very impressed with the quality of the build.

“The feedback is great and we have also been nominated for an award, so the future looks very promising for the development of Higher Lydney Park.”

Phase One of Higher Lydney Park is due to be completed in February 2013.

a pressure gas main was diverted.

Kier Partnership Homes Project Manager, Ron Hobbs, said: “Higher Lydney Park is one of the biggest housing schemes that Kier Partnership Homes has been involved with and it’s already proving to be a fantastic success.

“Kier set out to make the most of the local skills and resources in Lydney, so 80% of the labourers employed on this scheme are being sourced from the surrounding area. Six local apprentices are also being employed throughout the duration of the project.

“On a personal business level, we are ticking many boxes with this project and this is great for us and great for local residents.

We are currently six months ahead of programme and the units for Bromford Group will be completed by November 2012.

“Following this, we have got a few remaining open market

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Lloyd and Aveling Park is better than ever A series of essential improvement works has transformed the Lloyd and Aveling Park in Walthamstow into a state-ofthe-art facility for 21st century visitors.

Once home to the artist William Morris and newspaper publisher Frank Lloyd, Lloyd Park was opened in 1900 and Aveling Park was added in 1912. The combined 12 hectares of land provide a beautiful recreational space for the surrounding community and include what is thought to be a medieval moat.

In order to enable the park to meet the needs of an estimated one million visitors per year, a variety of exciting improvement works have been carried out under the Parks for People programme. These include wildlife planting and the construction of a new tennis court, café and play area.

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and the BIG Lottery Fund have invested £3.48 million in the scheme, whilst Walthamstow Council has invested a further £1 million. Main contractor for the project is the Jerram Falkus Group.

Wesley Kerr, Chairman of Heritage Lottery Fund’s London Committee, commented: “This much-loved local park had become overwhelmed with bitty accretions over the years. This bold development has enhanced all the existing amenities but also restored the amazing medieval moat and island, created a series of well-maintained and themed garden areas and reconnected the historic country mansion which was William Morris’s childhood home.

“We are thrilled that Heritage Lottery Fund cash has benefitted the million Londoners who already used Lloyd and Aveling Park every year, and has made their visits even more uplifting.”

Debbie Pippard, Head of the Big Lottery Fund (London), added: “Lloyd and Aveling Park in Walthamstow is one of the area’s most beloved green spaces and is a popular stopping place for local residents and visitors alike.

“It now offers a great number of activities for people of all ages and interests and the lottery funding had contributed towards the necessary restoration and further development of this much-loved park that will allow it to live up to its great potential.”

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Improvements have included the installation of new paths, lighting, railings, seating and signage. In addition, a new hub building – with an improved café, toilets, community training room and park keepers’ office – has replaced the changing room gallery and the Horizon Café.

One of the most exciting aspects of the project is the welcome addition of new gardens for the William Morris Gallery. Housed within an 18th century listed building, the gallery is the only public museum devoted entirely to William Morris, and boasts an internationally important collection of work from Morris and others from the Arts & Crafts movement.

Although the project has included the removal of 131 trees, 192 new mature trees and 400 whips have been planted in their place. Lloyd Park are keen to maintain a large and healthy population of both structured amenity trees and trees that provide mixed habitats for wildlife.

Councillor Geraldine Reardon, Waltham Forest Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure, Arts and Culture, said: “We are absolutely delighted with the project. This success is a real testament to the hard work and ambition of everyone involved in the restoration.

“Lloyd and Aveling Park provides a great place for rest, relaxation and recreation for Waltham Forest residents, and we have made some impressive changes to ensure it is an even more popular destination for generations to come.

“With a new gallery, cafe, skate park, bowling green, children’s play area and a garden that will pay homage to the work of the great William Morris, we hope to give something more to the park’s many visitors and encourage even more to come and use this wonderful park.”

A Lloyd Park spokesperson added: “We would not have been successful in this restoration project without the hard work of local organisations, community groups and volunteers as well as the contractors and subcontractors involved throughout. Thank you very much to everyone who was involved.”

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The art of learning A £3 million redevelopment project is currently underway in Chatham to create state-of-the-art facilities for the University of Kent.

The project comprises the refurbishment of five existing buildings at Chatham Historic Dockyards: the Smithery Building, Central Boiler House, Engineering Workshop, Fire Station and the Foundary. Once complete, the new developments will house a number of departments for the University including Fine Art, Music & Audio, Performing Arts and Event & Design.

ISG Plc is the main contractor on the redevelopment project and historic building consultants Purcell UK are the architects.

The mechanical and electrical consultant is Chapman Bathurst, The Morton Partnership is the structural consultant and Appleyards are the education consultants on the site.

As the Smithery, the Foundary and the Engineering Workshop are Scheduled Ancient Monuments, English Heritage has to be notified of any changes to the original agreed design throughout each stage of the redevelopment. Prior to work taking place on the site, ISG Plc previously completed work on No.1 Smithery – a maritime museum also located at Chatham Historic Dockyard.

ISG Plc Regional Managing Director, Stuart Deverill, said: “The success of the No.1 Smithery project at The Historic Dockyard Chatham has inevitably played a major role in helping ISG to secure this important development for the University of Kent.

“We are working closely with key stakeholders from the University, Dockyard and conservation organisations to deliver an outstanding project that creates state-of-the-art facilities within a preserved historical context.”

Work began on the project in June 2011. Redevelopment of The Smithery and the Boiler House are now complete, whilst work on the Foundary is scheduled to reach completion in August 2012. Design work is currently being conducted on the Engineering Workshop and the first floor of the Fire Station.

Under the redevelopment, the Smithery Building and the Central Boiler House have been transformed into fine arts studios, which provide students with both a practical work space and an exhibition centre. In addition the Central Boiler House also houses a selection of high-tech machinery including spray booths, a wood working machine shop, a metal and plaster casting room and a kiln.

Additional work on the Smithery Building and the Boiler House also included the installation of new mezzanine levels and staircases. The roof was also replaced on the Boiler House, whilst an extension was built in the courtyard.

At present the Foundary and the Firestation are being transformed into high-spec recording studios. The Foundary will house the Music & Audio department, whilst the Fire Station will include a film making studio, a listening room and a rehearsal space.

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Due to the acoustic criteria of the facilities, the inner walls of each building are being built from 140mm of block whilst the outer walls will comprise 190mm of block. Insulation will be placed between the inner and outer walls and each studio will be capped with a plaster board lid.

Roof slates are being renewed on both the Fire Station and the Foundary, whilst windows are also being refurbished. To maintain the acoustics of the building, the windows will not have a practical function and will be sealed and decorated from the outside.

Some minor landscaping work is also taking place on the site, with the majority of the work being conducted to level and resurface the exterior of each building.

To complete the redevelopment project at The Historic Dockyard Chatham, the Engineering Workshop will be transformed into a fine arts and photography studio. During this stage of works a number of structural alterations will be conducted to open up the interior of the building and a brand new roof measuring 600 m² will be installed.

Prior to work taking place on the site, all of the buildings were vacated. However, a number of temporary spaces were provided for students in order to allow them to continue their work.

ISG Plc Surveyor, Joseph Mansi, said: “This latest project for University of Kent is very important to ISG Plc and builds upon the work we have previously undertaken at The Historic Dockyard Chatham. The University of Kent is a fantastic client to be associated with and we aim to complete this work to the highest standards.”

The University of Kent School of Arts project is due for completion in October 2012.

A Royal refurbishment Kensington Palace has reopened following an extensive £12 million refurbishment scheme.

The two-year project was initiated by Historic Royal Palaces to transform Kensington Palace into a stunning visitor attraction. The refurbished site now boasts improved educational and recreational facilities, including two principal learning suites covering an area of 800m², five exhibitions and a new shop.

Kensington Palace was built in 1689 and became the birthplace and subsequent home of Queen Victoria. Over the years the historic building has also provided a home to many Royal dignitaries including Diana Princess of Wales, Princess Margaret and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will be moving into an apartment in Kensington Palace in November 2013.

With work now complete on the scheme, the new facilities will offer visitors a greater understanding of what it was like for the Royal residents to live in such a historic landmark.

Work began on the project in 2010, with Mansell Construction Services Ltd as the main contractor. Funding for the refurbishment project was provided by Historic Royal Palaces, the Heritage Lottery Fund and a combination of grants, sponsorships, trusts and donations.

One of the key aims of the scheme was to ensure that Kensington Palace would become a vital learning resource for the local community. Former education and outreach programmes at the Palace were replaced with new services and Historic Royal Palaces now intends to increase its educational links to nearby schools in the Kensington and Chelsea area.

As part of the scheme five new exhibitions have been installed at the Palace, including Queen’s State Apartments, which promises to uncover the secrets of the historic dynasty. Victoria

Revealed will be an exhibit focussing on the life of Queen Victoria and will include a display of previously unseen items including a gold locket and Prince Albert’s dressing kit.

Kensington Palace will also present a special exhibit showcasing a selection of dresses worn by Diana Princess of Wales. The dresses include a black strapless evening dress designed by Emanuel and a cocktail dress designed by Gianni Versace.

Additional features of the site include a new café situated on the east front of the historic building, and a courtyard terrace. A new lift has also been installed in the Palace to provide access to every floor of the building.

Another key aim of the project was to reconnect the Palace with Kensington Gardens, a landmark park which surrounds Kensington Palace.

Kensington Gardens was designed and created in the 16th century by royal gardener Charles Bridgeman and was originally part of the Palace grounds. In recent years railings and dense planting had caused the Gardens to become separated from the Palace grounds, so work was conducted to reunite the two landmarks as one site.

A new entrance to the Gardens was also installed during the works. The entrance guides visitors to a reception and orientation zone where visitors can discover more information about the historic building.

Existing avenues and features of the Gardens were also given a makeover and new public areas were introduced, including lawns and a maze-like path known as the ‘Wiggly Walk’. New shrubs have also been planted and the Garden will be fully accessible for disabled visitors. The landscape design for the gardens was provided by Todd Langstaffe-Gowan.

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Lo n d o n & S o u th E a s t To complete the makeover of the external areas, a statue of Queen Victoria that was originally erected in 1893 received a number of repairs, including a new nose. The statue has stood at Kensington Palace since 1893 and is now the centre piece of the Gardens.

Historic Royal Palaces Chairman of the Board, Charles Mackay, said: “We set out to awake the sleeping beauty of Kensington Palace and our objective was to open up the palace to make everyone feel welcome. It was the most ambitious and complex project we have ever undertaken.”

Kensington Palace Curator, Deirdre Murphy, said: “We are telling a story here. We are not refurnishing rooms. But for people who want a traditional, historic-house experience, the objects are still here.

“We have wonderful portraits, wonderful jewellery, Victoria’s wedding dress, gifts exchanged between her and Albert, beautiful and evocative sketches they did of each other and even the first pair of black silk baby shoes she wore when she was just eight months old.”

“I think for some, Queen Victoria is that cliché of a fat, starchy, grumpy old lady in a black dress. I hope visitors will learn she said shocking things, she liked to have fun, she liked to stay up dancing until four o’clock in the morning and Albert couldn’t keep up with her.

“It was Queen Victoria who opened the State Apartments to the public after her Diamond Jubilee, so I think she’d approve of what we’ve done.”

Frank B Scragg & Company Established in 1933, Frank B Scragg & Company began life as general brassfounders before adapting during the 1970s to supply services to the picture frame trade. In recent years Scraggs has diversified even further and now also specialises in picture hanging systems – both traditional and modern – for use in galleries, museums and stately homes.

Frank B Scragg & Company Partner, John Lewis, said: “Kensington Palace has been one of our most prestigious projects and we are delighted that it has been such a success.

“We were pleased to be involved in the supply of traditional brass picture rails and chains which were installed in various rooms in the Palace.”

New community development is underway in Basildon Phase Two of a brand new community development in Basildon is currently under construction.

Royal Court is a £17 million purpose-built housing development for the Family Mosaic Housing Association. The aim of the scheme is to construct good quality houses within a desirable environment.

The land for the Royal Court was donated by Basildon Council and is part of the Council’s ongoing scheme to regenerate Basildon. Royal Court is being joint-funded by Family Mosaic Housing Association and Lovell.

Councillor Phil Turner, Basildon Council, said: “This project is part of our long term programme to regenerate the area by replacing some of the Basildon housing built during the sixties with much better high quality modern homes.

“These are exciting times. Basildon is alive with opportunity. It is a place where things are happening and where regeneration

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is growing communities. We already have a proud community that we believe will develop further as our regeneration plans move forward.

“Opportunities and change will help our residents flourish in a rejuvenated borough with the best access to education and skills, healthcare provision, leisure and cultural services, and some of the best green and open spaces in the region.”

The Royal Court project comprises the construction of 107 flats, 20 houses, a community centre and a shop. Lovell is the main contractor and developer and BDG Architecture is the architect.

Work began on the project in late 2009. The project was divided into two phases, with Phase One reaching completion in October 2011.

Phase One comprised the construction of 20 houses and a number of flats for Family Mosaic Housing Association, whilst a retail unit was also constructed on the site.

Phase Two of the Royal Court project comprises the demolition of two twin tower blocks and the construction of the remaining flats on the scheme. The flats constructed in Phase Two will be sold by Lovell. In addition, a community centre will be constructed and a community green and play area will be installed.

The housing units on the site were constructed from a mix of brick, block and timber and feature UPVC windows and a brick exterior. The community building will be built using a steel frame construction.

Lovell Contracts Manager, Martin Pettet, said: “It’s extremely important for us to be involved in this regeneration scheme in Essex. A project such as Royal Court is what Lovell are specialists in, and this scheme is helping to create a community in Basildon.

“It’s been a good scheme so far with no major problems. We did encounter one issue early into the programme which affected the way we had to build. This involved an oil filled electric main located on the site, but despite this everything else has run smoothly so far. We look forward to completing this project both on programme and on budget.”

Phase Two of Royal Court is scheduled for completion in October 2012.

New development for RENERCO A wind farm with an estimated capital cost of £12m is currently under construction in Clacton-on-sea.

Earl’s Hall Farm Wind Farm comprises five REpower MM92 turbines, each of which has a 2.05 MW output. The wind farm is being constructed for German-based RENERCO Renewable Energy Concepts AG (“RENERCO”). Once the site is fully operational, the wind farm is expected to generate up to 30 GWh annually.

RENERCO Turnkey Construction Manager, Benjamin Casteleyn, said: “We selected the REpower MM92 turbines based on their site suitability, our good experience with this turbine supplier on other projects and because REpower provided a supply and maintenance proposal that matched our aims for the site.

This is an important project for us as it is our first UK project.”

Work began on Earl’s Hall Farm Wind Farm in February 2012.

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Lo n d o n & S o u th E a s t with erection commencing shortly thereafter.

Prior to work taking place on construction of the wind farm, several ecological surveys were undertaken to record and mitigate the impact of the project on the local environment. A site investigation was then conducted to assess the ground conditions ahead of the installation of turbine foundations. The piled foundations were constructed using reinforced steel bars and concrete.

Additional work on the site includes the construction of aggregate access tracks and a substation.

Once work is complete, RENERCO will use local partners to manage the operations and maintenance of Earl’s Hall Farm Wind Farm whilst RENERCO’s in-house operations team will monitor performance from their base in Munich. RENERCO will also remain responsible for the overall maintenance of the site.

Benjamin Casteleyn commented: “In late 2010 RENERCO was given the opportunity to enter into a framework agreement with a project developer who has provided us with a pipeline of up to 10 wind farms. Amongst these schemes was Earl’s Hall Farm.

“Earl’s Hall Farm Wind Farm is located very close to the sea and therefore achieves good wind speeds, which helps make this a strong project. As the first UK project for RENERCO, it is very important that we get this site off the ground correctly. We have high expectations for working within the UK energy market and Earl’s Hall Farm Wind Farm will help us to develop our longterm activities overseas.

“Compared to the other countries where RENERCO is active,

we are part of a small team of just 6 people working in the UK market, so the completion of Earl’s Hall Farm Wind Farm means a great deal to us.

“We typically project finance our projects, but having the flexibility to commence construction prior to arranging external finance has been instrumental in setting up Earl’s Hall Farm Wind Farm so quickly.”

Earl’s Hall Farm Wind Farm is targeting commercial operations in October 2012. The main civil works contractor for the project is Birse Civils. The turbine supplier is REpower.

RENERCO RENERCO Renewable Energy Concepts AG (“RENERCO”) is an experienced renewable energy development company based in Munich, Germany.

RENERCO has been active in the wind energy market since the early 1990s and operates an integrated business model across its four core renewable energy sectors; wind, solar, geothermal and bioenergy. Current activities are mainly focused on Germany, the UK, France, Spain, Poland and Italy.

RENERCO’s areas of expertise include the development and turn-key construction of renewable energy projects as well as commercial and technical management of operational projects.

Both of these skill sets are applied to in-house as well as third party projects where RENERCO assumes an independent consultancy or sub-contracting role.

For more information on RENERCO Renewable Energy Concepts AG please contact pr@renerco.co.uk.

Award-winning Prittlewell Chapel is now complete Beardwell Construction Ltd has scooped a major award for its work on the Prittlewell Chapel development in Southend-on-Sea. After carefully renovating the ruined chapel, Beardwell Construction Ltd was awarded the title of Heritage Project of the Year 2011 at the National Federation of Builders Annual Awards 2012.

The company was commissioned by Southend-on-Sea Borough Council to undertake the £982,000 government-funded project. As a result of their work, the 130-year old building has been lovingly restored after years of suffering the effects of bad weather, vandalism and graffiti. Works included the reinstatement of the original roof slates and the restoration of the original Whitechapel Bell, which dates back to 1880.

The building will now be let on a 20-year lease to Southend Association Voluntary Services (SAVS), who will hire the two offices out for use by social enterprises and local voluntary organisations.

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Southend-on-Sea Borough Council’s Executive Councillor for Planning, Councillor Jonathan Garston, commented: “Congratulations to Beardwell Construction Ltd for winning such a major national award. The company has respectfully transformed and regenerated the historic Prittlewell Chapel into an energy efficient building which looks to the past and the future at the same time.

“The Council has also recognised the excellent achievements of Beardwell Construction’s work at Prittlewell Chapel by giving the company a Conservation Award in our 2011 design awards.

When we carried out the judging process for these awards, we were extremely impressed by this project.”

The building now boasts the very latest in energy efficient technology, including photovoltaic cells, rainwater harvesting and an air source heat pump that is connected to the underfloor heating. Build with CaRe (Carbon Reduction), the forum for promoting energy saving buildings, filmed the progress of the project in order to enable the sustainable techniques used to be shared with others.

Alex Larn, Commercial Director of Beardwell Construction, said: “We are proud to have been entrusted with the delivery of this prestigious project. Delivered on time and on budget, we are delighted to say that it was a complete success in every respect.

“It has brought back to life a building that had stood decaying for 60 years. It has done so using sustainable building materials and renewable energy sources. It is a carbon neutral building, and energy costs have to all intents been eliminated. It is very satisfying to see the building being put to such excellent use.”

Ion Glass Ion Glass is a leading supplier of wholly bespoke architectural and decorative glassworks across the UK. The company is rapidly gaining an enviable reputation as specialists in complex heritage and ecclesiastical projects, where contemporary glass fits perfectly in ancient buildings without obscuring the intrinsic beauty of the original architecture.

Ion Glass worked closely with the main contractor Beardwell Construction to install various back-painted glass surfaces to Prittlewell Chapel, achieving a stylish, colourful and low maintenance finish to many areas within the building, including the reception areas, kitchens and meeting rooms.

Other heritage projects have included extensive bespoke glass for a new ringing chamber in an old church, involving an arched glass screen that provided acoustic protection whilst letting light flow into the church via a magnificent stained glass window. The project also involved a frameless glass balustrade – one of the keynote skills of Ion Glass who provide bespoke balustrading to meet a wide range of requirements in both ancient and modern buildings.

The company has also worked with the Tower of London installing grandiose glass doors to the recently refurbished Fusiliers Museum as well as a set of circular glass rooflights to the Devereux Tower.

Peter Hazeldean, Ion Glass, said: “Ion provides a wholly bespoke service working alongside clients and heritage organisations throughout the process, offering technical advice where needed and full templating to ensure the finished glass fits perfectly. Our glass works equally well in interior and exterior environments.” www.ionglass.co.uk ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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Multi-million pound water project will deliver massive environmental benefits Scottish Water is carrying out an exciting project that will deliver massive environmental benefits for rivers and coastal waters in Ayrshire.

The Meadowhead and Stevenston Work Package 6 (WP6) was designed to significantly improve the environment for those living in North and East Ayrshire. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has identified water quality and aesthetic failings in inland and coastal waterways within the River Irvine, Kilmarnock Water and Irvine Coastal Water.

The scheme comprises several projects to construct new pipelines and pumping stations, along with the modification of combined sewer overflows (CSOs) in order to address the drivers for these waterways. These drivers include: the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, the Bathing Water Directive, the Freshwater Fisheries Directive and the Water Framework Directive.

As one of the biggest projects of its kind to have ever been undertaken in Scotland, the storm water management work will improve water quality in the River Irvine and Kilmarnock Water and the bathing waters of Irvine Bay. The scheme will also help Scottish Water meet Scottish Environment Protection Agency regulations and stringent EU directives.

MBV, a joint venture between contractors Morrison Construction and Black & Veatch and their design partners Halcrow, has now completed the first phase of the project. This £31 million phase comprised the installation of a new storm water network between Irvine and Meadowhead Waste Water Treatment Works.

The Irvine-Meadowhead project will improve storm water management in the Irvine and Kilmarnock areas through a new collection and transfer system which will allow better control of waste water discharges and substantially reduce unsatisfactory intermittent discharges (UIDs) to the rivers and the Firth of Clyde.

Covering a geographical area of approximately 125 square kilometres, the catchment consists of both urbanised and rural areas and has a population of over 300,000.

The new systems in both towns will collect combined sewer overflow (CSO) discharges that occur when there is too much water for the existing infrastructure to handle, usually during or after heavy rainfall. Excess flows will then be discharged into local watercourses in order to relieve pressure in the system and avoid flooding.

Creating the new storm water network involved constructing

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approximately 12 miles of large pipelines and the creation of three new transfer pumping stations and a new storage tank south west of Kilmarnock. This has in turn provided 12,000 cubic metres of storage capacity that will prevent early spills to rivers by holding back waste water in storm conditions before it is pumped forward for disposal via an existing long sea outfall at Gailes Pumping Station in Irvine.

Further works included additions to the inlet works at the Meadowhead WWTW, including a new screening chamber that provides preliminary screening to the storm water prior to discharge via the Gailes outfall.

Now that the first phase of the project is complete, Morrison Construction and Black & Veatch have secured a £17 million Scottish Water contract for the second phase.

Longwood Engineering Ltd Longwood Engineering Ltd was established in 1903 and has over 50 years experience as a market leader in effluent treatment. The company specialises in automated screens and screenings handling equipment and their products are used by all of the municipal companies in the UK and Ireland, as well as industrial users in a variety of sectors.

For the Meadowhead and Stevenson project, Longwood supplied three Escalator fine screens and two Combi-Wash screening handling units. In addition, Longwood also supplied the control equipment forming a turn key package of screens, screening handling, ancillary equipment, valves and associated electrical work.

Malcolm Morris, Longwood Engineering’s Sales and Technical Director, said: “We specialise in manufacturing and installing screens and screen handling equipment for sewage treatment, and we are pleased to be involved in the Meadowhead and Stevenson project. We are on the Scottish framework for screens and screening handling and have the capability, expertise and product range to manage projects of this nature for both large and small works’

Guard Archaeology GUARD Archaeology Ltd undertook an archaeological watching brief, on behalf of Morrison Black & Veatch, during the construction of the Kilmarnock to Irvine storm relief sewer for Scottish Water.

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S c otl a n d An archaeologist was required when the course of the groundbreaking works ran close to known archaeological sites. In these instances, there was a potential for buried and unknown archaeological remains to be disturbed and the GUARD Archaeologist was needed to monitor the machine excavation of ground to check if any archaeology was present. If such archaeology was encountered, the GUARD Archaeologist was then required to excavate the archaeological remains to ensure that these were recorded.

Owing to the nature of the progress of the ground-breaking works, GUARD Archaeologists were often called out at short

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Improving Tayinloan Pier A £2.65 million project to improve ferry facilities at Tayinloan Pier is reaching completion.

Funding for the works was derived from the Council’s capital programme and a generous grant from the European Regional Development Fund of £0.5m. The central theme was to enhance peripheral and fragile communities and to ensure future sustainability.

Work began on the project in October 2011 and was implemented by Argyll and Bute Council to ensure that a reliable ferry service from Tayinloan to Gigha could be maintained.

Prior to work taking place at the site, the pier had suffered from an accumulation of silt which in turn caused problems for the existing ferry service.

The project comprised the relocation of 80,000 tonnes of sand from the south beach to the north beach, the widening of an existing slipway and the construction of a new access road.

GRAHAM Construction was the main contractor on the project, whilst all design work was provided by URS. Aspect Land & Hydrographic Surveys Ltd conducted a pre-dredge bathymetric survey at the site. This part of the operation involved mapping the seabed by means of a Kongsberg EA400 echosounder to establish the current topography and calculate the quantity of

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notice. If archaeology was encountered GUARD Archaeology had to have the capability to provide extra archaeologists very quickly to deal with the archaeology properly but at minimal delay to the work schedule of the ground-breaking works.

Throughout the course of the watching brief, which was undertaken between Jan 2011 and May 2012, GUARD Archaeology was continually able to provide the required archaeological presence on demand. This is due to the flexibility, efficiency and commitment to excellence in client service provision of GUARD Archaeology staff.

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materials that needed to be removed during the works. The company also provided interim surveys to the contractor, highlighting the progress made during dredging operations and identifying areas where further works were still required.

Argyll and Bute Council, Councillor Robin Currie, said: “The aim of this project was to improve the reliability of the ferry service to the Gigha community within the available budget.

The works programme was mainly coastal in nature and was carried out largely from the shore, which required agreement from local interests.

“The reward at the end of the work is a smoother operation of what is a lifeline ferry service for the people of Gigha, and a slipway that is able to accommodate wider vessels in the future if required.”

Throughout the duration of the refurbishment works at Tayinloan Pier, the facility remained operational with only limited disruption for the Gigha community. In order to facilitate the work, a diversionary route was put into place to redirect traffic away from the site. Whilst the diversion was in place, the existing access road was unearthed and replaced with an improved route.

As there were previously no provisions for pedestrian to the ferry slip, a public walkway has also been introduced as part of the new

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access way.

Argyll & Bute Council Marine Operations Manager, Martin Gorringe, said: “We encountered weather disruption during the winter months but the contractor GRAHAM Construction managed to catch up very quickly to present a good quality job with excellent finishes.

“Now that the works are almost complete, it gives us confidence that we can maintain this pier for the foreseeable future. We have plans to improve the infrastructure on Gigha which would facilitate a new berthing structure for the ferry and thereby effect a significant improvement for the ferry operator and the community. This will reaffirm the commitment to the future sustainability of the island. It is anticipated that this will be placed before Council for approval with works commencing as soon as 2013.”

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Improving efficiency at Glasgow Royal Infirmary An extensive refurbishment scheme is currently underway to transform Glasgow Royal Infirmary University Tower.

The £12.5 million project is being completed for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and comprises the refurbishment of the existing University Tower Block, along with the complete

overhaul of existing services.

The work is being undertaken to improve efficiency within the building and once work is complete on the project, University Tower will include state-of-the-art laboratory analysing equipment. A plant room will also be installed on the roof of the five-storey building.

To complete the transformation of University Tower, a new glazed vertical ‘eyebrow’ will be installed on the north elevation. From this point of the building staff will be able to enjoy views of the city at dedicated break-out zones.

Work began on the project in January 2012.

Balfour Beatty Scottish and Southern Ltd is the main contractor and Armitage Associates is the

architect. Gerry Groome of NHS greater Glasgow and Clyde is the project manager, whilst Steve Russell is the senior project manager on the site.

Davie & McCulloch is the mechanical and electrical consultant and WSP is the structural consultant.

To date the project is the largest scheme that Armitage Associates has been involved with.

A spokesperson for Armitage Associates said: “Working within a fully operational hospital environment is always a challenge. On this occasion these major refurbishment works are being undertaken with some occupants still on level one. The site’s main outpatient clinics and x-ray facilities directly below that have to remain fully functional throughout the project.

“In today’s environment finances are particularly tight, necessitating exceptional project and budget control. This, along with the need to maintain a fully operational clinic environment which meets infection control and health and safety standards, requires

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substantial services co-ordination and communication between the contractor, client and general site occupants.

“This project is the first time that University Tower has benefited from significant investment. The external fabric and structural frame is in good condition and this refurbishment will bring the building up to current standards, giving it a new lease of life.”

Glasgow Royal Infirmary University Tower is due to reach completion in August 2013.

Moray Council builds in Lossiemouth An exciting project will see Moray Council build houses in the town of Lossiemouth for the first time in over 25 years.

The new site will see four houses and six flats constructed on former woodland as part of the council’s New Build Programme.

Work began onsite in March 2012 and the project is expected to be completed by February 2013.

Graham Davidson, Moray Council, commented: “There is a high level of housing need in Moray but due to the government funding restrictions, the level of social house building has declined fairly dramatically. The housing associations aren’t developing to the same extent as they were a couple of years ago, so any new development is always welcome.

“The subsidy level for the housing association has fallen fairly dramatically. It used to be around £70,000 per unit and now we’re down to around £40,000 per unit. As a result, a lot of housing associations are constrained because they just don”t have

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S c otl a n d enough subsidies in order to develop.”

All of the flats will have two bedrooms, whilst each house is semi-detached and will have three bedrooms. The residences are constructed using a timber frame and will have high insulation values within the cavities, along with under floor heating, double glazing and air source heat pumps for water and space heating. The design intends to keep running costs down for future tenants, as Graham Davidson explained: “Fuel poverty is a big issue, and as tenants tend to be on fairly low incomes we are trying to make the houses as easy and low cost as we possibly can. We’re doing this through high insulation standards, under floor heating and air source heat pumps.

“So far site recreation works and foundations are ahead of schedule, but we are in the early stages of the programme. The project isn’t due for completion until February so there is still quite a bit to be done - including the internal works, electrical works, joinery and plumbing.”

Graham Davison is pleased that this development is taking place and asserts that Moray Council is keen to provide attractive family homes that are affordable for residents to run: “It’s the first project that we’ve had in Lossiemouth for a long time. It will provide a significant contribution to the overall housing stock that is available, whilst the sustainable features help us to tackle a fuel property agenda and contribute to the climate change targets that the government has set.”

“In terms of the community, it will provide another ten high quality, affordable houses – which will take people off the waiting list. Residents may have been in unsuitable accommodation that was overcrowded or have a high level of need, so it will certainly be an improvement for them to be able to live in a brand new house.”

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

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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.

“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.”

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 multi-discipline 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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Drone Hill Wind Farm will be completed in August The construction of Drone Hill Wind Farm in the Scottish Borders is nearing completion.

Drone Hill Wind Farm comprises 22 Nordex N60 turbines that are capable of generating a combined capacity of 28.6 MW of energy. Each turbine provides a capacity of 1.3 MW and has a blade length of 29 metres with a rotor

diameter of 60 metres.

The wind farm is being built by worldwide power project developer AES Corporation, with Raymond Brown as the main contractor.

Work began on Drone Hill Wind Farm in April 2011. Two cranes were employed to install the reinforced concrete turbines, however as the site is being constructed on moorlands two of the turbines have been built on submerged foundations. An AES Corporation substation is also located on the site to transfer the power generated from the turbines once they are fully operational.

Throughout the duration of the project, an ecological clerk of works has been in place on

the site to monitor the construction work along with monitoring of the water to ensure that there is no environmental contamination.

Once Drone Hill Wind Farm is fully operational, AES Corporation will generate and supply electricity to the National Grid through a power purchase agreement with Statkraft – a major player on the European energy exchanges.

AES Operations Manager, Paul Donaldson, said: “As there is a lot of bird breeding in the vicinity of the site one of the planning conditions stated that we could only erect turbines during April and September. Although we started work on the project in April 2011, we could only carry out the erection of nine turbines at that time.

The remainder of the turbines were then erected from April 2012 onwards.

“We are very close to completing the project and once the site becomes fully operational Drone Hill Wind Farm will benefit from good prevailing wind speeds which will ensure we generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of around 14,700 average households.

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“I have been involved with renewable energy for over six years and the construction of this wind farm is another step in the right direction for energy production. Wind is an untapped energy source and by harnessing it we will help Scotland to reach its target for renewable energy.

“We are experiencing increasing oil and gas prices and a significant challenge to secure our energy supply in coming years. Given that we are the windiest country in Europe it is about time that we fully embraced this valuable resource.”

Drone Hill Wind Farm will be fully operational in August 2012.

John O’Groats will be transformed John O’ Groats and Lands End are well known for being the two furthest apart points in Britain, but now John O’Groats looks set to find fame of its own thanks to a multi-million pound regeneration project.

Located in the Scottish county of Caithness, the village is currently undergoing an amazing redevelopment project that will see the site returned to its former glory. Developers are keen to take advantage of the beautiful coastline and scenery that John O’Groats has to offer, whilst key landmarks such as the dilapidated 19th century John O’Groats House Hotel will also be transformed.

The ambitious project is being led by tourism partners Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), Natural Retreats and Heritage GB. HIE has invested £1.8 million in the first phase of the development, which will see the creation of a number of luxurious apartments within the John O’Groats House Hotel and stand-alone holiday lodges on the adjoining land.

Natural Retreats are building 23 lodges in total and have already completed a show house, which has enabled visitors and the local community to see what the units will have to offer.

The company is keen to bring benefits to the local community and has therefore employed a local workforce and used locally sourced materials, trades, contractors and green build techniques. Anderson Building and Construction Ltd was selected for the demolition and strip-out works for the former hotel, whilst Norscot Joinery Ltd will complete the 23 residences.

Other works will include the development of public areas and the Last House Museum and shop. In addition, the Journey’s End Café will be expanded.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise Chief Executive, Alex

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Paterson, said: “HIE took the lead in bringing together the vision of businesses, residents, visitors and the community to create a master-plan for John O’ Groats which will unlock its true potential.

“This private public partnership investment will act as a catalyst for a number of projects that together will develop a sustainable tourist destination creating economic growth and local employment.”

Tourism Minister, Fergus Ewing, added: “Tourism is very important to our national economy and is one of the Scottish Government’s key sectors with great potential to grow.

“Scotland’s towns and villages draw tourists from across the globe attracted by their beauty, heritage and the wealth of

world-class visitor experiences on offer. The village of John O’ Groats has a very special place on the map of Scotland.

“I hope that the £1.8m investment from HIE and the other partner support provided acts as a catalyst to help kick start the regeneration of the area, boosting tourism and the local economy, and helping secure the areas longer term future.”

Michael Cantlay, Chairman of Visit Scotland, said: “I am delighted to have the opportunity to visit such a unique development and to witness firsthand the progress that is being made at John O’Groats. Natural Retreats, Heritage Great Britain and Highlands and Islands Enterprise should all be commended for the role they are playing in the restoration of this iconic site.”

The project is scheduled for completion in September 2012.

Baillie Wind Farm will power 40,000 homes An £80 million wind farm is under construction near Thurso in Caithness, Scotland.

The Baillie Wind Farm will comprise twenty-one N90 wind turbines that measure 110 metres to the tip and feature a 65 metre hub and 45 metre blades. In total the wind farm will generate 170 GWh of energy, enough to power the equivalent of 35,ooo homes.

Main contractor for the project is RJ McLeod and works began onsite in August 2011. The wind farm’s developer and future operator, Baillie Wind Farm Ltd, is a joint venture between European energy company Statkraft and local landowners Steve and Tom Pottinger.

Once the wind farm is operational, it will generate an expected

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S c otl a n d £100,000 annually into a West Caithness Community Fund for local initiatives. Furthermore, it will produce an additional £25,000 a year for a new business development fund that will be managed by the Caithness Chamber of Commerce.

Sergio Castedo, Director of Statkraft UK Ltd and Baillie Wind Farm Ltd, commented: “This is a large and complex project whose successful development brings a range of local economic and community benefits, as well as contributing to national and global environment aims through generation of renewable power. We are looking forward to moving into operation this year and to a long and productive association with Caithness.”

A workforce of approximately 40 construction workers and engineers carried out the work on the turbine bases, which in turn involved pouring more than 15,000 tonnes of concrete using locally-sourced gravel and sand.

Following this, an offloading and transport exercise was implemented in May 2012 to minimise disruption to local motorists, residents and businesses. This involved transporting the blades to a holding site at the former Dounreay Airfield.

The project is progressing well and now that the civil work is almost complete, turbine erection will begin in August 2012. This phase is expected to be completed this autumn, with the project feeding green power into the upgraded Beauly-Denny line by November 2012 and fully commissioned in early November 2013.

Director of Baillie Wind Farm Ltd, Tom Pottinger, commented: “This is an exciting project for myself and my brother Steven, particularly as I have a background in agriculture and he is a lawyer by trade. Although the planning process was relatively difficult, we are very pleased with the progress that has been made and can’t wait to see the end result.

“Onsite challenges have included designing the wind farm to have the least ecological impact possible. As a result, we have

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had to take account of several extraneous issues, including the movement of birds through the air.

“We have already implemented a bird monitoring scheme, and once the wind farm is up and running we will monitor the effect that the development has on the surrounding geese. We are very aware that we are working in a sensitive area and are therefore fully prepared to shut down any turbines if they are deemed to have a significant effect on the local fauna.

“Our development partners Statkfraft have been brilliant, and we look forward to developing a successful long-term relationship with them.”

The project compliments the extension of Rothes wind farm near Elgin, which will boost capacity by an additional 45MW. In addition supplying energy to over 20,000 homes, the project is expected to create 60 constructions jobs, along with permanent local operation and maintenance jobs.

Energy Minister, Jim Mather, said: “These schemes are good for Scotland’s low carbon economy and are further examples of the action we need to take now to tackle climate change. The north of Scotland has huge renewables potential and these two schemes will provide tangible, lasting benefits to the communities involved as well as a reduction in carbon emissions.”

Statkraft Statkraft is Europe’s largest generator of renewable energy, with a total capacity of more than 14,800 MW. The company is a major player on the European energy exchanges and develops and generates hydropower, wind power, gas power, solar power and district heating.

Aberdeenshire Design Awards Held every two years, the Aberdeenshire Design Awards celebrate the most outstanding achievements in design innovation. The awards are split into seven categories, including: Housing, Business, Conservation, Rural Landscape Development, Sustainability, Craftsmanship and Public Art. The Aberdeenshire Design Awards aim to encourage the very best in environmental design and to improve the built environment in Aberdeenshire. By stimulating a deeper interest in the traditional and recent architecture, it is hoped that the awards will raise the profile and benefit of good architectural design within the local communities.

The prestigious event takes place at the National Trust for Scotland’s Haddo House and attracts the best architects and developers in the region. With the original 106 designs now whittled down to just 28, the awards ceremony will be held on 6th September 2012.

Councillor Peter Argyle is chairman of Aberdeenshire Council’s Infrastructure Services Committee and the Aberdeenshire Design Awards judging panel. Speaking of the importance of the awards, he commented: “Essentially what we’re looking for is good design, which means different things to different people. If I could choose one word, it would be respect – a respect of the built or natural environment, combined with a sense of place and a balanced design. This doesn’t necessarily mean the slavish copying of previous ages, as we value a modern design just as much as a sympathetically traditional design.

“We also look at celebrating innovation in sustainability and craftsmanship. One of the most memorable projects for me is the restoration of a salmon bothy in Portsoy, which received both the highest award for Conservation (Distinction) and the new Ian Shepherd Award for the best project over the seven categories. This was an important community project, and the craftsmanship and design was simply outstanding.

“Another striking project was the conversion of a small church into a family home. The church had been empty for many years, and the joiner that bought it did a beautiful job of restoring it.

However, what impressed me the most was his innate enthusiasm for his work – he was so passionate about each element of the design.

“The purpose of the Aberdeenshire Design Awards is to encourage good design across the construction industry. We have recently introduced a new local development plan for Aberdeenshire that is very generous in both the allocation of land and the opportunity for development. As a result, we wish to see much better standards of design for the industry, particu-

larly within the volume house building sector. The awards are therefore part of a wider agenda that aims to encourage good design in everything that is built in Aberdeenshire.”

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Gold star for Les Enfants Nursery The beautiful Les Enfants Nursery in Inverurie already has a string of prestigious titles to its name. In addition to being shortlisted as a finalist in the NMT Awards – Nursery Design 2011, the development also received a Commendation Award at the Aberdeen Society of Architects Design Awards.

Les Enfants Nursery could now be the recipient of an additional accolade, after being shortlisted for the Aberdeenshire Design Awards.

Eleanor Alexander, Project Architect for William Lippe Architects Ltd, commented: “It is an honour to be nominated for such a prestigious award, and everyone is very excited. This was a brilliant project for me because I had free reign to come up with something imaginative and interesting that would stimulate the children. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work on such a fantastic development, and to know that my work is appreciated just makes everything even more worthwhile.”

The project began in May 2009 and Les Enfants Nursery was completed in May 2010, with Tor Ecosse Ltd as the main contractor.

Centred around two key concepts of ‘fun’ and ‘scale’, the twostorey nursery has incorporated a range of exciting features that have made it welcoming for the children. Stripes, curves and bold colours have created a fascinating elevation, whilst the haphazard positioning of small square windows provides a view for children of all ages. Interestingly, a corporate logo handprint theme runs throughout the building, including the entrance gates and the safety railings for the first floor balconies.

The nursery boasts a variety of large open-plan spaces, including a pirate themed soft play area and dedicated wet areas for messy activities. Small projecting snugs offer cosy areas for quiet time or exploration, whilst the soft play area features a substantial amount of glazing to offer views out over the external play area.

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A dedicated parent room provides state-of-the-art IT facilities, whilst the nursery staff can benefit from a naturally lit staff room with kitchen facilities and its own patio area. As safety and security are crucial, access to the nursery is managed by reception staff and a meet and greet system in the spacious foyer.

To celebrate two years since opening, Les Enfants Nursery held an open day on May 12th 2012. The exciting event included raffles, a bouncy castle and face painting, whilst visitors were also treated to a delicious barbeque.

Woodbank Cottage is a work of art EIGHTYSEVEN Architecture’s innovative design has won them a nod at the Aberdeenshire Design Awards, David Vila Domini and Conrad Wiedermann started EIGHTYSEVEN Architecture some years ago to complement their teaching in Architecture at the Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen and are very pleased that their work on the beautiful Woodbank Cottage in Crathes has been nominated for an award in both the Sustainability and Conservation categories.

The £95,000 contract saw the architects convert the former coach house into an attractive home and artist studio.

Speaking of his delight at being nominated for such a prestigious award Conrad Wiedermann, commented: “We’re very happy that the project has been nominated and we will keep our fingers crossed until the judges come to visit.

“It was a pleasure to work with our client, print artist Nicola Chambury, and through this very close working relationship we were able to design a building that respects the old structure whilst serving her particular needs.”

Woodbank Cottage was built as a humble but well proportioned coach house at the turn of the last century and as a result, EIGHTYSEVEN Architecture sought to maintain a traditional exterior materials palette including the local granite walling,

slate and timber. The timber windows have been replaced, whilst large sliding doors have been installed in the place of the previous opening for the coach house.

The ground floor houses the printing workshop, exhibition space and a small shower room.

Upstairs, the building has a gallery space that is currently used as a study, along with a spacious bedroom. The two floors are connected via an open void that also houses the staircase, creating diagonal views from the first floor to the ground floor.

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S c otl a n d One of the most interesting features is the treatment of the upstairs ceiling, which saw EIGHTYSEVEN Architecture raise the height and change the roof shape in order to create a vaulted ceiling that maximised the available space.

Insulation levels were significantly improved during the course

of the project. Indeed, the quality of insulation is now so high that a traditional heating system is unneeded and just a single wood burning stove is sufficient to heat the entire building.

Main contractor for the project was James Fairley Design & Build.

The Turra Coo

An outstanding piece of public art has been nominated for an Aberdeenshire Design Award.

The Turra Coo has stood in the town centre of Turriff since 2010, when a 1,000 strong crowd, including Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond, turned out to see the unveiling of the bronze cow statue. Speaking on the day, Aberdeenshire Council Provost, Bill Howatson, said: “This is what public art is all about, helping to raise the profile of the town’s heritage and its culture, and the community should benefit from it.”

The statue was commissioned by the Turriff Tourism Action Group to commemorate the story of the famous Turra Coo. In 1913 the Liberal Chancellor Lloyd George championed the new National Insurance Act, which made health insurance payments compulsory for workers. However, farmers claimed that the level of payment for their farmhands was too high as they couldn’t take days off like industry workers, and country folk were healthier than those from the city.

One of those who refused to pay was famer Robert Paterson, who was fined as a result. The sheriff took a cow off him to repay his debt to the government and tried to sell it in Turriff, causing a huge riot. The sheriff’s office was pelted with rotten fruit and the cow was eventually taken to Aberdeen to be sold, upon which point a group of local farmers bought her and brought her back home to Turriff.

The cow has since become a symbol of power in the farming community, and the Turriff Tourism Action Group therefore commissioned the public art to commemorate the famous cow.

Artist and lecturer David Blyth won the commission to make

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the statue, along with artists Charles Engebretson and Virginia Hutchison.

David Blyth commented: “The original commission was for some kind of memorial or public monument to commemorate the story of the famous Turra Coo. The committee received proposals from all over the world, but our approach was quite different - which I think is why we won. We have produced a very traditional bronze statue of a cow, but with a twist.

“We took the archive photographs of the original Turra Coo from 1913 and put out a public advert looking for a look-a-like living cow. In 2009, we found our cow. She was about to go to slaughter so we bought her and she spent her last Christmas with her young calf. In February 2010, we had the cow put down by a qualified vet and then we preserved her using taxidermy before finally casting the stuffed cow in bronze. This has in turn created a really lifelike, realistic representation of the cow which is quite tremendous.

“The key thing was that we didn’t apply for the commission to win the cash and make the sculpture. I wanted to make a real piece of contemporary art work, and the TurraCoo is very much integral to my ongoing artistic practise. This is very important to me. I’ve never stuffed an animal that size before, and it was a really big undertaking for the three of us. It’s not just a token memorial statue - I see it as a true piece of fine art.”

The Aberdeenshire Design Awards ceremony will be held in September 2012.

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Mill of Eslie is lovingly restored Another contender for the Aberdeenshire Design Awards is the stunning Mill of Eslie development in Marr.

Architects Michael Rasmussen Associates and main contractor Sequoia Joinery Ltd have now completed work on a 12-month project that saw the transformation of the mill into a beautiful family home, along with the creation of a double garage and a private textile design studio on the site.

Michael Rasmussen, Managing Director of Michael Rasmussen Associates, commented: “We were working within a former flax mill that had been converted into a house in the 1970s. Unfortunately the conversion was completed rather badly, and the design was somewhat insensitive. Our clients wanted the mill to be completely refurbished as a family home and as a result, we had to come up with an imaginative and innovative design.

“We did have some initial difficulties, as Aberdeenshire Council planning policy didn’t allow former agricultural buildings to be extended or altered. However, we submitted a proposal based on historic research that proved that there was already an extension – a saw mill that runs along the side of the mill – and used this as a precedent to extend the building.”

Works included the complete strip-out of the two-storey mill, along with partial structural alterations. The ground floor was stripped of the floor partitions, whilst an oak frame was installed to support the joists of the first floor.

One of the most interesting aspects of the project is the restoration of the mill wheel. This phase involved the cleaning out of the wheel pit and the installation of a wheel with a diameter of 2.5 metres. Following this, the main stairs were built above and around the mill wheel so that it could be seen from inside the building.

The home itself now boasts a spacious open-plan ground floor that incorporates a family sitting room with an inglenook

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fireplace, a kitchen and dining area, and a formal drawing room with a cathedral ceiling. Further facilities include a TV room, a cloakroom and a utilities room.

On the first floor, there is an en suite master bedroom and two en suite guest bedrooms. The master bedroom also boasts a balcony, which may be used as a private sitting room or as a study.

The development has incorporated a range of tasteful materials, including Siberian larch, green oak, black Indian slate, local granite and glass. The interior features off-white walls, which perfectly complement the black slate and natural tan of the oak, as Michael Rasmussen explained: “It was quite an interesting project because the clients were

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S c otl a n d from Aboyne but were living from Perth, Australia, during the project and other than a couple of very brief meetings with the client, all of the discussion over drawings and details were done by email.

“As a result, we had relatively free reign over the design. This worked out very well for us, as Claire Ross is a qualified interior designer and has impeccable taste. Although she wasn’t actively involved in the design of the building, her hand in the finishes and interior design has really helped to make the building what it is - and she deserves absolute credit for that.”

As the site is already situated within 2 acres of woodland, landscaping was kept to a minimum. A charming mixture of wild flowers and wild grasses has been planted, creating an attractive garden space that can be easily maintained.

Future potential plans include the acquisition of the mill wheel pond, which could in turn be connected to a generator to use micro hydro to produce enough energy to power the house.

Although the house currently uses solar heating for domestic water, the use of water would be more effective, as the power could be generated 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Speaking of the success of the project, Michael Rasmussen commented: “Although overall it was a relatively smooth project, the design of the stair over the mill wheel was very complex, and involved a real collaboration between us and the specialist oak framing contractor. With something as complicated as the stairs, we could only ever design and draw 90% of it, and the remaining 10% had to be adjusted onsite or by working with the framing contractor to make sure it was fitted the way we wanted it.

“We were lucky enough to enjoy an excellent collaboration between ourselves, the contractor and the client. It’s one of the best projects we’ve worked on for a long time, and to be nominated for an Aberdeenshire Design Award is nothing short of fantastic.”

Wester Waterlair is nominated for an Aberdeenshire Design Award A unique art deco style house located in the Scottish countryside has been nominated for an Aberdeenshire Design Award.

Wester Waterlair was designed by Ashleigh Wilson of A B Roger and Young Architects in Brechin, Angus and the striking white four-bedroom house is located just outside the village of Fordoun in Aberdeenshire. The client wished for a house that reflected the art deco movement, and an existing derelict cottage on the site was subsequently demolished to incorporate the new build.

Externally the building is crisp white with smooth render and blue painted windows. The roof is monopitched at 5 degrees and hidden behind parapet walls so that it looks like a flat roof construction, whilst the garage also has an art deco style frontage.

Ashleigh Wilson, Architect at A B Roger and Young, commented: “The client gave us a brief of what he wanted in terms of accommodation in the house and asked us to come up with a design that featured elements of the art deco movement. It was really just a matter of incorporating the main features of an art deco style house around the brief.”

Wester Waterlair boasts an open plan lounge and dining area

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with a double height entrance hall. Interesting architectural features include a circular entrance tower and an open plan curved staircase that wraps around the curved wall in the entrance space. Vertical proportioned windows run up the stairs, which adds to the light and spacious feel of the house.

The house also features a master bedroom with an en suite bathroom and a curved balcony, whilst there is also a small snug in the first floor tower. Sustainable features include a biomass boiler with a heat recovery system that circulates hot air, high levels of insulation and the absence of extract and trickle vents in the windows – which in turn ensures that all of the heat is re-circulated within the house.

Speaking about the project’s nomination for an Aberdeenshire Design Award, Ashleigh Wilson said: “Although it wasn’t really designed with awards in mind, we are delighted to have been nominated for an Aberdeenshire Design Award. Main contractor Peterkin Homes Ltd from Auchenblae did an excellent job of finishing the house and it’s really unique for this area – there aren’t many people who build art decostyle houses these days!

“A lot of people have questioned how we managed to get a house like this in the countryside, but we were simply fortunate that the planning department decided to endorse a house of this nature due to its unique style. I think we were lucky that the planner we were dealing with liked the house and the art deco style and embraced our architectural innovation. “We are very proud of this building because it is so unique and you don’t get the chance to design buildings like this very often. I may never have the opportunity to do one of these again, so it has been a rare and wonderful opportunity.”

The GALE Centre proves a hit with visitors Scotland’s first passive community building, the GALE Centre, continues to wow visitors.

The £850,000 state-of-the-art building is a self sustaining structure that has been designed to generate and maintain its own source of heat. The GALE Centre was built to expand existing projects and services for GALE, a local charity working towards improving the environment and the economy.

Gairloch & Loch Ewe Centre General Manager, Janet Miles, said: “We are a community charity and we are reliant on our Centre for raising awareness of our work so it is fabulous to have this building completed. The feedback from visitors has been very positive, with many wowed by the self sustaining nature of the facility.

“We are getting people coming in through the doors asking questions, and our membership continues to grow.”

Work began on the project in September 2011 and was completed in March 2012. The single storey building includes a shop, a tourist information service, exhibition space and a

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S c otl a n d learning centre.

Morgan Sindall Group Plc was the main contractor on the project and Neil Sutherland Architects was the architect.

Funding for the GALE Centre was provided by the Big Lottery Fund, Highland LEADER Programme, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Community Energy Scotland, Community Land Unit, Social Investment Scotland. Additional funding was sourced through a number of community fundraising schemes through GALE. The GALE Centre was built from a timber frame construction that has incorporated both Douglas Fir and Scottish Larch, whilst it also features triple glazed windows and extensive insulation using warmcell insulation.

A mechanical ventilation and heat recovery system has been installed to help to remove stale air, which is then recycled through a heat exchanger to heat the building. Air tightness tests were conducted on the building throughout construction in order to ensure that the building remains as energy efficient as possible.

Interestingly, the roof of the Gale Centre is lined with sedum.

This was a feature specifically incorporated in the design of the building in order to tie the Centre in with the landscape.

Whilst the Centre is complete and now fully accessible to the public, a small amount of landscaping work is still to be completed on the site.

Janet Miles, said: “One of the remits on designing this new building was to create a low environmental impact. The building heats up with the sun as well as the body heat generated from staff and visitors, and it is only the second community building of its kind in the UK. “The Centre is the first passive building that Neil Sutherland Architects has been involved with and they are subsequently

Construction News

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Parklea Community Sports Facility is complete A £6 million redevelopment project to transform the Parklea Community Sports Facility has reached completion.

The sports facility in Port Glasgow has undergone an extensive makeover that included the construction of a brand new £2.9 million football pavilion with brand new changing

facilities and the creation of two 3G synthetic pitches with associated flood lighting. In addition, a major overhaul of drainage services to the eight grass football pitches was also carried out.

Work began in July 2009 and the project was funded by Inverclyde Council’s capital programme, Sportscotland. Barr Ltd was the main contractor, whilst S&P Architects was the architect.

Extra care was taken throughout the lifespan of the Parklea project to meet the requirements of a Special Protection Area (SPA) that sits adjacent to the site. For six months of the year the adjacent site is frequented by migrating Redshank, and construction work was therefore carried out around the migratory

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looking to replicate this design feature for future projects.”

“The GALE Centre has a very warm, friendly feel to it and I think this is something that is really important for a facility of this nature. We wanted to build something that we could grow in to and this building exceeds our expectations. We are going to rent out two rooms in the Centre for the local college and we will also have different exhibitions here every week.

“The building is much more attractive than what we had previously and the shop now has the potential for generating much more revenue than the previous shop. The money raised from selling items in our shop will be used to fund community projects, so this building will greatly benefit the local community.”

For more information on GALE please visit: www.galeactionforum.co.uk

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habits of the birds.

Leader of Inverclyde Council, Councillor Stephen McCabe, said: “Parklea is very much the jewel in the crown of our investment in leisure. Football players and fans from across Inverclyde and beyond will come here to make use of these quality facilities and that can only be good news on sporting, social and health grounds.

“We said from the very beginning we were committed to providing the best possible leisure facilities to improve the health and quality of life for our communities and I believe that the development here at Parklea is a perfect example of that commitment.”

The completion comes as Inverclyde Council’s Environment & Regeneration Committee learns that more than £62 million will be spent on projects this financial year. The capital programme includes arts, leisure, civic, cultural and tourism facilities.

In addition to the Parklea Community Sports Facility, Gourock’s iconic outdoor swimming pool is now complete following a £1.8 million refurbishment project. Further developments include the new £2 million Customer Service Centre for Inverclyde Council and the £300,000 refurbishment of Greenock’s South West Library.

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Convener Councillor, Michael McCormick, said: “A number of key projects have now been completed and we are seeing others progressing very well. It is an exciting time for Inverclyde as the efforts of the past five years start to bear fruit and we move forward with an exciting programme of developments that will help is to achieve our ambitions for Inverclyde.”

Vice Convener, Councillor Jim Clocherty, said: “The £4.7 million development of Gourock Pier and Railhead is almost at the detailed planning stage and the £10 million Beacon Arts Guild on Greenock’s waterfront is due to be finished later this year.

“We are fortunate in Inverclyde to be in a position to be able to continue a significant level of investment and to lay the building blocks for a thriving and prosperous future.”

A sports build to remember Work is progressing well on the new Michael Woods Sports and Leisure Centre in Glenrothes, Fife.

The £21 million centre was named in honour of a late former councillor from the Glenrothes area. Members of the Glenrothes Area Committee decided to dedicate the new Sports and Leisure Centre to Councillor Michael Woods after residents and users of the existing centre were invited to put forward their own suggestions for the new build.

Councillor Peter Grant explained: “Michael Woods played a major role in securing the future of the sports centre and for everyone who knew him and the new build will be an apt reminder of the immense contribution he made to Glenrothes and to Fife as a whole.”

The project started in May 2011 and is part of Fife Council’s wider investment plans in the enhancement of Sports and Leisure opportunities in Glenrothes, Kirkcaldy and Dunfermline.

The new facility will be operated and managed by the Fife Sports and Leisure Trust on behalf of Fife Council.

Main contractor for the project is GRAHAM and the architect is Cre8 Architecture.

The Michael Woods Sports and Leisure Centre will host a range of exciting facilities, including a 25m x 17m eight-lane competition pool with a spectator gallery for 250 people. In addition, there will be a 20m x 10m training pool with movable flooring and an 11m x 5m teaching and remedial pool with an adjoining health suite. Dry-side facilities include a new larger scale gymnasium with 80 stations, a purpose-built aerobics studio, a badminton sports hall and two squash courts.

Outdoor facilities will be significantly enhanced by a full-size synthetic turf pitch, three football specific five-a-side and one seven-a-side 3G synthetic turf pitches and a tennis court. The existing athletics track will also be upgraded.

The roof and wall cladding of the external envelope is progressing well and the main core is now enclosed. The substation and power is complete, whilst the internal block work is nearing completion.

External works have included the near-completion of the drainage, with the construction of the sports pitches scheduled to commence in July.

The existing facility closed to the public on 2nd July 2012, and the decant will take place shortly after. Soft strip and demolition works will begin after the building is handed over at the end of July 2012.

The state-of-the-art centre is scheduled for completion in April 2013.

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New Woodcote Pavilion takes shape A £427,000 project to construct a brand new pavilion in Lauder is almost complete.

New Woodcote Pavilion was constructed on Manse Road, Lauder to replace an existing pavilion that was previously housed on the site. The former structure had fallen into a state of disrepair and so was demolished prior to construction of the new pavilion.

The project comprised the construction of a single-storey building including changing rooms and lounge area. The original design concept of New Woodcote Pavilion included parking spaces however this is no longer a feature of the site.

New Woodcote Pavilion was built to the southeast of the former facility on what is part of an existing playing field. The demolition of the former pavilion has now made way for a new pedestrian access route from Manse Road.

Work began on the Scottish Borders Council funded project on 16th January 2012 and construction of the structure reached completion on 28th May 2012. Although the construction of New Woodcote Pavilion is now complete a few internal finishing works will be undertaken on the building. External pavements will also be installed around the site, whilst some grass seeding will be undertaken to complete the landscaping.

T&A Group is the main contractor on the project and Scottish Borders Council is the architect.

New Woodcote Pavilion covers a floor area of 234m² and was built from a block and timber construction, with a Cambrian slate pitched roof and timber framed windows. The exterior finish of the building is dry dash render and solar panels have been incorporated onto the roof.

The new building accommodates four changing rooms, toilets,

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storage areas, a physiotherapy room, kitchen and a Learning Room with a viewing gallery. The south elevation of the Learning Room is extensively glazed and includes a colour-coated roller shutter.

New Woodcote Pavilion has also been orientated differently from the existing pavilion with its gables facing northwest and southeast – instead of northeast and southwest – allowing the principle elevation to face directly towards the playing field. The main entrance of the building faces northwest towards Manse Road.

Work on the project ran smoothly – in spite of difficult weather conditions – and site staff encountered no major disruptions during the programme of works.

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Newcastle Waste Water Treatment Work The seaside town of Newcastle in County Down, Northern Ireland, lies on the Irish Sea coast at the base of Slieve Donard – the highest peak of the Mourne Mountains.

The site is renowned for its sandy beach and the Royal County Down Golf Club. The Newcastle Waste Water Treatment Works (WwTW) is now set for a major upgrade in order to meet future European Union standards and further improve the town.

The upgrade illustrates the major investment from Northern Ireland water to improve water standards and meet future EU directives. The extensive project supports the £6 million package of infrastructure and network improvements already undertaken

by NI Water in Newcastle. When fully complete, these upgrades will ensure that the sewerage infrastructure in Newcastle operates in accordance with EU directives as set by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA).

The contract for the project was awarded in November 2011 to a local joint venture partnership between Dawson-Wam and Ovivo, who are global leaders in wastewater treatment solutions.

Work began onsite in January 2012 and the project is scheduled for completion by May 2013.

The project has four main aims: to achieve compliance with future EU standards, to provide a flexible design to cater for future flows and seasonal changes, to minimise the impact on the community and the environment, and to deliver the best value for money construction.

The multi-million pound upgrade will incorporate an extension to the existing treatment works in order to house: a secondary treatment stream, storm storage facilities, an inter-stage pump-

ing station, UV disinfection, a replacement standby generator and other ancillary equipment including the main control panels.

With consent already granted by Crown Estates, the additional space will be added to the south side of the treatment works, along the coastline in an area owned by NI Water.

A vast refurbishment programme will also take place inside the existing treatment works. All of the existing treatment streams will be completely refurbished so that the treatment works remains operational at all times.

NI Water and their contracting partners Dawson-Wam Ovivo are aware of the environmental sensitivities associated with the location of Newcastle WwTW, especially as it is on the town’s coastline. The project team has developed a robust Environmental Management Plan to ensure that all possible measures are taken to protect the integrity of the surrounding area.

Both noise and vibration will be monitored to ensure that they are well within the levels dictated by Down District Council’s environmental health guidelines. In terms of sustainability, all of the material excavated from the site will be reused in the construction of the new extension. In addition, local suppliers will be employed wherever possible for the delivery of imported materials.

Once the project is complete, Newcastle Waste Water Treatment Works (WwTW) will meet projected European standards, in the process benefitting the community for future generations.

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Skainos development takes shape

the architect.

Prior to work taking place, a number of existing facilities were removed from the site including a hostel, a warehouse, a church and a graveyard.

Farrans Contracts Manager, John Cooper, said: “Skainos comprises a number of different buildings that are all in one way or another linked together. On this project we are employing almost every type of construction technique imaginable – including reinforced concrete flat slab, timber and steel frames and brick and block – and all of the buildings will have their own distinct identity.

“One of the most challenging aspects was the removal of the graveyard early into the project, but once the graves were excavated and re-interned we were soon able to progress with the remainder of the demolition work.

“We are working on quite a congested site with building work taking place close to the boundaries, but so far everything is running to programme.”

John Cooper added: “The Skainos project is very important for

An extensive redevelopment and regeneration scheme in Belfast continues to make good progress.

Located at 239-255 Newtownards Road, the £15.8 million Skainos project includes the construction of a brand new church and a multi-purpose community hall, along with offices

and shops. Apartments for both sale and rent are also being constructed on the site, along with a crèche, a hostel, sheltered accommodation and a restaurant.

An education facility for use by Belfast Metropolitan College will also be included on the site, along with facilities for East Belfast Missions and Age Concern. A public square will help to connect all of the buildings on the development and will boast a number of self-sustaining features.

Work began on the project in October 2010, with Farrans (Construction) Ltd as the main contractor and Donnelly O’Neil Architects Ltd as

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Belfast and it is creating quite a lot of media interest. A number of high profile dignitaries have visited the site during the regeneration scheme including Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, whilst a similar scheme is taking place to improve a local school.

“The aim of the regeneration scheme is to help support local residents, as well as encourage further redevelopment and future investment in the area. We are very proud to be a part of this project.”

Skainos is scheduled for completion in September 2012.

O ve r s e a s

Building big in Canada The Lac-Alfred wind farm in the Gasp’sie area of Quebec will comprise 150 turbines with a combined capacity of 300MW, making it the largest wind farm in Canada. Once complete, the development will generate enough power for 48,000 homes.

The project is valued at £380 million (approximately $600 million) and has been funded by EDF EN Canada. The site was cleared during the winter of 2010 and construction commenced in July 2011, with several improvements made to local roads and a nearby intersection in order to accommodate for the transportation of components to and from the site via heavy goods vehicles.

The first 150MW will be connected to the Hydro-Quebec connect network in December 2012 and the second phase will be connected in December 2013. REpower Systems will manage the energy for the first two years of the site’s operation, after which time Enxco will take control of the operation.

Manufactured by REpower Systems, the turbines are made from steel composite materials and each has an output of 2MW. The turbines stand at 80 metres tall and weigh 254 tonnes each, with 96 turbines featuring 46m blades and the remaining 54 featuring 41m blades.

The wind farm makes use of a number of ‘climate aversion’ turbines that are specifically designed for use during winter conditions due to their robust nature. Interestingly 40% of the turbines have been built in Quebec and these are the first REpower turbines to be installed in the region.

The foundations feature a diameter of 60 metres and comprise a mixture of 50 tonnes of concrete and 320 tonnes of steel, whilst the connector network cables are made from aluminium and copper.

Three different cranes are being used to unload components, lift the first power section and assemble the rotor - with the largest of the three cranes weighing 11 tonnes. In addition, a batch plant has been set up using gravel from local quarries.

The batch plant uses the gravel in order to produce concrete that can be used in the construction process.

The Lac-Alfred site was selected due to excellent wind resources, the site’s distance from residential areas and the proximity of the hydro connect power line. Unsurprisingly, it is not the only wind farm in the area and joins a range of developments that have taken place over the last ten years.

EDF EN Canada Public Affairs Manager, Daniel Gigu’re, said: “This is a very important project for us as Lac-Alfred project is currently the biggest wind farm in Canada and it’s quite possibly the biggest wind farm under construction. However, next year we expect to top this one by constructing an even bigger wind farm in Quebec.”

Wind energy is vital to the world’s sustainable energy future Our goal is simple: Generate a client’s profitable return on investment by designing wind farms cost effectively. To meet our goal, we have built a strong team with a design mind set to provide our clients the best solution in terms of low construction cost, keeping energy losses to a minimum while offering operational flexibility. steve.olsen@bpr.ca

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Heritage

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 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 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 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 ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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Meet the conservation specialists 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

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Stone restoration and repair: the use of St. Astier Lithomex mortars

By Ugo Spano, St. Astier Limes

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.

Much of the masonry replaced in the last thirty years has resulted in the partial of complete removal of predominantly structurally sound masonry that has suffered from little more than face weathering.

This superficial weathering is often through neglect and lack of maintenance of basic building details such as gutters and down pipes. Where replacement stone has been used in these circumstances, buildings have been left with thin skins of new stone that seldom match the true characteristics of the original; many of the thin skins are backed up in concrete, brick or other inappropriate materials, or with significant voids behind the new veneers. Therefore, a highly invasive intervention is carried out in what was an otherwise stable structure.

In most cases, the mortar used for repairs, restoration or conservation contains cement. In these buildings, the use of cement mortars promotes condensation build up, salt reactions, and generally the long term survival of the building.

In general, surface repairs are required to provide a good visual match for the existing masonry. The physical properties of the masonry may vary from one part of the building to the next and the ability to vary the properties of the repair mortar is an advantage.

For surface repairs to be successful, the materials employed need to have certain characteristics. They should: • Have characteristics similar to the host masonry • Have adequate bond strength • Have a good modulus of elasticity • Be vapour permeable • Be durable • Be capable of being dressed with similar tools to the original masonry • Remain workable to allow details to be fashioned • Match in colour and texture • Adsorb water sufficiently in wetting and drying periods to match adjacent masonry.

• They must always be reversible They should not: • Become significantly stronger than the surrounding masonry • Have a significantly lower rate of absorption or adsorption than surrounding units • Create a barrier to diffusion St. Astier natural hydraulic lime mortars provide a valid alternative to cement mortars or cement/lime mixes and, if applied correctly, they will have a much longer life. Environmentally, they offer far greater efficiency than cementicious mortars by reabsorbing CO2 and not compromising the recyclability of the building materials.

Lithomex is a very cost effective, versatile mortar widely used for repair, restoration and stone simulation. Stone colours are precisely matched. Tonalities and surface finishes are easily achieved by trained masons.

The UK is one of the largest users of Lithomex, as colour matching services and training are available. St. Astier Limes specialists, when required, actively work with the specifier, giving technical advice to establish the most appropriate mortar for the proposed intervention.

If mortars are not dosed or mixed properly, if they are not cured and protected correctly, if the application surfaces are not properly prepared, if suction is not controlled, if salt movements are not taken into consideration and so forth, the result will be a failure.

For more information, clarification or for any query, please contact: technical@stastier.co.uk

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A s s o c i ati o n s

The truth about lead The Lead Sheet Association has recently worked with some key organisations in the construction industry to examine more closely the properties and benefits of using lead, particularly in relation to its economic, technical and environmental characteristics.

The research, carried out in conjunction with The Building Research Establishment and Franklin + Andrews threw up some interesting findings.

Cost effective and green The carbon footprint of lead, compared with other hard metals, is extremely low making it a very environmentally friendly material. Its lifespan also means it lasts a generation without having to be replaced - on average more than three times longer than most other proprietary flashing products. There is also an established recycling infrastructure so almost 100% of the waste can be re-used, and because of lead’s longevity it means that architects can safely use it in designs needing to comply with Euro code requirements for a 60 year design life.

Alongside these qualities Franklin + Andrews highlighted the economic benefits of using lead. Over a 40 year period lead can be up to 50% cheaper than manmade flashing products and over 65 years it is almost 100% cheaper. Lead is seen as being so safe and reliable that it is possible to obtain a 25 year guarantee covering the material and installation when it is installed by an LCA accredited lead contractor. Notwithstanding the guarantee, with lead there is almost no risk of leakage and little inspection or maintenance required, providing peace of mind for building owners.

Douglas Weston CBE, Chief Executive of the Lead Sheet Association who commissioned both pieces of research said: ‘In these tough economic times it sometimes seems the easy option to go for the seemingly cheaper alternative, but this research emphasises what many in the construction industry have known for years – with lead, you get a great result that not only looks fantastic but lasts longer, costs less overall and is fully recyclable.’

Lead offers peace of mind Douglas continued: ‘The use of other products can often be a false economy for what you also get with lead is peace of mind, it is low maintenance, doesn’t need checking and possibly refixing every year and provides more weather tight protection against possible rainwater ingress.

‘Alongside this research, we also undertook installation trials in our workshop to compare lead alongside many of the proprietary products. The results brought out some interesting comparisons that might often be overlooked.

‘For example, lead can be installed in most weather conditions, whereas other products are sensitive to dampness and are dependent on adhesives which can create jointing problems.

Generally other products require the weather to be dry and the temperature to be above 5°c. Reliance on these criteria can often be a source of installation delays as well as jointing and leakage problems. Specifiers need to consider these factors as they select their roofing materials, particularly if the installation is programmed for the winter period or being used on buildings containing sensitive materials or equipment..

‘The BRE research also drew attention to the effect of UV radiation on some of the man made products. This can have the detrimental effect on joints and possibly cause brittleness, thereby reducing flexibility and impacting on life expectancy and weather tightness.’

Douglas concluded: this external research, coupled with the trials in our workshop demonstrates the cost effectiveness, green credentials, ease of installation and outstanding performance which makes lead a great product for use on everyday

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projects, as well as the truly special ones”.

To find out more about the courses, technical advice we provide or to view ‘The truth about lead’ visit www.leadsheet.co.uk

It’s official: The Limecrete Company Ltd is outstanding The Limecrete Company has been awarded a contract on an ‘outstanding’ BREEAM project at the University of Bradford.

The Limecrete Company Ltd – a Norfolk based sustainable construction firm – has been awarded the contract to place the hempcrete at the Sustainability and Enerprise Centre at the University of Bradford. The SEC has been designed to BREEAM ‘oustanding’ standards and is aiming to achieve the highest BREEAM rating of any building in the world.

The Limecrete Company will be using their cutting edge hemp spraying machinery while working for GB Building Solutios and placing Tradical® Hemcrete® from Lime Technologies.

Louise Yallop from The Limecrete Company said: “We are proud to be entrusted with this innovative and prestigious project. This feels like the culmination of many years of hard work. We are lucky to have a brilliant team who impressed the main contractors with their attitude and workmanship when they visited us on site.”

BREEAM stands for Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method and is the world’s leading environmental assessment method for buildings. BREEAM takes an holistic approach to measuring environmental impact and sets the standard for sustainable building design. Values of sustainability run through the whole design of the SEC from the materials used to the physics of the building and the renewable technologies employed.

Hempcrete has been chosen along with other sustainable building materials such as timber and recycled aggregates.

Made from combining UK grown hemp shiv with a lime based binder, hempcrete is carbon negative and therefore highly thermally efficient. The material regulates the temperature and humidity of a building, benefiting health and reducing heating and cooling bills to a fraction of those on conventionally built buildings.

The SEC will showcase truly sustainable design and promote sustainable living through its use as a research and learning centre.

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