SEPTEMBER 2019
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Contents September 2019
04
Expanding Construction Consultants invest in new Birmingham HQ to meet growing portfolio demands
05
Amey Consulting wins funding for innovative projects to improve roadside air quality
08
Kier works with Canal & River Trust to activate an emergency drawdown plan to secure dam at Whaley Bridge
11
Edmond Shipway celebrates major achievement as Center Parcs officially opens first Irish resort
14
Bowers & Wilkins announces CEDIA EMEA Awards 2019 sponsorship for the fourth consecutive year
16
Considerate Constructors Scheme names winners of 2019 National Ultra Site Awards
22
Willmott Dixon unveils ‘green’ roads for future residents at new Bristol development Ashton Rise
28
What can construction companies do to improve gender equality? - By 3B Training
34
How can public art make an area more desirable? - by Kia Knight, Director, The Mas·ter·werks Organisation CIC
38
Mott MacDonald and infrastructure industry partners set out first steps for creating a net-zero economy
44
Rockwell Appoint John Sisk & Son to Build 30 Storey mixed-use Canary Wharf Building
48
Oxford Properties Launches ‘The Stack’, Vancouver’s Tallest Commercial Tower and Signs a Trio of Tenants
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Construction UK Magazine - September 2019 03
Company News
Global powered access specialist appoints new CEO Riwal, the aerial work platform and telehandler rental and sales specialist, has appointed Pedro Torres as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective immediately. Torres’ appointment is based on his extensive 25 years of managerial experience in the international rental industry. In 2012, he joined Riwal as Regional Director and was promoted to Chief Operations Officer in 2015. Throughout the years, he has strongly contributed to the positive operational results of the company and the implementation of The Riwal Way, the continuous improvement program that has transformed the company’s culture. Together with René Timmers, Riwal’s Chief Finance Officer, and Søren Rosenkrands, its Chief Business Development Officer, he has successfully given direction to the continued growth of Riwal’s international operations during the past period. Ellen Meijer, member of Riwal’s Board of Directors, said:
We are so glad to have been able to select the right person for the job from within the company. The other members of Riwal’s Executive Management team fully support Pedro Torres’ appointment. Pedro’s operational and strategic skills, as well as his ability to enable team performance, makes him highly suited for the job.
Expanding Construction Consultants invest in new Birmingham HQ An independently owned and managed, multi-disciplined construction consultancy has moved to new offices in Birmingham city centre as it meets the demands of a growing portfolio of clients. The Construction Consultants (TCC) have moved to Ingleby House, 11 Cannon Street, from its previous headquarters at Grosvenor House, St Paul’s Square, to accommodate its growing team. TCC has delivered a variety of schemes for leading developers, including Travelodge, Subway, Starbucks in Swindon for Loc8 Developments, a range of high end student accommodation for Zone Developments in Leicester, Shirley Police Station and Oakview on behalf of MIA Properties. The business, which was recently appointed to deliver a 113 unit PRS development and 120 room Travelodge in Southampton for CHG Property Development, has also won a raft of new clients over the past 12 months across residential, student accommodation, commercial/leisure, retail and industrial sectors. Director, Alex Pimley, says it has now put
04 Construction UK Magazine - September 2019
in place a strategic growth programme, while maintaining strong relationships with its existing clients. “We launched the consultancy in 2017 with a desire to do things a little differently by providing our clients with a more personal service. The past 12 months have been particularly busy for us. We have successfully attracted new clients across the country in new and existing sectors and seen a 200% increase in repeat business,” he said. “We were keen to maintain our headquarters and invest further in Birmingham because there is a thriving commercial property sector and the city benefits from excellent transport links, which are convenient for our national clients. We also have the flexibility to grow further within Ingleby House as we win more business. We’re looking forward to the next chapter in our growth.” TCC specialises in a wide range of sectors and disciplines, including project management, employer’s agent, quantity surveying, development / fund monitoring and CDM consultancy. Its directors have a vision for TCC to be the leading privately owned and managed construction consultancy in the UK.
Company News
Amey Consulting wins funding for innovative projects to improve roadside air quality Amey Consulting has won funding for two innovative projects that will use smart technology to improve air quality around major A roads and motorways in the UK. The award is part of a £20m competition from Highways England seeking to unlock ideas that will revolutionise roads and driving. Amey Consulting’s first project ‘Dynamic air quality management’ aims to improve air quality by dynamically changing the speed limit on smart motorways. As part of the project, speed limits can be introduced when poor air quality is predicted, as opposed to pre-defined time periods, allowing motorways to run at the national speed limit for longer. Predictions will be gathered from a dense network of real-time air quality sensors, which will be installed in local communities to monitor for harmful pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide (NO2). The second project, ‘Green Light Optimised Speed Advisory’ was also granted funding and will improve air quality by reducing the number of stop-starts when vehicles leave motorways via inclined off-slips at signalised junctions. Stop-starts of freight vehicles, including hill starts, significantly increase fuel consumption, brake wear and emissions. This project will employ a technique known as Green Light Optimised Speed Advisory (GLOSA), which informs drivers when traffic lights will change, recommending a speed to approach the signals without needing to stop.
Mike Wilson, Highways England’s Executive Director for Safety, Engineering and Standards, said: “We are delighted to be able to offer this funding to support ideas around connected vehicles and infrastructure, improved safety, design and construction that reduces cost and delivers more predictable journey times – and to improve air quality. “The competitions opened the door for companies to submit some great entries to us - it was challenging to narrow it down to the final few. We think the competitions have been a great success, which we will consider repeating in the future.” Speaking of the award, Alex Gilbert, Managing Director, Amey Consulting said: “As the UK’s road networks accommodate growing numbers of users each year, we have an increasing responsibility to protect local communities from harmful emissions and support a healthier environment. Investment in smart infrastructure is essential for this to happen and we are delighted to have secured funding for both projects.” The competition was facilitated by Innovate UK, as a small business research initiative and comes only a few weeks after AmeyVTOL won funding from Innovate UK. This dynamic project is working with Network Rail to collect real time data from railway infrastructure using long range hybrid drones. Highways England said they received over 200 applications for funding from a diverse range of innovators.
New Finance Director for SIG Distribution Alex Johnson has been appointed as Finance Director for the UK’s leading construction materials supplier, SIG Distribution, a division of SIG plc. Alex, who reports directly to SIG Distribution Managing Director, David Walmsley, started the role in May 2019. Qualified at KPMG in London, Alex has strong manufacturing, wholesaling and distribution experience, with expertise across the end-to-end supply chain. This includes senior Finance Director roles at specialist merchant Wolseley plc, FTSE 100 distributor Bunzl plc and most recently at Associated British Foods plc. In his role at SIG Distribution, Alex has responsibility for all aspects of finance and supporting the ongoing transformation of the business. Alex said of his appointment:
I’m delighted to be part of the team. The great thing about working at SIG is that we are truly empowered to make a real difference.
Construction UK Magazine - September 2019 05
Feature
Saving the planet – is this how we can get young people excited about construction? Over the last few weeks I’ve been asking people around Stoke-on-Trent if they’ve heard of the District Heat Network. Their answer is often the same – “no, I’ve never heard of it”. While they’ve seen the roads being dug up and pipes being laid, they aren’t always aware that this major new infrastructure and investment will reduce their energy prices and create vast job opportunities for the next generation. As we speak, some 18km of pipe is being laid under the city to provide geothermal energy, forming the basis for further expansion in the decades to come. The £50m project is one of the key components in an overall investment of £500m in a smart energy system in Stoke-on-Trent over the next six to seven years. Last year the government published its long-awaited construction sector deal and reinforced its commitment to growing this industry, identifying it as a key priority. The value of construction new work continues to rise in Great Britain, reaching its highest level on record in 2017 at £109 million, according to the ONS. But while the work is increasing, the skills are declining. So how do we fill this gap and get young people excited about construction?
The future of construction As government policy and human behaviour changes, the construction industry adapts. Major new projects bring exciting opportunities for this sector – for example as the UK focuses on renewable energy, projects like the District Heat Networks will create thousands of jobs and an opportunity for young people to skill up in new areas of construction. At Stoke-on-Trent College we react to these changes by developing courses that help young people to learn the skills they need for the future – for example our apprenticeships, our construction trades programmes and Bell Decorating Academy, and our A-Level equivalent BTEC course in Construction and the Built Environment. We’re also developing a District Heat Skills Academy, funded by the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). This will give people the skills needed to design, supply and maintain the new geothermal energy networks because we know this will create a vast number of jobs. Employers are key to what we do at the college, and our employer forums play an important role in the design and shaping of our curriculum offer. Our Constructing Staffordshire Excellence (CSE) Employer Forum was set up by, and on behalf of, all business involved in the construction industry across Staffordshire to promote best practice and share innovation. The forum influences local government and promotes continuous improvement, learning and employment opportunities within the local construction industry. It gives us a valuable insight into what the sector needs and where the skills gaps are going to be so that we can plan our curriculum to meet both learner and employer needs. It is a valuable resource for identifying and providing work
placements and apprenticeships – vital for both learners and employers.
Recruitment strategies Attracting people to courses like this can be tough. In a world of tech start-ups and entrepreneurs, trades can be perceived as old fashioned. Yet with the advent of digital skills in construction, such as Buildings Information Modelling (BIM), and the fact that young people are becoming increasingly eco-conscious and committed to saving the planet, what better way to do this than to build the infrastructure that allows the UK to run on 100% renewable energy? So, it’s important that we inspire them to look at construction in a different way – it’s building a better, greener, more sustainable future for the world and they can be a part of that. As well as the usual recruitment strategies of visiting schools and social media campaigns, we’ve been looking at new ways to show young people how exciting the construction industry is. For example, we’ve held taster sessions at the college which are interactive and engaging – things like giving pupils the opportunity to drive a digger makes a lasting impression. These kinds of things are what I remember from my days at school. And it’s important to plant the seed early – educating and inspiring children from primary school age.
Incentives for young people Saving the planet is an exciting incentive but what else does a construction course give students? All of the learners who completed our Construction and the Built Environment BTEC this year are now going on to university to study high level courses such as construction management, surveying, civil engineering, higher education programmes such as HNC/D, foundation degrees and more. The course has given them skills which are relevant and transferable, and they have gained valuable work experience too. If this takes them into a career in construction, which I hope that it will, they’ll benefit from average weekly earnings of £607 a week, second only to the finance and business services sector and could find themselves earning up to £100k a year as a construction manager. It’s an exciting prospect – the chance to have a rewarding, well paid, fulfilling career in a sector with an abundance of jobs and the knowledge that you are part of a movement to save the planet. Now it’s time to get the message out there to the people who need to hear it the most – the future talent of the construction sector.
Ryan Johnson
06 Construction UK Magazine - September 2019
Ryan Johnson is Campus Director for STEM and Construction at Stoke on Trent College. The college has places available on its Construction and the Built Environment course in 2019/20. For more information visit www.stokecoll.ac.uk.
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Company News
Willmott Dixon teams up with St Albans District Council again for leisure and cultural complex A year after Willmott Dixon handed over St Albans’ award winning Museum and Gallery, the company is working again with St Albans District Council to deliver a new leisure and cultural centre in Harpenden. The £17m contract, which was procured via Major Works England and Northern Ireland, a part of the Scape National Construction framework, will see Willmott Dixon extend and alter the existing swimming pool building in Rothamsted Park to provide an improved main pool, as well as new 17 metre-long learner pool, a sports hall, dance studios and a larger gym plus new changing rooms, a steam room, sauna and reception area. The company will also transform the adjacent sports facility into Harpenden Cultural Centre with a 511seat theatre which will host national and local touring productions, building on Willmott Dixon’s track-record of creating or improving major cultural venues such as Alexandra Palace’s east wing, Bristol’s Colston Hall and delivering a new home for the Design Museum. Work on this project, which also includes creating a 92 space car park, will complete in autumn 2020. The new investment replaces facilities, such as the Harpenden Public Halls entertainment venue, revitalising the leisure and culture services provided in Harpenden.
Last year, Willmott Dixon transformed St Albans Town Hall into a museum and art gallery rejuvenating the cultural life of the city. The extension and refurbishment has also created public meeting spaces as well as being a showcase for over 2,000 years of heritage and hosting cutting-edge art exhibitions. The transformation of the Town Hall was recognised by the Hertfordshire Building Futures Awards in 2018 where it was given the Retrofit for the Future award and commended in the Project of the Year category. The person who led the site team, Jon Allworth, who is also leading on the Harpenden project, is up for a Construction Manager of the Year award this September for his work delivering the new Museum and Gallery.
Chris Tredget, managing director for Willmott Dixon in North London said,
The team are exceptionally proud of what we created in St Albans with the Museum and Gallery, which has been an important new attraction for the city. We are keen to make a similar impact with our work in Harpenden to expand its leisure and cultural offerings to local people.”
Kier works with Canal & River Trust to secure dam at Whaley Bridge Employees from Kier, a leading infrastructure services, buildings and housing & developments group, were quickly deployed to Whaley Bridge in Derbyshire to activate an emergency drawdown plan at Toddbrook Reservoir on behalf of client, the Canal & River Trust.
they installed numerous roads and access points, including a new road which ran from one side of the reservoir, allowing water pumps to be installed and maintained.
The response by Kier, its supply chain, the RAF and emergency services led to water levels being reduced by 10.7m to date, resulting in the situation being declared safe and residents allowed back home. 55 employees from Kier and its supply chain have worked around the clock on site since the beginning of the emergency on Thursday 1 August, working alongside the Trust, emergency services and RAF.
The emergency scheme was led by Eddie Quinn, director at Kier Regional Civils, who said: “The situation at Whaley Bridge was tense and at sometimes dangerous. I’m very proud of our team and supply chain for quickly coming together to help the Canal & River Trust and residents in the area. Working together, we quickly got the first water pumps into service and have been able to pump water out of the reservoir quickly. Reacting quickly has highlighted our ability to support our clients in their times of need, utilising our expertise regardless of the timing or breadth of project”.
Overall, they installed 11 12inch submersible pumps and over a kilometre of associated piping. They also removed three weirs, provided 700 tonnes of stone for the RAF to drop using the chinook helicopter and 400 tonnes of grouting. Additionally,
Richard Parry, Canal and River Trust chief executive, said: “We would like to thank Kier and its supply chain who have reacted very quickly to this emergency and worked tirelessly since last Thursday to reduce water levels and stabilise the dam.”
08 Construction UK Magazine - September 2019
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Construction UK Magazine - September 2019 09
Project News
Actis helps build Community Shed to boost neighbourhood spirit and tackle loneliness A new community building aimed at enabling people to get involved in interesting pursuits while making friends is being built in Aberdeenshire – with help from insulation specialist Actis.
The timber frame construction in Aboyne is part of the growing Men’s Shed movement – although this one will be open to both sexes. Men’s Sheds provide everything one would find in a conventional garden shed on a mega scale and are designed to encourage
men and, in this case, women to get together over a shared passion for making things, with the aim of encouraging friendships and reducing loneliness. They are usually more cuckoo like in their quest for a base, making their homes in buildings originally designed for other purposes. But in the case of this shed, those behind the scheme opted for a new build, having been unable to find a nest in which to make their home. Insulation specialist Actis is one of a number of companies offering their
Rekan announces completion of multi-million pound state-ofthe-art factory for global sweet bakery brand, Rich Products The construction consultancy Rekan has completed the build of a multi-million pound state-of-the-art factory and head office facility near Andover, Hampshire, for the worldwide sweet bakery manufacturer Rich Products.
more than 150 contractors and 45 consultants. The steel-framed building houses the most technologically advanced food-factory equipment in Europe, and it was delivered in just two years – from planning through to construction.
aspect of the construction to ensure a costeffective project with minimal disruption. Other services included cost management expertise, stable but flexible supply-chain management and relocation management and support for 80 staff members.
The 8-acre development allows one of the largest family-owned food companies in the world to consolidate all UK production facilities and business support functions on one site – tripling its output and creating around 100 jobs for the local community. Rekan, based in Winchester, successfully delivered the construction and project management of the build which involved
The new Rich Products UK HQ boasts a production hall, part-automated finishing and packing, a dedicated artisan bakery and a new customer solutions centre.
“We’re extremely proud to have delivered this project,which has showcased our full service offering on a hugely complex and substantial scale” said James Everton, Director of Rekan. “It’s our largest and most challenging project to-date, successfully delivered on-time and within budget thanks to the dedication and skill of the 15 Rekan staff involved across the various services. The size and scope of the enormous site presented us with a unique set of challenges, alongside managing multiple work streams and working to a fixed deadline for completion.
Rekan has been a part of the project since its inception, taking it from a feasibility sketch all the way through to completion. They built teams of experts into every
“We’re delighted to provide this new and ambitious facility, which will allow Rich Products to increase production and business efficiency for years to come.” Ian Elliott, Operations and Supply Chain Director, Rich Products, added: “We chose Rekan because they align with our values. We may be a multi-billion dollar corporation, but at the heart of what we do sits family values, a commitment to caring for our customers and a truly united approach to our work. The Rekan ethos matches our own and as a result we created a rewarding partnership that delivered a future-proof factory, stunning office space and state-of-the-art facilities that will grow our business well into the future.”
10 Construction UK Magazine - September 2019
Project News products or services free of charge to help reduce the cost of creating such an enterprise, as part of its policy of giving something back to the communities in which it operates. The total budget for the project is likely to be around the £320,000 mark. The Aboyne and Mid-Deeside Community Shed will become one of more than 400 such facilities across the UK. The 3,500 sq ft, two storey timber frame building is due to open its doors in mid 2020 – although that date could change depending on the amount of hands on help and additional funding available. The downstairs workshop will be run by the Men’s Shed, offering woodwork, metalwork, welding, car maintenance, small appliance repair, electronics projects and amateur radio pursuits to both men and women.
Plans are for the upstairs floor to be used for arts, craft and music groups, keep fit, pilates and yoga, with a social area providing facilities for small groups and general social interaction in line with one of the project’s principal aims - to combat loneliness and improve general wellbeing. It will also have a large kitchen for teaching cookery and kitchen skills as well as catering, and a small office. Actis is donating nearly 150 sq m of insulating breather membrane BoostR Hybrid, more than 130sq m of 50mm honeycomb insulation Hybris and an identical quantity of insulating vapour control layer HControl Hybrid towards the project. Actis’ previous donations for community projects have included providing 100 sq m of Hybris to a Devon family affected by cerebral palsy and leukaemia who starred in BBC home improvement programme DIY SOS: The Big Build.
The insulation specialist also helped a family with a severely autistic son insulate a special sensory room in their Northumberland home. Actis regional sales director for the North and Scotland, Jemma Harris, said: “It’s very rewarding to put something back into the communities in which we work. The Men’s Shed movement sounds such a great idea especially as part of a wider community based enterprise.
Friends are so important. So these Sheds – which are in fact about as far from a traditional shed at the bottom of the garden as you can get – provide the kind of things you’d find in your own shed but on a massive scale, and with people to chat to and have a cup of tea with to boot. And it’s all free to users! What’s not to like?
Edmond Shipway celebrates major achievement as Center Parcs officially opens first Irish resort Center Parcs Longford Forest, the largest ever tourism project in Ireland, on which multi-disciplinary construction consultancy Edmond Shipway was appointed as project manager, cost manager, and M&E consultant, has officially opened, having been completed on time and to budget. The £210 million (€233 million) resort in Newcastle Wood, County Longford, took two years to build and was recently opened by An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, who said: “This huge tourism development has the potential to be a game changer for the Midlands. It will bring unprecedented numbers of tourists to this beautiful part of the country and the creation of new jobs will have a positive impact across the region. It’s world-class.”
In addition to the 750 jobs created during the construction phase, now the resort has been handed over it is expected to provide an additional 1,000 permanent roles in the locale. In total, the new site is set to add around €32 million (£25 million) to Irish gross domestic product (GDP) per annum, and around €1 billion (£775 million) over the next 20 years, making it the biggest private tourism development in the state. David Stevenson, Managing Director at Edmond Shipway, said: “Having worked with Center Parcs on a number of its fantastic developments, I am delighted to be celebrating the completion of yet another exceptional
village. Following an almost two-year construction process, I am particularly proud that Edmond Shipway was able to play such an instrumental role in its delivery on schedule and within budget, once again.” Martin Dalby, Chief Executive Officer at Center Parcs, added: “Four years since we first announced our plans to expand into Ireland we all feel an enormous sense of pride and achievement to see the beautiful surroundings of Newcastle Wood transformed into Center Parcs Longford Forest, and for Ireland’s families to finally have the opportunity to enjoy a unique forest resort experience.”
This is the latest in a string of major developments with which Edmond Shipway has been involved on behalf of Center Parcs over the past decade, including roles as project and cost manager for the delivery of the 365-acre Woburn Forest resort. The new holiday village shares Woburn’s discrete design which allows it to be concealed within a 395-acre site near Ballymahon, while retaining the highquality features for which Center Parcs is renowned. These include 466 self-catering lodges and 30 apartments, a Subtropical Swimming Paradise, Aqua Sana Spa, shops restaurants and cafés, as well as more than 100 leisure activities.
Construction UK Magazine - September 2019 11
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Awards News
Hat-trick of nominations for Geberit at BITA Awards Geberit have been shortlisted in three categories for this years’ British Irish Trading Alliance (BITA) Awards. The annual ceremony, which celebrates the hard work and success of BITA members, will be held on October 19th, 2019 at the prestigious Savoy Hotel in London. Geberit have been nominated for the Business to Business award which recognises companies that have added value to their customers’ business through an understanding of partnership, responsiveness and their customers own business drivers. Other nominations for Geberit include the Charles Darwin award, celebrating those that have developed a product or service in response to a changing landscape; and the BITA award, acknowledging companies that are well aligned to BITA’s organisation and their ethos. Discussing Geberit’s nomination, Paul Whitnell, BITA President said: “Geberit
Sales Ltd have supported and endorsed the BITA organisation and its members – working hand-in-hand with our organisation, sharing our mission and values.” Lloyd Archer – Developer and Specification Manager at Geberit said: “It’s an honour to have been nominated and considered among such an impressive shortlist. We can’t wait to join our fellow nominees and celebrate the fantastic accomplishments made over the past year”. BITA is a non-profit organisation that works to promote and strengthen business across the UK and Ireland within the construction industry.
Bowers & Wilkins announces CEDIA EMEA Awards 2019 sponsorship for the fourth consecutive year Bowers & Wilkins is delighted to announce that, for the fourth consecutive year, the company will officially sponsor the prestigious 2019 CEDIA (Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association) EMEA Awards. CEDIA has already announced the home technology project finalists in early June and the winners will be revealed at the Victoria and Albert Museum – the world’s leading museum of art and design - on the evening of the 26th September 2019, at the CEDIA Awards ceremony. The annual CEDIA EMEA Awards ceremony, now in its 14th year, celebrates the best in home technology and recognises the achievements in technical excellence, product innovation, and the individual professionals.
Each project selected for an award, demonstrates technical excellence in all aspects of design, installation, and commissioning, while meeting industry performance standards. Bowers & Wilkins, General Manager, Peter May, said: “2019 is a special year for CEDIA - It marks their 30th anniversary as an association. It’s also an important year for Bowers & Wilkins as we’ve recently launched our Formation suite –our first wireless multiroom series designed to complement our custom install offering and very much aimed at the premium end of the market. As a CEDIA member, we are proud to continue our support for the industry through our sponsorship of the CEDIA Awards.’ Founded in 1966, Bowers & Wilkins offers over 50 years of experience in acoustic performance and expertise, and in developing the best audio equipment for hi-fi, home theatres, customer installation and car automotive industries, and shares the same drive and values set by the nominees.
14 Construction UK Magazine - September 2019
Ashford Borough Council celebrates building excellence award for wheelchair standard Noakes Meadow scheme A delegation from Ashford Borough Council’s housing team were among 300 industry professionals attending the LABC South East Building Excellence Awards in Brighton - and ended up scooping the Best Social or Affordable New Housing Development award. Noakes Meadow in South Ashford was shortlisted in a strong category which included a number of exceptional housing schemes across the region. Noakes Meadow comprises two affordable homes suitable for wheelchair users. The council had already identified the site for development but by preallocating one of the two-bedroom bungalows for a couple with ability requirements, it was able to liaise closely with them to provide a bespoke build to fully take into account their disability needs. Occupational therapists who viewed the semi-detached property during its construction had commented that it should be the blueprint for the type of bespoke wheelchair-standard accommodation that ought to be built across the country. The Noakes Meadow project team honoured at the prestigious annual awards included Ashford Borough Council, contractors DCB (Kent) Ltd, RDA Consulting Architects (Kent) Ltd, and Pellings LLP. As regional winners, the authority now heads to London in November to compete in the national awards final. Cllr Bill Barrett, Ashford Borough Council portfolio holder for housing, attended the Brighton ceremony and he praised the authority’s housing team for “its massive achievement in beating a lot of very good new builds”. He said: “If there is one project which truly promotes the idea of ‘building excellence’, it is Noakes Meadow. I believe that the accessibility offered there is in a different league to what is offered elsewhere. The council is proud of the part it has played in delivering home which has significantly
Awards News
enhanced the way in which the couple now live their lives. “No longer is it appropriate to provide homes in isolation. We must consider issues such as social mobility and the increasingly important healthcare agenda, to ensure that our homes and our plans are fit for purpose. At Ashford, we do things differently. We recognise that sometimes improved outcomes for vulnerable people can be derived by working closely with other organisations in the public, private and voluntary sectors. “Noakes Meadow is an example of the excellent partnership working fostered by Ashford Borough Council. By including all stakeholders at all times, this project has been made possible and to know that it is making a real difference means it’s a job well done,” added Cllr Barrett. Special features at Noakes Meadow The property at Noakes Meadow has square rooms with a wide hallway in which turning circles are possible in a powered wheelchair. The wet room is accessed via two very wide doorways and the wooden flooring throughout enables use with a standing aid, something that is not possible on carpet. Sections of the internal
walls could be removed to enable a hoist to be fitted in the property in due course, should it be required one to still enjoy the home. In the kitchen, the worktop heights can be adjusted to enable cooking and washing up. All cupboards are also fully accessible. The smaller paved garden is also wheelchair friendly. The technical bit… There are three accessible standards for new builds under Part M of the Building Regulations: • M4(1) which is visitable (and which every new dwelling must achieve and is the default Building Control checking position • M4(2) which is adaptable (an optional standard that can be imposed in a planning consent), which means the dwelling layouts can be adapted to be reasonably suitable for all in the future with some alterations. • M4(3) which is fully accessible for wheelchair users (an optional standard that can be imposed in a planning consent), which effectively means the
dwelling layouts are suitable for all from the outset. This is the most onerous standards, and it is not considered possible, once built, to even adapt an M4(2) dwelling to achieve this M4(3) standard. Initially the homes at Noakes Meadow were to just meet the M4(1) standard as there was no planning condition stipulating otherwise. However, when the council became aware of the couple’s situation, we met with them and decided that the best way forward would be to redesign the layout to be fully M4(3) compliant. We managed to turn this redesign around in a week, as the on-site build was already at ground floor beam and block level and we couldn’t really afford a delay to the build programme. Fortunately, the initial design for Noakes Meadow lends itself to a workable redesign to achieve the M4(3) standard. The extra build costs to achieve this standard compared to the initial M4(1) standard have been less than half that quoted in government documents, which represents a great result for Ashford Borough Council.
Construction UK Magazine - September 2019 15
Awards News
Considerate Constructors Scheme names winners of 2019 National Ultra Site Awards The UK’s best-performing Ultra Sites have been revealed at this year’s Considerate Constructors Scheme’s 2019 National Ultra Site Awards ceremony. Highways England’s A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon Improvement Scheme Ultra Site was crowned with the highest honour at this year’s awards, winning the coveted ‘2019 Ultra Site of the Year Award’. This year, there were a total of ten Ultra Site award categories and, for the first time, the top-performing supplier within six of these award categories were also honoured with a special individual recognition award. The winning Ultra Sites are: - Client Recognition Award: The National Space Centre, Leicester Led by contractor: Woodhead Group - Collaboration Award: A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon Improvement Scheme Led by contractor: A14 Integrated Delivery Team - Community Engagement Award: The National Space Centre, Leicester Led by contractor: Woodhead Group - Constructions First Impressions Award: The Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre Led by contractor: Robertson Construction Group – Major Projects - Environmental Best Practice Award: Highways Partnering Agreement, Term Service Contract, Nottinghamshire Led by contractor: Tarmac Trading Ltd
- Fairness, Inclusion and Respect Award: A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon Improvement Scheme Led by contractor: A14 Integrated Delivery Team - Future Constructors Award: Les Quennevais School, Jersey Led by contractor: ROK Regal Construction - Workforce Wellbeing Award: Smart Motorways Project M23 Led by contractor: Kier Highways - Innovation of the Year Award: The Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre Led by contractor: Robertson Construction Group – Major Projects - Ultra Site of the Year Award: A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon Improvement Scheme Led by contractor: A14 Integrated Delivery Team - The winners of the individual recognition awards for Suppliers are: Collaboration Award: BDV Recovery Ltd - Community Engagement Award: Munnelly Support Services - Environmental Best Practice Award: Wernick Hire Ltd - Fairness, Inclusion and Respect Award: J L Knight Roadworks - Future Constructors Award: J L Knight Roadworks - Workforce Wellbeing Award: Munnelly Support Services
16 Construction UK Magazine - September 2019
Hundreds of guests from the UK’s topperforming Ultra Sites gathered at the prestigious venue of Plaisterers’ Hall in central London on 18 July for the Awards ceremony, which was presented by Ann Bentley, the Construction Leadership Council lead on Supply Chain and Business Models. The aim of Ultra Sites is to achieve ever greater integration of a contractor’s supply chain to meet and exceed the Scheme’s Code of Considerate Practice. Being the highest level of attainment in consideration and best practice, they are the pinnacle of excellence across the construction industry. Considerate Constructors Scheme Chief Executive Edward Hardy said: “Special congratulations to each award-winning Ultra Site and award-winning Supplier who have set the bar of considerate construction to an exceptional level. Congratulations also to each finalist, whose efforts in driving greater collaboration across their supply chain is commended. Ultra Sites represent a real turning point for the construction industry, by providing a way for the industry to work more collaboratively and realise the benefits of this greater integration for their workforce, community and environment. The winners and finalists of these awards range from small scale local projects through to large scale regional multi billion pound projects. This clearly shows how the Ultra Site model can be embraced by any type of construction activity, no matter the size, scale or budget. Thank you to everyone involved in making Ultra Sites such a success. We look forward to its continuing growth and development as the model to achieve greater standards in considerate construction throughout the supply chain.”
Exhibition
Contamination Expo 2019 - Europe’s Leading Event For Contamination Professionals The Contamination Expo is Europe’s leading exhibition for contamination and geotechnical professionals, providing access to the cutting edge technology shaping the industry as well as unrivalled educational opportunities. Taking place at the NEC, Birmingham on the 11th and 12th September, The Contamination Expo will welcome 6,000 experts as they discover the evolving industry through 150 exhibitors and 120 seminars led by sector pioneers.
This year, visitors will be greeted with the biggest edition of The Contamination Expo since its inception, with globally recognised companies like Beuro Veritas, 3M, Carey Group, and Grundon Waste offering their novel solutions for visitors to discover. As well as this, the seminar programme made up of 120 speakers will feature incredible lectures led by the likes of Chris Large from Global Action Plan, Yvonne Waterman & Jasper Kosters as well as Beth Humphrey from the City of London Corporation. These will be unrivalled opportunities to learn directly from these professionals currently pushing the industry forward.
The Contamination Expo takes place on the 11th and 12th September at the NEC, Birmingham, and is entirely free to attend, with tickets available here. You will be able to explore the full exhibitor listing and seminar programme through the website as well!
18 Construction UK Magazine - September 2019
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Water Treatment
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20 Construction UK Magazine - September 2019
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SLIDE 1
15 STAR COMPANIES OF THE UK SPACE SECTOR
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Construction UK Magazine - September 2019 21
Company News Willmott Dixon unveils ‘green’ roads for new Bristol development Residents at Bristol City Council’s Ashton Rise development will drive on some of the UK’s ‘greenest’ roads when they move in next year. Willmott Dixon is using an innovative method that incorporates non-recyclable plastic originating from the scheme into the asphalt used on Ashton Rise’s new roads. By replacing part of the traditional carbon intensive bitumen usually found in asphalt with waste that would otherwise have gone to incineration or landfill, the innovation will stop the equivalent of 150,000 single use plastic bags from being incinerated or going into landfill. It will also save 1.6 tonnes of carbon entering the atmosphere and because it contains plastic, the asphalt will be more flexible, meaning it can cope better with movement caused by changes in the weather, reducing cracks and potholes.
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22 Construction UK Magazine - September 2019
To deliver this scheme, waste management company ETM collects any non-recyclable plastic from the Ashton Rise site before plastic road company MacRebur processes it so that the resulting asphalt can be laid back at the development by Gworks Surfacing. Also, as the plastic melts into the mix, there are no microplastics present. It’s the latest in a series of ways that Willmott Dixon is helping to nurture and protect the environment. Earlier this year the company won a Queen’s Award for Enterprise for Sustainable Development before being named ‘Environmental Contractor of the Year’ last month by industry magazine Construction News for achieving a 61% reduction in carbon emissions intensity (against 2010 performance), as well as ensuring all sites and offices are powered by 100% clean renewable energy.
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Feature
Dunton pioneer landfill regeneration There are over 500 landfill sites currently operating in the UK. This may sound a lot, but then what if we consider all the former landfill sites that are no longer in use? Records show that there are almost 20,000 historic landfill sites across England and Wales, most of which predate the mid-1990s, when there were few or no restrictions on the waste being sent to landfill. So, what are we doing about these landfill sites, besides adding more of them to accommodate the 111 million tonnes of controlled waste sent to landfill each year? The answer is landfill regeneration. The process of excavating old landfill waste from the ground for reprocessing, then replacing it with clean soil. Landfill remediation is most often carried out to allow for building projects, ensuring the foundation is made both structurally solid and environmentally friendly before construction work can commence. The UKs largest landfill regeneration project, currently being handled by Dunton Environmental, is a 60 hectare site, which involves the processing and re-engineering of over 1.2 million m3 of waste soils for a new housing development.
Located in Faygate, West Sussex, the development known as Kilnwood Vale is now in its third year and already has over 800 new homes completed. Neil Roe, Owner of Dunton Environmental writes: “Landfill remediation always has its challenges and the Kilnwood Vale project was no exception. With considerable settlement issues and ground gases to resolve, there were very few contractors with the capability to deliver a solution. At Dunton, we take pride in offering clients peace of mind in our abilities to complete a project on time, within budget and to the highest possible quality.� Another recent landfill regeneration project of Duntons was a development for Wilmott Dixon, which involved the excavation and processing of over 200,000 m3 of landfill waste to produce a platform for a new sports centre. Dunton have quickly become one of the UKs leading land remediation contractors, having invested heavily into its purposebuilt waste treatment facilities and the most advanced mobile machinery on the market. This month saw Dunton take delivery of their latest addition to their fleet of heavy machinery, with a brand new Bomag RS650 Soil Stabiliser. The 28 tonne machine is the most powerful in
the Bomag range and the first of its kind to be sold in the UK. Duntons ÂŁ500,000 investment provides them with a machine capable of a 500mm soil penetration depth and will enable the processing of up to 8000m3 of soil per day. It will also allow for more of the waste soil to be effectively processed for reuse on site, saving thousands in both time and off-site processing costs. Tony Miscandlon of Bomag UK said:
Dunton are a great client to work with. Their prime objective is very clear and that is to offer their clients the quickest, most costefficient service possible. The Bomag 650 will certainly play a key role in improving speed of delivery and ensuring those all-important cost benefits.
Construction UK Magazine - September 2019 23
Latest News
Powerful new robotics technology can improve bridge inspections Powerful robotics technology developed by researchers at the University of Waterloo makes critical bridge inspections cheaper and more reliable by automating the process. The new system combines autonomous robots, cameras and lidar – a remote sensing method using lasers — to systematically collect data for defect detection and analysis. “We can do more than humans now do - and do it much better in every way,” said Sriram Narasimhan, an engineering professor at Waterloo. “It is very inexpensive because you don’t need as many inspectors relying on specialized equipment such as lifts and you get much higher quality information.”
on previous inspection results on a detailed map displaying dozens of key vulnerable areas of the subject bridge.
and airborne drones, or to inspect other infrastructure such as nuclear power plants and buildings.
“The benefit is that we can track and quantify defects as they evolve over time,” said Narasimhan, director of the Structural Dynamics Identification and Control Laboratory. “That is not practically possible with humans alone, but it is with the assistance of robots.”
Researchers are now developing waterborne inspection platforms and artificial intelligence algorithms to automatically detect and identify particular kinds of defects. Further down the road, they hope to automate analysis of the data collected by robots to much more accurately assess the structural integrity of infrastructure and forecast the need for repairs or replacement.
A wheeled ground vehicle used in the research was programmed with an inspection plan detailing instructions on its location and areas of the bridge to focus on. The same software could also be used for inspections with water-going vehicles
“We’re combining our infrastructure expertise with the latest robotics technology to greatly improve what is now a very manual inspection process,” Narasimhan said.
The vast majority of routine tasks during bridge inspections, which are required every few years by regulatory authorities to ensure safety, are done visually by inspectors. Narasimhan, a Canada Research Chair in Smart Infrastructure, said current practices create an inspection system that is subjective, less repeatable and often imprecise because it is based, at least in part, on educated guesswork. The automated system, by contrast, eliminates the subjectivity of human inspectors, and is both repeatable and reliable, with the ability to precisely measure the size of defects and reveal invisible, sub-surface problems with infrared cameras. It is designed so that the results from one inspection can be overlaid
Free health checks for construction workers Employees of construction firms in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland can benefit from free workplace health checks, thanks to a fully-funded project from the University of Nottingham to support companies in this geographical region. The University’s health check roadshows are open to any staff member, who can choose from a range of optional and confidential checks such as weight, body mass index, blood pressure, diabetes risk and an HIV test with sexual health advice. Resources and information on mental health awareness, musculoskeletal health, healthy diet and physical activity are also being provided. Staff receive their own results and are signposted to other health services where appropriate. The University will also give company managers access to a free online package with information about health screening at work.
24 Construction UK Magazine - September 2019
Latest News
Tradespeople of the future drilling for success The next generation of Manchester tradespeople have been handed a training boost after a donation of drills from a leading builders merchant. Trainee carpenters and joiners at Manchester College’s School of Construction have received Bosch Combi GSB 18V-21 drills to help with the practical elements of their course. The donation has been made by Selco Builders Warehouse, which has branches in Ardwick, Baguley, Ashton Moss and Warrington, to aid the training of the 16 to 19-year olds. Both Selco and the college are keen supporters of Band of Builders, a registered charity that aims to help members of the construction industry through tough times by assisting with hands-on projects or providing advice and support. Gary Wallworth, course tutor at Manchester College’s School of Construction, said: “This is an incredibly generous donation from Selco and the drills will be used by up to 60 youngsters who are on our carpentry and joinery courses. “Our existing tools were very old and were reaching the stage where they were unreliable, which is a real problem when we are trying to build the skillsets of our students. All of our students support Band of Builders and they are benefitting from the input of highly skilled
and committed tradespeople from around the country through that relationship. “Band of Builders, through its Apprentice, College and Training programme, supports the college in engaging young construction learners to see the best side of construction trades, with support from highly skilled and committed tradespeople from around the country. Along with this generous donation from Selco, the youngsters are well placed to have the foundations for a long and successful career in the trades.” Carine Jessamine, marketing director for Selco Builders Warehouse, said: “We are delighted to be supporting the tradespeople of the future through our connections with Band of Builders. I’m sure the drills will be put to good use and high-quality joiners and carpenters will emerge from the course.” With hundreds of trade brands always in stock and open seven days and for a minimum of 80 hours per week, Selco’s 66
UK branches are firmly focused on helping tradespeople complete their jobs as quickly and effectively as possible. As well as offering trade services and a café in branch, Selco also has a strong digital presence including Click ‘N’ Deliver, a 30 minute Click & Collect service and a free Project List app which allows tradespeople to plan, manage, and quote for all jobs – as well as complete purchases - through their smartphone.
Band of Builders, through its Apprentice, College and Training programme, supports the college in engaging young construction learners to see the best side of construction trades, with support from highly skilled and committed tradespeople from around the country.
way to promote health. We want to hear from companies in construction and related industries – specifically those that have sites in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland areas – who would like to take advantage of our free health screening in the workplace.”
“This is because companies rarely include sexual health in workplace health programmes, but it is an important area of health, and offering rapid HIV tests during the working day can help to increase people’s access to health screening. “This project will help us to determine future interest in this type of service.”
“A healthy, happy workforce is more productive and less likely to take time off sick,” Dr Blake explained.
The University will evaluate the service by asking staff what they thought of the oneoff health check, which takes around 20 minutes, and speaking to managers about their views of the health check service and promoting health at work.
“Promoting health and wellbeing at work shows employees they are valued. Companies that look after their staff see benefits in terms of attracting staff, retaining staff, improving productivity and performance and building morale – and general health checks are one
“We want to know more about the usefulness of offering health checks to construction workers and, in particular, whether people are interested in having an optional, confidential HIV screening test as part of a general health check,” Dr Blake said.
Led by Dr Holly Blake, an Associate Professor of Behavioural Science in the University of Nottingham’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, the project team is made up of nurses, health psychologists, medics and health promotion specialists, with experienced delivery partners from the third sector and charitable organisations.
Companies who wish to receive these health checks, which run from August 2019 to early spring 2020, or would like more information should contact Project Researcher Sarah Somerset (sarah. somerset@nottingham.ac.uk). The project is funded by American biotechnology research company Gilead Sciences, Inc.
Construction UK Magazine - September 2019 25
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Feature
What can construction companies do to improve gender equality? Gender inequality is a long-standing issue that has crept into every industry, and construction is no different. Though many industries have a fairly even ratio of male to female employees at entry level, there are almost always fewer women at the top.
Although small, this number is actually higher than, it was in 2013, where similar reports found that only 13% of board members were women. However, of the remaining 78% of companies, 16% still confess to having purely male board members - excluding women entirely.
Even in 2019 as a training provider, 3B Training hasn’t seen a huge percentage of women walk through the door for training courses when compared to men. Of nearly 10,000 delegates we have booked on courses so far, only 15% of those are women.
A report from the Directory for Social Change takes a comprehensive look at how imbalanced the gender ratio is in the UK. Using company CSR policies and annual reports, the study was able to determine the gender statistics for 399 corporate boards. An analysis of the data shows that the overall percentage of women on boards was around 22%.
Addressing gender inequality and calling for more women in the workplace is more than just trying to fill a quota, it could be the key to a company’s success.
Overlooking female talent
Addressing gender inequality and calling for more women in the workplace is more than just trying to fill a quota, it could be the key to a company’s success.
Gender inequality in construction Much like the tech, science and other STEM industries, the construction industry is still lacking in gender equality and is dominated by men. In 2007, 12.1% of workers in construction was represented by female workers, whereas reports in 2016 showed that statistic only increased slightly to 12.8%. In fact, a more recent study in 2018 by Wise found that the number of female employees in construction numbered just 11%, meaning the industry could actually be taking a step backwards.
28 Construction UK Magazine - September 2019
When looking closer at the causes of gender imbalance in construction, a common issue seems to be that female employees aren’t given the same opportunities as their male coworkers. Randstad interviewed 1,200 people who experienced gender discrimination in the construction industry, 60% of whom were women. Of the women surveyed, three-quarters say they feel overlooked for promotions because of their gender, not their skills. It’s not just progression where women feel like they’re missing out, either. 8 in 10 women surveyed have felt left out of social events and conversations by their coworkers. This feeling of exclusion risks
Feature 169 companies in the FTSE 350 with at least one woman on their executive board saw a higher return on capital than companies with none. creating a toxic culture of bias throughout the industry.
Women leaders in construction Due to the lower number of female workers in construction in general, it’s unsurprising to find that the industry is lacking in women at an executive level or higher. Nearly half of workers went so far as to say that they had never worked with a female manager. However, that doesn’t mean that the industry would react badly to more female leaders. In fact, Randstad’s study found that 93% of construction workers felt that being managed by a woman would have the same effect as a male manager, or even improve things. And, according to the data, they’d be right. All 169 companies in the FTSE 350 with at least one woman on their executive board saw a higher return on capital than companies with none. Hiring from the top down is also a way to create a more inclusive work environment for women at all levels. By having a senior female leader, it sends a message to other female workers that progression is achievable. Companies that opt for a woman as their chief executive are, on average, likely to have more than twice as many women on their executive board than companies run by a man. As an industry currently suffering from a severe skills shortage, opening the door to talented women in senior roles could be the answer construction is looking for.
Raising awareness When it comes to women in construction being overlooked, unconscious bias and ignorance play a huge part in the issue. There are only six construction companies in the UK that have an equal number of male to female directors or are female-led. One of those companies, Renishaw plc, has a board of 70% women and regularly runs engagement programmes with schools, universities and the government to help raise awareness of gender imbalance and overcome stereotypes. If more companies in construction follow suit, the industry can knock down barriers that would otherwise deter potential female candidates.
Multinational human resource consulting firm Randstad has reached out to organisations to find out how they are currently supporting their female staff to help remove gender bias in the workplace:
Addressing the pay gap Due to the overwhelming male to female ratio until now, the construction industry has been guilty of a wide gender pay gap. A recent survey conducted by RICS, however, has found that the industry has acted and is making strides to address the issue. Whereas the construction industry had a gender pay gap of 36% in 2018 (one of the worst industries for pay disparity), it has since narrowed to 20.43%.
potential routes that are available, yet people may not be aware of them. Only 22% of construction companies work in schools to help to answer questions about the industry and encourage people to consider it as a potential career path.
Strategy for change To really tackle the issue, a clear strategy needs to be put in place for all construction companies to follow. There are two major steps that companies should take to ensure gender equality in construction: 1. Create more opportunities for women 74% of women in Randstad’s survey were not part of any ‘women in construction’ initiatives that will help them progress to senior positions. This highlights the need for more programmes to help encourage women to get involved, as well as greater advertising that current programmes are available.
Although this is a positive result for the industry, more steps are needed before the pay gap is a thing of the past. Nearly half of construction companies not monitoring their gender pay gaps, so it’s difficult to accurately determine how well the industry is dealing with the issue.
Balfour Beatty has taken gender equality into their own hands and has recently introduced an initiative that supports women through career breaks for childcare, urging other companies to work together as an industry to do a similar thing.
By properly analysing and understanding exactly how men and women are paid, as well as being transparent about their pay policies, construction companies can work towards total equality of pay for their workers.
2. Provide education early
Changing perception and reducing stigma One of the biggest problems with creating a diverse workforce in construction is that it has developed such a strong perception of what the industry is like, making it hard for people to see past the stereotypes. Keepmoat conducted a survey on 1,000 adults between the ages of 16-25, looking at the differences in perception of the construction industry. The survey showed that 21% of men interviewed would consider a career in construction, but only 13% of women would do the same. The prevailing narrative about construction is that it is physically demanding, creating a stigma for employment in construction. Roles in health and safety, construction management, procurement, surveying, estimating and site inspection are all
As we can see from Keepmoat’s survey, education is a real issue in the industry. 29% of female respondents feel like they’d be limited to on-site work and 56% were surprised to find out that a significant number of women in construction are hired at an executive level or higher. With so many stereotypes around the construction industry, it’s important to educate people early about the potential career opportunities that are available. 64% of respondents claimed they would like construction companies to work closely with schools, colleges and universities. Without the right knowledge, many women will continue to believe that the construction is limited to working on a building site. Addressing the problems with gender balance in construction may appear like a huge undertaking, but by companies adopting some of the methods we’ve discussed, they are chipping away slowly at the bigger picture - helping to create a pathway to gender equality. By 3B Training
Construction UK Magazine - September 2019 29
Schöck Combar provides strong, interference-free foundations To ensure high-precision radiation of moving tumours, the ‘MRIDIAN’ combines real-time imaging using magnetic resonance tomography (MR) with a linear particle accelerator (Linac). Photos: ViewRay, reprint free of charge.
A French cancer treatment centre is utilising groundbreaking equipment that combines MRI and external-beam radiation therapy. This innovative solution is heavy and required special foundations incorporating Schöck Combar glass fibre reinforcement – installed for both its strength and its ability to guarantee no electromagnetic interference. The Paoli-Calmettes Institute in Marseille is one of the leading cancer treatment centres in France. It is an extremely innovative environment and one particular piece of equipment is among the world’s first radiotherapy appliances to combine MRI and external-beam radiation therapy in order to to simultaneously image and treat the cancer. Unlike conventional X-ray scanners the ‘MRIDIAN’ does not utilise ionising radiation. It focuses solely on the tumour and leaves the surrounding tissue unharmed. New unit weighs over ten tons The new high-tech system, which weighs over ten tons and cost around £7m, is sophisticated in its performance. But to ensure the highest levels of precision, two main installation challenges had to be overcome – the strength of the foundations and the avoidance of any electromagnetic interference. Schöck Combar glass fibre reinforced polymer was the ideal solution. A load bearing reinforcement that absorbs tensile forces in concrete and is also completely non-metallic – so no risk of electromagnetic interference. Electromagnetic interference can affect precision Structural engineer Jean-Luc Galéa explains: “The ‘MRIDIAN’ generates a strong magnetic field and can respond very sensitively to electromagnetic interference, impairing imaging precision. No iron whatsoever may be present in any of the materials within the safety zone and that includes the concrete reinforcement. We opted for Schöck Combar as it met all the technical requirements and has very reliable certifications.” The strength of Combar was vital too, given that the foundations had to support over ten tons of technology (a required load-bearing capacity of over 5000lb/m2). Slab had to be cut and the centre insulated Initial foundation work involved the anchoring
Combar straight bars of varying diameters
of micropiles more than ten metres deep. A reinforced concrete floor slab was then cut out around the centre of where the MRIDIAN had to be insulated, leaving an octagonal outline. Anchors were placed at various planes on each of the eight sides and Combar rods were inserted at the top and bottom of each edge to act as reinforcing anchors. Then alternating rods were inserted to absorb the shear loads. As general contractor Stephane Roldan explains: “To reinforce the upper and lower levels, we created grates, each made up of 12mm diameter Combar rods. The rods are sturdy, but easy to machine and the plastic clips, ties and spacers were very useful in allowing fast and accurate placement”. A more effective alternative to steel reinforcement For decades, steel rebar has been commonly used as the reinforcement in concrete construction. Despite its strength, steel is not the ideal solution for reinforcement, especially in corrosive and
electromagnetically sensitive environments. Schöck initially developed Combar (derived from ‘composite rebar’) back in the 1990s as an alternative to reinforcing steel. More recently it was issued with general technical approval (abZ) by the German Institute for Construction Technoloy – for all applications and with a service life up to 100 years. The approval procedure being similar to that required for European Technical Assessment (ETA). Combar has a wide range of applications In addition to medical and research facilities – where the the functionality of highly sensitive instruments can be signifcantly affected by conductivity from steel reinforcement – there are a number of other applications for Combar. Some examples being: • Boring machines, when used in shaft walls of tunnels, have a problem as they cannot drill through steel reinforced walls. With Combar the machine can cut directly through the head wall. • Bridges, marine and harbour constructions benefit from Combar as any corrosion risk, even from salt, is eliminated. • In high voltage transformers and power plant reactors, inductive currents are generated within the reinforcing steel. The heat will affect the rebar strength if too close to the coils. Combar remains unaffected.
The new reinforcement of the lower floor slab plane is a grate made up of 72 glass fibre reinforced Schöck Combar rods
The reinforcing anchors are in place. Plastic spacers facilitate assembly of the top reinforcing grate
September 2019 2019 30 Construction UK Magazine - July xx
For enquiries, in the first instance visit www.schoeck.co.uk; contact: design@ schoeck.co.uk or tel: 01865 290 890
Milestone reached at the Majestic in Leeds
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Digital Construction
New images have been released showing the development speeding ahead on the historic Leeds City Centre building. The landmark building, which first opened as a 2,400-seat cinema back in 1922, is being transformed to provide some 66,000 sq ft of Grade A office space across 7 floors in the heart of Leeds’ city centre. The office space will be housed behind the original façade and an elegant, new three-storey atrium will create a grand and new majestic entrance. Designed by DLA Architecture, the Majestic will also feature terraces on the fourth and fifth floors overlooking City Square, alongside a domed circulatory space, re-creating the historic Palm Court. Central core of The Majestic Leeds
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Construction UK Magazine - September14/08/2019 2019 09:11:29 31
Exhibition
LANDSCAPE THE INDUSTRY TRADE SHOW
LANDSCAPE - the UK’s premier event for the industry returns to Battersea Park in central London on Tuesday 17th & Wednesday 18th of September 2019. It is the networking opportunity of the year, with hundreds of exhibitors and a huge array of industry professionals from all over the UK and beyond, including Garden Designers, Landscape Architects and Contractors. Between the LANDSCAPE exhibitors there are products and services for every aspect of the design and build process spanning from CAD systems and tools to plants and stone. LANDSCAPE features an endless selection of products that are available to source, including Garden Buildings & Structures, Paving & Aggregates, Pools & Spas, Furniture & Outdoor Kitchens, Machinery & Vehicles, and Gates & Metalwork. In 2019, LANDSCAPE will once again host a CPD accredited Seminar programme. There will be two whole days of education and entertainment featuring a diverse line-up of top industry speakers. The accreditation enhances professional qualifications of practitioners and allows visitors to earn up to 11 CPD points with their attendance of sessions. The LANDSCAPE Seminar Programme is already bursting at the seams with over 60 industry leading professionals speaking this year. Some of the recent additions to our programme for 2019 include: Helen Elks-Smith, Matt Keightley, Lucy Hall, Cleve West, Rod Winrow, Philippa O’Brien, Baron Robert Von Susskind, Matthew Pottage, Jonathan Snow, James Alexander Sinclair, Carolyn Willitts, Emma Mazzullo, Andrew Fisher
Tomlin and Kate Gould, just to name a few! With a topic for everyone, this is a programme you will not want to miss out on. LANDSCAPE’s view to impress and inspire has driven the return of the Pecha Kucha 20x20 including the industry’s most creative and professional landscape architects. LANDSCAPE is also looking forward to bringing back the Best in Show competition, where exhibitors will be showcasing a particular product from their ranges to introduce to visitors. Alongside working with Construction UK, LANDSCAPE Show also boasts an impressive number of partnerships within the industry including the prominent associations and institutions such as, Landscape Institute, Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists and the International Federation of Landscape Architects, among many others, putting LANDSCAPE at the forefront of cuttingedge discoveries in the industry and puts them in a great standing to be able to bring you the most relevant topics, news and speakers.
32 Construction UK Magazine - September 2019
Visit the LANDSCAPE website where you can register online for free entry to LANDSCAPE 2019, sign up to hear the latest news on their new speakers and be the first to see the official Seminar Programme when it is released, and browse through our preview magazine for an insight into the landscaping industry’s most valuable event. The LANDSCAPE Show will be open from 10am-6pm on Tuesday the 17th September, and 10am-5pm on Wednesday 18th September 2019. Both the exhibition and all seminar sessions are free to attend. To register for your free tickets to attend the show, simply visit our registration page at www.landscapeshow.co.uk/ register Further information can be found online: Website: landscapeshow.co.uk Email: info@landscapeshow.co.uk Phone: +44 (0)20 7821 8221 Twitter: @LandscapeEvent #LANDSCAPE2019 Instagram: @Landscape.show #LANDSCAPE2019
Landscape THE INDUS T RY TR ADE SH O W
Tuesday 17 & Wednesday 18 September 2019
The trade event dedicated to bringing the landscape industry together by introducing its visitors to the latest products, services and techniques.
LANDSCAPE exhibitors include manufacturers and suppliers of everything from vases, pots and flag stones to furniture and conservatories, water features and sundials. Our exhibitors provide architectural iron work, planters, sheds, turf, sculpture, soil, plants and paving as well as lighting, heating, trees and tools.
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Feature
How can public art make an area more desirable? Kia Knight, Director, The Mas·ter·werks Organisation CIC and The 1-of-1 Art Group Ltd Public art has become entrenched in the urban fabric of many parts of the world. From the bustling tech hub of Shoreditch in London, to small neighbourhoods like Palmatas in Mexico, there are few places today that remain untouched by this movement. The subject has been driven into the public consciousness by artists such as Banksy, who have made it their life’s work to transform buildings, streets and neighbourhoods. Representing some of the leading contemporary talent, celebrated artists like this have made this form of art more accessible; but they also serve to highlight the many benefits public art can bring to a community.
Kia Knight
Before we can explore what these benefits are, we must first start by defining exactly
Shoreditch
we mean by ‘public art’. Simply put, public art is art in any form that is planned and executed within the public domain. Usually, it is commissioned specifically for the site in which it is situated, and within this domain sit works such as murals, installations, sculptures and architecture.
The link between public art and cultural vibrancy This dynamic form of art can provide value to a huge number of individuals, groups and organisations. Indeed, the relationship between public art, cultural vibrancy, and the desirability of an area ought to be explored in greater depth. The link between the first two elements can be examined through the lens of “cultural place-making,” or, “the creation of a distinct place-centred identity via design”, as Cara Courage writes in Arts Professional. In essence, this concept relates to the idea of building stronger and more vibrant communities through art and design by integrating them into broader revitalisation efforts. Public art plays a significant role here; it is central to enhancing public spaces – whether this is a central square, green space, or even a blank wall – and thereby engaging the community and offering an attractive place to live and work. By giving communities a place of identity, public art adds enormous value to the cultural, aesthetic and, importantly, economic vitality of an area. If managed carefully and with a strategy behind it, a collaboration between artists, developers and landowners can therefore translate not only to a sense of pride and belonging in a neighbourhood, but also an added byproduct of significant economic value for all parties involved. What are the economic benefits on offer? Further to the primary motivation of offering free access to cultural experiences, public art often has a knock-on effect on the value of the property in an urban area. It stands to reason that people are generally attracted to culturally vibrant areas. In a paper titled ‘Why Public Art Matters’, the organisation Americans for the Arts states: “Public art can be an essential element when a municipality wishes to progress economically … Cities with an active and dynamic cultural scene are more attractive to individuals and businesses.”
Shoreditch
34 Construction UK Magazine - September 2019
While there is anecdotal evidence to support this point, we can also draw from the conclusions of recent quantitative studies. For instance, after analysing the association between art and changes in the economic conditions of urban neighbourhoods,
Feature © Felix Mizioznikov
research by Warwick University found that neighbourhoods with a higher proportion of art (determined by the number of photos uploaded with the tag ‘art’ on Flickr) also enjoy greater relative gains in property prices. Notable areas included Shoreditch (E2) and Dalston (E9). To demonstrate how this might transpire in practice, there are some notable examples which can offer an insight into the connection between public art, cultural place-making and property developers. Shoreditch, London Shoreditch in east London offers a clear illustration of how public art is transforming inner-city boroughs, and how a mutually beneficial relationship can be formed between public art and property development. For example, Shoreditch landowner Dominic White will be working in conjunction with The 1-of-1 Art Group and the Arts Council as part of the Mas·ter·werks public art exhibition in Shoreditch, east London. Taking place later this year, Mas·ter·werks will see a collection of privately-owned building facades transformed into canvases, with the public spaces between them acting as a gallery floor. The result will be an outdoor museum of public art, celebrating the work of some the world’s finest artists.
Nantes - France
Working alongside local property developers, Mas·ter·werks will be one of the largest concentrated public displays of world class public art. More than 20 major works of art on giant wall canvases will be produced over a seven-day period by internationally acclaimed artists from more than 15 countries. The works will be as culturally diverse as socially and environmentally aware.
and community centres are encouraging people to get involved in reshaping their neighbourhood.
Indeed, art has an important role to play in furthering motives such as the desire to drive social change and raise awareness of important issue. For instance, the aforementioned Mas·ter·werks street art festival in central London will address the theme of the environment and how we can tackle serious ecological crises that are threatening the planet.
From a commercial perspective, the French city of Nantes provides a broader illustration of how valuable public art can be. Artistic director Jean Blaise proclaimed the city as “culturally dead” when he began a cultural place-making project here in the mid-1980s; the project – a multi-faceted campaign which saw global artists take over large parts of the town with public art – has inspired a stark transformation of Nantes, turning it into one of West Europe’s cultural centres.
Pachuca, Mexico Across the globe, Pachuca in Mexico demonstrates the power of public art in bringing communities together and rebuilding their image. A marginalised and rundown neighbourhood by the name of Palmitas was given new life when it was proudly adorned with colourful murals. This government-funded project, led by a team of artists known as the Germen Crew, is inspiring a sense of community spirit; previously branded by poverty and socio-economic problems, art workshops
Beyond this, the project is also helping to lift the city’s international profile. The result is a boost to regional economy, through both local business and global tourism. Nantes, France
Regular festivals, events and performances helped Nantes establish an identity as a connected and creative city, inspiring a multitude of economic benefits. Nantes is now one of the fastest growing cities in France, with between 6,000 and 9,000 people moving there every year. These examples serve to demonstrate the value of using public art as a way of establishing a unique and culturally active neighbourhood. Policymakers and developers should take note, and explore how it can be used to stimulate the local economy by creating strong social and cultural identities. Kia Knight, Founder and Director of 1-of-1 Art Group Ltd, is an art curator and serial creative entrepreneur with a 10-year career dedicated to nourishing and sustaining the artistic practices of others. She has a particular focus on working with globallyrenowned artists and cultural partners to enhance built-up urban environments through public art. 1-of-1 Art is an online art gallery specialising in original works in abstract expressionism, contemporary and public artists around the world. Kia is also the Director of the annual public art event and social impact brand Mas·ter·werks, which launched in 2019 and in October this year will be running a seven-day public art event in the heart of Shoreditch.
Construction UK Magazine - September 2019 35
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Company News
Mott MacDonald and infrastructure industry partners set out first steps for creating a net-zero economy Mott MacDonald has formed a group with Anglian Water, Skanska, Transport for London, UKCRIC and the UK Green Building Council to identify and begin tackling the infrastructure industry’s key challenges, if it is to play its part in creating a climate stable future. An urgent transformation of the UK’s infrastructure is required to respond to climate change.The government has legislated to build a net-zero economy by 2050. By doing so, the UK will not only end its contribution to further global warming but position itself as an international leader exploiting the economic and societal opportunities presented by this generational mission. The coalition is focussed on how the netzero transformation can be achieved. “We are a group of infrastructure industry organisations with many decades’ experience creating and operating major infrastructure both in the UK and around the world,” said Mott MacDonald senior consultant for energy strategy and innovation Sam Friggens, who has led on creating the group. “Our insights are underpinned by a deep understanding of technical and commercial realities as well as the challenges inherent in delivering infrastructure at scale and pace. We bring leading expertise from across the energy, water, transport and buildings sectors and a commitment to working across industry and with government to develop the technologies, skills, supply chains, regulatory frameworks and planning regimes to build a net-zero economy.” The coalition’s objectives are to: • Identify the necessary enabling environment (policies, incentives and regulations) to deliver net-zero while minimising costs and maximising wider environmental, social and economic
benefits across all regions of the UK. • Develop a practical understanding of the urgent activities and critical paths for the most difficult (and often leastunderstood) areas of new economic infrastructure required for net-zero, such as net-zero industrial clusters, the hydrogen economy and nation-wide electric vehicle charging. • Bring a collaborative, mission-oriented whole-system approach (based on systems thinking and systems engineering principles) to all aspects of planning and delivering infrastructure for net-zero, recognising the interactions between infrastructure sectors. • Provide a collaborative hub for infrastructure industry efforts on netzero, convene cross-sector expertise in partnership with government and mobilise and communicate industry action on net-zero. The group has discussed its aims and will co-ordinate its activities with the Committee on Climate Change, National Infrastructure Commission, Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, Treasury and the Infrastructure & Projects
38 Construction UK Magazine - September 2019
Authority, as well as the Aldersgate Group, Green Construction Board, Energy Systems Catapult and Major Projects Association. The Committee on Climate Change welcomed the coalition’s formation, saying: “In May we provided our advice to the UK government to set an ambitious new target for the UK to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Now that Parliament has adopted this target it is urgent for all sections of society to come together to make sure we achieve it. Ending the UK’s contribution to global warming requires ambitious action across all sectors of UK’s economy, and we are delighted to see the infrastructure industry coming together to help deliver this objective. We look forward to supporting this initiative.” Dr Simon Harrison, Mott MacDonald’s Group strategic development manager, said: “Our aim is to bring together expertise from leading organisations across the infrastructure sector who share the belief that transitioning to a net-zero economy is not just essential but achievable and beneficial. It’s about doing what is both right and good for business. It’s about exploring how we can develop a joint response to the challenge of achieving netzero. We invite others to join us.”
Company News
Enigma Industrial Services invests further £2million in HAKI Universal Leading industrial service access provider, Enigma Industrial Services Ltd has purchased a further £2million of HAKI Universal scaffolding, for forthcoming large-scale projects across the UK. The first phase of the order, valued at £1.4million, was supplied to Enigma during May and June, with the remaining £600k to be delivered in July and August, according to project timelines. The move comes after a significant multimillion-pound investment from Enigma
in March 2019, where the business took on more than 2,500t of scaffolding equipment, including Mk2 Stair Towers, Universal scaffolding equipment and loading bays – making Enigma the largest stockholder of HAKI Universal in the UK. The latest investment was delivered through collaborative working between Enigma’s Procurement and Asset Management Director, Alan Scott, and HAKI’s new International Sales Director, David Probert, and is further demonstration of both organisations’ commitment to driving innovative practices in safe working across all sectors. “These are very exciting times for Enigma,” said Alan Scott. “As we look to the future, our investment programme supports our growth and commitment to our clients, in maintaining our position as an industry
leader in the provision of scaffolding services.” David Probert also commented: “HAKI is proud of the relationship we have established with Enigma and that we are very much seen as a trusted partner. This latest investment is testament to the commitment by both companies to improve levels of efficiency, productivity and work at height safety across industrial services and construction market sectors.” Enigma has been providing scaffolding and access services to the industrial, construction, power and infrastructure sectors for more than 50 years. As one of the most experienced and largest stockholders of scaffolding equipment in the country, clients continue to rely on the company’s access division to fulfil their project requirements with high-standard and safety-focused solutions.
Construction UK Magazine - September 2019 39
Lime Based Building Products Preserving the past and protecting the future
Q & A Interview
Protecting lives and structures with engineered systems Bringing integrity to fall protection Andrew Pass is Global Engineering Manager for Fall Protection Engineered Systems at MSA Safety. MSA is a global designer, manufacturer and distributor of industry-leading safety products. A true engineer, Andrew is a specialist in understanding the requirements of highquality fall protection systems. Here, he talks about engineered systems and the integral role that they play in keeping those that work at height safe. What is an engineered system? Fall protection solutions are generally split into two categories: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and engineered systems. PPE covers products such as lanyards, self-retracting lifelines and harnesses, whilst a system is essentially a product that is permanently attached to a structure or a building. It is what operatives attach themselves to, to stay safe while working at height. What is the role of an engineered system? In short, it controls energy. And, in doing so, a well-designed system should achieve two things: the protection of people and the integrity of the structures on which they are working. As I’m sure you can imagine, in the unfortunate event of a fall from height, a significant amount of energy is generated with force put on both the person falling and the building. To help mitigate the effect of this force, MSA fall protection systems are designed with smart, integrated energy absorption technology. This technology means that the system itself absorbs the majority of the force from the fall, rather than the building or, importantly, the operative.
What must be considered when specifying a system? There are some key things that must be considered in order to get the specification of height safety solutions right. First and foremost, think about the Health and Safety Executive’s hierarchy of risk control. One, do you have to work at height? If at all possible, working at height should be avoided. Two, if it’s unavoidable, can collective protection (guard rails etc) be implemented? And three, if an engineered system is required, make sure that has it has been specified and designed with its specific use in mind and that it has been tested against not only the latest standards, but the application in hand. And finally, as with any work at height, prior to work taking place it is crucial that the end-user has received high-quality training from a reputable provider (such as MSA Safety) specific to the work required. The fundamental consideration should of course be how and where the system will be used. Transmission towers, industrial buildings and wind turbines, for instance, all have very different requirements and typically systems must be designed to be durable enough to last 25-30 years. Care must be taken to implement an appropriate system for each unique application. MSA believes that there is no such thing as a ‘one size fits all’ approach when it comes to height safety systems. Tell us a bit more about testing… There are lots of different test methods out there, but there are really two things we focus on at MSA: representative testing and exceeding standards. EN 795:2012 is an important standard when it comes to fall protection. It relates to the testing of anchor devices and is the minimum requirement for people working at height. I strongly urge anyone choosing fall protection systems to do so in accordance with this standard and supportive representative testing. We as an industry have a responsibility to do our utmost to help ensure people go home safely at the end of each day. Choosing equipment that passes strenuous tests and meets all relevant standards is crucial to doing just that. As far as possible, representative testing should be carried out, which means testing a system on the actual substrate it’s going to be attached to. There is little point testing products bolted to concrete floors if they are intended to be installed on aluminium roof sheet; performance could be completely different. There is also a new standard, EN 17235, being looked at under construction regulation CPR EU 305/2011. It will be an absolute game changer for the industry as it will make this type of testing a requirement. MSA welcomes this move, as we have been conducting representative testing since we
42 Construction UK Magazine - September 2019
first designed the Latchways Constant Force Post (MSA’s engineered system) 20 years ago. Is the industry in general good at testing to the right level? I think things have changed a lot in the past few years. There is much more education now around fall protection and a lot more awareness of what is important when it comes to testing. I also think that there has been a general move toward each and every link in the fall protection chain realising their individual responsibility toward enduser safety, whether that be architects, specifiers, contractors, or installers. That’s really encouraging. High quality equipment can, for instance, count for little if it’s incorrectly installed or the end-user hasn’t received sufficient training. It’s therefore vitally important that each link in the fall protection safety chain does all they can to help mitigate the potential risks associated with working at height. What’s the biggest change you’ve seen in the industry over the last five years? Construction capabilities have grown massively so we’re seeing a lot of different and sometimes complex structures. Long gone are the days of standard square buildings! With beautiful curves and unique shapes, however, comes differing needs for fall protection. These often-complex structures can put even more of an impetus on the quality of both the height safety system itself and its installation, which is why it’s vital to partner with reputable partners, including manufacturers, training providers, and installers. There are also more systems out there, which is in part a good thing, but is also something to be potentially wary of, and it’s important to understand the different offerings. The priority must remain on selecting the proper fit for the unique application, rather than merely choosing the least expensive solution. That said, Europe has and continues to drive full protection in terms of standards and regulations. Generally speaking, the rest of the world looks to Europe as a leading example. If you could pass one message onto the industry what would it be? Understand clearly what is required of the engineered system so that the right equipment can be chosen, and accurate system designs implemented. Make sure that the system has been tested to and meets the very latest standards. Principal designers, specifiers, contractors, and others in the fall protection chain should, as far as possible, insist that the very best height safety specification is stuck with and not changed for an option that may not perform as well or be as well suited to the application.
Container Terminal DCT Gdańsk (Poland) and Port of Immingham (UK) Adopt Heavy-Duty Composite Access Covers to Increase Safety and Efficiency Traditionally the sole domain of concrete and metal, increasing numbers of ports including Container Terminal DCT Gdańsk and Port of Immingham are going composite since Fibrelite’s development of 90 tonne (F900) load rated lightweight trench access covers. An inherent resistance to corrosion from saltwater and fuel while safely manually removable at high load ratings make composite covers an attractive solution for portside applications. Both ports are using the covers to provide easy access to underground utilities in port areas expecting loads of 40-90 tonnes. In Immingham, trench covers will provide access to crane supply cables, while in Gdańsk they will be used for water uptake points and access pits on the quay edge. Fibrelite expects to see more and more ports choose composites as they look for solutions to increase safety and efficiency. Recent Port Projects
Container Terminal DCT Gdańsk, Poland adopts Fibrelite composite access covers
F900 load rated sealed cover over ship fresh water intake, Gdansk
Light, Strong, Inert Composite Covers Provide Simple Access Solution for Container Terminal DCT Gdańsk
access and valve pits. These require quick and easy regular access when cargo ships dock, yet must withstand very heavy loads (40-90 tonnes).
As part of the extension of Container Terminal DCT Gdańsk (by construction company Besix) Fibrelite’s Polish distributor Corrimex provided a strong, corrosion-resistant, easy to remove access solution for a number of trench and sealed covers required to cover
Read more Fibrelite Covers Provide Heavy-Duty Lightweight Solution for Port of Immingham Anchor Pit As part of their renovation, Port of Immingham installed a new crane to load containers on and off ships. The supply cables to the crane are housed in a new underground enclosure, and require regular manual access for maintenance and repair procedures. The enclosure is set in an area of the port expecting loads of up to 60 tonnes. Read more
Fibrelite covers on underground enclosure pre-installation, Immingham
D400 load rated trench covers allowing safe manual removal, Gdansk
Both ports are using Fibrelite GRP composite covers to provide easy safe access to underground utilities in port areas expecting loads of 40-90 tonnes. In Immingham, trench covers will provide access to crane supply cables, while in Gdansk they will be used for water uptake points and access pits on the quay edge.
To see how Fibrelite covers are used in a wide range of industries, visit their case studies page
Construction UK Magazine - September 2019 43
Project
Rockwell Appoint John Sisk & Son to Build 30 Storey Canary Wharf Building Rockwell, a versatile and connected property developer with a proven track record of delivering quality development projects, has appointed John Sisk & Son for pre-construction services to build a 30-storey mixed use tower at Westferry, Canary Wharf. The scheme provides the opportunity to rejuvenate a derelict site on West India Dock Road, marking Westferry as a destination in its own right and generating £172m for the local economy through construction. This project will see a mixed use regeneration of vacant land adjacent to Westferry DLR Station providing a 400-bedroom hotel and 66 private residential units. The scheme will also include a restaurant and café, gym facilities and a landscaped pocket park. It is envisaged that construction will begin in Autumn. Of the new homes, 35 percent will be affordable in perpetuity for local families, with each of the one, two, and threebed tenure-blind apartments designed to an impeccably high standard. This development will also create 259 new jobs in the hospitality and leisure industry. The Sisk UK South business has a strong track record in the region building hotels, offices and residential developments over the past 40 years. Recently, Sisk has built the Hilton Hotel at Wembley, the London Designer Outlet and refurbished the prestigious Royal Academy of Arts facility.
Sisk’s other current high-profile projects in the UK include the £184 million MODA Living, Broad Street project, Birmingham, the £96m Circle Square mixed-use scheme in Manchester, as well as its ongoing involvement in the 7,000-home build-to-rent development at Wembley Park. Rockwell’s expertise spans four major pillars: land acquisitions, planning, development management and construction. Founded by Donal Mulryan, Rockwell leads several development sites in London including; Quay House in Canary Wharf, Kensington Forum and Charlton Riverside. Donal Mulryan, Founder of Rockwell, said: “We are delighted to confirm the pre-construction services appointment of John Sisk & Son for the construction of this landmark development in Canary Wharf.
44 Construction UK Magazine - September 2019
Their track record and experience will help us to deliver this significant mixed use scheme which will bring new jobs and businesses to the local area, in addition to much needed homes for the local community. “We are immensely proud of this development and look forward to seeing our vision become a reality.” Ajaz Shafi, Regional Managing Director at John Sisk & Son, said: “We are delighted to have been appointed by Rockwell to deliver this important landmark scheme in the heart of East London. “We look forward to working in partnership with all our stakeholders and in particular the local community to create a lasting legacy. We deliver quality projects by using innovative construction techniques and digital technology to plan, design and build, with a focus on safety.”
Safety & Security
Anti-graffiti coating added as an option to range of traffic signs Leading UK online retailer of safety signage, SafetySigns4Less has added anti-graffiti coating options to its vast range of reflective traffic management signs. Originating from the Greek word graphien, meaning to write, Graffiti is a common illegal offence in the UK which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment and fines of up to £2,500. However, threats of large sentences and expensive fines do not seem to deter those intent on making their mark with spray paint on property that does not belong to them. In London alone, it is estimated that the cost of cleaning up graffiti is £100 million per year. The new anti-graffiti coating from SafetySigns4Less is available as a purchase option on all traffic management signs. The coating is applied to the sign during the manufacturing process and prevents graffiti from adhering permanently to the sign. This allows for graffiti to be easily cleaned off without any damage to the sign’s surface, making permanent vandalism a thing of the past and saving time and money in the replacement of traffic management signage. Proving already popular, SafetySigns4Less is due to roll out antigraffiti coating options to its range of parking signs in Autumn 2019.
To purchase traffic signage complete with anti-graffiti coating, visit www.SafetySigns4Less.co.uk and click on the Traffic and Parking tab to select the relevant sign category. Alternatively, call freephone 0808 1699 147 to speak to the SafetySigns4Less team who will guide you through the range of traffic management signs and place your order.
ENGEL’S ‘GALAXY’ WORKWEAR HAS UNIVERSAL APPEAL ENGEL WORKWEAR, a leading manufacturer of comfortable and practical workwear has the ‘Galaxy’ range amongst its collection which offers a comprehensive selection of smart
and functional clothing with the emphasis as much on comfort, style and fit as it is on being protective and hardwearing; the trousers are narrower than normal, the jackets slim-cut and all garments are available in a choice of three colour combinations. Designed to suit every type of workplace situation this best selling collection also consists of soft-shell and winter jackets, a comfortable fleece cardigan, bib-overall and boiler suit with fabrics made from durable, two-ply cotton/polyester yarns; most items feature several spacious pockets and many other shared functional details such as concealed buttons and zippers, adjustable jacket cuffs and CORDURA reinforced jacket elbows. Also included is the stylish Galaxy ‘Light’ range with a 210 g/m2 ‘Light’ work jacket (1290-880) that has a longer, pleated back for added freedom of movement and reflectors on both front and back for
greater visibility. Available with or without matching trousers (2290-880), each incorporate many practical details giving maximum comfort, weather protection and quick and easy access to tools and personal accessories; both garments are made from 65% polyester, 35% cotton and are available in all sizes. Further details can be found by visiting www.engel.eu/en or contact Gareth Bladen at gbl@f-engel.com or on +44(0) 7759 520034.
Construction 2019 UK Magazine - September 2019 45 xx Construction UK Magazine - September
Project
Oxford Properties Launches ‘The Stack’, Vancouver’s Tallest Commercial Tower and Signs a Trio of Tenants The project is the largest office development currently underway in Vancouver, and is poised to become a remarkable addition to the city’s skyline. The building has already attracted preleases from a trio of high-quality firms, Ernst & Young LLP (‘EY’), Blakes and DLA Piper, which have taken 207,000 sq. ft. of space collectively. With demolition already underway on site, construction is set to start in Q1 2019 for completion in Q1 2022. It will add much needed supply to Vancouver’s tight office market, which sits at 4.7% as of Q2 2018, the second lowest of any major market in North America. Rising 530 feet, the tower will become the tallest commercial tower in downtown Vancouver, and offers tenants unobstructed panoramic views of the city and mountains. Designed in collaboration between James Cheng Architects and Adamson Associates Architects, The Stack’s climbing, twisting box design will set a new standard for architectural excellence in Vancouver. To incorporate wellness and community into the design of the building, the office features six outdoor decks, a pocket park and a rooftop patio that is available to all tenants and will offer the finest views in the city. Likewise, the ability to open windows in the lowest box allows for fresh air and creates a connection with the outdoors, which is proven to boost employee wellness and productivity.
“With The Stack now launched, we’re adding significant and much-needed new supply to Vancouver’s extremely tight office market and to accommodate the city’s economic growth,” commented Chuck We, Vice President of Office at Oxford. “The Stack is one of the most-forward thinking office projects in Vancouver. Not only does it break new ground by incorporating employee wellness into the fabric of its design through its use of natural light, outdoor space and cycling amenities, we’re future-proofing the building with the adoption of Smart Building technology and multi-modal transportation options.” The building is at the forefront of sustainability by targeting LEED Platinum status and is one of only two high-rise towers in Canada to be part of the Net
Zero Carbon pilot. To encourage cycling to work and employee wellness, The Stack also features club-quality fitness and cycling facilities, including 250 bike stalls located at ground level, changing rooms and showers with towel service to provide a first-class end of trip experience. The building also features a dedicated drop-off zone with porte-cochère to facilitate passenger delivery via potential ride-sharing providers and, in the future, autonomous vehicles. With pre-leases in place to EY, Blakes and DLA Piper, the top two boxes of The Stack are now virtually fully leased. The remaining bottom two boxes feature additional ceiling heights and larger floor plates, ranging from 15,000 to 22,000 sq. ft. and have been designed to incorporate the needs of a wide range of tenants including technology, digital media and creative firms. EY will lease a total of 60,000 sq. ft. across floors 19 to 23. “For leading edge companies, space matters. The Stack is a perfect match for our EY@Work philosophy. Its design allows for our teams to be flexible in how they work and provides a truly unique destination for our people and our clients. Vancouver is a beautiful city with a wonderful lifestyle, and The Stack’s design, which blends indoors and outdoors space, really personifies that,” commented Fiona Macfarlane, Managing Partner of EY, B.C. Blakes, one of the world’s leading law firms, will occupy floors 31 to 36 for a total of 80,000 sq. ft.
48 Construction UK Magazine - September 2019
The NEW Elite LED Helios Sensor light
ENERGY EFFICIENT LIGHTING SAVE 70% ENERGY when no movement is detected INSTANTLY POWERS UP TO FULL ILLUMINATION WHEN MOVEMENT DETECTED
The light has a microwave sensor in the light head which switches from full power down to 30% power when no movement has been detected after 15 minutes
Available nationwide via Tool Hire and associated outlets
70% ENERGY SAVE 70% ENERGY SAVE 70% E Nationwide: 0845 309 0707 • London: 0208 830 8333 • www.hscuk.co.uk • Email: sales@hscuk.co.uk
Snickers Workwear’s NEW Loose-fit Stretch Trousers for Maximum Mobility On-site Hi-tech stretch fabrics and ergonomic designs ensure close quarter mobility at work. With a range of new AllroundWork stretch trousers available throughout the UK, there’s plenty of flexibility for every professional craftsman and woman to stretch their performance on site comfortably.
NEW from Solid Gear – the Onyx Safety Shoes and Boots. Great value safety footwear with the unique BOA closure system for maximum comfort. Nowadays, good safety footwear is part and parcel of a comfortable day’s work on site – just like good working clothes and quality hand tools. Combining maximum comfort and protection with a robust and durable design, Solid Gear’s Onyx is available as a shoe or a boot and ideal for different types of on-site work. This EN-accredited footwear has a modern-looking style that integrates a seamless upper and Cordura reinforcements with a poured polyeurethane midsole, a breathable footbed and strong rubber outsole for maximum grip on slippery and uneven surfaces. Metal-free protection comes from the fiberglass toecap and penetration board for extra personal safety. What’s more, the unique BOA Closure System – used on many top-brand sports shoes - distributes the pressure of the fastened shoe evenly across your feet to ensure a glove-like fit all day for maximum comfortable protection. To get more information on Solid Gear - the Next Generation of Safety Footwear visit the website at www.solidgearfootwear.com alternatively, call the Hultafors Group UK Helpline on 01484 854788.
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The new stretchy work trousers for men have a loose fit for a classic Snickers Workwear look and feel, with stretch Cordura for increased durability as well as improved ventilation and close quarter mobility. What’s more, the new slim-fit work trousers for women are shaped to fit the female anatomy. The ergonomic ‘women’s fit’ includes wider hips and a narrower waist for a street-wise, fashionable look with optimal comfort and freedom of movement built-in. So check out these newest designs – the optimal choice for craftsmen and women who need to get their jobs done comfortably on site. Getting information on the Snickers’ new stretch work trousers is easy. You can call the Snickers Helpline on 01484 854788, checkout the website and download a digital catalogue at www.snickersworkwear.co.uk or email info@snickersworkwear.co.uk
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