Campus Estate Management Autumn 2022

Editor Chris Hewett editorial@mebmedia.co.uk

Accounts Jay Kempisty accounts@mebmedia.co.uk

Publisher Wayne Banks +44 (0)1622 201207 wayne.banks@mebmedia.co.uk

Website and Circulation Manager Kevin Villa website@mebmedia.co.uk

Design and Production Charles David production@mebmedia.co.uk Campus

Digital dreams Digital transformation trends in the classroom

With educational campuses navigating a period of intense digital transformation, Toni Chalk, Managing Director of Strive AV explores the key technologies that are weaving a thread through the education journey, from primary through to higher education.

The Wave of a New Era

From AV design and integration, through to on-going AV asset management, we have been working with education providers for many years. As an integrator, we’re often the link between education provider and technology manufacturer, putting us in a prime position to understand both the changing requirements of the education sector and the new technologies being developed to meet these demands.

The education technology sector has been on a rollercoaster ride over the past few years, largely due to the pandemic aka ‘the biggest experiment into distance-learning

the world has ever seen’. The acceleration and adoption of new technologies in the classroom has been pedal to the metal, with education providers swiftly turning to tech to overcome the challenges of remote learning.

We’re also in the era of schooling a new generation of ‘digital natives’; children and young adults who are extremely familiar with interactive and immersive technologies, touch screen interfaces, and digital communication since birth.

With evolving expectations from students and teachers alike, coupled with the fast pace of digital transformation, the classroom / campus is progressing into a hub of connected technologies for learning and teaching. The squeaky old whiteboard is a nostalgic memory now, as interactive, engaging displays and collaboration tools take centre stage.

The Smart Classroom

At Strive AV, we’ve seen a huge uplift in the deployment of interactive

displays in recent years, a piece of hardware that is now a key component of every classroom. The aim of interactive displays is to encourage engagement and active learning, making them a great choice for the classroom. In primary schools for example, interactive displays might be used for digital whiteboarding, presenting and connectivity for third party devices. The touch screen UI is ideal for little fingers to get involved in collaborative mark-making and selecting from the menu of applications.

For facilities and campus management, interactive displays offer a wealth of additional benefits. We work with 4k interactive displays including BenQ, Clevertouch, Promethean and SMART, that include features such as an on-board USB peripheral switch, the latest spec inbuilt Android operating system or optional Windows PC, and a remote management platform. The remote management allows a helpdesk agent or field technician to broker

a virtual session with the display from anywhere in the world, install software and apply policy to one or all screens. The displays update their firmware over the cloud and come out of the box with an excellent system security, as well as ‘air-gap’ network connections to prevent unauthorised access to the campus network.

Some interactive display technologies have also taken AV signal transmission into the realm of the IT network. Software Defined Video over Ethernet (SDVoE) is the practice of treating an education campus as a matrix of sources and destinations, where any classroom can instantly send or receive uncompressed content from another classroom. The video is transmitted over the production LAN along with other traffic – true AV over IP.

In this way, any number of repeater screens can transmit or receive from any other, allowing students to quickly showcase a presentation and then switch back to the host display, for example.

Outside of the classroom, AV over IP can facilitate distance learning, lecture capture, create breakout spaces, live stream events and allows the helpdesk a live view of what is on-screen during a lecture, facilitating support.

Hybrid Tools for Higher Education

In higher education, collaboration tools are driving investment as hybrid learning looks to become the norm. Technologies that enable effective hybrid learning, such as UC solutions, PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) cameras and in-room audio, are now being brought together into all-in-one solutions to provide continuity of experience for every student – no matter where they are located.

Educational campuses need to ensure that students can learn and engage from different locations. Providing BYOD connectivity to any device, enabling an unlimited number of users to collaborate by simultaneously sharing content, desktops and application windows – all considerations in a digital transformation strategy.

Collaboration technologies provide the flexibility to tailor how educators deliver courses and open up new possibilities for attracting a global student base, without logistical limitations.

Learning in glorious High-Res

As universities in particular move deeper into blended or hybrid learning, the change is reflected in their campus developments. Classrooms and lecture halls are being redesigned in favour of more collaborative spaces, some of which

feature booths where students can interact. The ability to charge devices, either wirelessly or via USB is also in demand with charging points in seats and collaborative areas.

For a successful transition to hybrid learning, high performance AV must be at the core of physical learning spaces to enable the excellent delivery of content. High-resolution projectors and large-format displays, that show the minute detail of every image and piece of content, are now essential for ensuring all students – whether physical or remote - can interact and engage with the subject matter in the same way.

Interactive displays can play a useful role here. Most are touch enabled and jump into ‘ready mode’ with a simple tap saving unnecessary set-up time. They also integrate with the most popular video conferencing software apps, such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams, allowing educators and students to easily connect and share ideas with everyone in their study group, no matter where they are situated.

We’re seeing more and more strategic partnerships between collaboration software providers, further strengthening the professional tools available for hybrid learning. Platforms such as

Blackboard are being integrated with video-conferencing tools such as Zoom, facilitating real-time annotation and group ideation to make the creative process even more productive for students.

The integration with legacy education apps also helps to streamline the roll-out and adoption process on campus.

Adoption and training

Pre-pandemic there was reluctancy from educators to be mic’d-up and on camera, but this changed dramatically as technology become the facilitator during lockdowns. For campuses that had already implemented digital transformation strategies, they could pretty much switch on remote learning overnight.

As the roll-out of hybrid learning policies and digital transformation strategies continues, educators are using technology to their advantage and enjoying a multi-faceted and flexible approach to teaching.

Education must seamlessly move between remote and in-person teaching, and investing the right technologies is paramount for this fluidity.

The Classroom of the Future

Looking to the future, campus-led education is becoming accessible to every student, wherever they are located. From providing support

for students with impairments to integrating remote students, AV technology will play a key role in ensuring every student receives the same experience, be it the visual quality of content or level of interactivity.

As we move into a new era of learning, we’ll also see new realities – augmented (AR), mixed (MR), extended (XR) – playing a role in the transformation of the classroom, creating a digital canvas for vivid, more authentic learning experiences.

If you’d like to find out more about how we can support the digital transformation of your campus –whether you’re looking to upgrade your existing AV infrastructure or build a completely new one – get in touch for a free consultation. With decades of experience providing AV solutions for all kinds of teaching spaces, the team at Strive AV can advise on the latest and most effective tools, that will truly impact learning outcomes.

Strive AV Buy Back Scheme

Strive AV’s new Buy Back Scheme for schools, colleges and universities, offers cashback for old classroom display equipment when upgrading facilities.

Orders for interactive screens placed for delivery and installation before 31st December 2022 will have old equipment collected,

within a maximum of 20 days. The more screens purchased, the more cashback is received, with no maximum limit.

If you’re considering an AV upgrade, here’s what Strive AV customers have to say:

“I have been using Strive AV [formerly CDEC) for over 10 years. They have provided me with an excellent service on every interaction. I will continue to use Strive AV to provide all of my audiovisual services. A great company, a great service, at great value.” Gary Jelks, School Business Leader

“Strive AV do exactly what they say they will do. We continue to utilise their skills, experience and vendor knowledge to help us deliver high quality, cost and time efficient projects, solutions and services to our MAT.” Mike Ward, Dean Trust

“Strive AV has deployed and maintained our AV since 2009. The service they provide has been exemplary and they always go the extra mile to achieve a successful outcome within very pressurised timeframes.” Paul Williamson, Director of I.C.T Operations - King Alfred Independent School

To find out more in the Strive AV Buy Back Scheme, visit www.striveav.com/buy-back

The Sony Solution

When it comes to professional AV technology, Sony provides much more than just great products. We create solutions that make visual communications and knowledge sharing even smarter and more efficient.

We empower organisations of every industry, sector and size with advanced audio-visual tools that help them go further. From schools to universities, small business to big business, retail to automotive and more, we have the perfect solution.

Our comprehensive suite of TEOS solutions intelligently manage all of your connected devices, while our powerful collaboration tools enable real-time knowledge sharing. Discover new levels of detail with our class-leading BRAVIA Professional Displays, and take your presentations further with our bright, captivating range of Projectors.

Support is at the heart of everything we do. With our PrimeSupport packages, you’ll always get the best service for your business. With specialist advice and a host of support features included as standard, we’ve got you covered.

For full product features and specifications please visit pro.sony

University of Huddersfield granted planning permission for new health campus

The University of Huddersfield is delighted to have received a committee resolution from Kirklees Council to grant Reserved Matters planning permission, so that the construction of the prominent and high quality first phase building on the Southgate site that will become the home to the University’s new National Health Innovation Campus can proceed.

This follows a meeting of Kirklees Council’s Strategic Planning Committee, and the University is now looking forward to the issue of the formal decision notice so it can commence the development of the new 10,000 square metre first phase building. It has been designed by locally-based architects AHR, who have previously worked with the University on the award-winning Barbara Hepworth and Oastler buildings.

This first phase of the Southgate development will include a new home for the Health and Wellbeing Academy.

The local community will also benefit from access to an award-winning podiatry clinic, a telehealth service, sports and physiotherapy clinics, parent and child clinics, mental health clinics and public-facing spaces dedicated to social science.

The new building represents a significant investment by the University, and will be the biggest construction project in the town as the construction of the University’s second-largest building proceeds.

The building will host a number of classrooms, labs and other specialist facilities for learning which will include:

• A mock-up operating theatre

• A mock-up ambulance known as a 'simbulance'

• A community flat/dwelling that will replicate

visiting patients at home

• Our award-winning Podiatry Clinic, which will be open to the public

• Dedicated office and workspace for external partners University Vice-Chancellor Professor Bob Cryan CBE said, “This is a significant step along the road to our goal of improving health outcomes and leading innovation in healthcare for the North of England with the National Health Innovation Campus.

“The new building will be a welcoming space for the local community, students and staff. It will help bring together our public-facing health facilities, our entrepreneurial academic activity and research, and make a key contribution to the health economy at a local level and on a larger scale.”

Part of the University’s ambitious vision for the new building, on the site of the town’s former leisure centre, is that it will be the first higher education building in the country to be built to the WELL Platinum standard. This is a system by which buildings adhere to standards for better health and wellbeing through improved air, water, light and other factors.

The campus will enable rapid expansion in fields such as nursing, midwifery, allied health and human sciences, which will help to meet the demand for healthcare professionals.

The Yorkshire and Humber region has some of the worst figures in England regarding the health of its population, with the third lowest life expectancy for both men and women, high levels of obesity and the second highest rate of deaths in infancy.

Breathe cleaner air with ElectricalDirect’s extended range of air purifiers

ElectricalDirect has added more products to its air purification range to help education specifiers and facilities managers protect indoor spaces against harmful germs and unpleasant odours.

Suitable for public and commercial spaces, ElectricalDirect has added the Vent-Axia PureAir Room Air Purifier to its range. This advanced multistage air cleaning system is able to remove 99.9% of airborne particles including COVID-19, viruses and bacteria.

The Vent-Axia PureAir Room Purifier also features a six-stage filtration system: a washable pre-filter, an H13 HEPA filter, an activated carbon filter, a cold catalyst filter, ultraviolet light, and an ionizer. With a capacity of up to 30m2 and a maximum noise level of 45d(B)A, the user will not be disturbed by loud background noise.

This portable and lightweight product also benefits from an auto mode that sets airflow based on the indoor air pollution, air quality display and a timer to allow you to set the unit to run for periods up to eight hours. Additionally, it features three speeds which can be manually or automatically controlled, meaning it can be easily adjusted for the level of usage required.

For increased functionality, ElectricalDirect also stocks the Vent Axia PureAir Room Air Purifier with Smart App Control which can be operated by its SmartLife app. This feature gives the ability to link multiple air purifiers to one app and remotely control each unit, speeding up the process of maintaining larger properties.

ElectricalDirect’s line up also includes the super slim air purifiers from AirX Pro, which is a medical grade air purifying system that removes 99.9% allergens and 93.3% of odours, from airborne viruses and dust mites to organic fumes, tobacco smoke, traffic pollution and more.

Carrie Earl, Category Manager at ElectricalDirect, said: “As part of our promise to offer a huge range of products, we are pleased to have increased our portfolio of air purifiers to meet the growing demand for improved air quality. These are excellent solutions to providing healthier indoor environments, especially as we approach winter and consider the health implications related to poor air quality.”

Specialist online retailer, ElectricalDirect has over 12,000 products in stock including everything from sockets, switches and cable management, to hand dryers and panel heaters. Education specifiers and facilities managers can choose from a range of flexible delivery options to meet the needs of their busy schedules, including free next day delivery on orders over £45 ex VAT, same day delivery to postcodes in selected areas of London and the East of England, as well as click and collect from 6,500 pick up points across the UK.

To find out more about ElectricalDirect, please visit: www.ElectricalDirect.co.uk

Whitwick and Coalville Lesuire Centre

SPORT and leisure specialist GT3 Architects has completed a new gateway leisure centre in Coalville, Leicestershire, allowing residents to access the centre’s state-of-the-art facilities five months earlier than anticipated.

Replacing the former Heritage Leisure Centre in neighbouring Whitwick, this leisure destination has been completed ahead of schedule after seamless collaboration with contractor Metnor, project manager Paragon, landscape architect OOBE and M&E and BREEAM consultant Envision.

The project, delivered on behalf of Everyone Active and North West Leicestershire District Council, includes an eight-lane, 25m pool, teaching pool with movable floor, eight-court sports hall, three squash courts and a 120-station fitness suite with spin and dance studios.

Clare Noble, senior architectural technologist at GT3, said: “We were delighted to deliver this leisure centre so efficiently in collaboration with a host of great firms and contractors. We’ve worked with Everyone Active, Metnor and Paragon on a variety of leisure schemes and have a brilliant working relationship – this communication and transparency (combined with a lot of individuals putting in hard work) is what allowed us to accelerate the completion of the Whitwick and Coalville Leisure Centre.

“A good working relationship is exceptionally important to GT3. We aim to create beautiful spaces while delivering transparency, inclusivity, and added value – which is why collaborating seamlessly with our partners is central to our work. Our ‘people architecture’ ethos extends beyond the people we’re designing for to

the people we’re designing with, too.”

One of the themes central to the site’s design was the sensitivity to its setting. Situated opposite an existing further education college, the new pool hall gives the appearance of pre-patinated copper cladding on its overhanging roof to reflect the design of the college. External glulam timber columns were carefully chosen to mirror the National Forest setting, and full-height glazing in the café opens up the centre to its surroundings.

The bricks incorporated into the design have been locally sourced from nearby Ibstock, just 3.5 miles away, linking Whitwick and Coalville Leisure Centre further to its surroundings. The scheme has already seen great interest, with impressive engagement from the local community.

Paul Sanders, head of community services at North West Leicestershire District Council, said: “Our state-of-the-art Whitwick and Coalville Leisure Centre is a fabulous facility for the district which, fits well into its National Forest setting. It’s a building we hope will get people excited about getting fit and active, and demonstrates our commitment to ensuring high-quality design.”

The centre opened its doors to the public on 14 February and will facilitate a healthy lifestyle for the local community, with memberships to the former Hermitage Leisure Centre automatically transferring to the new state-of-the-art scheme.

For further information visit www.gt3architects.com

Sprint finish as £22.5M leisure centre completes five months ahead of schedule

DO YOUR BEST WORK

One of the most versatile work utility vehicles on the market, the Carryall 500 has the power to replace pickup trucks at a fraction of the cost. With a rustproof, aircraft-grade aluminum frame, and cargo box, along with best-in-class ergonomics, the Carryall 500 is the perfect solution for your industrial and commercial jobs.

Works to start on site at Begbroke Science Park to deliver 135,000 Sqft of new research facilities for Oxford University

University for over 20 years, supporting spin-out and scale up businesses, attracting and retaining talent, and generating economic and social benefits. Our partnership will deliver the further space needed to build on that success. These two new buildings will provide further much needed academic and commercial spaces by 2024.”

Mike Coplowe, Senior Development Manager, Legal & General

Oxford University Property Development (OUPD), the joint venture bringing together the land, vision and opportunities of Oxford University with the investment and development management skills of Legal & General, has announced today (31 August 2022) that Mace has been appointed to deliver the next phase of development at Begbroke Science Park (BSP).

This contract is the first in a package of work representing a £100m investment in expanding the Science Park by the JV and will create a further c 135,000 sq ft of space in total. One building will become a new home for the University’s academics and the other will become a new commercial hub for companies looking to grow and build links with academia. Practical completion of the buildings, designed by nbbj architects, is targeted for early 2024.

The two buildings are lab enabled, designed by nbbj architects, to perform to high sustainability standards including BREEAM Excellent and WELL Gold Enabled. The development includes a new cycleway link between Begbroke Science Park and Kidlington as well as a public art piece by the Turner Prize winning practice Assemble.

The buildings are an expansion of the current facilities within the boundaries of the existing Begbroke Science Park at Begbroke Hill. OUPD is also working on plans, in consultation with the local community and Cherwell District Council, to bring forward wider development outside the existing boundaries of the Science Park to deliver homes, additional research and development facilities and commercial space.

The building was developed by Oxford University Development (OUD), the delivery arm of OUPD, in conjunction with Oxford University and Bruntwood SciTech. The contract has been placed by Legal & General who will oversee delivery.

Anna Strongman, CEO of OUD said today:

“Begbroke has been a home of innovation for Oxford

“We are extremely proud of our partnership with the University of Oxford, and today marks an exciting milestone in Begbroke Science Parks journey. The first phase of the scheme will bring forward new research facilities, as well as providing space to incubate spin-out companies. Future phases will also seek to develop 2,000 new homes, with a mix of affordable tenures and subsidised key worker accommodation. These new facilities will help retain talent in the city, whilst driving essential inward investment and providing opportunities for worldleading innovation, as well as much needed housing for key workers.”

Professor Patrick Grant, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research), from Oxford University, said:

"For many years Begbroke has provided a unique environment for the University's scientists to work alongside colleagues in the private sector. Amongst many innovations, we have created new technologies and products for green and sustainable energy and for precision medicine. The new buildings will accelerate our activity and collaborations, providing flexible facilities for research groups, spinouts and innovative companies of all kinds. They represent the first phase of an ambitious plan to deliver an innovation district at Begbroke, and we are excited to see the work commence."

Terry Spraggett, Managing Director, Construction (PREACH) at Mace said:

“Begbroke Science Park is one of the most ambitious science and education projects Mace has ever been appointed to deliver. Working closely with the University of Oxford and L&G, we’ll use our track record and experience in creating the UK’s latest science testing facilities in electronics, satellites, and medical research, to bring new research spaces for this prestigious academic institution. By assembling a multi-disciplinary team, we are delivering the buildings in the science park to the highest sustainability and quality standards.”

For more information go to www.oud.co.uk

SSE delivers decarbonisation support to university estate directors

SSE Energy Solutions has partnered with The Association of University Directors of Estates (AUDE) to inform Universities on the best practices to go green and decarbonise

Energy professionals from SSE have provided certified Continuing Professional Development training across UK campuses, on the topic of decarbonisation. The sessions, led by subject matter experts, set out to provide a better understanding of how to achieve net zero goals within enforced time frames, and what considerations are necessary to achieve them.

Materials produced for the training were developed by SSE Energy Solutions, in collaboration with AUDE, which demonstrated a “whole system approach.” They included aspects from policy, legislation, procurement, contracting, investment, solution development, and examples from academia and industry.

The face-to-face courses have taken place across the UK and Ireland including sessions delivered in Bath, Birmingham, Sheffield, Cardiff, Dublin, and Edinburgh. Participants received CPD points from AUDE, as the authorising body which certifies the training.

Avi Baidya, Head of Universities & Higher Education Client Development at SSE Energy, said: “Decarbonising estates is a priority for universities across the country, not just so they can meet their own net zero goals,

but because more students are factoring in where a university falls on the green league tables when choosing where to go.

“It’s vital for Directors of these estates to have reliable information on decarbonisation, which is why our CPD training has no commercial obligations attached to it; it’s an entirely educational proposition. There are many challenges to creating greener, more sustainable university campuses and through this engagement with AUDE members, we can help prepare key decision-makers to overcome them successfully.

“We hope to engage with many universities across the UK to help deliver their decarbonisation goals and to create more sustainable, green energy solutions in the process.”

SSE were recently selected to work as the strategic energy partner to the University of Surrey and is currently working in collaboration with the university to remove approximately 5000 tonnes of carbon per year from their total annual emissions in addition to increasing their on-site renewable energy generation at the same time.

Read more about SSE’s strategic collaboration with AUDE here: https://www.aude.ac.uk/membership/ business-partners/sse-energy-solutions/

IP65-Rated entrance for University of Leicester

Greatly improving the main entrance to the Ken Edwards Building at the University of Leicester, TORMAX was recently contracted by Summers-Inman to work with GD Building Services to install a set of bi-parting automatic sliding doors, giving students and staff clear and easy access to lecture theatres and study areas.

Due to extremely restricted space inside, it was necessary for the sliding doors to be fitted to the external façade of the building, making the door mechanism liable to water ingress and a build-up of moisture.

Ensuring a long working life and reliable operation whatever the weather, TORMAX recommended their iMotion 2301.IP65 system which meets the most stringent requirements for resistance to dust, water penetration and corrosion.

The Ken Edwards Building was built in 1995 and is home to the college of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities. Named after former genetics lecturer, Dr Kenneth Edwards, the prominent campus building has three substantial lecture theatres, as well as classroom facilities, IT suites and a student common room.

“Even with the impressive structural canopy covering the doors, there was concern that the system would be affected by bad weather,” comments Simon Roberts, MD for TORMAX.

“Our IP65-rated system has been installed worldwide in a variety of locations, from cruise ships to clean rooms and even in hospitals operating theatres that need regular hosing down.

“In this instance, fitting the entire sliding door system to the outside of the building creates an unusual and rather striking entrance.”

In addition to being IP65-rated, the iMotion 2301 operator features a wear-free synchronous motor which delivers a near-indefinite working life, making this a low-energy, highly sustainable option in the long term.

Rapid reaction movement sensors combine with powerful opening and closing speeds, ensuring the doors operate with maximum efficiency, helping minimise heat-loss from the building.

For further information visit www.tormax.co.uk

NEXT GENERATION KEYLESS ACCESS CONTROL

Smart access control technology platform designed to give users ultimate freedom of choice regarding system layout, type and number of access points as well as level of security.

TOTALLY WIRE-FREE: Stand-alone, virtually networked, wired and wireless smart locks, all working within a single access control technology platform.

BUILT TO COVER EVERY ACCESS POINT: Extensive range of electronic locks, cylinders and readers to cover all the needs of any type of building.

EASY TO INSTALL: Designed to be installed in doors with existing locks, with no need for additional modifications or wiring.

SECURE KEYLESS ACCESS: Complete mobilecompatible electronic locking platform, increase in security, control and convenience.

Flagship school safeguards students using Genetec VMS

Haberdashers’ Borough Academy implements Genetec Security Center to deliver optimal care to staff and students

Haberdashers’ Borough Academy is a new secondary school built on the site of a former fire station in Central London. The school admitted its first learners in September 2019 and will ultimately grow to accommodate 1,150 students.

As the ninth school to form part of the Haberdashers’ Academies Trust South, the school represents a flagship site for the wider organisation. Always prioritizing the safety of students and staff, the organisation saw an opportunity to adopt a best-of-breed video security system to help safeguard the new school.

Moving away from basic surveillance technology

Upon taking ownership of the Borough Academy facilities, Haberdashers’ safeguarding leads quickly realised that the video management system (VMS) preinstalled by the developers was not up to scratch. Just 15 cameras were installed across the entire premises, most of which focussed on entrances and exits. The VMS also couldn’t integrate with other physical security systems, creating data silos and slowing access to vital information.

With limited visibility of what was happening on the playground or in the corridors, it was difficult for designated safeguarding leads to respond to incidents and meet their duty of care to students and staff. The issue was raised to Edward Avenell, Director of IT, who immediately got to work on delivering a better alternative.

“Our designated safeguarding leads are responsible for ensuring the welfare of everybody on the school premises. We owed it to them to give them access to the right tools to do their job,” said Edward.

After evaluating a range of enterprise VMSs, Edward chose Security Center Omnicast™, an open video management system, as the best fit for Borough Academy’s requirements. Genetec Security Center is a unified platform that combines the video surveillance, access control, automatic number plate recognition (ANPR), and other systems in one intuitive solution.

According to Edward, “It came recommended as another of Haberdashers’ sites was already using the Genetec security platform and receiving positive feedback from users. Security Center could support our long-term strategy to move IT infrastructure to the cloud. Plus, there is the potential to expand our security deployment in a phased manner as our requirements evolve going forward.”

Expanding coverage across the school with an intuitive VMS

With the support of their systems integrator, Custom Security, the entire school was mapped to identify

where a new network of cameras could be deployed. The 15 ineffective legacy cameras were replaced with 115 high-definition cameras from Axis Communications, which has made a huge difference.

Feedback from staff has been positive, said Edward. “The Genetec platform is very popular with operators, especially the Designated Safeguarding Leads that use the VMS on a daily basis. It’s intuitive and the technology is impressive. When I have to sell the platform internally to the budget holders that sign off on the equipment, I can clearly show them the value that Security Center adds.”

Simplifying maintenance and storage using Security Center

Across Haberdashers’ nine schools, Edward and his team of 14 are responsible for the on-going security and maintenance of over 8,500 devices. They are also managing the rest of the IT infrastructure that supports over 5,500 students and 500 teachers. Against this backdrop, the added workload of looking after 100 additional cameras might sound daunting. However, the IT team was reassured to hear that the Genetec solution also simplifies routine maintenance tasks.

“Proactive maintenance is vital in ensuring a system remains cybersecure and operational. Yet it’s so easy for things like firmware updates to fall by the wayside as they’re so time consuming,” explained Edward. “The fact I can actively manage the firmware of my cameras through Genetec Security Center saves considerable time and minimises the risk of missing an important security update.”

Looking ahead at scaling school security Haberdashers’ positive experience with Genetec Security Center at Borough Academy has already resulted in expansion plans across another two of the Academy Trust’s sites. In time, the organisation may even standardise on the unified security platform across all locations as existing video systems grow old and need to be replaced.

Edward is also working with Custom Security to consider other upgrades that can further enhance security and operational duties. One possibility is implementing Security Center AutoVu™, the core ANPR system, to simplify processes around parking monitoring and deliveries.

“We’re about 80% of the way there with the installation now and the senior leadership can already see how we’ve improved our ability to maintain a safe school. We’re very happy with what the Security Center platform has provided so far and where we can take our deployment in the future,” concluded Edward.

For further information visit www.genetec.com

Burg-Wächter wins trust of university with unique security solution

When the world-renowned University of Galway was looking for an updated security solution to integrate into its existing locking system, it was clear that security specialist Burg-Wächter would be the supply partner of choice

The university sought a solution to integrate newer areas of the premises with padlocks and combine them with the existing security system. Having worked previously with local locksmith Collerans, university caretaken Tom Craven decided to reach out to see if they could help. He explains: “I wanted to add some padlocks around the university and add them to our current system of locks. I have a master key to give me full access to the different locks across the grounds and buildings, so I was looking to combine the padlocks with these existing locks so I could open everything with the one key.”

Tailored solution

Mike Colleran, owner of Collerans Locksmiths, used his knowledge and expertise to come up with the ideal solution. He explains: “We’ve always admired Burg-Wächter’s products and have enjoyed a good relationship with them for several years. We chose the 116 Profi PC padlock which is really convenient to integrate into existing key systems due to the fact that it takes almost any Euro profile half cylinder from other manufactures.”

Exceptional German engineering

The 116 Profi PC is a solid brass padlock that can be fitted with half cylinders. Manufactured in Germany, this padlock has a stainless steel hardened shackle which is double-bolted for additional security. It also boasts

a rustproof locking mechanism to offer long lasting reliability. Mike goes on to explain: “We rekeyed the Euro half cylinders to match the existing locks at the university before fitting them into the padlocks. Because the padlocks already come prepared for cylinder fitting, this made the job really easy and we were able to get the padlocks to Tom within a week.”

The padlocks were used on bollards and external access areas, with Tom saying: “90% of the BurgWächter padlocks are used externally and exposed to the harsh environment of the west coast of Ireland and perform extremely well. Once a year, they require a little squirt of oil but I have never had a problem and would highly recommend Burg-Wächter as a product and Collerans Locksmith as a service to anyone.” Thanks to Burg-Wächter’s serial number system, Collerans can quickly and easily make more padlocks in the future for Tom, should he require them.

Matt Parkes, marketing manager at Burg-Wächter, commented “I’m delighted that our padlocks were chosen for the University of Galway. We always strive to find tailored solutions for our customers and I’m thrilled that we were able to help Tom find a convenient way to unify both new and old security systems.”

Peter Walsh, ASM for Burg-Wächter, says “We are so pleased that we were able to assist Collerans Locksmith in helping out Tom at the university. We pride ourselves on being able to tailor our products and we very much value our partnership with Collerans. With our knowledge and passion for security, we hope we can continue to help many more people in the years to come.”

For further information visit https://burg.biz/

Supercharge your cleaning with Makita’s latest robotic cleaner

Makita has launched a new 18V Brushless Robotic Cleaner designed for commercial and industrial use. As part of Makita’s evolving range of cleaning solutions, the DRC300 can map and memorise rooms for cleaning and can be controlled via an app to offer smarter cleaning, productivity and ease of use for cleaning professionals.

Equipped with superior 2D LiDAR sensor and camera technology, the new DCR300 18V LXT Brushless Robotic Cleaner can map and memorise up to 10,000m2 of space across five different rooms and use this information to not only return to its original position, but also track optimal routes for efficient cleaning. Powered by either single 18V or dual 18V LXT batteries, this innovative solution from Makita provides continuous cleaning power of up to 240-minutes over an impressive 600m2 area (when used with two 18V 6.0Ah batteries in parallel).

The DRC300 can be controlled directly by the unit, RF remote control (included) or with a smartphone via a bespoke app which offers users even more functionality and benefits. Here, operators can access performance history such as cleaning dates and times and the percentage of cleaning areas covered, which contractors can use as evidence or scheduling.

With a large 3L dust box and HEPA filter to capture

very fine particles, and a filter clogging notification to show when the filters require maintenance, the cleaner comes equipped with one main brush and two side brushes, which are detachable without tools, and a large carry handle, for easy transportation.

Kevin Brannigan, Marketing Manager at Makita said: “With its intelligent features and powerful cleaning capacity, our new 18V LXT DRC300 Brushless Robotic Cleaner offers maintenance and cleaning professionals even more flexibility when it comes to commercial applications. Users can leave the cleaner to do the work, whilst tackling other jobs to improve efficiency on site. What’s more, the LXT battery can be used to power over 30 cleaning solutions in our line-up, as part of a battery platform spanning over 290 cordless products.”

The DRC300 joins an expanding range of cleaning solutions from Makita, including a recent update to its backpack vacuum portfolio. The popular VC008 40VMax XGT Brushless Backpack Vacuum, previously only available as a body only model, is now available to purchase as a kit with 2x 5Ah 40VMax XGT batteries and charger included (model number VC008GT201).

To find out more about the Makita range visit www.makitauk.com/products/vacuum-cleaners

CUBO Conference & Awards 2022 return in force

Back in-person for the first time since 2019, the CUBO 2022 Summer Conference drew over 170 commercial services and business professionals to Lancaster University for two days of outstanding networking, learning and business meetings to support postpandemic recovery and strategic planning.

Opening the Conference, Dame Professor Sue Black took delegates through Lancaster University’s successful engagement with the local community, which has been crucial in bringing the £5 billion National Cyber Force centre to Lancashire and for the planned Eden Project North in Morecambe.

A fact-packed keynote from Kate Nicholls MBE of UKHospitality focussed on the continuing challenges on the road to recovery and spelled out the government action needed. Pre-pandemic, the UK Hospitality sector contributed £40billion in tax – the entire social care bill. Recovery is happening slowly, and an urgent labour market strategy is needed to bring staff back to the sector.

Sarah Mukherjee from the IEMA pressed home the urgency of the climate crisis, how every small step taken in private and professional life makes a difference, and why sustainability should be as much part of an employee’s induction as health and safety.

A panel of sector experts moderated by Robin Walsh, CUBO Board Member for Housing Codes and Standards, discussed student accommodation affordability. The conversation spanned how far affordability is an issue when cheaper accommodation is often the hardest to fill, how private partners and universities might work more closely to reduce voids and bring down costs, and strategies for giving students more choice and price points.

The panel also looked at value for money and contract length, the potential unintended consequences of pressing for increased maintenance loans, and the importance of capital investment in keeping the accommodation portfolio relevant. This is a debate that will run and run, and where universities will need to

look at their individual portfolio and local situation.

Breakout sessions provided a choice of peer-led case studies, insights and expert advice including: the green flat of the future, supporting staff wellbeing, catering and retail strategy, sustainable waste management, smart lockers and parcel delivery, culture transformation, redesigning and measuring the student journey, the residence life phenomenon, ESG in student accommodation design and the future home of Gen Z.

Highlight of the Conference for many was the final keynote by Baroness Floella Benjamin, DBE, DL. Entitled “Facing Adversity with a Smile”. This was the inspirational story of a girl who came to England as a teenager, and who, through discrimination and adversity, became a successful actor, businesswoman, University Chancellor, regulator and tireless advocate for diversity and compassion.

Baroness Floella was also the guest of honour at the glittering CUBO Awards Night, hosted by TV journalist and Lancaster University alumnus Warren Nettleford in the LICA Building. CUBO honorary membership was awarded to Andrew Nightingale (posthumous), Jon Greenwood and David McKown for outstanding services to HE commercial services before the winners of the nine CUBO Awards for 2022 were revealed.

According to Executive Director, Jan Capper, it was a chance for many to catch up for the first time in over two years and reconnections between colleagues from universities and partners were very much in evidence. She said:

“The Conference provided a timely forum for discussing the challenges for campus services postpandemic, whether hospitality supply chains, general staff shortages or the impact of agile working on footfall.

“But it was also business as usual, with lots of learning and networking to help universities to optimise service delivery and efficiency, enhance their campus experience and develop revenue earning activities to bring much needed income.”

Control leads to compliance

• Project: To support the management of the 50-acre school.

• Objectives: To implement CAFM software capable of managing the intricacies of an educational site. The system must be efficient and

analytical to help with reporting and data.

• Results: Improved efficiency and accuracy through QFM via improved reporting and better data capture. Sustainability

improvements, including reducing paper usage.

Educational Insight Dean Close School was established in 1886 and is set in a picturesque

We spoke to Mick Seamarks, Compliance Manager at Dean Close School, about how they are using QFM to ensure their sites are running smoothly and cost effectively while maintaining compliance for the safety of staff and students

parkland of 50 acres within the centre of Cheltenham, UK. It is a prestigious day and boarding school renowned for focusing on student development with its ethos encouraging independent thinking and self-confidence for all learners.

With an average of 800 students attending, the campus facilities include a two-storey art school, a music school, three theatres, an allpurpose sports facility with 25m pool, floodlit AstroTurf pitches, and rifle ranges, climbing walls, squash, and tennis courts, and seven boarding houses.

Dean Close School has been a valued client of Service Works Global (SWG) since 2015. QFM is an interactive web-based computerized facility, property and workplace management solution offered by London-based Service Works Group (SWG)

Choosing a software partner “We investigated three different CAFM software vendors. SWG,

another major company and a local software house, who wanted to create a bespoke system for us. QFM was the best choice for us and came out on top for meeting our requirements. Before QFM, we used a Microsoft Access database-style job sheet that the help desk would print and give to operatives. Jobs were being cherry-picked, some jobs were being lost, and just generally, it wasn’t working efficiently for us.”

Improving the efficiencies

The QFM mobile app is an acutely effective and efficient way to distribute jobs to operatives out in the field and provides functionality for jobs to be allocated to operators through the day. Without the need for continuous data signal or Wi-Fi, QFM is able to provide time stamps for jobs as they are accepted, completed, put on hold, or declined. This provides FMs full transparency on their operatives’ performance and ensures all reports are accurate and always available.

While already out in the field, operatives may come across an issue which needs to be reported. Using the mobile app, users can raise a job – with the relevant required information including photos, attachments, geography etc. – which goes straight to the QFM web portal and on to the helpdesk team for triage.

Once triaged, a work order can be created and passed directly to the operator’s mobile, meaning they are able to check their incoming work stream in real-time while out and about around the site. The result is an improved logistic efficiency where jobs that may be in the same buildings or in the adjacent buildings can be picked up quickly while an operator is already on site or very nearby, instead of them having to travel backwards and forwards across sites. At Dean Close, this can dramatically reduce the time taken to complete jobs across the eight sites in total. This system is significantly more efficient for staffing resources,

and means jobs are getting done quicker, resulting in benefits to all operational areas of the campus.

Reducing the costs

“We have reduced paper usage alone by somewhere in the region of 3,000 sheets per year, purely by using a mobile device and digital forms. And the information added to these forms gets saved straight onto the main database for reporting. The most important thing is that QFM has saved us time, which of course, equates to money. Jobs are getting done quickly, and we are not having to work overtime or getting delayed, and we can plan work more efficiently.”

For Dean Close School, the increase in accuracy of work thanks to QFM, has delivered a significant benefit around time saving. As jobs are more accurately recorded and documented, the need for return visits is reduced resulting in improved time and cost efficiencies. Operatives in the field are also able to plan their days more efficiently when using the mobile app which reduces time spent in vehicles traveling across the campus and between sites, saving money in fuel costs, and managing the operational carbon footprint.

Compliance insight

“One of the things we have been extremely strict on is compliance. QFM allows us to look at where we have outstanding work, where observations in compliance tasks have been raised (by either ourselves or external contractors); we can see the whole picture so we can plan more work. For example, if we know the job is scheduled in an area where we are doing building refurbishment, we can now look at QFM. If we see other outstanding jobs, they can be swept up simultaneously. We are not doing the job and then going back and undoing something we’ve already done to rectify something else.”

Effective data management

In addition to QFM’s standard reporting functionality, the software can seamlessly integrate with third party applications, such as Microsoft’s Power BI or Tableu for enhanced data analysis and graphical data display. The data is refreshed and updated as QFM updates.

“I like the reports, they’re so good”, says Seamarks “I have to do monthly stats for the bursar, and I can schedule them to run overnight so that in the morning the interface is ready and waiting to go. Then its’s just the case of manipulating the data

as appropriate.”

Improving processes

“We employ one individual to do our compliance checks: that’s water testing, fire extinguishers, emergency lighting, etc. The QFM app allows them to perform necessary checks on various items and equipment, and record faults there and then, which automatically feed back into the system. For example, if an extinguisher needs replacing, they can raise that task while they’re there. QFM immediately captures it: they don’t have to remember to log it when they come back to the office. We pick up more issues as we are going around in this way and have also started using the mobile device for general day-to-day, walking around the building. If we see something, we can open the app, fill out the details, and it’s in the system.”

By using QFM comprehensively across Dean Close School, the facilities management team is more proactive in identifying faults and coordinating efficient processes to see them resolved often before the staff and site users have even noticed there is an issue.

For further information please visit www.swg.com

Tipping point

An interview with Vitra Chief Design Officer Christian Grosen about Tip Ton RE an update to the Tip Ton chair by

Edward Barber

and

Jay

Osgerby made from local upcycled household waste

The most striking characteristic of Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby’s Tip Ton chair, which launched in 2011, is the forward-tilt function. Originally developed for a school in the English town of Tipton, the chair is now used not only by educational institutions but also for home offices, around dining tables and in gardens. In 2020, the product line was expanded with the new Tip Ton RE made of recycled material.

Producing long-lasting products has been Vitra’s primary contribution to sustainability since its beginnings. This holistic approach was actively expanded in the mid-1980s by

reducing energy usage and investing in renewables at Vitra’s factories and offices. Raw materials have been assessed to exclude those that depend on hazardous or overly energy-intensive processes. Ninety percent of the aluminium used in Vitra products is recycled, and leather and cork are sourced from like-minded partners in Europe.

Regarding plastics, the company has relied on the logic that sourcing the best quality materials help to keep the objects it produces at the apex of the value chain. Making durable objects, tomorrow’s heirlooms, is far removed from the throwaway culture that generates

plastic waste. Take-back and refurbishment services further extend the lifespan of products.

Plastic is a cornerstone material in Vitra’s history. The first product developed by the Swiss manufacturer in collaboration with a designer was the Panton Chair, which depends on the unique strength of a synthetic polymer for the sinuous cantilevered form that made it an iconic design of the 1960s.

Now, the company has issued its first recycled plastic chair; a version of the Tip Ton model designed by Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby in 2011. Tip Ton is famous for incorporating in its moulded form

something other manufacturers had only been able to offer via complex mechanisms: allowing users to change the seat angle for better task concentration.

The Tip Ton RE uses 3.6 kg of recycled polypropylene – which only months before might have been shampoo bottles or yogurt pots in the homes of German consumers before reaching Vitra’s injection moulding lines via the country’s ‘Yellow Bag’ recycling scheme.

Chief Design Officer Christian Grosen Rasmussen shares some of the thinking behind Tip Ton RE.

For Vitra’s first recycled plastic chair, was it a challenge reengineering a design from the collection rather than starting with a new commission?

The reason for choosing Tip Ton was that it consists of a single material. Working on an existing product is a good way to gain experience with a new material. Though recycled polypropylene is still a type of plastic, it’s different to work with. When dealing with an existing product, you already know the technical challenges that might crop up, and you can anticipate those from the beginning. Due to the combination of an almost archetypical appearance and its new idea for movement, the

Tip Ton chair encapsulates what Vitra is all about – innovation and longevity. This made it a good place to start.

What was different about working with a recycled material?

The challenge was to make the chair strong enough, which is often the issue when working with recycled materials. That’s why we added some fibreglass to strengthen the chair – while using as little as possible. Of course, when you combine fibreglass and polypropylene, it’s harder to achieve a perfectly uniform surface. That requires a lot of experience, which is why it was an advantage to know about the

mould flows and technical aspects of the chair’s geometry. From the beginning, we decided that we didn’t want the material to result in any compromises on the quality of the chair. We wanted it to achieve the same certifications as the existing Tip Ton chair. It was an iterative process to determine the minimum amount of glass fibre while still meeting the desired quality standards.

How did you decide on the source of the polypropylene?

When you work with recycled plastic, you can choose between postconsumer or post-industrial material, even ocean plastic; and there are advantages and disadvantages with

Copyright: Vitra, Photo: Kei Takashima University of Constance Library

Copyright: Vitra, Photo: Eduardo Perez Jissen Women’s University

each. What we liked about the Yellow Bag system was that it was very easy to trace the journey. You take packaging waste from households; you clean it and chop it up. Then you turn it into something new that lasts. Local sourcing is also important; the material is collected in Germany and the chair is made in northern Italy. The great majority of our suppliers are located in Germany or neighbouring European countries. This is also where most of our products are sold. You see companies producing injectionmoulded chairs in Asia with material collected in Europe, so the material has to be transported there and back, inevitably leaving an unnecessary carbon footprint.

The original Tip Ton comes in eight colours, but the recycled version is only produced in pale grey. Yes. It’s very hard to separate the colours of recycled waste, so if you want to have specific colours, you have to add pigments or bleach, and we didn’t want to do that. We wanted to keep the material as clean as possible, so what you see is what you get. There are tiny specks of other colours in the grey, which vary slightly from chair to chair. But for me that adds interest and pushes our perception of plastics. The slight variations in the recycled material add depth and give it a story, similar

to how the structure of a piece of wood tells you about the tree’s growth cycles.

How did you test the chair for strength and durability?

All Vitra products go through rigorous testing, depending on the norms we want to achieve. BIFMA [the US Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association] testing and European standards such as EN or GS require thousands of usage cycles to achieve certification. There are machines that apply forces and drop tests with falling objects. We have invented some of our own tests, which are even more demanding. It was important that this chair achieves the same levels as the original version.

Making products for a circular economy places limitations on designers and manufacturers. How do you feel about those constraints? It’s a huge challenge. You need a different mindset, but we are adapting to it, because it’s the way we need to think and act now. It’s part of the designer’s and company’s responsibility. In this dialogue we push each other towards a more circular way of thinking. Testing new materials and processes can give you unknown results; it always leads to some kind of learning and adds to the knowledge base on the

circular economy. This is different from finding only a new aesthetic or a new function. We view this as a very relevant challenge. The rules are not yet written, and we are writing ours as we go.

What have you personally learned from the Tip Ton RE project?

On a visit to the material supplier, I saw a bag of the shredded food packaging. It was before it had been washed, and you could still smell the food. It made me really happy to think of this waste being turned into a beautiful object that could be used for many years. The journey from disposable materials to lasting products really makes sense to me. I had another insight when I heard an interview with a leading acoustic engineer. He said there are no good or bad acoustics, just ones that are right or wrong for a given purpose. That reminds me of how we should use plastic. It’s a fantastic material and will be with us for a long time, but there are right and wrong ways of using it. The critical thing is to understand when to use recycled plastic, when to use new material, and when to combine them to achieve products that people will keep and utilise for as long as possible.

For further information please visit www.vitra.com

Delivering a safer campus

Universities have a duty of care to the staff, students and public that use their facilities for work, study, and enjoyment. Campuses are unique environments to protect, thanks to the mix of facilities they offer. Their buildings are often used for diverse public, private, commercial, and educational

needs. And while some areas may be open access, other zones may well contain highly secure laboratories, innovation hubs and research centres that necessitate stringent security measures.

This is where surveillance technology comes in. More than just monitoring cameras, a unified surveillance platform can capture

data and provide insights to improve the experience for everyone on campus. For example, it can help to better plan security patrols, improve the flow of people through areas, and even implement energy efficiency strategies.

Information points, social meeting points, and retail units can also be moved to locations that experience

Safety and well-being are an important role that is taken seriously to provide reassurance and confidence to everyone accessing a university campus

greater footfall, further supporting an improved campus experience.

The University of Sheffield: Making their university safer

One institution familiar with the need to keep people safe is the University of Sheffield. The first objective of its Security Policy is ‘To provide a safe and secure campus that will create and maintain a feeling of safety and security for all.’ Part of the prestigious Russell Group, the university is using surveillance technology to support this important objective.

Ranked in the top 20 best universities in the UK, it uses the Synergy software platform from Synectics to integrate its surveillance as part of its continued drive to maximise the safety and welfare of its students.

There are currently almost 30,000 students enrolled at the university. As it grows, so has its commitment to keep students, staff and the public safe on the centrally located sites. There are currently more than 1200 cameras across the campuses, and this number is only growing as more sites are connected.

Richard Yates, Head of Security at the University of Sheffield, said: “With 20 CCTV-trained operators, we needed a system that could be tailored to individual needs and preferences while assessing threats and risks across different sites. Ease of use was an important priority for us, so Synergy was the best option for the university.”

Safe and secure, on campus and beyond

The University of Sheffield is

responsible for the welfare and safety of students, staff and visitors. It, therefore, needed a system that was smart enough to work across all sites and give an overview in a single front-end system.

CCTV plays a vital role in highlighting and tracking incidents like theft, assault, and mental health issues. In the past year alone, it has been used in more than 350 investigations, and the Synergy upgrade could open up more opportunities.

Richard gave an example: “Imagine we had a report of car theft on campus, but the person reporting it said the car could have been taken any time in the past week. Rather than search through seven days of footage which would use up vital time, we could go back one week to when the car was last seen, highlight

it, and let Synergy track it until motion is detected. We could then share the footage with the police.”

The university uses evidence locker functionality to securely share evidence with law enforcement, and other bodies, while logging access for a full audit trail. The system can also match the evidence with information such as crime reference numbers and internal report numbers. In the past year, more than 50 incidents were authorised to be shared to South Yorkshire Police, insurers and internal groups.

Planning for the future with easy reporting

Ease of reporting is one of the platform’s key strengths. The University of Sheffield is accountable to multiple stakeholders, so being able to generate reports quickly is essential. Richard encourages his team to make the most of this functionality: “Our operational requirements drive the budget we are allocated. The data we use to show this needs to be accurate and fit for purpose. It also needs to be presented in an easy-to-understand way and quick to collate. Perhaps

more importantly, being transparent allows us to be held to account by our students and public bodies like the Information Commissioner’s Office.”

The university has a 24-hour central control room on the main campus and a second one a few miles away, which can be used during an evacuation. In addition, it voluntarily adheres to the Surveillance Camera Code of Conduct and invites a third party to audit its practices. The Synergy platform provides vital assistance during the accreditation and auditing process carried out by SSAIB (Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board).

“Being audited and accredited can only be a good thing,” said Richard. “It means we are always on the lookout for ways to develop and improve, and everyone is confident that the systems we have in place are fit for purpose and used properly. This is increasingly important as we balance protecting students with their privacy.”

Furthering education

Continual training is important to keep the university’s operators up-

to-date and competent and support the operators’ career progression. According to Richard, Synectics is always on hand for training and support, which has its benefits: “We want to learn the full capabilities of our platform and see different ways of doing things.”

The university is currently implementing ‘geofencing’ in some areas, so controllers will be automatically alerted if someone enters sensitive areas like secure research facilities. It is also looking at expanding capabilities by migrating its evidence to Synectics’ Cloud Evidence Locker, a secure digital platform which provides the same auditing capabilities as those on-premises.

Richard finished: “As a university, we want to keep students, staff, the public, and our intellectual property safe. Working with Synectics allows us to do this and supports us in our goal of being transparent and accountable.”

For further information please visit www.synecticsglobal.com

Isolation in action

Scientists celebrate vibration isolation results

~ Air springs provide solution for world-class electron microscopy suite ~

Sensitive scientific equipment can require high levels of vibration isolation. When construction company Bouygues received a specification requiring a high level of isolation for a large electron microscope at the Cardiff Innovation Campus, the conventional methods of isolating equipment were insufficient. Bouygues turned to vibration control specialist Mason UK, who designed and installed a bespoke system of air springs to isolate the electron microscope from vibration and meet the exacting requirements of the project specification.

The Cardiff Innovation Campus is an architectural triumph. Among other things, the £300 million state-of-the-art facility is home to the

UK’s first sculpted, slanting ‘oculus’ staircase. What was once a disused railway yard has been converted into cutting edge facilities, including world leading scientific research establishments and what is described as the world’s first social science research park.

The complex is also home to a large electron microscope. Although the location may be ideal from an accessibility point of view, it is problematic for the operation of an electron microscope. Imaging and analysis at the atomic level means that any external interference that causes a deviation greater than the dimensions of the atom can be a major problem. The new electron microscopy facility is located close to a busy road and just 75 metres from Cathays trainline, both a passenger

and freight line in constant use 24 hours a day. Early site surveys demonstrated that the vibration caused by passing trains would interfere with the proper functioning of the equipment and would be a limiting factor in the performance of the microscope unless the correct vibration isolation methods were put in place. This would significantly affect the commercial viability of the facility.

The acoustic consultant, Colin Gordon Associates, therefore took the correct approach in designing an especially onerous specification to ensure the proper functioning of the ThermoFisher electron microscope. The unique challenges of this project would require considerable engineering. This involved the construction of an exceptionally

high mass and stiff foundation in addition to exacting passive vibration isolation measures.

When conventional methods won’t work

The manufacturer of the equipment had determined the level of vibration that would interfere with the correct functioning of the electron microscope. Anything above VC-E level vibration was not permissible. VC-E level is regarded as an extremely challenging criterion to achieve. VC-F and VC-G levels are appropriate for extremely quiet research spaces, but as these levels are often not possible to achieve in practice they are not recommended for use as a design criterion, only for evaluation. Bouygues began discussion with Mason UK as early as 2017 on how best to achieve this level of isolation.

Spring mounts are often specified to isolate mechanical and electrical equipment or protect sensitive instrumentation. They provide superior levels of isolation to what can be achieved through rubber mats or pads. Although they are highly versatile and are often ideal for applications where low frequency vibrations are present, there are some applications where they are insufficient. Springs are effectively stressed metal wires, which have multiple vibration response modes. This is commonly not an issue as often insignificant in vibrational power, but can become unacceptable for very sensitive applications. Furthermore, when springs are engineered to become softer and softer, and therefore more receptive to lower frequencies of vibration, placing something which requires stability on top of them becomes increasingly difficult, as small changes in loading can lead to excitation. Rubber and spring combinations can add damping, but this also reduces isolation performance and multiple degrees of freedom remain, which can lead to some vibration frequencies being amplified.

In most building or engineering projects, these minor limitations do not matter. However, when dealing with a specification that requires isolating for very low levels of vibration such as is required for an

electron microscopy suite, these conventional methods of isolation are insufficient.

Isolation with air springs

Air springs are specified in projects requiring very high levels of vibration isolation. Each air spring is essentially a rubber bellows, pressurised with a gas, such as nitrogen. Air springs are self-levelling and have very little resonant response, therefore providing a high level of stability and higher levels of isolation than can be provided by rubber or spring isolators. Air springs typically achieve natural frequencies of sub 2Hz, but it is possible for well-engineered systems to go even lower.

Air springs are often used to isolate sensitive medical equipment, like MRI scanners, or high precision imaging equipment like electron microscopes. However, there are

very few vibration control specialists who have the products, technology and expertise for projects that require this level of isolation. Most companies in this particular niche of engineering simply do not provide air springs as an option.

Bouygues therefore chose Mason UK, who proposed a bespoke system of air springs to meet the level of isolation determined in the specification. The electron microscope would be mounted on a large concrete block, or inertia base as it is technically known. This, in turn, would be separated from the ground using a system of air springs.

Working within constraints

Bouygues needed a partner that could work closely with them throughout the process, going back and forth with the acoustic consultant, to ensure the specification was met. This would require many letters of qualification

to get the design accepted with sufficient confidence, so experience of working on complex projects like these was important.

This process was more difficult because of some of the unique constraints of this project. For example, the system of air springs required a huge pit in the floor, as the air springs are supported on top of columns for stability reasons. However, the system also had to work architecturally within the building, and so the maximum possible pit depth was a constraint that had to be worked around. Mason UK worked closely with Bouygues and the acoustic consultant to determine the optimal solution in terms of the pit size, helping agree a depth that would provide the necessary vibration isolation, but still work from an architectural point of view.

Another design constraint arose from the need to shield the electron microscope from electromagnetic sources. This necessitated integrating the floating block with the continuous electromagnetic shielding lining the entire room. Although the Mason team were not aware of this constraint from the outset, they were able to work around it through additional onsite coordination with the engineers during the installation phase. Stainless steel was preferred where possible, as this has a reduced magnetic signature compared to alternative materials, while extra effort was taken to ensure that

where anchorage into the structure was necessary, there was no risk of generating any pathway for electrical conductivity.

Isolation in action

The electron microscope now resides on top of a large inertia base which can be raised by the system of air springs. The block itself weighs approximately 10,500 kg, with the additional weight of the microscope resulting in a total mass of 14,000 kg.

When the system is actuated via a remote control box, the air springs are pressurised and the inertia base and microscope is lifted from its supports. This action cuts out any transmission path for sources of vibration, meaning any vibration has to pass through the air springs. The low resonant response of the air springs ensures the equipment can be safely operated without any impact from sources of vibration.

Although the specification had required VC-E levels of isolation, the scientists who would be using the microscope were optimistically hoping for VC-G levels. Astonishingly, subsequent testing demonstrated that Mason’s air springs not only surpassed the VC-E levels specified by the manufacturer, but in part even surpassed the VC-G levels the scientists were aiming for.

Reflecting on this impressive result, Dr. Thomas Davies, Experimental Officer with the School of Chemistry at Cardiff University, explained that ‘‘the

final design exceeded expectations and delivered a measured level of VC-H/I. After a smooth installation, Mason continued to work with us to fine-tune the properties of the block to minimise cross-talk and maximise performance, and this has resulted in a world-class, state-of-the-art ultraquiet electron microscopy suite.’’

‘‘As far as I am aware, we’re the only company in the UK that can do this sort of engineering,’’ reflected Adam Fox, Director of Mason UK. ‘‘Working on these types of projects, where you have to face some pretty novel design constraints, is always challenging. When a high level of isolation is specified, there is a correspondingly higher demand to qualify your design.’’

‘‘Mason UK proved to be a very knowledge and competent specialist,’’ recalled Ashley May, Senior Design Manager with Bouygues UK. ‘‘They delivered excellent advice, design, installation and post installation support on this project and went the extra mile with assistance, even after the completion of the contract.’’ Following the successful completion of the air springs system – including the positive reports from the scientists operating the equipment – Mason UK have been invited to tender for further works on this vibration sensitive project.

To find out more please visit www.mason-uk.co.uk

Bosch Commercial and Industrial Heating Solutions for education facilities

Potential personified

High school students make campus sustainable with digital technology learned from new BIM workshop

Course Based on Bentley Systems Platform Boosts Engineering Skills of Technical Pupils in Mexico Center for Industrial Technological Studies and Services (CETIS) is a chain of high schools in Mexico that offer students the opportunity to attain a technical-professional level degree. CETIS is a part of the General Directorate of Industrial Technological Education (DGETI), the largest technological upper secondary education institution in the country.

Located in Mexico City, CETIS No.

33 “Carlos María de Bustamante” teaches human resource administration, architecture, construction, automotive maintenance, and office automation. Martha Velia Mendez Soriano, project coordinator, vocalized the need to update the digital software taught in the school’s architecture and construction workshops.

“In the past, the computer-aided design (CAD) software classes that were given were limited to 2D and 3D drawing,” Soriano explained.

The CAD applications that they

had previously used were unable to digitally combine planning, design, and engineering methodologies. Because the software did not incorporate all building information modeling (BIM) processes, each project phase showcased in the workshops were carried out individually.

Soriano had previously taught architecture and construction workshops with a digital platform that integrated design, projection, supervision, and development at other institutions, and she

understood the value this brings to engineering students. She sought to develop a digital workshop that showcased how all phases of an engineering project could be integrated and how engineers make design and construction decisions based on multidiscipline information and analysis for optimized benefits.

“Using a digital model as a didactic teaching tool for […] construction procedures, work quantification, and budgets are basic and indispensable topics for technical careers in architecture and construction,” said Soriano.

The school amassed a project team comprising both CETIS No. 33’s construction and architecture teachers and software specialists at Bentley Systems to create a digital BIM workshop.

“The Bentley tool is widely used in the architecture and engineering sectors, which means that having a workshop for BIM technologies will boost academic excellence at the campus, providing more job opportunities to students within the country’s productive sector, by training competent technicians in the professional field,” Soriano said.

A Physical and Digital Classroom

The workshop classroom on the CETIS No. 33 campus contains a central data processing and

integration server, 30 individual computers with Bentley Systems’ applications as the platform, and an unmanned aerial vehicle.

“The open BIM workshop is a physical space, a classroom that was transformed for students to incorporate knowledge and develop learning about BIM methodologies with the use of Bentley software,” Soriano described. “It is called a workshop because students learn by doing; they develop construction and architectural projects established in the study plan of the technical career of construction and architecture.”

Licensed to use the software, students can access the workshop on campus or virtually at home, and all project data and processing is executed through the workshop server. The BIM workshop’s curriculum spans five semesters. Students will develop distinctive projects each semester with the assistance of the Bentley teaching platform.

A Beneficial Workshop Needs a Beneficial Project

Since DGETI is currently implementing sustainable energy initiatives, the project team decided to use one of these environmentally friendly plans as the basis for the project carried out in the BIM workshop. The eco-friendly project

was developed in cooperation with CETIS No. 33 students using Bentley software. In this regard, the project was utilized for training and education and showed how integrated design software can deliver specific results.

Some of the green initiatives that the school was carrying out included rainwater use for sanitary purposes and powering electricity with solar panels. The project team decided to incorporate both proposals into the digital model upon which the workshop was based.

The project team performed a photogrammetric survey of the campus with an unmanned aerial vehicle to create a reality mesh. They accurately calculated rainwater harvest volumes from the reality mesh to decipher the precise dimensions of the water storage tank required. They found that construction of the water storage tank would decrease water depletion on the campus by 50%.

For the solar panel portion of the initiative, the project team determined where on the campus the photocells should be located to maximize solar energy absorption throughout the year based on the planetary position of the school. They were able to conserve energy resources through the solar exposure calculator used on the digital twin.

It was determined that placement of the photocells would reduce the campus’ energy consumption by 25% to 30%, saving an estimated 50% on electricity bills. Using solar energy to this extent also reduces carbon emissions by 32 tons per year.

Sustainability Comes to Fruition

Creating the BIM workshop ultimately led to the production of a sustainable campus. As a result of the student project, there is now a rainwater harvesting system and 20 solar panels that provide electricity to the campus government building, which was identified as the building receiving the most solar exposure. Therefore, the BIM workshop not only taught students innovative engineering software, it also helped the school understand how their proposed environmental plans would save them money and greatly

diminish their carbon footprint.

“In addition to widely promoting the use of these technologies, [the workshop] allowed us to determine the viability of the rainwater harvesting project, as well as the harvesting of solar energy through photocells,” Soriano said. “These projects have a useful life of 25 years at maximum efficiency, since once the campus’ digital twin was available, the appropriate design data was obtained to be able to generate maximum efficiency, thereby supporting and justifying the use of the campus’ economic resources to allocate them to said project.”

A Pilot Workshop and Project

The digital workshop directly impacts over 900 students studying architecture and construction every semester at CETIS No. 33. Currently in use, the BIM workshop has already started its courses both for teachers and students.

“They will use tools such as ContextCapture, MicroStation, Descartes, and OpenBuildings, all integrated under the study plan and the sustainability master project,” Soriano explained.

The solar and rainwater project of CETIS No. 33 is used as an example of how teachers and students can learn BIM methodology on Bentley applications within the school’s architecture and construction

framework. This study has also confirmed the practicality of rainwater harvesting and solar energy on a CETIS campus and encourages other DGETI schools to investigate clean energy solutions.

“We consider that CETIS No. 33 is a technological prototype as it is the only campus that has its 3D mesh, a solar exposure study, a digital twin in the making, and its own BIM workshop, all of which can be replicated in other campuses of the same educational system,” Soriano said.

If the BIM workshop and sustainability initiatives are carried out at the approximately 75 DGETI campuses that teach construction and architecture, many more students will receive BIM training and tons of carbon emissions would be reduced every year.

“All of this was developed so that students can benefit from more up-to-date professional skills, the latest generational tools, in addition to being able to support other DGETI campuses in the development of their infrastructure projects, thus making the most of available resources,” said Soriano.

For further information please visit www.bentley.com

Prathamesh Gawde Senior Product Marketer, Bentley Systems

Data driven

Data, the currency helping unlock campus energy efficiency

by George Catto,

Client Services

Director at AMR DNA,

an Energy Assets service

There’s probably never been a more pressing need for college and university estates to implement energy efficiency strategies.

Spiralling gas and electricity costs are placing real pressure on operating budgets so, self-evidently, any improvement in efficiency will be much prized. The good news is that energy managers responsible for campus portfolios have more advanced tools at their disposal than ever before, particularly in the analysis and interpretation of consumption data to help root out waste.

For example, monitoring and

reporting platforms that assimilate half hourly data from automated meter reading systems are relatively commonplace. These provide a convenient way of comparing actual consumption versus benchmark parameters, enabling managers to measure the impact of efficiency programmes.

These tools, including WebAnalyser, support a customisable approach to energy reporting, whether that’s monitoring consumption by period, comparing performance to ‘standard’ operating profiles, validating and analysing usage, or automatically alerting users to unusual consumption

patterns.

However, extracting ultimate value for this set-up pre-supposes that the underpinning energy performance profiles for each building possess the accuracy to be used as benchmarks.

This is why machine learning, informed by artificial intelligence (AI) is fast emerging as a favoured route to efficiency across the HE and FE sectors. Machine learning systems, such as AMR DNA from Energy Assets, can crunch years’ worth of metered energy data in short order and progressively ‘learn’ what optimal performance looks like for each building.

This creates pattern recognition that can spot tell-tale signs of energy waste unique to each building resulting, for example, from equipment running needlessly or heating controls incorrectly set. As the system continuously monitors consumption data, it identifies potential areas of waste energy through a checklist of priority actions until benchmark performance is achieved. As such, machine learning can be a complementary tool to optimise the value of monitoring and reporting platforms.

Getting the most from any reporting or analytical tool requires all energy related systems to be working in harmony.

For managers, this means:

• Capturing consumption data in granular detail via automated meter reading (AMR) systems

• Monitoring and analysing data through advanced AM&T portals and setting automated alerts for unusual patterns of behaviour

• Applying advanced tools such as machine learning and artificial intelligence to identify waste, set benchmarks, and optimise efficiency opportunities

A machine learning approach has been adopted by The Energy Consortium (TEC), a Contracting Authority, owned by its members, which delivers a wide range of services in energy procurement, data reporting, risk management and cost reduction on a not-for-profit basis for the university sector.

TEC risk manages 11TWh of gas and power across 10,500 meters,

and uses AMR DNA energy data service, powered by kWIQly, across a number of HE campuses. This creates data-driven consumption insights that it would take an army of analysts to achieve manually.

The science of energy waste Pinning down energy waste and improvement opportunities over an estate of complex, multi-faceted buildings, requires rock-solid benchmarks to compare like-withlike. ‘Rubbish in, rubbish out’ is the phrase that comes to mind.

Firstly, though, it’s worth focusing attention on what we mean by ‘waste’ because it comes in many forms:

• Precedent waste - where a building does not perform as well as it has in the past (and noting that operational contexts and use-cases of a building will change and must be re-learned).

• Routine waste - where a building can be shown to systematically use energy that cannot be necessary or comfortable (e.g., if heating is maximised at +5°C, since colder weather requires more heating; a combination of discomfort or waste exists at all temperatures between -5°C and +5°C).

• Peer or benchmarked wastewhere a building does not comply with its peers (for example, sets of comparable buildings are expected to have similar balance temperatures, night-setback loads and apparent occupancy patterns).

The analytics engine has several report modes to save energy

managers’ time. These include establishing achievable targets by KPI and weather condition for each meter, forecasting future use and identifying where changes have taken place; and diagnosing priority and cause of savings opportunity. However, it is also important to acknowledge (and quantify) the impact of efforts made. Accordingly, as illustrated below - proof-ofsavings reports can include graphic comparisons of prior performance and any change at the click of a button.

Energy Consumption Comparison Report

This report compares a period of 874 days from 2019-09-12 to 2022-02-01 with a period of 165 days after the implementation of machine learning changes from 2022-03-19 to 202208-30.

Each period has models of consumption in response to outside air temperature for each day of week. These are then applied to a typical annual weather pattern for the location to come up with expectations of annual performance on the new and old basis. The difference represents a saving which might be expected if the performances prior to and after changes were replicated for the hypothetical typical year:

Before kWh = 1251737; After kWh = 852710; Saving Energy 399027 kWh; Saving Percentage 31.9 %; Annualised Value @ 0.04 /kWh = 15961.08

The bottom line represents the cumulative deviation from expected consumption, where ‘Up’ is wasteful and ‘Down’ is ahead of expected.

Energy Consumption Comparison Report

The turquoise section represents the period benefiting from machine learning.

Reliability Observations Report

Valid Proof of Savings requires sufficient time period to be considered, during which a representative spread of weather conditions are represented for each day of week. The blue represents ‘before’ machine learning influence, the turquoise line is ‘after’.

Energy managers will use their professional expertise and knowledge of each building to apply machine learning data reports to assess where action can positively impact on efficiency.

Often, it’s a question of spotting improvement opportunities hiding in plain sight, but sometimes these can be the hardest to identify because they are ingrained in a building’s legacy performance and can be easily overlooked.

Fortunately, machine learning, informed by AI, is particularly good at doing the heavy lifting when it comes to data interrogation, consumption pattern recognition and constructing peer-groups of buildings. It can help unpick these categories of waste by thorough historical analysis of halfhourly meter data and interpreting it in the context of how and when the build is operational, taking account of

external factors (weather, occupancy levels).

When primed with meter data, weather data and occupancy forecasts, machine learning enables energy managers to fulfil their core role of optimising energy performance across their entire estate by implementing data-led energy waste and carbon reduction strategies. This approach proved particularly valuable during the pandemic, when building occupancy (both in halls of residence and in teaching environments) fluctuated. That said, with escalating energy costs, the ability to scenario plan for efficiency improvements based on rock-solid benchmarking is probably more important today in terms of budgetary planning than at any time in the recent past.

Data Driven Efficiency for TEC Members

In the case of HE and FE sectors, a study of the full TEC portfolio showed that an annual saving potential of £6,000,000 could be achieved if all buildings that do not turn consumption down to 50% overnight were to do so. It may not be practical for every building to do this; however, the beauty of machine learning is that the software allows the addition of any number of markers to support necessary filtering.

Stephen Creighton, Head of Member Services at TEC, says that machine learning has enabled its members to achieve significant improvements in energy efficiency.

He commented: “Every organisation is facing spiralling energy costs, so understanding where efficiencies might be possible is incredibly important. However, the diverse nature of HE and FE estates makes manual analytics unrealistically time consuming. By using tools such as machine learning, managers gain access to granular consumption data, along with checklists of potential improvements. This provides a data-driven foundation for energy and sustainability strategies.”

Moreover, the value of energyrelated data will only increase with the Market-wide Half-Hourly settlement (MWHH) reform due by 2025. This environment will enhance opportunities for demand side response incentives and preferential time of use tariffs. The availability of estate-wide rich and relevant consumption data will become increasingly important in helping managers negotiate future energy deals.

For further information please visit www.energyassets.co.uk

100+ exhibitors

7,000 visitors ExCel London

INFORMING, INSPIRING AND CONNECTING THE INDUSTRY

The Cleaning Show is the largest and longest running event in the UK dedicated to cleaning, hygiene and facilities management. Now established as the ultimate destination for the cleaning and hygiene sector to connect, learn and discover new products, services and suppliers.

As Europe’s leading supplier, installer and integrator of digital television and audio visual equipment, Airwave can deliver your vision. With a presence in all key sectors including: healthcare, education, retail & leisure, stadia, prisons and transport, Airwave’s customer base is diverse.

www.airwave.tv

The ASSA ABLOY Group is the global leader in access solutions. Our offering covers products and services related to openings, such as locks, doors, gates and entrance automation solutions. This also includes expertise in controlling identities with keys, cards, tags, mobile and biometric identity verification systems.

www.assaabloy.com

Club Car boasts nearly 60 years of industry-leading innovation and design, initially focused on golf cars and then expanding to commercial utility vehicles and personal-use transportation.

www.clubcar.com

Hysopt is unique design software that helps building managers get the most out of their heating and cooling systems. In collaboration with installation companies and engineering firms, we can cut your annual energy bill by 10 to 50%.

www.hysopt.com

As the UK’s market-leading provider of technology led compliance and risk management solutions, our purpose is to help organisations be safer, healthier, and stronger. Our guide explains a range of measures and safety commitments so that universities are fully prepared and to keep the spread of the virus under control.

www.alcumusgroup.com

Buildings today don’t only provide a safe, functional place for people to live and work. They can also cater for – and even respond to – their needs, while helping them work more efficiently and sustainably. At Bosch Building Technologies, we are at the forefront of these new developments.

www.boschbuildingtechnologies.com

Our education solutions are developed from the ground up to increase campus security and safety while extending the capabilities of student, faculty and staff ID badges. Our solutions can be used for convenient access to buildings, computer login, cashless vending and campus activities.

www.hidglobal.com

LapSafe® created its first products to meet the needs of the education market and although we have since expanded into many other sectors, this remains our largest and most established area of expertise. Our products have been thoroughly tested by every type of education and academic institution

www.lapsafe.com

Originally founded in 1921, the company known today as Mitsubishi Electric has almost 100 years of experience in providing reliable, high quality products and support to installers, specifiers, corporate clients and general consumers all over the world.

https://les.mitsubishielectric.co.uk

From its inception in 2001, SALTO was created with one objective: to devise a world-class access control system that was simple to use and extremely efficient, giving users the ability to control all their access needs and secure all their doors without complex and expensive wiring.

www.saltosystems.com

As a trusted advisor and reliable partner, as a system integrator, service provider and a product vendor, Siemens offers energy-efficient, safe and secure buildings and infrastructure. With our people, our global footprint and our technical expertise, it's our passion helping you to create the perfect place – your perfect place.

www.siemens.com

Award-winning AV integrator, providing bespoke AV solutions with a strong company ethos, collegiality and partnership approach. Evolving with developments in AV technology allows Strive AV to deliver excellence across education, corporate, health and retail environments, providing AV solutions which transform communication and enhance end user’s experiences.

www.striveav.com

With more and more consideration being given to energy usage and the increasing implementation of green legislation, PumpSmart Limited is able to assist with the identification of areas where real energy savings can be made. New products, aimed at energy consumption reduction, are constantly entering the market with potential to improve existing installations.

www.pumpsmart.co.uk

We drive digital transformation by integrating world-leading process and energy technologies to realize the full efficiency and sustainability opportunities for your establishment. We provide end-point to cloud integration connecting products, controls, software and services.

https://www.se.com

Everything we do is about improving people’s daily lives. We believe healthy school meals make kids do better. That relaxed patients recover faster. And organizations with engaged employees perform better. With our unique wide range of integrated services, this is what we do every day.

www.sodexo.com

Veolia Water Technologies UK (VWT UK) is a leading water treatment solutions and services provider with a unique global presence and 160 years of experience. VWT UK strives to provide innovative solutions such as the new PURELAB Quest compact water purification unit that can generate Type I, II and III water.

www.veoliawatertechnologies.co.uk