URSA UK LTD

150 Holborn in the centre of London is a 9-storey mixed use development. It incorporates retail on the ground floor, offices above and 13 apartments in an adjacent block. Architect Perkins & Will specified URSA WALLTEC BLACK 32 in critical areas of the new build structure. URSA has supplied 1000m² of URSA WALLTEC BLACK 32 as part of the multi-million-pound development in London. The mixed-use scheme replaces a 1980s office block and features a café, exhibition and reception space, atrium and roof pavilion with rooftop gardens. The overall building height was limited in order to maintain views of the nearby St Paul’s Cathedral.The new building aims to offer a healthy workplace with natural daylight being a key design feature. As a result, the design also incorporates measures to minimise solar gains. Additionally, the scheme aims to achieve a LEED ‘Platinum’ rating, BREEAM rating of ‘Excellent’ and Fitwel certification. URSA products assisting here with ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 certification along with a generic BRE Green Guide rating of ‘A+’.Ian Claydon, Technical Manager at URSA commented: “We worked closely with Perkins & Will in developing the specification for those areas of the external walls incorporating URSA WALLTEC BLACK 32. Including options for the type of insulation to be used and U-value calculations. A particularly critical requirement was for the insulation to be non-combustible, Euroclass A1”.

Urban development within St. Helier, the capital of Jersey, is gathering momentum with URSA seeing its glass mineral wool insulation products specified. Urban development within St. Helier, the capital of Jersey, is gathering momentum with URSA seeing its glass mineral wool insulation products specified.With Jersey being the largest of the Channel Islands,St. Helier is a lively harbour town and has become one of the UK’s most popular tourist attractions, creating a high demand for ongoing residential and commercial development. Both its commercial port and marina, as well as the centre and the main neighbourhoods, are undergoing an in-depth study for the renovation of its building stock and the transformation of the urban landscape it offers.The ultimate objective is a profound urban regeneration carried out through the creation of a commercial heart open to the sea with modern, sustainable and healthy residential developments in the town centre and on the outskirts to ensure the demands of future growth. It also aims to reduce traffic and create a walkable environment for pedestrians and cyclists with green and open spaces.In the north of the town is Ann Court, a large development located next to a municipal park, being built on the site of a recently demolished car park. Developed by Andium Homes, construction is nearing completion on the development of 165 new homes of different sizes and orientations (with internal and external courtyards), but with a common standard: the energy efficiency and sustainability of the whole complex. To support the sustainable objectives, architects have specified a ventilated façade that offers thermal and acoustic comfort, whilst preventing moisture penetration and condensation. A correctly designed ventilated façade system also offers a fire safe structure, prolongs the life of the building and enhances its energy efficiency.As part of the specification, 2,400m² of 220mm URSA WALLTEC BLACK 32 were specified. The choice of material was the direct decision of the architect Stephen Marshall of Axis Mason Architects, who decided on the glass mineral wool insulation slabs after learning about their performance and the knowledge provided by URSA’s technical office.URSA WALLTEC BLACK 32 is a non-combustible British Board of Agrément (BBA) approved glass mineral wool insulation slab. It is treated with a silicon-based water repellent and features a black glass fibre tissue facing on one side which is applied during the manufacturing process. The black tissue facing provides an aesthetic solution, allowing the product to be used behind open joint cladding without being visible.Once the URSA WALLTEC BLACK 32 has been fixed, the façade is completed with the installation of the cladding to create a cavity that ensures the properties of the system.This imposing façade enveloping the courtyards of Ann Court facilitates a new building in the north of St. Helier where social interaction, tranquillity, quality, comfort and healthiness are guaranteed.  

Fifty5ive Queen Street, Salford is a new 18 storey, 220-unit residential building in the centre of Salford for local developer Salboy. It includes modern, high-quality 1-, 2- & 3-bedroom apartments and duplexes, amenities include private resident workspace, gymnasium, yoga studios, resident cinema room and a terrace garden.Domis Construction is the preferred construction partner for Salboy on this scheme. In early 2022 they approached Encon Insulation & Nevill Long in Chorley looking for a more readily available alternative to the stone wool product already specified.URSA was chosen to fill the void and keep the scheme on track. We supplied over 4500m² of 100mm URSAPAN BLACK - a glass mineral wool rainscreen cladding insulation slab:Deemed non-combustible with a fire classification of Euroclass A1 (the highest possible rating) when tested to EN 13501- 1:2018 Reaction to Fire.Thermal conductivity of 0.035 W/mK;BBA Certified Kate Fox, Area Sales Manager for the Midlands stated, “Following the success of this initial partnership URSA are now the preferred supplier of rainscreen insulation and our products are currently being used on Anchorage Quay in Salford with others in the pipeline including Derwent Street in Salford”.    

Fulham is the oldest of the ten London Premier League football clubs. Founded in 1879 by the Reverend John Henry to offer the young workers of the neighborhood an alternative to less healthy temptations, since 1896 it has had its home in the mythical Craven Cottage.The site and the club have evolved dramatically since. Located on the banks of the River Thames, very close to the refined London neighborhoods of Chelsea, Kensington and Chiswick, the stadium is one of the main tourist attractions of the London capital due to its significance in the history of football, and its extraordinary location on the banks of the Thames.The south-western part of the British capital is now undergoing an ambitious redevelopment plan that includes the demolition and new construction of the legendary Riverside Stand, adjacent to England's most important river. The scheme is being led by the club itself, appointing Buckingham Group as main contractor and Populus as its lead architect. As part of the wider scheme, an URSA specification has been made to ensure all thermal and acoustic targets are met. The project will see the redevelopment and expansion of the current Riverside Stand to increase its capacity from 4,689 to 8,650 whilst increasing the overall capacity of Craven Cottage to 29,600 seats. Creation of a new public riverside walk as well as new restaurants, cafés, bars, corporate hospitality and event space forms an important part of the scheme. Below ground, a new basement will provide ‘back of house’ facilities, club and lounge area whilst nine serviced apartments will be made available on site.Partnering with distributor, Encon and liaising directly with the installation team at Grant Plastering, the project used URSA TERRA glass wool slabs to insulate the ceilings and soffits. Normally used behind rainscreen cladding systems, URSA WALLTEC 32B was chosen because of its class leading thermal conductivity of 0.032 W/mK, acoustic performance and ease of installation.In addition to the low thermal conductivity, the slabs have exceptional acoustic absorption and are non-combustible (Euroclass A1), so they do not contribute to the propagation of fire, an advantage that is fundamental in an installation of this type, designed to house thousands of people.Another noteworthy aspect is the sustainability that they bring to the buildings in which they are installed, and which are recognized by the most prestigious European certifications. URSA's range of glass wool insulation products are completely recyclable and use less energy in their manufacture, transport and installation. Ian Claydon, URSA UK Technical Manager, commented; “This is an incredibly important development for the capital that sees a huge amount of investment in one of the UK’s oldest football clubs. The site location and wider ambitions of the project make this an incredibly exciting development to be part of.“We have worked closely with the project managers technical team and installers to ensure they made the very best specification. Opting for one of our core products, we have managed to fulfil all of their wider needs in terms of the insulation specification.”The works will include an increase in capacity and new amenities, but also seek to enhance the space for residents, fans and tourists, with a public promenade running along the banks of the Thames, commercial spaces and new meeting rooms underneath the grandstand.  

URSA TERRA Glass Wool specified at major regeneration scheme  Construction giant Kier, has specified over 3,000 square metres of URSA TERRA Glass Wool as part of a £30million regeneration scheme at Manor Street, Braintree, Essex. The scheme will help rejuvenate and revitalise the area, providing essential new facilities and an attractive public realm whilst cultivating a vibrant town centre destination for the local community. Under the ambitious scheme, Kier chose URSA glass wool, as core insulation specification. The architects opted for URSA Walltec Black 32 at 100mm, 140mm and 200mm thickness along with URSA Hometec Roll 35 in a range of thicknesses for use throughout the development. Ian Claydon of URSA explained: “We were first involved in the scheme in July 2020 when approached by our distributor, Encon Insulation (Newmarket) to discuss a series of architect’s drawings and design the specification for a number of different wall types including traditional masonry cavity and rainscreen cladding with both cladding panels and brick outer leaf.  “We undertook numerous U-value calculations covering 18 different wall types. We also offered advice on the ‘buildability’ of some wall types, effect of linear thermal bridges, the fire performance of the walls and fire performance of the insulation. “The specification has evolved since with Kier adding metal roof insulation to their chosen product range and we are now providing a complete insulation solution. “This scheme typifies how our glass wool products are the perfect fit for almost any wall design or construction type that can potentially make up a building. It’s far reaching benefits in terms of performance, durability and flexibility see URSA TERRA specified time and time again in both commercial and residential schemes.” Ian added: “Working closely with Encon Insulation we will be supplying products to site on an as needed basis. Whilst we are facing challenges with imports caused by both Brexit and Covid, we are still devising solutions which allow us to retain strong stock levels and cater for the demands of a large site such as this.” The mixed-use scheme at Braintree will include 35 new homes, a 70-room hotel, health provision, new bus interchange, two-storey car park, and enhanced public realm, which will complement Braintree’s historic Town Hall and provide the perfect backdrop for a new café restaurant. A new healthcare facility will sit at the centre of the development and will also provide a home for Mid Essex CCG’s first Livewell Hub including a GP surgery, pharmacy and further preventative healthcare services. At the centre also will be an accessible garden area which the general public are encouraged to utilise, enjoy and relax surrounded by existing public amenities offered by the library, museum and the historic, Grade II listed, Braintree Town Hall. A new car park across two floors will provide additional parking capacity whist a new hotel feeds into the wider tourism strategy for the district. Partnering remains critical within the wider URSA approach. Technical staff are keen to collaborate with clients at the initial design stage to support the best specification available. Ian concluded: “The Braintree scheme represents the very best of what URSA can offer – from a true sense of partnering with the client to the application of a vast range of products designed for multiple specifications. We continue to demonstrate our agility and strength as a business and are able to present products with assured confidence.” 

Smugglers Way has been designed with sustainability at its core and will be one of the largest residential and commercial developments in the area, which is currently undergoing rapid regeneration.The 1.41-hectare scheme will see a mix of 554 new build-to-rent and affordable apartments spread across 13 towers, where residents will be able to benefit from far-reaching views across the River Thames, a large extensive communal area, roof gardens, and external courtyard spaces.The development is situated along Swandon Way, the main transport artery through South West London, and only 350 metres from Wandsworth Town rail station. The site will also be home to more than 8,000m² of commercial space, including new shops, bars, restaurants, workspace, a cinema, a live music venue, a riverside park, and crossings along the River Wandle.For a project that caters to the diverse needs of a variety of land uses in a busy London location, getting the insulation right was a must. URSAPAN BLACK was able to meet these needs.A project of this scale naturally comes with challenges due to the volume of work taking place at the same time. On top of this, the fast-paced, busy nature of London adds extra complications to navigate. From a logistics perspective, it is difficult for lorries to gain access to the site when supplying materials as there is limited space for them to manoeuvre on the streets. Project manager at the design and build construction company, McAleer & Rushe, Gerald Laverty, said: “We made a conscious decision to use products that were logistically viable during the procurement stage of the scheme. URSAPAN BLACK was in keeping with this because the slabs are larger than others on the market – meaning you need less of them - and they are compressed during manufacture allowing more to be transported on a truck. Fewer lorries minimised disruption to other road users and helped us reduce our CO2 emissions.” Holly Lawless, commercial manager at building materials supplier, Walls and Ceilings International, added:“URSA engaged with us early in the project development and confirmed availability of the product for the whole three-year period of the build. This played a critical role in the decision to choose URSA. So many in the industry are struggling with supply chain issues but due to the sheer scale of the project and limited on-site storage, reliability of supply has been – and continues to be – vital in order to stay on track with the project’s tight construction timeframes.” The development of Smugglers Way had tight time frames to stick to. While reassurances of supply availability were critical to help keep the project on track, actual features of the product aided in making it easier to maintain the timeline, too.The robust nature of the URSAPAN BLACK slabs made it straightforward for installers to handle and install. In turn, helping increase worker productivity levels as they have less slabs to work with per area. Steve Martin, contracts manager at brickwork contractor Callan Construction, said:“We found the product very easy to use. It’s compressible so easy to store and rigid so it doesn’t flop about when you are building with it. Time-saving qualities like this are vital in a project of this scale where there are many aspects of development that could be subject to issues which could in turn cause time delays later down the line. Using URSAPAN BLACK meant we could move on to other areas of the build, such as bricklaying, without delay.” Sustainability was at the forefront of this build. The complex has been designed to achieve a BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) rating of excellent and Home Quality Mark 4.Insulation plays a key role in lowering CO2 emissions and helping residents reduce their energy bills. URSAPAN BLACK was essential in making this possible.URSAPAN BLACK was able to support the sustainability ambitions because the product is manufactured to ISO 9001:2015 Quality Assurance Systems and ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management Systems.Gerald concluded: “URSAPAN BLACK was a perfect fit for a number of reasons. It helped us meet our sustainability ambitions which has a positive knock-on effect for end-users who will benefit from a comfortable indoor climate, in turn helping to reduce their energy bills. But, as a mixed-use project, one of the biggest benefits of all, has been increased acoustic comfort for residents who would otherwise be disturbed by the busy surrounding commercial area.”  

The Anchorage Gateway in Salford Quays is a new multi-storey building in the centre of Salford. The main wing is 29 storeys high whilst the lower tower tops out at 19 storeys. The ground floor contains almost 400m² of commercial space and the upper floors contain 290 residential units and 800m² of amenity space. The building is reputed to be one of the highest brick clad buildings in Europe, Kinlan Brickwork being specialist sub-contractor. Domis Construction is the main contractor on this scheme. URSA was chosen as the preferred insulation manufacturer. We supplied over 11,500m² of 100mm URSAPAN BLACK - a glass mineral wool rainscreen cladding insulation slab.

The Exchange Building, an 11-storey, three-phase student accommodation facility on Liverpool’s Hotham Street, marks the second phase of an exciting redevelopment project for the city.Cladding contractor, BAK UK, has specified URSAPAN across the vast new build structure. URSA has supplied over 1000m² of URSAPAN to the cladding contractor as part of a £35m student accommodation project in Liverpool. Under the scheme, 500 student homes are to be created in a multi-storey environment on the site of the former Odeon cinema on London Road/Hotham Street. A swimming pool, gym and two landscaped gardens also form part of the ambitious city centre development set for occupation later this year.As appropriate for a prestige, high-rise residential and multi-occupancy building, superior materials have been specified throughout including URSAPAN. The scheme has been halted for several years due to issues surrounding development funding. Now under new ownership, the design and construction have been scrutinised, and it appears that a combustible insulation may have been used in the original cladding system. This has since been replaced and new work completed using URSA’s specialist product.    

URSA, has seen some 25,000m² of its glass mineral wool insulation products specified and installed at one of the London’s largest residential development projects in recent years.Ian Claydon, Technical Manager for URSA UK, describes the specification through to installation journey:“The Silk District is a new development located close to Whitechapel Station and within walking distance to the City of London. The Whitechapel based scheme compromises three residential blocks set around a piazza with private landscaped gardens. New commercial space on the ground floor of The Silk District will welcome many new and exciting restaurants, cafes, bars and shops. The Borough is considered an important area of regeneration for London and will meet the aspirations of neighbouring Shoreditch, Brick Lane, Spitalfields Market and Bethnal Green all of which are less than a 10-minute walk from the development.“Our work with the London based property development company leading the scheme, Mount Anvil, began in November 2018. We provided advice and guidance on making the correct choice of materials, achieving compliance with Building Regulations (thermal & fire performance, requirements and resistance to rain penetration) and compliance with the NHBC Standards. We also provided numerous thermal models, U-value calculations and associated condensation risk analysis. The Mount Anvil team were undoubtedly impressed with the speed and quality of URSA’s Technical Services.“We were involved with external wall construction as well as the design of a brick clad rainscreen system and continued to work extensively on the scheme throughout 2019 as the design developed further. Work was delayed at the beginning of 2020 due to Covid and re-started in July 2020.Ian explained: “Collaborating with the client in these very early phases ensured that they were able to select a product that is entirely right for each and every one of their primary and secondary needs. Planning was critical within the design and roll out and meticulous attention to detail was applied during these initial phases and throughout.Key products installed included URSA’s CAVITY BATT 32 & WALLTEC BLACK 32 – 12,000m² and URSA ACOUSTIC ROLL - 13,000m².Mark Guest, Regional Sales Manager for URSA continued:"URSA WALLTEC BLACK 32 and URSA CAVITY BATT 32 were chosen for their fire classification of Euroclass A1 when tested to EN 13501-1:2018 Reaction to Fire and being manufactured with a recycled glass content of up to 73%. From an installation perspective, the black glass fleece tissue facing on URSA WALLTEC BLACK 32 means that the product could be used behind open joint cladding without being seen."“There were several other over-arching factors to consider within this scheme and those included the sheer size and scale of the site and its location in a packed city centre. The nature of both products meant that they could be compressed therefore saving time and money on transport, effectively halving the number of journeys needed. This meant that more products could be delivered to site and stored in an area where space was at a premium.“Work is now once again very much underway with an anticipated completion date of early in 2021. The property market is thriving once again and Whitechapel is becoming recognised as a hotspot for investment and is now being considered the destination of choice for many new businesses.Our distributor partner, Encon Insulation in Dagenham, worked closely alongside us during the project”Ian concluded: “It’s fantastic to see two of our core product specified at this major residential development. We have enjoyed a collaborative, partnering approach with the client throughout. The client has been eager to select a products readily available on the market, and we’ve been proud to support them from the design phase through to installation."

Leading insulation manufacturer, URSA, has been selected as the specifier of choice at the redevelopment of historic London building, The Whiteley. The former Whiteley's shopping centre in London's Bayswater is the setting for one of the most impressive property redevelopments in Europe, in a £1 billion project to convert the century-old shopping arcade into a high luxury residential, hotel, restaurant and retail complex covering more than 90,000 square metres. In one of the company’s largest single project specifications to date, contractors Laing O’Rourke and architects, Foster and Partners, have opted for over 5,000 square metres of URSA’s glass wool insulation. Ian Claydon, Technical Manager for URSA UK, commented: “This is undoubtedly one of the largest building projects in Europe and so being part of that is incredibly exciting. “We have worked closely with the scheme architects to ensure that they have the best possible specification for their project and that is undoubtedly URSA’s glass wool insulation, our premium insulation product. “Glass mineral wool is the most efficient and user-friendly thermal and acoustic insulation material, both environmentally and from a cost-effective point of view. It is suitable for use throughout a structure, providing the most efficient insulation solution available on the market today.” Ian added: “We’ll continue to work closely with both the contractor and architect to ensure products are delivered to site in line with the construction team’s needs. This is a long-term project and vast on every scale; we will continue to partner with distributor, Encon Insulation in Maidstone, who have been instrumental in this specification.” The 110-year-old historic shopping center has been closed for two years after a prolonged decline following the opening of the famous giant Westfield London shopping center nearby in 2008. The former shopping arcade, in one of the most influential areas of the City of London, at the northern end of Queensway and about 5 minutes' walk from Kensington Gardens, has become London's most fashionable development with the commencement of the building development behind the retained and refurbished Queensway and Porchester Gardens frontages. The development includes 139 one to five-bedroom luxury flats and townhouses, with a starting price rumored to be in the region of £1.5 million, complete with spa, pool and exclusive communal workspace. 20 luxury shops and restaurants and 110 hotel rooms in the UK landing of the Six Senses luxury hotel/spa chain. The project, which involves construction and engineering firm Laing O'Rourke and famed London contractors Lyons & Annoot, is based on an architectural project designed by Norman Foster's architectural practice, Foster and Partners. Mark Guest, Regional Sales Manager for URSA UK commented: “Talking through the initial enquiry from Lyons & Annoot, the client was impressed by our quick response and ability to provide swift technical reassurance with an open approach. Being able to supply products immediately by working with the Encon network enabled URSA to cut delays associated with Covid, that were previously thought inevitable and costly”. The redevelopment will retain the essence of the building, which at its opening in 1911 was the height of luxury at the time, with a theatre and even a rooftop golf course before being listed in 1970 and converted into a shopping centre in 1989. The works will respect the iconic façade, central courtyard and dome of the old building which will be restored as well as the majestic and historic interior staircase, which will form the centerpiece of the hotel's ground floor. URSA's state-of-the-art insulation materials are being used in the refurbishment work. The contractors have already used URSA CAVITY BATT 32 glass wool slab treated with water-repellent additives and glass mineral wool for first-class thermal and acoustic insulation. With a fit-out contract of around £111 million, the 139 luxury homes will occupy a unique space of almost 28,000 square metres and are expected to be completed in 2023.