"parking"

This is the latest cycle hub designed, manufactured, supplied and installed by Falco as part of a new regeneration at Walkden Railway Station. Boosting sustainable travel access for Walkden residents, the new cycle hub has been commissioned by Salford City Council to help combat congestion, provide dedicated off-street parking and provide greater cycling accessibility to and from the station.The 12m x 4.5m bespoke shelter is based on the UK’s most popular cycle hub design - the FalcoHub and features secure cycle parking for up to 32 bikes, utilising traditional Sheffield cycle stands. The steelwork of the roof has been powder coated in a ‘Traffic Blue’ RAL colour, whilst the rest of the steelwork has been powder coated in a seperate ‘Squirrel Grey’ RAL colour. LED lighting with a occupancy sensor has been fitted to the roof alongside bespoke branding graphics which have been applied to the toughened safety glass cladding.The new cycle hub makes use of the FalcoSmart app-based locking system, which uses Bluetooth technology to activate the locking mechanism from the users smart phone or tablet, with the benefit that they no longer need to carry keys or fobs. Cyclists are able to apply for access to the hub via the Council and having downloaded the ‘App’ are given access rights to the cycle hub for a period of time depending on their subscription.The system has a fully automated back office enabling the administrator to register new locks for new cycle stores as well as adding new users and creating groups and assigning rights. A huge benefit to the local authority is that they are able for the first time ever to assess usage of a cycle parking facility, directly from the back-office app information.The cycle hub was developed by Falco’s in house design team to ensure it met the client’s specification including structural calculations to meet the EN 1090 CPR requirements of UK law.For more information regarding the cycle hub scheme at Walkden Station or any other product from our cycle parking and shelter portfolio, please contact our helpful sales team on 01538 380080.

Hand-formed Crème bricks from high quality manufacturer, Vandersanden, are core to the design vision behind Westbourne Park Baptist Church, a recently completed mixed-use development in West London, designed by award-winning architects, Allies and Morrison. A Baptist church was first established on this site, close to the Royal Oak Underground station, back in 1875. This original church was damaged beyond repair during the Second World War but its replacement, erected in the 1960's, had become outdated, was poorly configured and expensive to maintain. A community-led project and partnership between social housing provider, Dolphin Living, and Westbourne Park Baptist Church, appointed Allies and Morrison to design a scheme that would include new accommodation for the church, a family centre, and the Paddington Children's Library alongside a community hall and 33 intermediate affordable homes. Winner of a Highly Commended accolade in the Civic Trust Awards 2021, the Allies and Morrison design creates an exemplar in the integration of religious, community and residential uses through a compact mixed-use development. A 'campanile' provides a focal point that announces the presence of the church at the heart of the scheme. The main building itself features large windows which signal the location and provide generous direct daylight into the five upper floors of apartments. As well as reflecting its multi-use character, this scheme also addresses the sensitive heritage of the site and its residential context. Here, the choice of brick as a material was significant. Allies and Morrison selected Vandersanden’s Crème facing brick in a 50mm size for the project. “We went through an extensive design review process in brick selection before settling on Crème from Vandersanden,” says Richard White, Associate at Allies and Morrison. “This hand-formed cream-coloured brick helps elevate the status of the design, forming a consistent and restrained material and colour palette of brick, steel, aluminium and glass that sits harmoniously with the stucco of the adjacent villas. The geometry of the brick modules is important both in expressing the building’s aesthetic and helping to harmonise its scale with its architectural context.” Crème is created from a combination of different clay forms which yield a white base colour, then coated with specific sand types to bring a grained, creased texture and shades of yellow to the overall final appearance. At Westbourne Park Baptist Church brick headers and stretchers are layered alternately in each course with headers centred on the stretchers of the course below in an attractive Flemish bond. At the same time, the 50mm format of the Crème brick, in combination with splayed reveals on the campanile, pulled headers on the building’s uppermost recessed storey and evenly placed vertical break lines help order the building’s massing as it steps down to mediate between the taller mixed-use buildings of Porchester Road and the smaller-scale residential character of the historic Westbourne Park Villas. Approximately, 150,000 bricks were sourced for the project.To find out more about the bricks used in this project or to see the wide range of high-quality bricks available from Vandersanden, click on the 'View more' link 

Client: Bruntwood Estates Specialist Contractor: Grade-2 Structural Repairs Main Products Used: Emseal SJS SystemThis busy, multi-storey, prime location, car park is located between Manchester United’s Old Trafford Football Stadium, Lancashire’s Old Trafford Cricket Ground and Trafford House, a 12-Storey commercial development. The businesses use the car park during the week and then it is reserved for MUFC fans on matchdays and weekends. The car park was undergoing scheduled structural inspection, when it was discovered that the traditional compression joints were failing in the wide structural movement joints on the access ramps. This meant they were now leaking and allowing water ingress, which could lead to damaging salt deposits on expensive vehicles, as well as potential corrosion and damage to the reinforced concrete decks and the structural frame itself. These joints needed to be made watertight and accommodate significant horizontal and vertical movement, as well as traffic impact and weathering. The engineers looked for a solution that could safely repair and seal the joints, but with only minimal ramp closure or downtime, and the Emseal SJS System was selected as the ideal solution, as it could be installed in just two short, phased closures at weekends, when there were no home games. In the first weekend, with only one lane closed, the failed compression joint was removed and the joint arrisses made good with fast setting resin, then on the next weekend closure, the bespoke lengths of Emseal SJS were installed with access only required from above.  

London Hilton on Park Lane, an iconic hotel renowned for it’s luxury, elegance and history have recently updated and renewed it’s Grand Ballroom with the pre-function area which now features an extensive wood veneered aluminium privacy & shading screen system by Technowood.One of the challenges that the team at GA Design have faced was the privacy & shading solution for the large windows that are running along the whole pre-function area.Their designers wanted to utilise a rotatable shading system which is both extremely luxurious and fits in with the aesthetic, yet functional and practical.The desired finish was authentic, real Walnut that is heavily stained to a beautiful beige tone while the visible wood grains create a unique texture for the light reflections and touch.The required sizing for both appearance and practicality have ruled out natural solid wood right away. Panel width of 440mm – yes; nearly half a meter! – with only 40mm thickness would have made these elements way too unstable and heavy if solid wood was used.Technowood UK was able to provide a complete bespoke privacy and shading system for this project: Walnut natural wood veneered aluminium profiles for a synchronized, mechanical rotating system of our design with brushed bronze finish elements & cover plates.Our approved installers PSBK Limited did an outstanding job! The complete installation took less than 2 days during the Easter bank holiday weekend.Some of the key advantages of the system:The privacy & shading blades are near 3 meters long unusually wide and slim; while remaining rigid, solid and dimensionally stable. The bespoke nature of the whole system allowed for a perfect and seamless integration between the marble columns. Installation time is unparalleled. 4 separate systems measuring over 6 meters by nearly 3 meters each. Over 72 square meters of area utilising 57 blades in total.

As a project local to Vincent Timber here in Birmingham, this was quite an exciting one for us. Contractors Design and Build worked alongside architects Piper Whitlock on behalf of Harvest on this stunning, 30-acre regeneration project, which was formerly an industrial site.The project is a joint Sainsbury's and Landsec venture which features 250,000 sq. ft. of retail and leisure buildings. As you may imagine, the large onsite Sainsbury's, erected upon stilts, is an impressive feature building.“It was very exciting working on this large-scale project, especially with the unique solar shading we created. Being built locally meant it was great to see the site as it progressed.”  - Malcolm Frowen, Head of Cladding and Brise Soleil Sales @ Vincent TimberWhat You'll Find Here The Sainsbury's site not only features an unforgettable glazed movement atrium, most of its elevations are also clad in beautiful vertical timber strips. Other retailers include Next, Marks & Spencer and JD Sports while Nando's and Costa provide a fuel break from all the shopping fun. All of which are fronted with aesthetically pleasing solar shading created using our Sivalbp timber.Design and aesthetic have been a huge focus of this project, combining many wonderful materials and features while heavily incorporating the Worcester and Birmingham canal to create a unique experience that's so much more than shopping. Whilst there is parking for 860 cars onsite, the canal side square connects the site to the centre of Selly Oak, providing easy access for pedestrians and cyclists too. Thanks to its environmentally friendly design this project has a Very Good BREEAM rating. About SivalbpVincent Timber is the UK's sole distributor of Sivalbp, a modern production facility based in the South of France.The facility combines the latest technology in wood processing, with high quality pre-coating preparation and sophisticated environmentally friendly coating methods to produce a range of coated products that are both high performance and aesthetically pleasing.Many profiles can be secret fixed, avoiding visible nail heads and protecting the integrity of the coating.

Client: Durham County Council Main Contractor/Manufacturer: Retro Bridge Specialist Contractor: St Astier Consulting Contractors Main Products Used: Emseal BEJS SystemThe Witton Park Road Bridge near Bishop Auckland crosses the River Wear at the same place as the historic Witton Park Railway Viaduct, but at different angles. The main central bridging structure was being replaced as the old structure had deteriorated and become structurally unsound. The new prefabricated replacement section of the bridge is a Retro Beam Bridge design, made from thermally galvanised steel for long term durability and is 64 metres long, with a single-lane road carriageway plus a cycle path. The new bridge section was installed in just 3 days through the Victorian brick arches of the Viaduct by Retro Bridge. Then the teams from Durham County Council and St. Astier Consulting Contractors were able to work on the bridge deck expansion joints at each end, to ensure that these had an equally durable, watertight seal. To do this quickly and efficiently, as well as ensuring the long-term durability of the exposed joints, they selected the Emseal BEJS System provided and supported by NCC (Movement Joint Systems). The Emseal BEJS System can handle harsh environmental conditions and has greater movement capability, better low temperature flexibility and higher temperature stability than other joint movement technologies. In a single installation, BEJS provided a watertight durable seal, with a joint movement capability over 100%, including 3-dimensional movement, plus it required no invasive mechanical anchoring as it is bonded in position.

LigaGrass Pro CoolPlus and Rekortan M at the Havkenscheider Park sports facility, BochumACTION ON THE WESTERN FRONT“Deep in the West” sings a drone of a thousand voices at home games of the VFL Bochum. “Bochum, I belong to you” is not only the official anthem of the Ruhr Stadium, but also the unofficial anthem for the entire city. Herbert Grönemeyer’s profession of love for Bochum is more than just a song – it is a statement for the entire region, for the “old” Ruhr area, which is not only famous for transporting coal and casting steel, but also its love of sport. VFL Bochum and its position in the first Bundesliga are only the figurehead for all the city has to offer: today, its sporting activities range from sports-orientated preschools and school sports to the “Integration through Sport” programme.Unlike its name, the “Laer’sche Fußballclub 1906 e.V.” is forging new paths. For 10 years, it has had a strong women’s and girls’ division with teams ranging from U9s to seniors – and in general, the youth division in Laer is of high calibre. However, the district club in the heart of Bochum has long been dedicated to more than just football, attracting gymnasts and athletes as well. More recently, trending sports such as lacrosse and disc golf have also been added.Strong interest in lacrosse not least prompted officials in the city council and the club to renovate the stadium on Havkenschneider Strasse from the ground up, not only to adapt it to the needs of the Bochum “Isotopes” lacrosse players, but to convert it into a complete district sports facility. In only eight months, three football fields were built: one large one and two mini-pitches.In total, 10,200 square metres of synthetic turf were installed there – specifically, our LigaGrass Pro CoolPlus with sand infill. The classic among our synthetic turf systems, the LigaGrass Pro filament and its triangular cross-section ensure even greater fibre stability and give the turf more volume and structure. As a crimped Polytan artificial turf system, LigaGrass Pro CoolPlus is also characterised by a BiColour design. The two-tone fibres help achieve a natural grass appearance with their lush green colour. The integrated CoolPlus function permanently reduces overheating of the turf in direct sunlight and is extremely effective, especially in the case of the textured turf systems, thanks to the large surface area for reflecting heat radiation.Our LigaGrass Pro CoolPlus is not only suitable for football training and playing facilities, but also for miniature playing fields and multisport facilities, e.g. for lacrosse. This team sport, which is played with a special stick and a hard rubber ball, originates from the east coast of America, where it is practised by indigenous people – the Haudenosaunee – and has a deep religious and identity-forming significance. Lacrosse is the oldest team sport on the American continent, and is by no means seen as only for white people, but as an inclusive, fun activity for women and men alike. Curiously, men and women today play lacrosse by completely different rules: in the women’s game, stick and body contact is limited – similar to field hockey – which is why little protective equipment is needed. In men’s lacrosse, on the other hand, helmets, rib and shoulder protection, and gloves are worn – similar to ice hockey. World championships for men and women now take place every four years, and the first European lacrosse championships took place in 2004. In 2028, Lacrosse is provisionally set to become an Olympic sport again, although the decision is yet to be finalised.In Bochum, the lacrosse field is located on Havkenscheider Strasse and stands out for its special ball catching nets – purely because it is the only one of its kind in the city. For athletes, the new sports facility also offers a 400-metre synthetic running track and four 100-metre sprinting tracks. It features with our Rekortan M in classic brick red, the fully fledged professional among our sports surfaces. It is representative of high-performance running tracks, not only in training and school sports facilities, but for international competitions as well. The poured in-situ surface is set apart by its excellent acceleration and high tread elasticity. What’s more, it is incredibly fast and offers impressively high shock absorption, as well as excellent advantages in terms of sports medicine.The city of Bochum spent 1.8 million euros on the renovation. The result is impressive: 1,300 metres of edging stones have been laid, and 2,000 metres of drainage pipes installed. 350 square metres of water-permeable eco-plaster and 5,000 tons of gravel used in the course of the renovation work. All in all, the conversion of the old stadium into the Havkenscheider Park sports facility supports Herbert Grönemeyer’s résumé: “Deep in the west / Where the sun gets dusty / It is better / Much better than you think.”

Stopgap subfloor preparation products from F. Ball and Styccobond F44 acrylic adhesive have been used to create a laboratory-standard flooring finish at a new facility for international laboratories operator Tentamus Group, at Pride Park in Derbyshire.Flooring contractors used Stopgap Fill and Prime and Stopgap 1200 Pro levelling compound to prepare 1500m² of metal raised access panels over two floors before installing vinyl sheet safety flooring throughout. Once the primer had cured, Stopgap 1200 Pro levelling compound was applied to create a perfectly smooth base for the installation of floorcoverings. Contractors then used Styccobond F44 acrylic adhesive to install Polyflor Polysafe Standard PUR heavy-duty vinyl safety flooring. Finally, Quantum PVC capping and coving was installed at the junctions between the floorcoverings and walls to produce a neat finish and allow for easy cleaning. 

We supplied our Irish-produced Streetscape® BS 7533 compliant laying course materials including; bedding course, jointing, and priming mortars, to Scottish-based principal contractor, RJ McLeod (Contractors) Ltd for the hardscape element of the new Helix Park project in Falkirk, Scotland.The hardscape element of the Helix Park, comprising of open-space paving and connecting pathways, totalling 9,000 m2 of granite paving, was expertly laid by paving contractor, Granite Paving Specialist Ltd. The SMET Streetscape® portfolio complies with the rigorous requirements of BS 7533 with all products undergoing independent testing and certification to confirm compliance. By providing a superior level of customer service and focused aftercare to our Smet Supported Partners with the Streetscape® brand, we demonstrate best-practice in Streetscape Hardscaping construction partnerships. Click for more detailed information on the SMET Streetscape® BS 7533 range: https://www.smetbuildingproducts.com/products/streetscape/Click for more on some of the projects we have supplied to:https://www.smetbuildingproducts.com/projects/by-product/streetscape-high-strength-bedding-concrete/Contact SMET for any Streetscape enquiries.

As part of the major refurbishment project, Artform Urban was approached by City Design to transform an underutilised internal courtyard into a vibrant communal space that encourages social interaction and relaxation.To achieve this, the design needed to incorporate a variety of outdoor furniture elements that complemented the modern aesthetics of the refurbished building while withstanding the rigours of an outdoor environment. The design and layout were also guided by the unique and playful ground markings that help to break up the ample space visually.Artform Urban worked closely with the client to provide a comprehensive range of outdoor furniture that met the project's specific needs. The supplied products included:Stone Benches: These uniquely designed pebble-shaped benches are manufactured from High-Performance Concrete and add an artistic touch to the courtyard. The stones can be supplied in 3 sizes and also feature a specialist Comfort option that has a heated element for additional user comfort on colder days. Rivola Seat: A really well-priced unit, the robust granite Rivola Seats feature a wavy design that echoes the ground markings. These can be positioned in 3 different ways for added flexibility. As well as being highly durable and low maintenance the Stone and Rivola are ideal in student environments for encouraging informal group gatherings or solitary lounging and relaxation thanks to their intriguing organic shapes. Loop Arc and Hop Op 500: this range of contemporary, rotationally moulded plastic seating and stools features an ergonomic design and is available in a range of vibrant colours. The client opted for a white bench to complement the newly resurfaced area and ground markings - creating a visually appealing and comfortable seating solution for students, perfect for casual meetings or studying outdoors. It is also possible to install these free standing and self-weight internally with water or sand. Holgate Picnic Sets: To foster a sense of togetherness and encourage outdoor dining, Artform Urban provided picnic sets. These sturdy and durable sets offered a practical dining solution for students to enjoy meals together in the courtyard.Rubino Litter Bin: To maintain cleanliness and hygiene in the courtyard, Artform Urban supplied the Rubino Litter Bin. This heavy-duty yet stylish granite waste disposal unit seamlessly blends with the modern design of the space. By providing various furniture options that combine aesthetics, durability, and comfort, the newly refurbished courtyard will play a crucial role in enhancing the living experience for the students at iQ Wilmslow Park in Manchester.

The innovative new i-Track from Dorma Hüppe has been designed to make the moving of tall moveable walls both simple and safe for the operator. Modular in design, the system employs a sequence of curves and internal track switches to allow the smooth and easy movement of large, heavy panels. Cleverly harnessing the kinetic energy created by panel movement, i-Track utilises that momentum to effortlessly facilitate a change in direction as each panel passes through the curves, into and out of the parking pocket. Track diverters are used to manually program the carriers to automatically move each panel to the correct parking location.The i-Track really comes into its own where panel height exceeds 5000mm, when weight can become an issue with right-angled track. The use of curves not only improves overall functionality but ensures no point of collision, reducing wear and tear on track and carriers. This significantly extends the operational life of the moveable wall system, contributing to long-term sustainability and ultimately reducing maintenance costs.Since the launch of the i-Track, Style, sole UK distributor for Dorma Hüppe moveable walls, has installed this comprehensive solution in a variety of locations from schools and conference facilities to hospitality venues.“i-Track innovation really is a game changer for moveable wall systems with the days of wrestling oversized panels now a thing of the past,” said Julian Sargent, Style’s group managing director.“As the i-Track makes it easier and safer for the operator to quickly reconfigure multi-functional rooms, the likelihood of the space being used to its full operational potential all day, every day is greatly increased.”If requirements change over time, the modular nature of i-Track allows the existing layout to be cost-effectively altered, rather than requiring an entirely new system.   

Project: Faraday Business ParkDate: 2021 Background:·        APL were engaged with the architect early in the project design and specification process, providing specification and system support through the tender process·        APL’s strong design and engineering capability ensured that the bespoke window pods designed by the architect were incorporated in early details·        Due to APL’s strong supply-chain relationship, all material was able to be procured and delivered on time to meet the projects programme·        APL provided all thermal and structural calculations Systems:·        10,000m² of APL built-up roof system with stucco-embossed mill-finished aluminium trapezoidal AP31/1000RR profile, along with PV support system·        8,000m² of APL built-up wall system with steel sinusoidal AP45HR in RAL 9006 and RAL 7012 as the external profile·        Bespoke window pods fabricated in 3mm aluminium with a Class 2 PPC coating·        APL Tritherm™ GALV sub-framing·        All rainwater goods including gutters and downpipes·        All fixings and accessories  Building Location:·        Fareham

This month, Falco supplied and installed over 90 spaces of the FalcoLevel-Eco two-tier cycle rack, for what will become Scotland’s largest hotel, located on Drum’s Candlerigg’s Square site in the heart of Glasgow’s historic Merchant City.The new £300m development, will transform Glasgow’s original flourishing fruit and vegetable market which has lay neglected and unused for 20 years, becoming a derelict site in an otherwise vibrant and thriving neighbourhood. Candleriggs Square, bound by Wilson Street, Hutcheson Street, Candleriggs and Trongate is regarded as the last and most significant piece of the Merchant City regeneration jigsaw and will provide a vibrant mixed-use community bringing together new homes, offices, hotels and local amenities.As part of the state-of-the-art development, a requirement for secure, easy to use, cycle parking for over 90 cycles was required, to be located within an accessible, underground facility.Falco manufactured, supplied and installed a series of over 90 double-sided FalcoLevel-Eco two-tier cycle parking spaces within an underground facility at the prestigious development, providing employees and visitors with secure and accessible cycle parking.The popular FalcoLevel-Eco design was chosen for its capability to be located within compact areas, such as the underground facility shown here, providing cyclists with twice as many cycle parking spaces that would have otherwise been available when using traditional cycle racks and stands.Double-sided variations of the popular cycle rack were used to fit inconspicuous within the tight constraints of the space envelope available.The recent installation shown here at Candleriggs Square is just one of many underground environments Falco has supplied and installed cycle parking equipment for. Other recent examples include two-tier cycle parking for Macquarie Bank in London, three flagship Selfridges stores across the UK, VelowUp® vertical cycle stands and two-tier cycle racks for the University of Edinburgh, 150 two-tier cycle rack spaces for Marks & Spencer at Paddington Basin in London as well as semi-vertical cycle parking for Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.The FalcoLevel-Eco is a high density and budget friendly two-tier cycle parking system which accommodates twice the number of bicycles compared to any other traditional cycle rack or stand. The FalcoLevel two-tier series is the UK’s best-selling high density cycle rack and is used at the UK’s first ever cycle hub at Leeds City Station as well as the UK’s two largest cycle hubs at Cambridge and Chelmsford Stations.For more information about the FalcoLevel-Eco cycle parking system or how Falco can assist your cycle parking scheme, please contact our helpful sales team on 01538 380080.

This prestigious residential development in Knightsbridge demanded the highest specification for all trades. New Era Acoustic cradle system was specified to conform to Document E regulation. The floor height was 125-165mm using a 46mm batten at 400mm centres with a 22mm T&G plywood glued and screwed to the battens. This gave a perfectly acoustically isolated sub-floor for the carpets and oak flooring to be fitted on

The Purple and Green MSCPs have capacity for more than 4,000 vehicles across five levels. The project’s scope involved concrete repair, structural strengthening using carbon fibre laminates, the replacement of the conduits, movement joints, drainage channels and deck waterproofing.

A new sports and leisure complex designed by FaluknerBrowns Architects has set a new environmental standard in ultra-low energy consumption. With an operational energy consumption of less than 100 kWh/m2/y, Ravelin Sports Centre uses only one- tenth of the energy demand of an equivalent sports centre. This is a landmark project which Junckers is proud to have participated in, a unique collaboration between architects, manufacturers, the client and BREEAM. The new building is fossil fuel-free, rated BREEAM Outstanding with extensive use of natural and sustainable materials, natural lighting and ventilation, air source heat pumps and heat recovery, including a bio-solar roof which reduces demand from the national grid by over 20%. The centre includes a swimming pool, a fitness suite, multi-activity studios, an eight-court sports hall, squash courts, climbing and bouldering facilities, a ski simulator and teaching facilities. The large sports hall has been fitted with 1600m2 Junckers SylvaSport Premium solid beech flooring installed by Junckers’ Approved Contractor Hutchison Flooring. Well-known for its high quality, performance and user safety, Junckers’ sports flooring also meet the strict criteria for sustainability and longevity required for a building of this standard. Wood is naturally low in embodied carbon, a consideration which comes more into focus when operational carbon is reduced. Junckers’ solid wood floors are sourced from managed forests with chain of custody certification through FSC® and PEFCTM and the company holds product-specific EPDs for its flooring. “When the operational carbon in a building is lowered, selecting materials with low embodied carbon becomes increasingly important. Specifying Junckers sports flooring fulfilled many criteria – durability, longevity, recyclability, and flexibility of use, which had a positive impact on the BREEAM assessment.” Irina Korneychuk, Senior Associate at FaulknerBrowns Architects With a proven long lifespan, a solid wood floor also scores highly when comparing maintenance, refurbishment, and replacement cycles. A Junckers 22mm solid beech floor can be sanded and refinished eight to ten times without loss of performance, and with typical 12-year intervals between refurbishments, a design life of 60+ years is easily achieved. An important part of future-proofing new buildings is recognising how a large percentage of embodied carbon is emitted post-completion when finishes need to be refreshed and replaced. At the same interval when a Junckers floor can be sanded and refinished, other sports flooring surfaces normally have to be replaced. This can lead to excessive use of raw materials and energy, unnecessary carbon emissions and pressure on landfill sites, especially in relation to surfaces made from fossil fuel derived materials such as vinyl and PU floors. Flexibility is another key consideration when building for a long design life. Leisure trends come and go but a multi-use sports hall is a timeless component of any leisure centre. The ability to use the flooring surface with its sprung undercarriage system for a multitude of sports, dance, performances, and competitions is crucial. Junckers sports flooring is widely used globally for all ball and racquet sports, dance, ballet, yoga, and other exercise studio-based activities. It is even hard-wearing enough to accommodate wheelchair rugby and retractable seating systems. 

We installed more than 16,000 square meters of stretch ceilings at Aspire Stadium in Doha, one of the stadiums that was built to host the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. On the sporting side, we have already seen the construction of stretch ceilings installed at the Aquatics Center, the pool of the London Olympics in 2012. No wonder, therefore, to find ourselves in the limelight for the Qatar Football World Cup. Architect : CICO and Roger Taillibert

The Vantage EMF project was pioneered over a year ago in the boardroom of our partner, The Expanded Metal Company in nearby Hartlepool. Managing Director, Phil Astley discussed the principle and BTS Facades & Fabrications put it into practice.We both deemed the idea as that unique that we engaged an intellectual property firm who achieved the patent pending statusThe system utilises the tried and tested Vantage SF technology. The frame is fabricated and the expanded mesh is cut to size on our Streibig Saw. The mesh showcased here is the Athens although, it also available in Bilbao and Madrid.Vantage® EMF systems were tested earlier this year at the VINCI Technology Centre UK. The mesh is fitted to the frame and then powder coated both sides.The bespoke vantage SF rail with pre positioned hooks and anti rattle gasket is fitted to the wall and then the Vantage EMF panels are hooked into placeOur Vantage CS coping competes the scene here to stunning visual effect. We inserted LED lights in the perimeter of the frames to automatically light up at dusk to compound the effect.

Back in 2019, the William's Group opened the doors to their brand-new flagship automotive retail store based in Trafford City. The store was set to home luxury brands such as MINI, BMW, Land Rover and Jaguar all within one compound. This meant they needed an effective perimeter security system that would hold up against intruders onto the site and also added protection around the showrooms that would house these luxury cars. For the entire perimeter protection, they selected the Eclipse-60 V Mesh Profiled Fencing to deter vandals and intruders, whilst opting for the Securus-Lite SR1 358 Fencing to encompass the showrooms for that additional level of security they required. The Williams Group also chose the SlideMaster Sliding Gate as the perfect match for their ingress and egress security.

24no off-grid zonal lights powered by wind and solar energy with no mains back up required, installed in three London railway depots to provide consistent high quality night time security lighting with minimal installation works.

ChallengeThe London Stadium (formerly Olympic Stadium) and home of Premier League football club West Ham United, required an insulation solution that would not only upgrade the thermal and acoustic performance of the HVAC and service pipe areas, but also one that could meet the overall environmental demands of the project.SolutionAfter a series of consultations with the main contractor, Knauf Insulation developed a bespoke, one product solution, which met all requirements and helped to reduce engineering costs and installation time.23,000m2 of Rocksilk® Soffit Linerboard Standard was installed in the different elevations of the stadium, from level two to the lower ground level of the West Stand.Manufactured with ECOSE® Technology, Rocksilk® Soffit Linerboard Standard is a laminate of a compression resistant, non-combustible Rock Mineral Wool slab with a variety of aesthetic finishes designed to provide a robust faced solution suitable for installation in semi-exposed environments such as stadiums like this.The project was completed before West Ham’s first competitive game at the London Stadium in August 2016."The insulation product knits together to prevent open joints, which helped us to maximise the thermal efficiency of the insulation."Kunal Vekaria, Project Manager at HLS Installations

Dandi Wembley: A new kind of livingWe've been working with architecture and development specialists Dandi Living for 12 years. They wanted a cost effective way of retrofitting a 14-storey office block to accommodate 360 apartments with a hard wearing flooring solution.We've been involved on the York House project from the beginning. Existing floors have been assessed and levelled, and our Impervia White Washed Oak has now been installed.The project, known officially as Dandi Wembley, is located in the heart of North West London. It's designed to offer fully furnished studio and one bed apartments surrounded by elevated communal spaces for socialising, relaxing, working and revitalising. Their aim is to deliver a new kind of city co-living.The benefits of RetrofittingAs part of our commitment to providing the sustainable, safe and healthy choice for waterproof, fireproof, and formaldehyde free flooring, we adopt and promote retrofitting as part of the RetroFirst campaign.Originally developed as a response to the escalating climate crisis, RetroFirst is a campaign led by Architects’ Journal. The campaign’s objectives are simple: to prioritise retrofitting existing buildings over demolishing and rebuilding them.On the York House project, the cost saving of using Impervia®, because of the acoustic back layer and residential warranty of 30 years, was more than 35% of previous estimates.Impervia® is perfect because of its acoustic backing and a rigid core. It will be cleaner than the tiles which will have been professionally cleaned before fitting the Impervia® Flooring.Because there is no movement in the rigid core it means Impervia® can be installed right up to the skirting without the need for any trims. The look will be perfect as if it was the original floor.Floors for residential spaces like homes and hotels require a high level of resistance against mould, dents, water and fire. This is where Impervia® holds its own, boasting a range of features such as water & fire resistance and dent & mould proof.Why White Washed Oak flooring is perfect for residential projectsOur White Washed Oak flooring is finished with a heavy-duty commercial grade wear layer that is waterproof, stain and scratch-resistant. Using patented 5G-i push-fit locking system and built-in acoustic IXPE backing layer which reduces impact sound by 21dB; installation is quick and easy.It can be used with underfloor heating. With no PCPs or Formaldehyde, this rigid stone composite flooring has a textured surface just like real wood with the added advantage of being sustainable and healthy flooring.The white washed Impervia Oak floor creates a warm spacious feel for the apartments, so with a 30-year warranty, it's perfect for residential developments like this.If any boards do get badly damaged, they can be easily replaced as Impervia Flooring has its own acoustic backing and uses the latest push fit click system. No adhesives are needed and water spills will not damage the floor as it is waterproof and fireproof.It's available sizes include:1524 x 180 x 6.5mm (5mm plank + 1.5mm IXEP backing) 10 pieces per carton = 2.76 m21524 x 228 x6.5mm (5mm plank + 1.5mm IXEP backing) 6 pieces per carton = 2.086 m2‍1824 x 228 x6.5mm (5mm plank + 1.5mm IXEP backing) 6 pieces per carton = 2.5 m2If you'd like to discuss sustainable, luxury flooring for your next residential project, get in touch with us today!

THE PROJECTAs part of it’s recent £100 million pound renovation, Roché Awnings were tasked with providing a shading solution which was in keeping with the hotels iconic features, whilst covering the width of their ground floor terrace. The terrace being the location for the hotel’s east smoking terrace, central loggia door entrance and private outdoor dining area.THE SOLUTIONThe challenge was to choose an awning which blended in with the style of the Edwardian building. Originally designed to incorporate the Markilux 730 drop arm awnings, we advised the hotel to choose the Markilux 3300 awnings due to it’s unique design. The awnings were mounted to the buildings stone facade and sit inconspicuously below the hotel’s balustrade. The helped the awning merge beautifully into the architecture of the building.Roché coupled Markilux 3300 full cassette patio awnings to achieve widths of close to 10 and 13 metres, along with a smaller width of close to 3 metres. The awning was installed green fabric, traffic white cassette and uniform awning projection. The positioning provided full protection for the open terrace area.

Accoya was selected as the ideal cladding material for the residence of a home in East Scotland. Supplied by Russwood, the Accoya cladding was vacuum coated to limit the heat loss of the building. Accoya was chosen for this project due to its attractive aesthetic appearance, low maintenance and sustainable credentials. The building is laid to limit heat loss and beneficially utilise solar gain. The house also uses an extensive control system allowing users to operate the lights or adjust the room temperature from their Smartphones.

Finish: Interpon D2525 Bespoke High Gloss Silver and Blue Grey Parts Coated: Curtain walling, infill panels Architect: Robin Partington

Installed by specialist contractor MIB Facades, part of The MIB Group, the façade features 11mm thick, 900mm x 450mm RIVEN cladding panels in a dark basalte finish. Arranged in a regular pattern across the entire ground floor, the cladding is used to create a strong base to the building’s exterior which combines to create a truly striking contemporary facade.Each Carea panel is formed using 90% natural minerals and 10% binding resin to provide the perfect aesthetic solution for both the client and the designer. Installation is quick and simple with the Carea facade system, as each panel is supplied with specialised horizontal rails that fit onto vertical cladding supports. With precisely routed grooves on the top and bottom, the simple fix provides a totally seamless finish to maintain the stunning appearance of the project.As well as providing a stunning exterior, the Carea cladding system offers superb thermal and acoustic insulation, alongside excellent performance qualities. Carea Ardal cladding panels are resistant to climate and are unaffected by graffiti due to their non-porous composition.While aesthetics were of importance, the specification of Carea cladding brought an array of other benefits to the development. The cladding provides a long lasting and cost effective solution, offering a high degree of insulation that will play a pivotal role in improving the leisure complex’s thermal efficiency and lowering its heating needs to aid sustainability.

BACKGROUND: The Pavilion was being refurbished, ready to be re-open as a new café to help increase tourism to the town.Plans included creating a new terrace at the front, a small rear extension, and a portable office/store at the back.REQUIREMENT: A modular ramp to the terrace for pedestrian and wheelchair use. END RESULT:Our installers fitted a Rapid Ramp, which included a pedestrian walkway with a loading capacity of 1,000kgs. It is designed to safely support the weight of varies public traffic, including walkers, prams, wheelchairs, and mobility scooters.The installation was completed within a few hours on a snowy late evening.FEATURES INCLUDED: Mesh Platform - self-draining mesh allows water to pass through rather than collect on the surface.Trombone Ends - these are added to the ends of a Rapid Ramp to prevent clothes catching.Telescopic Legs - these can be adjusted to accommodate threshold heights.Continuous Handrail - this handrail system ensures users always have a support to hold onto.Standard Colour Black - ramps are powder-coated black to create a hard finish that is tougher than conventional paint.EXTRA FEATURES INCLUDED:Infill Handrail - this product prevents users from climbing or falling through gaps.Yellow Tread - this is a safety feature designed to help those with impaired vision identify the nose of the ramp and helps users distinguish any level changes.CONCRETE VS PEDESTRIAN METAL RAMP INSTALLATIONS:Unfortunately, newly poured concrete must be protected from freezing for the first 24 to 48 hours and requires drying time before use. Therefore, concrete installations are heavily reliant on good weather conditions, and cannot be completed in snow or frozen temperatures.Unlike concrete, our pedestrian ramps can be installed in most weather conditions, including snow. Plus, the product is manufactured from galvanised steel.Galvanising is a process where a protective coating of zinc is applied to prevent rusting and to kill moss.

ASF were specified to supply a crowd loaded, 3kN channel fixed glass balustrade system for a Royal Parks project at Greenwich. Situated at the site of the famous Wolfe Statue, and beside the Prime Meridian and the always popular Planetarium, this upgraded viewing platform offers spectacular vistas to the 17th Century Queens House Royal Museum, backed with a skyline view of London's City District. ASF used mega grip 3kN Channel, bespoke adapted to the needs of the site and hosted 25.5mm toughened and laminated sentry glass offering the highest performance possible. The glass was etched with the Royal Parks Logo and a handrail / leaning rail was added that fixes directly through the glass.This case study is a prime example of how ASF approach glass balustrade work: Using off the shelf products that have pre tested loading calculations attached, and bespoke adapting them to suit the needs of any site.

With the aim to encourage more participation in sport, Hackney Council has opened a new community facility, Britannia Leisure Centre. As part of a wider, mixed-use development in an inner-city environment, the different activity spaces were stacked vertically in a spatially efficient design. As part of the state-of-the-art facilities a six-court sports hall has been installed with Junckers solid hardwood area elastic sports flooring. The Beech SylvaKet floor with a Nordic finish was installed over Junckers’ UnoBat 45 undercarriage system to provide a high level of performance as well as a safe and responsive surface ideal for a multitude of sports. The pre-finished floor is easy to maintain, durable and resilient – perfect for a busy sports centre. Further facilities available to the local community include four squash courts, fitted with Junckers’ specialist SylvaSqaush Beech flooring. Britannia Leisure Centre by FaulknerBrowns, constructed by Morgan Sindall has won several awards including AJ100 Community Impact of the Year (2022) and the Delivering Social Value Award at the Building Awards (2021). 

Gatic Civil Drainage was recently specified for Waitrose’s new store in Oxford for its CastSlot system from its market-leading Slotdrain range. Gatic’s CastSlot is designed to create a continuous interception of surface water, as well as provide a discreet and durable surface opening. Manufactured in three metre lengths of galvanised steel, it benefits from fewer joints and improved flow performance. A high flow inlet and channel capacity meant CastSlot provided a tidy, unobtrusive and functional solution. The cast iron finish gives the system a highly durable and ductile iron top.

The ProjectThe former Met Police HQ which has been redeveloped into a co-working space based on the banks of the Thames. Tintagel House boasts modern design co-working spaces, meeting rooms, roof terraces, bar, cafe, gym and cycle storage for its members. Bellsure were asked by Oakmont Construction to provide the cycle storage for this project. As requested by Oakmont Construction, we provided quotes on bespoke cycle shelters with a selection of cycle storage for the client. We also supplied CAD designs and .dwg files to build into the clients BIM model. The CAD files that Bellsure provided included specified materials, product recommendations, panel details and security fixings.The SolutionThe Streetsure team secured the contract and project managed the supply of the shelters and cycle storage to suit the contractors time frame and budget.For the cycle storage we supplied our Classic double decker cycle racks, Verti-45 semi vertical cycle racks and classic Citihoop stands. These were space planned strategically to fit as many spaces into the area as possible, and provide a greater return on investment for our client.Our bespoke CuvaSpan cycle shelters were the chosen option for this project. The shelter was a bespoke powder-coated steel frame with a PETG roof. Our installers worked alongside the site manager to ensure a smooth snag free handover - complete with an enhanced operations & maintenance manual. 

A variety of Tobermore paving and step products were specified as an aesthetic and functional hard landscaping solution for the grounds at this £25 million regeneration project. The retail site was opened by HRH, The Duchess of Gloucester, in an official ceremony in September 2015.

Products Used:One of the largest projects we have worked with Vox Ignis on was the fit-out of a 92-room luxury boutique hotel in the City of London that required an Emergency Voice Communication System. The project saw us fit out the development with seven different Vox Ignis products, amounting to 32 items in total.The products were easy to understand and the team were always on hand when we needed technical support. I have never had anything but positive feedback from clients when we have handed over the systems to them.

ASP pedestals were chosen by the waterproofing contractor to suspend paving slabs on residential balconies above an inverted waterproofing system on a luxury development. Decks were laid to falls in many different directions creating different heights and angles. Paving needed to be flat across the falling deck and slabs needed to ballast the insulation. Telescopic stems easily adjust the height whilst the slab is in place, making installation fast and easy. Positioning lugs create uniform paving lines automatically. Heavy load tolerances and durability over time and large temperature ranges, up to Minus 40° C, gives Wallbarn ASPs the edge competitors.

Client: Manchester Airport Group Architect: Pascall Watson Consulting Engineer: Burro Happold Main Contractor: Laing O’Rourke Specialist Contractor: Thelwell Flooring Main Products Used: Emseal SJS System and Emshield DSMThis new 9-storey car park with 3,800 spaces, was built as part of the £1 billion Terminal-2 redevelopment for Manchester Airport Group (MAG). To save time and space on site, the consultants used an innovative design, with a hybrid combination of steel delta beams and precast concrete, then on site the hollow-core precast floor slabs were topped with a 100mm thick reinforced concrete screed. To fully accommodate the anticipated levels of thermal movement and loadings in service, the engineers incorporated wide, high movement capability, structural expansion joints across the parking decks, between the different sections of the building. Given the dimensions of the deck joints (100mm) and the high movement capability required (100% = +/- 50%), with simultaneous exposure to the elements whilst under frequent heavy traffic, the joint sealing solution could only be specified as the Emseal SJS System. This unique structural expansion joint system easily accommodates high levels of movement in more than one plane, plus it has an integral coverplate to provide protection of the central movement section and the joint arrises. Importantly, the Emseal SJS is bonded into position with a structural epoxy adhesive from above, therefore requiring no access from below and enabling other works (e.g. M&E cable works etc.) to continue, plus as it is fully bonded, the SJS system requires no potentially damaging drilling into sound concrete to install mechanical fixings. In less trafficked wide joints at the perimeter, the Emseal DSM System was used, as a cover plate was not necessary.