"steel"

Selfridges & Co’s iconic store at 400 Oxford Street first opened its doors in 1909 and now includes a range of experiences including a creative playground, late-night dining restaurants, a cinema, and even wedding services. It’s also one of the only stores on Oxford Street not to have its windows smashed by the Suffragettes back in the day.In partnership with Souvenir Scenic Studios we were tasked with manufacturing security shutters to cover 2 voids, one facing the Edward Mews road and the other for a temporary space on Orchard Street.The client was keen to maintain vision once the shutters were installed in preparation for a new exhibition area and therefore decided to proceed with our Tube & Link steel security shutter. Both security shutters were over 4m in width and can be operated electrically via an external key switch. Manual overrides were provided so that each shutter could be used in the rare event of a power cut. Our Tube & Link security shutter was the perfect solution with the ability to maintain 75% visibility while making sure both areas remained secure. Due to the size of both openings, a three-phase motor was provided.  The steel tubes, guides, and housing were all powder coated grey to meet the client’s requirements.

It is anticipated that when completed in the next ten years or so, the regeneration of Wembley Park, in North West London, will provide up to 7000 new homes. Schöck is supplying its Isokorb structural thermal break systems across a number of different sites on this vast scheme, but one of the largest is South West Lands. This private rented sector residential-led mixed-use neighbourhood will account for around 12% of the new homes on the entire Wembley Park development, up to 900 in total.South West Lands is spread across four separate blocks, which all share a communal basement car park.The reinforced concrete frame buildings, up to 18 storeys high, are finished using traditional brickwork and standing seam metal cladding. To create valuable amenity space at higher levels, as well as offering far-reaching views across London, there are communal roof terraces and a considerable number of private balconies throughout the development.Schöck Isokorb® T type SK products were used on two of the phases at South West Lands for thermally connecting the cantilevered steel balconies to the reinforced concrete slab. The Isokorb® T type SK units were positioned accurately using re-useable balcony width steel jigs.

Avoiding gas reliance when building a new house.Traditional self-build projects have always had heating systems such as gas central heating and solar panels installed. However, with the increasing costs of gas, and the uncertainty of future supplies, a secondary heating source is required.There are options such as ground heating pumps, etc. but a real heating system independent of the grid, plus a stunning focal point has to be a wood burning stove.In fact, wood logs are now the cheapest domestic heating fuel. According to the Stove Industry Alliance, wood now is “costing households 74% less per kWh than electric heating and 21% less than gas heating”. The benefits don’t end there. “Using a modern wood burning stove also costs 29% less to run than an air source heat pump. Wood logs are 87% less carbon intensive than gas, 88% less than electricity and 74% less than an air source heat pump.”Building a traditional steel pipe flue system is always an option, but steel systems are more suitable in retrofit projects where minimum disruption is required. When you are building a house from the ground up, then a more permanent and ultimately lifetime option is the better one.

Decimetric stainless steel sinktops, from GEC Anderson, are included within nine separate educational spaces to the newly renovated and highly impressive art building at the prestigious Stowe School in Buckingham.Stowe House was created by Sir Richard Temple in 1676 and over the next century rebuilt into the great classical show house and remarkable landscaped gardens and parkland. In 1923, the house became a school and is now a co-educational independent boarding school for over 750 boys and girls aged 13-18 years.As a consequence of the growing demand for art at Stowe School, and the need for the provision of art and design in one building on the existing site, a £2.5 million renovation and extension project took place. The project, designed by Rick Mather Architects and funded by Lord Sainsbury, transformed a tired 1930s building into a contemporary education space. The Art School now has a modern interior with plenty of extra space to offer facilities for a wide range of curriculum requirements ranging from Fine Art Drawing to Printmaking.Decimetric Classic stainless steel sinktops from GEC Anderson were specified in the Textile Room, Technician's Room, Office Kitchen, Printmaking Room, Dark Room and four Teaching areas to provide practical facilities that were durable, easy to maintain yet also attractive and inspiring to students.Sinktops of differing sizes were included to meet the individual requirements of the activities carried out. The flexible framework of sizes and options of the Decimetric range made for easy and accurate specification and a quick turnaround of the order.The sinktops, all made from professional grade stainless steel, included integral sink bowls and incorporated lipped edges to avoid spillage. The teaching rooms had extra-large sink bowls. Integral splashbacks were specified in certain areas.To bring it up to standard, the building was externally insulated and both ends raised and a staircase put in together with a mezzanine floor to provide extra space. John Morris, Head of Estates said, The original features such as windows have been kept in an effort to respect the existing form of the building.

Accoya was chosen for this external application as it met all of the stability and durability requirements for the projects cladding. Accoya was also selected because it is ideal for coating. The colour was achieved using two coatings; Woca external tinted Primer and Woca external oil Anthracite. The cladding was achieved by using three different cover-width boards (119 mm cover, 69 mm cover and 49mm cover) which were all 19 mm thick, these were then attached using a secret fix application with stainless steel screws.

Abode delivered a combined sink and tap offering to high-end house builder Berkeley Group, for its Edenbrook Village development in Hampshire. The challenge for Abode was to supply a complimentary sink and tap offering to work alongside the specified German contemporary kitchens from Leicht. Exceeding at the challenge, Abode took one of its stand-out designer taps, New Media in four finishes and coupled them with the extremely versatile R15 Matrix stainless steel one-and-a-half bowl sink, providing solutions that excelled in form and function.

The largest automated warehouse for online groceries in the world and renowned for its high-level distribution required robust drainage systems for their new facility. Aspen worked closely with the architect to design, manufacture and install stainless steel solutions to support the hygienic performance of the entire environment. Aspen provided engineering drawings, samples and prototypes to ensure a seamless manufacturing process and delivery of the project from day one. The kerbing was also specifically fitted and mounted onto the wall of the warehouse to offer maximum protection and to maximise cleaning efficiency of the facility.

BLÜCHER recently supplied our BLÜCHER EuroPipe system to the new Terminal 2 car park at Manchester Airport. The new multi-story car park has space for 3,800 vehicles and is part of the £1 billion transformation programme at the airport. The installation was overseen by G Beverley & Son on behalf of the M&E Contractor, Crown House. Our stainless steel drainage systems are the ideal choice due to our lightweight push-fit pipes and fittings are easy to handle and install, and provide rapid discharge of rainwater and waste water.

The team at Canal were approached by the client and design team at Collins Construction to manufacture an impressive bespoke staircase for the WD40 European headquarters. The client requested a feature staircase that connected three floors and reception desk inside the main central building. The technical sales team at Canal worked closely with the client to address the finer details including building regulations, existing constraints, structurals, logistics and overall aesthetics. The client requested the staircase to be manufactured in mild steel with a raw oiled finish to blend with their brand identity. .

The ASF Balmoral short panel post was used as a parapet railing for the top of a section of refurbished industrial walling alongside the Manchester Shipping Canal. The acorn finial and feature rail knuckles make a decorative and chunky post to house panels made with slightly oversize tube. The overall effect turns this practical 'safety rail' into a design feature that compliments the heritage parts of the famous Salford Quays development. ASF also manufactured many of the stainless steel street furniture products seen in the pedestrian and residential areas of the Quays.

A Raised Floor System was nominated for this project in order to ensure full access to cables / services within the flooring. This provides greatest flexibility for the long term function of any commercial building. The stunning design was created by Sheppard Robson Architects who won a design competition in 2005 to create this building. The site was developed by Linkcity with their sister company Bouygues UK as the Main Contractor. Bathgate Flooring was appointed to manufacture, supply and install over 10,000m2 of PSA steel encapsulated panels to create the raised floor system over 7 floors.

A new-build student ‘hub’ providing more than 650 rooms to aid a future generation of learners. The structure consists of a steel frame, Siniat Weather Defence Board, EPS and then finished in our BrickPlus: Eco cladding system. The external BrickPlus: Eco façade increased the thermal performance of the building whilst providing a traditional brick finish.We produced a smooth titanium grey engineering brick to create a clean cut modern finish. There are many bespoke sections including over 30+ specific angles of squints.

The brief given to Colne Contracts was to create a non-slip surface for the step area leading up to the client’s home. It was important that the steps were hard wearing and practical, but most importantly safe. Colne Contracts secured the steps with a resin surface to minimise slipping and then finished the steps with a stainless steel step nosing 13.5mm. Each profile cleverly included a glow in the dark insert. Dural supplied these practical but unusual safety profiles. The trims were custom made by Dural to include a glow in the dark colour.

Lockerpods bike locker offer safety and security for your bike. Manufactured from recyclable, low density polyethylene, the LDPE is UV treated and will not deteriorate or dis-colour over time. The door hasps are made of protected Stainless steel tabs, drilled to accept padlocks. Internally it is designed so that a ground anchor can be installed to accept a D Lock or chain for additional security. Lockerpods are weatherproof so your bike is kept clean and dry and there’s space to store your helmet and other bike kit safely with your bike.

The transformation of the iconic old Marylebone Town Hall into a major new facility for the London Business School was taken on by Sheppard Robson Architects. Sammy Ofer Centre is a great educational institute now even so with better facilities for students to learn in. A building with such a heritage deserves the best entrance. This is further enhanced by the glass and steel structure that creates a clear distinction between the two building. As a result, we could not be prouder in installing our most flagship Entrance Matting to prevent the ingress of dirt and moisture into the building.

The design committee at The Highdown Hotel opted for Hafele's Dialock DT710 door terminal sets for their upgrade, designed and was supplied and maintained by Häfele. An advanced locking and identification system, Dialock uses electronic keys, terminals and programming units to allow authorised access with the option to add on keyless smart phone entry at a later date. All of the Highdown’s guestroom doors, as well as the building’s main entrance, have now been fitted with Dialock. The stainless steel handle sets gave the required contemporary touch to a traditional environment.

Johnstone’s Trade’s comprehensive approach to colour has been used to create an inspiring and contemporary learning environment at a state-of-the-art school building in Leicester. Johnstone’s Acrylic Durable Matt was used by decorators in a wide variety of colours to create striking feature walls and walkways. Johnstone's Trade products from the Metal Defence System range were used to provide lasting protection to exposed steel beams in the main sports hall. Johnstone’s Flortred, meanwhile, was applied on floors in the plant rooms across the new building.

Concrete foundations of a wind energy plant: Due to the influences of the weather over the years, the following damages were noticed: •Cracks due to movement •Moisture into the structure •Spalling of the concrete •Corrosion of the reinforcement •Flaking paint The first step in the restoration of the foundation was pressure injecting the cracks - through which an elastic closure of the cracks was realized. The total surface was strengthened with a unique sillicate liquid. A waterproof sloped layer was installed; finally, the moving joint between the foundations and the steel tower of the wind energy plant was sealed elastically.

Looking down for architectural features in any Georgian town and as well as coal hole covers, manholes and the like you'll see all manner of air bricks and grilles, mostly for sub floor ventilation in property walls. Here is an illustration of a cast iron vent underneath a front door in Regency Bath. Like many it's in a pretty poor state. This one's patched up with steel plate and it's suffocating, what is a key part of the ground floor causing damp. Prevent damp in period property basements and below suspended floors...

Between 2016 and 2019, MICA Architects performed a restoration of Lincoln's Inn, that compromised heritage-led conservation and restoration with bold contemporary additions, to the oldest working library in London. The East Terrace development, is a new education suite beneath the existing east terrace of the Great Hall, which provides high quality advocacy training. Classic pieces in stainless steel from the Knud Holscher collection, creates the finishing touches within this historical building. The simplicity and classicism of the products, is perfectly compatible with the modern additions of the space.

Originally erected quickly by Canadian troops in 1945, in support of the liberation of the Netherlands, the structure is still sound today. It represents a landmark erection for the Dutch galvanizing industry. Most importantly, on a recent visit to inspect the structure, it was noted that the steel itself had not been affected anywhere, despite a higher level of sulphurous pollution in earlier years. Today, the low sulphur dioxide content of the local atmosphere means that predictions on anticipated lifespan can be extended several times over what was initially foreseen upon installation.

National Trust owned, Saltram House is a magnificent stately home in Plymouth. Home to the Parker family for several generations, Saltram comprises an elegant Georgian façade built around a much earlier building. One of many National Trust premises to get a renewable makeover as part of a general drive to improve the environmental credentials of its buildings, Saltram is now home to a biomass system. Plumbed together using Geberit Mapress Carbon Steel, the new heating consists of 220kW and 95kW boilers fuelled by pellets.

Furnitubes’ Alta range was the ideal addition to newly installed concrete walls at the £90m expansion. 24 seats have been supplied in total, all as 1.5m module lengths to accommodate 3 people on each. 16 of the seats are the open back design for placement where the rear can’t be directly seen, with remainder being enclosed back versions which offer an attractive aspect from all sides. The steel framework to the seats was supplied in a galvanised finish that provides the ultimate in protection against corrosion and will be maintenance-free for many years.

The Olympic stadium had a capacity of 80,000 during the Olympics and Paralympics. It will be reduced in capacity to 25,000 for the future and will become West Ham United F.C's new permanent home. Designed by Populous Architects and contracted to McAlpine, it took over three years to build. Along with 10,700 tonnes of steel and thousands of cubic metres of low-carbondioxide concrete, there are many Naylor Concrete Hi-Spec, Fair Faced and Fire Resistant Lintels in the building, supplied through Civils and Lintels to Essex based Brickwork Contractor, Galostar.

The Portsmouth Ferry Terminal offers all the modern high standards and style of an airport. A full height concourse contains shops, check in desks and the arrival and departure areas. The Ferry terminal achieved a high BREEAM rating through a number of initiatives including the installation of Franke Sissons Stainless Steel Urinals and WC’s connected with the unique A3000 Open Water Management System. The use of dual flush touch free controls to flush the 4 litre WC and using sea water for flushing further reduced the water consumption of the building.

The Main Stadium at Qian Tang river front, opposite the city’s new Central Business District, is an impressive project with a complex structure. Chosen to be the main venue of the 2022 Asian Games, the main stadium covers an area of 210,110m2. In addition tothe 80,000-seat main stadium, the project also includes 10,000-seat tennis center, aquatic center, convention center, athletic facilities and retail. In the first construction phase alone, Jotun’s Performance Coatings were meticulously specified for coating the 18,000 tons of steel in the main stadium.

This luxurious residential project incorporated a double level basement with the lower level extending out underneath the garden. In regards to the below ground structure Knowles & Associates Ltd undertook the following works: Excavation and formation of a basement to footprint and under 7 metres below garden level. Two/three stage underpinning. Internal steel staircase frame. Piling. Mass excavation of spoil. Construction of rear extension. Below slab drainage. Cavity drain Waterproofing. Insulation and screed. Swimming pool shell within lower level basement.

Fibre cement profiled sheeting from Eternit has been used as part of a £20 million project to refurbish and extend facilities at the heart of Cornwall’s 260-year-old china clay manufacturing industry.Some 5,000m2 of natural grey Profile 6 sheeting was installed on the roof and elevations, and 2,000m2 painted white as an internal roof lining to a new 30x85-metre steel-framed clay drying tube press in Bugle during a 12-month project for Imerys Minerals, the world’s largest china clay producer.

This project involved sealing a metal gutter in Glasgow. Leaks were present at most of the steel profile joints and rust was evident throughout. Heavy rust and soiling was first removed and then the entire length of the gutter was treated with Liquasil's corrosion primer, to prevent further rusting. Once cured, Liquasil Non Sag Sealer was applied to all joints. Non Sag Sealer has 1400% elasticity, to cope with extreme thermal movement. The whole gutter was then coated with Liquasil One to form a seamless and leak-free gutter lining.

Franke Sissons supplied a package of water management controls and software to monitor and control the water consumption for thr 38 stainless steel combination sanitation units and associated shower areas. The A3000 Open Water Management System was a key environmental achievement of the project. Each of the new cells WC's and Washbasins are operated by touch free, vandal resistant infra red controls which are directly linked and managed from a central monitoring facility. This enables constant full control of all the washroom facilities including the supply of water.

Gregg’s has an eye-catching livery with its logo of large white lettering, four orange coloured blocks and the sky blue background The façade was updated with 2mm aluminium cassette panelling coated in Evolution ‘Peat Fire’. This shade is similar to Corten but there is no run-off or staining of surrounding material. The panelling has feature perforations which create an interesting effect, enhanced by the consistent inconsistency of the weathered steel appearance of the coating. The façade will look smart for years with a guarantee of up to 25 years for gloss, colour and adhesion.

Premier Security & Fire fabricated and installed three Secured by Design steel security gates and fencing for instructing clients MDP Communications Services at their project in King’s Cross, North London.Premier’s gates have been tested by the BRE (Building Research Establishment) achieving LPS1175 SR2 security status and sit alongside our dual-certified LPS products in a portfolio of more than 250 designs, including communal entrance doors, screens and curtain walling.Check out our website for more information. www.premier-ssl.com

Vienna Central station is a new, state-of-the-art railway station. The key architectural idea: Vienna should be open and free of barriers. Open halls, wide stairways and ceiling apertures create a sense of space and freedom. Simplicity and lightness are balanced by the use of high-grade materials such as natural stone and glass. About 1,100 metres of Q-railing’s oval-shaped, stainless steel Easy Glass cap rail on staircases throughout the station is a perfect example of this preference for quality. It also responded to the project’s demanding safety and accessibility requirements.

Sika's full suit of products helped with waterproofing the scalloped roof at the campus. A combination of Sike Sarnafils waterproof Single Ply membrane, as a flexible and robust membrane, and Sikalastic- 621, as a highly-durable elastic liquid polyurethane system, was used. As well as the roof refurbishment, concrete repairs were also carried out with the use of Sika MonoTop-615 and Sikagard - 550. For the steel reinforcement Sika FerroGard-903 was also used. The refurbishment of the buliding was a great project for Sika to work on as it had solutions for each aspect of the project.

Bicester Village, one of the UK’s major outlet shopping villages, has recently undergone a major extension. The work has added additional shopping space and car parking, and Cembrit PB has been used as a render-backer on the exterior facades of the extension. Stockford, the contractor, installed 800m² of Cembrit PB to the steel frame structure and encapsulated it with the stunning MonoTherm TXF system manufactured and supplied by Monocouche Render Systems Ltd to achieve the decorative weather proof finish you see today at the premises.

Flowers Gallery was first established in 1970 on Lisle Street in London’s West End, more recently moving into a 12,000 sq foot industrial space in Shoreditch, East London. Now, Flowers have two gallery spaces in London and one in the United States. Flowers participates regularly in art fairs internationally. The programme in both the UK and US comprises all media by established and emerging artists. The gallery is an active publisher of prints and multiples with an established department in contemporary international photography. When refurbished in 2014, Dan Flowers contacted GEC Anderson to produce a stainless steel worktop that would be incorporated into the gallery kitchen. The gallery kitchen is used on a daily basis by fifteen staff members and also by outside caterers that are hired to cater for exhibitions. The area is well used on a regular basis and needed to be long lasting and hygienic but also to look smart and professional. Architect, Felicity Atekpe, of White Table Interior Designs in relation to the kitchen “I was trying to get a different kind of space from the normal gallery and wanted it all to be hues of blues and moody (restful) with the stainless steel as the sparkle. Dan suggested GEC Anderson. At the time I showed them photographs which were stills from the Japanese film Floating Weeds by Yasujiro Ozu but they chickened out of painting the walls darker and the floor... You never know though, they might yet.”