"concrete"

Premium acoustics are a quintessential part of any modern-day theater or performance space. Noise coming in from other rooms or even from outside can disturb live performances.In ‘s-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands, construction of the new performing arts theater is well underway. Planned to open in the second half of 2023, ‘Theater aan de Parade’ will house 2 multifunctional halls, each with its own atmosphere and programming. The different spaces are all connected by spacious foyers, with plenty of natural light and views of the Parade, the main town square.The new theater is designed to invite passersby to come in, enjoy one of the many performances or simply hang out and relax.The solution selected to acoustically decouple the multifunctional hall, one of the 2 main halls of the building, from the rest of the theater, was a complete box-in-box construction, using a Stravifloor Jackup-R floating floor system.The total hall surface area is about 543 m², divided over three zones. An impressive 272 boxes were installed. Boxes were installed with 2 different types of springs combined in three different configurations. The overall span between the boxes in this project is around 1,4 to 2 m.The added value of a jack-up system in this specific project was that despite the loads not being homogeneously distributed across the entire surface, it is possible to create a stiff concrete slab with a homogeneous thickness before to place it on springs.A jack-up system allows for better control of the slab level across all construction phases, concrete slab thickness, and the final deflection of each bearing, different in number, type and tributary area.The entire installation process was spread across two phases, the installation of the boxes together with the insulation material and PE-foil which took less than one week, and the second phase in which we were jacking up the boxes until the entire floor was raised to the desired level. This last step took 4 days, including cleaning and preparing the area for the next intervening parties.

As part of the multi-million-pound restoration of Grade I listed Manchester Town Hall, window restoration specialist Shepley Engineers is restoring, refurbishing, repairing and replacing hundreds of historic leaded and metal casement windows throughout the site using Hodgson Sealants Metal Casement Putty and Leaded Lite Cement. Each piece of glass from the iron-framed leaded lite windows from the state rooms has been removed, cleaned, repaired – or replaced by new fabrications if necessary – and reinstated using Hodgson’s Leaded Lite Cement in Shepley’s on-site restoration studio. The metal casement windows on the lower floors have been removed to Sheffield for restoration using Hodgson’s Metal Casement Putty, a high quality, hand-applied glazing compound that is formulated or bedding and external fronting of single glass into primed steel, timber frames, sealed hardwood and concrete. It is designed to be overpainted as in this project.

Maybrey Works is a collection of contemporary 1, 2 & 3 bedroom apartments. Located on Worsley Bridge Road, this scheme comprises demolition of buildings and comprehensive redevelopment of the site to provide new buildings ranging from five to nine stories in height comprising 160 residential units. Close to local amenities and situated just a short walk from the nearest train station for travel to central London and the city, Maybrey Works also offers a work hub, which is open to all residents.Cellecta’s YELOfon HD10+ was specified by Stockwool due to the system being lightweight, easy to install, and delivers unrivalled acoustic performance when used to isolate a floating screed from a structural concrete floor. YELOfon HD10+ is an acclaimed resilient layer system that carries 3 proprietary Robust Details: E-FC-5, 17 & 18.Bellway was awarded this 7,950m² contract for this development in South London.

Kestrel Court is a bespoke development of nine apartments, comprising of one 3 bedroom and eight 2 bedroom high specification properties. Offering tree lined views, off street parking and private gardens, the development is nestled near Ewell Village, granting easy access to shops and restaurants. Its prime location provides A3 access to the M25 and trains to London. Also nearby is Bourne Hall, which features a library, theatre, museum, and various amenities, and Nonsuch Park, an English Heritage-listed historic park.Cellecta’s DECKfon Batten 70 was specified by 1929 Architects as they have been rigorously tested and are Robust Detail complaint for steel, concrete and timber separating floor applications. The battens consist of a layer of recycled, low resonance, open cell, flexible polyurethane foam bonded to an FSC/PEFC certified timber batten.Turnbull Homes were supplied 500m² of Cellecta products for this development in Epsom.

Regency Apartments is a redevelopment of a car park into 61 affordable one and two bedroom flats for rent and shared ownership. These apartments combine classic and modern features; these include secured video entry and a key fob system, with a Communal Courtyard providing outdoor space for residents. Situated near Chelmsford Centre, Regency Apartments offer affordable, modern living with open-plan spaces, with Bond Street's amenities, high street shops, and the Riverside Leisure Centre nearby. Quick commuting to Central London, Colchester, and Romford in 30 minutes; Stansted and Southend airports within 35 minutes.Cellecta’s YELOfon HD10+ was specified by Arcady Architects due to its unrivalled acoustic performance in isolating a floating screed from a structural concrete floor. This product is lightweight, making it easy to install. YELOfon HD10+ is also delivered in rolls to ensure it’s easy to handle.Stonebond and Home Group were supplied 300m² of Cellecta products to develop these apartments in Chelmsford.

Pembroke House is an assisted living home located in Camberley. The home had a conversion of the second and third floors and construction of a 2 story roof extension to provide 116 affordable apartments, as well as 20 in a dedicated dementia suite. Facilities include a private dining room, lounge areas, restaurant, cinema, library, café, spa bathroom, bistro, library, beauty salon and activities room. Located in the city centre, the building has underground parking, garden terraces on the 4th Floor, and a porte cochere providing outdoor space for residents to enjoy.Cellecta’s DECKfon Batten 70 was specified by PRP Architects as they have been rigorously tested and are robust detail complaint for steel, concrete and timber separating floor applications. The battens consist of a layer of recycled, low resonance, open cell, flexible polyurethane foam bonded to an FSC/PEFC certified timber batten.Wates Construction was awarded this 2,880m² contract to construct this development in Surrey.

Wick Lane is a scheme composed of six distinct buildings, including light industrial units, retail, and workspace areas, and 175 homes. It has been built in an existing vibrant neighbourhood, characterised by Victorian warehouse buildings with a mixture of industrial, creative, and residential spaces. These six buildings work together to form a new community that is an authentic piece of Hackney Wick. These apartments consist of a selection of one, two, and three bedroom homes. A variety of employment spaces activate and enliven the main street whilst freestanding double-height industrial units are combined with a variety of one, two or three-storey commercial units.Cellecta’s YELOfon HD5 was specified by dRMM due to its excellent acoustic properties specifically designed to reduce impact noise through the concrete floors with a floating screed. It is a lightweight, easy to install non-crosslinked polyethylene foam.Taylor Wimpey was awarded this 15,000m² contract to construct this development.

9 Marylebone Lane is a new-build high quality residential building comprising 2 basement levels, lower ground, ground and seven upper floors. The site is located in between Oxford Street and Wigmore Street.The Jubilee Line runs directly beneath the site and the acoustic consultant, Hoare Lea, specified that the building needed to be supported on Stravibase VHS elastomer bearings with a maximum natural frequency of 15Hz.The building is isolated at the base of columns and walls on top of the ground floor slab. Sensitive areas on the ground and lower ground floors are isolated using box-in-box constructions.The bearing stiffnesses were used in the structural analysis to ensure that the correct bearings were used at each support location.The three apartments and the gymnasium that were below the level of the main building isolation were built of Stravifloor Jackup concrete jack-up floating floors to create box-in-box constructions.

A long term solution which is flexible and seamless is provided with SofTop Comfort SL polyurethane comfort floor. The system has proven durability for school use yet is soft and comfortable to walk on with sound deadening properties and enhanced health and safety performance.Although both the adults and the students have taken good care of their beautiful school, the passing of time still ravaged the concrete and the roof with damage and decay. The school was subsequently renovated, and by 2015 the buildings were once again ready to host its students after a thorough rebuilding, where the floors were nautrally renewed.The school area was approximately 8,000m2. Linoleum was chosen for one half and SofTop Comfort SL on the remaining 4,000m2. After two and a half years there was already clear differences in how the two floor types had met the challenge that the schools nearly 700 hundred students had inflicted on a daily basis.

Luton Dart LandscapingStreet furniture | landscape seatingUnity RangeLocation: LutonLuton DART Station in Bartlett Square has been upgraded as part of the ‘Luton Rising’ project and now features Townscape’s Unity range of precast concrete benches with inset timber tops along with fully clad Unity litter bins.This commercial development off Kimpton Road, next to Luton Airport Parkway station is set in a partially landscaped garden. Our seating provides a place for the public to dwell and reflect. The Architects were Capita the constructors were Ryebridge Construction.The project strives to provide pedestrian access across Bartlett Square to the Luton DART Parkway station from Kimpton Road, along with a small area of public realm. Townscape’s involvement has assisted in creating a new and high-quality public realm that is practical and links the rail station with local businesses and residents.

One Bishopsgate Plaza, LondonStreet furniture & plantersStreet furniture | Street Planters | HVMThis new landmark tower located in the true heart of the City is arranged across 20 levels above a new Pan Pacific hotel – the first in Europe, offering access to hotel services below and private amenities above is what truly sets these apartments apart.The plaza needed to provide a high-quality useable public space that is protected from Hostile Vehicle attacks. Townscape’s bespoke street furniture seating and planters fully meet the architectural aspirations of the specifier PLP. The iroko timber was specifically chosen as untreated to slowly age to a uniform grey.The prestige white smooth finish of the street furniture is designed to have timeless appeal. All the street planters are hand cast using artisan precast concrete techniques refined over Townscapes 47-year history. The constructor was Maylim.

300 m2 of Optima XTR Contour in 6063 T6 Aluminium Extrusion and 3000 m2 of Optima TFC+ in Aluminium 3103 Grade has been used in the completion of Bromley-by-Bow in East London.Bromley-By-Bow is a visually striking array, comprised of five high rise residential blocks with community spaces and commercial areas at ground level.Sotech’s newest system innovation – XTR Contour – was chosen as it allowed the design team to mimic the pre-cast concrete fluted panels in a consistent manner.In order to form the fluted decorative areas below the windows, a new extrusion profile was developed – XTR Contour Concave. The profile of the design was a copy of the pre-cast concrete façade panels which are fluted in the same general locations.Whilst systemised testing wasn’t carried out on this project, the design team invested significant time in 3D printing profiles to prove concepts prior manufacturing the physical die. This saved time and money in the overall project scheme.Mohamadrez Jenaban, Technical Lead at Sotech “I have undertaken a number of simulation analyses for this project to ensure panel safety, adequate performance and stability under the given conditions. We were able to determine 1- number of stiffeners required for these panels to keep deflection below CWCT recommendation 2- the maximum fixing span to keep the stress below the material permissible stress value”. The main challenge on the scheme was implementing a cap to the XTR Contour profiles upon the request of the Fire Engineer. On such a shallow profile this is challenging as there is little room for any form of fabrication works. In response to this challenge, we therefore developed internal screw ports within the extruded profile. This allowed us to mechanically fix plates to the head and the base of the profile and conform the Fire Engineer’s requirements.Sotech’s was able to provide key advice and guidance in the creation of the XTR profile, as well as key guidance on how to rationalise the arrangement to standardise die quantities, shape and size.TESTIMONIALSJamie Smith, Commercial Manager at Sotech: “The extrusion process has some restrictions and requires knowledge of the extruding process to determine what can be manufactured through a die. Flow rates of aluminium, hollow elements and wall thickness all play a significant part in the final die composition. Sotech’s technical team are able to remove the risk to the client and advise on what is physically capable, saving time and money through failed dies.”“The Optima XTR Contour – Concave systems gives an aesthetically pleasing visual and the powder coating enhances the system giving more definition to the fluting vs the contrasting brickwork surround. Our Optima TFC+ system, finished in Axalta Textured Powder to the recessed balconies, mixes well against the pre-cast concrete. The discrete fixing of the system is perfectly suited for this type of application when secret fixing systems by be burdensome in confined spaces.”Reece Barnes Commercial Director at Alliance Facades said: “Bromley-by-Bow is our flagship project and largest to date, providing over 500 homes, and requiring over 3,000m2 of rainscreen cladding…We worked closely with Sotech to deliver phases 1 and 2 of the mixed-use development, selecting the Optima XTR Contour and TFC+ range respectively.“XTR Contour was the perfect solution for the scheme as it’s extremely hardwearing and versatile, and enabled us to conform to the fire engineer’s requirements. The design team at Sotech proved themselves again and again in the way they rose to the challenges of this scheme and found innovative solutions. The project looks fantastic – well done everyone!”

North Acre, a magnificent five-bedroom barn conversion, commands breathtaking views over the picturesque countryside near Shaftesbury in Dorset's Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.Gowercroft products used:Peveril Lift and Slide DoorsKedleston Tilt and Turn WindowsMelbourne DoorsHardwick Casement WindowsAccoya®Vanessa and Bruce Jones, longing to build their dream home in the countryside, were thrilled when they discovered a spacious plot with an abandoned steel-framed agricultural building.The 400-square-meter south-facing structure, once a cattle shed, held immense potential for their vision of a modern, open-plan, eco-friendly family home."North Acre's location captivated us instantly. We realised that, with the right design, this industrial-looking farm building could be transformed into a light-filled, airy sanctuary for our family," shared Vanessa Jones.Uniquely Integrated DesignCampbell Jackson Architects approached the conversion with a focus on celebrating the structure's grand scale, shape, and utilitarian simplicity."Our philosophy is to create buildings that are harmonious and appropriate for their surroundings, revealing the distinctive qualities of each project. In this case, we aimed to maintain the barn's unassuming presence within the rural landscape while welcoming the stunning views into its light-filled interior spaces," explained Jamie Campbell.The original concrete hardstanding served as the footprint for the new design, with the core steel framework supporting a metal-clad roof. The use of pre-cast concrete panels at lower levels and extensive Siberian larch cladding contribute to a contemporary and understated aesthetic.Thoughtfully Framed ViewsThe south-facing elevation of the design purposefully responds to the panoramic views. Landscape Tilt and Turn windows and Lift and Slide doors from Gowercroft Joinery were carefully incorporated, allowing for perfectly framed vistas."We sought high-quality traditional timber windows and doors that would seamlessly blend with the concrete lintels and the Siberian larch cladding. Over time, the cladding will naturally weather from its original blond colour to a sun-bleached patina," shared Jamie.Gowercroft's windows and doors, renowned for their silver-grey translucent finish, were chosen for their contemporary aesthetic. The Accoya® timber's grain pattern shines through, complementing the desired tone.Throughout the project, Gowercroft supplied 22 Accoya® tilt and turn windows and four doors, all finished with their exclusive semi-transparent grey coating. These windows and doors enhance the flow between interior living spaces and offer captivating views of an exquisite indoor winter garden.The Perfect Match"We are absolutely thrilled with our new home. Campbell Jackson Architects' remarkable design has brought our original vision to life in ways beyond our imagination. The quality and beauty of the timber windows and doors from Gowercroft complete the picture," expressed Vanessa Jones.The Gowercroft team went above and beyond, ensuring that every detail, both technical and aesthetic, was meticulously considered to ensure their windows and doors were the perfect match for the new home. The specially developed micro-porous protective finish from Italy guarantees exceptional performance and virtually maintenance-free enjoyment.North Acre stands as a testament to the successful collaboration between Campbell Jackson Architects and Gowercroft, where architectural excellence and exquisite craftsmanship converge.

The Coombes CE Primary School engaged NBB Outdoors with a specific project brief aimed at improving the functionality and aesthetics of their school grounds. The primary project objectives were as follows:  Sheltered Pathway: The school required a sheltered outdoor area covering 16 meters of an internal corner of the building. Serving multiple entrances, they wanted to ensure that students, staff, and visitors could move safely and comfortably, regardless of the weather. Integration: It was of equal importance that the new shelter seamlessly integrated with both the school’s brand and uniform, matching the rich blue primary colour and incorporating the school logo onto the shelter. Year-Round Protection: The shelter needed to provide year-round protection from all weather conditions, ensuring that the covered pathway remained dry, safe, and functional. Diverse Installation: The project site included both concrete steps and tarmac, necessitating a combination of mounting variations to ensure secure installation.  To meet The Coombes CE Primary School’s unique requirements, NBB Outdoors designed and implemented a bespoke L-Shaped shelter solution, offering a range of tailored features: Full-Length Panelling: Clear polycarbonate glazing was affixed to the shelter, providing year-round protection from all weather conditions, making the sheltered pathways functional throughout the year. This feature ensured that students, staff, and visitors could move safely and comfortably, irrespective of the elements. Branding Integration: The school logo was prominently printed on six panels of the shelter, showcasing the school’s identity and creating a sense of pride among students and staff. Further, the shelter was gloss finished in Blue RAL 5002, enhancing the overall aesthetic appeal of the premises. Considered Installation: To accommodate both tarmac and concrete surfaces, seven shelter posts were surface-bolted, while four were sub-surfaced, ensuring the shelter’s stability and security.  As a further benefit, the resulting shelter received NBB Outdoors’ industry-leading Triplex anti-corrosion finish, providing exceptional resistance to corrosion and environmental challenges. This finish guaranteed the shelter’s durability for 25 years. By aligning the design with the school’s brand, integrating the logo, and ensuring year-round functionality, NBB Outdoors has not only met but exceeded the school’s expectations.

Wadham CollegeBauder Bakor 790-11 Hot Melt structural waterproofing system with BauderGREEN componentsSynopsisThe University of Oxford’s Wadham College graduate centre project was a complex refurbishment. Led by Lee Fitzgerald Architects and main contractor Feltham Construction it involved the careful restoration, adaptation and extension of the 1960’s grade II listed building.Bauder Building BoardProject:Wadham CollegeLocation:OxfordRoof Area:439m²Specifier:Lee Fitzgerald Architects​Main Contractor:Feltham ConstructionApproved Contractor:Deane Roofing & CladdingThe specification The brief for the project was to renovate the graduate centre and to link to the main college by creating a new entrance to the building. This led to the construction of a new building, the McCall MacBain Graduate Centre, which also now provides access to the Barbara Naylor rooftop gardens above the different reading, media and seminar rooms of the graduate centre. With the ageing existing waterproofing exceeding its life expectancy, the roof garden terrace was in need of a replacement roof system.As an accessible area which will experience a significant amount of foot traffic, the Bauder Hot Melt was determined to be the best solution for this roof. With a durability to match the expected life of the building and a self-healing system, the Bauder Bakor Hot Melt System is ideal for use on protected roofs such as inverted, paved, ballasted and terrace roofs.The resultApproved contractor Deane Roofing & Cladding carefully removed 439m² of the existing waterproofing, stripping the rooftop back to the concrete deck surface before installing the different layers of the Hot Melt system.The completed roof terrace now provides a modern and peaceful garden area where graduate students can relax and socialize between their work periods. Following several site visits by Bauder’s expert Site Technicians and a final leak test, a 20 year guarantee was issued for the roof terrace.System installed1 BauderPLANT E 42Green torch-on root-resistant capping sheet.2 790-11Hot melt rubberised bitumen asphalt with a percentage of post-consumer recycled materials that infills and fully bonds to all minor deviations in the deck.3 DeckPrimed concrete.

A global construction, energy and infrastructure organisation required a durable, chemical resistant floor coating solution with an anti-slip profile that would withstand the daily wear and tear of its internal vehicle repair and maintenance facility. VINCI Construction is part of VINCI Group, a multinational enterprise with operations in the energy, infrastructure and construction industries. Founded in 1899, the company now has a presence in over 120 countries with a global team of around 220,000 people. The Widnes facility is one of ten VINCI Construction UK locations and houses, among other facilities, a vehicle maintenance workshop where the company ensures their fleet of general and specialist vehicles. The industrial unit that houses the workshop previously had a concrete paving slab floor that proved to be uneven, unsafe, and difficult to maintain.  Not only did the new flooring solution need to address these concerns, it also needed to be both slip and chemical resistant as well as feature clearly marked automotive bays and provide enough durability to withstand frequent wheeled traffic as well as the impact of dropped tools and the weight of heavy equipment. Installed in a combination of RAL 7037 Dusty Grey and RAL 6024 Traffic Green, vebrores EP HBC was installed across the 332 m2 vehicle workshop, with the Traffic Green used to mark out the facility’s six automotive bays, before being outlined using vebrodeck PU Linemarker in Yellow. Prior to the installation of vebrores EP HBC SR – a system comprising an initial layer of vebro EP Primer followed two coats of vebro EP Universal with a broadcast of 52 mesh silica sand after the first coat for an anti-slip profile – the pre-existing concrete paving slabs were first coated with an epoxy DPM and a 20.0 mm screed to level the surface. vebrores EP HBC SR is a pigmented, solvent-free, slip-resistant high build epoxy floor coating system that is best suited to floors in medium duty processing areas where a textured, hard-wearing, chemical resistant finish is required. Available in a wide range of BS 4008 or RAL matched shades, the system is ideally suited to areas where there is a need for navigational demarcation and zoning. 

An openair swimming pool of a design described as the finest in England is being restored to its former elegance with Crittall windows playing a significant role.Saltdean Lido, some five miles east of Brighton, is a Grade II* listed Art Deco masterpiece built in 1938 utilising an innovative reinforced concrete structure designed by architect Richard Jones. It is one of only three Grade II* listed lidos in the country and has been on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk register for many years.The structure epitomises the essence of the modernist movement with sweeping lines designed to elevate Saltdean’s status as a resort. In its heyday, immediately before the Second World War, holidaymakers and local residents would flock to it paying sixpence to swim and to sunbathe on the adjacent lawns.After the war, during which it was used for Fire Service training, it lay derelict until restored by Brighton Borough Council and stayed in use until the late 1990s when local people banded together to defeat a developer’s plan to demolish the lido and build apartments on the site.A Community Interest Company campaigned successfully to have the pool brought back into use which was achieved in 2017. Now it was the turn of the buildings currently being restored by Buxton Building Contractors of Surrey.Once completed the building will house an Art Deco event space, suitable for weddings, an exercise studio, library, community hub, café and heritage learning zone plus workspace.A key element of the design is the generous area of glazing facing the pool. Here will be installed Crittall Homelight Plus steel windows that replicate the original fenestration and, because of the slender frames, maximise the benefits of natural light on this bright coastal location.The windows are also hot dipped galvanised to prevent corrosion and Duralife coated with marine grade polyester powder which will offer the highest level of protection against the aggressive wind-borne sea salts that caused damage to the original building.Duncan Wilson, Historic England’s Chief Executive, commented: “The handsome Saltdean Lido was inspired by contemporary ocean liner and aircraft design and is architecturally probably the finest in England.”Once completed, thanks to the streamlined white concrete surfaces and the sparkling Crittall windows, the building will once more provide, quite literally, a shining example of its genre.

An openair swimming pool of a design described as the finest in England is being restored to its former elegance with Crittall windows playing a significant role.Saltdean Lido, some five miles east of Brighton, is a Grade II* listed Art Deco masterpiece built in 1938 utilising an innovative reinforced concrete structure designed by architect Richard Jones. It is one of only three Grade II* listed lidos in the country and has been on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk register for many years.The structure epitomises the essence of the modernist movement with sweeping lines designed to elevate Saltdean’s status as a resort. In its heyday, immediately before the Second World War, holidaymakers and local residents would flock to it paying sixpence to swim and to sunbathe on the adjacent lawns.After the war, during which it was used for Fire Service training, it lay derelict until restored by Brighton Borough Council and stayed in use until the late 1990s when local people banded together to defeat a developer’s plan to demolish the lido and build apartments on the site.A Community Interest Company campaigned successfully to have the pool brought back into use which was achieved in 2017. Now it was the turn of the buildings currently being restored by Buxton Building Contractors of Surrey.Once completed the building will house an Art Deco event space, suitable for weddings, an exercise studio, library, community hub, café and heritage learning zone plus workspace.A key element of the design is the generous area of glazing facing the pool. Here will be installed Crittall Homelight Plus steel windows that replicate the original fenestration and, because of the slender frames, maximise the benefits of natural light on this bright coastal location.The windows are also hot dipped galvanised to prevent corrosion and Duralife coated with marine grade polyester powder which will offer the highest level of protection against the aggressive wind-borne sea salts that caused damage to the original building.Duncan Wilson, Historic England’s Chief Executive, commented: “The handsome Saltdean Lido was inspired by contemporary ocean liner and aircraft design and is architecturally probably the finest in England.”Once completed, thanks to the streamlined white concrete surfaces and the sparkling Crittall windows, the building will once more provide, quite literally, a shining example of its genre.

Two new apartment buildings in Kent have been given a thermally-efficient and visually-striking façade thanks to the use of an external wall insulation system from Sto. The two new blocks in Ashford - Stour Heights and Somerset Heights – have a single-skin construction, comprising a reinforced concrete frame with concrete block infill, and they benefit from the installation of StoTherm Mineral external wall insulation, with a StoCleyer B mineral brick slip and StoSilco render façade finish.“An alternative insulation system was originally proposed for these buildings,” says John Mahoney of Sheffield-based J Mahoney Architects. “As things progressed a different solution was required to meet the demands of the various parties involved in the project. Sto pretty much leads the pack in terms of quality, and the StoTherm Mineral system was able to satisfy everyone’s requirements, so it became the obvious choice. The fact that Sto could work with us and provide technical support was also extremely helpful.”The BBA-certified StoTherm Mineral external wall insulation system uses mineral-fibre boards to provide outstanding thermal performance, combined with reliable fire protection and effective sound insulation. Its efficient single-leaf construction and external installation do not compromise the building’s interior space, and it can be installed without the need for additional expansion joints.For the new buildings, it was installed using Sto’s unique Sto-Rotofix plus mechanical fixing system. The helical Rotofix fixings create a cavity behind the insulation board, which can be easily adjusted after installation to ensure a level outer surface is created. This system combines the ease-of-use of ETICS anchors with the flexibility of a mechanical rail system, but without the material and labour cost of installing the rails.“The StoCleyer B brick slips were specified to meet certain planning requirements,” adds John Mahoney. “An alternative brick solution was originally considered, but Sto was able to manufacture slips which were a perfect match for the proposed original. The fact that they were also fully compatible with the Sto insulation system was another significant point in their favour.”The new buildings have added 109 one- and two-bedroomed flats which are spread across the five floors of Stour Heights, and the three floors of Somerset Heights.

The newly constructed, £700m Perry Barr residential development is a portion of a regenerative scheme to deliver 1,400 new apartments to North Birmingham, part of the larger Birmingham City Council scheme to revitalise Perry Barr over the coming 20 years.With 9 plots, the Perry Barr development comprises 1 or 2 bed sustainable apartments across varying levels of residential blocks.Plot 7 comprises of 6 blocks, and 150 apartments - all arranged around a communal podium courtyard garden, alongside other amenities such as retail and leisure facilities, and private outdoor spaces.ChallengeThe complexities of 10 different roof levels - including green roofs, balconies, and terraces, lay with the UK's leading national commercial roofing company: BriggsAmasco, who were contracted for the £2m waterproofing element of the build.Choosing to use IKO Group's Permatec and Polimar liquid systems to waterproof the roofs effectively, BriggsAmasco completed what turned out to be a complex 19-month project on time, and without any H&S incidents. SolutionAs Plot 7 was a reinforced concrete frame construction, BriggsAmasco utilised Fixfast's A4/316 grade SureFast 6.1mm diameter fasteners for fastening upstand details around the roof. Being A4 grade, these fasteners have high corrosion resistance, are ETA and CE marked, and have gained UKTA approval and UKCA marking for peace of mind. IKO Group and BriggsAmasco received finalist status under the Bituminous Hot Applied Liquid Waterproofing category at the 2024 UK Roofing Awards - a well-deserved accolade for a construction built for a sustainable, secure future. "On request from the client we were asked to introduce a permanent fixing to the cement faced insulation boards, around the access hatches and AOVs, which would secure them to the concrete upstand. We approached Fixfast to request the most suitable fixing for this type of installation. Their speed of response and technical knowledge was first class and we had the correct specification of fixing sorted the same day, with delivery shortly after. The fixings were installed with no issues and the client signed off on the install to aid in achieving practical completion."Ian Weston, Branch Manager at BriggsAmasco Birmingham

Working with Williams Roofing Contractors Ltd of Eastleigh, Hampshire, the winning project involved the refurbishment of a large water treatment plant that imposed stringent environmental and performance requirements.The outstanding workmanship and attention to detail by the Polyroof approved contractor during this large scale installation allowed this project to really stand out from the crowd. The below is a case study for this LRWA award-winning project, highlighting the many challenges and how they were overcome through innovation, workmanship and product choice.The SolutionFollowing a survey of the roof area conducted by Williams Roofing and Polyroof Technical Services, a detailed report was carried out after which a bespoke specification was produced and handed to the client. This document detailed a comprehensive set of recommendations for solving the issues that had arisen due to the aged condition of the roof coverings.The client, satisfied that the solution proposed would provide the lasting peace of mind they were looking for, awarded the contract to Williams Roofing Contractors Ltd to install the Polyroof Protec System.There were many challenges on this project as this was a live ‘Clean Water’ environment site, so all Williams Roofing Contractor staff on the project had to have the EUSR National Water Hygiene Cards and be fully inducted by Southern Water’s high standards. Working within these type of environments brings additional Health & Safety implications as the National Water Hygiene scheme is in place to ensure the protection of public health and promote safe drinking water practices. Further risks had to be considered and covered including the risk of working over open water areas with additional buoyancy aids on site to reduce the risks as described under CDM regulations.Williams Roofing Contractors Ltd had to be especially vigilant providing additional protection to ensure that no potential contamination or spills caused any contaminants to the clean water processes/water courses and environment with additional spill kits on hand. Due to the varying conditions of the roof construction(s)/substrates the preparation had to be thought through thoroughly. Certain roof areas needed to be scarified which would have caused reverberations through the roof/concrete deck. This would have possibly created contaminants by spooling of concrete/debris/dust to within the MF Compound Water Lanes/Tanks.

The Ikea Hammersmith roof terrace project was an exciting one to be involved with as it is a perfect example of when to use a rail-based support system over pedestals.Ikea is a global brand known for its simple design solutions that can be used by everyone.The system – TerraSmart Rail IGNOThere was 6600m2 of the TerraSmart Rail system installed across the terrace to support concrete pavers and porcelain pavers. The lattice make-up of the paving system meant that the insulation layer placed upon the original roof was held down. This framework offered a robust and reliable substructure to the walking surface that will experience a lot of foot traffic.As it is part of our IGNO range, the system is fully non-combustible.The ChallengesThe roof had existing features in the structural slab, which meant that pedestals alone wouldn’t have been able to successfully support the surface, and therefore, a rail system was employed. The rail system allowed easy adjustment to the height creating level plains across the terrace. This system also became an advantage when forming the ramp featured in the design because the TerraSmart Rail can provide non-combustible multidirectional support to the pavers maximising stability and reliability, creating a robust and safe incline a the desired angle.Two different pavers were used as part of the project, a 50mm concrete tile and a 20mm porcelain tile. The transition between the two pavers took place at the same level. The seamless transition between the two finishes was achieved by ‘zoning’ the areas and changing the paving support heights.As it was part of a larger building, the terrace had to account for the expansion and contraction felt over time by differences in the residual temperature. The paving supports had to account for this so that any heat-induced changes would have minimal impact on the safety of the surface. An expansion profile was manufactured to slot between the tiles found over the expansion seam in the insulation to overcome this issue. The expansion profile rises above the gap between pavers and creates an L-shaped cover, hiding any expected movement.Why the project succeededThe success of this project was down to the collaborative effort between everyone involved in the project. The unique features of the project were worked on by the project, innovation and specification teams at Ryno and were complemented by the installation carried out by Greenside Landscapes.

The Spirit of Sittingbourne is a town within itself, offering town centre shopping, city living, hotel and a cinema complex.Within the Travelodge on this town centre development Soundis provided Soundis Acoustic Battens overlaid with an 18mm OSB and mineral wool insulation between the battens. This specification is a perfect combination of providing great impact and airborne acoustic performance due to the resilient layer pre-bonded to the battens along with the void created by the battens and the added mass within the build up from the mineral wool insulation.Acoustic solutions for both airborne and impact noises...The cinema specification on this project was a lot more specialised as are all solutions to the required acoustic flooring within cinemas. The system used on this project was the Soundis CineSystem – Ultra (Concrete/Structural Screed), one of two CineSystems which Soundis offer for anti vibration flooring requirements. This system is the natural choice of a floated build-up when there are no constraints in regard to weight, distribution etc. due the additional mass that this system provides and offers the greatest acoustic benefit.

One Tower Bridge is the home for a new 900-seat theatre built for the London Theatre Company on the South side of Tower Bridge called the Bridge Theatre. The theatre is one of the largest to be built in London in the past 100 years.To protect the residential accommodation that wraps around the theatre the acoustic consultant specified that the theatre be built on a 200 mm concrete floating slab supported on springs (Stravifloor Deck). The structural engineers specified that the floating slab must spread the loadings of the theatre structure as much as possible to the supporting structure beneath.CDM Stravitec’s in-house structural engineers used finite element analysis to optimise the load spread of the floating slab whilst retaining the acoustic requirements. The optimised design incorporated 4,300 springs with higher concentrations of springs where the imposed loads were greatest.Reinforcement density was also increased in the higher loaded areas to optimise the load spread characteristics of the slab. The floating slab was installed within a very tight timeframe of 3 weeks in order to comply with the project build programme.

We have improved the drainage system at this lorry park and service station in this town to the north of London.  The problem was that the drainage system installed in the area did not have sufficient capacity to drain the rainwater, leading to dangerous accumulations of water on the road surface.Service stations and lorry parks have a constant flow of vehicles. There are also some areas where HGVs turn, making it necessary to guarantee the safety of the installation of the channels in order to prevent breakages and accidents.Good advice on your drainage system avoids problems and gives you peace of mind.In these cases, it is essential to have a consultancy service that, taking into account all the necessary parameters (location, rainfall, surface slope, weight to be borne by the grating (load type) and length of the drainage line), defines the model best suited to the site.In this project, 250 ml of Civil-F polymer concrete channels, model F150K, were installed for load type F900. And it has a grating secured at 8 points. It is important for you to know this.

A bespoke Gatic CastSlot system was installed as part of the redevelopment of the riverside stand for Craven Cottage, home to Fulham FC. The project, which began in July 2021, incorporates Gatic CastSlot Treadsafe, which was chosen to drain away any excess surface water from the seating/standing areas along the deck of the stand. It was installed by main contractors Buckingham Group.The unobtrusive profile of CastSlot sits neatly within concrete, asphalt, and block surface finishes and features an electro painted ductile iron throat section. This is securely fixed to the galvanised steel channel body to provide an exceptionally robust yet discreet drainage system.The treadsafe option was chosen for this project. Treadsafe is available for areas where there is regular foot traffic and is available with a 10mm or 30mm opening—ideal for stadium standing and seating areas.Bespoke access boxes were also created for the new stand, and channel throat depths were also extended for level changes, allowing a constant invert within the channel.

The new Santander Work Café in Jersey is the banking institution’s first major high street location in the Channel Islands. The banking space is designed to provide customers with a better experience in a comfortable and open environment and is the work of Santander’s in-house architects, Jose Miguel Perez Tallon and Ruben Sesmero Blanco. They worked with fit-out contractor Style Shopfitting, to specify Amtico Signature LVT, which was fitted by Marett Floorcraft. When considering the design for the new Work Café, Santander’s in-house architect team wanted to experiment with a new floor pattern to bring together the informal meeting and co-working spaces on the ground and first floors. Amtico produced a bespoke version of its Aspekt laying pattern, using shards of Signature in Worn Oak, Solar Pine and Exposed Concrete for an ultramodern and urban look to inspire visitors, create specific zones and link the two floors of the building. The design blends into Worn Oak, laid in Stripwood, to aid wayfinding and subtly connect different areas while complementing the colour scheme. 

The Chocolate Quarter is a St Monica Trust’s retirement living village. Formally home of Fry’s and later Cadbury’s chocolate factory, the development was completely refurbished, restoring the iconic buildings, and converting them into apartments. The development comprises of three interconnected blocks. Block A was converted to provide 106 apartments with two floors built off the factory roof. Block B was converted and extended at ground floor level providing communal areas and a 93 Bedroom Care Home and housing apartments. Block C accommodates offices on the upper four floors and a Doctors Surgery at ground floor level.Cellecta’s DECKfon Batten 70 was specified by KWL Architects as they have been rigorously tested and are robust detail complaint for steel, concrete and timber separating floor applications. The battens consist of a layer of recycled, low resonance, open cell, flexible polyurethane foam bonded to an FSC/PEFC certified timber batten.Hall Bros Carpentry was awarded this 4,953m² contract to construct this development in Keynsham.

Bermondsey Spa is a transformation of a neglected corner of south London into one with well designed homes, streets, spaces, and places for the local community. Located in Southwark, close to Tower Bridge and Bermondsey Underground station. 2,000 new homes, 40% of which are affordable housing, have been created. 16 GP surgeries in two new health centres, a NHS dental practice, pharmacy, youth, and play facilities, 2.5 hectares of re-landscaped open space, bicycle parks, council offices and a One Stop Shop, shops, including a food retail store, and offices for the Southwark Primary Care Trust have been constructed.Cellecta’s YELOfon HD10+ was specified by Levitt Bernstein for this development for its acclaimed resilient layer which isolates floating screed from the structural concrete floor. YELOfon HD10+ has superior impact sound deadening properties, is light weight and is easy to handle and install.Hyde Group was awarded this 25,000m² contract to construct this development in one of the most vibrant places to live in London.

Brett Landscaping played a key role in the completion of Crystal Palace’s new £20m academy and training ground when they were able to offer the best product with the shortest lead time. The leading independent concrete paving manufacturer was selected to provide more than 1,300 square metres of the new high performance Invicta block paving at the Premier League club’s new complex in Beckenham. Architects KSS worked very closely with the Crystal Palace chairman and senior management in selecting premium products for the exterior at the prestigious site -and Brett’s Invicta Pearl and Invicta Onyx met the high standards of everyone at the club. The club and architect required a high-end product, with the flexibility of large plank sizes for larger areas, but that would match up and blend with a more striking pattern in a diamond configuration for the entrance into the academy building itself. Brett was able to provide all of these elements with readily available, high-end aesthetics with multiple sizes and colours which allowed flexible and varied design

Fresh Wharf is a multi-phase brownfield project which transforms the wharf on the river Roding. The project includes a demolition of the old industrial estate and construction of 911 one and two bedroom apartments in a range of tenures, flexible commercial spaces, generous landscaping, a new riverside walk and new infrastructure, along with parking concealed below podium gardens. Buildings ranging from 3 to 14 storeys are surrounded by cafes, shops, and restaurants, it is 15 minutes from Barking station, with access to the underground, overground and rail connections into central London. Cellecta’s YELOfon HD10+ was specified by Frank Reynolds Architects due to the system being lightweight, easy to install, and delivers unrivalled acoustic performance when used to isolate a floating screed from a structural concrete floor. YELOfon HD10+ is an acclaimed resilient layer system that carries 3 proprietary Robust Details: E-FC-5, 17 & 18.Countryside Properties UK was awarded this 40,000m² contract for this development in Barking.

Three Brewers Court consists of two connecting blocks of 4 and 5 storeys of affordable housing units within a sustainable brownfield location. These units consist of 10 two-bedroom apartments and 40 one-bedroom dwellings. The scheme also includes a commercial unit, car parking, bike store and outdoor communal space. Previously occupied by a car sales garage and the Three Brewers pub, these establishments were demolished for this new apartment block. After Wales and West Housing Association’s partner Jehu Group announced it was going into administration, they reached out to Hale Construction to complete the project.Cellecta’s ScreedBoard 30 was specified by Pentan Architects due to its composite acoustic overlay treatment specifically for concrete separating floors. The board’s high density and superior compressive strength resilient layer provides outstanding acoustic performance and an ideal base to accept a multitude of floor finishes.Hale Construction was supplied 3,287m² of Cellecta products to develop these units in Penylan.

Canonbie Road was home to a former hostel, which was demolished to construct a three-storey building comprising six council homes for families requiring temporary accommodation. Led by Lewisham Council as part of their programme to deliver new affordable council homes across the borough, the development includes dual-aspect family units of two and three beds in two wings that step with the sloping site. Each flat has generous private amenity space, access to a shared tree-lined garden and twelve cycle spaces.Cellecta’s YELOfon HD10+ was specified by Avanti Architects due to the system being lightweight, easy to install, and delivers unrivalled acoustic performance when used to isolate a floating screed from a structural concrete floor. YELOfon HD10+ is an acclaimed resilient layer system that carries 3 proprietary Robust Details: E-FC-5, 17 & 18.Building Associates Limited were supplied 450m² of Cellecta products for this development in Forest Hill.

ROJECT NAME: RENOVATION PRODUCT SUPPLIED SUPPLIED: INSTALLER SELFBUILD CONTRACT FLOORS AEROMIX was chosen for this renovation project thanks to its many benefits of offering warmth, smoothness of finish and speed of install. This project came with a challenging access issue meaning a long pump distance and lots of services in the floor AEROMIX was the perfect solution. This was the perfect product, providing an ideal solution for the insulation for this project. Reducing CO2 due to reduced carbon emissions within the product. The installer who completed this project SELFBUILD CONTRACT FLOORS said AEROMIX was poured as insulated ground baring slab, installed at 250mm deep achieving the required 0.11 u-value, this allowed the customer to clip the UFH pipes directly to it before being topped with a 65mm C20 liquid screed AEROMIX provided the ideal solution for the insulation on this project, compared to the normal concrete floor and other traditional methods, the speed of pumping the insulation coupled with the high thermal properties has contributed in saving the customer both time and money. 

ASE STUDY PROJECT NAME: DERBYSHIRE HOUSE RENOVATION PRODUCT SUPPLIED AEROMIX SUPPLIED AND INSTALLED BY: CLOCKWORK SCREED INITIAL BRIEF: Garage to a one bed bungalow conversion. Aeromix was chosen for this project thanks to its many benefits of offering warmth, smoothness of finish and speed of install. The floor needed to be strong and warm so by using Aeromix with its thermal properties the finish was amazing. 175mm Aeromix was poured directly over compacted hard core topped with 65mm C20 liquid screed . The builder who completed this project AA BUILDERS DERBY said “The product is amazing and the finish is amazing, I would recommend it to anybody and everybody” Building control, GEORGE REDGRAVE DBCP He was very impressed with the flooring and commented “what a nice finish. , this is the way forward” Aeromix provided the ideal solution for the insulation on this project, compared to the normal concrete floor and other traditional methods, the speed of pumping the insulation coupled with the high thermal properties has contributed in saving the customer both time and money. 

SubFloor flooring was used to help renovate, raise and acoustically dampen concrete floors in apartments.The acoustic feet simply click onto the SubFloor screws and dampens any step noise up to 28 dB, this helps reduce; step noise, rebound noise and flanking transmission.This simple and elegant solution raised and levelled the floor to allow for installations and insulation underneath. The joist and screw system allows for quick and easy assembly so that the floor can reach the desired height.Products:Steel Joist 45x30x3800 mmSubFloor Screw 100 mmSubFloor Acoustic FootHeight Variation: 58 - 112 mmJoist separation: c/c 600 mmSystem Weight - c/c 600 mm: 2.21 kg/m²Materials:Steel, Z100 GalvFibre-reinforced polypropylenePolyamide + Rubber damping elementPoint Load Limit (50 x 50 mm):Between screws over joist - 6.78 kNOver screws over joist - 10.54 kN