"foamglas®"

Islwyn High in Caerphilly is an ambitious project to amalgamate two former schools in a new purpose-built development. Part of the 21st Century School Programme across Wales, the impressive three storey building comprises a range of modern teaching spaces, an amphitheatre, technology workshops and science labs. A variety of Rockfon® acoustic ceiling tiles are installed throughout the school to control noise and harmonise with the contemporary interior.

Cardiff City Stadium is the new home of Cardiff City FC and Cardiff Blues rugby union team and was opened in July 2009 in time for the start of the 2009/10 season. The stadium is a striking landmark that was developed alongside a new retail park in the Leckwith area of the Welsh capital. 18,000m² of doubled sided profiled steel was manufactured and supplied by Euroclad in Colorcoat HPS200 Ultra® for the vast roof structure.

Thistle’s Centre of Wellbeing in Edinburgh wanted floorings that couple function and style with the necessary attributes. Consequently, floorings for the gym and meeting rooms were specified. It was Gerflor’s Taraflex® Evolution in Wood Oak that satisfied Thistle’s clear brief for a good looking, comfortable, hygienic, high performing, durable, easy-maintenance gym flooring. It also fulfilled the requirements for a product that could contribute to the warm, welcoming and friendly aesthetic.

The Galliagh Community Centre is a multi-function single storey construction designed to meet community needs. Located in a residential area it was essential the construction be completed in a timely manner with minimal disruption to the residents.The new centre has dedicated office space and multi-purpose rooms to house various local community groups this follows on from Shantallow Community Centre which also had energystore TLA® installed.

“How good is Knauf Insulation’s specification and technical support? Let’s put it this way, I’ve used Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab for every façade project since.”- Nikesh Patel, Façade Design Manager at A2O Cladding The Weald of Kent Grammar Annexe extension is a new three-storey satellite facility for Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys in Sevenoaks. It comprises state-of-the-art classrooms for a cohort of 90 boys. A2O Cladding were appointed by Willmott Dixon to deliver the technical design and installation of the façade, which is finished with a white and grey silicon render set against a red Corium brickslip façade. One of their first tasks was to finalise the insulation specification based on three key requirements: thermal performance, non-combustibility and sustainability. Meeting the thermal performance challenge The first factor, the thermal performance of the rainscreen façade system, initially proved more difficult than expected. Nikesh Patel, Façade Design Manager at A2O Cladding explained: “U-values provided by the architect for a rainscreen façade system are a bit belt and braces because they’re based on assumptions. So, once we’ve confirmed the sub-structure, we redo them to ensure they’re an accurate representation of the building’s thermal performance.”   “The problem is the manufacturer we were working with couldn’t deliver the U-value of 0.18 W/m2K because they didn’t have the right software.” For most applications, the simplified methodology used for calculating U-values is sufficient. But it is not recommended for rainscreen façade systems, because it does not take into account the complex interaction between the Steel Frame System (SFS) and the insulation. Instead, a blanket correction factor is applied, which can lead to the over-specification of insulation – as it had in this case. To prevent this, 3D U-value calculations should be used. They thermally model the build-up based on the complex interaction between the insulation and the rails and brackets. This ensures greater accuracy giving the specifier a true picture of how the build-up will perform after construction, so it matches its design. But most manufacturers don’t have the capability to undertake these complex calculations in-house, so outsource the service to a third party at a cost to the contractor. Before they went down this route, A2O Cladding asked project architect Bond Bryan for advice, who suggested they contact Knauf Insulation.  “We’d not used Knauf Insulation before so didn’t know the standard of their technical support. The biggest tick in the box was they do free 3D U-value calculations – it really helped to keep the project on track.”  Using these calculations, the Knauf Insulation Technical Support Team recommended Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab for the façade insulation. The product has a thermal conductivity of 0.034 W/mK and crucially, a depth of just 150mm would meet the required U-value.  They also recommended 150mm of Rocksilk® EWI Slab with a thermal conductivity of 0.036 W/mK to insulate the rendered external walls. A2O Cladding also decided to use Knauf Insulation’s OmniFit® Slab 35 to insulate the junctions at roof level to ensure continuity of insulation. Fire safety at every height All three products have the best possible Euroclass A1 reaction to fire classification, so will not contribute to the development or spread of fire, should it occur. This meant they met the second specification factor, non-combustibility.  “The Annexe extension is under 18m tall but that would never influence our choice of insulation material. The A2O ethos is that we don’t touch combustible stuff when there are suitable non-combustible solutions available. I mean why would you introduce that risk? Using Mineral Wool insulation gives us, and the school peace of mind.”  Patel goes on to explain that Willmott Dixon has a reputation for quality and will only authorise the use of tested and certified systems. “As the façade contractor, it’s our job to ensure the quality of the supply chain. The fact that Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab is BBA certified for use in high rise buildings and for so many different build-ups meant it met the rigorous standards demanded for the project.” A focus on sustainability But choosing suppliers isn’t just about performance and fire safety. The third factor in the specification process was sustainability.  “As we finalise the technical design, we need to provide Willmott Dixon with a Technical Submittal for every product, and this includes details of its green credentials. It was another example of how Knauf Insulation makes things simple for contractors. They have EPDs for every product and all the relevant ISO standards, so our insulation specification sailed through.” As well as producing products that improve the thermal efficiency of buildings, Knauf Insulation has been taking steps to reduce the carbon footprint of its products. One example of this is its unique bio-based binder, ECOSE® Technology, which contains no added formaldehyde or phenol. ECOSE® Technology is made from natural raw materials that are rapidly renewable and is 70% less energy-intensive to manufacture than traditional binders, so it is more environmentally friendly. From technical support to performance and sustainability, Knauf Insulation scored top marks in all categories – which meant that A2O Cladding didn’t need to compromise on any of their specification requirements or criteria. 

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!

Working in partnership with The Expanded Metal Company we were delighted to secure the first project where we could utilise our CWCT tested Vantage EMSA Site assembled expanded mesh system. The expanded mesh system featured Athens expanded mesh, our Vantage® EMSA support system and was used to shroud four Chimney stacks on the SCCC development in Llanfrechfa Grange, just outside Cwmbran.

Coopers installed and commissioned two FireMaster® Plus fire curtains, the first to protect the property from fire and smoke migrating from the kitchen whilst the second to protect the internal balcony from smoke and fire travelling between floors. Both fire curtains provide 2 hours fire and insulation zone protection and were installed into the ceiling to remain hidden from view until deployed by a fire alarm.

When Bodmin Community Fire Station in Cornwall needed a hardwearing, hygienic, and safe flooring solution for their fitness room and gym, they turned to international flooring specialists Gerflor. Its’ Taraflex® sports flooring was supplied and would deliver to the highest standards required by the site users. In acknowledgement of the brave and hard work of Cornwall Fire Service crews, Gerflor donated 60m2 of this world-renowned sports flooring in the colour ‘Red’.

Aluminium curtain walling by Kawneer has helped an award-winning and cutting-edge combination of industry and academia achieve a BREEAM “Excellent” rating. The National Automotive Innovation Centre (NAIC), at the University of Warwick, is one of the largest centres of its kind in Europe, and a partnership between WMG (University of Warwick), Jaguar Land Rover and Tata Motors UK and features Kawneer’s AA®110 mullion-drained curtain wall.

The Diocese was looking to create a cohesive, multi-functional interiors that would be sympathetic to the ethos of all its resident groups. Their bright and flexible new space features Milliken's Rootwork luxury vinyl tiles from the Change Agent collection in the reception and kitchen spcaces. Poise Retold and Tracing Landscape - Field Study modular carpet designs with WellBAC® Comfort cushion backing deliver exceptional underfoot and acoustic performance.

Formica Group is a leading provider of branded, designed surfacing solutions for commercial and residential customers worldwide. When its North Shields factory had some serious issues with an existing corridor flooring, the company turned to a local flooring supplier to suggest a suitable solution, which ultimately saw Formica Group specifying 300m2 of Attraction® fast track vinyl floor tiles from international flooring specialist Gerflor.

Unilife provides premium student accommodation with an aim to deliver high-quality student experience.Accommodation availability is one of the many factors that most students consider when choosing which university to study at.Unilife wanted to expand their accommodation on offer at the main campus of the University of Surrey in Guildford and so turned to Stelling Properties and sort to found a solution in using  ROCKWOOL® RWA45 non-combustible stone wool insulation.

“Bosco Verticale” by Stefan Boeri.The vertical forest - that's what the 119 and 87 meter high apartment towers in Milan's new city are called and have been an example of ecological building since their completion. The reason: The two buildings are surrounded by overhanging balconies that provide a home for 730 trees and 20,000 other plants. A “stacked park landscape” above the roofs of the city, green and emitting CO2 . Built with RETANOL® screed.

A modern and green Mixed-Use project where people can live, work, shop, and play.  Oval Village is a major regeneration project in the South of London. It will include modern apartments, many new work opportunities, and aim to re-green the area resulting in better biodiversity.The first phase includes the apartment blocks Phoenix Court, Juniper Gardens and The Pinnacle offering modern homes with one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. Between the buildings, landscaped gardens will offer room for relaxation and some of the buildings also provide access to private roof terraces. Residents will have a magnificent view over the Kia Oval cricket stadium and London’s iconic skyline. The project includes many sustainable initiatives such as attenuation rainwater tanks and recycled rainwater irrigation of green areas. A site-wide district heating network connected to solar panels and a super modern ventilation system shall secure low energy use whilst providing optimal indoor climate control. The space saving FloSet® Compact valve set is installed on each apartment’s FCU to handle heating and cooling duties. The FloSet® Compact was chosen as it is the smallest FCU valve set in the market for pressure independent automatic balancing and flow control. Each FloSet® Compact includes a FlowCon By-Pass Mini with only a 40 mm center distance, a FlowCon Venturi Metering Station, and a FlowCon PICV. The valve set is fitted directly over the FCU drip tray. The valve set offers 5 different operation modes. These include normal operation, back flushing, forward flushing, coil isolation/system flush and full isolation. The FlowCon PICV insert solution provides flexibility in all project stages from selection, setting and commissioning to servicing. All-together a compact and smart solution providing optimal indoor comfort, reduced energy consumption and a better building CO2 footprint.

CHALLENGEAs part of a full exterior refurbishment, building envelope contractor, Alumet, required a new façade system that would transform and modernise the exterior of the Jubilee House building, which was originally installed in the early 1970s. Coupled with this was the requirement to improve thermal and energy efficiencies.SOLUTIONKnauf Insulation supplied its Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab to ensure optimal fire, thermal and acoustic performance. The key to Knauf Insulation securing the project was the ability to provide in depth technical support, including complex 3D heat flow modelling calculations which took into account the specific system brackets, which act as a significant cold bridge within rainscreen cladding systems.Knauf Insulation’s Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab was installed on the brick facade of the existing building, which once complete, significantly improved the U-value thus reducing the heat loss through the wall.The insulation layer is a fundamental component of any successful rainscreen cladding system and mineral wool insulation delivers a number of advantages for this type of application. Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab is a Rock Mineral Wool slab containing a water repellent additive, designed for use on masonry wall constructions and as the outer insulation layer in steel frame projects.Quick and easy to install, the product is simple to cut and the slabs knit together to create a snug fit, with no need to tape the joints as may be required with rigid foam boards – ensuring maximum acoustic and thermal performance."We wanted to turn our headquarters into a thermally efficient building and to really project a modern ‘green’ image. The Schueco Façade system, along with Knauf Insulation’s products, helped us to achieve this as well as dramatically reducing our carbon output.We have received some fantastic feedback from local residents saying how good the new façade looks and coupled with the improved thermal efficiencies, we are very pleased."- Alumet Director, Dean Walton

Case Study – Power Grab ‘n’ Bond Customer: Signal Signs – OmaghProject: Pat Kirk Car Showroom, Strabane Power Grab ‘n’ Bond Eliminates the Need for Mechanical Fixings!Mechanical fixings on bright, new external facades can be ugly and distracting, especially when being installed at the entrance of Pat Kirk Motors stunning new car showroom in Strabane, Northern Ireland.With clean lines and seamless transitions throughout the building, mechanical fixings where exactly what the architect DID NOT want. This was the challenge presented to Michael from specialist installers McLaughlin Joinery who were tasked with fabricating the entrance and installing the façade design created by Signal Signs on extra-large 1500x3000mm sheets of Dibond® aluminium composite metal panels. A Stickler for Quality!Being a real stickler for quality and perfection Michael McLaughlin believes in always using the best materials, tools and brands to ensure the best, most durable and superior finish on his projects. He immediately sourced Power Grab ‘n’ Bond as he knew it is the best construction adhesive in the market, with excellent initial grab and exceptional tensile and sheer strength. Guaranteed to adhere to metal, wood and concrete substrates it totally eliminates the need for additional mechanical fixings. Power Grab ‘n’ Bond is developed by leading British manufacturers CT1, the No1 sealant and adhesive in the UK. CT1 is always leading and providing the industry with the very latest technology. Now thanks to its unique ‘Tribrid®’ technology Power Grab ‘n’ Bond is a revolutionary product in the field of heavy-duty versatile bonding. Why Choose Power Grab ‘n’ Bond?Working with large Dibond® metal 1500x3000mm panels being installed at height in an external environment Michael and his team needed a solution that would grab, hold and act instantly without needing to be braced and supported. With incredible initial grab, Power Grab ‘n’ Bond is a fast curing, non-shrinking and almost odourless adhesive that held the metal sheets with immediate effect.Three times stronger than regular hybrid polymers, the ‘Tribrid®’ technology in Power Grab n Bond ensures a phenomenal final tensile strength of 22kg/cm2, yet remains flexible, won’t dry out nor become brittle and will work effectively in temperatures ranging from 90°C right down to the Baltic cold -40°C.In fact, not only does Power Grab ‘n’ Bond successfully stick Dibond® to wood and concrete it will adhere to all metals (including lead), stone, granite, ytong, marble, MDF, fiberglass, glass, polystyrene, mirrors and most plastics (except PP, PE and PTFE).Creating a Superior Mechanical Fixing Free FinishUsing a heavy-duty caulking gun, Michael applied Power Grab ‘n’ Bond straight from the cartridge, onto the back of the Dibond® Sheets, allowing it to rest for 4-5minutes to begin activating, before fixing them directly into place.Originally created for facades and heavy stonework such as the installation of quoins, the versatility, strength and reliability of Power Grab ‘n’ Bond means it now used more widely by professional shop fit out companies as well as specialist trades, landscapers, kitchen fitters and bathroom installers. It is tested by a UKAS Accredited lab to BS EN 12003 (Determination of shear adhesion strength of reaction resin adhesives) and BS EN1308 (Determination of slip resistance).Power Grab ‘n’ Bond provided the perfect solution as it’s the ultimate grab adhesive, eliminating the use of mechanical fixings completely and coupled with the rapid curing characteristics saved a lot of additional labour time and cost.Michael said;“The result is exactly what the architect and client wanted, a stunning external façade, with no unattractive mechanical fixings, that not only makes a statement entrance but creates a stunning backdrop for promo photos of new cars too.”Grab also ‘n’ Bond is made in Britain with British technology and British design. Its available now in all good builders’ merchants nationwide and online from www.ct1.comCT1 often copied never equalled!We Innovate – Not Imitate!

A conversion project in Somerset has utilised a number of products from Catnic to provide practical and sustainable living accommodation, suitable for retirement. Coates Farm has employed Catnic's® Urban standing seam roofing and cladding system as well as Catnic lintels to ensure the environmental impact of the building is kept to a minimum.Situated in Kittisford, a small picturesque village near Wellington, Coates Farm is owned by Maurice and Penny Stanbury. “We decided, that due to our advancing years, we wanted a practical and sustainable home that would require very little maintenance,” said Maurice. “Having received go-ahead to repurpose an old cow shed, we wanted to ensure that the materials specified would contribute to the building’s eco credentials.”To ensure the work was allowable under permitted development, it was essential that the development was kept within the same building footprint. Working alongside architect Nigel Pearce at Pearce Practice for the planning and design of the conversion, the decision was made to specify Catnic's® Urban standing seam roofing and cladding system.A cost-effective alternative to traditional copper and zinc standing seam roof systems, the Urban system is manufactured to meet all relevant legislation, including load bearing for wind speed in accordance with EN 1991-4 and weather tightness in accordance with BS 5534 Parts 1 and 2. Furthermore, helping to meet requirements for sustainable building solutions – Urban is BRE Green Guide Rated ‘A’ and at end of life – the panels are 100% recyclable.“Maurice came to us with an idea that he wanted something different for the roof that would improve the eco footprint of the building whilst being aesthetically pleasing on the eye,” said Nigel Pearce.“Because of the permitted development, we were restricted by the low roof pitch. As we couldn’t specify slate or tiles, we remembered that we had used Catnic® Urban on a recent conversion and found it to be a great option; not only could it accommodate the low pitch at Coates Farm, but it also matched the contemporary look and feel that Maurice was looking for,” added Nigel.Initially to be specified for only the flat section of the roof, it was decided that Catnic® Urban would be utilised for the complete roof due to its crisp lines and strong aesthetics.Maurice Stanbury said, “During the initial specification, we were really happy with the service received from Catnic. Having decided upon Catnic® Urban, we began exploring the possibility of getting our lintels from them too. Alongside standard lintels, we required a bespoke corner lintel to ensure we could match the intended design of the building. We submitted technical drawings to Catnic and the technical team made the process very easy.”Whilst Maurice project managed the redevelopment, the installation was undertaken by Kevin and Ashley Drew – local builders known to the Stanbury’s. After specification, but prior to ordering Urban, it was decided that Maurice and Ashley would attend an Urban training day at Catnic’s training centre in Caerphilly, to learn how to correctly install the standing seam roofing system.During the course, Ashley and Maurice spoke with Catnic’s Technical Director Richard Price, who then visited the site personally to measure up and give guidance to apply what they had learnt in Caerphilly into practice.Throughout the conversion, Kevin and Ashley Drew worked closely with Catnic to guarantee the successful delivery of the project. Using Catnic’s Lintel Advanced Scheduling System (CLASS) ensured that they could adopt a ‘just in time’ approach to deliveries.“Having ordered both lintels and Urban from Catnic we were able to delay the delivery of the system until we were ready to install it,” said Kevin Drew.“We found the system incredibly easy to work with – particularly as this was our first experience of Urban - managing to install it quickly between the two of us,” added Kevin.“We are thrilled with the end result, and we now have the property we had always dreamed of having,” concluded Maurice Stanbury. “Catnic made the process incredibly easy from start to finish, and with Catnic® Urban we are safe in the knowledge that the system will now require minimal maintenance.”

Challenge: C-Probe's LoCem® +chase® anode mortar has been installed at the Omni Shopping Centre Car Park in Edinburgh, Scotland to 4 levels of underground car parking as part of a comprehensive corrosion management strategy. Overtime the popular car park had succumbed to structural damage and corrosion caused by the ingress of chlorides from de-icing salts from above.Solution: This system comprised of 42 ICCP zones and 7 additional monitoring zones forlevels protected using surface-applied corrosion inhibitors. In addition to this, some 6000 C-Puck galvanic anodes were used to protect newly repaired areas to 2 levels. All the anodes and monitoring could be controlled and data accessed remotely throughoutthe car park with AchillesICP and AchillesIES, helping to extend its service life for 100+ years.Outcome: This ESG compliant approach meant there was no need for demolition or extensive reconstruction using new materials, helping to reduce waste and harmful emissions. Reconstruction was also a near-impossible strategy due to underground facility and electric tram on land, meaning something non-invasive like cathodic protection was essentialto minimise social disruption. 

The Canaletto residential tower at 257 City Road in London is located halfway between Old Street and Angel Stations in Islington, alongside the regenerated City Road Basin. It comprises a 31-storey tower with 190 luxury one, two and three bedroom apartments built to the standards of Code 4 Sustainable Homes Level 4.The tower is concrete frame and has a curving facade of metal and glass that breaks the volume into a series of three-to-four storey clusters. In turn, each cluster contains grouped balcony terraces, which are a striking feature of the building. The balconies are of steel construction connected to the concrete frame and as always with cantilever construction elements of this nature, one of the early design considerations had to be the prevention of thermal bridging.For the high specification Canaletto project the Schöck Isokorb® T type SK offers the ideal solution. It is a concrete-to-steel connectivity module that sits between the outer and inner structural connection points and blocks the outflow of heat through the use of high quality polystyrene insulation foam. The Isokorb® T type SK provides a clean and unobtrusive connection detail, minimises on-site assembly time and enables a high level of prefabrication.

Located at Swansea University’s Bay Campus, and designed and constructed by SPECIFIC Innovation and Knowledge Centre, the Active Office and Active Classroom are both designed to be energy positive buildings, capable of generating more solar energy than they consume during a typical annual cycle.The Swansea area of South Wales is synonymous with steelmaking as Tata Steel’s Port Talbot steelworks is just a few miles away from the Bay Campus. For this reason, SPECIFIC wanted to use steel as much as possible on these structures and so a Tata Steel wall and roof cladding system was chosen using Colorcoat Prisma® pre-finished steel, all made in Wales.The Active Classroom also feature Tata Steel’s Colorcoat Renew SC® transpired solar collectors, The system captures heat from the sun and draws it into the building through a microperforated collector on the exterior of the building. Heated fresh air from the cavity is then used as a pre-heater to the main heating system. A transpired solar collector can collect around 50% of the energy falling on its surface, which equates to approximately 500wp/m2 of the collector’s surface area and can deliver around 250KWH/m2per year or up to 50% of space heating requirements.

In April 2010 the Tepid Baths closed for repairs and a major makeover. As part of this renovation project Accoya® wood was chosen for its durability and stability especially for its use in wet and humid environments such as swimming pools. New Zealand distributor, Timspec supplied the Accoya wood which was used for the changing room doors, seats and frames. At nearly 100 years old, the building will remain a great place to swim for the next 50 years.

Living Systems Institute on the Streatham campus at Exeter university.The rainscreen facade is clad in a perforated anodised Vantage® DF panel. Bespoke anodised window pods complete our offering.The main contractor and our customer BAM Construction used the specialist installation skills of Varla Cladding.This new building will bring together mathematicians, scientists and engineers in a bid to revolutionise the diagnosis and treatment for a wide range of human, animal and plant diseases.

The project is distributed on several buildings connected by a corridor , completely bathed in light, but under sustainable and ecological purposes. Our Premium Plus roller shades contribute to cover its high ceilings and provide perfect sunlight management in the classrooms while maintaining the views. The combination with the Polyscreen ® 351 White allows great solar reflection, and acoustic absorption. They contributed to achieving the LEED Platinum Certification, being the first university to get it in the entire world.

Green & Browns' transformation of a warehouse space into a contemporary work environment perfectly demonstrates the flexibility of modular carpet. Milliken's Without Reserve design from the Artistic Liberties collection and Poise Retold zone the space in a soft neutral colour palette of greys and taupes. In this largely open workplace, the carpet's WellBAC® Comfort cushion backing improves acoustic performance and provides luxurious underfoot comfort that enhances the sense of well-being for the company’s employees.

These intriguing high-quality apartments in Vienna, stand out dramatically from neighbouring blocks – and not just because of their blue, orange, yellow and turquoise finish. The large protruding cantilever balconies are a major feature, made possible by incorporating Schöck Isokorb® T thermal break modules throughout. Their outstanding thermal insulation properties dramatically reducing any thermal energy loss, they also transfer load and maintain full structural integrity.

Quadra+®Metal door with insulated coreA very economical solution with fire resistance up to 2 hours whilst maintaining sleek aesthetics. The door leafs are hung on a unique quick-release pivot system and is supplied with all ironmongery pre-fitted which allows for a swift and simple installation. The Quadra+ system can be provided in banks of up to 6 doors wide and still maintain 2 hours fire rating, an industry first.

Poundbury is a new experimental town in the county of Dorset in England, initiated by Prince Charles approximately thirty years ago. A mixture of Victorian architecture and Baroque villas, the town is a concentrate of architectural styles and colours. The most recent addition is Queen Mother square, which serves as the town centre. This Palladian-inspired square houses the town’s first hotel - the Duchess of Cornwall Inn. VMZINC® created impressive zinc ornaments to decorate this new building

Elliptical on plan and angled in profile, The SSE Hydro’s domed roof required over 12,750 sqm of naturally curved tapered Kalzip® sheets in lengths of up to 25 metres installed in six concentric, almost circular bands. The façade of this amphitheatre-inspired building is 15 metres high at the rear rising to 33 metres at the south-facing front elevation with the central apex of the roof being 45 metres above ground level.

Google is the company that redefined what a modern work space should look like and the Asia Pacific headquarters is no exception. It is a vast expanse of green, steel and light coloured wood, with fixtures that take their names after regional landmarks, including those in the Philippines. The Asia Pacific headquarters houses employees from a number of its portfolio products such as YouTube. Lorient’s Batwing® acoustic and smoke perimeter seals and the popular LAS8012 si drop seals were specified.

Fairlawns Hotel & Spa is a family-run hotel near Walsall in the West Midlands. A recent refurbishment of their gym facility would see a trio of international flooring specialist Gerflor’s fitness flooring products being specified to ensure that the free weights, cardio and stretch zones would meet the hotel’s high standards. A remit that would be ideally suited to Gerflor’s Powershock 300 and Creation 70 LVT, together with their world-renowned Taraflex® sports flooring.

Includio is a new-build hotel concept and the first of its kind for the city of Regensburg, in the Bavarian region of Germany.  The hotel reception, corridors, bedrooms and conference facilities feature a range of four different Milliken cushion backed modular carpet, as well as its OBEX entrance flooring products. Recognising the importance of maintaining good air quality for its customers’ and its employees’ health and well-being, Includio chose Milliken’s TractionBack® adhesive free installation. 

When a blind company was tasked with replacing the electric blinds in a popular highstreet noodle restaurant chain in St Albans, they knew they could depend on Yewdale. They chose YewdaleDefiant® C27 electric cassettes with five blinds in Light Grey 1% Roe fabric. They also specified a fascia that could cover the entire length with three blinds on one barrel, saving the installation of three individual cassettes in one, large window. Read more about this project.

The problem Hitachi had came from the sun’s glare. Being a tall building with lots of large glazed areas, south-facing and with other glazed buildings around it, office workers would be subjected to long periods of sunshine. YewdaleDefiant® R20 Sidewinder roller blinds were specified with Mid Grey 3% Roe fabric. This fabric is a screen fabric that limits the glare of the sun but still lets in plenty of ambient light. Read more about this project.

Covestro AG moved into its new headquarters in the "chemical capital" of Leverkusen at the end of 2020 (with a reduced team due to the pandemic situation). The new administration building of the world's leading supplier of polymer materials, with six floors and modern office space, offers a lot of space and optimal working opportunities for up to 750 employees.As the general contractor for the interior work, Lindner SE handled various trades from drywall construction to subcontractor services. The system walls, built-in furniture as well as counters, doors, ceiling and floor systems were produced in-house. In addition, Lindner Leuchtenfabrik (on behalf of the companies Kinzo and Signify) supplied design luminaires for work islands.Room-high, frameless full-glass walls allow natural light from the atrium into the inner areas. Lindner Life Freeze 137 glass partition wall systems create meeting rooms or "meeting boxes" as places of retreat in the otherwise open campus. Partly designed as curved glass wall elements, they underline the individual design claim and still meet the high static requirements.On an area of more than 12,000 m², you will find above all the Lindner raised access floor NORTEC with sufficient installation space in the floor structure, a high level of walking comfort and for acoustic regulation.For heavy-duty areas, the FLOOR and more® power access floor was chosen, mostly covered with textile flooring. Among other things, 5,400 m² of the Plafotherm® GK HEKDA® heating/ cooling ceiling system ensure optimised acoustics and a good indoor climate in the open spaces. In cooperation with the architects HENN, a modern, light-open work campus was created within 20 months, in which employees can meet and cooperate more easily and efficiently.Completed WorksPartitionsPartition Systems GlassLindner Life Freeze 137Lindner Life Pure 620FloorsCalcium sulphate panelsFLOOR and more powerNORTECCeilingsHeated and Chilled Plasterboard CeilingsPlafotherm GK HEKDA 

When renowned house-builders, McAllister Developments were tasked with delivering a distinctive and upmarket detached residential scheme at Moneymore, they turned to AG.Working closely with the experienced team at McAllister we were able to provide a range of brick, paving and retaining walling products in a variety of complementary colour blends to help create a truly standout residential development.The highly-regarded Heritage facing brick was selected due to its hand-crafted aesthetic appeal and its renowned durability. The retaining wall used was Anchor® Diamond®, with caps, as it allows for fast installation and it blends in perfectly with the surrounding garden.The Long Stone Fiammata is AG’s newest range of premium, porcelain-effect plank paving and was chosen for its unique minimalist design style and ease of maintenance. Finally, for the paving AG favoured the Rosemount flag for its extreme strength and low slip potential.David Speirs, Head of Specification and Commercial Sales believes they met all the project criteria:“Using our vast experience and range of products for use within the residential market we were able to provide perfect colour blends and styles that complemented each other to help the developer achieve the goal of building an upmarket detached residential site.”