"beverage making equipment"

Manchester Museum has opened a new gallery dedicated to South Asian culture where Junckers’ solid wood flooring forms an integral part of the interior scheme. The new gallery celebrates the lived experiences and contributions of the South Asian diaspora and is part of the Hello Future initiative, a Heritage Lottery Fund project to encourage diverse communities to visit the museum. Architects Purcell created a new two-storey extension which includes two new galleries, as well as re-designing the original buildings to add a new main entrance, foyer, and visitor facilities. The new building has achieved BREEAM Very Good standard and was designed to adhere to the conditions required for museum collections. The design also places a strong focus on inclusivity, with improved accessibility for all visitors. The interior, designed by Studio C102 and Mobile Studio Architects, takes its inspiration from South Asian architecture and design with a material palette of rich colours and textures. Junckers Oak Natural Pearl flooring is paired with hand-patinated brass panels and a deep ochre wall colour that brings South Asian culture and creativity to life, a fitting backdrop to the many interesting exhibits on display. Junckers’ oak flooring provides the museum with a durable surface to accommodate high foot traffic. Made in solid wood, the floor is easy to care for and maintain and with a proven long lifespan, the floor can easily outlast the building’s design life of 60 years. Junckers flooring contributes to a healthy indoor climate and helps minimise any static from electrical devices and equipment. Having undergone rigorous degassing and odour tests to ensure there are no chemical substances in the flooring which adversely affect the air quality in a room, all Junckers floors carry the Danish Indoor Climate label certificate. The South Asia Gallery is a British Museum partnership. 

Container City is an outstanding example of upcycling architecture in the London Docklands. The buildings are constructed from old shipping containers that have been refurbished and then fixed and welded together, creating an innovative modular building solution that houses offices.The roofs had been waterproofed with an EPDM membrane as part of an inverted roof design, however due to failings within the roof coverings leaks were occurring.It was also felt that the inverted roof insulation was unable to provide satisfactory thermal performance, leading to excessive fuel bills during winter. The architect responsible for finding a solution used Polyroof’s Solution Finder Tool to quickly find a recommendation for improving the thermal properties whilst providing long-term waterproof protection. Equipped with the key information needed, the architect specified the Protec Warm Roof System for the roof refurbishment works.Polyroof Technical Services carried out a full technical survey of the existing roof to identify all existing issues and provide a full set of recommendations. One of the key drivers for the refurbishment was the ability to easily access the roof membrane to carry out regular cleaning and maintenance works, so the specification included for converting the roofs from an inverted roof to a warm roof design.Polyroof Approved Contractor A R Roofing Ltd began by stripping away the old inverted roof components and the failed EPDM membrane to expose the metal roofs of the containers below. A self-adhesive vapour barrier was then laid onto the metal decks and Polyroof RES Insulation (T&G) was bonded on top using PU adhesive. Lastly, the Protec system was laid direct to the insulation boads to create a seamless, smooth and long-lasting finish that came with a 20 year insurance backed guarantee. This striking piece of upcycled architecture now has a roofing solution to match the innovation behind its creation.

The new purpose-built Health & Allied Professions (HAP) Centre forms part of Nottingham Trent University’s vibrant Clifton Campus and features an array of innovative resources and amenities, including mock hospital wards, specialist equipment and creative teaching spaces, to assist students in their study of nursing, paramedicine and healthcare.The impressive building has been designed by architects Pick Everard and incorporates a number of sustainable features to achieve an ‘excellent’ BREEAM rating. Senior’s fenestration systems, which offer cradle-to-cradle recyclability, were the ideal choice and the building’s striking main façade features both Senior’s thermally-enhanced SF52 aluminium curtain wall system and integrated SPW600 aluminium windows. Senior’s products were fabricated and installed by supply chain partner Logic Aluminium Systems for main contractor Henry Brothers Ltd.As well as a creating a welcoming gateway to the University’s Clifton Campus, the new two-storey building has been designed to provide both visual interest and maximise the use of daylighting. The use of Senior’s slimline SF52 aluminium curtain wall systems floods the main atrium with natural light and provides each of the rooms with extensive views of the campus and surrounding areas. Ventilation is provided by Senior’s robust SPW600 aluminium windows which have been seamlessly incorporated into the curtain wall.The interior features of the new HAP Centre are just as impressive, with flexible teaching and study areas interspersed with state-of-the-art facilities including a virtual reality wall, which enables students to practice emergency medical responses in ‘real life’ settings, and mock hospital wards and domestic flat settings which feature robotically controlled mannequins that allow a range of patient symptoms, illnesses, and scenarios to be simulated and studied.

Avantage MP AOVAvantage MP is a 1 and 2 hour fire resistant AOV smoke control damper suitable for multi compartment applications of smoke control such as lobby to smoke shaft ventilators.The product is based on a damper door design and has been tested and certified to BS EN12101-8 achieving 1 and 2 hour fire rating. This is particularly important so to maintain the fire integrity of any shaft.The Avantage AOV smoke control damper is noted for its superior airtight properties. The damper is available as a motorised version providing a practical solution for large buildings where fire safety equipment is regularly testedThe unit is completed with a decorative silver anodised aluminium grille on the front. It fixes into a fire compartment shaft wall and is direct fixed within the opening through the sides of the damper. Once the damper has been securely fixed to the structure any shaft side perimeter gaps must be caulked with intumescent sealing material.Recommended fixing details are available on request to suit an array of fire compartment walls together with safety, installation and maintenance instructions.The front face grille is fixed to the damper unit flange and has the option of being coloured black behind the grille for improved visual appearance. The grilles are attached with concealed fixings.Key featuresSuperior air tightness (tested at -1500 Pa)Minimal pressure dropImproved energy efficiency and acoustic insulationRemovable grille for easy maintenanceAuxiliary switches for remote damper position indicationEfficient robust decorative finishing grille with concealed fixingsThe wiring connection and the drive motor mechanism is accessed lobby side of the ventilator behind the decorative grilleEasy access for service and maintenanceWide range of sizes for optimal selection considering pressure drop and space available

he NHS Trust commissioned Breath Energy to review its estate, recommend and manage a programme of works to significantly reduce energy costs and CO2 emissions.Central to the works was the external upgrade of the main Epsom Hospital premises, the Wells Building, to improve thermal performance and address failings in the building fabric. The existing roof areas had failed and were allowing water ingress, potentially not only damaging the building fabric and energy efficiency but essential hospital equipment.Langley’s project team had to devise solutions that enabled the whole building exterior- facades and roofs – to be upgraded while the seven-storey hospital remained operational. Added to the complexity, the project began while Covid-19 restrictions were in force.Our solution: Detailed roof surveys prior to work commencing enabled us to identify potential problems and advise on effective solutions in advance.We recommended full strip-up of the roofs, as the existing had perished beyond economical repair. We advised new construction with TA-25 W Flat Roofing System on the main roof, stairwell roof and plant room areas. The TA-25 system is independently certified by the BBA (British Board of Agreement) confirming Broof (t4) classification. It also has LABC assured accreditation to provide support with regard to building control. The inclusion of insulation meant the new roof achieved the current requirement of 0.18W/m2K.While a full strip-up of the two terraces and balcony would also have been the preferred solution, the depth of work would have been impractical as the hospital’s operating theatres were below, and in use. Our solution was to remove the existing top layer and replace with PC-20W Liquid Roofing System and install breather vents to address moisture within.

To facilitiate their exciting BSc Paramedic Science course, the University of Surrey identified that they needed more practical training space for their students. By working alongside Scott Brownrigg Architects, Newton Specialist Contractor Advanced Basements, and the Newton Technical Team, an extensive existing undercroft was converted into three large, dry rooms that are ideal for the purpose.With an emphasis on practical elements, the exciting BSc Paramedic Science course at the University of Surrey needed a new, well-equipped training facility for its students at the Surrey Research Park, Guildford.Having identified a large existing undercroft for the purpose, the University consulted with Scott Brownrigg Architects, as well as the Newton Technical team and Advanced Basements in order to create a new, dry space.The extensive undercroft area was first separated into three large rooms, based on what each room was going to be used for. These were defined as:A live environment Paramedic Training room, with an existing concrete floor, concrete retaining walls, and blockwork internal wallsA storage area, requiring a new insulated floor, and with concrete retainng walls and blockwork internal wallsA plant room, requiring full internal waterproofing to the walls and floorConsidering that the existing structure was already quite robust, Newton and Advanced recommended an internal Type C Newton CDM System. This method of waterproofing is the most failsafe method, using membranes to capture the water, and sump chambers and pumps to collect and remove it. The pumps are also supported by a battery backup system for total security.Advanced Basements acted as the specialist waterproofing contractor and the waterproofing design specialist on this project, working alongside the architect and client to design the system, before providing a high quality installation.Furthermore, thanks to their early involvement, Advanced also took design liability for the project and guaranteed the installation for the client.

The FM company of a large Yorkshire Hospital engaged with wall & door protection specialists, Yeoman Shield, to resolve the unsightly and problematic damage that was occurring to fire doors in a busy specialist unit.Such damage, caused by the everyday passage of people, trolleys and equipment, if not attended to, may have become detrimental to the functioning of the fire doors.Yeoman Shield were able to provide a comprehensive fire rated door protection system, which when installed does not affect the fire integrity, to help combat and break the damage cycle, helping to prolong the life of the doors.Door Edge protectors, either FD60 or FD30, according to a doors rating, were installed to the vulnerable leading and hinged edges of the door to prevent chipping and splintering and helping to maintain the recommended 3mm gap between doors and frames.The leaves of the doors were covered with Yeoman Shield’s 2mm thick FalmouthEx protection panels at either full or half height dependent on where the impact was more prevalent, preventing dents or holes from manifesting in the future.Standard glazing beads were replaced with PVCu clad units, complete with corresponding intumescent strip, helping to protect an element of the door much prone to damage.A further part of the fire door refurbishment project was the addition of an Architrave and Stop Lath protection system. These systems come complete with hardwood (stop lath) or MDF core (architrave) with a PVCu cover and as such not only becomes resilient to impact damage but eliminates the requirement for redecoration and repair.Yeoman Shield were able to provide fire certificates for all parts of their fire door protection system offering compliance assurance to the client.For more information on Yeoman Shield cost effective wall & door protection systems go to www.yeomanshield.com or call 0113 279 5854.

For decades ASF worked with Morrisons Supermarkets manufacturing the ASF 101 Bollard with the M logo associated with the supermarket chain. This supplied the UK based, in fact Yorkshire based, supermarket chain with a 100% Yorkshire manufactured and 100% recycled bollard for their storefronts and car parks. A bollard that quite literally nobody else could have. This offered the store brand identity and recognition nationwide. The bollards are incredibly long lasting (even if unpainted they will last in excess of 100 years) and durable. ASF supplied these bollards as standard cast iron bollards, but also supplied removable and fold down versions where necessary, as well as bollards that were adapted to take chains and panels to make matching perimeter post and rail / post and chain.

ASF were approached to repair, renovate, refurbish and where necessary remake and replace the ironwork elements of a grade 2 listed stair baluster at the Hannover Buildings, Manchester. Initially a complete baluster rail was brought into the ASF pattern shop and used as a template to make a complete new pattern for the balusters that needed fully replacing. Following a thorough survey of the staircase, totalling 16 flights in 2 blocks over a number of floors, component repairs were also completed so that we could carry out modular replacements where possible, thus retaining as much of the original stair baluster as possible. All replacement parts, including complete baluster castings, were made from 100% recycled cast iron

Installer – MetcladMain Contractor – RG GroupArchitect – KKAClient – Bricks CapitalSystems – Vantage® IP, bespoke panels, soffits and Roof FasciasThis new build 197 room Hilton Hotel at Silverstone race track will add much needed on site accommodation to this iconic venue.It proudly sits either side of the finishing line for the best views and has a link bridge crossing to the adjacent corporate and conference facility.Offering a rooftop bar / dining experience and state of the art fitness centre, makes it a perfect stay.Once again we have had the pleasure to work with long standing clients RG Group and Metclad and the flagship outcome is something all involved can be very proud of.

Porth Transport Hub is an integrated bus and rail interchange part of the Porth Regeneration Strategy located at the existing railway station. The hub is modern and attractive at the heart of the Town Centre, providing seamless travel across bus and rail. The development saw demolition of three buildings to include electric vehicle charging points, a taxi rank, cycle stores and several upgrades across the local Active Travel network.Cellecta’s HEXATHERM XFLOOR 300 was specified by Redstart due to its high resistance to compression and closed cell structure that provides unrivalled resistance to water absorption, making them ideal for a multitude of domestic, commercial, and educational applications.Encon Construction in partnership with Rhondda Cynon Taf Council was awarded this 530m² contract for this development in Porth.

Lying in the very heart of London’s most creative neighbourhood, The Atlas Building is architecturally striking with a series of staggered fins and a mix of contrasting facades.MAKE were the concept architects behind this scheme, while Scott Brownrigg had overall responsibility for the design and delivery of the project.EH Smith were brought in to assist with the brick element to this building. We were able to offer our GeoBrick range as a cost-effective alternative to the linear bricks that Scott Brownrigg initially considered.GeoBrick, exclusive to EH Smith, uses paving technology to repel dirt so the facade will remain crisp and clean.The stark, white, clean linear bricks juxtaposed with the living wall adjacent to them complimented the contemporary urban surroundings beautifully.

Ryno Signature Decking in ‘Silver Birch’ takes pride of place in this new Brentwood development. The apartment block has a bold red brick exterior, with simple anthracite windows and detailing.The glass balustrades of the balconies allow the maximum level of light to enter the apartments, while making the paved courtyard feel even larger and more spacious.Products UsedTerraSmart® Composite in Silver Birch was used across the private balconies. Silver Birch, from the Signature Range of premium ‘capped’ decking, has an elegant textured wood-grain finish.The terrace spaces had additional height build-up requirements, so fixed-head adjustable pedestals were used to raise the decking to the door thresholds.

2mm Reynolux Pre-coat Ral: 6021 material has been used for Roden Court, London.The client selected the precoated finish to replicate a Patina Copper effect in a solid flat colour. The Reynolux material was perfect for the application and system.Roden Court, which was a series of 1960s buildings, has been designed to preserve the mature landscape whilst combining new homes for existing tenants with apartments for sale and an extra-care home. The scheme provides a total of 136 new homes and includes 44 flats sold on the open market.It has been a pleasure working with the team at Stanmore. The entire job was scheduled prior to the material landing at Sotech’s manufacturing plant in Peterlee, making the onward planning of deliveries much more efficient.

The facilities at Wimbledon Chase Primary School were in need of a complete overhaul. Accredited Installers, G Haslehurst Builders, were appointed to reconfigure the space which included the installation of contemporary, reliable and easy to maintain washroom systems.Versatile and robust Award toilet cubicles were specified due to the unrivalled safety features that come as standard. Anti-tamper fixings and emergency release indicator bolts make Award a popular choice for schools. The washroom also featured pre-plumbed, factory tested SanCeram Chartham WCs pre-plumbed to SGL Vepps panels and hardwearing SGL vanity units with SanCeram semi-recessed basins and self-closing mixer taps.Read the full case study for more details.

One of our favourite projects to date is this large Vuba Resin Bound Driveway we did for Greg and Billie Shepherd. They had a dream vision and we wanted to make sure the seamless aesthetic they were looking for was delivered! Using Vuba Maple Fall.Who are Vuba Resin? We’re a team of award-winning inventors, manufacturers and pioneers in the Trade and DIY Resin market.Established in 2009, we’ve spent the last decade formulating and developing an innovative range of resin surfacing products. Customer service and product quality are at the heart of what we do. With new resin products coming out all the time, launching in new and expanding resin markets, there’s never been a more exciting time to be part of the Vuba resin revolution.

GreenCoat PLX Pural BT from steel manufacturer SSAB. Highly durable GreenCoat products feature a bio-based coating whereby a substantial portion of Swedish rapeseed oil replaces the dependency on fossil fuel oils. A patented solution reducing the environmental footprint making GreenCoat the market’s greenest steel for roofs and façades. This formable steel can be worked at temperatures below -15°C and is backed up by a 50-year technical guarantee. GreenLine® colour matched rainwater goods are made from GreenCoat RWS and offer the perfect finish to any project large or small. Easy to install using rubber sealed connection joints. GreenLine® rainwater goods are offered with a 30-year guarantee.

The Wave is a world class inland surfing lake set in the Gloucestershire countryside on the outskirts of Bristol. The Wavegarden Cove technology is capable of producing one thousand waves per hour, creating perfect surf for professionals and beginners alike. We worked closely with APG Architecture to find just the right decking for this exciting project. After visiting a number of sites where our boards are performing well in a similar environment, the design team specified Gripsure Classic. These boards feature three non-slip inserts giving an initial PTV of 100 which is the highest rated product in the range. The design team wanted to ensure the safety of surfers as they transitioned from dry and wet zones on the site. An APG Architect commented "Our biggest concern was safety and Gripsure managed to solve that". The Wave's mission is to get people back outdoors, enjoying physical activity and connecting with nature. Sustainability is at the heart of the project, with materials chosen for aesthetic beauty and low impact on the natural environment. Gripsure uses sustainable Scandinavian Vth grade European Redwood timber, carrying FSC or PEFC third party accreditation. Gripsure non-slip decking were installed on the central pier, giving guests the opportunity to watch the surfers in the lake. The clubhouse also features a first-floor terrace, with panoramic views of the site, making it an ideal spot to enjoy refreshments. Gripsure Classic was also used for boardwalks and seating areas in the nature reserve by the lake. Gripsure supplied a variety of sub-contractors on the site, making a number of deliveries throughout the build. They provided cutting advice, recommended spans and supplied lengths to minimise wastage. The team at Gripsure visited the site shortly after it opened in November 2019 for their team day and were delighted to see the finished project (and have a go, of course!)

Project: Three Rivers Academy Client:Surrey County Council Contractor:Bam Construction Architect: Scott Brownrigg Value: £27.1m Location:Walton-on-Thames, Surrey Innovaré Completion Date: February 2021 GIFA m²: 7,456m²COMPLEX REQUIREMENTS AND BESPOKE DESIGN TO STRINGENT BUDGET CONSTRAINTS Commissioned by the Surrey based Multi-Academy Trust the brief was to realise the vision of creating a world class learning environment. The proposed design took advantage of Innovaré’s SIP technology to balance the client’s desire for a dramatic 3-YEAR ENGAGEMENT TO DEVELOP THE RIGHT DESIGN Innovaré were approached by engineers Arup at the early design stage for their offsite expertise, to fulfil the distinctive design brief for a 16,000m2 new build. The Academy was set out as series of distinct spaces under a single roof to house teaching facilities, library, drama and sports centre. Working closely with architects Scott Brownrigg a design solution was developed that combined 4 mono-pitched wings off a central spine, where SIPs would be used to make the required cost savings. The Innovaré SIP wrap system would be used to over clad part of the building’s concrete frame, providing an insulating layer and airtightness line. The design phase also involved the tailoring of the panels to the bespoke design requirements, so as not to compromise on the original vision. Through value engineering and early engagement, Innovaré provided a simplified, energy efficient, cost-effective solution for the project. The use of SIP ensured that the structure was weather-tight in under 18 weeks, ensuring that the project was completed within the required timescales as well as budget without compromising on delivering a striking new facility. The school has already received excellent feedback from the pupils, teachers and parents for the difference it is making to the teaching and learning process.

2 London Wall Place is a Grade A office building offering high-quality workspace facilities to the City of London. The scheme comprises an acre of landscaped public realm set between two statement office buildings totalling 500,000 Sq Ft. The development incorporates the remains of St Alphage Church and a portion of the original London Wall, which have been thoughtfully integrated with new pedestrian pathways and landscaped gardens to create a visually impressive destination. The buildings at London Wall Place feature a distinctive cladding that reimagines the knapped flint of the area’s Roman and Saxon remains, seamlessly blending historical and contemporary elements of the city.ChallengeMake Architects approached Meesons with the challenges of keeping the reception of 2 London Wall Place reception design as a modern, warm, welcoming space but with a bespoke anti-tailgating solution. Also, as this was set to be a busy office space, high throughput was expected; therefore, a solution that could cope with higher levels of traffic was necessary. It was also essential to have a solution in place that would stop any unauthorised people from getting further into the building from the reception area.SolutionFive EasyGate SPD-G Speed Gates were put in place at 2 London Wall Place to overcome the architects’ challenges. To blend in with the welcoming reception, the speed gates featured solid side infill panels that were finished in copper bronze to match the finish of the lifts and reception panelling, working with UK manufacturer Evans Turner to deliver this finish. They also added a white top glass lid to complement the Formigari stone reception desk, flooring and lift lobby so that the entire look tied together, making for a gracious entrance. Not only this, but visitor card collectors were also integrated into the speed gates, each with a capacity of 150 cards to ease the management of cards upon their exit.  

Dallochy House owners Mark and Jenny Sykes had always dreamed of building their own home. And after house-hunting for a number of years in Aberdeenshire, realised they would have to make their dream come true to get a property that ticked all their boxes! They were searching for a new home which would be warm and easy to heat, in their local village and in the catchment area for a good school.  Paul McWilliams from Annie Kenyon Architects, orientated the house to optimise south facing solar gain, with expanses of glazing from Rationel to make the most of the views, and stilts to accommodate the sloping topography. The couple incorporated stone from the former cottage on the site, into the gable-end of the new build.  “It has been a very happy and stress-free journey,” say Jenny who chose James Hall Joinery as main contractors. “I cannot rate the professionalism of Paul and James highly enough. We expected stress, hiccups, problems but James project managed everything so smoothly that he took the stress out of the whole process.”  “We chose Rationel windows for a number of reasons. James Hall recommended them to us having used them on several other builds. He was able to provide photos of windows, doors and testimonials. Their distributors ADW have a showroom, at Sauchen, which was very convenient for us to visit and it was particularly helpful to see so many products on display. We were impressed with the quality, the choice available and could tell that the investment was absolutely worth it. The colour choices were to our liking, as was the option to have alu-clad external finish onto the natural timber frames.  We think the windows just look really good with the cladding and stone work and of course allow you to appreciate the views.” 

80 Charlotte Street opened in 2020 as a mixed-usebuilding consisting of 322,000 sq ft of offices,43,000 sq ft of apartments, and 12,000 sq ft ofretail space. As London's largest all-electric building,it is the ideal hybrid workspace with a modernarchitectural style. In the midst of 2020, the construction of 80 Charlotte Street was completed, transforming Fitzrovia in London with fresh offices, apartments, and retail areas. The impressive 377,00 sq ft structure, crafted by Make Architects, holds a value exceeding £200 million. With nine storeys, it stands as London's largest all-electric building.ChallengeTo prevent unauthorised access to the lift lobby, a secure solution that allows easy access for guests while incorporating a token return process was needed. Additionally, the solution would need to be controllable remotely from a front desk and aesthetically pleasing within the reception area. SolutionFrom air-source heat pumps that prevent traditional gas boilers from being required to their outstanding statistics, such as being 34% better operational efficiency than Building Regulations, it’s clear that sustainability is a top priority.Within the speed gates chosen are LED Edge Lights, complementing the theme of being considerate of the environment since this choice ensures far less energy has to be produced.The bank of speed gates that the client opted for perfectly merges in with 80 Charlotte Street’s overall look due to the black stainless-steel finish that discreetly fits in with the interiors. With black panelling surrounding the area, the speed gates seamlessly go together with their existing aesthetic.On top of this, the client decided to put in place both low-iron glass top lids and wings, making for a completely clearview that also provides added security from those attempting to jump over the barriers.

At this new-build shopping centre in Shepherd's Bush, West London, the new underground car park was experiencing high levels of water ingress through two movement joints that had failed. Newton Specialist Contractor ASF Waterproofing, who are specialists in injection resins and structural repair work, was therefore called in order to provide a quick solution and fix the leaking joints.Following an initial investigation, the technical team from ASF decided to use the 5-part acrylic rubber sealing resin Newton 324-SR to seal the joint, as it reacts to form a very durable and flexible seal that exhibits exceptional adhesion, making it ideal for movement joints.ASF began by drilling holes at angle into the concrete, and at regular intervals for the 10mm injection packers above the joints. The injection packers were then fitted to each hole, and foam backing rod was used to temporarily block the joint and prevent uncured resin from escaping as it is injected.The five components of the PC 509 Rubber Acryl are mixed to make two solutions, whilst the curing time of the resin can also be adjusted by changing the quantity of initiator used. The resin was then injected through the packers and into the joint using a three-component stainless steel pump.Finally, once the resin was cured and the joints were effectively sealed, ASF ground back the surface of the concrete to either side of the joints and applied Newton 106 FlexProof, a flexible liquid waterproofing material, to provide a final protective seal and finish the job.With two leaking movement joints in a finished structure, the client required a swift resolution to get the area back into use quickly. With the benefit of Newton’s advanced resin and waterproofing products, ASF got to site and delivered the sealed joints within the client’s tight timeframe.

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

The Martin High School is a coeducational secondary school with academy status, located in the village of Anstey, Leicestershire. The school was founded in 1957 and was named after Sir Robert Martin, Chairman of the Leicester County Council, in honour of his public service.Last year, the school were looking to replace an old, pre-fabricated block of classrooms, with a new modular six-classroom block which consists of a specialist technology-rich IT classroom as well as five other inviting classrooms which are all fitted with Smartboards, making learning more engaging for students.Principal Contractor Wernick approached Twinfix to design, manufacture and install a bespoke entrance canopy for the new building.The new canopy, which takes a pentagon shape incorporates Twinfix’s recently launched Alu-Link-Panel, a solid aluminium roof comprising of 3mm thick powder-coated, pressed aluminium for the roof, soffit and fascia. The structure spans 40 square-metres and scales 7.2 metres in height.Some of the benefits of the Alu-Link-Panel system include:Exceptional Durability: engineered to withstand harsh weather conditions, including heavy rain, snow, and wind. It is also highly resistant to corrosion and rust, making it an ideal roofing solution.Energy Efficiency: designed to reflect heat, which can help reduce your energy bills and improve comfort of your building.Easy Installation: easy to install and requires minimal maintenance, which means you can enjoy your new roof without any hassle.The Alu-Link-Panel system can be powder coated to most colours so can complement the colour scheme of the adjoining building.This innovative solid aluminium roof system will protect students and staff at Martin High School from the elements and is in keeping with the stunning aesthetics of the new Humanities Block.

This redesigned facade showcases bespoke aluminium skylights, column casings, radius coping, and soffits. These elements flawlessly enhance the contemporary design of the Blind Veterans UK Centre in Rustington, West Sussex.The new centre is an example of the effectiveness of using aluminium as a building material. Its strength, durability, and low maintenance needs make it ideal for projects such as this one, where quality and longevity are essential.Spearheaded by Fowler Building Contractors and carried out by the specialist aluminium guttering and roofline team at County Gutters, the Rustington project prominently features bespoke aluminium column casings, soffits, radius coping, and skylights from Aluminium Roofline Products (ARP).This case study explores how expert installation, durable aluminium fabrications, and innovative design have revitalised this centre. The transformation has resulted in an accessible facility that promotes confidence, independence, and the well-being of its residents.County Gutters surveyed the former home of the RAF Benevolent Fund before sending measurements and drawings to our CAD team.Joe Wheatley of County Gutters worked closely with CAD Design Engineer Reece Mooney to ensure the designs were feasible and achievable. Their combined expertise successfully brought the architects' vision to life.Using high-quality marine-grade powder coating in colours such as Chartwell green, traffic white, and mid-grey, the finished product is visually striking and highly durable.The aluminium fabrications are strong and non-corrosive and require minimal maintenance, making them an ideal choice for a busy facility like the Blind Veterans UK Centre.The ARP team designed, manufactured and finished production in just a few weeks, with installation starting four weeks after receiving the order from County Gutters. This quick turnaround allowed the project to be completed on time and within budget, ensuring minimal disruption for Blind Veterans UK.In addition to the practical benefits, using aluminium in this project also aligns with the centre's commitment to sustainability. Aluminium is highly recyclable, making it a sustainable choice for construction projects.The Blind Veterans UK Centre continues to provide much-needed support and services to veterans with visual impairments. The innovative design and use of durable aluminium fabrications have revitalised the facility and contributed to its mission of promoting independence and a high quality of life for its residents.The final result is a stunning new centre that provides crucial services to blind veterans in need. The open floor plan, made possible by removing walls and pillars, promotes accessibility for all residents. The modern design also features impressive aluminium fabrications that enhance the overall aesthetic of the building.The circular column casings had to be custom-made to fit the curved design of the concrete pillars, showcasing aluminium's versatility and bespoke capabilities as a building material.The Trueline Z plank soffit and radius coping add unique architectural details while providing long-lasting protection against weather elements.ARP takes great pride in being involved in this project, designing and manufacturing custom-made aluminium fabrications that proudly adorn the façade of this magnificent beachfront building.The Rustington Centre was recently featured on BBC's The One Show. Presenter Amar Latif had the opportunity to visit the centre and meet two remarkable veterans, 100-year-old Ken and 100-year-old Nancy. They discussed the move from their former home to the new purpose-built centre and how it has positively impacted their lives.The Blind Veterans UK Rustington Centre is a truly invaluable resource for blind veterans, and we are honoured to have contributed to its new home in West Sussex.If you're considering aluminium for your next building project, ARP can provide bespoke fabrications to enhance any design. Contact us today to discuss your requirements and see how we can help make your vision a reality.

Margam Park’s new washrooms needed to be durable, easy to maintain and impress their visitors.Margam Country Park in Wales is owned and administered by Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council. The estate containing a Tudor Gothic Mansion was once owned by the Mansel Talbot family in the 1800s. The 850 acre country park is rich in history, with evidence of over 4,000 years of continuous habitation and use by man. This means it has exceptional historic value, with some of the country’s finest architectural treasures. Paired with its natural beauty, wildlife and many activities and facilities, the Margam Country Park has evolved into a popular attraction which is visited by 350,000 people per year, including locals and tourists alike.Neath Port Talbot Council came to Bushboard Washrooms for the refurbishment of the public washrooms. The main concern for this project was ensuring that the toilets were able to withstand the high traffic the park receives each year. As Alison Lloyd, the Commercial Officer at Margam Country Park, explained “visitors often judge a site on the quality of the loos”, this meant opting for a robust washroom range which offered a modern, high quality finish that will remain presentable at all times.Initially designed for secondary schools with the key focus on privacy, our HiZone for Schools toilet cubicle at standard height was decided as the perfect specification for the country park’s needs. Alison put emphasis on requiring an “indestructible build”, the cubicles pilasters and partitions are fixed to the floor in aluminium channels which creates a strong foundation. The toilet cubicles were manufactured in Solid Grade Laminate which has a compact core making it a highly durable material. It is also impervious to water which makes it easy to clean as the panels do not need to be dried meticulously afterwards to prevent damage.The design of the public washroom was carefully considered. The council wanted to cater for everyone who would visit their park, with additions such as child height basins, family changing areas and enlarged toilet cubicles with grab rails for ambulant/disabled users. In particular, the park recognised parents with their children would regularly visit the park. They designed a superloo style room to utilise space, this was larger than a typical toilet cubicle which gave users more room to manoeuvre within the washroom space.Ease of cleaning was fundamental to the project because of the high traffic the toilet cubicles will endure. Our own brand SanCeram’s Langley WCs and urinals were chosen which both offer a smooth and rimless design to eliminate dirt traps, it also suited the “clean lines” Alison was looking for. Margam Park had sanitaryware and brassware ready plumbed which meant that that it arrived pre-fitted to panels assembled onto a rigid steel frame, this saved both time and money. Being a refurbishment project it meant the washrooms did not have to stay closed to the public for a long period of time.Vanity units were also supplied as Ready Plumbed Modules and designed to hit the parks public washroom brief. Solid Surface Counter Top vanity units are ideal for busy washroom environments as they are easy to maintain. Alison wanted to make sure that the washroom had ‘clean lines to clean’, so integrated inset wash hand basins were supplied which have a flush design leaving no dirt traps for a hygienic hand wash station whilst also creating a seamless, high-end overall look.Alison told us that the colours were “chosen to fit with the Country Park, a wood feel and green panels to make it bold and stand out”. Lime Green and Bleached Oak laminates paired with Apple Solid Surface colours from our standard range complemented the mansion scenes within the washroom perfectly. Overall the review of the new washrooms at Margam Park were “ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT! We opened in time for the Early May Bank Holiday and feedback from public was great and staff love the clean lines and bright colours.”

In 2018, Cyclehoop designed and delivered two major Cycle Hubs for the London Borough of Enfield. These were the first cycle hubs to be provided in the borough and were delivered as part of the award-winning Cycle Enfield scheme.Both Cycle Hubs are steel and glass structures with CCTV and provide cycle parking for 50 bikes and three non-standard cycles such as cargo bikes. They can be accessed 24 hours a day, seven days a week by using an access card. Members can make use of a bike pump and repair stand so that they can make quick repairs and keep their tyres pumped whilst on the go.Cyclehoop is managing the membership of both cycle hubs on behalf of Enfield Council.Cycle Hub FacilitiesThe Enfield Town Cycle Hub and the Edmonton Green Cycle Hub are fitted with user-friendly cycle parking and repair facilities, as well as featuring an industry-leading security and access control system.Each Cycle Hub provides cycle parking for 50 bikes and is fitted with Optima Two Tier Racks. This is a space-saving solution that doubles the amount of cycle parking compared with traditional cycle racks. The Two-Tier racks can accommodate most types of bikes and feature gas-assisted moveable upper sections that make it easy to position them in the racking. Members can easily secure their bikes to the locking bar which has been welded into the design rather than the less secure bolted version in our competitors’ solutions. We have installed 3 ground anchors to accommodate non-standard cycles – each with its own marked out space.The door has been fitted with an industry-leading access control system allowing members to get in and out via access card 24 hours a day. Lighting and CCTV cameras are in operation throughout giving extra assurances of security.The Cycle Hubs also feature a Public Repair Stand and an Indoor Pump which provide members with the resources to make repairs on the go as well as pumping up deflated tyres.Design and Build ProcessEnfield Council chose two locations within the borough, each one connected to a local transport link, as well as amenities and shopping centres to accommodate the footfall. These locations were Enfield Town Railway Station and Edmonton Green Railway Station. Planning permission was required to develop the land.Enfield Council required two secure Cycle Hubs that maximised cycle parking spaces and the structure needed to be modular to allow it to be extended in future. Enfield is a growing borough that is regenerating and constantly growing, therefore this needed to be reflected in the design of the Cycle Hub.Each Cycle Hub is a steel and glass structure designed as a modern facility for securely storing cycles. The use of glass provides both good natural lighting as well as excellent visibility and passive surveillance, increasing the security of the facility.The Cycle Hubs also have a sedum green roof which reduces the surface runoff from rainfall, improves local air quality and supports the local insect population.The two custom and secure structures are comprised of:Toughened glass panesPerforated steel kick plates (over 3 tonnes of steel)Toughened glass sliding doorsLow maintenance sedum roofEnfield Council’s Deputy Leader, Cllr Daniel Anderson, said:“If we want to encourage more people to get on their bikes and change their transport habits we need to provide proper, secure parking for cycles. We hope these hubs will encourage people to get on their bikes to visit our town centres and reap all the benefits leaving the car behind will deliver. We are determined to encourage as many people as possible to use sustainable transport as we possibly can and these hubs will play an important role in helping us achieve that aim.”Enfield Council’s Cycle Enfield Scheme aims to regenerate and improve town centres, dramatically improve transport links and encourage more people to use sustainable methods of transport in the borough.

Access to secure, on-street cycle parking can have a big impact on people’s lives, making cycling more feasible, easier and more convenient. However, conventional cycle parking solutions often cannot accommodate larger non-standard cycles such as handcycles, tricycles and recumbents. This creates a barrier to usage and ownership for non-standard cycle users who do not have convenient private storage space.Working in partnership with Lambeth Council, Cyclehoop provided a specially adapted Bikehangar to accommodate a recumbent tandem bike for the Charles family and their son Isaac, who has Down’s Syndrome.Cycling is a great activity for Isaac, combining exercise, socialising and the outdoors. He and his father Tagore ride a tandem bike with a recumbent front seat made by specialist German manufacturer Hase, which Tagore acquired with help from Wheels for Wellbeing and London Recumbents. The bike gives Isaac an unobstructed view ahead and allows the pair to communicate while they ride.Prior to the Bikehangar, the bike was stored indoors, taking up valuable space in the kitchen. Tagore had to carry the 20kg+ bike up and down a flight of stairs, making each outing a difficult undertaking.How Cyclehoop adapted the Bikehangar Having received the details and measurements of the bike, our design team got to work specifying the Bikehangar adaptations. The most important factor is to understand the specific needs of the user; in this scenario Tagore can operate the door and load the bike in and out of the Bikehangar. Further adaptations such as ramps or platforms were not required. The standard floating rack arrangement was removed and a high-security ground anchor with Sold Secure Pedal Cycle Diamond accreditation was chosen to provide a suitable locking point for the bike’s low slung frame. For the unit’s standard cycle users, a high density rack module provides support and secure locking points. The adapted Bikehangar was installed by the Cyclehoop team in March 2023.In Use The adapted Bikehangar makes a big difference to the Charles family, Tagore no longer has to lift the bike up and down the stairs, risking damage or even injury. The bike doesn’t occupy space in the kitchen and the process of going out for a ride is now substantially easier and safer, leading to more frequent outings for Isaac. The two Bikehangar spaces for standard cycles are rented to other residents on the street.“The adapted Bikehangar has transformed our family’s cycling experience. No longer burdened by the logistical challenges of storing and accessing our recumbent tandem bike, we can now enjoy the freedom and joy of riding together more conveniently. It has brought us closer, allowing us to explore the world around us with ease. We are grateful to Cyclehoop and Lambeth Council for making this possible.”– Tagore CharlesAt Cyclehoop we believe the benefits of the bike should be available to all. We’re delighted to help Isaac and Tagore enjoy cycling more conveniently and more often. We hope the adapted Bikehangar will inspire similar projects in the future. We would like to express our thanks to the Charles family and the cycle parking team at Lambeth for their help.“At Wheels for Wellbeing we know that the right secure cycle parking solution is key to owning your own cycle, especially if it features bespoke adaptations and/or bears a large price tag (both are often the case when you’re a disabled cyclist). I am therefore thrilled to see that the Charles family have been provided with an accessible cycle hangar, on their street, enabling them to cycle as often as they wish.This was thanks to the council putting in place a simple mechanism for residents to indicate what type of cycle they ride (not assuming that everyone rides a bicycle) and discussions with the provider of cycle hangars who made the modifications requested by this particular family. This is true accessibility in action: a system which works for the majority AND which is also ready to adapt when needed. Well done Lambeth Council and Cyclehoop!!”– Isabelle Clement – Director, Wheels for Wellbeing

Hydrock is an award-winning, multidisciplinary engineering design consultancy working with clients across the UK. With 16 offices and over 500 staff, their work covers various sectors, including acoustics, nuclear, fire, civil + structural and building performance engineering. Director of Building Performance Engineering, Anuran Wickramasinghe, caught up with us to tell us more about the work Hydrock does for its clients and why the business uses NBS Chorus on its projects.WORKING COLLABORATIVELYAs a multidisciplinary consultancy, Hydrock work on a wide range of exciting projects, from concept to detailed construction drawings to post-occupancy evaluations. Recent projects have included the new facilities for the English National Ballet, UWE's engineering faculty and Bristol’s inland surfing destination, The Wave. According to Anuran, the ability to work on projects in the cloud has been one of the most useful features of NBS Chorus. As a cloud-based specification platform, Chorus allows multiple users to work on a specification remotely and on a range of devices, which has been extremely useful for Hydrock given the distance between their offices - and around 90% of their technical staff are currently working from home. “We’re dispersed all around the country and are working from home so having an online version of the spec is very helpful,” he said. "Having an online platform makes things much easier for us while working from home because now the engineers can access the specification and share information without overloading our servers"IMPROVING CONSISTENCYBefore adopting NBS Chorus, Hydrock used desktop product NBS Create, which is due be retired. Anuran highlighted the consistency and standardisation benefits that NBS Chorus’ stylesheets feature provides as one of the significant benefits the business has seen since making the switch. “One of my main tasks last year was to standardise our specifications and projects, and that is why we decided to use NBS Chorus. NBS's automatic updates to the standards and guidance take away a big slice of our work because we cannot dedicate a team to continually update our standard template. We’re pushing hard on our branding and thanks to the Stylesheets feature; we’ve now got the front page of our documents looking standardised which is great progress.” “Shortly, we want to utilise the Masters' feature and have one standardised template that we can work on to create our specifications and projects.” In terms of helping Hydrock create more robust specifications, Anuran says that the prompts and guidance notes provided within Chorus have helped improve decision-making during the specification process. The ability to start specifying early describing system performance before developing a fuller specification defining products and execution requirements is also of benefit. “The prompts on whether to park or specify something have helped us to progressively develop a robust specification because we can always revisit the specification and make sure that we haven't missed something that could lead to an omission on a project which could be extremely detrimental."SUMMARYIn summary, NBS Chorus is not only helping Hydrock to create more robust and more effective specifications, but it’s also helping to improve collaboration across the business’ different locations and disciplines. "Having up-to-date information and the template there help us to produce the documents much more efficiently. I don’t like the ‘copy and paste’ style of doing things because you could be working on a residential project and accidentally insert a clause from a healthcare project which happened to be the last specification the engineer worked on. The efficiency comes from being able to use the template as a starting point and not having to write a specification completely from scratch," Anuran said. “The collaboration aspect of NBS Chorus is the key because it means that the different disciplines can access and work together on the document at the same time."

This luxury home was designed to have fully concealed blinds in every window. The owners were enthusiastic to design a home that was the best to the last detail. Blinds and curtains are controlled using Lutron® and were installed using the Blindspace® concealment products. Bespoke electric curtains were included to provide softness and the fully concealed blinds were used to control the light and privacy. Through careful planning from the outset of the project, the inclusion of concealed blinds has achieved the best end result. Dark-coloured fabrics have been used where maximum visibility was desired but softer white-toned used in bath and dressing rooms. Bedrooms and media room have been supplied using dark-coloured blackout material to make a statement when used.

Mary Weaver was the Houses Editor on Livingetc for over a decade so she knows a thing or two about design! We were delighted that she chose Clement to manufacture and install the new steel doors she required for her beautiful new home in Brighton.Mary now lives in a wonderful Regency Town House. The kitchen is located on the lower ground floor which is where the two new doors have been installed. They bring in lots of natural light and open out into the charming walled garden.Mary commented: “I love my new steel doors which make the room much lighter and warmer and encourage the indoor-outdoor link to the garden. Clement were a delight to work with and made everything easy and straightforward. The fitters were super efficient and left the place spotless.”

The Dovecote Barns are a multi award winning eco self catering accommodation that offer 'comfort without compromise'. And there was no compromising when it came to choosing the joinery company to make the doors and window for their newly renovated 'Grand Barn' or the hardware for the doors and windows.As a leading manufacturer of wooden windows and doors, and a keen eye for detail, R&E Falkingham Joinery York were the chosen joinery company to manufacture and supply the doors and windows for the renovation project. And we're very pleased to say our Opera Door Handles and Opera Window Handles were selected as the perfect hardware complement to finish off the doors and windows.As part of the BLU range of 316 Marine Grade Stainless Steel door and window hardware, the Opera door and window handles are guaranteed to last for the lifetime of the door or window they're fitted to.

Admirals Quay is a business centre in Southampton which created a thriving backdrop for emerging leisure, residential and commercial exchange. This 21,000m² Ocean Village development includes a 26-storey residential tower featuring 300 apartments, the tallest residential building in the area, which will act as a spectacular landmark. The result is three mixed-use towers, unified by commercial units at the base.Cellecta HiDECK Overlay 18 was specified by HGP Architects in this project as the overlay flooring solution. It’s ideal for flooring applications incorporating an underflooring heating system due to its high thermal conductivity, which provides rapid reaction times, saving on running costs. In addition, its high density makes it perfect for various acoustic applications.Warings were awarded the contract to construct this prestigious, connected, and invigorated waterfront on the mouth of the river Itchn.

Sirius is an office block converted to apartments in Coventry city centre. The existing building on Ironmonger Row is being transformed into an architectural gem. The project will see two storeys added while the existing brick fins on the mid-century building will be clad in a bronze-coloured metal. There will be 28 one-bedroom apartments and eight two-bedroom duplex apartments on the top two floors, overlooking the adjacent square.Cellecta’s DECKfon Batten 70 was specified by EDG Property. The battens consist of a layer of recycled, low resonance, open cell, flexible polyurethane foam bonded to an FSC/PEFC certified timber batten. These battens have been rigorously tested and are ideal for various sub floors, making DECKfon Batten 70 the best solution for this project.EDG Build was awarded this 1,800m² contract to construct this redevelopment.

UrbanShore is a four-storey building consisting of a collection of 13 apartments, 7 one bedroom, 2 two bedroom and 4 studio flats. With bin and cycle stores, a formation of parking spaces and a sustainable drainage system, UrbanShore is one of BH1’s most distinguished and characterful collections of apartments. Combining traditional Georgian elegance with generously proportioned and effortlessly elegant interiors, UrbanShore is located just a short walk from the beach, parks, shops, bars and restaurants.Cellecta’s YELOfon HD10+ was specified by ARC Architecture 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.CBS BUILD were supplied 500m² of Cellecta products for this development in Bournemouth.