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Our team at Helmsman had the pleasure of manufacturing and installing a variety of staff lockers and bench seating. Helmsman team manufactured 60 one-compartment metal lockers with sloping tops and 4 of fifteen-compartment garment dispensers. All the staff lockers are manufactured with a sloping top, which is a great addition as it reduces the pose of hazards if items are stored and prevents the growth of dust and dirt on top of the lockers.The specification of the metal locker was 1800mm high, 380mm wide and 450mm deep, however, the sloping top adds 150mm to the height. The staff lockers were all powder coated from Helmsman standard colour charts. The carcass of the metal lockers and the garment dispenser was powder-coated in ‘Ice’, whereas the doors were powder-coated in ‘Skye’ which creates an uplifting mood for the staff with the brightness of the colour.The lockers were completed with a vedette laminated number plate as well as a Helmsman locking system of cam locks, which is a great secure lock, assuring the employees that their personal belongings are safe whilst being at work.Additionally, with this order, clients also requested bench seats in a wet spec, which is suitable for an environment that has high humidity. The specification of the bench seats was 450mm high, 3250mm long and 350mm wide. Bench seating is an excellent addition as it allows employees to sit down when they need to change their shoes rather than having to balance, which can cause a hazard.It was great working with Alexander Dennis once again, we look forward to working together again in the future.Should you have a project where staff lockers are required and you want more information, give us a call on 01284 530495 or contact us here.

A bold workplace alive in both sight and soundThe challengeWhen Work Life approached tWO Ltd to renovate their Old Street in London, they had a very distinct idea of what they wanted to achieve. Looking to capture their ethos and design intent and reflect the surrounding area’s artistic heritage, they also knew they had to ensure their new space was a functional yet bold co-working environment. This space needed to reflect the new way of working in a post-pandemic world. Having these plans is often easier said than done, with the building posing its own challenges.The solution The decision was made to work with the building’s beautiful industrial features that are a nod towards their surrounding area’s history. tWO Ltd looked to create a range of spaces varying in size and function. Some of these spaces include private offices, hot desking options, bookable meeting rooms with virtual video conferencing capabilities, dedicated Zoom rooms, and even one-person call booths. To reflect the abundance of graffiti art in the area, bright colours were used throughout the project. From deep blues to bright pinks, they wanted this space to be a truly engaging and vibrant place to work.The resultWhen designing an office, there are often a variety of spaces, each with their own requirements. This is no different here, with open office spaces, dining areas, and private meeting rooms. To continue the colourful aesthetic, Cube was chosen as the best-suited solution. Cube is a versatile semi-ridged acoustic panel providing endless design flexibility. Available in a variety of colours, Cube allows you to bring your designs to life while knowing whatever you create will promote an acoustically comfortable environment.

Recognising their long-standing commitment to exceptional customer service and product excellence, partitioning experts Style has been named by Willmott Dixon as both the winner of their National Goods Supply Chain Award, as well as Goods Supply Chain Partner of the Year.  In addition, Style was recently awarded their 12th FIS Gold Contractors’ Award for their creative moveable wall installations at the new Londoner Hotel. “It is fantastic to receive such high acclaim from our partners,” said Julian Sargent, Style’s group managing director. “The awards reflect both the strength of our team and the high quality of the Dorma Hüppe and Skyfold moveable wall systems, for which we are sole UK distributors.”Style has worked with Willmott Dixon for many years, providing innovative moveable wall systems across a wide variety of sectors. “Style sometime go under the radar as they are so effective and efficient when they survey and install that our site teams just don’t have to worry about them,” comments Andy Pritchard, head of supply chain for Willmott Dixon, London and South. “However, their performance scores certainly don’t go unnoticed, with 81% achieved over five projects, they are leading the way. Great effort from all parts of their business and well-deserved winners.” At The Londoner Hotel Style worked with architect Woods Bagot, interior designer Yabu Pushelberg, and contractors Blue Sky Building & EE Smith Contracts, to deliver extensive flexible space in the main ballroom and meeting rooms. The FIS judging panel personally visited and assessed the installation, commenting that ‘the finished product is superbly fixed, of the highest quality and provides the flexibility that perfectly complements this hotel.’

PROJECTAquilana, Baden [CH]COMPLETIONMarch 2023ARCHITECTofficeKonzept GmbHPRODUCTSTICELL-N open-cell ceilingSingle-louvre open-cell ceiling made of ’woven’ aluminium; cell dimensions: 33 mm; height: 40 mm; rectangular and round design; white strip-painted [74 m²]TANGENTA-Q24 linear LED lightingLight distribution: 2 x 60° wide distribution; light colour: 4000 K; DALI dimmable; CRI > 80; various dimensions [approx. 15 linear metres]PUNTEO-N 1x1 S02 LED downlightLight distribution: 2 x 38° wide distribution; light colour: 4000 K; CRI > 80 [81 units]’Health for Generations’ – Aquilana Versicherungen has been committed to this guiding principle for the best part of 130 years. This company values direct and personal contact to its customers. This is reflected in the modern design of its new customer zone. Sustainable materials, plants and natural colours create a pleasing atmosphere. The reception area is visually fascinating thanks to the round curves of the TICELL-N single-blade open-cell ceiling made of ’woven’ aluminium. The integrated and highly efficient PUNTEO-N downlights feature superlative anti-glare properties while also delivering maximum light output for a pleasing and well-lit ambience. In the consulting rooms, TICELL-N combines with the elegant TANGENTA-Q24 linear lighting installed above the open-cell ceiling and with LED spotlights to create unique light reflections, bathing these interior spaces in homogeneous light. Aquilana’s generously proportioned customer zone succeeds in creating interior spaces that situate customers and employees centre stage.

Joining forces with Willmott Dixon Construction Ltd, Team BOYCO supported in transforming the military band practice storage room for the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst. Working with both the customer and contractor we supplied our 'Built to Last' shelving, personal cabinets and cloakroom furniture.All items were crafted to bespoke requirements in our Greater Manchester factory, to accommodate and utilise all available space.Project ScopeSince 1947, The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst has been training Officer Cadets to become Commissioned Officers in the British Army.Located in a 600-acre estate by the border of Berkshire and Surrey, it has an international reputation for 'delivering world-class leadership', and to ensure this premium standard of education was upheld, the need arose for the academy to refurbish its military band practice room and storage area. The BOYCO WayBackgroundProviding both project management and in-house design support, BOYCO worked alongside Willmott Dixon Construction and HLM Architects to refine the needs of the military band storage room. There was a demand for high-quality products that could withstand the rigours of military use, from heavy uniforms to instruments. Team BOYCO was able to meet this requirement thanks to our 'Built to Last' standard, which applies to all our fixed furniture solutions.Quality Bespoke ProductsCatering to the students of the Royal Military Academy, we supplied our floor-fixed benching to the male and female changing rooms, and our double-sided island bench to the male changing rooms. Both sets of cloakroom furniture featured MFC slats, providing comfort and functionality. In our recent steps towards sustainability, the MFC slats on the benching has been sourced from sustainable forests.As per the BOYCO standard, all metal work on the items fitted at the Royal Military Academy are coated in our ‘Hot Dip’ Nylon coating. As well as providing market-leading durability due to it being 4 times thicker than powder coated alternatives, it offers antimicrobial protection. Pioneered by BOYCO, it has been formulated to stop 99% of known bacteria from surviving on its surface, contributing to the health and safety practices of the academy. This finish offers a perfect solution to ensure the utmost cleanliness for the high touchpoint areas being used by military personnel and staff daily.To complement the benching, and the Royal Military Academy's need for a high level of storage, bespoke personal cabinets were also installed. Boasting a unique feel and perfectly tailored to the Academy's needs, the cabinets were specially designed and manufactured with internal fixed shelves and a changing rail for hanging military uniforms. Anthracite grey was opted for due to its uniformity and sleek look, providing a professional finish to the changing rooms.Due to the size of the units being 1.5 m wide x 2.1 m tall, BOYCO prioritised safe practices and customer needs when delivering the fixed furniture. The final weight of the fully constructed furniture was just over 140kg, so all items were assembled on-site.For the instrument storeroom, 4-tier floor and wall-fixed shelving with a steel frame was installed. This provides high levels of support and strength which is essential due to the weight and value of the musical instruments being stored. Project SuccessFollowing the completion of the project, Team BOYCO visited Sandhurst Military Academy. Willmott Dixon Construction Ltd gave exceptional feedback, reflecting how happy they were with not only the band practice facility's transformation, but with the end-to-end experience working with BOYCO.We are proud to be a part of this fantastic project for the Military School and have provided our 'Built to Last' products that are guaranteed to withstand the test of time. Looking for support on your upcoming project?Get in touch with one of our friendly team members here.  

Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) is in high demand as the UK's leading reputation on the university world stage continues to attract domestic and international students. The Enso project began in 2021 and finished construction in under two years. Student accommodation provider CRM will run the scheme, and the first students will move in this September.Located on Hawkins Road, just within 20 minutes from the University of Essex, the Enso project offers excellent transport links. The nearby Hythe railway connects directly to Colchester mainline station, making it a convenient choice for students.Watkin Jones plc, in collaboration with The Bike Storage Company, has designed, manufactured, and installed various bike storage solutions for the Enso project. These include three types of bike storage for the site and a bespoke Amazon Eco Bin Store, ensuring all residents' needs are met.For the primary cycle storage area on the site intended for the accommodation residents, we built a 100-space Amazon Eco Two-Tier Cycle Shelter, with Gas-Powder-Coated Upper Tiers for ease of use, our ever-popular Sheffield stands on the lower tier for efficiency. Alongside the 100 Space Shelter, we provided 6 Vertical Bike Lockers for a premium, personal storage solution. Finally, we provided some easily visible and accessible Stainless Steel Sheffield Stands at the entrance of the building for visitors to the site. All timbers used in constructing our timber-clad shelters and enclosures are responsibly sourced. Our innovative cycle storage has enabled the development to become one of Colchester's most sustainable PBSA schemes, achieving a BREEAM "Excellent" rating. This is a testament to our commitment to environmental responsibility and should make all stakeholders proud of the project's positive impact.

Situated in the heart of London, The Natural History Museum is a beacon of knowledge and cultural heritage, drawing millions of visitors annually. Its vast collection spans centuries, offering captivating exhibits ranging from dinosaur skeletons to geological wonders.Astor Bannerman is thrilled to collaborate with the esteemed Natural History Museum in London, making strides in accessibility within this iconic venue. Components of the Changing Places FacilityLet’s dive into the details of the Changing Places facility at The Natural History Museum, designed to cater to diverse needs while enhancing the visitor experience.ABW-CP Height Adjustable Wall Mounted Wash Basin:Adjustable height for user convenienceWall-mounted design for space efficiencyOT200 Overhead Ceiling Track Hoist:Smooth and safe transfers for individuals with mobility challengesDiscreet design and quiet operation for minimal disruptionAstor CTX2-CP Height Adjustable Changing Table:Comfortable assistance for caregivers during personal care tasksSturdy construction and ergonomic design prioritise safety and comfortKwickScreen Wall Mounted Privacy Screen:Versatile screen for privacy on demandSleek design complements the modern aesthetic of the facilityThe Impact The installation of the Changing Places facility reflects the museum’s commitment to inclusivity and accessibility. It ensures that all visitors, regardless of physical abilities, can explore and enjoy the museum’s offerings without limitations.In summary, Astor Bannerman is honoured to partner with another prestigious landmark tourist attraction. With a proven track record spanning from Windsor Castle to the Sydney Opera House, our specialisation lies in enhancing accessibility for heritage sites and buildings of unique significance.As the leading provider worldwide for Changing Places Toilet installations, we are dedicated to fostering inclusivity in all venues. If your establishment is considering accessibility enhancements, consider Astor Bannerman for reliable expertise and solutions that prioritise accessibility for all visitors.

Shingler Homes is an independent housing developer keen to provide individual, attractive homes sympathetic to their surroundings.Their development at Perry View, near Shrewsbury, is such a development. With thirty houses ranging in size from 2 to 4 bedrooms, Shingler Homes offers a quality, personal approach to housing development.Direct Roofing Services (DRS), who are a long-standing customer of ARP, approached Shingler Homes to quote them for the Mustang® Seamless Aluminium Guttering System as it is a high-quality, cost-effective gutter system, which is quick, easy and safe to install, and requires no maintenance.The Mustang® Seamless Aluminium guttering system was the obvious choice, as it is produced on-site from coated aluminium coil, roll-formed in continuous lengths of up to 30 metres. Brackets stop ends and outlets are installed at ground level before the finished section is raised to roofline level for the final fixing. As the gutter lengths are cut to size on site, there is no waste, and the aluminium coil is made from recycled aluminium, which, once it reaches the end of its useful life, can be further recycled.Mustang® Seamless Aluminium Gutter system is the ideal solution for housing developments as it is a strong, sustainable, leak-free, no maintenance option, which has a life expectancy in excess of 30 years.Mustang® Aluminium Seamless Guttering is a unique joint-less system and is the only seamless gutter system approved by the British Board of Agrément (BBA).By meeting the strict BBA guidelines, both ARP and their approved installer network are audited and assessed twice yearly to ensure that the product and installers maintain these high standards.Jeremy Shingler, Managing Director of Shingler Homes, said, “DRS provide an excellent service supplying and fixing aluminium guttering, which our customers like due to its low maintenance”.

ObjectiveSaving Graces Interiors, an interior design company based in Dundee, Scotland, offer a truly bespoke interior design service with a focus on creating beautiful spaces that reflect the personalities and lives of their clients.Working with Piperdam Golf & Leisure to refurbish 8 lodges for luxury getaways, Saving Graces Interior Designer, Antonia Burnett, chose the Bushboard Nuance range for the shower enclosure areas.Observation‘When I started working with Piperdam I needed to find a bathroom wall panel that was not only robust but also attractive. I spent a lot of time researching and when I landed on the Bushboard website I could see that the designs were miles ahead of the competition.’Nuance is a unique, 100% waterproof, extrusion-free panelling system that can installed in a matter of hours. Whether the project look is traditional or contemporary, the designs and textures have been carefully selected to include plain décor, as well as stunning marble and stone designs, and on trend woods.OutcomeAntonia decided to use Silver Travertine, a beautiful timeless design to suit any style of bathroom and work with a variety of paint colours. ‘As an interior designer I need a supplier that is reliable, affordable and who provides good quality products, Bushboard ticks all the boxes.’‘Rebecca Checketts, Business Specification Coordinator was extremely helpful in explaining the benefits of using Nuance and arranging next day samples.’‘Installation was quick and very straight forward and Bushboard have been on hand from start to finish. I am absolutely delighted with the end result and we will certainly specify Nuance again.’For more information about the Nuance range and other Bushboard products, to request a RIBA CPD, download an NBS specification or to order samples visit www.bushboard.co.uk

Private Clinic Blomenburg stands for holism when it comes to the therapy and design concept.A haven in the middle of a beautiful environment in the north of Germany: The 19th Century Blomenburg („Burg“ for castle), is surrounded by a huge park. Away from the everyday hustle and bustle, offering 69 furnished in premium quality, spacious single rooms and suites. The modern bathrooms are equipped with KEUCO furnishings and complement the syntonic interior design. Here the guests can dedicate their soul to regeneration in a quiet and peaceful stylish ambience.The elaborate restoration of the building was carried out taking the historic importance and special use of the Blomenburg into consideration. The new building with its generous glass facade was constructed under the castle rock and now accommodates the guest rooms. Between the old and the new building, there is an approximately 800m² big spa and pool area engrafted in the topography of the castle rock. The historic buildings surrounding the castle yard are used for social purposes, medical fitness, healthy living and mindfulness training of the body, soul and mind. The exclusive design of the indoor rooms is not to be compared with the magnificence of the outside of the buildings.Noble materials and luxurious items of furniture in the guest rooms create an ideal setting for convalescence and relaxation. This temporary home equipped with KEUCO furnishings and accessories in the bathroom offer the guests plenty of storage space for personal care products. Not only do the PLAN vanity unit and tall unit in unobtrusive truffle offer generous storage space, but the light mirror with a frame offers additional storage space. The perfect light lets the windowless bathrooms appear brighter and friendlier. The integrated mirror heating makes it possible to look in the mirror after a hot and relaxing shower.IXMO fittings in a strong design offer intuitive use to reach the right temperature. Matching accessories nicely round-off the bathroom interior in a coherent way and perfectly match the high-class concept of the clinic.

10 Sation Road is a unique office building beside Cambridge station. Its vibrant and sustainable design provides an unrivalled opportunity for businesses to join the cluster of world-class firms in Cambridge’s central business district.As part of the new building, we worked alongside Cube Install Ltd to manufacture and install Helmsman Z Lockers with seat stands for workers to store personal belongings. As part of the project, we provided 46, to accommodate 92 employees, the bespoke Z Lockers are wet specifications so the lockers are suitable for areas with high humidity.The specifications of the 46 bespoke Z lockers were 1450mm high, 298mm wide with 1mm rivets and 450mm deep. Bespoke Z Locker were installed with seat stands, allowing the employees to sit whilst changing shoes rather than having to balance when standing.The stunning Z lockers were manufactured with aluminium body, and stainless steel frames with laminate, in our carbon neutral range, ‘English Oak’. The 23 carcasses of the lockers were powder coated in our standard range ‘Yellow’ and the remaining 23 in ‘Rockpool’. The cantilevered seat slats were in ‘English Oak’ allowing the stands to match the lockers, to keep the project’s aesthetic atmosphere.The locks chosen for the project were the KitLock 1000. These are a great choice for both assigned and new users each day, so they are perfect for shared changing rooms at 10 Station Road. Additionally, it compliments the lockers with the laminate used.It was great to work alongside Cube Install Ltd on this project, look forward to some more exciting projects in the future.If you are looking for bespoke Z Lockers, or have a similar project you need help with, our sales team can help. Contact us today at 01284 530496 or click here to get your quote.

Hannah Cecil-Harden is a director at de Gournay, a family business which was founded by her father, Claud Cecil Gurney. De Gournay makes the most beautiful hand-painted wallpapers and fabrics and the company’s work is found in some of the finest buildings around the world. As you would expect, every room of Hannah’s London home has been exquisitely decorated. The property has undergone many transformations in the time that Hannah has lived there, but the most recent changes were needed to accommodate her expanding family. Hannah and her husband wanted their house to work better for life with their four young children.All the floors of the house have been updated, but perhaps the biggest change was turning the existing basement into a playroom with adjoining utility and bathroom. Having worked with Hannah and the team at de Gournay on a previous project, Clement was delighted to be asked to manufacture the new steel doors that were included within the designs. We were excited that the new steel doors were to be painted in unique vibrant colours to match the stunning wallpapers that adorn the new space and we worked closely with Hannah and her team to find just the right match. We always say that our bespoke steel products can be painted in specialist hues from across the entire colour spectrum – these doors demonstrate what is possible!Hannah said: “I thoroughly enjoyed working with Clement Windows on this exciting project which was for a children’s playroom. I wanted to go with bold and bright colours and they were so accommodating about this, everything about the project was handled professionally and with utmost care from conception down to a flawless install. It was an absolute pleasure to work on such a personal project with a business I have collaborated with before and I look forward to hopefully crossing paths again in the future!”

Chinmaya Mission exists to provide individuals with the wisdom and practical means for personal growth and development, enabling them to become positive contributors to society.  At Chinmaya Kirti, their home in London, a major renovation project was designed as a vision for future generations, rather than just an improved building.Working with architects, KJC, and contractor, Home Republic, Style was specified to be part of that vision, installing moveable walls to enable one large space in the classroom/bookshop area to be easily converted into six multi-functional rooms based on daily requirements. A combination of multiple Dorma Hüppe Variflex Glass and Variflex solid semi-automatic moveable walls were agreed as the best solution, with the glass moveable walls providing a 52dB acoustic barrier and the solid wall 55dB.With a standard anodised aluminium frame finish to the glass walls, and a melamine finish to the solid walls, the final installation provided a light and calm feel to the room design.“This is a great example of how using a combination of glass and solid moveable walls can transform how space is used,” said Michael Porter, sales director for Style South.“The glass moveable walls can combine to create a temporary corridor while the solid moveable walls then segregate the space into smaller individual rooms. Or the Mission can choose a whole range of combinations – from using one glass wall to simply divide the room in two, or to use the walls to provide varying sizes of rooms to suit the requirements of the day.“Such is the quality of the acoustic integrity that multiple events can take place within the segregated rooms without disturbing one another, which was an important factor at the Mission.“By including pass doors also means the moveable walls can remain in place for extended periods and the rooms can be accessed and used with ease.”

A record number of manual call points were maliciously activated across England for the year ending March 2022.The highest annual number of malicious false fire alarms on record came as people returned to public buildings en masse in a period markedly unaffected by COVID-19 lockdowns.The latest Home Office figures reveal there was a total of 3,212 false fire alarms caused by the “malicious activation of [a] fire call point/alarm” in England for the year ending March 2022, surpassing challenged hoax calls as the largest reason for malicious fire alarms.Accidental activations also increased over the period; 14,452 false fire alarms were recorded due to the accidental and careless activation of life safety equipment, including manual call points.Every false alarm is costly, disrupting schools and businesses, placing unnecessary strain on our emergency services and reducing public confidence in fire alarms.Despite online learning, working from home and limits on social contact, false fire alarm numbers, although down, persisted during the pandemic.As schools, offices and shops saw reduced attendance and footfall, malicious false fire alarms survived; now in a post-COVID world, there has been a boom in the number of false alarms plaguing the country.Continuing to be the largest incident type, false fire alarms accounted for 40 per cent of the incidents attended by Fire and Rescue Services in England for the period – fires accounted for just 26 per cent.Repeated false alarms reduce the public’s confidence in fire alarms, contributing to alarm fatigue and a complacent attitude toward evacuations. Alarm fatigue occurs when a person becomes desensitised to an alarm due to repeated false alarms and as a result, fails to react appropriately in an emergency.Safety Technology International manufacture a range of protective covers, specifically designed to prevent false alarms whether accidental or malicious.The STI story began in 1980 with a challenge by a school headteacher who wanted to stop their false fire alarms. Founder, Jack Taylor, used his expertise in security systems to invent the first and original Stopper® polycarbonate protective cover. From integral covers to outdoor and sounder models, there are now variations to suit all applications.The tamper-proof polycarbonate covers ensure call points are protected without restricting legitimate use in a real emergency, a combination of optional warning alarm, flashing beacon and break seal acts as a deterrent against malicious activation.In Wales, malicious false fire alarms rose by 33% to 426 during 2021-22, the highest figure for half a decade. And with similar figures reflected across the UK, over £1 billion is lost every year due to false alarms.To recoup this cost the London Fire Brigade became the first fire service in the country to recover costs from buildings like hospitals, airports and student halls with a poor false alarm record.Firefighters respond to fire signals as if they are real, this exposes the public and fire crew to unnecessary risk in their swift response to false alarms, directing them away from real emergencies.Under The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order Act 2005, it is the responsibility of the building owner or the “responsible person” to ensure effective fire precautions are in place to protect staff, customers or visitors.Several precautionary steps can be implemented to prevent false fire alarms before they occur; routine testing and maintenance of call points is a must to ensure proper operation, but it is not the only proactive approach.As recommended in BS 5839-1:2017, manual call points can be fitted with a protective cover to prevent false fire alarms. The British Standard Institute recommends in section 20.2b), that: “All MCPs should be fitted with a protective cover, which is moved to gain access to the frangible element.“It is now recommended that a protective cover is fitted to a Type A manual call point to help prevent false alarms.”

The meticulous selection of products and materials can be sensed in every corner of the Arcadeon. Special combinations and unique, premium creations adorn each guest room, seminar room and bathroom, and add an entirely personal touch. The rooms were intended to contain an element of surprise, while still radiating authenticity; to be trendy and in sync with the times, but still full of comfort and appeal. That is why for Jörg Bachmann, who placed high value on local products and services in the renovations, there was only one logical choice when it came to selecting the fittings and accessories for the premium bathrooms: "Only KEUCO products harmonised with the modern and luxurious design." In the showers of the 80 rooms and two suites, guests have the pleasure of using KEUCO's innovative IXMO fittings. The special thing about IXMO is that the minimalist design of the fittings combines multiple functions in the smallest of spaces. As such, guests are met with a clear and uncluttered picture in Arcadeon's showers. Particularly popular among hotel guests is IXMO SOLO, the clever combination of single-lever mixer and shower hose in only one module. "Finally, a fitting that can be understood by every guest right away," acknowledges the hotelier.Crowning the washbasins are EDITION 400 fittings, which stand out luxuriously with their slender and organic design. The filigree elegance is underscored by brilliant chrome surfaces, whose high value is immediately apparent, adding a touch of style and aesthetics. This holistic approach is continued with the accessories in the bathrooms' toilets. Discreetly elegant, with a luxurious presence, KEUCO's EDITION 400 accessories set special accents with their superb design and high quality finishes. Hotel Arcadeon calls itself a "house of science and further training" and is known in the business community in the region for its generous and exceptionally designed seminar rooms. With its rich offering, the hotel doesn't just attract overnight guests or seminar participants to its dining facilities. In actual fact, for guests from towns in the vicinity the hotel has established itself as "Hagen's living room".

THE PROJECTParadise Student Village is in a prime location being only a short walk from Coventry City Centre and the main University campus. This impressive site contains over a thousand rooms, and this is likely to grow.The company behind this development is AXO, a student accommodation provider, who is committed to going that extra mile for their residents. The living experience of the student community is their top priority, with a range of future-proofed attractive facilities.One of the new services on offer at Paradise Student Village is the intelligent parcel management system myRENZbox delivered by The Safety Letterbox Company, part of the RENZ Group.Available to all couriers, this system allows students to manage their parcel deliveries and returns with utmost security and discretion via mobile app or online portal. It can also be used as a safe storage location or to securely exchange personal items between residents or for collection of packages by local services, such as dry-cleaning companies.Not only does myRENZbox save time for users, but having this system as a secure central delivery location also increases the number of successful first-time deliveries at Paradise Student Village. This intelligent parcel box solution has a positive impact on the environment, as there are fewer journeys made by delivery personnel.For AXO, the headache of intercepting and organising parcel deliveries has been solved by myRENZbox. Deliveries are made directly into the system, so the front of house staff can concentrate on offering the best living experience to the students. The responsibility for lost or damaged parcels becomes a thing of the past!For students, myRENZbox streamlines the process. There is no waiting time to pick-up their parcels. They are in control of their deliveries via the mobile app. As soon as they receive a notification of delivery into the system, they can collect their items.The myRENZbox configuration installed expertly at Paradise Student Village comprises of a control module, two 533mm extension modules and seven 300mm extension modules. It has been designed to fit snuggly in the alcove space available. The system has been powder coated in Traffic White (RAL9016), which is one of many standard colours. The overall appearance is clean and bright and allows the myRENZbox logo to stand out.

Kew House School is a co-educational independent senior school for students aged 11-18 years. Open since September 2013, their recent Ofsted Report noted that the faculties “ambitious vision and relentless drive have established a school that promotes the highest standards and aims for excellent achievements for its students”. Under the leadership of veteran Headmaster, Mark Hudson, the school has put a concerted emphasis on the individual; establishing confidence that encourages students to maximise their personal achievements in every facet of school life.With higher education never more popular amongst young people, Kew House School excel at providing smooth passage of students from sixth form to university. While the traditional values of academic excellence and achievement remain pivotal, Kew High School are continuously exploring dynamic modern approaches to encourage and nurture independence and leadership.Kew House School’s vision is encapsulated by their Sixth Form Centre, a new build, designed specifically to encourage independence and individuality for students approaching adulthood. Spread across 6 floors, the stunning construction features an independent learning area, a café, library, break-out spaces and quiet study areas. The building also includes an audio-visual suite, recording studio, classrooms and Sixth Form Seminar rooms. It creates a dynamic environment; extolling campus life within the secure and nurturing confines of school.Streetspace Urban Structures became involved in the project when a single-source canopy solution was sought for the top floor roof deck. The striking canopy featured a symmetric central ‘spine’ design with in-line support columns and finished with a perimeter cable edge. The canopy’s signal white steelwork complemented the champagne finish of the PVC membrane fabric. The installation used two existing steel support plates and the speedy construction involved components being craned up to the 6th floor.With its translucency, colour, clearspan and softness of form, the ORION Shield Tensile Membrane Canopy, proved to be the perfect solution, with the gentle curve of the shield design providing both an attractive aesthetic and a unique ambience to an outstanding build that provided a stunning finish to a prestigious project.

A global leader in world finance, the UK head offices of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (BNY Mellon), located in the prestigious 160 Queen Victoria Street building (160 QVS), London, have been recently refurbished. Partitioning expert Style was contracted to inject a high level of flexibility into the space, encouraging a positive environment by allowing the easy creation of personal work areas, divided meeting rooms and brainstorming hotspots. In the Thames Room, a large C-shaped Dorma Hüppe Variflex glass moveable wall offers 52dB acoustics, fully glazed pass doors and a stylish crittall-effect. Whilst Style’s unique working walls are installed in the Innovation Centre. Finished in a striking blue painted glass, the individual panels spin and slide along ceiling tracks, allowing freedom to segment the space into a wide variety of configurations. Elsewhere, a 59dB semi-automatic Dorma Hüppe Variflex solid moveable wall finished in contemporary fabric-wrapped panels, abuts a fixed glass wall that matches the crittall-effect of the glass Variflex, providing seamless interior design.As the world's largest custodian bank and asset servicing company, BNY Mellon is the main occupier of 160 QVS – a building which occupies an entire block and which actually has four separate postcodes! The newly refitted corporate headquarters comprises of both offices as well as a trading floor, delivering a flagship workplace fit for the future.Working with architects, T P Bennett and contractors ISG, Style was specified to create flexible space at BNY Mellon’s London offices using a blend of solid moveable walls, glass moveable walls and Style’s innovative working walls – designed for agile, collaborative space.“This is a great example of using various types of moveable and working walls to give different types of flexibility in various meeting areas and collaboration zones,” said Michael Porter, sales director at Style South.“It also highlights Style’s key strengths in the market in terms of our working walls and fully glazed pass doors, which are unrivalled and highly unique.”

Over the past decade, the Capital Quarter redevelopment has provided more than 370,000 ft² of new office space and will eventually accommodate more than 3000 staff. It is already home to Finance Wales, Alert Logic, WSP-Parsons Brinckerhoff, Network Rail, Home Office, Public Health Wales and Opus Energy.The wider Capital Quarter scheme is well on track to delivering over 1,000,000 ft² of development including residential, café and student accommodation.No 4 Capital Quarter, the eight-storey canal-side landmark office building designed to BREEAM Excellent, is the fourth building to rise in the prestigious development in the heart of the city’s Enterprise Zone. The building incorporates the occupational density of open floor plates to suit the current and future needs of modern office occupiers as well as a central atrium, high-quality reception, sixth-floor roof terrace and ground-floor retail and leisure units.SolutionsThe Aruba Tegular15 mineral tiles had already been used by main contractor JR Smart on the previous office projects and were specified, with their approval, for this latest, 96,870 ft² Grade A building which is now home to Sky UK, legal firm Geldards and financial services company Optimum Credit.Some 11,000 m² of the Aruba panels were supplied to No 4 by the Cardiff branch of distributor Nevill Long and installed on the 2.7 m floor-to-ceiling heights by specialist sub-contractor 2nd Generation Facades.Fully recyclable, Aruba is the next evolution in ceiling tiles. The tiles provide a balanced acoustic performance of up to 0.65 αw, Class C sound absorption, and a sound attenuating performance of up to 39 dB. The perforation design of Aruba is unique to standard tiles, creating a smooth, contemporary finish.JR Smart construction director Gareth Smart said: “It has been a great 12 months at Capital Quarter which is testament to the commitment and hard work of the whole Capital Quarter development team, including our professional advisers and sub-contractors who I would personally like to thank.”

The ChallengeThis prestigious three storey new build property in the village of Bilton was designed following close liaison with the local planning authority, in order to be sympathetic to other nearby homes.The SolutionCareful selection of the brick type was critical to this process, as the property needed a soft aesthetic to its front elevation, addressing the local authority’s concerns about the impact of the finished project while still meeting the client’s personal requirements.With this in mind the client selected Forterra’s Autumn Glow facing brick. This not only met all the criteria set by the local planning authority, but its enhanced durability designation allowed the brick to be used to create a seamless brick façade.Tom Holland, Managing Director of Holland Build, said, “We put forward several brick types to the planning authority as part of this two storey project, and a unanimous decision was reached that the Autumn Glow best fitted the design of the property, and was most in keeping with the local area.“I was already familiar with the Autumn Glow, having used it extensively on the construction of a luxury apartment building on a previous job, and never had any issue with them. They’re a good, solid facing brick, and extremely durable, and I’d recommend using them as a reliable stock brick.”The BenefitsGareth Rouse, Architectural Technologist for Forterra, said, “The Autumn Glow is a stock facing brick more tailored to the self-build market, due to its relatively soft aesthetic and higher-grade durability. It also contains recycled content and is the most sustainable stock brick available on the UK market.“It suited this project particularly well, complementing the timber frames used in the windows and doors and also proving ideal for the construction of the arch above the main entrance.”Although the main brickwork was intentionally kept simple, the client required a grand entrance that would draw visitors to the front door. Owing to the easily moulded nature of this particular clay type, special shaped bullnose bricks were utilised on the jambs of the main entrance, which then continued as tapered voussouirs into the semi-circular arch above. Simple, but effective herringbone panels were also introduced to draw the eye, breaking the appearance of mass stretcher bond brickwork.Forterra nominated the finished project for the 2018 Brick Awards, in the Individual Housing Development category.

This is the latest cycle hub designed, manufactured, supplied and installed this month by Falco for Stromness Travel Centre, located on the southwestern area of the picturesque Orkney Islands mainland.Installed on behalf of the Orkney Islands Council, the new cycle hub provides visitors to the Travel Centre with up to 20 secure cycle parking spaces utilising traditional Toaster cycle racks.In addition to the cycle parking, the cycle hub has been provided with 24 convenient lockers for the storage of helmets and personal equipment. The cycle hub makes use of toughened safety glass and bespoke branding graphics chosen by the client with powder coated applied to the galvanised steel framework in an attractive ‘Sapphire Blue’ RAL colour.The images attached show the new cycle hub installation, taken on a windy Wednesday afternoon and located on Ferry Road, near to the Stromness Ferry Terminal.Stromness Travel Centre is a tourism office providing visitors to the island with all travelling and sightseeing needs within one stop - with leaflets, timetables, booking services and a souvenir shop available to use and now secure sheltered cycle parking.The FalcoLok cycle hub as shown here at Stromness Travel Centre, is a contemporary cycle store manufactured from a combination of a galvanised steel frame and reinforced safety glass, designed to be sympathetic to the surrounding area. The FalcoHub was developed by Falco’s in house design team to ensure it met the client’s specification including structural calculations so that the whole design meets the UK/European CPR regulations EN1090 and is CE marked as per UK law.In addition to the cycle hub shown here for Stromness Travel Centre, Falco has also recently installed cycle hubs for many locations across the UK including Crewe, Runcorn, Birmingham International, Warrington Bank Quay and Carlisle station for Avanti West Coast, Bradford Royal Infirmary and St Luke’s Hospital for Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation, The Royal Oldham Hospital for Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, Ninewells Hospital & Medical School in Dundee and a bespoke cycle hub for Leicester City Council.For more information about the scheme here at Stromness Travel Centre, or how Falco can assist your cycle parking project, please contact our helpful sales team at sales@falco.co.uk.

Islington Square is a mixed-use development offering over 250 apartments as well as retail and leisure facilities in this Islington suburb just north of the Thames. At the site of the former North London Royal Mail sorting office, this Grade 2 listed building is a monument to Edwardian architecture, and the renovation of this square brings together the old and new, building a timeless community feel for residents and visitors.Main contractors, Galliard Construction worked with Kilhan Construction for the hard and soft landscaping in the public and residential areas, focusing on building the perfect connection between the apartments, shops and restaurants as well as the communal gardens and outdoor spaces. The crowning social hub is the summer terrace, which is a relaxing outdoor retreat of flowers and deckchairs, away from the hustle and bustle of the high street.Marshalls supplied Modal Textured in Anthracite Granite and Mid Grey Granite for the roads and pathways, these two colours were chosen to contrast perfectly for this ‘pixelated’ paving effect, creating a wonderful contemporary design for the dedicated pedestrian areas. Conservation X kerbs and steps were used for the delineation of the paving as well as the sectioning of the multi-levelled areas - as one of our more design-leading kerb options; Conservation X provided a functional and complementary addition to this overall design, tying together nicely with the Modal paving.Peter Conway from Kilhan said, "The project design was quite complex with a lot of intricate detailing and various products being matched together, however working in unison with Marshalls, who were extremely helpful throughout, made the project delivery seamless. As you can see the finished product looks amazing, I’m sure the residents on the development and in the surrounding areas are delighted with how well it looks."When completed back in 2019, this renovation had proven both creative and inspiring, and Marshalls were proud to have supplied products that contributed to this perfect example of a mixed-use environment. Even when we returned to photograph in 2021, the community feel of the square was very apparent, with still plenty to enjoy at the markets, shops, cinema and even yoga to take part in. This development has built a lasting neighbourhood ethos and established a personality for the square, with its own website and social media platform to boot.

Our specially developed Bikehangars were first ordered by Lambeth Council and installed on their streets in February 2013. Each Bikehangar provides six spaces to securely store bicycles with each space available for residents to rent.Our award-winning design is an effective way to protect bikes from theft and tough weather conditions where outdoor storage space is limited. This made the Bikehangar an ideal solution for Lambeth Council to offer its residents, most of who live in small flats where space is at a premium.The success of the scheme over the years has resulted in a further 200 Bikehangars being installed throughout the borough (as of July 2016) providing 1,200 secure cycle parking spaces. The success of the Bikehangar scheme in Lambeth and the increasing demand for on-street cycle parking from residents of other boroughs have seen our Bikehangars installed throughout the UK. Cyclehoop currently works with 75 councils UK wide, having produced over 2,000 Bikehangars providing a total of 12,000 secure cycle parking spaces.“The Bikehangar scheme has been a great addition to Lambeth streets. It is a much-cherished council service, popularity of which greatly exceeded our expectations. Almost every hangar we installed is oversubscribed and we cannot keep up with the demand to install additional units. The convenience, safety and reliability of this cycle parking solution has been demonstrated by popularity of the 220 units installed throughout the borough to date, the very low damage and vandalism rate and none reported bike theft. Local Police, councillors and residents are all in love with Lambeth Bikehangars. It has proven to be a crucial service in enabling our residents to use a cycle as their transport mode.” – Pawel Ryczan, Cycle Parking Project Manager, Lambeth Council“The service offered by Cyclehoop was not only efficient and professional but the whole experience was personable and friendly. We are so grateful for our Bikehangar as the area is not safe for leaving bikes outside and we don’t have a lift so it has been so much hassle keeping two bikes inside the flat. The service we received has been exceptional and there’s a real sense of customer care that is very hard to come by. 10/10.”– Bikehangar Rental Scheme Customer, London

Custom Frontier™ System for Headingley Stadium’s Emerald SuiteEstablished in 1890, Headingley Stadium has been a Leeds landmark for 130 years. Unlike traditional oval stadiums, Headingley has two adjacent grounds—the Headingley Cricket Ground and the Headingley Rugby Stadium. Dividing the two is a new corporate hospitality space, with panoramic views of each field. Completed in 2019, the hospitality space boasts eight event suites, 12 meeting rooms, and 36 hotel rooms, designed to be a world-class venue and corporate destination.“Raft was chosen for the space because of its sleek aesthetic and effectiveness in open-plan environments.”Interior designers SpaceInvader worked alongside Caddick Construction, tackling the project with a blend of functionality, flexibility, and aspiration. Finding the balance between timeless corporate design and practical event space meant incorporating design elements that perform a dual purpose. A feature of the building, the Emerald Suite functions as a versatile event space; easily configured to be a theater one night and a dinner and dance hall the next. Due to the 500-person capacity and spatial flexibility, the acoustics had to be perfect. Originally SpaceInvader were investigating an off-the-shelf product, however, when unimpressed with the offering, Autex were brought on to create a bespoke solution.While the acoustics were a priority, SpaceInvader wanted a treatment that could double as a design feature. A custom Frontier™ Acoustic Raft system was designed and installed as 40 mm slats; equal parts Flatiron and Savoye used to create a banded salt-and-pepper ceiling feature. Raft was chosen for the space because of its sleek aesthetic and effectiveness in open-plan environments. The compressed polyester outer shell absorbs high frequencies, while the calculated air gap in the centre absorbs lower frequencies. Spread across the expanse of the space, the Raft system controls the reverb and echo that would otherwise be exacerbated by the parallel glass walls. Completed on time and within budget, the finished space tastes of subtle elegance with rich, warm accents. The soft furnishings and tasteful luxury are matched with acoustic comfort, successfully creating space for people to eat, drink, and celebrate in the company of others.

Adding to the Vibrancy and Culture of London’s Newest Broadcasting SchoolThis September, hundreds of students will be flooding the floors of Loughborough University’s newly renovated campus at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Formerly the Broadcasting Centre for the Olympic Games, this large scale building is now home to the highly acclaimed tertiary institute, as well as a wide range of others, from large international companies to small local businesses.The project With the direction to reinvent the space and make it particular to Loughborough University’s culture and vibrant personality, Paragon Interior Groups Senior Designer Julie Hattersley set out to ensure the client could call the space their own. By employing a unique and aesthetically pleasing design; a practical new hub for students to learn and interact was developed. Autex was engaged in the project early on, at the specification stage, to ensure a level of acoustic performance conducive to a tertiary learning environment. Inspired by industrial design, Loughborough University boasts exposed features, including the building’s services and concrete walls. Hattersley required an acoustic solution that blended in with the overall feel of the space but provided accents of style and flare. Through collaboration with Autex, Hattersley used a variety of standard and custom products to create unique ceiling and wall features that gave each area its own style. “We just loved the versatility of Autex products and how we could create a solution that fits with every space. Having one company that could achieve all the design requirements needed was fantastic”.The solutionAs soon as you enter the hard surfaced atrium, complete with polished floors, high ceilings and surrounded by windows, the potential for both high and low frequencies to reverberate around the space become instantly clear. Cube™By vertically suspending fifty 1200mm x 800mm 24mm thick Autex Cube™ in rows above the atrium, the carefully considered spacing is attributed to an all-round frequency absorption. By keeping the distance of the vertical hanging fins at about 300mm and the bottom of the fin around 800mm from the ceiling, the surface area absorption gets multiplied as sound waves bounce between the fins and ceiling. Vertiface®Combined with the neutral colour of Cube Savoye; Autex have laminated their 100 percent polyester fabric Vertiface® to the face of selected fins. These added highlights of (colour) Phantom, create a standout feature that matches the industrial design whilst providing hints of personality and excitement. As you lead through from the atrium the next piece of eye catching acoustic design that hits you are the floating Cube rafts that keep the themed colour Savoye. Custom cut into a variety of shapes these suspended 24mm thick panels provide an aesthetic display that also combines localised acoustic absorption with the continued seamless design that Julie Hattersley implements with precision. 3D TilesFrom the Trapezium Lattice baffles, to the multiple 3D Tiles applications, the attention to geometric shapes, colours and textures throughout this design have been carefully chosen to provide consistency in this modern and exciting place to learn. These suspended features continue throughout the building, providing break-out spaces with multiple levels of acoustic absorption, pertinent to task at hand in each area. This achieves a highly effective acoustic treatment; controlling reverberation while not taking away from the openness and collaborative design of the areas.The resultImplementing a range of different suspended features including the aforementioned Trapezium Lattice, suspended Cube and the 3D Tiles fixed to floating rafts, Hattersley has created the impression of zones. This practice of creating different areas specific to different activities without creating barriers is a technique that is being introduced to commercial buildings and schools worldwide with high levels of success. This helps the occupants define, collaboration, concentration and high social activities within the space, and uses the suspended acoustics panels as an unobtrusive guide to their work zone. Another stand-out for Julie Hattersley was having “the flexibility to shape the [Autex] products without compromising the quality”; Autex were able to draw on previous product developments to create a new 3D Tile for the space. Using a heat moulding process, Autex were able to develop the 3D Tile S-5.46 a Triangle shaped tile that simply adhered to the wall using the 3D Tile Clips. Again using neutrals and pops of colour, the tiles turn empty wall space into creative works of art, giving the modern aesthetic of depth and texture that beautifully compliments the furnishings and geometric lines in the carpeting. With the University ready to open its doors, Julie Hattersley and the client are extremely pleased with the acoustics. “The space feels very comfortable and peaceful”, says Julie, “even though there are three sides of double glazing, there is no echo. The students and staff can trust that collaborations and conversation had in one area will stay there.” The innovative and forward-thinking of Julie Hattersley and her vision to combine Autex Interior Acoustics into this space will match the forward-thinking and creative minds that Loughborough University shapes for the future.

We met digital content creator and charity ambassador Sally, in her gorgeous detached house in the English countryside in Surrey. Sally, her husband Gav, their three sons, dog and cat live in a beautiful cottage with lots of outdoor space for football, dens and four chickens (all named Barbara). They’re an active, outdoorsy family who love embracing nature, from scuba diving to surfing Cornwall’s finest beaches.Over the years they have built two extensions to their house. In the most recent extension project, Sally chose to illuminate the end of her gorgeous country kitchen/diner with a Vario by VELUX bespoke rectangular rooflight, so we went to visit her for a cuppa and a lovely chat about her impressions and experience on the importance of daylight. Sally, what a bright and stunning space you have in here. Could you please tell us more about your extension project?"We love this house; it has plenty of space and we absolutely love the country lifestyle. We bought a house 12 years ago and that time it was much smaller. The first big extension we did was 9 years ago, but we didn't quite get what we wanted as the building restrictions at the time were very strict.The key thing for us was to bring the light in. A wall of glass made perfect sense, but as the extension has a flat roof, we also started to think about what was above. In a room like this, I think the roof should be seen as the fifth wall.”Your original plan was to put a glass lantern in the extension. What made you change your mind and choose a flat glass rooflight instead?“Initially we thought we would put a glass lantern in like everybody else and it didn’t even occur to me that I could have anything else until I was invited to a rooflight launch event by Vario by VELUX. At the event, I completely fell in love with the idea of having a rooflight in my house. I got all the information and, after I realised that even a modern flat rooflight comes with an upstand and you also get the height of the roof built in, which would also give the room the height we wanted, and that the cost would be less than having a lantern of the same size and with no breaks in the glass, choosing a flat glass rooflight was a no-brainer! What do you love most about owning a bespoke rooflight?“It’s so cool and yet functional. Rooflights brings so much more light in than you would get from a normal side window and the fact is that daylight does make you feel better, especially in winter. On top of that, the customer service was excellent, there is always a backup call from Vario by VELUX to make sure you are ordering the right window, they hold your hand through the whole thing and the whole process of designing and ordering was made fun and easy. They helped me with things like setting the window at a slight angle, so the rain just runs off and we don’t end up with a swimming pool situation on the roof! It’s a really hands on, personal service from a small team, but backed by a big name like VELUX so you know you can really trust them. It’s like the gold standard of roof windows.”How did you perceive the installation process of the rooflight?“The process was really simple, easy and quick. Our constructor was provided with all the information they needed to know, in order to put the rooflight in. Our bespoke rooflight was delivered in 6 weeks and we rented a small crane for a day to lift it in. The crane was literally tiny, it fitted through our side gate. Then it was simply a matter of dropping it into the opening and letting the builders do their thing to seal it in. I have to admit, I was a bit nervous on the installation day as the dog insisted on sitting under the opening and it was very windy, but it all went very well. That moment when the hardboard comes off and you get your first glimpse of the sky above, it’s just magic.”Do you think changing your house has improved your everyday life?“Extending the house, and how we use it, has changed the way we live, the way we work and the way we relax. Having an extension, an extra room, the flow and the light we wanted has definitely increased the value of the house but also the saleability of the house. How many older properties have flat roof extensions and haven’t put in a rooflight? There must be loads and they’re definitely missing a trick. We wanted to build personality and I believe that with the extension and bespoke rooflight we got exactly what we wanted. With more daylight and space, I feel more active, I feel more awake, I feel fresher, I get things done. It has definitely changed the way we live.”

The recreational area needed an upgrade to increase the customer flow. Santa Maria is the centre of attention in the playground but it is also surrounded by other exciting play equipment such as interactive Sona.Adventure playground: A collaborative designA design team consisting of Ruben Hartmann of Lappset’s subsidiary Lappset Yalp in the Netherlands and Reima Mukkala, designer of Lappset's design team in Finland, helped the client with modifications of the standard product by adding play challenges for children over 6 years, such as extra bridge and rotating elements at the rear part of the ship. A huge rope pyramid construction was also connected to the ship. Ruben designed the entire play area in collaboration with the client.“The Santa Maria was the focal point of the play area. The design was drafted in close collaboration with the client, piece by piece. Actually, about 75 percent of our original design was approved by the customer already at the first meeting. The area design including the interactive play equipment Sona dance arch, surface solutions, and modifications of the Santa Maria proceeded easily together with the client. The entire play area is fully compliant with the EN 1176 safety standards.” says Ruben Hartmann of Yalp.The ship together with the interactive Sona – a dancing and music game device for the outdoors – was installed together with the surface material, artificial grass, in ten days. The installation required a team of a total of seven persons.The Santa Maria ship: A playground inspired by historySometimes history is the best source of inspiration for Lappset’s team of designers. In some other cases, the inspiration stems from contemporary features, like virtual gaming. One of the absolutely largest and most beloved standard playground products, the Santa Maria Ship, has its story deeply anchored in the history of the Italian adventurer Christopher Columbus.Christopher Columbus crossed the Atlantic Ocean on his largest vessel, La Santa María, built in Pontevedra, Galicia, in Spain’s northwest region. The ship was owned by Juan de la Cosa and launched in 1460. The ship ran aground onto a sandbank on Christmas Eve, the 25th of December in 1492, outside Cap-Haïtien in Haïti.The first Santa Maria playground ship by Lappset was raised at the beginning of the 1990s in Lisbon, to celebrate the famous seafarer’s voyages across the Atlantic. Ever since we have delivered similar playground ships to numerous locations in different parts of the world.

Groundbreaking fire testing by Innovaré Offsite at the world’s only 5m fully loaded test facility in Dubai has taken sustainability, and its timber based structural insulated panel systems (SIPs), to new heights. This industry first for timber-based structural solutions sets the pinnacle for beyond-standard and profit compliance. The rigorous work and six-figure investment in fire safety tests undertaken in Dubai by Innovaré Offsite over the past year eliminate the issue of doubt and personal risk for Fire Officers who previously had to ‘calculate’ the ‘Extended Field of Operation’. Currently, the industry calculates from 3m test panel results when working with larger height panels. However, with 5m fully loaded test results, the exacting and proven information puts us ahead of the field and is industry-leading in providing clients with the complete balance of low carbon and highly tested, fire-compliant solutions.WHY DUBAI? The landscape of our industry is changing for the better, and at Innovaré Offsite, we are committed to supporting this change. The new building safety culture, underpinned by the Building Safety Act 2022, means Clients, Principal Designers, and Principal Contractors all have new responsibilities and duties. This cultural shift has increased attention to compliance and the creation and maintenance of robust documentation of custody, such as NBS Source and NBS Chorus. As a UK manufacturer, Innovaré Offsite is dedicated to helping duty holders fulfill their obligations under the Building Safety Act 2022. By undertaking fire resistance testing to BS EN 1365-1 (loaded fire resistance testing), Innovaré Offsite provides evidence-based fire resistance data to underpin building specifications. Responding to the evolving needs of designers and to reflect typical wall heights, Innovaré Offsite has tested at UKAS accredited test laboratories outside the UK in larger rigs up to 5m in height. Previously, load-bearing fire resistance testing in the UK was limited to 3m due to maximum available rig heights. This proven test data puts Innovaré Offsite ahead of the field, providing clients with a balance of Low Carbon + Fire Safe solutions. This rigorous testing process and substantial investment in fire safety tests undertaken in Dubai by Innovaré Offsite over the past year provide assurance to building specifiers, owners, and end-users alike.

We recently received this review from a customer who had enquired about finger safety guards for her home. We were more than happy to advise and help prevent this kind of awful accident happening in her house again.“I first saw the Fingersafe door guard at my son’s specialist school in the office after he stuck his finger in the bathroom door at home and broke it. In a panic being told there was a 4-5 hour wait for an ambulance I went straight to school where he was bandaged up properly but advised to go hospital. My 7 year old attends a SEMH provision and has autism and no sense of danger. The fact his school has these guards I knew who to call after we returned from hospital. I only wish I had bought them sooner.  I made 1 phone call and sent some snaps in and now my house is Fingersafe protected on every door including 2 bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen, living room and the garden door. Whatever the door Fingersafe have the right guard for you. The service I had from my initial telephone was reassuring and incredible. This company took away all my worries and concerns and genuinely felt my pain. I couldn’t recommend Fingersafe highly enough. Personally, these guards should be in every home whether you have a SEN child or not. Until my son broke his finger, I never knew how unsafe my doors were. Delivery was next day. I have included some pics of the products too. Thank you to Gina and Sue. Fingersafe went above and beyond to prevent future accidents”The finger safety guards products we recommended for her home can be found across our website and included the MK1A Fingersafe® MK1A | Buy Now | Door Finger Protection | Fingersafe UK (fingersafegroup.com) and the MK1B FINGERSAFE® MK1B | Fingersafe Door Protection | (fingersafegroup.com) both as shown fitted onto her doors in the photographs.Also, as we have various colours available of all our Fingersafe products, we were able to supply the MK1C in different colours to match her external uPVC doors too FINGERSAFE® MK1C | Shop Now | Fingersafe Door Protection Products (fingersafegroup.com)

West Lothian Council schools, Deans Community High School and Armadale Academy, are maintained by Bellrock Group under a contractual PPP3 project agreement. Taking on this maintenance management for the two school buildings places the Bellrock management team as the Responsible Person when it comes to compliance to fire safety maintenance which incorporates fire rated doors.With this in mind, Martin Igoe, Senior FM for Bellrock, engaged with Yeoman Shield Fire Door Services when it came to assessing and protecting the condition of the schools’ fire doors with an impact protection system.As a brand name of Harrison Thompson & Co. Ltd. who are a registered FIRAS Warringtonfire (a UKAS accredited scheme for fire door and passive fire resisting products installation) company, Yeoman Shield Fire Door Team were able to undertake a conformity survey of the doors in both schools.This consisted of an assessment of the condition of the fire doors, noting remedial work required to improve the doors functionality, replacement of doors where required as well as noting advisory door protection products that could improve the look, condition and extend the life cycle of the doors by solving impact damage problems.After an itemised quotation for the work had been raised and accepted, Yeoman Shield directly employed fixing operatives carried out the work simultaneously at both school sites simultaneously in accordance to Bellrock’ s programme.Remedial work to both frame and fire doors, replacement doors as well as Yeoman Shield Fire Rated Protection products which were Door Protection Panels, Door Edge Protectors and PVCu clad Glazing Beads were fitted by the accredited teams following best practice guidance.Martin Igoe commented “Having previously used Yeoman Shield on school projects in Aberdeenshire I was more than happy to again collaborate with Yeoman Shield for the Deans Community High School and Armadale Academy.“Their door protection products are great; not only have Yeoman shield re-certified the old fire doors for conformity, they have also extended the life of the doors by fitting a hard-wearing cladding to each. This makes them more durable for the rigours of school life, they look amazing and are so easy to clean.Further phases of the fire door work have been scheduled for later in the year.

GEZE is also a leading provider of door, window and safety technology in the UK. GEZE UK Ltd implemented state-of-the-art door solutions in the John Radcliffe Children's Hospital in Oxford, skilfully combining clinical functionality with a comfortable atmosphere for the young patients.Invisible efficiency: Slimdrive SL sliding door systemsAutomatic glass sliding door system with Slimdrive SL-drives in discreet 70 mm design.The John-Radcliffe Children's Hospital designed by Parry Bowen architects, and built in accordance with the latest hospital architectural standards.. The real eye-catcher of the main entrance is the double-leaf automatic sliding door, with a powerful GEZE Slimdrive SL drive system that works almost invisibly thanks to its construction height of only 70 mm. The Slimdrive SL drive automatic drive fits unobtrusively and elegantly into the contemporary clinic façade, and quietly and efficiently manages thousands of movement cycles every day at the busy children’s hospital."We are delighted by the design of our entrance area. It’s exactly the kind of atmosphere that is expected of a modern children's hospital. The high-quality workmanship makes a key contribution to a comfortable and inviting atmosphere for patients and clinical staff," says Vickie Holcroft, Project Manager at the John Radcliffe Hospital.Automatic swing doors: convenience in the entire clinical areaThe swing door systems from the GEZE TSA drive series are used everywhere in the clinic complex where functionality and ease of access are of particular importance. The automatic TSA 160 door drive ensures light and reliable opening and closing of the automatic doors, even in heavily frequented areas. The TS 4000 overhead door closer provides flexible ease of access at swing doors with manual opening. The closing force of the door closers can be individually set and can be perfectly adjusted to meet the needs of each clinical area. They enable door leaves to be opened with minimal effort, e.g. for children and weak adults. The TSA drives make transportation of beds and/or patients easier for clinical staff.Access control for supervised clinical areasTo safeguard access control to sensitive clinical areas, the swing doors to the operating rooms and intensive card wards were also equipped with a TSA drive with an electromagnetic locking system. This guarantees that only authorised persons can enter these areas.

Congratulations to Deicke Richards (DR) Architects for their win at this year’s 2020 Learning Environments Australasia Awards for excellence in educational design. The John Paul College (JPC) Kindergarten extension articulates the college’s Reggio Emilia approach to teaching and learning within an Australian context. Reggio Emilia is an early learning education style that values children as capable and resilient and rich with wonder; it emphasises hands-on, discovery learning that allows children to actively engage all their senses, guided by educators rather than directed.The kindy’s program is strongly art and nature-based and focuses on encouraging children to creatively problem solve, engage deeply with personal and group projects, and to experience nature with freedom and wonder.To support this program, Deicke Richards led a collaborative process with a diverse stakeholder team to produce a design framework that fosters engaging experiences with climate; form (external, internal and transitional spaces); light; colour; materials and texture; smell; sound; and taste. Marmoleum flooring was chosen as the main internal floor finish as it fits the design and teaching philosophy.Marmoleum is made from natural raw materials, many of which grow and are renewable. The material is produced CO2 neutral without offsetting and can be sustainably recycled at the end of its useful life. Marmoleum is healthy, containing zero plastics and is asthma and allergy approved by the British Allergy Foundation. Marmoleum thanks to the linseed base is inherently bacteriostatic naturally inhibiting the growth of common bacterial and viral infections creating a better interior for children and staff.The kindy’s new building has a logical layout. Two classrooms are separated by a central amenities block and open onto a generous verandah that flows into the “piazza” or green heart. Each classroom is characterised by an internal “Atelier” form which offers focused respite from other activities – a sunken studio features in ‘The Burrow’ classroom, while a playful house-like structure punctuates ‘The Nest’ classroom. These unique Atelier spaces are dedicated to creative exploration and elevate the children’s art-focused learning experiences.JPC Kindy’s thoughtfully layered learning experiences exemplify how the values of a kindy – or any educational institution – can be meaningfully embedded in its environmental and spatial design.Diecke Richards founded in 1994 is renowned for their collaborative processes and inclusive culture. DR has a commitment to using their skill in design to achieve a social purpose and this is evident in the JPC kindergarten community project.