"walls"

CUPA PIZARRAS’ CUPA 18 natural slate has been used to achieve a high-quality finish on three luxury, modern, new build properties in one of the most desirable areas of Whitstable in Kent. The new properties, built by local property designer and developer specialist Kapra Developments, are located in Island Wall, Whitstable, close to both the town centre and the scenic Kent coastline. The three storey, five bedroom luxury properties are each in excess of 360 square metres and benefit from views over the nearby golf course.  The unique design of the houses features extensive use of dark grey aluminium glazing systems including rooftop lanterns and large sloping roof windows. The placement of the expansive glazing as well as the layout and orientation of the buildings was devised to maximize the natural light and make the most of the surrounding landscape. In addition to the CUPA 18 natural slate, the design also includes high quality natural timber cladding, sedum green roofing and natural stone blockwork. Kim Brown, Director at Kapra Developments explained: “For the properties on Island Wall, the quality of the materials was very important and the coastal location meant that a durable product was essential. We had used CUPA PIZARRAS’ products on previous projects and so we were confident that the CUPA 18 slate would provide the look, quality and longevity we wanted.” CUPA 18 is a lighter grey slate with a smooth matt surface and has a superior, homogenous finish with only minor variations allowed in the thickness and flatness of the slate. The slate roofs were installed by Bates (Kent), a family owned contractor based near Canterbury, who has worked with Kapra Developments on a number of previous projects. David Clarke, Company Secretary at Bates said: “The Island Wall properties presented a few complexities and challenges due to the steep pitch of the roof and the need to integrate the slate with the other elements such as the large format glazing.  “We’ve used CUPA products on a number of contracts and found the slates very easy to work with. The strength and quality of the slates means that we are able to reduce the amount of wastage compared with other products.” Kim Brown concluded: “To achieve the intended result for these properties has required hard work from everyone involved. We are once again delighted with CUPA PIZARRAS’ products and are pleased with how that element of the build has progressed.” CUPA PIZARRAS’ natural slate is sustainably extracted from quarries in northern Spain. It has an exceptional life span of 100 years and requires minimal maintenance throughout its lifetime.

With limited vertical wall space for windows, Denizen Works utilised Glazing Visions’ fixed Flushglaze rooflights to flood the living spaces with light in their recently built housing scheme, Haddo Yard.The project, on the site of a former bungalow, is located in Whitstable, Kent and takes its name from Oliver Haddo, a character in former resident Somerset Maugham’s novel, ‘The Magician’. Haddo Yard forms part of a series of projects initiated by developer Arrant Land, that seek to explore how a town with a distinct visual identity can be enhanced by adventurous but contextual contemporary design.Having been approached directly by developers Arrant Land, Denizen Works undertook an initial design review exercise resulting in an extensive overhaul of the scheme. Despite the detailed design, problems emerged, with the ground floor living spaces extending into a single story volume to the rear of the site creating deep plans and on the second floor, apartments occupied roof space so vertical walls for windows was limited.Denizen Works contacted Glazing Vision, who they had worked with previously, with the aim to utilise rooflights over these spaces which brought light in to the deepest parts of the plan and to create living spaces on the second floor which could be flooded with light, even with a lack of vertical wall space.“Glazing Vision always provide good technical support which makes specifying and detailing their products very easy”, explains Andrew Ingham, the architect working on the project.One of the most important factors for Denizen Works when they sourced the rooflights were the frameless appearance of the Glazing Vision Flushglaze rooflights. Three fixed rooflights were used, measuring 2000x1000mm, as means of providing natural daylight and helping to maintain the clean, contemporary and minimal detailing that had been employed throughout the project.The resultant scheme comprises of 6no. two bed flats and 1no. 1 bed flat spread over three floors, each enjoying dual aspect and south-facing living spaces overlooking the gardens. The ambition for Haddo Yard was to create a distinctive and contemporary expression of local identity. The finished building asserts a bold and confident presence within its context.Haddo Yard is the first completed building by Denizen Works and Arrant Land, helping to present a unique addition to Whitstable’s built environment. Andrew Ingham concludes “We’re very proud of Haddo Yard and we have heard first hand just how much the current residents enjoy the light, contemporary spaces we’ve designed.”

The refurbishment of the 160,000 square-foot John Lewis store in Edinburgh includes the installation of SMARTPLY PATTRESS PLUS – MEDITE SMARTPLY’s robust pattressing panel.Bradagh Interiors Ltd, which has been working intermittently on the refurbishment during the past five years, specified PATTRESS PLUS throughout levels one, two and three of the department store, after having successfully used it before.Kevin Gallagher, Director of Bradagh Interiors, explained: “There’s more than one reason why we chose PATTRESS PLUS. Firstly, I had issues in the past with using plywood on the face of studs because of the acoustics field. Plywood is made up of layers of veneer glued together and although it is a natural product, it’s not fully regimental and it was allowing sound to penetrate through the gap. By using PATTRESS PLUS I could screw everything directly into the studs and avoid this problem.“Furthermore, because plywood had previously been used on the face of the walls, they were going much higher than the ceiling in certain places. This is something else I wanted to avoid on this project.”SMARTPLY PATTRESS PLUS is an engineered OSB/3 panel incorporating a continuous recess, specially designed to accommodate ‘C’ shaped metal studs used in the construction of plasterboard partitions. This robust panel is tested to the relevant sections of BS5234 Part 2 demonstrating high pull-out strength, making it ideal for large commercial fit outs where wall installations and racking may have to bear heavy and changing loads.Pre-cut and pre-rebated for a speedier, safer and easier installation, PATTRESS PLUS comes in thicknesses of 15mm and 18mm, and in sizes ranging from 1250mm by 397mm to 2397mm by 597mm to suit a range of partition systems with 400mm and 600mm stud centres.Crucially, PATTRESS PLUS does not add to the thickness of the partition wall. It provides a robust partition structure suitable for use in public access areas including corridors and stairwells, which contributes to higher levels of impact resistance.The added benefit of PATTRESS PLUS is that it is manufactured with zero added formaldehyde, making it suitable for environmentally sensitive interior applications where there are likely to be high numbers of people such as hospitals, museums and department stores.“We have used it on multiple occasions before,” Kevin continued, “and have always been happy with the result, as have my clients, and this contract is no exception.”The refurbishment will see new features and services added to the John Lewis store, including a home design department, an optician, a beauty concierge and dedicated areas for famous brands.

In a stunning architectural statement, CUPA PIZARRAS R17 slate has been specified to meet the design challenges of a former Georgian windmill renovation at Fort Green, near Aldeburgh in Suffolk. The first project of its kind in the UK, the natural slate was individually cut and fixed through expert craftsmanship to accommodate the building’s exterior curve while also providing crucial protection from the harsh coastal environment. Originally, the windmill walls were going to be clad in cedar shingles however, contractor ELC Roofing recommended using the rectangular CUPA R17 slate from CUPA PIZARRAS as a more weather-resistant alternative. ELC Roofing Owner, Edward Carlo, explains: “The R17 is a natural, non-carbonated blue-black slate with non-rusting metallic particles and thin laminations. From our perspective, it’s a tried and tested product that we specify and install on a lot of our projects – especially in coastal situations like this.” The slates, which protect against the salt water and wind, have been fitted on both the windmill’s curved wall, its pitched roof and elsewhere adding design details to the property’s walls. He goes on to say: “Aesthetically, the ocean environment has inspired the material choice with the slate mirroring the scales of a fish. This gives the windmill a dramatic architectural style; one that also sympathetically ties into the slate roof of the neighbouring cottage, which we replaced with CUPA R17 the previous year. “As far as I am aware, nothing like this windmill has been done in the UK. It was a case of starting from scratch to devise the optimum installation method, which involved a lot of detailed calculations.” For the tower, which has a 15m circumference at the base tapering to 11m at the top, the team initially removed the thick render on the windmill wall, taking it back to the original brickwork. Next, to meet the challenge of the curve and tapering of the wall, 50mm counter battens were fitted to the tower’s brickwork. Then, multiple strips of ply were cut and glued together to create the curve. These panels were screwed to the counter battens to provide an anchor for the fixing system. The ply was also primed to protect the surface from water ingress and a breathable membrane applied to protect the brickwork. In terms of fixing the slates to the panels, Edward said: “For a more corrosion and wind-resistant solution, I decided on the French technique of a stainless steel hook fixing system to install the slate, as opposed to nails.” Ensuring the layout worked exactly with the curves, the slate was lasered from top to bottom to perk it out, which took five days to do. Horizontal tiling battens were also marked to ensure the slates were fixed at the right height. Every single slate was cut and fixed individually to accommodate the curve and ensure they aligned with the building’s inset windows as well as other architectural details - a very precise process that required expert levels of craftsmanship. Preventing the slates from getting smaller at height, the team designed-in a series of lead bands that go all around the building at each storey level. These sit underneath the windows to create a consistent appearance visually. The windmill’s domed copper roof existed already and the adjoining tower, which is horizontally clad in a white weatherboard, features a slated pitched roof. ELC Roofing has again used CUPA PIZARRAS spanish slates. In this instance, the roof curves to the back end with four leaded hips to one end and two to the other with a connecting lead ridge. This time the slates were fitted to 20 x 50mm battens with a layer of permeable membrane. This part of the roof also features a striking onion-shaped finial. Expertly crafted by ELC Roofing, the finial is produced out of a patchwork of small pieces of soft copper, topped off with a fish that acts as a weather vane and includes stunning marble eyes. To the other side of the clad tower, CUPA PIZARRAS slate has been used to create a vertical square panel detail to the front of the building and fixed using the hook system again. Commenting on this challenging project, Edward said: “Work on site started before the first Covid-19 lockdown so as well as the challenging weather conditions that a coastal location like this presents, the team also had to complete the work with government guidance and restrictions in place. Regardless, the client is overwhelmed with the end result and so are we.” To find out more about the CUPA PIZARRAS range of natural slate visit: https://www.cupapizarras.com/uk/natural-slate-roofing/

This Stirling Prize winning scheme by Sir Norman Foster was, as you would expect, quite demanding on the products Our brief comprised of the complete fit-out including all buildings; seven cores above ground, which including 400 superloo washrooms, wall finishes, feature entrances. We supplied ironmongery fittings to over 1,000 bespoke doorsets, all of which we provided a full ironmongery scheduling service for. Each doorset had an enhanced thickness to achieve specific design details and satisfy standards, involving the mechanical handling due to weight and sizes. Finishes include timber veneer, lacquer and feature coverings to match adjacent areas.

A few kilometres from Copenhagen, where history blends with modernity generating new currents and trends in total respect of the environment, Atlas Concorde’s green philosophy fully satisfies the requirements of a private villa in Karlslunde, with a strong contemporary style.The large windows that overlook the outdoor green area illuminate the minimal geometries of the structure, enhancing the elegance of Trust in Silver colour; its texture, inspired by quartzite and Luserna Stone, is particularly suitable to celebrate the design potential of this house. The seamless flooring obtained with 60x60 cm format tiles, alternates with the matching 30x30 cm mosaic that characterises the counter and the scenographic walls, enhancing the clean and rigorous lines of the spaces.

The Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, is one of the countries most valued heritage sites and contains many rare, unique and priceless artefacts.GEC Anderson stainless steel sinks and worktops were specified in a recent refurbishment of some of the Museum’s restoration and conservation rooms. Mica Architects included stainless steel worktops, sinks and tables from GEC Anderson’s Decimetric range. The Decimetric system offers a modular range of sizes (based on 100 millimetres = 1 decimetre) increments, providing cost effective solutions with a tremendous range of sizes and options. The range includes sinks, worktops and tables but also shelving, base cabinets, wall cabinets and tall cabinets.

The Changing Places toilet campaign urges the government to mandate the inclusion of Changing Places facilities in large public buildings during construction, redevelopment, or refurbishment. Care Spaces were approached to collaborate with Birmingham Children’s Hospital to implement a Changing Places facility. Initially, the chosen space was too small, prompting relocation. The Care Spaces team were able to design a layout, which they approved, and the project addressed challenges such as hands-free tap integration, drainage adjustments, and ceiling height modifications. Overcoming fire and water system issues, the completed Changing Place boasts user-friendly features, including sky ceiling LED panels and a mural wall.

Raybloc (X-ray Protection) Ltd takes great pride in presenting our latest case study showcasing our outstanding collaboration with Singleton Hospital in Swansea. This partnership entailed the manufacturing and installation of cutting-edge radiation shielding solutions, including a Frameless Operator Screen, a wide range of lead-lined doorsets, and internal viewing windows to match. As well as these fixings, Raybloc also supplied and installed the lead-lined wall panelling to the controlled areas, making the process of lead shielding as simple and hassle-free as possible for the contractor and Trust. These advanced products not only prioritise the safety of patients and staff but also significantly enhance workflow efficiency and create a therapeutic environment.

Washroom created a unique washroom space using a mix of marble, brass and oak for this Grade II Listed refurbished office building. The brass effect accessories including wall-mounted taps, coat hooks, handles and cubicle locks, were paired with marble vanity splashbacks and oak veneer toilet cubicles. The bespoke Corian vanities were manufactured with rounded edge counter-top sinks and inset waste bins. Washroom's above sink Tego hinged mirror system, which includes concealed storage for soap and paper towel dispensers, also feature curved edges to reflect the sink shape and are backlit to provide soft lighting.

The extended structure of the Isaac Newton Building in Lincoln houses the Schools of Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics and Physics which offer unrivalled scientific and engineering facilities for students. This includes new seminar rooms and computer labs in addition to state-of-the-art technology and research rooms, complete with a semi-anechoic chamber.Playing a significant role in creating the curved appearance of the building was our visible grid aluminium curtain walling. This durable and versatile system can be applied to flat or faceted facades and is available in a choice of glazing gaskets and larger glass sizes. Aluminium windows were also installed throughout the building for modern design and complete weather protection.

St Benedict's School in Ealing, West London holds the distinction of being the only the third Passivhaus certified school in the UK. We were naturally delighted to be part of the construction team for such an exciting project. Architects van Heyningen and Haward were commissioned to design two new Passivhaus buildings for the independent Catholic school - a sixth form centre and a primary building. We were appointed to design, manufacture and install 78 Passivhaus-certified aluminium clad windows, with a Uw rating of just 0.79. We also provided thermally-efficient timber aluminium curtain walling, plus Reynaers CS 86-Hi high-insulation aluminium doors.

Salisbury district hospital recently contacted NBB in need of a shelter to provide cover for one of their entranceways. After surveying the site, it was agreed upon that a bespoke Winterbourne Freestanding Shelter would be best suited to the environment.The finished project measures L4000 x D3000 x H3160 and is galvanised and powder coated in White RAL 9003This surface treatment – carried out to ISO 1461:2009 with a minimum coverage of UM85 – means the structure will be guaranteed to last for a minimum of 25 years maintenance-free, serving the hospital for many years to come. The roof is made from clear triple wall 16mm polycarbonate, to allow light to penetrate the sheltered areas.

Building One at Ruskin Square is the first of five that are planned as part of a £500 million development adjacent to East Croydon station. The building was designed by Shedkm architects and constructed by Lendlease and comprises a 9 storey 184,000 sq ft office building which has been fully let to HMRC. The building has two cores and these have 2700mm high Novista Steel Riser doorsets on all four sides which have been painted with emulsion the match the adjoining wall making them virtually invisible when to door is closed.Contractor: LendleaseArchitect: Shedkm ArchitectsLocation: LondonProducts Supplied: Novista Steel Risers

Akari Care, a nationwide residential care home provider, enlisted Crown to create a uniform refurbishment programme for its extensive portfolio of properties last year. Crown Paints Colour Service created six new dementia friendly colour schemes include mauve, pink, turquoise, natural, green, citrus and terracotta. Ideal for high-traffic areas, Crown Trade Clean Extreme Stain Resistant Scrubbable Matt was specified for all walls in the corridor, lounge and bedroom areas while Crown Trade Clean Extreme Mould Inhibiting Scrubbable Matt was specified for the bathrooms. Crown Trade Clean Extreme Antibacterial Durable Acrylic Eggshell will be used in the kitchens.

Working in collaboration with façade specialist Dane Architectural enabled the design to be developed towards a light weight facade solution that combines GRC fin shaped columns and feature beams fixed directly over areas of the curtain wall grid system at locations where insulated panels were present.This strategy had several advantages, in the first instance a weather tight structure was provided early on in the programme, whilst the GRC facade option provided a much lighter solution that provided significant savings in both cost and time. The access strategy, based on mast climber platforms adapted to include lifting beams, enabled glazing and GRC panels to be hoisted swiftly into position.

St Cecilia’s Hall, today a part of the University of Edinburgh, has been thoughtfully redeveloped by Page Park Architects to create a more inclusive and user-friendly space. To provide the ancillary facilities needed in a modern-day museum, Page Park Architects created a new, modern entrance with improved and updated walkways and circulation areas. Drawing inspiration from the original dark-coloured flooring in the building, the architects specified Junckers’ 140mm wide Black Oak Harmony as flooring and wall panelling in the new areas. In addition, Junckers’ Dark Coco Rustic Oil was used to restore the rich, brown colour of the original wood flooring in the concert room and gallery spaces. 

Murchison House, received a significant refurbishment, giving the University of Edinburgh a new purpose-designed venue.Reconfigured to provide light-filled, comfortable spaces for students and staff, architects Reiach & Hall specified Knauf Ceiling Solutions' HERADESIGN® for a first-class acoustic solution aligning with the university’s contemporary design brief.A suspended raft system in the café and breakout area was created using HERADESIGN®.Cut to create triangular canopies, the floating ceiling solution offered the illusion of height and provides excellent acoustic performance. In the study areas, 100sqm of HERADESIGN® wall absorbers were installed throughout the study zones continuing the geometric theme.

Optimum sound control and humidity resistance were design imperatives for the new Strathclyde Sports Centre. HERADESIGN® and THERMATEX® Aquatec were specified for the project. HERADESIGN® Macro was installed on the walls around the swimming pool. THERMATEX® Aquatec formed the ceiling system in the adjoining changing, showering and circulation areas. Gareth McKnight, Kennedy Fitzgerald & Associates said, “The challenge was finding a system that met the anti-corrosive criteria and performed acoustically. An acoustician measured the reverberation times and HERADESIGN® performed well. With a white interior colour scheme HERADESIGN® brought texture, added depth and interest to the overall interior design.”

THE PROJECTThe Clapton Stainless Steel project features a bank of wall mounted MODA mailboxes manufactured using high-quality 304L grade material.The bank of stainless steel mailboxes were designed to meet the requirements set out by the project architect and design team. The mailboxes feature a wooden surround which compliments the boxes well, also hiding the joins between the banked mailboxes.The mailboxes are situated in the entrance lobby area in the ideal position for postal delivery workers to easily deposit items, and for residents to pick up mail as they pass.Each mailbox is engraved with numbering to allow for easy identification by both postal delivery workers and residents.

This distribution centre project in Luton is a superb example of how Stöbich’s systems can be deployed to protect warehouses and factories with conveyor systems that travel through walls or into neighbouring facilities against the spread of fire.Unique to Stöbich, the ECClos®-Flex-I is tested to the following standards:Fire Resistance: E90, EW60, EI2 90, tested according to DIN EN 1366-7:2004-09 and classified according to EN 13501-2:2007No other product offers this level of certified protection in the UK. Partnered with Teckentrup and ABC Doors, you get the best of both worlds – the latest and best door solutions installed and maintained by the industries leading engineers!

Premier Loft Ladders has released technical data and a BIM object on NBS Source for the Supreme Vertical loft ladder. This heavy-duty retractable ladder offers safe and easy access to loft spaces and plant rooms that can only be accessed via an elevated wall hatch. As such, it is easier for architects and designers to find and specify a solution for this otherwise challenging access requirement.The heavy-duty concertina ladder offers a load rating of 200 kg per tread, making it suitable for both residential and commercial projects. It also benefits from being very easy to operate.The product data can be found within section L30 (clause 41 and clause 421).

Jane Valentine’s brief for this project was to create a contemporary bathroom whilst honouring the original elements of a Victorian-style home built in 1867.Beautiful white walls act as the perfect canvas for striking matt black tapware and a black framed shower screen. A bespoke vanity unit was constructed by KAM Joinery, and brings warmth and craftsmanship to the space.On choosing Victoria + Albert, Jane Valentine said: “The classical and elegant shape of both the Victoria + Albert Vetralla bath and Napoli 57 basin offered a perfect contrast to the bold black and white theme of the bathroom.”Photography: Loic Le GuillyBuild: Justyn DunnDesign: Valentine Interiors + Design

PROJECT OVERVIEW Named after Ray Dolby, a PhD alumnus of Cambridge University, former fellow of Pembroke College, inventor and founder of Dolby, the a/v company, the new facility was designed in Revit by nbbj and is being delivered in BIM by Bouygues UK. Co-funded by Dolby, it will create a centre for innovation, bringing together the academic and research capabilities of the university’s physics department with private sector R&D projects.OUR SCOPE WORK Norwood is delivering a £1.9 million package that includes custom-design, manufacture and installation of the £200K, 2.85m high fire-rated glazed wall. The company’s remit also includes a 2500m2 walk-on ceiling with a 100kg/1200mm2 load capacity to enable ease of maintenance. Norwood is also responsible for design, manufacture and installation of a cleanroom partitioning system totalling 4080m2. For this element of the project, the Norwood team designed a bespoke version of the company’s standard 1000mm modular cleanroom partitioning system to meet the required 1200mm specification, and developed a bespoke T-bolt system to enable customisation of the cleanroom facilities for evolving occupier requirements throughout the lifecycle of the building.The fire-rated glazed wall was designed and manufactured by Norwood and independently tested by UKAS-accredited fire safety services specialist, Warringtonfire, to ensure 60-minute fire integrity and insulation . With each glazed panel weighing 200kg, the installation was meticulously orchestrated by Norwood. The installation will showcase the work being carried out in each of the cleanroom spaces as visitors enter the building via the atrium, with blackout blinds installed to enable any commercially sensitive projects to be hidden from view where required.

Pavillion Point is a Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) development on London Road in the centre of Brighton in East Sussex, close to the University of Brighton's main campus. Managed by student accommodation specialist Fresh, the building provides 232 student rooms, dedicated social and study areas, a gym, cafe, multimedia space and landscaped courtyard as well as retail units on the ground floor. The five storey development, designed by Corstorphine & Wright, targeted BREEAM Excellent standards as well as high levels of acoustic performance.In addition to the TECHNAL windows, curtain walling, doors and sliding systems chosen, the external facade features a clay brick slip system for the ground to third floors with a grey rainscreen cladding on the set-back fourth floor. The use of TECHNAL's aluminum systems contributed to creating an A1 rated non-combustible facade, a client requirement given the increased focus on fire safety.To ensure high levels of natural light in the student room, the design features large floor to ceiling windows. The aluminium tilt before turn windows were installed above a fixed glazing panel to create this feature. The TBT windows were selected as the inward tilt opening provides suitable ventilation whilst ensure the safety of the residents. The aim of achieving BREEAM Excellent certification as well as the building’s location on a busy road meant that the door, window and curtain walling systems had to also meet a number of specific performance requirements, not least a high level of acoustic performance. This was a challenge due to the size of some of the panels included in the design. TECHNAL system allowed a 41dB sound reduction to be achieved while optimising the weight of the glazed units.

With the aim of making a somewhat dated house welcoming and comfortable for a young family from Vilnius, the architect Ieva Prunskaitė of the Prusta studio redesigned the interior. The minimal, clean design combines functionality with beauty. Its focus is on simple lines and light spaces, devoid of clutter. Wood, plaster and cement are the three elements that are used throughout the house.The predominantly white walls with ECLISSE Syntesis Flush Hinged white doors contrast beautifully with the wooden flooring. There are also wooden accents across the white kitchen cabinets and wooden panelling defining storage areas and a cloakroom between the main door and the living room.The interior is also interspersed with accents of grey and black in the form of the black marble worktop and black chairs in the kitchen, the minimalist wood burning stove, grey accent wall and grey sofa in the sitting room and a decorative black metal screen with a geometric design separating the master bedroom with the ensuite.The minimalist style of the ECLISSE Syntesis Flush Hinged doors integrate perfectly into this interior being almost invisible, whilst being accented with sleek black handles echoing the colour scheme throughout.The ECLISSE Syntesis® Flush Hinged Door is part of the Syntesis® Flush Collection. This is a range of flush or architrave free products that work in harmony with each other. The collection features a, the concealed hinged door frame (available as a door set or frame only), pocket door system without jambs or architrave and a flush skirting board adapter. The emphasis is on uninterrupted, clean lines for an interior without fuss, where less is more.Architect: Prusta studioProduct: ECLISSE Syntesis® Flush Hinged Door

Facade systems from Technal helped the University of Leeds to set a new benchmark for student accommodation in the city. More than 3,00sqm of Technal glazing systems for the Charles Morris Halls were fabricated and installed, and the £21m student halls of residence comprises of two half-hexagon buildings sited around a central landscaped courtyard, providing 457 hotel-style study bedrooms.The challenging glazing specification involved the construction of large oriel glazing bays that project 300mm in front of the cladding, and contrasting projecting bays to the corners of the two buildings. The oriel bays provide a different architectural feature and an alternative to more conventional recessed panels of glazing. The floor to ceiling glazed units, which maximise natural light were constructed using aluminium curtain walling inset with top-hung casement windows. These were fabricated and installed into the bays in more than 30 different sizes to create a less regimented appearance for the building envelope. Laminated glass with coloured interlayers adds further interest to each facade - in panels of green where the glazing is set into red brickwork on the external elevations and orange for the courtyard elevations to complement the cream-coloured brick cladding. Long runs of curtain walling using 1500mm modules enclose the common room and the link bridge between the two accommodation blocks. The window units in the common room are linked to the air conditioning system, which allows them to open automatically according to CO2 levels. All other opening units on this scheme are operated by low-level levers to allow anyone, regardless of any disability to open the windows.

Hush Acoustics provided a range of acoustic products for the construction of Warren Court, a new development of 9x luxury two bedroom apartments. Working with Marlowe Building Contractors, we provided advice and materials for the apartments’ soundproofing to give acoustic performance better than New Build standard.The Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) energy ratings had already been calculated and passed before Hush were involved with the acoustic design. The building’s structure consisted of lightweight masonry walls and a timber joist floor structure, which could not be changed due to SAP compliance. As a result, Hush was tasked with developing a comprehensive design to ensure compliance to Approved Document E of the Building Regulations with this form of construction detail. The biggest issue was the continuous lightweight block walls that may be thermally very efficient, but present major difficulties acoustically. To go over and above the new build standard, it was necessary for all blockwork and timber floor joists to be isolated on Hush Resilient Seating. Ceilings were also isolated by using Hush Suspended Ceilings in the main and an Enhanced Clip and Channel System was used where the floor/ceiling heights were at a premium. Hush Panel 28 was provided throughout as the floating acoustic flooring system.We carried out pre-completion sound tests which achieved results well in excess of the new build standard. Airborne sound test results ranged from 49 dB (DnTw+Ctr) to 61 dB (DnTw+Ctr) and impact achieved 46 dB (LnTw), 16 dB better than the required new build standard.

The new Halcyon Way school was constructed for the community in Oldham - a Special Educational Needs (SEN) school for just over 150 children to grow, learn and develop in a caring and encouraging way.ChallengeMetal roofing and cladding contractor Decron Ltd were contracted to provide the façade for the new school. Turning to Fixfast for a solution for the support system to secure the façade, Fixfast assisted with the intricacies of the project itself - including the large letters that spell out 'Halcyon Way School' at the front of the building.SolutionFixfast were able to provide a detailed façade calculation for Decron, which included details and advice on using our SPIDI Max bracket and rail support system for the wall façade.SPIDI Max is a one-bracket design system that emphasises strength and simplicity - just one bracket can be used in vertical or horizontal applications and can be used for both fixed and sliding points within a façade.The brackets are available in a range of sizes to allow for contoured elevations, and to accommodate a range of cladding zone/cavity depths - from 80mm to 600mm in wall applications, and up to 946mm in soffit applications.Supplied in aluminium or stainless steel to cover a wide range of applications, the unique ribbed bracket design puts strength and ease of use first."Decron extends its sincere appreciation to Fixfast for their invaluable support. Fixfast's expertise in providing a detailed façade calculation and guidance on utilising the SPIDI Max bracket has been instrumental in the project's success. Fixfast's commitment to excellence and innovation reflects the high standards we uphold in our collaborations. Thank you for being a crucial part of our team."Ian Wallbank - Director at Decron Roofing & Cladding

The ChallengeCarmichael Court is a new development of 14 one and two-bedroomed flats primarily intended for the elderly, and wholly for social rent.The scheme occupies the site of a Victorian villa in the town of Stevenston, Ayrshire. Traces of its former use remain – most notably in the form of a stone wall which extends around the northern and western boundaries of the site.The former War Memorial Institute, a handsome Victorian sandstone building which lies adjacent, has provided design cues for the Carmichael Court scheme.The scale of the surrounding context and the relatively confined nature of the site itself, required that the completed development be a restrained and sympathetic insertion into the existing townscape. The choice of facing brick would be integral to achieving this goal.The SolutionBelgravia Gault Blend by Ecostock was used throughout the scheme.It is a rich grey-buff stock brick that references the blonde sandstone buildings around the site, as well as the existing stone boundary walls.Projecting Flemish bond panels and recessed soldier courses create modelling and depth within the elevations of each block and enhance the overall character of the scheme.The BenefitsWhilst the Carmichael Court development is modest in its scope and conception, it is a carefully considered solution that closely aligns with immediate townscape. Working within the restrictions of a confined site has required greater emphasis to be placed on creating a more low-key and human scaled proposal, focusing on using the space available to create a meaningful and attractive environment.Ecostock is the most sustainable stock brick available in the UK. It is a high quality facing brick with recycled content. The range carries BES 6001 Responsible Sourcing certification.

England’s home of Rugby has been given an impressive face lift with bespoke aluminium shingles and engineered ceramic granite rainscreen cladding materials supplied by EH Smith.2,350m2 of interlocking cladding panels were manufactured from aluminium alloy 3005H45, 0.9mm – 1.2mm thickness with a precoated Aluquartz zinc brushed finish. These were all supplied to a tight site programme of works and installed whilst the stadium was still operative having a fully concealed clip / bracket fixing support system.In addition to the shingles, EH Smith Facades supplied 500m2 of specialist Italian engineered ceramic granite cladding panels in three different formats; 6mm traditionally bonded, 12mm rainscreen panels on a secret fix aluminium support, and 6mm thick material incorporated into the spandrel panel of the curtain walling. All the ceramic panels were supplied with a Hytech impregnated coating which gives a self cleaning mechanism and air purification through a phototcatalytic reaction.EH Smith in conjunction with our Engineering partners Systea worked closely with the cladding contractor Prater to provide a full static calculation and indicative setting out and fixing details for the structural aluminium support grid to provide a cost effective support solution for this unique cladding façade.Project: Twickenham StadiumPlace: LondonCountry: UKBuilding type: Sports + Culture + RecreationType of construction project: RenovationCompletion: 2018SYSTEA wall bracket: Aluminium-L-BracketSYSTEA profile system: ALWI-V and UBE NGCladding material: Aluminum shingles and ceramic panelsFastening: ConcealedArchitect: KSS Design, LondonPhotos: EH Smith Specialist Facades

THE COMPANYAs you UK leading manufacturer in mail and parcel boxes, we always welcome the opportunity to create different solutions for our customers, whether it’s the design, size or functionality of a mail or parcel box or the feel, look and shape of materials. When Mars Foods UK got in touch, this was no exception.The Mars foods factory has been running for over 100 years and have over 130,000 associates in over 80 countries. They focus on business, wellbeing, people and sustainability.The Mars Foods factory has a strict policy regarding protective clothing in their workplace in order to meet the strict Food Quality & Safety regulations. Overalls are fully laundered after every shift, and the issuing and control of these must be organised. This project also utilises a storage shelf built under the mailboxes, offering an area to place parcels.THE PROJECTThe laundry boxes we designed and manufactured are open on the rear side of the product and locked on the front side. Laundry is placed into the box through the open side, and members of staff unlock their specific box with a designated key – accessing their fresh clean overalls ready for each shift.This project features over 300 boxes that are semi-recessed into a stud wall, mounted upon plinths which provide stability and support to the banks of boxes. Each bank of laundry boxes is fitted with a surround flange (on both the rear and front sides), ensuring a neat finish between the boxes and the wall. The mailboxes are finished in a Sky Blue (RAL 5015) colour finish which was specified to meet the branding guidelines of the company.Always aiming to think outside the box, this was another opportunity to provide a high quality solution on another interesting project.

One of London's most high-profile exhibition and conference spaces, Olympia, has been given a makeover thanks to the Dulux Trade team. Olympia is an exhibition centre, event space and conference centre in West Kensington. The venue is host to a variety of international trade and consumer exhibitions, conferences and events. Dan Burford of LPC Contractors, who carried out the refurbishment, says: “We had 14 days and two teams of 15 appliers doing 12 hours shifts. One team would do a shift 8am-8pm, and the other from 8pm-8am. The labour cost around £130K. “We painted the walls and columns in the Grand Hall, the upper gallery area and the west and upper west wings. These spaces are regularly used for events and the organisers were commenting that it looked a little run-down, so it was important to keep it looking fresh. “The classic shade, Spindrift, a very pale blue, was used for the grand hall and stairways, a simple refresh of the existing wall colour. The product used was Dulux Trade Diamond Eggshell. The previous Dulux Trade coating had lasted 10 years, so the team were confident that the paint’s durability would make it the right choice once again, especially with latest stain resistant formulation of Dulux Trade Diamond Eggshell. Lenny Jones, F/M Operation Manager at London Olympia, adds: “Because of Dulux Trade Diamond’s superior durability and long-wearing power, it’s the only paint formulation I would feel confident in specifying for London Olympia. Since the refurb we’ve held three events and, every organiser has commented on how bright and clean the space looks now.”

This old Mill House in Cornwall has undergone a huge conversion and extension to become a luxurious five-bedroom home, protected by the failsafe Newton CDM System. Simon Williams purchased the 18th Century Water Mill in 2015 with a view to renovating, developing and extending the beautiful property, located in Blowinghouse just South of Perranporth, into his private residence.Once planning permission was gained for the required conversion and extension to transform the mill into a luxurious 5-bedroom family home, Simon liaised with CAD Architects on the design, which incorporated a waterproofing design specified by Newton.An additional large garage with charming two-bedroom ancillary accommodation was also added to the grounds of the property, which required specialist steel and concrete foundations, given the close proximity of the water.In order to restore the old mill and achieve a Grade 3 habitable environment, BS 8102:2009 recommends that a Type C internal cavity drain membrane system is one of the primary forms of waterproofing, as it is the most failsafe system that is least prone to defects and issues.The Newton CDM System is also completely maintainable, and was therefore ideal for the 18th Century structure, considering that Williams Creative Homes did not want to compromise the external appearance of the thick stone walls.The proximity of the river also meant that there was a high risk of water ingress, however, Newton's robust cavity drain waterproofing is designed to capture water using Newton 508 membrane on the walls, then drain it away via gravity using Newton Basedrain.Finished to an incredibly high standard by Williams Creative Homes, Simon has been living in the property ever since, whilst the Newton waterproofing system successfully ensures that his home is completely dry and protected.

Acoustics for learning environmentsWolfreton School and Sixth Form College is a large, successful secondary school serving the Haltemprice area in Yorkshire, UK. Under the Priority Schools Building Programme, a new school was constructed to accommodate the entire school population—over 1,500 students and 200 staff—on one site. Interior acoustics were a hugely important aspect of the project design.The project “The clients’ brief was to provide good-quality, Class A wall panels, which not only met the acoustic requirements but would also be aesthetically pleasing”, explains Jonathan Hope, the Commercial Director of John Atkinson Interiors. The classrooms, atrium, and sports hall needed to be furnished with top-quality acoustic wall panels that complemented the school’s minimalist, modern aesthetic. As John Atkinson Interiors already had a good relationship with Autex, they recommended Quietspace® Panel to the building company, BAM Construct UK.The solution“Quietspace Panel with Vertiface wrap was the obvious choice for various reasons,” said Hope, “These include the range of colours available, the ability to have bespoke sizes made to suit the spaces, the professional and proactive attitude of the Autex team and the finish and quality of the product.” Quietspace Panel is a lightweight, durable, premium interior acoustic panel. Celebrated for excellent sound absorption, It balances a range of problem frequencies, which is perfect for busy school environments where noise is often a distraction for both teachers and students. To tie in the school’s unique aesthetic, each Quietspace Panel was wrapped with Vertiface®. As the school’s colours are varying shades of vibrant blues, similar colours from the Vertiface range were employed to ensure that the school’s spirit and individuality were represented throughout each of the spaces.

Having won a bid for £15m of capital funding in 2020, Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust (BHT) commissioned a new children’s emergency department – including upgraded, expanded facilities and a new overnight observation ward – at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury.Completed in March 2023, the 3,500m2 extension not only provides a dedicated area for children but has also freed up much-needed capacity for adult patients in the existing emergency department, and has reduced overcrowding and improved infection control. The plans also included new facilities to improve access to maternity and gynaecology outpatient services in a modern, purpose-built environment. The buildings adjacent to the children’s department house the hospital’s A&E department and maternity ward, so it was crucial that construction could go ahead without causing any disruption to day-to-day access.Throughout the project, the emergency department drop-off route, blue light route, maternity drop-off route, and A&E entrance remained in use at all times. Designed by London-based architects Hunters, the two-storey buildingwas made using modern methods of construction (MMC) at the main contractor Western Building Systems’ purpose-built in-house manufacturing facilities in Northern Ireland.The decision to build using modular construction resulted in minimal disruption to the hospital, both in terms of number of deliveries and overall time to build. Hospital buildings require many services to be installed so the subcontractors worked closely together, supported by quantity surveyors from MESH Construction Consultancy Limited. Steel structure modules were made at the Western Building Systems factory in Coalisland to form the frame of the building. They were then sheathed in 12mm cement particle boards and wrapped in breather membrane.The modular design specified an efficient, certified External Wall Insulation (EWI) system that met all stringent safety standards. EWI systems have huge thermal benefits for any building by conserving energy, minimising heat loss and reducing CO2 emissions. In addition to this, having a fully certified non-combustible solution offers great peace of mind, as well as a fast-track way to provide an attractive and durable façade.  Once the frame was in place on site, render and EWI specialists from Clarke ECO Wall Ltd installed Saint-Gobain Weber’s webertherm XM – a system they are familiar with, having used it on projects previously, including University Hospital Limerick.The EWI system included webertherm MFD mineral fibre insulation board with carbon tip screw fixings, weberend LAC rapid adhesive render coat and silicone enhanced webersil TF decorative finish. This building was made up of two types of wall: one which used 170mm of external insulation and achieved a U-Value of 0.12 W/m2K and another which used just 70mm of webertherm MFD yet still reached a U-Value of 0.18 W/m2K. Both were combined with additional insulation installed within the frame. The system was finished using webersil TF – a highly weather-resistant silicone decorative finish – in Winter White. “The team from Weber were very helpful,” said Michael Clarke, managing director of Clarke ECO Wall Ltd. “They provided all the specification and completed the necessary pull-out tests, fixing patterns and condensation analysis – ensuring everything was approved and there were no grey areas – and offered our team application support while carrying out the work. They took a very collaborative approach.”A representative from Weber made weekly site visits to support the applicators to ensure the system was installed in line with Weber’s recommended best practice. The EWI system was installed in two phases, totalling eight weeks, between April and November 2022.