"ground water control trench sheeting etc"

From the beginning, architects DLR Group designed Metea Valley High School in Aurora, Illinois, to light up education, both literally and figuratively. The sprawling campus with room for 3,000 students is broken down into a handful of more intimate, human-scale learning spaces, called “think tanks”, where interaction with faculty is encouraged. Two interior courtyards, open to the sky, offer fresh air during free periods. Shaped a bit like a bow tie, Metea combines three concepts – mind, in the midsection, and body and soul on either end – to offer students a truly 21st century school experience.Lighting up Metea in the literal sense comes largely from the extensive use of Kalwall translucent curtain wall throughout the school. Upon coming through the school’s main entrance, visitors are struck by the cheerful, airy, daylighted lobby. Controlled daylight also pours into the school’s innermost areas, traditionally a structure’s darkest, from the courtyards. Kalwall introduces daylight into the vast commons area that serves as the students’ lunchroom. In the gymnasium, Kalwall’s shadowless, glare-free light enhances ball handling in team events; sunlight does not glance off the shiny court surface. The diffuse-light-transmitting panels also prevent glare off computer screens, easing eyestrain. And in a dramatic demonstration of Kalwall’s superb flexibility, the design includes occasional, narrow, horizontal runs of clear glass – some serving as clerestories – adding visual interest as well as clear views to the outside.At 464,000 square feet, Metea could have been an energy-consumption nightmare, adding significantly to its $125 million total project cost. But innovations such as demand control ventilation, energy recovery wheels, and high efficiency boilers will save Indian Prairie School District 204, the state’s fifth largest, thousands of utility dollars every year and pay for themselves in just a few years. In fact, the building’s design is targeted to be 19 percent more efficient than ASHRAE 90.1 requires. Because translucent Kalwall admits so much controlled daylight, the school’s exterior light harvesting system, which monitors indoor light levels, can actually turn off electric lights in public spaces automatically when they are not needed. The harvesting system alone is expected to save the district over £16,000 a year in operational costs with a payback of under seven years.Illinois can get very cold in the winter and quite toasty in the summer. Highly insulating Kalwall helps there, too, keeping temperature extremes outside and lessening the need for and cost of heating and cooling. During the manufacturing process, standard 2-3/4” and optional 4” Kalwall sandwich panels can be infilled with various densities of specialized, translucent insulation. Architects and designers can achieve a thermal insulation value of up to R-20 (0.05 Btu/hr/ft²/F).At Metea Valley High School, DLR Group chose to include Verti-kal™, a unique design variation on the standard shoji or square grid layouts of Kalwall Translucent Systems. The panels incorporate internal, continuous supports to provide a vertical emphasis. As with all Kalwall translucent systems, Verti-kal distributes diffused daylight throughout the school, even on cloudy days, drastically reducing the amount of artificial lighting required and eliminating shadows and glare as well as stark contrasts of light and shade. Verti-Kal can be supplied in panels up to 5 ft. (1.5 m) wide and up to 12 ft. (3.6 m) high, minimizing the number of joints. The unique format creates an entirely different look while still utilizing the most highly insulating, diffuse-light-transmitting, structural composite technology.Any school system must concern itself with maintenance costs, and Kalwall excels there as well. The panels are vandal-resistant and self cleaning; dirt simply washes off with each rainfall. After dark, the diffuse, translucent properties of Kalwall contain interior lighting and prevent direct-beam light pollution. Instead, the exterior surface of the building simply glows beautifully, boosting Metea Valley High School’s aesthetics and welcoming both students and the surrounding community to a true masterpiece of daylighting.Photography: James Steinkamp

F. Ball and Co. Ltd.’s newest high-performance water-mix smoothing underlayment, Stopgap 1500 AquaPro, and Styccobond F48 PLUS temperature tolerant fibre-reinforced adhesive have enabled a fast-track LVT installation as part of barn conversions to create three holiday cottages in rural Nottinghamshire.Flooring contractors installed floorcoverings in bedrooms, open-plan living and dining areas and corridors of three previously disused farm buildings of varying size, a total area of over 200m2.Work began by sanding down the new concrete bases, which had been installed as part of the renovation of the properties, by mechanically preparing them, removing any laitance, contamination, dust and debris, to leave a solid, sound, micro textured surface to receive floor preparation products.A moisture test was undertaken by one of F. Ball’s technical representatives to ensure that the building’s subfloors were dry enough to receive floorcoverings. Surfaces were then primed using Stopgap P131 general-purpose primer to promote the application characteristics of subsequently applied subfloor preparation products.Stopgap 1500 AquaPro was applied to create a perfectly smooth base for floorcoverings. Fast-setting and fast-drying, it is walk-on hard in as little as 60 minutes after application and ready to receive floorcoverings from just four hours. The product uses the latest technology to offer a water-mix smoothing underlayment that can be applied over old adhesive residues, including bitumen, carpet tile tackifiers and ceramic tile adhesives. As it is moisture resistant, it can be applied to damp subfloors prior to the application of a waterproof surface membrane.Flooring contractors then used Styccobond F48 PLUS to adhere 7-inch wood-effect vinyl planks in each of the three cottages. The temperature tolerant adhesive holds floorcoverings in place when subject to high temperatures, which may be an issue as a result of solar gain caused by large patio doors. This can cause tenting and gapping at the edges of vinyl floorcoverings as a result of repeated expansion and contraction over time. Fibres in the adhesive also provide high initial grab, a benefit when installing LVTs.Commenting on the project, Anthony Holmewood, fitter at Forester Flooring, said: “Using Stopgap 1500 AquaPro meant that we could complete the work in less than a week. We opted for Styccobond F48 PLUS to install LVTs mainly because we like the adhesive, but also for the reason that floorcoverings are exposed to direct sunlight in some areas.”

Center Parcs Whinfell is an award-winning village located on the edge of the stunning Lake District National Park in Cumbria. Offering one of the most picturesque destinations for short break holidays, it is a haven for nature-lovers and provides countless activities to keep the whole family happily. New to the village is The Pancake House, an all-time guest favourite restaurant offering sweet and savoury pancakes in traditional Dutch style. Center Parcs needed to replace their well-used decking area outside of the restaurant which forms a main thoroughfare around the the village's eateries, overlooking the water. Gripsure's Classic deck boards were specified for this public walkway to ensure the safety of their guests; with 3 non-slip aggregate inserts, our Classic deck boards achieves the highest non-slip safety rating on the market. Not only that, this profile has a smooth board offering a stylish and contemporary finish, in keeping with Center Parc's modern facilities. In addition to this, Gripsure's Boardwalk Heritage profile was specified to replace a decked bridge connecting the eating quarters to the rest of the village. This innovative profile features 100m wide aggregate insert, offering excellent coverage whilst managing to retain the feel of using a natural product. The finishing touches to the project were applied to the steps connecting the different deck levels. For this, a custom profile was created for stair nosings using bold and contrasting coloured aggregate to alert guests and staff of the height change, whilst maintaining a sophisticated look. The high aggregate coverage ensures optimum safety for little feet running around at speed, big feet which have just been in the water, and friendly paws along for the ride. A representative for Center Parcs said "Center Parcs have been working with Gripsure for over 6 years. A great relationship has evolved in that time and they have not only worked with us to put together a standards document for the different areas that we use decking products, but they have also developed products for us to overcome specific challenges. The team at Gripsure are great to work with and they have also delivered CPD sessions to key managers within our business. We specify their products for use across all of our villages because of the range of products that can be applied across different areas, from boardwalks and bridges to decks and steps and the non-slip performance and quality are excellent." Gripsure previously worked with the team at Center Parcs Longleat to replace its iconic wooden boardwalk. You can take a look at the case study here.

The National Physical Labratory, the UK’s National Metrology Institue, was due a washroom upgrade and Dart Valley Systems provided products for the project. Developing and maintaining national primary measurement standards, the NPL has been responsible for building eliable and successful measurment foundations that help towards evolving antibiotics to tackle resistence, more effective cancer treatments, superfast 5G and unhackable quantum communications. The range of products provided are as follows: • 40 x AT03-011 Aquarius DM A45 tap spout only in s/steel with pex hose • 40 x WC02-013 Concealed plastic cistern kit – vertical – 1 ½“ • 40 x WC03-013 Low voltage WC flushvalve with programmable sensor (1 ½“ base c/w mains PSU) • 17 x WC02-001 Concealed plastic cistern – cistern only – 1 ½“ • 17 x UC00-002 Auto-Syphon for cisterns – 8 ¼“ x 1 ½“ BSP • 12 x AT00-007 Two station mains kit low pressure 0.5-1 BAR • 3 x AT00-003 Two station mains kit standard pressure 1-10 BAR • 1 x AT00-002 Single station mains kit standard pressure 1-10 BAR • 1 x AT00-004 Three station mains kit standard pressure 1-10 BAR • 2 x AT00-006 Single station mains kit low pressure 0.5-1 BAR • 2 x AT00-008 Three station mains kit low pressure 0.5-1 BAR • 7 X UC01-024 Flushmatic downlighter kit for suspended ceilings in White - Mains • 24 x AC17-047 Thermostatic mixing valve 4in1 15/22mm Our DVS no-touch WC flushing system is an electroincally operated drop valve which replaces the traditional syphon and delivers a measured volume of water from the cistern to the lavatory bowl. A simple wave of a hand past the fitted sensor will acitivate the electronic Flushvalve.The system typically saves 30% on water costs, is vandal proof and easy to install a maintain. For over a hundred years, the NPL has worked with it’s customers to convert scientific proficiency into economic success, proficent employment and the enhanced quality of life. As an insitute that has aided in saving lives and protecting our enviroment National Physical Labratory has played a huge role in helping the British public feel safe and secure. 

Our Partner, Fast Floor Screed Ltd, pump-applied self-levelling, Südanit 280 Alpha Hemihydrate Screed in this new wonderful Passive house, A1 rated self-build in Cork. The delivery, completed using their mobile screed factory, enabled our Alpha Hemihydrate flooring solution to be installed quickly and efficiently over the entire project. The architect Wain Morehead Architects, described the screed ‘the response time in your screeds also helps maintain comfort – verified during this week during monitoring/testing’, which we knew but are delighted to hear this also from Wain Moore Architects.This CE marked, self-smoothing, self-levelling screed is the most technologically-advanced floor screed available, complying with the performance requirements of EN 13813.Südanit 280 Alpha Hemihydrate Screed’s advanced composition means that it reacts with water quickly – providing consistent, reliable drying characteristics and considerably faster drying times – enabling following trades to proceed without delay.The major delivery, completed using their mobile screed factory enabled our Alpha Hemihydrate flooring solution to be installed quickly and efficiently over the entire project. The Fast Floor Screed Mobile Screed Factory – is a unique system. The lorry mounted rigs carry Sudanit 280 Alpha Hemihydrate binder, sand & aggregates and water in separate compartments. The automatic production process ensures materials are precisely weighed, fed to the mixing bin, and into the pump for easy, mess-free installation. This ensures the Fast Floor Screed Mobile Screed Factory produces Sudanit 280 Alpha Hemihydrate floor screed to a consistently high quality. Have a look at some previous projects we delivered to Fast Floor Screed Ltd.The floor is remarkably quick to walk-on – applied at 500m² per day and walkable within 6 hours and it’s particularly suitable for use with UFH, fully encapsulating pipes and services – increasing the performance of underfloor heating.Did you know…?This Alpha Hemihydrate Screed can be installed in a heated floating-floor screed construction, uniquely, with the commissioned underfloor heating system up and running @ 25°C?!Smet Building Products Ltd in partnership with Fast Floor Screed Ltd, demonstrates, once again, a superior level of customer service, both pre and aftercare. Whether your job is self-build, retro-fit, floor renovation, design, commercial or an industrial venture – we have a floor compound suitable for you.Contact Smet Building Products Ltd for any advice regarding your substrate.

About Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Milton KeynesHotel MK is a Hilton-branded hotel built into Stadium MK, home of MK Dons FC and 2015 Rugby World Cup venue. It has 304 bedrooms as well as multiple event spaces. Its conference space regularly accommodates up to 700 people for banquets, 1,000 for conferences and up to 2,500 on match day. Consequently the urinals in the conference area can experience very high usage. The hotel operates under the Hilton brand and so must comply with Hilton’s brand standards. It also takes part in Hilton’s Lightstay programme, designed to reduce energy and water usage throughout the Hilton portfolio.In 2016 Sue Dawson, the hotel’s Operations Director, was tasked with arranging the refurbishment of the two blocks of toilets in the hotel’s conference area. Waterless urinals were already in use in the Stadium and the hotel was keen to reduce its water usage further by installing them in the conference areas.Why did Hotel MK choose waterless urinals?Waterless urinals offered several benefits to the hotel. The conference area is not used every day so moving to waterless urinals means no water is used on the days that the conference area is not used. The hotel also needed to ensure that the installation fitted with Hilton’s brand standards for design. Waterless urinals offer an aesthetic advantage as the waste from them simply runs directly into the drains, eliminating the need for ugly pipes on show or any need to box pipes in. Draining into a wide pipe, rather than a narrow pipe as is the case with traditional urinals, also means that waterless urinals are highly unlikely ever to block.Why did Hotel MK choose URIMAT urinals?"I searched online for waterless urinals but none of the ones I looked at were particularly nice looking and it was very important to us to get something that fitted with the overall look of the facility and with Hilton’s own brand standards. When I came across Ecoprod I felt that their products were much more attractive and fitted with the clean look we wanted to achieve. They ticked all the boxes for us.The key selling points were the fact that the urinals were eco-friendly and the aesthetics of their design – that’s what sold me."Sue Dawson, Operations DirectorSmooth and quick installationThe installation was done by the hotel’s in-house team of builders and joiners in conjunction with external plumbing contractors and took only a few days to complete."I liaised with Edward at Ecoprod and together we agreed a plan and a delivery date. Everything went very smoothly. The products were all delivered on time. We arranged a split delivery so that one set of urinals could be installed while a second set remained in use."Sue Dawson, Operations DirectorPositive feedback from staff and customers"There have been no operational issues at all since launch. Edward came down to demonstrate the cleaning regime and everything is really hunky-dory. Ecoprod has been very helpful and on the case the whole time, very diligent and attentive, making sure we had everything we needed on time and knew what we were doing the whole time."Sue Dawson, Operations Director"Conference people notice the new urinals, and we do a lot of show arounds. They look so much better – much more hygienic than standard urinals.The cleaners have also noticed a difference. These urinals are mounted onto a wood board rather than tiles, so there’s no grout or other areas where dirt and residue can accumulate. The wood is much easier to wipe around. The hotel design is all driven by making things easier to clean so this is a really important consideration for us."Mark Watson, Operations Manager."It’s a very modern-looking facility – we’re very happy with the results – it feels fresh and modern."Sue Dawson, Operations Director

Portakabin Ltd. were working on a project for Servicecare Support Services Ltd. to install a temporary canteen and locker room facility. They required the extra building space so they could continue to operate whilst adhering to social distancing measures throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.Alongside the temporary building, they were in need of a wall mounted canopy along the right elevation to provide weather protection above the main entrance to the building that leads to the corridor.Able Canopies have been working with Portakabin for a number of years, adding shade and shelter structures to their temporary buildings. Although our canopies are permanent structures, we have designed above ground planter pads and special wall brackets to enable us to install the canopies and take them down when they are on longer required.These adaptions have been designed for our Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy and have been successfully used for many years now. The staff at Portakabin therefore put the Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy forward to Servicecare Support Ltd. who were pleased with the design and specifications and were happy to go ahead with the installation.The final design was 10m in length with a 3m projection to cover the whole span of the temporary building and provide the weather protection required above the entrance.

Armourcoat surface finishes have played a central role in the comprehensive refurbishment of the iconic Minster Building in the heart of London’s business district, applying over 600m2 of it's seamless Acoustic Plaster System to the ceilings.The interior design by architects BuckleyGrayYeoman for Ivanhoé Cambridge and its development/asset manager Greycoat Real Estate LLP, has created a major repositioning of the building built around the central eight storey atrium. The ground floor reception is approached by a 30 metre long boulevard from the new entrance on the corner of Mincing Lane and Great Tower Street. The original entrance has also been retained to Minster Court piazza.Designed to optimize the acoustics of interior spaces, the Armourcoat Acoustic Seamless Plaster system offers a clean and smooth mineral surface that can be applied seamlessly over large expanses to both flat and curved surfaces. Comprising of a special mineral wool composite panel that is bonded onto the substrate and finished with a seamless layer, the system offers an elegant marble based plaster finish while allowing sound energy to pass through the surface. The zero VOC system, which consists of over 70% recycled material, achieves class '0' fire rating and a class 'A' Noise Reduction Coefficient rating.Photography: Jonathan Banks

Our client, One 17 Design, acted as Architects, Interior Designers and Project Managers for this superb project with involvement from inception through to completion. Their brief was to create a home office / garden room in the grounds of an existing detached home, which was done by extending the detached garage.The material palette for the garden room predominately featured oak and steel. Blackened oak cabinetry and steel fenestration provide a striking contrast against the natural oak frame and cladding. Clever detailing in the relationship between the oak frame and steel doors adds a contemporary twist. The bricks for the outside of the building were selected to match the brickwork of the existing bungalow. Bespoke Clement steel windows and doors from the W20 range were chosen for the project, including an interior door, fitted with reeded glass that leads to the bathroom. All handles were powder coated black to match the steel frames.The project won “Best amazing space” at the 2022 Northern Design Awards.Freddie Garside, Partner and Director at One 17 Design, said:“We and our client were delighted with the finished doors and screens. The narrow framed black steel doors complement the natural oak frame perfectly. Clement were very professional, efficient and responsive throughout the whole project.”Photography: Joe Cotterill

The Aldwych area, nestled in the heart of London, has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years. Aldwych is rich and diverse, originally developed in the early 20th century as a grand thoroughfare, flanked by prestigious buildings and theatres. Over time, it evolved into a bustling commercial hub. However, changing urban needs and traffic management had begun to take a toll on its charm and functionality. “A Vision for Aldwych”LDA Design played a pivotal role in envisioning the revitalisation of Aldwych. Their work was grounded in the belief that urban spaces should be more than just thoroughfares; they should be vibrant, people-centric environments that promote sustainability and community engagement. Collaboration between LDA Design and Westminster Council, aimed to enhance the public realm by incorporating innovative urban design principles and environmentally friendly features, such as tree planting.The primary goal was transforming Aldwych into a welcoming and attractive pedestrian space. This involved expanding pavements reducing vehicular traffic and creating designated areas for social interaction. The existing London Plane trees that lined the Aldwych were seen as valuable assets the design aimed to celebrate and preserve these trees.Drawing inspiration from the Strand design, the project proposed unique street furniture. These pieces added aesthetic value and provide functionality, such as Wi-Fi hubs and charging points.

The combination of old and new architecture provides unusual views and insights.This was certainly the case with the extension of the Batelease Farm owned by the Moody couple in the English county of Devon.The original Batelease Farm was built back in the 15th century and the building has been changed and extended over the centuries. Because the Batelease Farm is a Grade II listed building everything had to be approved by the responsible heritage officials.The modern extension to the old farmhouse creates a contrast between old and new and combines the two - quite literally. Because the goal wasn’t merely to create a new build - it also had to be accessible and enable barrier-free access between the old and new building.This will allow the client, a wheelchair user, to navigate between the buildings independently and to move between the centuries, so-to-speak.A glass structure connects the main house and the new build and covers two floors, including a lift. Barrier-free access has been created between the buildings on both the ground floor and the first floor. There is also an entrance and exit here, which enables the client to enter or leave the building independently at any time.A Guldmann GH1 ceiling hoist system is used in the client’s bedroom with the rail system integrated subtly into an exposed timber beam, so that the practical aid is almost invisible.

Architects Dixon Jones specified 600m2 Junckers solid oak flooring for Marlborough Primary School, a multi award-winning building on a densely populated urban site in the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea. The brief to create a primary school much larger than the original Victorian building on the existing site challenged Dixon Jones to design a school where teaching accommodation is arranged vertically around a series of cascading roof terraces. With nursery and reception classes on the ground, children progress upwards through the building the older they get, with the junior years arranged on the upper floors. The interior forms an equally dynamic environment for students and staff with teaching spaces arranged around communal halls and generous circulation areas. A large main hall and multi-use space, flooded with natural light from two central roof lights, features Junckers wide board oak flooring throughout, providing a natural, unifying backdrop. Junckers’ FSC and PEFC certified floors are a durable, long-lasting choice with low lifecycle costs. Made in solid wood, the floor can be sanded and refinished multiple times without losing its good looks or performance, ideal for a thriving community school. Main contractor: Mace; Joinery contractor: Swift Crafted; Photography: Paul Riddle. 

In Rugby, 57 aerial masts and a radio station are the genesis for the beginning of a new town, centred around the recently finished Houlton School. The carefully considered design of the School by Van Heyningen & Haward (VHH), is the successful retrofit of a collection of historic, grade 2 listed radio station buildings. Its cost-effective evolution into a thriving, sustainable secondary school comes through the careful integration of the previous buildings and by choosing to use products that fitted soundly within the pre-existing vernacular.Adapting the original framework to today’s standards was a job that took years to come to fruition, careful application of steel frame and the restoration of the original brickwork has meant that the two main listed structures, Transmission Hall and Power Hall will become a place of learning for generations of students. Handmade clay bricks provided by Michelmersh were vital to the restoration of the project, where they were used to ensure the structures could be repaired and retained rather than rebuilt from the ground up.Throughout the project, various elements of the building's industrial past have been retained, with arched windows and high ceilings to ensure that the history of this nearly century-old building is revered, but not overpowering compared to its newly instated modern sensibilities.Houlton School recently won the Refurbishment Category at the BDA Brick Awards.

Client: Tottenham Hotspur Football Club Design: Populous Main Contractor: Mace Main Products Used: Emshield DFR2 and Emseal Security Seal SSW2Tottenham Hotspur Football Club has moved into its new home which also has a partnership with the American NFL that will see at least two major American football games played at the stadium each season. This was made possible by the innovation of a retractable natural grass pitch, which will be used for Spurs home fixtures and an artificial multi-use surface underneath for the NFL matches, plus concerts and other events. With a seating capacity of 62,000, the Tottenham stadium is designed to ensure that the spectators are closer to the pitch than at any other comparable ground in the UK. It also includes the UK’s largest single tier stand, which will hold up to 17,000 fans in the Spurs home-end. As is typical for modern stadium design, there was a critical requirement for wide and high movement joint sealing systems in several important areas. These included joints in the plant service areas and walkways over prestige VIP and hospitality suites that also had to provide fire resistance, plus the important and often difficult heads-of-doors joints. These requirements were all safely and securely met using Emseal DFR-2 and Emseal SecuritySeal SSW2 respectively

A careful combination of A2 fire rated soffit panels, rainscreen cladding and mesh screens from Proteus Facades has helped band together the impressive new £42m Sciences Centre at Durham University. Based within the grounds of the Upper Mountjoy Campus, the new Mathematical Sciences and Computer Science building has been developed to create synergy between the two departments, which have been earmarked for significant growth within the Durham University Strategy – 2017-2027. The building features state-of-the-art teaching facilities and office space, including a specialist IT Lab with a designated server room, a 120-seat tiered lecture theatre and tutorial rooms. While a café and breakout spaces, as well as four enclosed courtyards make up the communal areas. Creating a bright space for students, staff and visitors to meet and relax, Proteus Facades manufactured striking 2.0mm Aluminium Proteus IP interlocking planks with a PPC Traffic White Matte (RAL 9016) finish for use on the façades of the four internal courtyards. GSS Architecture chose the Proteus IP aluminium PPC in Traffic White because it accentuates and reflects natural light creating an enhanced ambience in the teaching spaces that face onto the courtyards, whilst complementing the glass curtain walling system.

Gent Sint-Pieters railway stationCHALLENGE Gent Sint-Pieters, the main railway station in Ghent, is undergoing a spectacular metamorphosis today. The listed main building, constructed for the 1913 World Exhibition, has to remain untouched. Behind the old building however the platforms, waiting rooms and the central passengers corridor are being entirely refurbished. Architect Voncke’s objective was to create a pleasant atmospheric site with a 35,000 sqm open and attractive central hall, broadened and completely covered platforms and renovated rails. Functional, well-designed and above all spacious! As the 12 rail tracks had to stay on ground level, the passengers alley was excavated to a lower level under the railroad tracks. This necessitated permitting considerable daylight to enter the underlying levels.SOLUTION Transparent canopies, featuring large glass sections and translucent floors were all designed with this purpose in mind. To gain even more light the architect chose RENOLIT ALKORBRIGHT for waterproofing the platform canopies. The six long rectangular platform blocks, differing in height, are interconnected and make one large roof. The white highly reflective RENOLIT ALKORBRIGHT membrane on top of the construction reflects the daylight through the high side windows. A clever way to add extra day-light to the underlying areas. 

A £40 million investment, 13 roof areas, eight different roof levels, and a steady stream of visiting students to keep happy throughout – the University of Reading (UoR) Library’s complete refurbishment was a large and challenging project spanning three years.Originally opened in 1964 and later extended in 1985, the library’s internal and external revamp was designed to increase space, improve facilities for individual study, provide better access and security across the building, and improve energy efficiency.In addition to a new-build Café extension, a new entrance canopy, a new ground-to-roof level lift and stair core extension – each featuring a new flat roof area – there were also 10 existing flat roof areas refurbished, coupled with the replacement of windows and re-cladding of the building’s exterior.Following a competitive tender based on an outline specification, Owlsworth Roofing, Sika Sarnafil single ply flat roofing specialists, impressed with the level of detail included in their quote and were awarded the contract by main contractor ISG.Roofing:Sika® Sarnafil G410-12 ELF.Sika® Sarnafi G410-12 EL.Sarnavap®-5000E SA.Sarnavap® HD SA.Primer 600.Sikatherm® PIR Insulation and Sarnacol®-2162.

Winner of the MIPM 2010 award for Hotels and Tourism, which is presented for outstanding real state projects worldwide, the Kameha Grand was designed by architect Karl-Heinz Schommer Bonner. The unique elliptical section design did however make serious demands on the requirement for protection against thermal bridging. The architect discussed the issue with Schöck, the European specialists in thermal bridging solutions and it was agreed that a combination of three product variants would meet the requirement.The outer concrete arches on the roof and facade of the building cantilever 1.30 m on each side and this, combined with the subtle design of the facade, meant that it was not possible to use a standard thermal break solution. To minimise any thermal bridging problems along the two outer arcs an inventive solution had to be found by the Schöck design team. This was achieved by dividing the projecting element of the framework into a number of sections and using the appropriate Isokorb® T for the required forces. At the ground floor Isokorb® T type Q is used, with T type D being installed higher up the structure, followed by T type K on the top floor. Because of the arch profile, the Isokorb® T type D was cut and installed at 90 degrees and run under the curved edge of the roof emergency exits, providing F90 fire protection.

Surespan designed and manufactured four access products for the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California The Project:HKS Architects were behind the architectural design of the stadium by creating an unrivalled sports and entertainment destination. The 5-billion-dollar stadium has created a diverse event space that offers an unparalleled experience from enjoying cocktails and food to immersive sporting events.The stadium offers a ground-breaking video experience that became the first venue to air live football on its roof. Furthermore, the centre-hung Samsung screen is the world’s first halo video board that is roughly 70,000 square-foot, dual-sided and is considered the most LEDs ever used in a sports and entertainment venue.The SoFi Stadium will be hosting several global events from the Super Bowl LVI 2022, 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Summer Olympics opening and closing ceremonies.The Product:Surespan designed and manufactured four access products.  Two electrically operated, double leaf, flush floor hinged access covers to suit an overall frame size of 4267 x 1768mm.  Two electrically operated, double-leaf ceiling access panels to suit an overall frame size of 4267 x 1768mm. The lids have been designed to open downwards.

Tower Hamlets, LondonFunctional public spaceStreet furniture | Street seating | VADForty-two Townscape Half Penny Bollards were used to create a functional public space in Tower Hamlets.Used as a community outdoor space, Oval Space is a multi-purpose venue with over 5,000 square feet of unobstructed statement space, in a unique London setting.The location is adjacent to the iconic Bethnal Green gasholders, Oval Space is used for all kinds of events from corporate functions to product launches and fashion shows through to small and large-scale stills, TV and film shoots.Half Penny Concrete Bollards are a below ground fix and are available in the following colours:Smooth Prestige Mixes:White PP09, Black PP32, Yorkstone PP02, Cloburn Red PP48 and Grey PP08 Exposed.Natural Aggregate Mixes:Natural Round, Ballidon, Mountsorrel, Criggion, Cleehill, Cloburn Red, Harvest Gold, Cornish, Red Aberdeen.See full product infoDownload the datasheetThe architectural team was led by Abhinav Kurup from London Borough of Tower Hamlets, while the Constructor was JB Riney.For more details of how we can help with your own public space requirements, please get in touch.

dormakaba was awarded the contract to provide an integrated IT solution for the first college that was built on the new Heslington East site- Goodricke College, named after the British astronomer John Goodricke, offering accommodation and other facilities for students. dormakaba installed a fully integrated solution at the college, comprising dormakaba Exos system, CardLink standalone components, C-Levers and pExtra high securitymechanical cylinders. Geoff Brown, Security Manager at University of York commented: “dormakaba's Exos system is the software that allows us to centrally manage the system. The University of York has 9 colleges and in each college we have residential students. Residential students have a dormakaba card that allows them access to the main building and also we allow access to communal areas, including the cycle shed.” Installing fully integrated system enabled the university to have a cost effective and flexible access control on any door, barrier, lift or access point coupled with a reliable and accurate time recording solution for staff, students and contractors. Mark Barber added: “One of the big plus points of it, is that we are able to feed Exos on a nightly basis with records from our people data base which contains all our current staff and students- so we always have up-to-date list of university members in the Exos data base. One of the by-products of that, is that we can also feed through into Exos expiry dates of when staff or students are about to leave so without any other interventions, by setting certain parameter within the interface, people’s access right can be revoke automatically and universally in the dormakaba system”. Further developments under one unified dormakaba Exos system, included control of doors at the Physics and Electronics building that has been added onto the existing campus. A further online Exos doors, C- Levers and pExtra cylinders were installed at various new department buildings throughout Heslington East, including Theatre, Film and TV (TFTV), Law and Management (L&M), Computer Science Building (CSB) and the Communal Area(HUB). The University of York bears testament to the success of a complete dormakaba solution. dormakaba technology has ensured all online and stand alone systems can be integrated which not only provides diversity in levels of security but also future proofs the University of York’s investment. “We needed to find a security solution that is flexible and capable of providing a variety of options, dormakaba met those needs and provided a good customer service and I believe they can offer further solutions. dormakaba have provided the University of York with the exceptionally good solution and I’m certainly happy to recommend dormakaba to any other universities.” Geoff Brown Security Manager University of York

Finished in June 2019 ready for the Spring and Summer seasons, the Welcome Building is the new £20m addition to the flagship RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) gardens in Wisley, Surrey. The installation which includes over 2,500m2 of linear rib ceilings is already a strong contender for our signature project of 2019!The building was officially opened on the 10th of June by celebrity ambassador for the RHS Alan Titchmarsh, alongside TV Baker Mary Berry and Director General of the Royal Horticultural Society Sue Biggs. The Welcome Building is the first of 3 major works to the 240-acre garden, totalling an impressive £70m investment for the attraction.The 5,000m2 Welcome Hub is home to modern, state of the art, improved visitor facilities including a grand multi-functional arrivals hall, 100 cover a la carte restaurant and cafe, and a huge shop with an extensive range of gardening books, gifts and homewares.Being leaders in the ‘Greening Great Britain’ movement, the client looked to keep the project as environmentally responsible as possible; working to the Considerate Constructor program the build process aimed to respect the local community by contributing to the local economy and minimising any negative impacts of the works. The scheme also encourages contractors to consider the long-term sustainability of the build; by using air source underfloor heating and extensive insulation as well as LED lighting throughout, the energy needed for the day-to-day running of the site is greatly reduced.In keeping with the natural and ‘green’ ethos of the RHS the scheme architect’s at KSS specified linear ribs for the pitched ceilings across the space, the system is comprised of a solid gypsum core rib wrapped in a choice of natural or faux timber veneer and delivered with a unique and versatile ‘easy-up’ installation system.The linear rib solution allows for versatility of installation; the standard installation system allows for flexibility in gaps between allowing specifiers control over the acoustic performance of the system. By design The Euroclass B-s1,d0 (for fire resistance) gypsum core of the ribs gives a secure base for the industrially glued veneer or foil finish as well as being a stable material for cutting and ensuring the ribs will never warp over time.Sustainable sourcing is another important factor to be considered in modern building, when working with natural timber products production and supply chain accountability is paramount. FSC® (Forestry Stewardship Council®) product certification is the global standard for responsible timber sourcing. All of the natural Oak timber and veneer used on the 18,000 linear metres of linear ribs at RHS Wisley were delivered as either FSC Mix (veneer) or FSC Controlled Wood (solid timber) certified for meeting the relevant chain of custody requirements of the timber in addition to continuing to commit to the operational values outlined by the council.

The Palm Tower, a new landmark from master developer Nakheel, under construction at the heart of Dubai's iconic Palm Jumeirah, promises that each of its luxury hotel rooms and apartments will feature one of the best views in the city.To achieve this, the 52-storey, 240-metre-tall hotel and residential building will be clad entirely in glass.Of course, Dubai’s climate means that preventing excessive heat build-up inside heavily glazed buildings will always be a priority. For this project, the architect chose to install 50,000 square metres of Pilkington Suncool™ One 30/21 solar control glass so that residents and guests enjoy both stunning vistas in cool, comfortable surroundings.Silver liningThe glass features a state-of-the-art multi-layer coating that incorporates a microscopically thin layer of silver to help reduce heat transmission to just 21 per cent, while maintaining a neutral colour balance in the light passing through, maximising the views.The building is clad in an area of glass equivalent to 192 tennis courts, but because of the advanced magnetron sputtering technique used to apply the coating, just eight kilogrammes of silver was needed to cover the whole tower. That’s a piece of silver approximately the size of a laptop.Pilkington Suncool™ One 30/21 was originally developed by Pilkington United Kingdom Limited, part of the NSG Group, for Intraco UAE, which has used the glass on a number of projects in the past.Leo Pyrah, product manager at Pilkington UK said: “The view you will get from these hotel rooms and apartments is one of the major draws of this building, but clearly a fully glazed skyscraper in such a hot climate creates challenges from an energy management perspective.“The bespoke coating we have developed alongside Intraco lets the developer and its customers enjoy the best of both worlds – a stunning view with much reduced solar heating.”CentrepieceAs the centrepiece of the world-famous Palm Jumeirah, The Palm Tower is set to become a new landmark for Dubai. When completed, the mixed-use complex will feature 432 apartments and 290 hotel rooms, as well as a rooftop dining and recreation destination featuring a 360-degree roof top infinity pool, a high-end restaurant and a public viewing deck offering sweeping views of The Palm, the Arabian Gulf and the Dubai skyline.As well as creating a comfortable climate for users, the solar-control glazing will also significantly reduce the need for air conditioning, reducing costs and emissions.Leo Pyrah continued: “Dubai is a city that is pushing architectural and technological boundaries and we’re excited to have played a role in shaping the look of its iconic and ever-evolving skyline.”Project: Palm Tower, DubaiClient: NakheelGlazing distributor: Intraco UAE