"fabric membrane buildings inflatable structures"

The ChallengeThis purpose-built, cutting-edge medical research facility forms part of the Karolinska Institutet and is now one of Europe’s largest laboratories.Home to over 1,600 scientists and support staff and with such a high footfall, the safety of individuals took centre stage in the design and construction of the facility.Additionally, ensuring a design aided world-class medical research was of utmost importance. This meant creating inviting, collaborative meeting spaces which were flooded with natural light, as well as rooms that could achieve the correct acoustic and impact performance requirements to contribute to the accuracy of the laboratory’s critical research.To achieve all of these requirements, specifying the correct materials was crucial to achieving the architectural vision of the building, centered around a spectacular glass atrium that connects the outside with the inside. Pyroguard was approached to deliver a solution that would ensure compliance with safety regulations.The SolutionWith glass playing a crucial part in the building’s design, it provided a practical way of delivering adequate fire protection, making Pyroguard Firesafe ideal for the project.With EW-classification, the solution protects against flames, smoke and radiant heat for between 30 and 120 minutes, while also providing additional radiant heat control to deliver greater fire protection.The structural integrity of the product further ensures it can be handled and installed in the most challenging applications, including Biomedicum’s beautiful glass atrium.

Baptist Health and MD Anderson have partnered to create a new $184 million cancer centre in Jacksonville, Florida, focused on treating all forms of adult cancer. The building is situated overlooking St John’s River in a beautiful and serene environment. The new nine-storey 332,000-square-foot center is designed to provide state-of-the-art care and will also host clinical trials for new drugs. The facility has a contemporary design enclosing a central courtyard. With open views to all aspects, abundant natural light streams into the interior, creating a warm uplifting atmosphere. The frontage of the L-shaped structure, facing south, is flooded with light, requiring extensive passive solar shading. The teams involved in the project design and construction, which included HKS Architects (Dallas), adopted an holistic approach ensuring that all aspects of the design, both exterior and interior, reflected the goal of creating a positive, calm and caring environment focused on the individuals who inhabit it, namely the patients, their families, and the staff. Levolux elliptical aluminium fins form the horizontal bands of solar shading running across the front of the building. In keeping with using materials to create a calming feeling of warmth and comfort, Powdertech Wood Finish™ was specified for the solar shading. Back in the UK Powdertech coated 2000 linear metres of 150mm by 50mm extruded aluminium in PWF 31, Black Walnut, a “warm” finish, which were despatched to Florida as a single delivery.

Project:Unity Campus Client:Howard Group Architect:Nicholas Hare Architects Value: £12m Location: Sawston, Cambridge Completion Date: June 2023 Innovare duration onsite 15 Weeks GIFA: 88,000 sq. ft Air Tightness: 1 via passive purple U-Value 0.13 (259mm i-FAST with additional insulation by others on inside face of panel) System: i-FAST/Wrap SolutionPhase 2 of a new £100 million technology and R&D campus in Sawston, south Cambridge is now complete, providing an additional 90,000 sq. ft of science laboratory space across three buildings. Built on Cambridge’s reputation within life sciences, this phase enhances Unity Campus and elevates the region’s role within the industry. Designed by Nicolas Hare architects, the building envelope is purposely designed to provide occupants with a healthy and attractive environment. Collaborative design development incorporating a concrete frame and advanced structural timber technology meant an innovative approach to the construction method could be adopted, bringing key advantages of sustainability and performance efficiency. The Innovare Offsite i-FAST Panels were selected for construction because they minimize embodied carbon compared to steel framing systems, achieving the sustainability objectives set by the client Howard Group. Effective collaboration with the architects ensured that the client’s performance specifications were agreed well in advance of the start date.

For some, the train is merely a form of public transport allowing them to commute into the cities or move around the country. Almost 1.5 billion passenger journeys were recorded last year in the period up to September 2023. For many, travelling by train is seen as a journey back in time, conjuring romantic scenes of the Victorian era when there was something of a “Railway Mania” around. During the Victoria era £3 billion was spent on the railways resulting in over 1.1 billion passengers travelling up and down the country on 16,000 miles of track.The railway system was built primarily to move goods around, but it also offered people opportunities for travel and adventure, holidays, and developing business; this all fuelled the growth of towns and cities. The railway erased the distances between towns, the countryside, and the coast. Fresh produce could be delivered within hours, easily, to different parts of the country. As trains and times became standardised, timetables were published and displayed allowing people to plan journeys and in turn the railways aided communication as an enabler of the spread of ideas and national newspapers.However, you may view the railways, either as an essential form of transportation or as a nostalgic reminder of days long past, there is no denying that the train is one of the greenest and lowest-carbon forms of transportation we have. The railway only contributed 1.4% towards total UK transport emissions last year. The railway also offers a rare and unique trip through time. Regardless of your reason for travelling, you will undoubtedly pass through both modern and historic places of interest along your journey. The railway has a vast array of infrastructure spanning hundreds of years of development and while there is little of the early wooden wagonways from the 1560s there are plenty of relics from the nineteenth century showcasing nearly 200 years of important heritage.A piece of historical and important rail infrastructure is Great Malvern Station. Originally opened in 1860 as part of the Worcester and Hereford Railway it is a unique piece of Victorian architecture. Rated as one of the most attractive stations in the country, it draws tourists and visitors throughout the year. Great Malvern Station became a grade II listed building in 1969 due to its cast iron girders and stunning sculptured floral arrangements again in cast iron. It had, unfortunately suffered the ravages of time in its 162 years of service so a plan to refurbish the station and platforms was put into action in April 2022.Created by British Rail in 1985, the Railway Heritage Trust (RHT) was set up as an independent company, to assist the operational railway in its preservation and upkeep of listed buildings and structures. Network Rail and National Highways (Historic Railways Estate) now sponsor the work of the Trust since privatisation of the railways.It fell to the RHT to help support Network Rail to ensure the refurbishment at Great Malvern Station was carried out to the highest standards while maintaining an operational station for passengers. The £4 million scheme was completed at Christmas 2023 and has breathed new life into the Victorian station. Apart from the refurbishment of the ornate iron work and the bright colours and gilding used to pick out the detail in the floral patterns, the most obvious and striking part of the refurbishment is the platform roofs which flood the platforms below with natural light. Due to modern building regulations and an increase in health & safety since the Victorian era, simply replacing the old glazing with new panes wasn’t possible or practical. There was a need to update the building materials without losing any of that period charm.Twinfix, the Warrington based pioneers of polycarbonate and the recognised experts in the industry, were approached to help solve this problem. Having already brought new life and importantly light into old stations as part of refurbishment work, Twinfix recommended their Multi-Link-Panel Non-Fragile system glazed with polycarbonate to keep the overall aesthetics of the station but add a much-needed resilience to the canopies.Twinfix, utilise aluminium structural bars that are glazed with lightweight, yet tough, solid polycarbonate. The aluminium can be powder coated to a range of colours for a rust and maintenance-free life. As panels are pre-assembled in a controlled factory environment possible contamination and errors in installation caused by on-site cutting of the glazing sheet are avoided.Handling during installation is easier and safer than with traditional glass systems as panels are constructed from materials that are both strong and light weight. The reduction in weight compared with glass systems has the added benefit of lowering the overall weight of the roof construction, decreasing the stresses on the existing fabric of a building, especially important where a refurbishment is being undertaken. Working with Everlast Roofing, the roof was effortlessly transformed.Twinfix, as British manufacturers are in an ideal position to help with designing out potential problems. Each roofing system is unique and bespoke, so Twinfix used their deep understanding of the product and the legislation covering such projects to ensure the system they designed and installed was as close to the Victorian aesthetics as possible. However, the system still had to comply with modern legislation such as CDM (Construction Design and Management Regulations), something our Victorian counterparts didn’t need to worry about.Tim Hedley-Jones, Executive Director of the Railway Heritage Trust said: “We are very pleased to have supported Network Rail in their recent restoration work at Great Malvern Station. It is an artistic and architectural masterpiece of Victorian railway engineering.”Vicky Evans, Director at Twinfix said; “Twinfix were pleased to be part of the restoration at Great Malvern station which looks spectacular. The work of the expert restoration team may largely go unnoticed as people pass by on their way to a new adventure, but when you know a bit about the past stories of how the railway came about, you might just spot a new piece of history as you travel by train and go back to the future.”Should you need support on any of your projects or advice on any of our products or services, please contact us at enquiries@twinfix.co.ukCREDIT: Photographs taken by Paul Childs, Spheroview

The Gloucester Gateway M5 motorway services created a new sustainable standard in an area of outstanding natural beauty. The structures are built into the undulating hills softened with organic forms and green roofs. An ambitious landscaping solution required ACO to create a Sustainable Drainage System controlling rainwater run-off, while providing a high-quality habitat for wildlife to flourish.

The Manchester Engineering Campus Development at a cost of around 400 Million GBP, is a seven-year project that will deliver a new home for engineering at The University of Manchester.As one of the largest construction projects undertaken by an institution in the UK, at over 76,000m², including a basement structure in excess of 13,000m² MECD is designed to provide the engineering community with a new campus in the heart of Manchester in 2021

This stunning bespoke stone staircase, created from La Roche limestone, forms part of a large project that Stoneworld have collaborated on: After digitally templating the bare concrete structure onsite, individual step treads and step risers have been cut on the water jet cutter in our masonry factory. These have then been expertly fitted by the contractor.

The front garden consisted of the typical grass, a narrow footpath, and shrubs. It was prepared prior to arrival removing all elements including the soil which was made level and topped with a free-draining compacted stone, this is the required substrate for SureSell. Once the cellular structure is in place it's filled with loose stone and then suitable for a final layer of smooth yet permeable resin bound paving.

1500m2 of RoofDek D100 and D200 structural metal roof decking profiles were used to support the roof system of Hull’s Bonus Arena, a state-of-the art, music and events complex with up to 3,500 concert auditorium capacity that has the flexibility to adapt to a 2,500 all-seated event and 2,000m2 exhibition space plus 800 capacity conference auditorium.

Biotecture worked with Balfour Beatty Living Places and Southampton City Council to create a magnificent and welcoming feature on the Millbrook roundabout, a key gateway to the city. The UK's first highways living walls are also helping improve air qualityin Southampton. The ten freestanding living wall structures are situated below the Millbrook fly over, one of the city's busiest roads.

Alexander Stadium, a 41-acre athletics venue located in Birmingham and home to the 22nd Commonwealth Games was redeveloped to create a world-class venue for diverse sporting, leisure, community, and cultural events.PPG Johnstone's Trade coatings were used to update the internal and external exposed steel structures and the stadium’s different walking and circulation areas including the concourse areas.

ASF manufactured these recycled cast iron bollards as pavement demarcation on this busy bridge. The bollards look particularly good as they follow the natural catenary curve of the structure.These bollards were further enhanced for Le Grand Depart, when the Tour de France began in Yorkshire and this bridge was part of that route. The locals painted the bollards in the famous Le Tour jersey colours.

When regional housebuilder, Galion Ltd was looking for a way to speed up the construction process without compromising on using traditional masonry materials for its Jarmany Hill site, it turned to H+H’s Celcon Vertical Wall Panels.Celcon Vertical Wall Panels are storey-high panels of aircrete that are craned into place for a fast build with the reassuring characteristics of a high-performance, durable, masonry structure.Galion Ltd is building five large, detached houses with uninterrupted views over the Somerset countryside towards Glastonbury Tor. With a reputation for building individual properties to a high specification, the quality of the build is a strong focus for the company.Tim Barnes, Managing Director of Galion Ltd explains why H+H Vertical Wall Panels were chosen for the site: “One of the unique features of our houses is that we use local, natural stone walling for the external envelope of the properties. These are slow to build, especially when we’re using a traditional masonry build method as we are restricted to a maximum of six courses before laying the masonry to the same height.“With the traditional method it was taking 8 to 12 weeks to get to the point where we could put the roof on a house. The joy of using H+H Vertical Wall Panels is that we can get the roof on in around 8 days – it’s a huge advantage for us.”Constructing the watertight external shell of a house so quickly allows the internal trades to start work much earlier, reducing the build schedule significantly. When building large homes like the 2,800 square foot houses on the Jarmany Hill site, this time saving is particularly pertinent.Galion Ltd is working with Acorn Innovation Build Ltd whose carpenters were trained by H+H to install the Vertical Wall Panels. It was a fairly straightforward transition for them as they already use a crane to install timber floor cassettes and roof joists.Matt Shuttleworth, Director, Acorn Innovation Build commented: “H+H Celcon Vertical Wall Panels is a new system for us but as a company we are always interested in different methods of construction. I have to say, so far we are very impressed with this one.”Tim Barnes is equally impressed, saying: “I’m struggling to see a downside to the system. Everyone who has seen it has been impressed and I think once other companies see contractors building with it they’ll wonder why they’re not using it too. We’re already planning to use the system at another site that will be breaking ground soon.”

2019 Best Educational New Build at the SPACES Awards2019 Highly Commended at the Sussex Heritage AwardsVacated in 1994 and in a state of disrepair since a fire destroyed its chapel in 2009, the convent in Hunston required partial demolishing and refurbishment. IG’s gothic arch lintels played an important role in the restoring character to the original convent built in 1870 – now a central piece to the new Chichester Free School.Challenge:The £26.5m project plans, designed by Novium Architects and built by Farrans Construction needed to retain the unique single and double gothic arch windows surrounded by stone detailing. Extraordinary engineering was required to help secure the traditional architecture within the crumbling walls.Solution:The use of BIM by Doran Consulting within a Common Data Environment (Aconex) allowed their design team to integrate a digital survey of the existing convent building into the 3D models for the refurbishment to the existing and the extension of the two new school wings. This was vital in designing the new structure around the existing building, avoiding potential site clashes and to deal with complex details connecting the old building with the new, well in advance of site construction.To ensure the existing convent facades were restored to their former glory, IG’s production team replicated a double gothic arch lintels to the exacting design and measurements required. A 1580mm opening span, incorporating two 650mm wide gothic arch details, with a 430mm rise was specified – increasing the end bearing to extend the distribution of the load to the brickwork.The disused 19th century Carmelite convent has been successfully transformed into an educational facility. The new school blocks are linear in form with each wing projecting either side of the newly restored convent. The bespoke solution helped to rediscover the architectural significance of the old building as part of a new contemporary setting. The school now boasts a 600m2 sports hall, 250m2 hall and dedicated music and performance spaces for over 1280 students from reception age right through to sixth form.

THE LOCATIONHounslow House is the new headquarters for the London Borough of Hounslow. The new facility creates a distinctive architectural form that gives the new building a strong civic presence within the community, with the design promoting a feeling of openness and creating connections between the public and private functions of the building.THE PROJECTThe seven-storey structure is the new civic centre for London offering a library, adult learning classes and a reception area to help with any enquires. The other floors are offices for the local council workers with a civic chamber placed on the top floor. The new civic chamber is a prominent feature of the building framing the views of Hounslow.THE PRODUCTThe Safety Letterbox Company discussed the requirements and strategy for both mail and parcel delivery, giving suitable consideration to future demands, and the inevitable growth of parcels.Hounslow House decided on COM2 letterboxes in Pearl Gold with manual parcel boxes in the same colour. Hounslow ordered 500 boxes to be placed in their blocks A-D. This mail and parcel combination was a bespoke piece as it’s a free-standing combination including a bespoke table and back braces. These popular COM2 mailboxes from our classic range provide a quality solution, manufactured from aluminium and steel, they provide a strong and attractive solution for mail delivery.Hounslow House also added myRENZbox to make sure they could manage their Parcel deliveries. The myRENZbox modular has ten extensions with different size doors in order to maintain their parcel deliveries. The Safety Letterbox Company has an algorithm to work out how many parcel boxes a building requires. myRENZbox was polyester powder coated with the colour RAL 9005 Jet Black with a Matt finish. Copper House also opted for a barcode scanner to help deliveries become more efficient. myRENZbox has also futureproofed Hounslow House with the option to extend the intelligent parcelbox in the future.

The building that would be the St Margaret’s Primary School, officially opened by Robert Leitch the local parish vicar in 1889 provided education to children up to fourteen. The school underwent many changes in structure throughout its over 100-year existence continuing to provide the high level of teaching it always held. In 2012 it underwent a further change in the form of a huge modernisation project that would extend the school and allow more students to be taken. Unfortunately, leaks were reported on the older parts of the building and despite localised repairs were not ultimately solving the problem.After reports of leaks it was imperative that the roofs in question were inspected to find where the issues were originating, in action to this a site survey was undertaken. The survey highlighted the original build-up consisted of an asphalt on a timber deck, this original system was in a aged condition. It was also shown that standing water and vegetarian had developed on the roof. In order to protect the building from further leaking it was determined that the roof would benefit greatly from the installation of a high-performance waterproofing system.Along with waterproofing improvements, there would also be improvements made to the falls which would reduce the amount of standing water present on the roof.Waterproofing would not be the only recommendation; the roof was also to receive a full thermal upgrade which would further provide the benefit of increase fuel bills and less energy consumption for the school.Taking into consideration all these points, the Polyroof Technical team began creating a bespoke specification that would provide the details needed to make these recommendations a reality. The Polyroof Approved contractor Thomas Cassie & Sons was specifically chosen to undertake this project due to their experience in liquid roofing systems. With a specification and approved contractor ready the project could officially commence.

The new Mock Veterinary Practice at the University of Nottingham has elevated the existing veterinary facilities by providing 3 separate elements: a fully serviced veterinary practice for small animals, space for general teaching facilities, and larger agricultural facilities for livestock.ChallengeSpecialist building envelope contractor Spectrum Building Envelopes & Façades Ltd were contracted to take responsibility of the façade on the building - and turn to use the Fixfast façade support system, including SPIDI® Max brackets within the construction.SolutionThe Fixfast façade support system is the complete package when it comes to façades. Highly versatile, the bracket and rail system can be configured for any rainscreen façade project - including sloping façades and curved structures.The one-bracket design translates into ease of use on-site - no more separate brackets for fixed or sliding points, SPIDI® Max brackets can be used in either fixed or sliding positions and can be easily adapted to either horizontal or vertical configurations.In conjunction with DrillFast stainless steel self-drilling fasteners, the façade was fixed securely and efficiently into place on-site. "We approached Fixfast for a system solution for the proposed timber rainscreen construction at the New Mock Vets Practice at the University of Nottingham. The timber rainscreen construction consisted of a Sansin coated Thermowood vertically laid, plank on plank timber façade, with a 270mm thick Rockwool Duo Slab insulated cavity, all fixed back to a cross limited timber frame. Fixfast were able to offer a comprehensive design solution, which was tailored to suit our construction depths. The SPIDI Max façade system adopted was a complete package solution. Fixfast provided a quality product coupled with professional and friendly support throughout."Adrian Bidwell - Contracts Manager at Spectrum Building Envelopes & Façades Ltd

Project typeRefurbishmentContractorWilliam Bowley Projects LtdBrief descriptionRecently retired, the clients were looking to move from London to the bustling seaside town of Poole. They found a chalet bungalow at a desirable location right by Poole Park and only a short distance from Poole Harbour & Sandbanks beaches. However, due to it being previously rented out long term, it was in need of a lot of modernisation.The client’s desire was to create a large steam shower area in the master en-suite with plenty of space for them to relax, listen to music and unwind after a busy day.Due to the size and layout of the existing en-suite, and especially its low angled ceilings, careful planningwas required to provide the client with the desired, spacious steam shower without compromising too much on the floor space.RequirementsSteam shower area with sound & lightingThe clients wanted to create an area for absolute relaxation, a private wellness oasis, accessible only from their bedroom.Required components• watertight and steam-proof components with longevity• spacious seating area• practical storage• sound technology• lightingProducts usedBase products• wedi Vapor 85 building boards with pre-installed vapour barrier membrane (SD value of 92)• wedi Sanoasa Bellina seat element• wedi Sanoasa Bellina carrier element• wedi 610 adhesive & sealant• wedi Tools joint reinforcement tape, self adhesive• wedi 620 sealant• wedi Tools waterproof sealing tape• wedi Tools waterproof sealing corners• wedi Tools washers, stainless steelProducts usedIndividual products• 1600 x 950 x 50mm wedi Fundo Riolito shower element(1100mm channel on the long side and DN50 horizontal drainage)wedi solutionsDesigned & built by the installer• a practical and easy to maintain niche for storage(using the trimmings of Vapor 85 building boards)The required technology was integrated into the wedi elements by the installer, providing the clients with the perfect atmosphere to promote well-being.‘Compared with cement board/aqua panel, wedi is truly a superb system; easy to use and fit, lightweight and perfect for tiling over. I will definitely be using wedi for future bathroom installs’Nick Turner, Director at William Bowley Projects Ltd.

Cannon Green’s RC cast in situ polished concrete staircase is an Ocubis project in conjunction with John Robertson Architects (JRA), Civic Engineers and Six Smith Build. Lazenby built and installed the 21m long, 7m high and 7.5m wide (at the top) inverted amphitheater cast in situ Pewter concrete staircase. This staircase was designed by JRA and structurally engineered by Civic Engineers, incorporating BIM modelling due of the intricacies of the reinforcement design. This self-supporting staircase is tied into the structure with a steel stringer to convert the loads and moments down through the steel columns.Lazenby installed traditional formwork to create the stepped soffit that leads up to the inverted amphitheatre steps. Lazenby then installed a false work system (from Ischebeck Titan/Inform UK) enabling the formworkers to create the radius former inverted amphitheatre undercarriage that is visible from the restaurant (Drake & Morgan). The reinforcement was then added to the soffit and steps; the carpenters then added formers and attached nearly 700 DDA studs to the formwork prior to the casting of concrete.Lazenby’s integral-coloured Pewter polished concrete was batched on site into a C32/40 concrete supplied by London Concrete. The project used approx. 24 cubic meters of concrete and 6 tonnes of steel reinforcement. Ground floor to the top landing and seating area is just over 4m high, 21m long and 7.5m wide with 24 shallow risers and 3 functional landings. The first 3m wide step widens to a 7.5m inverted amphitheatre style landing featuring single and double height steps.Lazenby’s 8 master craftsmen were onsite for the duration of this 12-week project. Lazenby won the Cannon Green project based on the ability to deliver unrivalled experience for projects of this scale and magnitude. Engineering from Civic Engineers, design by JRA and experience and know-how from Lazenby’s master craftsmen created a steel and concrete masterpiece of exacting standards.

Since 2012, Danish acoustic panel manufacturer Troldtekt has led the way with its sustainable practices and leadership. An early adopter of the Cradle-to-Cradle design concept, the company has focused on its material health, reutilisation, energy, water and social responsibility winning recognition and numerous green awards over the years. The inclusion of FUTURECEM™ within its wood wool panels has further enhanced the manufacturing process, helping Troldtekt further solidify their Cradle-to-Cradle Gold Certification. FUTURECEM sourced from Aalborg Portland exploits the synergies between calcined clay and limestone filler. With this process, much of the burnt clinker in the cement can be replaced resulting in a bonding agent with a much lower carbon footprint. The result means that now, over their product life cycle, the carbon footprint of Troldtekt acoustic panels based on FUTURECEM are 26% lower than that of Troldtekt based on grey cement and 38% lower than that of Troldtekt based on white cement.This innovation, coupled with the company’s sole use of wood from FSC® and PEFC™ managed forests has helped Troldtekt get one step closer to its strict environmental targets. It also further enhances a building’s contributions towards BREEAM, WELL, LEED and DGNB-Certifications.Troldtekt acoustic panels are available in a variety of different structures and colours combining superior sound absorption with award-winning design. The Troldtekt range has a minimum expected life cycle of 50 years coupled with excellent resistance to humidity and tested to meet ball impact standards. The range is available in various sizes and structures, from extreme fine to coarse. They can be supplied as natural wood or finished in almost any RAL or NCS colour. Depending on the panel specified, reaction to fire is classed in accordance with EN 13501 as B-s1,d0 or A2-s1,d0 respectively.

The Tottenham Experience is the largest club shop in Europe, and the facility houses both the Tottenham Hotspurs & their NFL Partners a unique shopping experience. The Tottenham Experience houses an entertainment suite on the top floor which replicates the stadium terracing. The complexity of detailing around the balustrading and steps was overcome by using the internal and external Proteus Technical Team.Proteus Hot Melt® and Proteus Pro-Therm XPS Plus offered the perfect solution.High Performance WaterproofingWith the podium deck covering 1500m2, the Proteus Hot Melt® system combined with Proteus Pro Therm Insulation XPS Plus was the optimum waterproofing solution for this project with a cost effective, seamless and fast application.This High performance solution worked exceptionally well for our Proteus Approved Contractor, who was able to install the system without any complications to the highest standard.Quality controlProteus Waterproofing worked in close partnership with both the Architect, Main Contractor and Proteus Approved Contractor, to successfully deliver the project to a very high standard within the required time frame and to the standard required.Long term performanceProteus Hot Melt® is a long lasting robust membrane design to last. The client required both a BBA Certified product that offered a 25 year Guarantee for the waterproofing system on this project.

Architect/Designer: BenedettiLocation: London Project OverviewFront of house refurbishment including developing bespoke signage and hardware to meet the client and architect’s requirements. ServiceFull hardware scheduling service. Bespoke signage & ironmongery. Project Details 3v worked alongside Benedetti architects to provide a full interior hardware package for the beautiful refurbishment of the British Academy of Film & Television Arts headquarters at 195 Piccadilly. This project included development of bespoke signage panels and hardware designed to complement the overall design aesthetic for the refurbishment of this Grade II listed building.The Expansion includes new top floor by raising & restoring two large Victorian rooflight structures & decorative plasterwork considered ‘lost’ for 40 years, from the original 1883 Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours Gallery, built in ‘opposition’ to the Royal Academy across the road.Facilities include: doubled capacity, two cinema theatres, banqueting hall, multipurpose event and exhibition spaces, members’ bars/restaurant/club, roof terraces, judging/meeting rooms and offices.

Garratt Lane in Tooting is located in the South East of London, close to the Northern Line on the London Underground, making it a residential building perfect for commuters.Works started on Garratt Lane towards the end of June 2014, where we supplied approximately 2,350 m2 of Soundis cradle & batten acoustic flooring to provide a deep service void and a level floor on the un-even concrete structural deck. Our Cradle and Risers are manufactured from 100% recycled materials assisting to the sustainability targets of projects. The extremely un-even sub-floor throughout the premises combined with project specific requirements of a deep service void for Under Floor Heating soon meant the Soundis Cradle System was the only solution in maintaining a 125mm finish floor height throughout the project.The quality of installation by our installation partner UK Acoustic Systems was made clear upon the release of the acoustic flooring testing results as noted below. The average reduction and improvement of Impact noise was 22dB, with Airborne performance averaging 56dB, which is significantly higher than ADE and RD regulations.

Junckers solid oak Herringbone flooring has been installed at the National Gallery of Ireland as part of extensive refurbishment works. Architects Henegan Peng’s brief to provide a more accessible route through the collections has resulted in an elegant and historically sensitive upgrade for the Gallery. The solid wood parquet floor in the Dargan and Milltown Wings was installed by DJ Kelly & Co Ltd. The new floor in the Milltown Wing replaced an original timber floor and in the Dargan Wing, Junckers created a bespoke wood block to replicate the pattern of the original tiled floor. Herringbone parquet floors, historically found in country estates, castles and mansion houses, have become one of Junckers’ most popular floors. The elegant aesthetic of the geometric pattern coupled with the naturally occurring structural grain pattern found in solid oak has made parquet the flooring of choice for anything from public buildings and offices to homes and apartments. A solid oak floor by Junckers is very durable and can be sanded and refinished several times, ensuring the floor will last a lifetime. 

World renowned architects, Foster + Partners, have a new galley kitchen in their Hester Road studio which features bespoke sinks, surfaces and splashbacks supplied by GEC Anderson.The GEC Anderson fabrications were produced through a series of meetings with the team so as to maximise the very compact space available for the kitchen. The items were delivered direct to site in Battersea for installation by specialist fitters CHC.GEC Anderson create custom engineered solutions to fit any space or specification. In the case of the Foster + Partners studio, stainless steel worktops include integrated sinks as well as cut outs for taps and drip tray. 20mm plain front edges were specified together with the [water tight] integral back upstand. Stainless steel splashbacks were also included.GEC Anderson’s stainless steel kitchen creations offer aesthetics, practicality and the ability to provide an easy to clean, hygienic, highly durable and long lasting environment.

A Shading Revamp for ICC WalesThis was a project in which both functionality and aesthetics played a large role. It was important that the shading system installed not only provided a professional aesthetic, but also could boast robust performance.This particular project shows Umbra's top of the range automation systems at their best, the ability to power a whole room of blinds at the press of a button is one that suits large office spaces perfectly.Besides the automation aspect, the KuroLok blackout blinds themselves suited the professional and stylish nature of the project with ease. Self-Zipping edges mean that the blind itself never falls out of the side channels, thus eliminating unwanted light leaks, and the high quality, full blackout fabric provided the privacy and security the project needed.The slim side channels of KuroLok and Umbra's in house powder coating services meant that the blinds matched the style of the room flawlessly providing a professional look.

True Potential celebrate a contemporary new look for their headquarters in Newcastle upon Tyne. Created by Ward Robinson Design, the smart and agile workspace provides mixed work settings including desks, quiet areas and collaboration zones. EGGER woodgrain reproduction H3430 ST22 White Aland Pine was used throughout the project in matching laminate, door size laminate, MFC and ABS edging. The hard-wearing properties of EGGER laminate make it the ideal choice for collaboration zone bench seating, reception counters and internal doors. The versatile material allows for creative elements such as the curved features and logo routering.EGGER's matching material offer means that desks, case goods and decorative slats could be fabricated in cost effective MFC, removing the additional labour of bonding laminate without altering the design concept. Matching ABS edging gives a uniform finish to all of the furniture elements.

Lionweld Kennedy designed, supplied, fabricated and installed extensions to existing platforms in order to accommodate longer trains and add a new emergency end of platform staircase . The platforms we worked on was Shepherds Bush, Imperial Wharf, West Brompton and Clapham Stations.We provided GRP deck, below deck screens, mesh litter screens, end of platform steps, fencing and lockable gates as well as associated handrails, plinths, fixtures and fittings.The GRP deck panel’s increased strength allows spans of 4000mm clear span with a 5kn/m² pedestrian loading.This meets all network rail load requirements and is fully approved and in use.Additional strengthening to the deck was required to accommodate the lighting/CCTV columns shown above.We added white and yellow edge lines and safety lines as well as the tactile pavers moulded to the deck.The gritted anti-slip surface is also ideal for this application where safety is paramount.

As part of the multi-million-pound restoration of Grade I listed Manchester Town Hall, window restoration specialist Shepley Engineers is restoring, refurbishing, repairing and replacing hundreds of historic leaded and metal casement windows throughout the site using Hodgson Sealants Metal Casement Putty and Leaded Lite Cement. Each piece of glass from the iron-framed leaded lite windows from the state rooms has been removed, cleaned, repaired – or replaced by new fabrications if necessary – and reinstated using Hodgson’s Leaded Lite Cement in Shepley’s on-site restoration studio. The metal casement windows on the lower floors have been removed to Sheffield for restoration using Hodgson’s Metal Casement Putty, a high quality, hand-applied glazing compound that is formulated or bedding and external fronting of single glass into primed steel, timber frames, sealed hardwood and concrete. It is designed to be overpainted as in this project.

Blinds for Skylights and Velux WindowsBicester Village is an expansive shopping village located in Oxfordshire. As hub of shopping activity, it is a prominent part of any London tourist’s itinerary.Bicester Village can also boast a selection of KuroLok RL and KuroLok Twin RL blinds, specially designed to provide a blind solution for ceiling light, giving much more flexibility and an added layer of utility when it comes to overhead lighting.The KuroLok RL blind is a specialised roof blind, fitted with a constant tension spring mechanism that ensures that there is no unwanted sagging of fabric despite the challenging angle.The KuroLok Twin RL blinds are much the same, but with the added feature of having two blinds that meet in the middle of the framework. This means that the blind itself can cover more space than the single KuroLok RL, also making it infinitely easier to work around obstructions such as chandeliers or other ceiling décor that may get in the way of a traditional roof blind.

This elegant beach house bathroom proves that beautiful materials and traditional fittings can create a fresh, modern look that will never date.The design of this home, Bronte House, is inspired by the iconic aesthetic of the homes in Long Islands’ Hamptons. The brief was to combine coastal charm with elegance; a unique style that beach-side Sydney homes manage to showcase so perfectly.Shades of blue, grey and white form the basic colour palette throughout the bathrooms, and offer the perfect backdrop for polished chrome tapware and accessories. Decadent textures such as hand crafted ceramic tiles and marble herringbone floor tiles are paired with softer materials such as fabric blinds and a shiplap-style wooden ceiling. The result is a bathroom that feels elegant yet welcoming and functional.Our Elwick bath was included the design of this bathroom, alongside Perrin & Rowe traditional tapware.Photography: Maree Homer PhotographyDesign: Denai Kulcsar Interiors

Product:1no. Bespoke Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy: 74.26m x 3m – 3.5m2no. Standard Coniston Wall Mounted Canopies: 8m x 2.1m and 8.9m x 2.1mCanopy Frame Colour: Light Blue RAL 5012, matt finishInstallation Date: August - September 2019Contractor: Morgan SindallArchitect: Miller Bourne ArchitectsThe BriefIn September 2018, an invitation to tender was received by Able Canopies from Morgan Sindall Construction Ltd for a number of canopies at the brand new two-storey, primary and nursery school for which they had been awarded the contract to build to form part of the Hailsham Community College Academy Trust.After reviewing the tender documents we put our recommended products forward, which was a large Kensington wall mounted canopy and two Coniston wall mounted canopies.The architect then contacted us directly to detail that the main building frame was made up of large timber SIPS panels and the large steel posts were required to support the roof. However, they were also decorative in essence and played a significant part in the building aesthetic appeal, and they required Able Canopies to supply and install them as part of the package as they would run through the larger canopy.The original design and price we submitted did not require the inclusion of the steel posts, however we were then asked to include in our canpy costs. We therefore went back to the drawing board to come up with a canopy design which would fit the aesthetic and structural features required.The SolutionWhilst in talks with the architect, they explained that they favoured our Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy system and also requested the NBS spec for the product which wasn’t a problem as our products are all listed on the NBS National BIM Library.We therefore looked at the Coniston system and worked with the structural engineer to ensure the steel beams could be incorporated into the canopy. This enabled us to supply the contractor and architect with an estimate so we could secure the works as an early package enabling them to cast the foundations required within the main slab.Because the bespoke Coniston would have the required large steel beams through the roof, we designed a solution to ensure the canopy would still be a fully waterproof system. This was easily achieved with the Coniston because we were able to comfortably flash/dress around the roof support columns, to create a seamless walkway with a watertight roof.However, the large steel beams and underside required a lot of design work, we diligently designed bespoke connections for the posts to the beams, bespoke connections for the roof bar to the steel beams and bespoke guttering & gutter connections. This replaced the Coniston’s standard integral guttering system with an external gutter system that worked with the design perfectly.Click the link to continue reading..... https://www.ablecanopies.co.uk/c/wall-mounted-canopy-case-studies/hailsham-community-college-primary-academy-case-study.html

Schöck in the "Green Center". New Residential Complex in Linz.In the Upper Austrian capital city Linz, a new urban district known as the "Green Center” is being created. It will provide about 800 apartments. In this context, the Schöck Isokorb® T is a substantial component.Seven non-profit real estate developers are building a new heart for the city on an area of 87,000 m² in its geographical center – the largest urban development project in Linz for decades. As of 2016, a total of 800 apartments will have been erected and in accordance with the socio-demographic development, 50 assisted living housing units and a kindergarten – all on the site of the former freight railway station.In this complex we wanted to create "a sea of green, stretching from private gardens, terraces, loggias and balconies up to the roof tops, " explained the city officials. This is also where its name comes from.14,000 m² of parklandAll objects are being built with net zero-energy efficient features. Solar collectors are being installed on many roofs to provide hot water. As part of the thermal insulation, Schöck’s Isokorb® T thermally separates elements while forming part of the structure. It is being used here on a massive scale in different variants. Around 1,700 units were installed in five different building complexes. The versatile range of Schöck Isokorb® T structural thermal breaks allowed the planners great scope for design and energy efficient solutions, since they not only offer thermal separation and additional fire protection but also freedom of interface access (e.g. balcony to living space). In addition to Isokorb® T, Schöck Dorn (shear reinforcement, heavy-duty dowel), Schöck Bole® (punching shear reinforcement) and the Sound Protection System Schöck Tronsole® (for stairwells) were used in many installations.A total of 89 apartments with 75 balconies will be built whereby the ground floor apartments each have their own small garden. The roof surfaces are all planted. The living areas of balconies that extend outwards have an L-profile. The resulting visual plant staircase on the sunny facades creates the impression of a hanging garden for the residents and neighbors. This has a relatively striking effect and yet this version of gradation and the enclosed balustrades provides a certain degree of privacy for the inhabitants. To achieve the desired level of green, balconies are to have two flower boxes each (1.5m in length) that will be tended to by the residents. The three-meter deep balconies are thermally separated with Schöck Isokorb® T elements.Arcades thermally separated"We have done everything that is technically expedient to save energy. The Isokorb® T has been installed in the terraces and arcades" (Karrer). A solar system was installed on the roof. "All the green diminishes the specified high construction density," says the architect. Gradated terraces ensure that even in the courtyards there’s good light. The buildings were handed over in the summer of 2014.

A dynamic, highly flexible building at the University of Cambridge has been fitted with Junckers solid wood flooring as part of a light-filled interior scheme. The West Hub, designed by Jestico+Whiles, is a hybrid building designed to cater for students, commercial tenants, and members of the public. A focus on fostering connection and collaboration through thoughtfully designed interlinking spaces is evident in the interior, which is bright, open, and welcoming. The new building combines structured spaces with generous circulation areas for breakout and informal social and study use. The large, light-filled rooms make use of Junckers Nordic Oak Harmony flooring finished in ultra matt lacquer as an ideal backdrop. Using materials in paler shades helps maximise levels of natural light reflected into the space, supporting user wellbeing as well as minimising reliance on artificial lighting. A large plate-steel orange staircase, clad in Junckers Nordic Oak, zigzags its way through the main atrium, providing a visual and circulatory focal point as well as connecting the building vertically. Each of the floors in the building were designed with a different ambiance in mind, from a vibrant and lively ground floor housing a café and dining area, to a more relaxed, calmer first floor and a quiet upper floor intended for study. The building has achieved BREEAM Excellent and adopts many aspects of the WELL standard, including plenty of natural light and elements of biophilic design. On the lower ground floor hospitality areas, plants and trees have been integrated into the interior, which coupled with Junckers solid hardwood flooring provides an environment with a connection to nature, an element proved to support wellbeing as well as performance. An ideal choice for a busy, user-focused building, A pre-finished, solid hardwood floor from Junckers has a perfectly smooth surface and cannot harbour dust or mites. As an all-natural material, wood contributes to an even and balanced indoor climate as it helps maintain temperature in a room and reduces static from electrical equipment. All Junckers’ floors hold the Danish Indoor Climate label and have undergone extensive degassing and odour testing to ensure there are no chemical substances in the flooring. Junckers also complies with EU legislation REACH. The floor was installed by PICA Floorings Ltd. 

Designed by architect Renzo Piano, the new Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre (SNFCC) in Athens has created homes for the National Library of Greece and Greek National Opera, which include a 1,400-seat auditorium. With significant steel structures involved, Nullifire SC902 Fast Track, On-Site Intumescent Steel Coating was used extensively to provide passive fire protection.

Bayside Apartments is a stunning new development on Worthing's seafront. With a resident's lounge, communal courtyard space and spa, Bayside truly makes the most of its incredible seafront home. Taking inspiration from the coast, 'Bayside Vista' - the 15 storey structure is enveloped in swooping balconies with wood-grain tile, supported by Ryno RPF Fixed-Head Paving Support Pedestals.