"exhibition display library fittings"

Solihull Retirement Village offers 261 apartments, as well including a village hall, library and IT suite and other facilities. Location: Solihull Contractor: VistryAspex supplied: Ironmongery and access control (Salto access control & automatic door operators

The spacecraft that brought British astronaut Tim Peake back to Earth from space had a record number of visitors during its display period at the National Museum Cardiff. Some 550 sq m of Gerflor’s high-performing Attraction® would ultimately be specified for three gallery areas.

The Utilita Bowl (formerly the Ageas Bowl) is the iconic home of Hampshire Cricket. We have installed three Visutal CompactActive waterless urinals in the Atrium groundfloor washroom.Each urinal saves 100,000 litres of water per year as well as enabling the venue to display video messaging on the urinal digital screens

Run by the Bohunt Education Trust (BET), Bohunt Secondary School in Wokingham first opened in 2016 with a £25 million build that saw partitioning experts, Style being specified to create a flexible room configuration in the main hall.Five years later and Style was invited back into Bohunt, working directly with their staff to deliver additional flexible space – this time in the library.Installing three separate Stylefold 120 folding walls adjacent to each other to corner off a section of the library, the school benefits from the ability to quickly redefine the space to house small classes and reading groups without disturbing the rest of the library.Buffered up against existing columns, each operable wall has a pass door to give staff and students ease of access, and the impressive 46dB acoustic rating means classes can enjoy the peace and quiet of a separate room when required.“This is a simple, yet very effective means of using a large open plan space and creating a separate, private room as and when required,” said Michael Porter, sales director for Style South.“The wall is very easy and quick to manoeuvre into position, and the chic melamine finish complements the design of the rest of the school library.”Style is the multi-award winning moveable, folding and partitioning wall specialist and the market leader in the UK. As the exclusive UK partner to Dorma Hüppe, Skyfold and SWG, Style offers an extensive range of moveable wall solutions for all requirements and budgets.“We have a very strong reputation in the education sector,” continued Michael, “with installations ranging from vertically rising, fully automatic moveable walls in large university lecture halls through to small folding walls in village primary schools.“We also have an in-house design team who can advise on making the best use of space, and in the case of Bohunt school, we were able to work directly with them to design and install the perfect solution.”

Project: Knightsbridge Gate, 55-91 KnightsbridgeClient: APML EstateMain contractor: Sir Robert McAlpineArchitects: Dixon Jones Architects (lead), Richard Griffiths Architects (conservation including shopfronts design) and MSMR Architects (residential interior design)Installer: Atlantic Contracts (shopfront design and installation), Richard Gent (glazier)In the world of retail, a Knightsbridge address is about as desirable as it gets, which is why so many brands choose to locate their flagship stores on the famed central-London street.For the designers of Knightsbridge Gate, a landmark mixed-use development that occupies an entire block of the street, providing the best possible shopfronts for the retailers that will occupy the scheme’s ground floor was a top priority. So, choosing the right glazing was paramount.While most of the building has been newly constructed, the 120-metre-long Edwardian street-facing façade has been retained, along with its 17 glazed shopfronts. The glazing for each of the frontages is held in place by decorative oak frames that have been carefully re-created according to the original design.Letting window displays shineTo ensure that the units look their best, the designer selected Pilkington OptiView™ Protect OW anti-reflective glass for the street-level glazing.Coatings on the outer faces of the laminated glass reduce its reflectivity to around 2%, compared with around 8% for standard, un-coated glass. The result is that views into the shopfronts are almost entirely un-interrupted by reflections, even on bright days, ensuring that retailers’ window displays are shown off to the best effect.To give further clarity, the glass is Pilkington Optiwhite™ low-iron glass that is almost entirely free from colouration.Rachel Scannell at APML Estate said: “The aim with the retail units at Knightsbridge Gate was to create spaces that the most prestigious brands in the world would be happy to choose in order to display their offerings. The glazing is, of course, a key part of this.“The anti-reflective glass from Pilkington UK is often used by galleries and museums to display priceless artworks and artifacts without compromising on detail, so the retailers that call Knightsbridge Gate home will enjoy the same benefits.”Crafted to lastAdding to the aesthetic appeal of the glazing is the complex shape of the panes that make it up, including a large, curved edge at the top of the central pane in each shopfront. Pilkington UK engineers worked closely with the carpenters to precision cut each pane of glass to ensure a perfect fit.The shop front windows are as tough as they are beautiful as they consist of two panes of glass laminated together with a strong polyvinyl butyral (PVB) interlayer. This ensures the glazing can stand up to all the forces that may be thrown at it, from wind-loading to any attempts to smash the glass.Due to the anti-reflective coating being applied at a high temperature when the glass was being made, it is highly scratch-resistant, ensuring its clean and clear appearance will last for many years to come.Peter Maj, business development manager at Pilkington United Kingdom Limited, part of the NSG Group, said: “By selecting Pilkington OptiView™ for this project, the designers have demonstrated that it is the product of choice for retail applications where the glazing will be under the utmost scrutiny and needs to look its best.”Along with the shop-fronts, Pilkington UK also supplied 300 m² of Pilkington Optiphon™ OW acoustic glass, which has been used throughout the offices and apartments on the upper five floors of the building to provide noise-reducing secondary glazing.

Privacy glass on a balcony is becoming a more frequent request. This installation by AC Fabrications in Cornwall on a domestic property perfectly displays how a glass privacy screen can be used. The partially frosted glass increases privacy for those on the balcony, people at ground level will not be able to see them. The non-frosted section allows the residents to enjoy their view from the privacy of their balcony. Taller glass on one side extends the privacy even more, and also will act as a windbreak. Frameless glass balustrade is often used as a windbreak on balconies, the solid pane of glass protecting those on the balcony. The installer has used POSIglaze base fit Silver brushed channel. Designed to provide the greatest possible adjustment opportunities, this system enables each panel to be perfectly aligned during, or even after, installation. POSIglaze is the perfect choice for residential to light commercial installations where up to 1.5kN frameless glass balustrade is required. This innovative patented and market leading screw-clamp technology locks glass panels into position effortlessly, with four immobilising fasteners per meter of channel. 

The new flagship shop offers 20,000 product lines displaying the unique patterns which have become synonymous with the brand. In recent years Cath Kidston has experienced a high volume of sales which has swiftly increased customer footfall and with customer safety being paramount there was only one sensible choice of nosing.

The Pôle d`Échange Serra is located directly opposite the Luxexpo exhibition and congress centre in Kirchberg, Luxembourg. The area combines a new bus terminal regional buses and city buses, a Park & Ride car park with around 600 parking spaces and two office buildings with a total area of approx. 8,000 m². With the help of charging points for electric cars, a small kiosk and high security measures at the bus station, the project aims to make the switch from car to public transport more attractive. Lindner Group was involved in the development of the office space. The originalcontract covered the floor and partition trades, including the installation of the NORTEC raised floor with fitted carpet and the use of timber and glass partitions. These were complemented by matching door systems and wooden wall claddings. Due to thecustomer's high level of satisfaction with Lindner's services, the order was quickly extended during the interior fit-out work: As a result, Lindner realised impressive Ecophon acoustic baffles for the meeting rooms. In addition, mobile partition walls should now find their way into the 4th and 7th floors. The room height of over 5 m on the 7th floor made the installation challenging: However, thanks to the static design and subsequent execution of a steel construction clad with plaster, the connection of the 4m high partition wall could be carried out without any problems. Another highlight of the interior fit-out are the wall absorbers in the meeting rooms, which also serve as acoustic pictures. The perforated CPL panel was created in cooperation with Topakustik using a new production method. The perforation pattern corresponds to a Morse code, which stands for the Luxembourg national anthem.

Alexander Stadium in Birmingham underwent significant redevelopment in 2021, ahead of staging the Commonwealth Games in the summer of 2022.BCM GRC supplied GRC to the internal and external areas of the new main stand, including the debossed lettered panels on the stand's exterior which display the stadium's name.Images were taken by ShinePix on behalf of Birmingham City Council

Sevenoaks School’s Science & Technology Centre, designed by Tim Ronalds Architects, brings together a diverse set of disciplines and “puts learning, education and experimentation on display”. Daylit and naturally ventilated throughout, the £23m development has a robust interior of expressive structure, evident construction and natural materials, yet feels highly transparent, with views to the landscape and beyond.

The StoSilent Distance acoustic ceiling and wall system from Sto was specified for the world’s leading museum of art, design and performance and it now creates the perfect acoustic environment for a high-profile display of Renaissance art treasures. The V&A in London recently completed a landmark refurbishment of its Raphael Court where the StoSilent Distance system is now installed.

This project was part of LSE's £12M refurbishment of the Lower Ground Floor library. Colour Compositions in a range of natural green tones was specified and installed in this fast turnaround project to stunning effect. The sound absorbing properties of the modular carpet's cushion backing was significant impact on the acoustics of the space.

Primark’s flagship store on Edinburgh’s premier shopping street has undergone recent refurbishment. This has included the installation of stainless steel grating, supplied by Lang+Fulton, as flooring within the window display. Apart from its stylish contemporary appearance, the grating serves as a light-well, introducing natural daylight to the shopping area in the basement. Product: Stainless Steel

A bold addition to Northbrook College’s West Durrington campus has provided new facilities for students and staff and improved the visibility of the college in the local community. The new Learning Resource Centre forms the social heart of the redesigned campus, with its new entrance, three-storey atrium, library and refectory.

BCM provided GRC to the façades of two new buildings that formed part of the Hornsey Town Hall redevelopment in 2021 and 2022.Both the Ayres Building and the Uren Building contained high-end apartments situated in blocks that complimented the architectural style of the neighbouring Grade II listed Town Hall and library.

Designed by Shawn Hausman Design this hotel features a retro interior style which some may call kitschy or ‘hippie’ style. But there’s no doubt that this hotel is unlike any other, bursting at the seams with bright, vibrant colours and minimalist furniture and décor reflecting a somewhat 70’s glam style. While the interior might not be everyone’s cup of tea, the exterior is quite a sight to behold. With its brutalist-style architecture, it draws on the curved windows that cover the building as the main focus of the design. Originally built in 1974 as an office block and public library Orms were responsible for retaining this stark exterior. The hotel was heightened by a glass extension across the top of the building that holds a restaurant and club.Perhaps the coolest feature of the hotel, the red pill lift. A single external red pod, contrasting vividly with the plain white concrete frame, that transports its guests to all the 266 rooms and the rooftop bars.Selo provided simple, sleek riser doors that fit in perfectly with this modern look, and allow the eye to be drawn to the more important design features of the interior.

Pembroke House is an assisted living home located in Camberley. The home had a conversion of the second and third floors and construction of a 2 story roof extension to provide 116 affordable apartments, as well as 20 in a dedicated dementia suite. Facilities include a private dining room, lounge areas, restaurant, cinema, library, café, spa bathroom, bistro, library, beauty salon and activities room. Located in the city centre, the building has underground parking, garden terraces on the 4th Floor, and a porte cochere providing outdoor space for residents to enjoy.Cellecta’s DECKfon Batten 70 was specified by PRP Architects as they have been rigorously tested and are robust detail complaint for steel, concrete and timber separating floor applications. The battens consist of a layer of recycled, low resonance, open cell, flexible polyurethane foam bonded to an FSC/PEFC certified timber batten.Wates Construction was awarded this 2,880m² contract to construct this development in Surrey.

Providing the headquarters for Forth Valley College, a range of 21st century learning environments as well as benefits for the wider community through the availability of contemporary event exhibition space and conference facilities this campus is considered a world class facility. The inspirational design features highly advanced technology and the application of state-of-the-art materials, structure and finishes.

As everyone is aware, the implications of Brexit remain unclear, but what effect do we think it will potentially have on the UK construction industry? Will Brexit cause a recession in construction? The industry, throughout the Brexit campaign, have displayed mixed views on the prospect of Brexit. There has been concern about how it may or may not affect the skills shortage, the import and export of materials, and regulations/standards.

Eternit profiled sheeting has been specified to create a sustainable, low maintenance rainscreen cladding solution at a landmark primary school project in Nottingham. The £2.8m scheme at the Robin Hood Primary School is a new two-storey creative hub, which includes classrooms, a library, an ICT suite and an art studio.

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

Visitors are greeted into Reynaers Knowledge Centre through an automatic door beneath a sleek cantilever running the length of the building. They enter into a double-height showroom and reception area and can travel up the stairs on to a viewing platform overlooking the showroom. This allows guests to experience a true representation of the scale and quality of the products on display, including multi-level curtain walling, bifolding doors and accessible windows.

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.

The Project New two storey Sixth Form facility to house teaching, exhibition and social learning spaces.The facility is intended for use by the school and the local community & hoped to be a hive for activity in the local area.  The Challenge Propose and deliver a system suitable for a heavy use environment whilst also offering a commercial style space expected by the wider public.  Durability, ease of cleaning and maintenance are key drivers in the decision process as these areas will be used for extended periods and by a diverse sector.  The washrooms are likely be used by all visitors and it is paramount that the facilities compliment the building and impress the user. The SolutionExcelsior Flush 30 Cubicles with Stainless Steel Ironmongery create an opulent seamless wall within the washroom space Solid Surface bespoke vanity troughs with full height mirrors above open up the space and add a commercial fit out touch.Wall panelling has been included to completement the systems and enclose the WC working mechanisms whilst providing ease of access to the onsite maintenance teams.The project was managed by the contracts team at excelsior and delivered to an extremely high standard by our trusted team of fitters.

First impressions count, which led to Amtico Signature being used throughout The Cotgrave Hub – a brand new, state-of the-art building located in the heart of the borough of Rushcliffe. Part of an extensive redevelopment of the local area, the multipurpose facility brings together GP services, a pharmacy, the community voluntary service, a library and Nottinghamshire Police all under the same roof.

Architect: Holder Mathias ArchitectsInstaller: Bowmer and Kirkland, LSA Projects Ltd, and Geschwender
Product: Geschwender Lockers, Cubicles, and Accessories with Metra Electronic Locking SolutionsLSA Projects Ltd and Geschwender have been working with Center Parcs since 2010 to refit the changing areas at their UK sites.
In total LSA have supplied over 3,000 lockers to sites at Elvedon, Whinfell, Woburn and Sherwood in addition to hundreds of cubicle solutions and vanity stations to the changing villages. Center Parcs and Holder Mathias Architects specified brightly coloured bays of lockers to help guide guests through the areas of the changing villages.Original installations used traditional coin and key access for their lockers but all sites have now been fitted with Metra systems for keyless lockers. The smart-wristbands issued to Center Parcs guests at check-in works as both the key to their accommodation and their tool to assign lockers at the Sub-Tropical Swimming Paradises and Spas.Using smart locker allocation has the added bonus of allowing guests to locate their specific locker from hundreds on each site using a central display monitor and allows staff to clear locker allocations overnight for cleaning and ready for new guests in the morning.

Mulberry came to Roché with a problem: how could they ensure maximum protection of their shop fronts without impacting appearance or reducing visibility?We were pleased to provide the answer: a number of discrete Eurolook shutters, across multiple UK sites, delivering security without detracting from the window displays’ visual impact.Roché are proud to help secure the shop windows of many prestigious high street and designer brands.

A 1600+ space car park sitting on the famous waterfront serving the Echo Arena, BT Convention Centre and Exhibition Centre Liverpool. The façade takes its inspiration from multi-mast sailing ships.Aluminium diamond shapes representing the iconic vessels, creating an abstract design, and finished in a super durable metallic powder coating to mimic the brickwork Finish: Interpon D2525 Patah YW267I

Alghanim International Planetarium Kuwait City, KuwaitCultural Innovations was appointed in 2013 to develop the vision, content and exhibition design for the world’s largest cultural project - the Sheikh Abdullah Al Salem Cultural Centre.As part of this project, a Planetarium was designed which incorporated our 3D Tetris acoustic panels, which were specifically designed to follow the curvature of the building.Using their wealth of experience in museums, culture, science and attractions development, the Cultural Innovations team curated a modern and immersive series of museums with enormous breadth, not constrained by existing collections, which delivered content and experiences that are directly relevant to the people of Kuwait. Opened in 2018 on a 13-hectare site in the Al-Sha’ab district of Kuwait City, the cultural centre includes the Natural History Museum, Science and Technology Museum, Arabic Islamic Science Museum and Space Museum.Using leading-edge technology, immersive environments, large-scale models and compelling interactivity across all four museums, the Sheikh Abdullah Al Salam Cultural Centre provides an exciting range of attractions as well as a fresh new learning approach for Kuwaitis.To deliver this landmark project Cultural Innovations worked in collaboration with architects SSH Design and contractors Alghanim International and Beck Interiors. The museum complex houses 23 galleries in over 22,000 square metres, presenting over 800 exhibits and experiences. To deliver the project a team of over 140 people, with 30 content specialists focused on interpretation and content development, and 25 exhibition designers with additional expertise for graphics, lighting and audio-visual development. Our extensive range of experts were assembled from universities, zoos, botanic gardens, museums and organisations such as the European Space Agency to provide advice and to ensure scientific facts and interpretation are correct.

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.

The SiteExCel London opened in November 2000 and was the integral component of a huge regeneration project in the area of the Royal Victoria Docks next to the River Thames. The Phase 2 project had the primary objective of increasing the existing flat floor space by 32,500m² resulting in an incredible one million square feet of flexible floor space. This projected the already highly regarded Excel  London into the position of a world class exhibition and conference venue.  Close to London City Airport and with it’s own dedicated station on the Dockland Light Railway the centre manages to attract millions of visitors per year and is a major employer within the local community.The ProjectHaving worked with Sir Robert McAlpine on numerous projects, Bolton Gate Company were extremely pleased to be chosen to again work alongside this Main Contractor particularly on such a prestigious project.   The contract initially involved the supply and installation of a range of 30 and 60 minute fire rated shutters to satisfy the requirement for fire compartmentation between different exhibition spaces and to communal walkways throughout the Exhibition Centre. As the fire strategy developed it became evident that, for particular areas including some of the largest openings (7m x 10m), the fire shutters were required to provide fire integrity but this also had to be combined with an acoustic rating of up to 17dB RW. At the time, acoustic rated fire shutters did not exist on the market as a single product solution and consequently it was typical to supply two separate shutters with one to satisfy each requirement but, given space limitations, this was not a viable option. The SolutionDrawing on years of experience, Bolton Gate Company were committed to developing a workable solution in order to fully satisfy the project requirements.  Moving away from the standard ‘single skin’ type fire rated rolling shutter, efforts were concentrated upon manufacturing a new insulated type shutter that would be capable of providing the acoustic rating. The new shutter design was subjected to a series of rigorous testing, include both fire and acoustic tests all of which were in keeping with the very latest standards. The testing proved to be highly successful and we were pleased to complete our contractual obligations using the very first Fireroll Acoustic shutters which had achieved an E120 fire rating and 22dB RW acoustic rating. The Fire Shutter - Fireroll Acoustic provided a compact, hard wearing, yet aesthetically pleasing single shutter solution which was entirely suitable for incorporation into such a highly regarded exhibition and conference centre.   

Having used Forbo Marmoleum flooring in the original build of the Core building, the Eden Project called upon the durable and sustainable floor covering once more to reinvigorate the recent refurbishment of the area.After years of constant use with around one million visitors a year, the Core building at the heart of Cornwall’s popular visitor attraction, the Eden Project, underwent a major transformation and a new exhibition, Invisible Worlds, was installed.Dr Jo Elworthy, Director of Interpretation at the Eden Project explained: "When we first built the Core in 2005, we wanted to create a sustainable space, so this meant using responsibly sourced materials. We approached Forbo as we wished to showcase environmentally-friendly, sustainable flooring made from natural materials – and Marmoleum seemed like the perfect fit on all levels. As the existing Marmoleum floors had fared so well over the years, we went back to Forbo when we were looking to refresh the building. Again, we needed a floor covering that was made from renewable raw materials, PVC-free, low emitting and carbon neutral, yet would be able to withstand the heavy footfall of visitors that we get each year.”

Hush Acoustics provided an acoustic control solution for the main exhibit at the SS Great Britain visitor attraction called ‘Brunel’s Mind’, in which visitors enter inside the head of Isambard Kingdom Brunel to see the world through his eyes.Working with Electrosonic, the technology experts ho were tasked with supplying and fitting most of the audio-visual equipment for the project, Hush Acoustics ensured any concerns around the reverberation times in this area could be effectively addressed. The solution came with Hush Wall Covering, a highly versatile product which is formed of unique non-woven high-density polyester to target mid-range frequency sound i.e. speech etc. Its used ensured that the audio presentation within this visitor feature would sound as it should.The Hush Wall Covering product used at the SS Great Britain is just 10mm thick so it utilises little space, which was perfect for the room. The product was developed as a direct result of extensive consultation with influential members of the education sector.Chris Hurst from Electrosonic was very pleased with the results of the wall covering and for our quick turnaround time, saying the product does “exactly what it says on the tin”.

The Burrell Collection’s renaissance is an ambitious refurbishment which will allow visitors to explore all three floors in the building, set out as galleries, visible stores and special exhibition spaces. Arup was tasked to improve and reinstate the entire envelope of the building. The goal for the failing metal standing seam roof was to replace it with a new waterproofing system incorporating falls to provide effective drainage and to incorporate sustainable technology in the form of solar PV.

The large vertical and square openings of the award - winning Helga de Alvear Museum of Contemporary Art feature the Arion XXL roller blind for largewindows , making it possible to create a play of lights and shadows ideal for the exhibition rooms .Tecnically , the cable guides allow a perfect fastening of the fabric without creating “weight” in the design of the façade .Also, the project perfectly integrates in its surroundings, inspired by the traditional house with a garden .

The Silverstone Interactive Museum is a 600m­² motorsport exhibition located at the world famous Silverstone Circuit in Northamptonshire. The £22 million building, built with a contribution from the National Lottery Heritage Fund consists of a fully refurbished WWII aircraft hangar and a new two-storey extension which serves as the entrance to the exhibition. The TECHNAL curtain walling was a key part of the design and enabled large spans of glass to the front and rear of the building. This provides contrast to the iridescent finish and rainscreen cladding. This curtain wall system enabled large panel sizes of up to 2.8m high and 2m wide without additional steelwork that would have detracted from the intended design and added to the cost. The exposed location meant that airtightness and thermal efficiency were also design considerations. Our curtain walling features a thermally broken construction and high levels of wind and weather resistance. Due to the nature of the building and location close to the circuit, the goal with the acoustic requirements was to achieve a balance of reducing the sound from the track without completely eliminating it. This was achieved with TECHNAL systems using standard double glazing without the need for acoustic glass.