"building frames"

"Reducing the risk of working at height is a key focus for Kautex. Providing safe access and fall protection to maintain our machinery is critical."Eurosafe Solutions provided the client with a safe method of accessing these areas, utilising both structural steelwork on the machine itself and the steel frame of the building to provide overhead Latchways ManSafe Systems and PPE Anchor Points.

This incredible design, that uses EQUITONE [natura], features hidden shutters to windows and Juliet balconies for the residents of this 10 story student accommodation to enjoy. The random opening of the shutters gives the building a new appearance daily, as the dark grey of EQUITONE [natura] in Anthracite [N251] works perfectly to maximise the effect of the exposed orange metal framing that lies beneath.

The HQ of Varde Partners Europe is now full to the brim with our stylish, modern partitions with our anodised-effect bronze frame finish. This follows an ambitious fit-out boasting the addition of multiple meeting rooms, a fresh, vibrant reception area and a new roof terrace which looks over some of the most iconic buildings in London.

Sleek minimalist shadow gaps create statement internal design elements, producing clean lines unimpeded by the traditional use of skirting boards, architraves and cornices. The features can be installed between walls, floors, skirting boards, windows, door frames and staircases throughout a building, or in specific areas such as hallways & kitchens to create maximum impact.

Developed as three separate buildings, the existing tower is being refurbished as high quality apartments with offices and retail, whilst the podium is being replaced with new offices and roof garden. With a fully glazed lobby, a reduced and rationalized core cased in luscious marble and innovative dark bronze-cased windows which sit in the steel frame. The building will be 80% more energy efficient when complete. Effisus Ecofacade Pre-fab Profiles were used to seal façade connections – not only to protect the building from water damage, but also to improve building airtightness and energy efficiency.

MEDITE VENT and SMARTPLY AIRTIGHT proved to be a winning combination for the first oak frame Passivhaus to be built in the heart of Wiltshire, South West England.Built by award-winning construction company Erigo Developments, Seldom Seen, a private detached residence, was at the time of completion the first house in Wiltshire to meet the Passivhaus standard. It still ranks as only the eighth certified Passivhaus in the South West of England.Designed around a traditional oak frame and finished in oak cladding, the house was strategically sympathetic to its rural Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) setting.The combination of MEDITE VENT and SMARTPLY AIRTIGHT helped to achieve its Passivhaus status.Rebecca Thursby, Director of Erigo Developments commented: “At the time, there was nothing else on the market that fulfilled its role in this location. We used an oak frame to create the external envelope and then choose both MEDITE VENT and SMARTPLY AIRTIGHT to achieve the level of airtightness required to meet the Passivhaus standard. We managed to get the air tightness down to 0.38 ACH @ 50 Pascals, which is very good.”To reach Passivhaus standard, a building must achieve an airtightness level of 0.6ACH (Air Change per Hour) at 50 Pascals or less. In other words, the volume of uncontrolled air leakages in 1 hour must be less than 0.6 times the overall building volume when the difference in air pressure between the indoors and outdoors is 50 Pascals. Named after French mathematician and physicist Blaise Pascal, ‘Pascals’ is the unit by which pressure is measured. In this case, it indicates the air pressure difference between inside the building and outside the building for the airtightness test. Reaching an airtightness level of 0.38 can be considered a remarkable achievement.Perfect for use in low energy buildings, MEDITE VENT is a high performance, breathable sheathing panel, suitable for use in timber frame structures. It boasts high racking strength in excess of Category 1 requirements, and high vapour permeability alongside weather resistance. Its extremely low vapour diffusion factor helps to prevent condensation and because it is manufactured with no added formaldehyde, it contributes to both a healthier working environment for installing contractors and a healthier living environment for building occupants.This intelligently formulated panel is teamed with SMARTPLY AIRTIGHT, an airtight structural OSB/3 panel with integrated vapour control properties, used as structural sheathing in timber frame buildings. These features eliminate the need for additional Air and Vapour Control layer (AVCL) membranes. Its coating also provides a durable, smooth surface perfect for the use of airtight tape at the panel joints. SMARTPLY’s in-house speciality surfacing technology provides this integrated vapour barrier, which delivers high and constant vapour resistance across the whole surface.For this project, the timber frame was in-filled with Icyenene sprayfoam insulation, with SMARTPLY AIRTIGHT lining the interior, alongside plasterboard facing the room. MEDITE VENT was installed on the exterior of the spray foam, which was then topped with Tyvek wrap and finished with the timber cladding.MEDITE SMARTPLY’s entire product range, including MEDITE VENT and SMARTPLY AIRTIGHT, is manufactured with FSC® certified Irish timber, from their own sustainably managed forests, demonstrating a clear supply chain and manufacturing process.Being conscious of how this industry impacts the environment is also something that Erigo Developments takes very seriously. Erigo is an award-winning construction company that puts an exceptionally strong focus on being environmentally responsible. The company demonstrates this by selecting carbon responsible materials and always aiming to achieve zero non-hazardous waste to landfill in all of their projects.“We've made a commitment that we're only going to build to a Passivhaus standard going forward, and to build with carbon responsible materials,” continued Rebecca. “I think everyone needs to do their bit to combat climate change.”“I think that building regulations need to go further in terms of power requirements and what's needed from houses now to achieve energy efficiency. That way, everyone knows what they can do in order to reduce their energy demands. There also needs to be more incentives in place to make people choose carbon responsible materials.”The use of MEDITE VENT and SMARTPLY AIRTIGHT provides a winning formula for sustainable building.

The Sways project, consists on the rehabilitation and two storey upward extension of a building dating from the 90’s, transforming that place into an magnificent office building. The scheme provides for architectural enhancement of the real estate complex, involving modification of vertical circulations (cores), reconfiguration of the interior patios and modification of the existing facade. Effisus Ecofacade Pre-Fab Frames were developed specifically for this project, allowing time savings and reduced largely the possibility of installation errors, maximizing the efficiency of sealing work.

This external solar shading system with aluminium sliding panels in front of the glazing means the sun's rays do not get a chance to heat up the interior directly. DucoSlide also ensures maximum privacy by screening off the glazed areas, while maintaining the view outside. DucoSlide also adds value to the façade of the building from an aesthetic point of view. The slim and robust frame profile, light weight, fine louvre blades and aluminium colour of the panels, perfectly complements the colour of the building.

The re-development by Liveman Properties has converted the Dock Office into a mixture of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, with an additional 14 new duplex apartments constructed on the existing building roof. DV Architects, Liverpool, specified Technal’s MX Toggle Glazing curtain walling for the steel frame extension and Technal FY65 windows. Architect Billy Hodge commented, “The Dock Office is a local heritage asset and great care has been taken to make sure that the character of the building is not altered.

When Vitsoe, makers of iconic minimal-modernist furniture, decided to build a new HQ, it was always going to be something special. Central to the design is the saw tooth roof with 240 northlights created using the VELUX Modular Skylight system. The elegant sightlines of the VELUX skylight frame sections complemented Vitsoe's own minimal-modernist design philosophy. " Natural lighting and ventilation from the VELUX Modular Skylights were critical to restoring a connection between the building's users and the world around them."

An exceptional Berkshire new build has been enhanced by incorporating made-to-order timber windows and doors from Lomax + Wood Limited. The main window used is the timber spring balanced sash window. A key feature for the developer was that Lomax + Wood offers a complete service from design all the way through to installation.Lomax + Wood designed, supplied and fitted their made-to-order timber spring balances sash windows which helped create the period appearance for this amazing new build project within the constituency of Windsor.Part Q compliant43 made-to-order timber Spring Sash Windows Concealed Spring4 Bifolding Doorsets3 French Doorsets1 Entrance doorConcealed SpringsRal 9010Ovolo MouldThe Lomax + Wood high-performance timber windows and doors are manufactured from engineered knot-free timber for strength, stability and durability. The factory finished paint system is spray applied and micro-porous, which allows the timber to breathe. All the frames are supplied factory finished, with all ironmongery including espagnolette locking. The timber windows and doors are double or triple glazed internally for security; all are tested independently to achieve PAS 24:2016, BS 6375 Part 1, 2 and 3.Lomax + Wood are committed to sourcing from sustainable sources; to this end, we have worked hard to achieve FSC® Chain of Custody which is deemed by many to be an environmental gold standard. This work was undertaken in partnership with BM TRADA who are also considered to be a mark of quality in our industry. FSC® Chain of Custody is not the same as a timber window and door supplier providing FSC® documents for the timber alone. The Lomax + Wood FSC® Chain of Custody ensures the timber is FSC® from the source through to installation, if Lomax + Wood site fitting is specified, which is within the scope of our certification.Lomax + Wood are able to provide a made-to-order timber window and door solution to architects, private customers, developers and builders across the UK and our website demonstrates the vary varied styles and projects that we have been involved with.Lomax + Wood can provide made-to-order timber windows and doors, including composite aluminium clad with a supply only or supply and fit option. Timber windows and doors are available with specialised double, triple or single glazing to meet performance and conservation are requirements. Contact us today to learn how we can help you with your project or so we can provide you with a quotation.

When the largest timber-frame structure in Scotland needed to meet the challenge of balancing high thermal performance within a specified building footprint, an innovative solution was called for… Project: Ellerslie Road, Sustainable Residential Development Location: Yoker, Glasgow Client: CCG Construction and Manufacturing Group Product: Chi-Gasket Application: Cross Laminated Timber Project Value: £5.5 million

The Park Hill Estate in Sheffield was built as a council estate between 1957 and 1961. It was designed by Jack Lynn and Ivor Smith in a brutalist architectural style and has always divided opinions.Described as revolutionary for its time, the concept was `Streets in the Sky` with wide deck areas and distinctive concrete frame.  Whilst demolition of the site was being considered, in 1998 the estate was listed by English Heritage and given Grade II* status which was considered very controversial and attracted much criticism.  It is the largest listed building in Europe and, with its protected status, it was decided to renovate and redevelop the site as a joint venture between Urban Splash and English Heritage.The future of the scheme was to develop the site into desirable upmarket apartments, business units and social housing and the success has been widely publicised, including features in almost all architectural and concrete magazines, with a shortlisting for the 2013 RIBA Stirling Prize & 2023 RIBA Yorkshire awards, as well as winners of the AJ Retrofit Awards 2023.The key involvement for KEIM Mineral Paints was renovation of the extensive concrete frame. The discoloured concrete gave a drab and dirty look to the building – not the desirable, upmarket effect that the designers were looking for. The first consideration was to paint the frame in its entirety but this would have led to the loss of what is considered to be the most iconic feature of the building. So the challenge was to renovate the frame, improve the colour and finish without creating a painted effect.The answer was to use KEIM Concretal Lasur. This innovative paint system is a colourwash or stain which is applied onto concrete to cover blemishes and enhance the appearance, whilst, most importantly, keeping the look of natural concrete. KEIM Concretal Lasur has all of the features integral to KEIM Mineral Paints such as a permanent and highly protective chemical bond, complete UV stability and resistance to mould and fungal growth.KEIM Concretal Lasur is diluted with a complementary product using differing ratios and opacities to achieve the required colour and coverage, whilst still enabling surfaces to look like unpainted concrete. The system can also be employed to minimise any unsightly repairs to concrete. The versatility of the system allows almost complete coverage of repairs, or slight coverage, if preferred, which enhances the natural look of the concrete but gives the effect of a more visually appealing finish.

Former Terry's Chocolate Factory in York is transformed into a spectacular Care Village with the help of Johnstone's Trade. The landmark building is Grade II listed and, after a number of years lying unused and unloved was brought back to life using Johnstone’s Trade’s Covaplus Vinyl Matt and Acrylic Durable Matt. Applied to the walls and ceilings of the interior building, making it ideal for high traffic areas. In addition, Johnstone’s Water Based Undercoat and Gloss were used for the trim and window frames, providing a high sheen finish that will stay whiter for longer.

Langley Academy Primary School, is a modern 2 storey development which will house 630 nursery, reception and junior pupils in Slough Berkshire. To carry out the main works of this project, the sub-contractor was appointed to construct the building using a concrete frame and cement particle board, then wrapped in high quality external wall insulation and render materials from SPSenvirowall. Working collaboratively, this saw the installation of 1100 meters of 200mm insulation, which met the desired thermal performance of the building as well as contributing to the fire and acoustic requirements.

Clapham Junction Train Station is one of Europe’s busiest Railway Stations handling up to 50,000 passengers per day. AJ Wells designed, built and installed vitreous enamel cladding for the Grant Road Entrance.Detailed site surveys were carried out to design the appropriate framing system for the cladding panels. There were a number of design requirements to be considered including: provision of a rainwater management system, emergency fire escape, access doors, interfaces with electrical equipment, staircases and uneven flooring.Everything was successfully incorporated, manufactured and installed on-time and within budget in time for the new connection to the Overground to open just before the London Olympics.During installation, careful logistics and passenger safety were our top priority, with much of the works carried out at nights and weekends. Much of our work was carried out alongside other contractors working on floors, ceilings and electrical connections.KEY FEATURES: • Framing system and vitreous enamel cladding • Incorporates rainwater management system • Incorporates emergency fire escapeA.J WELLS SERVICES: • Design, Build & Install Project • Site-Survey, CAD design • Manufacture • Installation of framing system and VE cladding • Provision of project documentation

Towering over London’s skyline at 225 metres, the Leadenhallbuilding is now the fourth tallest building in the UK. Theskyscraper joins a growing cluster of buildings in the City ofLondon’s financial district including: the Gherkin, 20 Fenchurchstreet (the walkie talkie) and the Lloyds building.The construction of the Leadenhall building was a pioneeringfeat. Rather than using a traditional concrete core, Laing O’rourke,used an external steel frame, more commonly used on bridgesand offshore oil rigs. The frame, which is incorporated into thebuilding’s exterior design, is the tallest in the world.The distinctive slanted design of the building was born throughthe City of London Corporation’s request that the view of St.Pauls Cathedral from Fleet Street must not be obscured by a newbuilding. The resulting wedge shape of the project lead it to beingdubbed the ‘Cheesegrater’.As the Leadenhall building is largely built for the commercialarena with a high level of usage, the ironmongery package thatAllgood supplied had to meet the highest performance standardsthat would stand the test of time. Allgood created the specificationthat met the most stringent of European performance standards inaddition to providing long warranties, including hinges that carry a25 year warranty.Like many modern buildings, there was a strong desire for thebuilding to be built as environmentally sustainable as possible.Not only are all Modric stainless steel door fittings made from 62%recycled material, but 95% of the material can be recycled at theend of the products life.By supplying the Modric range, which is made in our UK factory,Allgood ensured that carbon emissions from transportation werereduced to a minimum providing the most environmentally friendlyoption. 122 Leadenhall street is a unique building that providesan excellent addition to London’s rapidly evolving skyline andAllgood were able to offer an ironmongery specification thatmatched it’s high standards.

Project: Broxbourne Business CentreDate: 2022 Background:·        APL were engaged with the architect early in the project design and specification process·        APL worked closely with the architect and powder-coating manufacturers to select the correct colour shade for the perforated areas·        APL’s design team assisted with detailing the challenging interfaces between different cladding types·        APL provided all structural calculations Systems:·        550m² of APL SnapLoc™ traditional standing seam system in steel with a RAL 7016 PUF coating ·        700m² of APL AP18HR-Airwall™ perforated sinusoidal profile with an APL Oxide3 PPC coating ·        APL Tritherm™ GALV sub-framing to SFS substructure for APL SnapLoc™ areas·        APL AluE™ Tritherm aluminium sub-framing for AP18HR-Airwall™ areas·        All flashings, fixings and accessories  Building Location:·        Broxbourne

The scheme includes infilling one third of Alexandra Dock with 780,000 m3 of material and reclaiming 7.5 ha of the river to create a new 650m quay wall, which can accommodate three offshore wind installation vessels.Construction will also involve dredging a new berth pocket, completion of earthworks and surfacing, building internal access roads and service networks, construction of a new Roll-on / Roll-off ramp and demolition of some existing buildings.Our Hody system was used in the 3 Primary Substations on the site to create the first floor decks of the steel framed buildings within the Alexandra Dock project.

THE PROJECT: Recticel supplied the low-thermal conductivity insulation boards to ensure new-build homes within a large residential development attained the required levels of thermal performance. The 450-home complex in Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire was fitted with Eurothane® GP boards, which were installed within the properties’ timber-frame cassettes. The insulation was specified for its excellent thermal conductivity of 0.022W/mK. In addition, the boards’ consistent tolerances, straight edges and flatness enhance their usability without compromise to durability. The cassettes containing the insulation were assembled off-site before being installed within the properties’ walls.THE SOLUTION: For this project, the client required a high-performance PIR insulation board that offered walls throughout its collection of houses and bungalows superb thermal performance. This, along with their easy handling ability, made Eurothane® GP boards the ideal solution. It led to the development achieving a U-value of 0.21W/m2K which is above the project’s specific regulatory requirements. It means when the first occupants inhabit this beautifully designed, modern development, they will be inheriting homes that are as comfortable on the inside as they are attractive on the outside.Derek Gough, Senior Estimator at Taylor Lane Timber Frame, which delivered the project’s timber frame properties explained:"Our excellent working relationship with Recticel was key to the success of this project. It’s a collaboration that thrives on their products’ quality, technical expertise and our installation skills and long-held construction experience."About Eurothane® GP:Eurothane® GP is a high performance PIR insulation board that is light weight, easy to cut, handle and install. Whether it’s a pitched roof, framed wall or floor, Eurothane® GP is the ideal solution amongst contractors and installers

Products: Flexi heavy – Modular Frameworks & Flexi Access – Bespoke access platforms. Services: Air-handling units & associated access requirements. Roof build-up: Warm roof design – PIR/PUR insulation with PVC/TPO field membrane. Pump House were proud to have been chosen as the preferred supplier of building services support systems to the project, with support frames required to fourteen rooftop air-handling units. Each framework was also accompanied by a bespoke access platform to one longitudinal side of the air-handling units for maintenance purposes.

One of Northern Ireland’s most popular 20th century libraries has been refurbished and extended with Crittall Windows helping to retain its unique character. The original three-storey building was circular in plan with a distinctive saw-tooth window configuration on the first and second floors. Crittall Corporate W20 windows were specified for the contract, with polyester powder coated white frames they contribute to the overall light and airy feel. The double-glazed, weatherstripped windows suit perfectly a heritage building with a modern purpose. Designed and constructed to achieve a BREEAM Very Good certification.

The Royal College of Pathologists have relocated their London Headquarters to the rapidly changing area of Aldgate, on the Eastern fringes of the city. The new seven storey structure replaces an existing office block, providing a flexible and environmentally efficient building to house their growing needs. The building design includes major conference facilities, meeting rooms, offices, a multi-function auditorium, exhibition space, restaurant facilities and accommodation. Cordek were asked by the specialist concrete frame contractor Oliver Connell & Son to devise a formwork system to allow the construction of ribbed concrete floors.

Royal Arsenal Riverside sits at the heart of Woolwich and occupies a prime location along the River Thames.The development is delivering 562 apartments and ground-floor commercial space on a 1.1ha site that forms part of the wider Royal Arsenal Waterfront. The scheme comprises three buildings of varying heights over a common single-storey basement.The ambitious waterfront scheme transforms an underused parcel of land into a new, thriving neighbourhood that enhances its surroundings. It is located at the end of the new linear park which aspires to establish a unique relationship between town and water; linking the town centre in the south to the river frontage in the north.Our high-performance metal riser doorset, Quadra was used throughout the development. Perfect for concealing fire-rated riser doors, access panels, and internal doors in corridors, landings, and other access areas; Quadra+ is supplied as an integral, four-sided frame and door system, pre-constructed to form a single robust unit. Ideal for hidden commercial access solutions, Quadra+ is designed and manufactured to the highest standards.A design innovation – Quadra+ is the original riser doorset from Selo, now featuring an Adjustable Frame to enhance installation speed and fire compliance. The screw-operated adjuster bolts allow for simple and secure Quadra+ frame installation.

Located in the heart of London The Plimsoll Building is an architectural collection of towers arranged around a stunning communal garden, landscaped with architectural trees, shrubs etc. Occupying a key position alongside Gasholder Park, this thirteen storey building offers a truly world class residential experience. The Plimsoll Building provides a range of amenities for its residents including a state-of-the-art fitness suite, private dining facilities and a rooftop winter garden with stunning views over central London. Check out the stunning and totally bespoke entrance matting we installed at this prime location

The award-winning offices at the Angel Building!When they launched in late 2010, Angel Building was Derwent London’s largest redevelopment. Designed by AHMM architects with elegant and robust modern detailing, the six-storey office building is playing an important role in regenerating the area.Angel Building was shortlisted for RIBA Stirling Prize 2011 and has won awards from RIBA London, the British Council for Offices and New London Architecture. Within the first 13 months of opening it was fully occupied. Expedia now occupy the entire office until 2030.In this development our Arriva was used, the frameless doors crafted for modern interior settings. Arriva stands out as an exceptionally versatile doorset featuring an outward-opening action. When positioned in front of the concealed flush side, the door gracefully swings open towards you, adding to its user-friendly and adaptable design.

Woodlands is a high-quality retirement scheme of 17 luxury apartments by PegasusLife, now part of Lifestory, in exclusive Canford Cliffs, Dorset. Designed by Snug Architects, the building’s striking, contemporary form is crafted to include a carefully specified combination of whitewashed, vertical timber cladding, glazed balconies, bronze-coloured windows and white Antro facing brick slips from leading brick innovator, Vandersanden. “It was the team at PegasusLife that first suggested using Vandersanden brick slips,” explains Mike Worthington, director at Snug Architects. “The very stylish Antro brick complements the whitewashed timber cladding and the bronze metal colour of the windows very well to provide an incredibly mature material palette.” Within walking distance of the beach, Woodlands stands on Flaghead Road amongst age-old pines. The building’s architecture was inspired by its setting and, although bold and contemporary, relates harmoniously to the scale of the surrounding housing. The structure was conceived as a three-storey modern brick envelope with a basement car park that has lift access. Woodlands was built using a reinforced concrete frame construction. Instead of traditional brickwork, Gebrik Brick Cladding Panels featuring Vandersanden’s Antro brick slips were supplied by Aquarian Cladding for the project. These were constructed off-site and installed straight onto the building frame. By using Gebrik panels, the aesthetics of the building were maintained as originally designed while minimising on-site works. A further advantage was that the build programme was more efficient than with traditional construction as the building was watertight more quickly, so interior spaces could be fitted out in tandem with work to the exterior. To complete the facade, Antro brick pistols and splayed/canted brick specials were employed with the bricks wrapped underneath the soffit of window and balcony openings. Vandersanden’s Antro stock facing bricks have a sanded-coated and creased structure. They are a mix of different kinds of clay forms and made with 100% natural resources; the loam that forms the most important base material dates from the Ice Age. By using specific sand types for the surface covering, the desired colour is achieved. Mike Worthington says: “The Vandersanden bricks are good quality and provided the basis for a beautiful and mature materiality for this retirement living development which we were delighted with. They’ve weathered very well and we’re regularly complimented on the scheme and asked who supplied the bricks. We’re very proud of it.” Canford Cliffs is an affluent suburb of Poole with a significant population of retired people. PegasusLife is a retirement living provider on a mission to fundamentally re-think retirement living in the UK. Unsurprisingly, Woodlands was shortlisted for the 2017 RIBA South West Awards. Further details on Snug Architects are available at https://www.snugarchitects.co.uk. To find out more about the bricks used in this project or to see the wide range of high-quality bricks available from Vandersanden, click on the 'View more' link 

Elevating aesthetics and safety at The Sienna Building, Basingstoke.Nestled in the heart of Basingstoke’s vibrant urban business park, The Sienna Building stands as a testament to modern design and urban regeneration. As part of the major mixed-use development orchestrated by Muse, a division of the Morgan Sindall Group, this striking Grade A office building includes a 288-space multi-storey car park, both designed to redefine Basingstoke’s town center.Our involvement in The Sienna Building project centered on providing bespoke riser doors, a crucial element in the overall safety and aesthetic considerations of the development. The project aimed to seamlessly integrate modern design with functional safety features, and we were proud to contribute to this vision.Beyond their functional significance, these doors were crafted with a bespoke touch to align seamlessly with the modern aesthetic of The Sienna Building. The incorporation of metal riser doors ensured compliance with safety standards while maintaining a sleek and contemporary appearance.In a commitment to design cohesion, our contribution extended to supplying tiled riser doors. These bespoke doors were specifically tailored to continue the flow of the wall, ensuring a harmonious and uninterrupted visual experience. The tiled riser doors not only served a functional purpose but also contributed to the overall aesthetic appeal, creating a polished and sophisticated look.

Designed by architects Kohn Pedersen Fox, 52 Lime Street, also known as The Scalpel, is a 38-storey commercial skyscraper situated in London’s lucrative financial district. Located in the City of London cluster among the Leadenhall Building and The Gherkin, The Scalpel is an icon of the capital’s skyline and a stunning addition to London’s urban scene. Ambar Kelly worked with main contractor, Skanska and frame subcontractors, Byrne Bros and William Hare on this project.

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

Avoiding gas reliance when building a new house.Traditional self-build projects have always had heating systems such as gas central heating and solar panels installed. However, with the increasing costs of gas, and the uncertainty of future supplies, a secondary heating source is required.There are options such as ground heating pumps, etc. but a real heating system independent of the grid, plus a stunning focal point has to be a wood burning stove.In fact, wood logs are now the cheapest domestic heating fuel. According to the Stove Industry Alliance, wood now is “costing households 74% less per kWh than electric heating and 21% less than gas heating”. The benefits don’t end there. “Using a modern wood burning stove also costs 29% less to run than an air source heat pump. Wood logs are 87% less carbon intensive than gas, 88% less than electricity and 74% less than an air source heat pump.”Building a traditional steel pipe flue system is always an option, but steel systems are more suitable in retrofit projects where minimum disruption is required. When you are building a house from the ground up, then a more permanent and ultimately lifetime option is the better one.

Pyroguard’s technical expertise recently proved vital on the regeneration of the Capuchino Convent de San Antonio de Padua in Spain; a project which required a careful balance between renovating the historic building, ensuring modern fire safety regulations were met and being respectful of the Convent’s heritage.The ChallengeThe project presented teams with many challenges, mainly how to work within the parameters of a historic building and bring it in line with modern-day regulations, all while simultaneously respecting its heritage and aesthetics.When it came to the building’s compartmentation, an important part of any building’s passive fire protection strategy, the use of glass was key. To ensure that any new glazing was in keeping with the convent’s style and heritage, the Duramen System from AFVidrio was chosen – a timber frame with a varnished oak finish.The SolutionA bespoke EI120 fire resistance test was then carried out, using AFVidrio’s frame in collaboration with Pyroguard. This fire test was a critical phase of the project and provided assurances of the overall glazing system’s performance. Pyroguard’s expertise and technical knowledge was key in helping to design and pass the EI120 fire test, which featured its Pyroguard Protect fire safety glass.Another challenge of working within historic buildings, as opposed to a new development, is having to adapt the building products to suit the existing structure. On the Capuchino Convent de San Antonio de Padua project, a selection of the glazing units were semi-circular doors and other shaped glass, rather than the standard rectangular panes. Here, Pyroguard again demonstrated its technical expertise, supplying bespoke glass components to suit the on-site framework.

Under the national program of revitalization of FRAC (Fonds Régional d'Art Contemporain), the Central Region, in the heart of Orleans, opened a modern building with innovative architecture in September 2013. With the aim to better meet the needs of contemporary art lovers while promoting the historic military supply depot.The architect firm, Jakob + MacFarlane, wished to capitalize on a strong aesthetic in the heart of the urban environment. Built in the old building Subsistances Military, the structure is based on a geometric distortion by the emergence of a dynamic set of three volumes of glass. These three "Turbulence" are wrapped in a metal mesh on the outside and fabric inside. The project architect's intention for FRAC Centre is to create a place of constant change through a "live" and interactive architecture that combines image, light and information. A system of diodes positioned on Turbulence will highlight program FRAC through an animated game designed by Electronic Shadow artists.To ensure complete isolation of the building, the complex architecture and its metal frame, the thermal breaks, Schöck Isokorb® T type S were integrated to treat energy loss at the connection of the frame with the outer skin. Schöck Isokorb® T type S is a steel to steel thermal break connection that takes the bending moment and shear force in cantilevered metal structures.Read more about The Les Turbulences FRAC Centre, featured in Architectural Record.

17 Esther Anne Place in Islington, originally a post office building, has been converted into luxury flats and warehouse style apartments. It is a development that builds on the richness and variety of the area, mixing Edwardian flair with modern living. It retains the redbrick facade of the sorting office at ground level, combined with a zinc-clad frame on the upper floors making it an eye catching centre piece to Islington Square. Product: Classic 99 Eclisse pocket door systems Location: Upper Street, Islington Developer: Sager / Cain Hoy Architect: CZWG Development: 169 private units Completion: Q4 2017

Howe Green’s 5000 Series access covers were chosen by interior specialists, Tekne Shopfitting Limited to provide access in The Tramshed, a Grade II listed building in London. The aluminium access covers were selected to provide a reliable route to essential underfloor building services in the Tramshed’s public washrooms and busy kitchens. Ensuring an excellent aesthetic finish, Tekne fitted four covers and inlaid each frame with resin flooring to match the surrounding area. The covers were double-sealed for use over foul drainage, with a third seal fitted to help prevent the ingress of dirt.

A range of CS louvre solutions were selected for the Met Office HQ in Exeter to ensure efficient airflow and protection from wind-driven rain ingress. The RSH-5700 louvre delivering Class A rain defence up to 3.0m/s was installed in the sloping façade of the main building. This model is available with an optional glazing frame detail for easy integration into curtain walling. For the IT building, where airflow delivery was a key specification factor, the A-3105C ventilation louvre offering continuous blade appearance and hidden mullions was selected. This product offers Class 1 airflow performance and low pressure drop.