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Crown Commercial Service (CCS) is the biggest public procurement organisation the UK. At its busy offices in Norwich, Style worked with contractor, Sol Services Ltd, to create flexible space in one of the meeting rooms, enabling staff to configure the area into two smaller rooms or to completely open-up the area into one single space.The partitioning experts at Style designed a system that combines two glass folding partitions with impressive 42dB Rw acoustic ratings, alongside a Stylefold 120 solid folding wall with a 50 dB Rw rating, successfully delivering the level of adaptability demanded by CCS.With over 900 employees spread across four UK offices, CCS uses its commercial expertise to help buyers in central government and across the public and third sectors to purchase everything from locum doctors and laptops to police cars and electricity. The new partitioning moveable walls help ensure there is always the required room space available to accommodate the myriad of meetings that happen each week. “This is a great example of how a combination of solid and glass acoustic folding walls can create flexible meeting room space which offers light and visibility but is also very private,” said Steve Williams, sales director for Style Midlands.“These walls are so effortless and light to manoeuvre that the space can be reconfigured in minutes, which means different room options can be created for different meetings throughout the day.“The glass moveable walls also retain that feeling of having open plan space, whilst the impressive acoustic integrity of these folding walls means that meetings can take place completely undisturbed.”Further adding to the interior design of the room, graphics were added to the solid moveable wall with matching manifestations on the glass.

The £82 million redevelopment of Coventry’s rail station has seen the creation of a new entrance building and multi-storey car park, with Senior Architectural Systems playing a key role in its creation.Designed by AHR Architects, the West Midlands station is one of the busiest outside of London. The project is the latest to have been delivered by Senior and its long-term supply chain partners Elite Aluminium Systems and Buckingham Group Contracting Ltd.Senior’s slimline SF52 aluminium curtain wall system was specified for the main station building, helping to flood the concourse with natural light. Senior’s robust SD automatic commercial sliding doors were also installed to provide secure, safe and accessible access to the thousands of passengers who use the station every day. Additionally, the new-look station also features a footbridge to allow easier access to the platforms and bus interchange.Senior’s slim profile SF52 aluminium curtain wall system provided the ideal balance of aesthetics and performance by allowing copious amounts of light to enter the building and offering enhanced thermal efficiency. The aluminium frames were powder coated to boost durability and also complement the station’s feature grey and red cladding. Senior’s SPW501 aluminium commercial swing doors were also specified throughout to provide a safe and secure solution to such a high traffic environment.The extensive use of glazing on the building also pays homage to the original station building which is located nearby but owing to its Grade II status, could not be extended or developed to meet the increased demand on Coventry’s rail network. Ahead of the wider refurbishment of the original building, the large glazed panels have been used to frame various artwork from local artists and create another focal point for visitors to the city.

Falco has completed the design, manufacture, supply and installation of new cycle parking infrastructure at Oxford Brookes University.Installed this winter, the new facility comprises 72 spaces of the UK’s leading two-tier cycle parking system – the FalcoLevel-Premium+ combined with the open and spacious FalcoRail double-sided cycle canopy.Two key products of the scheme here at Oxford Brookes University, are the tried and tested Falco Level Premium + two-tier cycle parking system and the Falco Rail cycle canopy, which When combined together, create the ultimate cycle park - providing cyclists with high levels of cycle security in a spacious contemporary canopy design.Each 4m bay of double-sided FalcoRail cycle canopy features cycle parking for up to 36 bikes utilising double-sided two-tier racks. The double-sided nature of both the cycle canopy and cycle racks provides a maximum number of cycle spaces whilst occupying a minimum of floor space.The new facility, with everything a cyclist will need in order to visit the university by bike, has been installed next to the main reception, adjacent to the car park.Oxford Brookes is a four campus public university with over 16,000 students and three main campuses located in Oxford and a fourth in Swindon.In addition to Oxford Brookes University, Falco has supplied cycle parking infrastructure to many other universities including Cambridge University, University of Edinburgh, The Guildhall School of Music and Drama, University of Brighton, Queen Mary University, Loughborough University, University of Southampton and University of West Scotland. For more information about the scheme here at Oxford Brookes University, or how Falco can assist your cycle parking project, please contact our helpful sales team at sales@falco.co.uk.

The ChallengeIn 2018 a joint venture of Bam Nuttall and Morgan Sindall was awarded the £200 million smart motorway scheme by Highways England. These works were to improve the flow of traffic between the M6 and the M60. This involved improving the link road between these two busy Highways which is the M62 J10-12.Many Embankments needed to be retained to fit the new ERAs and to allow room for many of the gantries that are needed on a smart motorway scheme.One of the main challenges with all Highway Schemes is coordinating works around your fellow contractors, this can be tough at times with works spread over such a small distance. With careful planning, this was overcome and the work flowed continuously for the duration of our time on the schemeA durable, long-lasting, and low-maintenance wall solution with a Highway Authorities Product Approval Scheme and British Board of Agreement (BBA) certificate was required.The SolutionA sizeable number of mass gravity EcoCrib retaining walls are now built along the M62 J10-12. A total of 44 structures equating to 1546m of walling is now spread across the 3 junctions. With construction speeds exceeding 50m2 a day and a design life in excess of 120 years, EcoCrib is durable, and the most highly sustainable retaining solution. Designed, supplied and installed by PC Construction, certified by the BBA and HAPAS in 2012.EcoCrib profiles are manufactured entirely from recycled UK plastic (bottle tops, car bumpers etc) with any wastage or surplus material re-processed to form new EcoCrib profiles.EcoCrib can be recycled when it reaches the end of its useful life.When considering solutions for developments of all kinds, the lifetime cost means EcoCrib is the more efficient choice.2984 SQM of EcoCrib was used on the scheme, equivalent to 222 tonnes of plastic waste diverted from landfill.

Here at Symphony, we pride ourselves on leading the way in design and manufacture innovation. We are also always ensuring that sustainability is at the forefront of everything we do. That’s why we were thrilled to work with Barratt Developments to create the first zero carbon home concept from a major housebuilder. The Zed HouseWith carbon neutral homes being such a hot topic, with everything from the move to heat pumps to electric car charging at home, we were honoured to be invited to work with leading housebuilder Barratt Developments on its unique and flagship zero carbon home concept. The Zed House will be the first new home in the UK built by a major housebuilder to go beyond the new Future Homes Standard by delivering a carbon reduction of 125%. The Future Homes Standard ensures that all new homes built from 2025 will produce 75-80% less carbon emissions than homes under current regulations. The carbon reduction of 125% is from 100% regulated and 25% unregulated energy using heat recovery, low carbon and renewable technologies. The Zed House will be lived in and monitored over time in order to assess its performance on an ongoing everyday basis. We can’t wait to see the results.The future of housebuildingDesigned and developed to show what is achievable for the housebuilding market in terms of sustainability, the Zed House is a great example of how our homes could look in the next few decades. At Symphony we have a constantly evolving list of eco credentials that we use in everything we do. How this project worked is that Barratt challenged its supply chain partners to bring in the most cutting-edge products to help reduce its carbon footprint. We chose our Urban kitchen in Grey Walnut, as the door and drawer fronts are made from 100% recycled chipboard and the handles contain renewable coconut fibre. Not only that but the cabinets are also made from 49% recycled board while cutlery trays and drawer storage are all Hemp and Kenaf based. We thought this was the perfect example of how kitchens can be a sustainable and environmentally friendly purchase without sacrificing style. The stainless-steel sink from Franke was chosen as it contains 80% recycled materials and was supplied with a waste disposal unit that processes organic waste to reduce the amount of food waste going to landfill. The Insinkerator 4 in 1 tap supplies filtered water to reduce the need to purchase bottled water and therefore encourages the reduction of single use plastic. It also replaces the need for a kettle by providing boiling water, which reduces both energy usage from boiling a kettle but also only provides the amount of boiling that is required. The appliances were also selected for their sustainability credentials including energy efficiency and minimising water use. The worksurface is a carbon neutral material from the Sunlit Days collection from Silestone by Cosentino, the first carbon neutral quartz range in the engineered stone industry that contains recycled glass and minerals. Eco buildThe Zed House itself is made from a closed panel timber frame with highly insulated cladding. It also includes EV charging points, PV solar panels and battery storage. The interior comes with infra-red electronic hands-free taps, reducing water consumption by up to 80%, and a smart electric tariff that automatically moves energy usage to access the cheapest rates. EV charging pointWith more and more people looking to swap their fuel-guzzling car to an efficient electric model, the Zed House also comes with its own EV charging point. The Zed House is located on the main campus at the University of Salford. It contains a knowledge hub built into the garage to display all the products, technologies and results of the home’s occupation on an ongoing basis. We are thrilled to have been a part of this exciting project and can’t wait to see what the future holds.Further informationHead to https://www.barrattdevelopments.co.uk/showcase/z-house for more information on Barratt Homes and www.symphony-group.co.uk/sustainability for more information on Symphony’s sustainability credentials.

The Clockwork Building was a complete refurb of a 1960/70’s office building, project managed by Thirdway and landscaping done by Belsize Gardens. We became involved in the early stages when Belsize Gardens and the client wanted 4 large Corten planters at the front of the building to give the entrance a more vibrant natural look.All 20 planters were made in total from 3 mm Corten steel with a folded base and a double folded top to give extra strength. In the large planters we also added 4 mm stainless steel bracing wire due to the very large amounts of soil being added to each planter. This stops possible panel movement when the soil is being tipped inside.There were four larger planters all at 60 cm high, two at 11.2 x 3.8 M and two others at 4.5 x 3.2 M. Lighting was designed into all four planters, a bench incorporated into one of the 4.5 M planters as well as a 6 bicycle stand on the most southern planter. The material had to be Corten steel and needed to be pre-rusted which was done in our EverEdge yard in Staffordshire. The supports were our standard buttress design, all at 500 mm centres. Because the back wall of the planters adjacent to the building followed the contours of the building (windows etc) there were no continuous straight lines, but a series of 90°corners. All these fitted neatly on site and resulted on minimum construction time.In addition to the main entrance planters, there were 12 more planters in the car park area, infilled between the building windows all 250 x 55 cm and 88 cm high. These planters, being smaller, were incorporated with our steel brace system.Lastly 4 large planters for the roof garden were also constructed, 150 x 110 cms and 880 cm high as well as one “trough” planter, 250 X 40 cm.

Britannia Metalwork worked with building contractors Gilbert-Ash and Architects Hawkins/Brown in designing, fabricating, and fitting bespoke decorative floor grilles to replace the damaged originals in the Orangery at the City of London Freeman’s School.It was a project that we were thrilled to be commissioned for and work that we are extremely proud of - the grilles were manufactured, delivered and fitted within the project timeframe, despite pressures of the ongoing global pandemic of 2021.The 168-year-old City of London Freemen's School is set in 57 acres of Ashtead Park in the heart of Surrey. The masterplan scheme included the renovation works to the Grade II listed Main House (including an energy centre), and some new buildings including junior school, dining hall and assembly hall as well as landscaping and car park works. The total cost of the project was £15 and won a place as a Finalist in the 2022 Conservation & Regeneration Constructing Excellence SECBE Awards.Britannia was commissioned to design and make a total of 33 bespoke cast iron grilles, with bare metal finish, to be placed within the marbled floor of the historic and beautiful Orangery. The focus of the work was to complement the heritage of the iconic building while ensuring good ventilation to allow the building to become a flexible and useful large space for school events.Frequently referred to as Cathedral, Ecclesiastical or Victorian decorative floor grilles and as seen here, often placed over channels holding heating pipes, they provide a practical and decorative heating vent. Originally designed for churches they are increasingly popular in private houses, greenhouses, and commercial building developments. Our grilles can be ordered in cast iron or cast aluminium and finished in a wide variety of options. We also work in association with Gunning Heating, making decorative cast iron grilles that fit seamlessly into their underfloor trench heater units.  See our website for a full list of our grille designs or contact us to discuss your bespoke requirements.

Perimeter fencing for a national distribution centreAs part of the development of a new national distribution centre, IAE Fencing Division supplied it’s Zebex fencing system to secure the perimeter and internal areas of the site.2000m of FencingThe supply included over 2000m of fencing, which enclosed areas containing the main distribution warehouse, company office, staff car park, and company vehicle maintenance yard.Safety & SecurityPerimeter fencing is included to prevent accidental ingress and deter malicious intruders.The site has the potential to be very dangerous, as there are lots of heavy good vehicles and forklifts moving around. The perimeter fence provides a significant boundary, preventing members of the public from accidentally entering the site, and channelling site visitor to designated access points. This is important as the site owners are liable for the safety of anyone on the site, and one of the most effective ways to protect people is to make sure they can’t access potentially dangerous areas to being with.The fence also provides a significant obstacle, acting as a deterrent to more malicious intruders such as thieves and vandals and reducing the likelihood of costs associated with theft and damage.Flexible SystemIAE’s Zebex is a flexible system that can be adapted on site to most ground conditions.The distribution centre included many areas of uneven ground with extended sections of the site boundary including substantial inclines.The Zebex system was simply stepped using the pre-drilled holes in the posts to account for the undulating ground.Zebex Site GatesTo complete the perimeter around the site IAE supplied several gates clad with Zebex mesh panels for a consistent look with the rest of the perimeter, including pedestrian access and main goods vehicle entry points.Specifying IAE’s Zebex Perimeter FencingZebex Perimeter Fencing is one of IAE most popular fencing system and has been installed on hundreds of sites across the country. To add the system to your project, check out the featured products section below, or contact IAE Fencing Division directly.

Unity Square, NottinghamPAS68 seating and plantersStreet furniture | Street Planters | HVMTownscape Products has recently completed the hard landscaping for the Unity Square scheme in Nottingham.Unity Square forms a major part of Nottingham’s southern gateway regeneration project, which includes work to create a new-look Intu Broadmarsh centre, central library, bus station and car park.The hub was forward funded by LGIM Real Assets (Legal & General) and will accommodate HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) new regional centre. The building now comprises of ten storeys and is due to open in late 2021. As the cornerstone of the redevelopment work taking shape across the city’s Southside, Unity Square will truly put Nottingham on the map once complete.”The site will eventually house up to 4,000 HMRC employees. Nicole Newbury, HMRC director and a senior sponsor for the Nottingham Regional Centre, East Midlands Region, said:“We can’t wait to move into our new regional centre. The new building is so much more than just bricks and mortar, it represents an exciting opportunity for us to utilise new technology and develop collaborative, new ways of working.Unity Square is one of ten regional hubs Legal & General has invested in to support the government’s efforts to modernise the civil service and save taxpayers’ money. Its investment in the programme crossed the £1.5bn mark last year. This scheme in Nottingham is particularly ground-breaking not only because of its size and central location but for its potential to transform the city centre, driving regional economic growth and supporting job creation.Working with Bowmer and Kirkland, a range of PAS 68 rated seating and planters were designed, manufactured, and integrated into the scheme.Finished in charcoal prestige, the concrete units were designed to complement the paving finishes.For more details of how we can help with your PAS68 requirements, please get in touch.

Coventry Building Society recently opened its new, ultra-modern head office at Binley Business Park. With strong green credentials, the 40,000 sq ft development prioritises staff wellbeing through healthy workplace design.In a key meeting area, Style worked with contractors, Barnwood, to divide a large, open-plan space into two separate rooms.Combining effortless manoeuvrability with exceptional acoustic performance, a Dorma Hüppe Variflex moveable wall was installed, allowing separate meetings to run concurrently, undisturbed. Supporting the sustainability aims of the development, the Variflex system has an environmental product declaration (EPD) in accordance with ISO 14025 and EN 150804. In addition, Style is the only UK partitioning specialists that is accredited under the ISO 14001:2004 Environmental Management System, ensuring operational processes maximise sustainability goals whilst limiting wasted resources.Recently named one of the best places to work in the country, Coventry Building Society has designed the new head office to include relaxation and quiet areas, a multi-faith room, eat-and-meet hubs for socialising as well as kitchen areas with complimentary drinks and fruit. Throughout the building there is a range of collaborative spaces for in-office employees as well as zoom pods for hybrid working.The building itself is powered by renewable energy and 632 high-efficiency solar panels produce 30 per cent of the electricity required. Outside, the car park has electric vehicle charging points, and inside, an entire wall is covered in moss, helping improve air quality and absorb noise.“Specifying a moveable wall system with an EPD, shows you are serious about your carbon footprint, said Steve Williams, sales director for Style Midlands.“An EPD delivers science-based, verified and comparable information about the environmental performance of a system, including areas such as global warming potential, for example.“This is a top end moveable wall from Dorma Hüppe, delivering a 55db acoustic rating and sustainability qualifications that are second-to-none.”

Falco recently took to the design, manufacture, supply and installation of a bespoke cycle hub based on the traditional FalcoLok-500 design. Installed at Anson House, south Westminster, in view of the River Thames, the new cycle hub has been coupled with the FalcoVert-Pro cycle rack to provide secure accommodate for up to 24 bikes.Installed on behalf of Westminster City Council, the new cycle hub features electrogalvanised perforated sheet cladding, powder coated in a Jet Black RAL colour, along with a secure access system.The whole shelter is a bespoke contemporary design of the classic FalcoLok-500 shelter, which features clean lines through the glass cladding and supported by stainless steel glass clamps. The steelwork is hot dip galvanised to BS EN ISO 1461 and also meets UK structural design laws with EN 1090 accreditation. Rainwater is collected via innovative integral gutters as part of the roof system and a bespoke bund ensure that the cycle hub is weather proof!The cycle hub was commisioned to help reduce congestion and provide greater cycling accessibility for residents of Anson House.The FalcoVert-Pro as shown here at Anson House, is a space saving cycle rack design ideal for highly popular densities such as stations, cycle hubs, shopping centres, high streets and car parks etc. Bicycles are parked semi vertically with both front and rear wheels located in a custom designed trough.Falco cycle hubs can also incorporate a world of features including; smart LED lighting, green sedum roofs, CCTV and Help Point facilities as well as numerous other cost-effective features for the cyclist such as lock holders, helmet lockers, seating and bike repair facilities. For more information about the FalcoHub cycle store, a demonstration of the FalcoSmart app-based lock, the FalcoPod bike hangar or any other Falco product, then please speak to one of our friendly customer service staff on (01538) 380080.

These are the two eye-catching FalcoCrea cycle lockers Falco manufactured, supplied and installed for NHS Forth Valley Hospital in Larbert, Falkirk, last month. Creating additional cycle parking facilities for visitors, patients and members of staff when travelling to and from the hospital, the two new cycle lockers adds a sixth designated cycle parking zone across the NHS Forth Valley site.The FalcoCrea cycle lockers, purchased in collaboration with Cycling Scotland and Transport Scotland, accommodate up to four bikes each, in a purpose designed cycle locker with integrated cycle rack and secure access. The new facility is located at the west side of the Blue Car Park, outside the main entrance and promotes cycling as a method of transport to all visitors heading for the main entrance, thanks to its bold, eye-catching wrap design.The FalcoCrea has proven to be a highly popular cycle locker since its launch last year providing hospitals, local authorities and private businesses with a cycle parking solution which answers three common problems; security, spacing footprint and branding. The FalcoCrea is designed to provide maximum security, within a compact space saving design and fully capable to incorporate branding to promote cycling as a prominent mode of transport.  In addition to the scheme shown here at Forth Valley, the popular cycle locker has already been commissioned for a number of schemes across Scotland including recent installations at Moray Carshare charity, Queens Cross Housing Association for Glasgow City Council, The Social Bite Village in Edinburgh, Rouken Glen Park in Glasgow and Barra and Oban Airports.With the use of an electric cycle charging point (FalcoCrea+), the cycle locker can be transformed into a convenient charging hub for electric bikes whilst retaining all of the benefits from the standard model.For more information about the eye-catching FalcoCrea cycle locker, please contact our helpful sales team on 01538 380080.

On the Grand Union Canal in Hemel Hempstead, the Nash Mills Wharf housing development features a range of stylish new build 1-4 bedroom houses and luxury apartments offering high quality waterside living in this Hertfordshire town.With a waterproofing system required to protect the concrete podium above the ground floor car park, a selection of hot and cold applied products were provided by Proteus Waterproofing that met the requirements of the client Linden Homes. The licensed roofing contractor worked with Proteus Waterproofing on a dual system specification which included the fast and economical Proteus Hot-Melt waterproofing system, and for the intricate detailing around upstands and to avoid hot works around the plastic soil and vent pipes, the Cold Melt® waterproofing system was the ideal solution.Fast, hassle-free applicationWith the podium deck covering 3000m2, the Proteus Hot Melt® system was the optimum waterproofing solution for a robust, cost effective, seamless and fast application. This solution worked exceptionally well for the Licensed Contractor and is compatible with the fast applied Cold Melt® solution which was used for high detail items including plastic soil and vent pipes and upstands. There was also the added challenge of wet brickwork and an exacting building program to keep to. To overcome this problem, Proteus isolated the wet substrate with Pro-DPM Primer (Damp Proof Primer) which can be applied to green concrete 3 days old and then followed immediately by the Proteus waterproofing system. This enabled the Cold Melt® to be installed on to the vertical elevations will no loss of time.Quality controlProteus Waterproofing worked in close partnership with its Licensed Contractor to successfully deliver the project to a very high standard within the required timeframe.Long term performanceIncorporating recycled rubber-crumb and other organically grown products, Cold Melt® creates an elastomeric, seamless, cold applied membrane and can outlast the lifetime of the substrate on which it is installed.

Hadfield Carkwell Davidson specified Tobermore for the 376,737sq ft job at the IKEA retail store in Sheffield.The large-scale scheme, which has created nearly 500 jobs, involved construction and fit-out of the two-storey superstore, providing a sales floor, warehouse, staff facilities, café, and children’s play area, as well as underground and external car parking. The project has received a BREEAM excellence accreditation due to its application of sustainable technologies like solar panels, rainwater harvesting, and electric vehicle charging points on-site.The ChallengeBlock paving was required to meet both SuDs requirements and aesthetic aspiration.The IKEA store was constructed adjacent to the famous Tinsley Viaduct on the outskirts of Sheffield, bringing the popular retail destination to the area near the Meadowhill Shopping Centre.A crucial part of the £60M project was that the hard landscaping design would satisfy SUDs requirements but maintain a high-end aesthetic appeal that would reflect the IKEA brand.The SolutionTobermore Hydropave products provided suitable drainage for the project.The hard landscaping solution created an outdoor area that effectively promoted the IKEA brand. By utilising high-end block paving product Fusion in the cool tones of silver, mid grey, and graphite, the elevated finish was beautifully realised. Permeable paving was employed in certain areas to support drainage that would meet SuDs requirements for the site, exemplifying the project’s green credentials. This in turn made it one of IKEA’s most sustainable stores.Tobermore’s Granite Step Units with Contrasting Nosing allow for the uneven terrain to be navigated elegantly with appealing steps that augment the customer experience at the IKEA store. Hazard Warning flags also ensure that the site fully meets modern accessibility standards for people with impaired vision.Laying patterns and delineation enhanced the area to meet customer expectations, creating spacious parking bays and attractive pedestrianised walkways. Hydropave Pedesta and Fusion paving combined to realise a project that radiates a unique, high-quality feel.