"central controls building management systems"

Architect: Faulkner Browns ArchitectsInstaller: Topfix InteriorsProduct: ‘Shiluvit’ by Oranit1000m2 of PEFC Certified Shiluvit panels from Oranit were installed to the ceilings of the swimming pool and gym areas at the new sports facility St John’s School in Leatherhead.Faulkner Brown Architects specified Yellow Pine panels with a white stain for the space, choosing 7-502 modules with 22mm wide by 45mm deep blades with 40mm gaps for impressive acoustic control.Oranit is a specialist ceiling solutions suitable for most installation areas. As standard it is impregnated for Euroclass B,s2-d0 for resistance to fire, achieving top results against surface spread of flames, smoke production, and flaming droplets or structural integrity in case of fire.Additionally for this installation the panels were lacquered for humidity resistance, this treatment provides additional protection to the wood against water damage and can also be used for panels being installed outside.

The £350m regeneration of Centre Point was one of the most significant developments in London in recent times. Built in the 1960s by R. Seifert and Partners, it was one the UK’s first skyscrapers and an icon of the capital’s skyline for half a century. In more recent times, the Grade II listed Modernist masterpiece had gone from vibrant commercial hub to a disused shell. In 2015, development firm Almacantar acquired Centrpoint and undertook a regeneration project developing a mixed-use space, featuring 82 luxurious apartments set neatly above the West End of London.Architect Conran and Partners was appointed to deliver the vision of a luxurious modern residence, while respecting the building’s iconic heritage and design. For such a high-profile project, every component had to be high quality, but also sensitively selected or designed from scratch to fit with the Modernist architectural theme.Allgood managed the specification, development and delivery of the near £1 million ironmongery and hardware requirements, with many bespoke elements and high specification finishes; the five-year project is among the largest ironmongery projects in the UK.Every element of the project’s architectural hardware, including handles for the main entrance and interior doors, escutcheons, thumb turns and releases, wardrobe pulls and shower door handles, was individually designed to construct a coherent and original aesthetic.Taking visual cues from the building’s 1960’s geometric patterning and monochromatic styling, the bespoke, high-specification ironmongery comprised: 800 handles, 1000 locks, 500 sets of levers, 900 wardrobe pulls and 180 shower-door pulls; all custom-made by Allgood at its manufacturing facility in Birmingham.Winner of the residential category at the 2019 AI Specification Awards, Centre Point remains a classic example of beauty in every detail and a case study in how to run a specification. Of the many bespoke pieces, Allgood designed and manufactured back-to-back pad handles for internal corridor doors. These were made from mirror polished nickel with an unusually high standard of polishing applied to all surfaces, even on the reverse.Allgood also collaborated with Samuel Heath to design and manufacture a bespoke door lever that was conceived to reflect the famous geometric architecture of the building. Allgood’s hidden fixings completed an elegant, sleek finish, perfectly complementing the apartments’ luxurious feel.

Meadows Business Park is undergoing a major repositioning, providing modern working for a post covid-19 world. With 3 refurbished buildings positioned in landscaped grounds, providing workspaces, offices, central café, gym, cycle storage and showers. Located next to Blackwater Railway station, tenants of Meadows Business Park can enjoy pop up shops, street food markets, walks around the 100 acre shepherds meadow and even Peloton bikes, as well as a range of classes in the gym.As part of the refurbishment of these buildings, we worked alongside OD Interiors to manufacture and install the lockers and bench seating for the cycle storage and shower areas. As part of the project, we provided 22 wet specification Laminate Z Lockers for the male changing rooms, 22 wet specification Laminate Z Lockers for the female changing rooms and bench seating for both changing areas and the cycle storeroom.The stunning Laminate Z Lockers were manufactured with an aluminium body, stainless steel door frame and Abet Laminate doors. The colours chosen were Mountain Oak and Ice White from Abet’s range of laminate colours. We work with a variety of suppliers of laminate, allowing us to offer a large selection of colours and finishes, from carbon-neutral options, wood effect styles, through to bright pops of colour.In each changing room, 13 of the 22 Z Lockers were fitted with seat stands, with the remaining 9 lockers fitted to stands. The frames for the stands and seat stands are powder coated in RAL colour white, with the seat slats in Mountain Oak laminate to match the locker doors. To keep the project slick and uniform, the end panels, infills and the cladding to hide the stands are in the Ice White laminate, also matching the doors.The locks chosen for the project were the Digilock Versa Keypad locks. These are a great choice for both assigned, or shared use, and so were perfect for the shared changing rooms at Meadow Business Centre. Plus, they look great as a contrasting matt black colour against the light doors of the Z Lockers.It was great to work alongside OD Interiors again on this project and look forward to some more exciting projects in the future.If you are looking for Z Lockers, or have a similar project you need help with. Our sales team can help. Give us a call on 01284 530427 or click here to get a quote.

Project DetailProject: Motel One – ManchesterLocation: Manchester Piccadilly, UKProduct: TS.9000 range of architectural closers for main reception and TS.3000 range of contract closers for apartmentsProject Description“Manchester has got everything except a beach,” said Ian Brown, lead singer of The Stone Roses. The city in the northwest of England is known as a party and music capital. Bands such as Oasis, The Smiths or The Chemical Brothers have their roots here. However, if you want to experience all the different aspects of this diverse city it would be best if you booked a longer stay at your cheap and centrally located Motel One Design Hotel in Manchester.Brand new and built in a very tight but friendly spot the Motel came as no surprise requiring a couple of door closers for its Hotel and resting overnight stay accommodation. The TS 9205 were chosen for heavily used entrance area and the TS 3204 were chosen for their bedroom doors because:They are supported by an established companyHave excellent right up and guaranteesVery easy and fast to fit and adjust making them the perfect answer for the contractor and door manufacturer.

d² Dura Grating Mini Mesh, Dura Profile & Dura Platform 40 | Case StudyDura Composites was engaged by Premier Marinas to work with their engineering company to produce a composite floor structure around their travel hoist supported by large 305mm GRP Dura Profile beams between 6-10m in length. The team chose the GRP material over steel due to its superior performance in corrosive salt-water environments. Unique in the market, Dura Profiles exceed the higher performance E23 grade requirement of the BS EN 13706 standard.Also central to the efficient operation of the washdown and hoist are Dura Grating and Dura Platform 40 flooring made from moulded and pultruded high-performance GRP panels which are unique in design to Dura. The open mesh section utilises 55mm d2 Dura Grating Mini Mesh in dark grey, which facilitates drainage whilst maintaining strength and unrivalled anti-slip properties. The solid surface sections were created using patented d2 Dura Platform 40, which are crankable to create an in-built fall to aid water runoff.

Nestled in the heart of Central London, Chelsea Creek stands as an epitome of luxury, offering residents a uniquely European style of living along its canalside homes. The residential development boasts a stunning location characterized by tree-lined avenues and meandering waterways, providing an exquisite urban lifestyle.In our collaboration with Chelsea Creek, our focus was on enhancing both safety and aesthetics within the residential spaces. A key component of this project was the installation of metal riser doors tailored to meet the project’s exacting standards for both functionality and aesthetics. Designed to seamlessly integrate with the sophisticated surroundings, these fire-rated riser doors ensure compliance with safety standards while preserving the high-end residential atmosphere.The choice of metal riser doors not only aligns with the upscale environment of Chelsea Creek but also serves a crucial functional purpose. Ensuring fire safety without compromising on the luxurious aesthetics of the development, these doors exemplify our commitment to delivering solutions that prioritize both form and function. Crafted for both durability and visual appeal, these fire-rated doors not only ensure safety compliance but also contribute to the overall sophisticated aesthetic of Chelsea Creek.

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.

Originally opened in 1863 and voted 'Best UK National Treasure' at National Geographic Traveller Magazine Reader Awards, the Grade 1 listed, iconic British landmark, The Temperate House at Kew, reopened in 2018 after a major five-year, £41 million restoration. Comprising five pavilions and showcasing over 10,000 new plants from all over the globe, this glass cathedral is the world’s largest Victorian glasshouse, protecting the often rare and tender plants throughout the UK’s cold winters. Commissioned in 2017 by renowned architects Donald Insall Associates - heritage and historic building specialists - and working with ISG, the global construction and engineering company, Britannia designed and manufactured 146 bespoke cast iron floor grilles - a total of 73 linear meters - to house part of the vast new sunken trench heating system. The original inadequate and inefficient heating, ventilation, and irrigation systems were no longer in adequate condition or sufficient for the purpose, and a new biomass underfloor heating system was added to produce ambient temperatures for the plants without impacting the integrity of the building. The finished bare metal design CGA03, meticulously created by our highly experienced pattern makers, echoes the original traditional Victorian grilles found elsewhere within the glasshouse complex and has since become Britannia’s signature grille. We are exceptionally proud to have been chosen and trusted to complete this award-winning project and are equally proud of our teams to produce it – from design, to manufacture, to installation.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 and finishes or contact us to discuss your bespoke requirements.

Eastbourne station is located in East Sussex. It was originally built in the 19th century and is classified as a Grade II listed building. Over the years, the station has undergone several renovations and upgrades.Back in October 2020 it was announced £5 million would be spent on restoring Eastbourne Railway Station to its ‘former glory’. Work done includes canopy refurbishment, slate roof replacement, masonry work to the front of the station, and new roofing above the atrium.Twinfix were approached to replace the glazing panels on the 32 lanterns on the station’s train shed with something hard wearing, sustainable and modern but without losing the period look. The change was needed because, according to the plans, the existing fixtures were ‘life expired and inefficient’.Twinfix supplied their Multi-Link-Panel Non-Fragile (NF) roof glazing system, glazed with 6mm solid obscure polycarbonate. The new glazing spanned 1243 square metres and was installed by Gable, on behalf of Main Contractor BAM Nuttall.The Multi-Link-Panel NF system is an innovative roof glazing product that has been well utilised for many years on station canopy roofs, and it has been thoroughly tried and tested in that time.It was the chosen system for this project for a number of reasons:sustainability– these panels are virtually unbreakable in manufacture, transit and in situ, meaning that, unlike glass, maintenance costs will be eliminated. The system is also completely recycleable.safety– Twinfix Multi-Link-Panel NF (Non-Fragile) conforms to the HSE recommended test method ACR[M]001:2019 (as outlined in document HSG33) and achieves a ‘B’ Classification.off-site construction– The panels are pre-assembled in Twinfix’s factory ensuring strict quality guidelines are adhered to, which is not always guaranteed when roofing products are assembled on site.ease of access– The Multi-Link-Panel NF system can be fitted with In-Line Access Hatches, to allow cleaning of gutters and roof. These hatches are hardly visible and allow safe access through the glazing without needing to get on the roof.weight– The Multi-Link-Panel NF is light in weight and due to its modular format, it is very quick to install which allows for short rail possession works. A slight redesign of the original roof allowed 96 access hatches to be installed, making maintenance easier. Installed it’s almost impossible to detect the modern materials that have been used to bring this historic structure back to life.During the renovation work, Shaun King, Sussex route director for Network Rail, said, “The quality of work on site is being completed to a very high standard and we’re taking great care to restore the Grade II listed building to its former glory.”

Eastbourne station is located in East Sussex. It was originally built in the 19th century and is classified as a Grade II listed building. Over the years, the station has undergone several renovations and upgrades.Back in October 2020 it was announced £5 million would be spent on restoring Eastbourne Railway Station to its ‘former glory’. Work done includes canopy refurbishment, slate roof replacement, masonry work to the front of the station, and new roofing above the atrium.Twinfix were approached to replace the glazing panels on the 32 lanterns on the station’s train shed with something hard wearing, sustainable and modern but without losing the period look. The change was needed because, according to the plans, the existing fixtures were ‘life expired and inefficient’.Twinfix supplied their Multi-Link-Panel Non-Fragile (NF) roof glazing system, glazed with 6mm solid obscure polycarbonate. The new glazing spanned 1243 square metres and was installed by Gable, on behalf of Main Contractor BAM Nuttall.The Multi-Link-Panel NF system is an innovative roof glazing product that has been well utilised for many years on station canopy roofs, and it has been thoroughly tried and tested in that time.It was the chosen system for this project for a number of reasons:sustainability– these panels are virtually unbreakable in manufacture, transit and in situ, meaning that, unlike glass, maintenance costs will be eliminated. The system is also completely recycleable.safety– Twinfix Multi-Link-Panel NF (Non-Fragile) conforms to the HSE recommended test method ACR[M]001:2019 (as outlined in document HSG33) and achieves a ‘B’ Classification.off-site construction– The panels are pre-assembled in Twinfix’s factory ensuring strict quality guidelines are adhered to, which is not always guaranteed when roofing products are assembled on site.ease of access– The Multi-Link-Panel NF system can be fitted with In-Line Access Hatches, to allow cleaning of gutters and roof. These hatches are hardly visible and allow safe access through the glazing without needing to get on the roof.weight– The Multi-Link-Panel NF is light in weight and due to its modular format, it is very quick to install which allows for short rail possession works. A slight redesign of the original roof allowed 96 access hatches to be installed, making maintenance easier. Installed it’s almost impossible to detect the modern materials that have been used to bring this historic structure back to life.During the renovation work, Shaun King, Sussex route director for Network Rail, said, “The quality of work on site is being completed to a very high standard and we’re taking great care to restore the Grade II listed building to its former glory.”

Challenge:Driven by a respect for the environment, Heritage Homes wanted to create energy efficient homes for the future. A high sustainable build standard was required as part of their prestigious ‘Future Collection’ homes for the phase two zero carbon homes development.Solution:IG’s Hi-therm+ lintels use a patented combination of a polymer isolator and galvanised steel to bond the internal and external walls together by spanning the intervening gap creating a powerful thermal break. The one-piece lintel solution accommodated different lengths to minimise and conserve energy for each home by reducing thermal bridging at non-repeating junctions. IG’s technical team determined the loading and specification requirements at window and door openings. This fabric first approach contributed to an AA* energy efficiency rating and ensured each home built was comfortable, energy efficient and modern for years to come.IG’s LP windposts accommodated different lengths and factored into account wind load conditions. The windposts were installed into the inner skin of the cavity walls spanning vertically between the floor structures, providing additional lateral support for the large panels of brickwork and openings. All windposts included top and base place connections for fixing to the structure along with ties.Testimonial:“At Holland Park our homes are built with an AA* energy efficieny rating. IG’s Hi-therm+ lintels provided a fabric first approach to improve the thermal performance of our homes by reducing thermal bridging at non-repeating junctions”.Guy OlliverCommercial and Technical Manager at Heritage Homes

Jamie Graham, Operations Manager, StonehengeThe new visitors’ centre at Stonehenge opened in December 2013. It was designed to deal with the increased footfall that we have experienced here, as a result of which we’ve had to open the new Groups Welcome Centre and in that we have installed URIMAT waterless urinals, in addition to the ones that we have at the regular visitors’ centre. These were installed in October 2017. Waterless urinals by URIMAT were specified by the architect as part of the building programme.Here at Stonehenge we’re not connected to any mains water supply so we need to extract water from a borehole, so we need to limit the use of freshwater on site in terms of maintaining our commitment to the environment – URIMAT’s waterless urinals really do help with that process.All of our waste water is treated here at Stonehenge before being tankered away. In terms of the load on the sewage processing plants that we have here on site, the URIMAT waterless urinals really are key to ensuring that that load is reduced.So when we were specifying the groups welcome centre that we have here we were looking at technology that we had already implemented, technology that works well for us, so that’s why we made the decision to install them in the new groups welcome centre.On a busy day during the summer period we can see round about 9,000 or more visitors on site so it’s really important that the technology copes with that amount of footfall, and since installation we’ve had no problems whatsoever.

Expanding care options with fit-for-purpose solutionsAltro Wood, Altro Serenade, Altro Aquarius, Altro Stronghold 30IssueFounded in 1995, The Glen is part of the Willow Valley Communities network that offers ageing residents a mind, body and spirit approach to wellness. The Glen provides a range of support services including shortterm rehabilitation from surgery or illness, as well as specialised memory care for individuals living with Alzheimer’s and other cognitive disorders. The facility needed updating to allow residents to continue to enjoy the comforts of home while promoting their physical and mental wellbeing.ApproachTo continue its mission of designing programmes and places fit to people, Willow Valley enlisted CCS Building Group to manage The Glen expansion project, which began in 2018. CCS collaborated with their Altro representative, knowing Willow Valley’s history of using Altro products during previous renovations with proven success.SolutionThroughout its completion, The Glen project utilised multiple Altro floors. For resident rooms accommodating those receiving skilled care, CCS chose Altro Wood for its warm, domestic aesthetic. In the facility’s communal areas, Altro Serenade provides 19dB sound reduction to reduce excess noise. Altro Stronghold 30 was used in the facility’s kitchens for its superb slip resistance and comfort underfoot for busy staff. For residents’ bathrooms and shower areas, CCS selected Altro Aquarius specialist safety flooring for its high slip resistance value both in shoes or barefoot.

PROJECT OVERVIEWThe Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts was designed by Foster & Partners and commissioned by main contractor Kier Eastern. The brief was to replace 30-year-old partitioning with a system capable of fitting in with a visually aesthetic solution which was in-keeping with the existing architectural style.OUR SCOPE OF WORKThe demands of supplying architectural partitioning solutions within a visual arts centre environment meant that only the highest standards of design and functionality would be acceptable. From the start of the design phase, we worked in partnership with Norman Foster and Kier to create unique modular steel and glass partitions throughout the building. Bespoke doors provided the ultimate finish. Our approach was to ensure that functionality and aesthetics worked together to deliver consistency and innovation throughout the building. Attention to detail was paramount to the success of installing bespoke partitions within the creative surroundings of the Centre. 

Nerrols is a primary and nursery school which is part of the Richard Huish Trust located in Taunton. Opened in September 2019, Nerrols includes facilities such as 14 classrooms, main hall, kitchen, science and technology room, sports hall library, food technology room and a 3G sports pitch. Built to support a new residential development being constructed, the two-story building school provides 420 places for 4 to 11 year olds and 26 nursery places, with modern colour render above, and features a generous canopy over the main entrance.Cellecta’s Mojave S1-8 was specified due to it being a lightweight option for an acoustic composite floor build up. This system has a low energy use, reducing running costs and co2 emissions, which benefits the environment.Willmott Dixon was awarded this 1,000m² contract by Somerset County Council to construct this development in Somerset.

A Manchester based passive fire protection specialist has utilised products from the range of FIREFLY – including the versatile Phoenix Smoke & Flame barriers – to achieve the compartmentation of concealed spaces within the new Macclesfield manufacturing facility of a world-leading pharmaceutical giant.Firetech UK Ltd. is a key sub-contractor to DES for the construction of the extensive new laboratories and production plant for AstraZeneca, part of the FTSE 100 company’s continuing investment at its East Cheshire site for the distribution of drugs to markets around the world. Firetech was established more than 25 years ago and makes extensive use of FIREFLY  flexible fire barriers for its work on both commercial and domestic contracts. In the case of the Macclesfield project, Firetech purchased the FIREFLY  products via national distributor, Encon.  The Contracts Manager for Firetech UK on the Macclesfield Project, Josh Dodds comments: “We work nationwide though predominantly in the North-West of the country and have been using FIREFLY  products for the past five years, including here on this very large new plant.  Early on in the contract we installed a large quantity of Titan Lite™ 120:60 fire barriers in the ‘Amenities Area’ of the building and then when we were tasked with installing a series of smoke and flame barriers in the ceiling voids over the laboratories, we proposed the Phoenix product as being the most cost-effective solution. The work consumed approximately 540 square metres of the Phoenix to create a series of vertical barriers valued at some £50K.  Although we were able to employ standard details for the installation of the Phoenix barriers  and the Collaroll which wraps some of the beams and other features, FIREFLY has been involved from the earliest stages, providing general guidance and carrying out inspections.  The project has gone very well.”FIREFLY Phoenix is a lightweight smoke and flame barrier which facilitates compartmentation within buildings to provide up to 120 minutes’ integrity under BS476 Parts 20 & 22.  Certified by IFCC, the flexible and straightforward to install material is suitable for both new-build and retrofit situations.  Manufactured from woven and non-woven glass, the FIREFLY range is designed to optimise resistance to flame and smoke as well as offer heat protection in a wide range of scenarios. The flexible barriers are easy to install horizontally or vertically using a full selection of ancillary products.  Used mainly in the construction industry across the UK and Europe, FIREFLY fire barriers help to contain fire, giving building occupants extra time to evacuate and the fire service to enter safely.Images shown are taken during installation and some sections of the installation might be incomplete.

If any company knows about good investments, it’s multinational investment and financial services firm, Morgan Stanley, who made the shrewd decision to switch to more cost-effective hand dryers from the summer of 2022.Units Supplied: 15 to date, with plans to supply moreKey Benefits: Energy efficient, cheap to run and good looksRated Power: 0.8kW - 1.65kW | 2.67 - 4.58 Wh per dryProjectThe UK branch of the international firm, with offices in London and Glasgow, was previously using the Dyson AB14, until its buildings managers crunched the numbers and realised there were many cost savings to be achieved by moving to more energy-efficient hand dryers.SolutionMorgan Stanley’s workplace solutions provider, CBRE, approached one of our electrical wholesaler partners, Edmundon’s Electrical, to source the perfect hand dryers. We worked closely with the wholesaler to help them arrive at the ideal solution – the Dryflow Steelforce Hand Dryer. This popular, hands-in dryer, designed for high-traffic areas, can provide 1,875 dries per just £1 of electricity, whilst offering reliability and certainty… in the washroom at least.The Dryflow SteelforceWith famously fast dry times, this dryer is made for busy, fast-paced environments where time is money. It even features a guiding light to help the user maximise the powerful airflow for optimum efficiency.Its sleek, stainless steel lines allow it to fit in the most prestigious of washrooms, and it can certainly give the Dyson Airblade AB14 a run for its money, both in looks and performance that would normally be associated with a much more expensive dryer.The design team behind the Dryflow Steelforce Hand Dryer have created a unit with second-to-none efficiency that’s cheap to run, great value to purchase, and is built to last. It comes with market-leading guarantees and a robust build that will keep it running and running, with limited need for maintenance.

“We have used products from CMS Danskin Acoustics on a variety of projects and always found them a good company to work with and very helpful to deal with,” said Gerry Winter, Allied Acoustics.The Council’s room was designed for holding meetings, training sessions and information days; but the acoustics in the room were distracting and the internal reverberation meant that hearing people speaking was difficult. CMS Danskin Acoustics engaged with the architect at East Renfrewshire Council to agree on the best solution without compromising on aesthetics, and ensuring they could offer the best value.The SolutionFollowing an on-site consultation at the Council with an external acoustician, CMS Danskin Acoustics was brought on-board to supply 25 SuperPhon® Acoustic Rafts; which are specially designed to reduce reverberation times and to improve listening environments. In addition, the tiles are available in a range of attractive colours meaning that the aesthetics of an internal building are not lost, which was of high importance to the Council. “The SuperPhon® Acoustic Rafts were chosen because they fitted with the style of the building, the need to retain the exposed roof structure and the fact that the fabric colour choice provided a less commercial ‘office feel’ to the final installation,” said Andrew Eaddy, East Renfrewshire Council.The ResultsFollowing the installation, CMS Danskin Acoustics carried out some calculations to evaluate how successful the Acoustic Rafts were performing. The team found that they had managed to bring the reverberation time down from 1.8 seconds to 0.8 seconds, ensuring a much-improved sound quality to the room for its multi-purpose activities.“The client was very happy with the end product at Rouken Glen and there was a substantial sound reduction after the panels were installed,” continued Gerry. “Overall we were very pleased with the results and the chosen product. The ease and speed of the installation, thanks to the bespoke fitting, meant that it wasn’t long before we were able to use the communal room again. We’re really pleased with the finish too, it’s exactly what we had in mind for the space,” concluded Andrew.

The structureThis residential property emerged from the ashes of a World War II bomb site formerly occupied by a coach house, and was constructed circa 1945 by a local postman to serve as a family home.The distinctive characteristicsSurrounded by grand white stucco houses, this property was a joyful oddity amongst the archetypal street. With an off-centre pitch, horizonal windows and a central door, the owner was keen to work with and improve the existing fabric. The renovation The property had been re-built under a new centred pitched roof extending across two storeys to the rear. Stepping down at ground floor to a deep brick-finned façade opening onto a protected and peaceful walled garden.At the front, the old and new bricks were sewn together under a coat of bagged lime wash and mineral paint and insulated internally. The rendered base speaks to its stuccoed neighbours and grounds the building; the subtle depth of the relief creates a play of light across the front facade in the evening sun, celebrating its distinctive character.Why KEIM?The owner had been aware of the unique properties of mineral paints for allowing bricks to be painted but crucially to breathe, understanding so often houses are painted with non-breathable paints and the suffocated bricks lead to condensation. A mineral paint was required that can be painted over brickwork as well as the rendered base.The owner reached out and arranged a site visit with James Best, Senior Sales Executive at KEIM Mineral Paints. Following his expert guidance, it was recommended to utilize KEIM Soldalit for the project. Samples of five distinct shades of white were provided for testing across various façade orientations and times of day. The owner ultimately selected KEIM Soldalit in colour 9870, commenting “It is the perfect white. It is warm without being yellow and looks great in direct sunlight, shadow and of course our many overcast days.”

THE PROJECTNine Elms Point is a private residential development in the heart of one of London’s most exciting new districts. The project is located just minutes from the new development at Battersea Power Station, a short tube ride to Oxford Circus and next to the planned Nine Elms tube station.The Nine Elms Point development features a collection of 645 one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments and penthouses that have been spread across seven distinctive buildings.It is yet another high profile site that UK market leaders The Safety Letterbox Company have been delighted to be involved in.THE PRODUCTThe project features a large mail room that is used by both mail delivery personnel, property staff and residents to both post and retrieve mail. Mailboxes have been both recessed into the exterior walls of the room and used as freestanding islands with back-to-back mailboxes to maximise the available space.The freestanding mailboxes were supplied with modified table supports to allow for later fitting of wood cladding to product a high-quality finish of the central islands.Detailed drawings were supplied to the client to show the exact layout and dimensions of each of the mailbox banks so that the development team could prepare the location for the products. Once the mailboxes and support tables had been manufactured, the specialist Installation Team at The Safety Letterbox Company transported and installed the mailboxes into the project, using their CSCS carded install team.The mailbox used for the project was specified after the initial project enquiry which stated the available space and how many mailboxes were required. The COM 2 (194) mailbox features a height of 194mm which was the ideal product for this project, selected from a vast range of quality SLB products to choose from.The mailboxes used in this project are finished in a polyester powder coated Satin Silver (RAL 9006) colour. Each mailbox is individually engraved with numbering that corresponds to the address of each resident.

Leading UK utility contractor, Telent, have used UltraCrete’s superb ironwork installation materials to repair and install a CW1 access cover in Sutton Coldfield.BackgroundAs part of their ongoing commitment to maintaining the UK’s national utility infrastructure, Telent have used UltraCrete’s latest product innovation Mortar Buoy® to repair a chamber and install a CW1 ironwork access cover in the West Midlands.The ChallengeLocated on a busy junction, it was crucial that the repair and installation of the CW1 cover was carried out quickly to minimise disruption to motorists. With a reputation drawing on decades of experience in the design, build, support and management of the UK’s critical infrastructure, it was imperative that Telent used reputable installation materials that had been tried, tested and proven to work in the road network.The SolutionUltraCrete’s independently tested and approved ironwork installation system was specified by BT Openreach to complete the project.The new CW1 cover was installed using the Install Plus method. To begin, Mortar Buoy® was inflated in the existing chamber to prevent debris falling into the cavity and causing potential damage to the network. Once inflated, the team were able to use Mortar Buoy® as internal shuttering and repair the damaged chamber using QC10 F rapid strength flowable concrete.QC10 F, part of UltraCrete’s range of high specification concretes, is rapid setting fibre modified concrete for backfilling around manhole frames and gullies and for surface repairs.To complete the installation, Mortar Buoy® was used as a dam and Envirobed® CD534 Flowable was poured around the edges of a chamber for a permanent installation.Specially formulated for utility reinstatements, Envirobed® CD534 Flowable high performance bedding mortar is BT LN550 and LN320 compliant and offers superior compressive, tensile and flexural strengths in just 3 hours.Mortar Buoy® is a ground-breaking, innovative, inflatable access frame that acts as a dam, allowing for a flowable mortar ironwork installation in seconds – revolutionising traditional methods.Enhance your specification and upgrade your reinstatement with UltraCrete Mortar Buoy®.ResultsThe project took place on a mild winter day in December 2021. The work was completed without delay and with minimal disruption. Using Mortar Buoy® instead of a traditional damming mortar increased the speed of the installation, reduced costs and made the install less labour intensive for the team.On the performance of Mortar Buoy®, John Doherty, Area Supervisor for Telent commented: “Mortar Buoy® makes life much easier versus traditional shuttering for both chamber repair and bedding the ironwork. It is also much faster.”

OVER 9,500M2 OF THE BRAND NEW OPTIMA FC+ ANODISED ALUMINIUM HAS BEEN USED IN THE AMBITIOUS COMPLETION OF KELATY HOUSE, A TOWERING STUDENT ACCOMMODATION AND HOTEL IN WEMBLEY LONDON.With three different surface finishes – matt, gloss and perforated – this stunning project brings together numerous wins for the Sotech team and their wider supply chain, not least the captivating tree designs visible on the finished project, created by specially perforated panels.As you can see from the pictures below, the perforated panels have been carefully orchestrated to form the highly original tree silhouettes, visible from quite a distance on the project, which is made up of five separate high-rise blocks.Standing back to view this building, an onlooker can’t help but look up and down the full height of the building, following the shape of the branches.Sotech manufactured hundreds of panels for the scheme on the Salvagnini automatic panel bender, achieving maximum precision. Before the first delivery was made to site in Spring 2020, the panels were stacked and shipped to Holland to be anodised by our anodising partner, Alumet, these were then returned to Sotech and shipped to site.Aluminium is one of the most durable and versatile of metals, anodising enhances aluminium and its environmental virtues. It is exceptionally recyclable, requires minimal maintenance and has proven lifetime performance. Due to the nature of the anodising process and the tight quality controls on both the aluminium and the surface treatment, anodising has a homogeneous (matching & consistent) appearance. Anodising enhances the natural qualities of aluminium further; it permits a strongly contemporary finish with incomparable corrosion and abrasion resistance.It has been a complicated project to complete, not least because of the logistic coordination, but also because of the challenges caused by Coronavirus and the lockdowns, both in the UK and on the world’s borders.All teams across the full supply chain, from material supply and manufacturing through to anodising and installation on site, everyone had to work closely together to follow the guidance, whilst keeping to tight project timescales.Sitting in the Wembley Park regeneration area, within the immediate vicinity of Wembley Football Stadium, Kelaty House will include 300 bed Apart Hotel and 600 bed student accommodation arranged within five separate buildings ranging in height from 4 to 13 storeys.The final delivery to site will be in March 2021, and we look forward to sharing final project images with you then. Be sure to sign up to our monthly mailer to be notified when final project images are available.

Some recent shots of “Silk Mill”, the new purpose-built Novel Student Accommodation in Fountainbridge, Edinburgh – looking fantastic against a crisp, blue sky! Metal Technology Ltd supplied a range of high-performance architectural glazing systems through approved fabricator Avtek Ltd.The project was designed by Fletcher Joseph Associates and delivered by Watkin Jones Group. The building contains 225 rooms and includes a variety of recreational facilities to enhance student living, including a breakfast bar, gym, karaoke and gaming rooms and designated areas for dining and studying.

The vibrant city of Amsterdam has a stunning new architectural highlight. Discover De Boelelaan, a modern building containing both residential and office space. The feature that really sets it apart is a magnificent rooftop garden. Safety barriers are an essential feature. Q-railing’s Easy Glass Pro glass balustrade system offers maximum transparency with the highest standards of safety. In this case, the balustrade is frameless, with a minimalist U-shaped stainless steel Q-railing profile on top. The 245 metres of glass railing also provide a useful wind break.

Shortlisted for the 2020 Architect of the Year Awards organised by Design Build; this internal refurbishment met the Breeam excellent status which we are very happy contributor. John Robertson Architects specified the Laudescher LINEA 4.2.4 which was superbly installed by CIM ltd on behalf of ISG London. Specified and installed by CIM ltd was our Laudescher Linea 4.2.4 (absorption class B, NRC 0.9) in Oak with a Varnished finish. Using the Laudescher system in various areas within the office area will contribute in keeping an area clam whilst ensuring good effective communication.

The Project is located in the building built in 1920 by the architect José Yarnoz Larrosa to welcome the headquarters of two editorial companies. Nowadays, the hotel is on the upper levels and it counts 168 rooms, designed by Studio B76 with careful attention to decoration inspired by the 1920s and 1950s. For bedrooms, two systems combinations are used: FIT BOX and Premium Plus or Zi-Box and Premium Plus; one for daily activity and contact visual outside and one for resting and total opacity. The fabrics are selected according to these needs. One Bandalux awning is also used in the terrace, providing a comfortable outdoor space. 

Estudio B76 designed its new headquarters in an industrial warehouse built in the 50s. They kept and revealed reinforced concrete trusses and the perimetral walls made of bricks. The design focuses on using glass and steel to maintain the industrial atmosphere.Thanks to active and passive sustainable measures, such as photovoltaic panels, aerothermal energy, and efficient shading solutions, the project achieves high sustainability.From Bandalux, we proposed a combination of systems suitable for both the working and residential parts of this mixed project:, but Veranda Plus is particularly convenient as it completes without denaturing the former structure of the building.

In March 2017, Perkins+Will relocated to The White Chapel Building in Aldgate. The new office space is an exemplar of workplace design as well as showcase for firm’s values. Most importantly, their aim to be LEED Gold and one of the first Fitwel certified projects in Europe, this project had very specific requirements:to create a flexible space that allows for agile working, collaboration and knowledge sharing amongst the staff. The company approached Billi UK with a clear objective:an energy-efficient boiling, chilled and sparkling system with a sleek design to match their contemporary break out areas.

Project: Innovation Centre, Marlborough CollegeDate: 2020 Background:·        APL were specified by the architect at an early stage in the project, providing a number of samples with different perforations and in different colours·        APL’s engineering team designed a bespoke aluminium sub-frame to minimise any window obstruction Systems:·        1,600m² of AP45HR-Airwall™ perforated profile in aluminium with a Class 2 PPC coating to both sides·        Bespoke-design APL aluminium sub-frame coloured-matched to the Airwall™·        All fixings and accessories  Building Location:·        Swindon

In July 1960 the SAS Royal Hotel opened in Copenhagen as the world’s first design hotel. Now known as the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, it was the embodiment of Arne Jacobsen’s whole-picture approach to architecture and design.Jacobsen received the brief in 1955 from Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) to build the first hotel of its kind and set Copenhagen up as the Nordic gateway for the new tourists travelling from America. The hotel was to act as a terminal in the city centre, with guests whisked direct from its cocktail lounge to Kastrup Airport in a mere 20 minutes.

Designed by architects Acme, the stunning WestQuay Watermark bfeatures a dramatic cantilevered box wrapped in a transparent skin of curving stainless steel silver tubes. SAS Special Projects designed, manufactured and installed a bespoke SAS750 Tubeline with a 76mm diameter and suspension system for the external soffit. With the building being near the coast, the external skin required C4 corrosion protection. The material and paint used had to accommodate saline or marine environments and be able to be designed to withstand wind loads. Open to the public, the WestQuay Watermark has now become a centerpiece of Southampton’s regeneration.

In a complex new build roofing project that was deemed almost impossible, Contour Roofing stepped up to the challenge with a Sika Sarnafil membrane. With truly stunning results, the project impressed the judges of the prestigious NFRC UK Roofing Awards, winning the Single Ply category. In partnership with Sika Sarnafil, Contour quickly presented a new bespoke specification; an adhered system using Sarnafil G410-15ELF Lead Grey with a polyester fleece backing as the main roof sheet for a flawless result and Sarnafil G410-15EL Lead Grey for all the detail work flashings.

Integrating over two thousand employees from across Dublin into one location, Microsofts new offices take on a human-centric form. Covering 33,000 sq m of floor space the new development connects employees from over seventy two different nationalities. Using both Aluprof MB-SR50N capped curtain wall and MB-SR50N EFEKT capless curtain wall systems the project achieves the architectural performance and aesthetics desired. Providing the building users with exceptional natural daylight. Architect: RKD Architects Main Contractor: BAM

The addition of three extra stories to a traditionally built structure required a lightweight SIPS frame with FastClad brick slip system external skin, utilising the same bricks as the lower structure, to enable this to be achieved.This award winning project was created to meet the huge demand in London for high-quality, purpose-built Build to Rent apartments. Designed by Newground Architects, Rehearsal Rooms was one of London’s first institutionally backed BTR schemes. FastClad was chosen for it’s weight, ease of installation, fire properties, as well being indistinguishable from the areas of traditionally laid masonry.

Gateway 12 is multi-million pound industrial development on a c.16-acre site located three miles to the South West of Gloucester, adjacent to the A38 dual carriageway and just one mile form Junction 12 of the M5.For the main structure of the buildings Trisobuild® R32 was used for the roof and Trisobuild® C32 was installed vertically on the walls; Trisobuild® HR50 was used horizontally at the higher level for the soffits in Merlin Grey. The offices area wall elevations were constructed using Trimapanel® insulated panel system.

In the summer of 2007 the country witnessed extensive flooding with areas in England experiencing “over two months rainfall in just 14 hours.” Loss of water and electricity supply was experienced with thousands of homes. Providing protection against a 1 in 1000 year flood event involved building over 1 kilometer of reinforced concrete and sheet piled walls. As well as protecting the site from future flooding, the team at RHI Industrials worked in partnership with Lochrin Bain to ensure the security fencing system was fully integrated with the substations new flood defences.