"education science"

This case study is courtesy of Play To Measure and Priory Park Community School. The school sought a specialist play company to convert an unused piece of land into an innovative learning and play environment. Their aim was to merge education, creativity, fun, nature, and most importantly safety, in one holistic design.Before the project commenced, the outdoor space at Priory Park Community School was mostly inaccessible and overgrown, resulting in underutilisation.Play To Measure faced a significant challenge due to the lack of engaging features and safety concerns while transforming this space into an area promoting both learning and play. Ensuring students’ safety while encouraging outdoor learning, creativity, and physical activity was a top priority in the planning process.To address these challenges, Play To Measure proposed a comprehensive solution. This involved creating an outdoor classroom, pond, climbing frame with a slide, hammocks, and more. They also added rubber grass matting underneath suitable structures to cushion falls and ensure the safety of the children.The initial phase involved clearing the overgrown grass and plants, providing the team with a blank canvas to work on. With the area cleared, the team commenced transforming the design into reality.They created a pond filled with self-oxygenating plants to attract various wildlife, making it a potential habitat. Adjacent to the pond, they placed a boat, offering a unique relaxation and learning space.Above the pond, they installed a custom-built Outdoor Classroom with a bridge, serving as a dedicated educational space with a canopy for year-round use.In proximity to the classroom, two handmade hammocks were installed with our protective rubber grass mats underneath, ensuring a safe surface under this unique relaxation area.The subsequent phase involved designing, constructing, and installing a unique climbing frame. Play To Measure's team crafted an innovative play space featuring ladders, a slide, a climbing wall and nets. The climbing frame was assembled and installed on-site, with some help from the school’s students!Rubber grass mats, 23mm in thickness, were then laid and secured around the climbing frame, providing a safety surface for all users. These easy-to-install safety surfacing solutions offer a superb 3.3m critical fall height, ideal for various play spaces. The addition of a play area enhanced the recreational aspect, promoting physical activity while ensuring children's safety during play."Another quality structure completed, featuring a climbing wall, scramble nets, ladders, a platform and a slide!""Thanks to South West Play for all things rope, GCL Products for safety matting and the students at Priory Park Community School for your help in building the structure." - Play To MeasureThe collaboration between Play To Measure, Priory Park Community School and GCL Products successfully transformed an underutilised outdoor space into a vibrant, safe, and educational area. The project achieved a fine balance between education, recreation, versatility and safety, creating an inspiring environment that fosters both learning and play. This exceptional project highlights the value of innovative solutions for outdoor spaces while prioritising children’s safety and well-being."We are delighted with the before and after. The transformation of spaces is what we do. Take an unused space and make it into a play oasis.""Earlier this year it was an empty area... Now there is a Nature Pond, Outdoor Classroom, Boat, Table & Chairs, Hammocks and a large Climbing Frame.""Thank you to Priory Park Community for the opportunity to work at your school." - Play To MeasurePlay To Measure excels in transforming indoor and outdoor spaces, crafting playgrounds, sensory gardens, learning spaces, and home garden projects. Based in Sheffield, they operate throughout Yorkshire, the Midlands and across the UK. This project exemplifies Play To Measure’s commitment to excellence and their capacity to exceed clients' needs and expectations. To discover more about them or discuss a potential project, visit the Play To Measure website.GCL Products are proud to have contributed to the creation of this exceptional safe learning and play space. For more information on our rubber grass mats or to request a quote for an upcoming project, do not hesitate to contact us.You can call us on 01246 418144 or LiveChat with us during office hours. Alternatively, you can leave us a message outside these hours.

he BriefLivingston Eyre Associates and Kier were working on a 44 million-pound project for the Cambridge Meridian Academies Trust which aimed to create a through campus, linking a nursery, primary school, SEN school and secondary school providing 1,800 school places.The development included a number of canopies to provide shade and shelter throughout the campus grounds and to provide designated cycle parking areas to encourage cycling to school.We were originally contacted by an Architect at Livingston Eyre Associates in April 2018 when the project was in the planning stage. Able Canopies had been specified for the canopies and they contacted us to check that the sizes stipulated were feasible.The SolutionWithin the project, Able Canopies were specified for the supply and installation of seven canopies which included three Grange Junior Free Standing Canopies with Sheffield Cycle Racks to provide sheltered cycle parking adjacent to the drama courtyard and within the school square; two Coniston Wall Mounted Canopies to provide covered outdoor areas for the reception and early years pupils to play and learn outside; a bespoke pergola to cover an outdoor stage for impromptu entertainment within the schools community square; and an entrance canopy for the SEN school to provide a sheltered area for the school busses to drop off and pick up their SEN pupils.All products were standard products excluding the Kensington and pergola:

As part of the £25 million Wolverhampton Academy Trust sponsored Bilston Academy, BCL are proud to have been part of the overall process. This project was delivered through the BSF programme by Carillion PLC and was designed by Capita. The academy was designed with the ability to deliver a modern multi-disciplinary education centre for the 1200 students of Wolverhampton Academy in mind. The building is made up of 4 differently themed zones, a dedicated engineering hub, a science super-lab and a combination of grass and astro-turf sports pitches.Using 69 x 44 mm of Siberian Larch, the external walls were covered, with the timber installed vertically at 100 mm to form an open screen detail across the building, including the plant room and roof areas. Each slat was treated to Class 0 SSF, using the non-com impregnation system from Lonza Wood Protection. In doing this, BCL ensured the building would have complete fire protection for its entire life without requiring any maintenance.As per all BCL panel systems everything was designed and pre-fabricated off site into a panellised system, fitted using secret fixings. Installation time was dramatically reduced along with on-site waste, meaning the 3000 m2 envelope was constructed quickly and efficiently.Client: Wolverhampton AcademyArchitect: CapitaContractor: Carillion PLCLocation: WolverhamptonCompletion: April 2013 Siberian LarchFSC CertifiedSecret FixingsClass 0 SSF

Setting an aesthetic benchmark at the heart of the regeneration of London’s Royal Docks, Oasis Academy Silvertown is a new Department for Education school created by architects Rivington Street Studio. The landmark building serves 11-16 year olds and achieves a BREEAM ‘Excellent' rating while its striking appearance owes much to the use of Vandersanden’s Perla bricks.At the heart of an emerging community in West Silvertown, the Oasis Academy is an all-inclusive secondary school for 600 students on a constrained .25-hectare site. Arranged as a multi-storey ‘superblock’, the building incorporates outdoor social space at different levels and a full-sized sports pitch on its roof.The warm white Perla brickwork and large openings relate to the existing and new residential properties and the monumental listed Silo D nearby. The building’s thick external walls are folded to provide a layered façade in response to the elements. A double-height colonnade to the North Woolwich Road acts as a visitor entrance and engenders a civic quality to the building while also allowing for generous pedestrian movement and a deep threshold between the public domain and secure school environment.The site is surrounded by a mix of red brick residential properties, derelict industrial land and vast stretches of master-planned residential and commercial properties. “We wanted the Academy to stand out from this landscape,” explains Éimear Murphy, associate director at Rivington Street Studio. “Vandersanden’s white Perla bricks give the building a monumental quality, highlighting that it’s for the community and is not an apartment block.”Taylor Maxwell, the brick supplier, suggested Vandersanden’s Perla brick for the project. “What we really liked about Perla is that it’s not only a white brick, with no variation in the colour, but it has quite a rustic, handmade texture that gives it a warm feel rather than a shiny and engineered surface finish,” says Murphy. There were various challenges to creating the brickwork details. The sharp angles associated with the brick fins on the side elevations meant there were a lot of brick specials so these were scheduled with plans drawn through the fins at every other course at the different levels. The contractor then cut the bricks to the schedule. This was made possible because the Perla bricks are exactly the same colour all the way through. For the canted reveals of the double-height colonnade to the main elevation, brick slip panels were used. Rivington Street Studio worked with the brick subcontractor to develop a bespoke detail and different mock-ups were trialled. The brick slips are seamless in appearance, matching with the full bricks used elsewhere. The canted reveals to the windows on the south elevation were envisioned through extensive 3D modelling and the Perla bricks again proved highly versatile during construction.To achieve a homogenous feel to the building, the mortar was matched to the brick. From a distance, the structure resembles a white cube but, as you get closer, the surface detail of the mortar joints and brick texture starts appearing. At different times of the day, the building’s appearance changes as patterns of light and shade move across the texture of the bricks. "The Vandersanden bricks are incredibly high quality and the through colour simplified the construction process because the bricks could simply be cut to suit the building’s geometry, enthuses Murphy. “Another important factor was the excellent consistency of the batches as this was essential to achieving the building’s monolithic, one-colour look.” 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' linkProject photography Simon Kennedy & Rachel Ferriman

KEIM Concretal W was applied to the external concrete to give a vibrant white finish with unparalleled concrete protection which will not fade and yellow over time. KEIM Concretal W provides an integral protective and decorative finish to the concrete.

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

BACKGROUNDT-Squared were selected by Oxford Nanopore Technologies as Main Contractor for their new cleanroom production facility on the prestigious Harwell Campus. The production cleanrooms had to be ultra-clean to manufacture DNA/RNA sequencing devices.BRIEFThe production cleanrooms for the sequencing devices required ISO 4 & 7 Classifications and had to meet the stringent requirements for their specialist manufacturing process which are aligned with semiconductor processing. Due to the high level of process services required and strict operating conditions, the cleanroom had to support the specialist services and HVAC solutions to meet the critical operating parameters and production processes.SOLUTIONMIDDAS designed, manufactured, and installed structural cleanrooms from their proven M100/M200 range and specialist M-WOC walk-on ceiling with plenum cap. The M100/M200 framework was engineered to support the sensible cooling coils and HVAC supplies, along with the process utilities used within the facility. The cleanroom wall panels could also be removed to access the services throughout the life of the facility and had inert aluminium cores to ensure the cleanroom classifications were met. A unique feature of the MIDDAS solution was the plenum cap, designed and engineered to support the fan filter ceiling below. Integrated handrails to the walk-on ceilings also ensured a safe maintenance platform.

Accoya selected for the cladding & decking of the new Forest of Genetic Resource Department, Korea. To date, this project marks the largest wooden scale structure in the whole of Korea. Because of this iconic status the construction had to ensure that the most advanced materials such as Accoya were chosen. Due to the project being 4 storeys high Accoya was selected for its extreme durability & stability. Designed by IDS architects, Accoya was also chosen because of its natural & bespoke aesthetic. Due to Accoya’s light appearance the cladding could be painted to satisfy the designers requirements.

This exciting project, situated close to a major wind farm, required a sheathing board with exceptional pull-over performance; and the need for unusual board sizes meant that waste was an issue, particularly in light of the architect’s BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating ambitions.The Project: Hugh Baird Community and Higher Education Centre, LiverpoolProject Value: £8 millionMain Contractor: Wates Construction North WestSub-Contractor: Sound Interiors LimitedProduct: VersapanelSize: 1200 — 2800 — 12mmQuantity: 2,000m2About the ProjectAn £8 million, 2,600 square metre project, the new Hugh Baird Community and Higher Education Centre in Liverpool offers an innovative mix of facilities, not only for Hugh Baird’s students and apprentices but also to the local community, schools and businesses.The facility will incorporate a University Centre, a flexible performance and exhibition space, a public library and a Jobcentre Plus. A new Business Development Centre, providing professional training for local businesses, is also to be a core feature.Architects IBI Taylor Young have created a striking modern design, incorporating a semi-rotunda feature and a three-storey overhanging box structure.The ChallengeThere were two key challenges on this project for sub-contractors Sound Interiors Limited. Firstly, the unusual design called for non-standard panel sizes. This is becoming all too common as contemporary architecture moves increasingly toward the unique and, in some cases, the downright eccentric.Secondly, the five-storey structure is located in a windy area; so windy, in fact, that, less than a mile away, you can find the Port of Liverpool 10MW wind farm, capable of generating electricity for 5,500 homes. Where wind is a factor, the pull-over performance of any building boards used is critical, particularly during construction when wind can penetrate the structure and create areas of negative wind pressure.The SolutionSize is EverythingAs modern British architecture moves away from the conventional, the challenges for construction professionals like Sound Interiors increase. Whilst, in the past, construction has largely been a logistically focused endeavour — the ‘when’ and ‘where’ of it all — increasingly, the question that dominates the pre-construction phase of a project is ‘How?’The skill and experience of Sound Interiors came into play not only in applying their technical knowhow to the challenges of constructing an overhanging box and creating a curving rotunda from flat building boards, it also influenced their choice of materials.Said John Sheeran, Contracts Manager at Sound Interiors Limited, “We opted for Euroform’s Versapanel on this project — and numerous other projects — because it’s easy to work with and reliable. Plus we get exceptionally good technical support from the team at Euroform. For the Hugh Baird project, where lots of unusual sizes were required, the fact that Versapanel is available in a larger 1200 — 2800 — 12mm size meant we could dramatically reduce wastage. This material-conscious approach also helps us support IBI Taylor Young’s ambition of achieving a BREEAM rating of ‘Very Good’ for the building.”Under PressureIt’s no coincidence that four 125-metre Nordex N90, 2.5-MW turbines, capable of producing a total of 10MW of electricity, have been strategically located just a mile or so away. This is a windy area of Liverpool. Thankfully, Sound Interiors’ commitment to Versapanel also resolved this second challenge, reducing the effects of negative wind pressure during construction.John Taylor, Business Development Manager at Euroform, said, “Versapanel makes the ideal sheathing panel for challenging construction environments. For areas of high wind load, such as coastal regions, a board with effective wind-load and pull-over performance can be extremely important. Obviously, no two projects are alike, and we’re only too happy to work closely with professionals like Sound Interiors to ensure the best possible outcome.”ConclusionThis isn’t the first time that Sound Interiors, Euroform and Versapanel have come together to overcome adverse weather condition. At Gogarth School in Llandudno, freezing temperatures and driving rain presented a significant challenge. At Hugh Baird, it was strong winds. In both cases a desire to reduce waste was a key commitment of all parties involved. And in both cases, a successful outcome was enjoyed by all.

This project was part of an extensive refurbishment of the Sherfield Building, transforming an existing bar area into a restaurant with meeting rooms and public toilets. Imperial College wanted to create sleek, modern washrooms that would handle heavy traffic. “Our key considerations were to provide a contemporary facility which could be used as a benchmark for all future public toilet spaces throughout the college. Sourcing products made in the UK, with readily available parts, was an important part of our selection process, making Venesta the ideal choice.” - Dan Curtis, Strategic Development Manager

“After 11 years of constant use by students and staff, the toilets had become tired looking and certain components were broken. The aim was to create a pleasant washroom area for students as well as staff and Venesta have a proven record of providing quality and hardwearing washroom design. The cubicles are what our establishment are best pleased with; they are well made and will stand the heavy flow of traffic through them. Users have been pleased to see the transformation of old tired facilities to a bright inviting area to use” - Nicholas Campbell, Site Manager, The Leigh Academy.

This project highlights the DYNAMIK Sydney system finished in sports vinyl, DYNAMIK solid, perforated and fabric acoustic wall panels and DYNAMIK protective giant carpet tiles. The client installed their DYNAMIK internal wall panels themselves and were pleased with the overall service: “We love the place now… thanks for all your help and patience in selecting the right [wall] panels and flooring. It has really proven to be worth it in the end.”

The principal finish of ironmongery supplied was Stain Stainless Steel, and the majority of the lever handles supplied were Salto Proximity Lever Handle sets, which worked in conjunction with the Salto Hardwired system which we supplied to the M&E Contractor.

The Oculus is a new flagship teaching and learning, multi-faculty building designed to encourage sharing and socialising between students across the full range of academic subjects, enhancing their student experience. Location: WarwickArchitects: Berman Guedes Stretton Contractor: Willmott Dixon Aspex supplied: Novista Timber Riser doorsets with adjustable concealed hinges and factory painted door leafs.

Award-winning Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Building (IBRB, £33m) at University of Warwick is a new state-of-the-art research building. Location: WarwickAspex supplied: Aspex supplied Salto access control products including:XS4 ONE BLE escutcheons internally and externallySalto wall readersHigh security locking in confidential areasSmart lock automationSalto readers concealed within turnstile speed gates Contractor: Willmott DixonArchitect: Hawkins Brown Architects & Fairhurst Design Group

De Monfort University's Vijay Patel Building is home to art and design offering sector-leading facilities to students. Location: LeicesterContractor: Balfour BeattyArchitect: CPMG ArchitectsAspex supplied: Ironmongery, Access Control & Automatic Operators

The car park at Syngenta’s research centre at Jealotts Hill to the north of Bracknell needed resurfacing. The new car park surface needed to be durable enough to cope with frequent HGV traffic and deliver a lasting, low maintenance solution.As expected, ULTIPHALT HD was installed quickly, within the client’s schedule and the car park was marked-up and re-opened just 12 hours after the asphalt was laid. The speed of the work meant no disruption to Sygenta’s daily operations, employees or customers. The proven durability of ULTIPHALT HD will also help to minimise future maintenance requirements and associated costs.

Unrivalled in scale in the UK as a hub of engineering and material science expertise, the new Manchester Engineering Campus Development (MECD) embraces the refurbished, Grade II listed Oddfellows Hall, the MEC Hall and buildings on Upper Brook Street and York Street. Brick played a crucial role in creating the campus and, to find the perfect products to fulfil their aesthetic vision, the architects turned to Vandersanden.The new campus is one of the largest construction projects undertaken by any higher education institution in the UK. It will allow 1,300 staff and 7,000 students to work and study in spaces that enable connection, collaboration and concentration across the faculty.Working with Mecanoo, Penoyre & Prasad and Balfour Beatty Construction, BDP provided detailed design consultation services for the entire MECD project. The collaborative team completed the sensitive renovation and extension of Oddfellows Hall to accommodate a suite of conference rooms, academic workspaces and a restaurant.Originally built in 1857 and rebuilt in 1916, Oddfellows Hall anchors the new MECD to its formative past. Set back on the north side from the listed building, the modern extension presents a neat facade where Vandersanden’s Berit water-struck facing brick, which is white with a light texture, is coupled with areas of glazing and tile. “The approach to the scheme has been to add a twenty-first-century building of its time but in continuity with the existing language, using materials such as brick and glass,” explains Paul Owen, architect associate at BDP.Configured horizontally, the elements wrap around the façade of the extension to create a strong connection to both the north and south facades of the older building. The aesthetic is enhanced further by a combination of narrow brick piers and vertically proportioned windows. A defined brick plinth at ground floor level achieves additional visual interconnection between the old and the new.On the roof, the plant enclosure uses the same Vandersanden Berit brick as the façade, but the structure is set back from the parapet line. A hit and miss pattern allows for ventilation of the mechanical and electrical equipment inside as an elegant alternative to standard ventilation grilles.On Upper Brook Street and York Street, the new buildings are of solid brick that includes feature brick vertical and horizontal elements to articulate the façade and frame the window openings. Again, the brick is from Vandersanden; in this case, the company's Herning water struck brick with a dark brown-purple-blue multi-coloured appearance.“The technical advice the team at Vandersanden gave was incredibly helpful while the bricks offer great visual appeal. In the long term, they will age gracefully in combination with the existing material of Oddfellows Hall, ensuring the new extension sits well in its context,” says Paul Owen.For more information on the development go to https://www.mub.eps.manchester.ac.uk/science-engineering. For details on BDP visit, www.bdp.com and to find out more on Berit, Herning and the wide range of high-quality bricks available from Vandersanden, visit Together we build greatness | Vandersanden

“The variation of colours available in the Award range meant each washroom became a unique space, which really brightened up both areas.” Given the extensive range of activities undertaken at Francis Holland School, their new washroom refurbishment needed to be suitable for both wet and dry environments. They also requested a separate disabled access washroom and bright colour schemes to create a welcoming and stimulating environment. Award’s cubicle range was the perfect choice for the project. Both washroom refurbishments created bright, unique and welcoming areas and have been well received by pupils and staff alike.Read the full case study for more details.

‘‘Before this project went ahead we stipulated that our suppliers needed, not only to provide highly thought out, stylish systems but also to be hot on the quality of their service too. I’m delighted to say, we got both from Venesta.’’ Mr Grove, Head, Belleville Primary School A key consideration on this project was timing. The refurbishment was planned for the school holidays, meaning it had to be gutted and refitted in just six weeks. Thankfully, the highly efficient Venesta team was able to rise to the challenge and delivered the cubicles on time and ready to install.

‘‘To meet the rigorous demands of this type of environment, all facilities in our academy have to be robust, efficient and fit for purpose. Centurion has fulfilled these requirements, and has given an excellent finished appearance in all washroom areas.’’ Graham Turner, Facilities Manager, Tudor Grange Academy.Solihull Council, having specified Venesta in the past, chose our Centurion Privacy range for the six male and female toilet facilities situated throughout the campus. This gave the academy the long-lasting quality that they were looking for.Installation was during school holidays which meant there were strict time constraints, so Vepps, our industry-leading pre-plumbed paneling system, was the obvious choice for Tudor Grange Academy.Read the full case study for more details.

As part of a £1.2m development of a new PE block, Selby High required a durable and robust washroom area to withstand both the wet and dry environments of the school toilets and shower facilities. They needed to provide privacy without compromising on the space to provide an adequate number of cubicles. Fusion was selected for its contemporary, slim line fittings, with full height privacy doors, and ultra-strong metal frames that add rigidity to the cubicles. The design flexibility and colour choices meant that they could choose a bold yet sophisticated design that reflected their school colours.

“If you ask pupils what aspect of the facilities is their top priority for the school to improve, it will always be the toilets. We now have a space that is bright, colourful and looks smart. These facilities are great!” - Ian Parnaby, School Business Leader. The washroom area at York High School was a unisex block, which meant that privacy was a key priority when selecting their cubicle range. They also had to be smart, robust and easy to clean and maintain. With all this in mind York High School selected Centurion Full Height cubicles and Venesta’s pre-plumbed panelling system, Vepps®.For more details read the full case study.

“The Venesta cubicles offer easy maintenance and cleaning. The product has really improved since the original product twenty years ago and there are some lovely colour schemes to choose from.” - Christina Roper, Boarding Administrator. Having previously installed Venesta cubicles in the late 90s, the school decided it was time for a total refurbishment of the washroom areas, and Vanesta was the natural choice for this new project. Needing something that was easy to clean and maintain, built to last and simple to install, Award cubicles in High Pressure Laminate (HPL) were chosen with matching Solid Grade Laminate vanity units.

“Venesta's products are great value and the staff are helpful and committed; their full height cubicles are ideal for areas where privacy is essential. Venesta met the challenge of matching their cubicles to the Isaac Newton colours to fit in with the theme of the building” - Akos Juhasz, Architect The unisex washroom had to be as secure and private as possible for students whilst looking bright and inviting to use with easy supervision of the communal areas. "(Unity's) flush-fronted design and full height doors, allowing for total privacy, made it the perfect choice."

University of Leicester have recently introduced their renovated £24m Percy Gee campus. The four-storey expansion features a new dedicated informatics lab, a high-tech media centre and a performance studio, an integrated student and library hub, as well as new food court.University of Leicester engineer: Rick SturgessContractor: Henry Boot Construction LtdArchitect: Shepheard Epstein HunterAspex supplied: Novista concealed timber doorsets, Salto access solutions, integrated with automated doors internally and externally

As the first school in the UK to be approved for all three IB Programmes, Southbank has flourished from its humble beginnings in London’s South Bank with just a few dozen students, and is now a renowned multi-campus institution in the heart of London. As a result of its success, expansion of its campus was essential to accommodate growing numbers, hence the opening of Cleveland Street in September 2018, allowing an additional 200 students, aged between 11 to 19 years old, to benefit from the IB experience.

OVER 3000SQM OF SOTECH OPTIMA IPC RAINSCREEN CLADDING HAS BEEN USED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BOURNEMOUTH GATEWAY BUILDING (BGB).Working closely with anodising partner United Anodisers, the Optima Interlocking Plank finished in anodised Anolok regency gold, natural and Anolok bronze, the rainscreen cladding forms a prominent part of the building, situated on the St Paul’s site – next to the St Paul’s roundabout on the Wessex Way; a key location on the main route into Bournemouth.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.At five to seven stories high, the building provides a strong visual gateway to the Lansdowne Campus and a landmark entrance to the town.The building, which accommodates the institute’s Faculty of Health & Social Sciences (HSS) delivers a unified base for the faculty education, research and office activities and provides 10,000 square metres of space for the Faculty and the wider BU population.The BGB is designed to be environmentally-friendly with a number of carbon-reduction measures. The full team behind the build is committed to an ‘excellent’ rating for the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology (BREEAM) certification.The building opened officially in October 2020, but access is currently limited to staff and Postgraduate Research (PGR) students while they familiarise themselves with the building.Special thanks to TAC Projects for choosing Sotech to deliver on this project, which was overseen by Kier Construction with architectural firm Atkins.

The facilities at Wimbledon Chase Primary School were in need of a complete overhaul. Accredited Installers, G Haslehurst Builders, were appointed to reconfigure the space which included the installation of contemporary, reliable and easy to maintain washroom systems.Versatile and robust Award toilet cubicles were specified due to the unrivalled safety features that come as standard. Anti-tamper fixings and emergency release indicator bolts make Award a popular choice for schools. The washroom also featured pre-plumbed, factory tested SanCeram Chartham WCs pre-plumbed to SGL Vepps panels and hardwearing SGL vanity units with SanCeram semi-recessed basins and self-closing mixer taps.Read the full case study for more details.

Recognised by Ofsted as an Outstanding school, Lyons Hall’s success had resulted in the need for a new teaching block to meet the demand for extra places. The first phase required school toilets for the Early Years pupils and for washroom solutions for general use. As an existing client of Venesta washrooms, Award Winning RIBA Chartered Architects, Laurie Wood Assoicates, were confident of our ability to meet the standards set. Lollipop cubicles are designed specifically to meet the needs of young children. The range offers a fun design, great safety features and shaped doors to allow for discreet adult supervision.

“Staff and students have both been delighted with the outcome of the washroom renovation and plenty of positive feedback has been received. The door thickness and quality really helps to reduce vandalism and provides soundproof privacy for the students. I hope that the students will now take ownership and really look after the new washrooms. What’s more, the washrooms are now a much more open space, making it easier than ever for staff to supervise and oversee the areas.” - Jennifer Jewitt, Finance Director at South Hunsley Secondary School.

“Wow - the children are so excited to have new toilets. The school has had the same toilets since 1930 and they were in desperate need of replacing. The children now take pride in the facilities and love the wash trough hand basin. The impact on all children having nice facilities to use is amazing. The problem I have now is they don’t want to leave the washroom!” - Sue MacAskill, Marian Vian’s Facilities Manager The biggest challenge was the time constraints, due to school term times. Specifying our industry-leading pre-plumbed panelling system Vepps® helped reduce installation time by 50%.

The ProjectLoughborough College provides a range of courses in further education, along with apprenticeships and professional qualifications. It is based on one of the largest student campuses in Europe, sharing the area with Loughborough University. Over 2000 students attend the college, with some living in adjacent halls of residence.The college staircases needed to be refurbished. The flooring was previously terrazzo, and this was to be changed to a rubber flooring. This was suitable in terms of durability and slip resistance for the large amount of people on the campus. To complement the flooring, the stair nosings had to be equally hard-wearing and safe.The stair nosings needed to adhere to all Building Regulations guidelines, along with BS8300:2-2018 and the Equality Act. This meant that they needed to have great slip resistant properties, and stand out from the black flooring to create a ladder effect on the staircases. This would help people to navigate the stairways, especially those with visual impairments.There was a special request from the college which would help to attain this noticeable difference between the stair nosings and the steps: “Hot Rod Pink” tread material, to match Loughborough College colours.The ApproachMidlands Flooring was hired as the flooring contractor for the refurb. As Hot Rod Pink is not a standard stair nosing colour, Dave Wilson from Midlands Flooring got in touch with a number of manufacturers to see if anyone could rise to the challenge.Within 24 hours, Quantum Flooring returned its proposal for manufacturing bespoke Hot Rod Pink tread material specifically for Loughborough College. The unique stair nosing tread would be made from the same material as Quantum’s normal tread, meaning it would be slip resistant and suitable for the frequent foot traffic.Quantum’s SR125R stair nosings were chosen to fit the tread material into. These profiles have a ramped back, to ensure that there would be no trip hazard on the staircases. They are raked back on the riser, to ensure a perfect fit on the steps. Plus, Quantum’s UTA aluminium stair edging trims were fitted, providing a safe and aesthetically pleasing finish to the side of the steps on the open string stairs.The OutcomeQuantum ensured a fast turnaround on the stair nosings, using the QSMS free measuring service. A Quantum representative electronically measured all of the steps to their precise lengths, and sent the results to the distributor Carpet & Flooring in Birmingham for the stair nosings to be cut and drilled.Midlands Flooring fixed the stair nosings with Q-Fix contact adhesive, ensuring a strong bond to the steps. Secret-fix was used to drill the profiles, meaning the tread material could be fitted on site, and there was no need for unsightly plugs to hide the screws in the tread. Quantum’s SR125R stair nosings with Hot Rod Pink tread material look fantastic in Loughborough College. The college was delighted with the results.Loughborough College has a unique, on-brand stair nosing tread for its refurbished stairways. Midlands Flooring did a fantastic job on the project, and Quantum backed them up with innovation and expedience.

Client: NHS HighlandLocation: Inverness, Scotland, UKYear: 2023Project size: 400 m²Vebro systems: vebrobound StoneAn attractive, slip-resistant alternative to tarmac was required for the outdoor areas surrounding an elective care centre in the heart of Inverness Campus.NHS Highland, one of the fourteen regions of NHS Scotland, provides physical and mental health services across the Highland and Argyll and Bute Council areas, covering an area of 32,500 km² and serving a population of 320,000 people.NHS Highland has opened a new elective care facility at Inverness Campus, a hub for world-class research and development in the life-sciences sector.The National Treatment Centre, based at the Inverness Campus, comprises an ophthalmology outpatient department, ophthalmology and orthopaedic theatres, inpatient wards, an imaging and diagnostics suite, as well as collaborative spaces, educational facilities, and office spaces.Not only does the centre cater to local needs, but it also goes beyond by fostering innovation and research, enhancing the scope and impact of clinical services provided.Vebro Polymers has supplied vebrobound Stone, a fully permeable, SUDs compliant resin-bound aggregate system that is ideally suited for use in public-facing external applications like hospitals and healthcare facilities. The permeable, seamless polyurethane resin bound aggregate system is designed for installation directly onto tarmac or concrete on terraces and external areas of commercial and institutional venues and delivers a stylish and low maintenance alternative to loose gravel, block paving or concrete.Available in a range of attractive aggregate blends, vebrobound Stone can complement existing structures to deliver a stunning welcome to institutional facilities such as this.Hendersons, established over 40 years ago and based in Moray in Scotland, provide first class resin flooring installation throughout Scotland.The company, who also offer a range of other services including painting, decorating and industrial cleaning, deployed their dedicated resin flooring team to transform Glenturret Distillery. Hendersons prides itself on the continual training of existing staff and development of trainees across its business, ensuring it continues to offer an unsurpassable service.

Award-winning global practice, WilkinsonEyre, specified bricks and brick slips from innovation-led manufacturer, Vandersanden, to emphasise the horizontal volumes and architectural context of the contemporary, new Graduate Centre at Queen Mary University in London. Zero®, a new brick system from Vandersanden, offers a contemporary joint-free appearance and was WilkinsonEyre’s material of choice for the external walls of this 80m-long, seven-storey ground-scraper. Instead of being pointed up to the face of the bricks, the mortar is set well back, with rainwater draining behind. The use of brick draws attention to the horizontality of the building’s volumes and blends with neighbouring buildings...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

A multidisciplinary teaching and research building at the heart of Salford University Campus.A striking colour palette selected for the modified window interface and rainscreen cladding. Finishes: Interpon’s D2525 Ostuni Y2211I, Interpon D1036 RAL 3030 Gloss