"lights"

Over 300 architects, specifiers, contractors and clients recently enjoyed the official launch party of Style’s impressive new London showroom. A market leader in operable wall solutions and the exclusive UK partner to Dorma Hüppe, Skyfold and SWG, Style welcomed the prestigious guest list with beer, bubbles and a buffet, whilst demonstrating the very latest moveable wall innovations and flexible space concepts. Conveniently located in London’s Shoreditch, Style shares the showroom with Optima Contracting, experts in glazed partitioning systems and Atrium, the UK’s largest independent specialist lighting distributor.

Delivered under the 21st Century Schools and Education Programme, the new Caldicot School building in Monmouthshire offer the innovative and flexible learning facilities demanded by a contemporary secondary school. There are spacious classrooms, a multi-use hall, theatre-style learning areas and studio spaces for students to study informally. The building is designed to be energy efficient and natural light has been optimised throughout. Monmouth Comprehensive is equipped with state of the art facilities. Rockfon acoustic products play a pivotal role in both schools by creating stimulating learning environments that are at the heart of the architect’s vision.

For Bloomberg HQ, Foster + Partners originally approached SAS in 2012. Knowing SAS well, they were seeking a manufacturing and design partner to realise true innovation in product design and engineering. There are many architectural features of note both inside and outside of the building. That said, you immediately notice the ceiling once inside, it is unlike anything seen previously. The Integrated Ceiling Panels combine acoustics, lighting and temperature control. This is a first for the UK and likely globally. Achieving a 98.5% ‘Outstanding’ BREEAM rating, the project is the most sustainable commercial office building in Europe.

When it came to Ty Oriel (‘Gallery House’ in Welsh), the brief was ambitious. Architects Nic Downs and Carolyn Merrifield wanted something sleek but striking. Eco-friendly, but instantly classic. A family home that was angular and modern, but that could simultaneously blend with its more conservative suburban surroundings. And they were that demanding for a very good reason. The house wasn’t just for anyone. It was theirs. Clean and minimalistic, the resulting build is stylishly open-plan, incorporating an office and an art studio as well as four bedrooms, all south-facing to maximise natural light.

Rubio Monocoat was specified on the interior and exterior timber surfaces, such as the furniture, kitchen counter top, built-in cupboards, stair casing, as well as outdoor furniture. The interior has a minimalistic and uncluttered feel, rather placing a greater emphasis on the sea, and to the mountains on the Northern side. A dark charcoal colour was chosen for the exterior, and this is in contrast with the light walls inside the house. The kitchen has a clean contemporary feel. There is a spine-wall running through the house, which is cladded with dark ribbon stoning, and copper colours. The furniture is uncluttered as well as being practical for a house that is right on the beach/

Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2019, the iconic Bell’s Sports Centre in Perth, needed a new roof to protect the building. With the previous roof membrane nearing 30 years old the centre needed a long-term and robust roofing solution. The product of choice was the mechanically fixed Sarnafil S327-15 EL Light Grey as it is more than able to cope with all the extremes of the Scottish weather and has been certified by the BBA to last in excess of 40 years. The durability of the single ply material ensured a long-lasting solution for the project.

The Jo Coenen Architects Studio chose the technical porcelain stoneware of the Trust line, Titanium colour 30x60 format from the Atlas Concorde range, for the realization in Utrecht of the business centre housing the offices of the Dutch State Railways.Modern and functional, the structure greets the public with extensive spaces enhanced by light filtering in from large windows and carefully designed finishing details. The Trust collection, with its Ecolabel certification and its content of pre-consumer recycled materials, helps achieve LEED points for all designers concerned about the environment and eco-sustainability.

Architect: Redbox Design GroupMain Contractor: Tolent Construction Installer: Metcalfe Roofing & Building Services LtdStone: Cebecca LimestoneThe Sunderland Hilton Garden Inn, on the banks of the River Wear, is a 141 room hotel featuring MX curtain walling as well as Aztec 20mm Cebecca limestone Ventilated Rainscreen. Designed By Redbox the architects wanted a light and spacious building without the need for a heavy support system. The glass and limestone mix imparts this vision perfectly. Completed in 2016 The Aztec system was installed by Metcalf Roofing & Building.

We worked closely with Brown and Carroll, The Architects Make and Lend Lease the main contractor to create a competitively priced high-quality floor. There are two palette colours a “Latte” light board and an “Expresso” dark board. These were prime oak, fumed and then finished with a colour oil for maintenance and repair to create a uniform natural floor. We are supplying a 190mm wide board and a 260mm wide board in a very select clean grade 20mm thick engineered flooring. We also altered the tannins in the top layer to create a unique brushed finish.

We developed two engineered wood floors and advised on the subfloor build up and installation. The products chosen were initially designed by Goddard Littlefair and we worked with the designers to create two unique pallets. This is a new product and we do not have fitted pictures yet, but the images show one carton laid out.These boards were similar to some of our antique colours but the designers wanted a different hue. The TW E731 was based on our antique board but they wanted it light brushed with a matt UV oil finish rather than a lacquer.

The final phase of the £500m redevelopment of Kings Cross has been completed with the creation of a 75,000 sq ft square in front of the station.The square has granite benches with inset panels of high quality stainless steel grating supplied by Lang+Fulton, stunning lighting, trees and an area dedicated to art.The 11×66/25×2 heel-proof grating panels for the six separate seating areas were shaped to accommodate the up-lighters, the planting and adjacent watering points and were supplied in stainless steel grade AISI-316L with a satin finish.

How powder coating light-weighted a new buildPowder coated aluminium would solve the issues of weight and expense and is also low maintenance. The designers were impressed with the Powdertech Landscape™ ‘Stone’ range which replicates the colour and random markings of different natural stones. ‘Kilkenny Stone’ was the shade chosen, a Qualicoat Class 2 powder with high performance corrosion protection, weather resistance and colour stability. Over 3500sq metres of aluminium cladding panels, window reveals, column casings and soffit panels were coated.

Ngurah Rai International Airport, which carries a unique and futuristic building design, is the first airport in Indonesia that blends modernity and tradition. The roof is shaped like a wave, giving the iconic airport a representation to Bali’s famous sea waves and beautiful beaches. The airport is designed with a substantial use of glass to achieve optimal lighting, and the climate means regular maintenance is required to prevent staining. A bespoke fall arrest system was designed to ensure operators are able to practice 100% Fall Arrest tie off work methods when conducting maintenance activities.

Project: Jodrell BankMain Contractor: Sir Robert McAlpine LtdSubcontractor/installer: Sound Interiors LtdArchitect: HassellProduct: SuperPhonOverall Project Value: £16 millionQuantity: 56 triangular and 26 circular acoustic raftsHassel Architects and Robert McAlpine contractors collaborate on The First Light Pavillion, nestled in the Cheshire countryside at Jodrell Bank. The educational centre with a focus on not only the future of our planet, but of our universe.Jodrell Bank and the First Light PavilionJodrell Bank is the northern heart of British space research thanks to the Lovell telescope, which at 3200 tonnes is one of the world’s largest radio telescopes. The site hosts the yearly science and music festival ‘BlueDot,’ named after one astronomer’s description of planet earth from space as a ‘pale blue dot.’ As the name suggests, the event aims to change the way we think about our planet, with huge mechanical sculptures made of recycled items created each year. It attracts scientists and speakers from around the world, including Brian Cox and Richard Dawkins, award-winning author of ‘The Selfish Gene.’Drawing on the history of Jodrell bank, Manchester University are now embarking on a long term project to introduce a younger generation to science. The team believe ‘A passion for science, sparked in childhood, can be the catalyst that leads to bold new discoveries and a better understanding of the world around us.’ In order to spark this passion, The First Light Pavilion will use immersive installations to tell the history of Jodrell bank and it’s place in science history. The space will accommodate speakers, school trips and conferences, and will bring visitors from all over the UK.Robert McAlpineLead contractor on this project, Robert McAlpine have an equally future facing outlook. They are best known for the internationally recognised Eden Project, an indoor tropical paradise made of a series of interlocking biomes designed to emulate rainforest conditions. Unseen on this scale anywhere else in the world, Robert McAlpine constructed the world largest scaffolding, using 230 miles of poles. As well as looking the part, the offices are also built from entirely recycled materials, and the centre aims to promote caring for our environment. In a similar vein to The First Light Pavilion, the site was specially built to accommodate learning, as well as large scale festivals and events.Hassell ArchitectsHassell Architect’s ethos is focused on science education, winning them two AIA awards for their work with James Cook’s University’s science department. They were highly praised for “making science visible, accessible and attractive,” to both students and the general public. The firm is also known for recognising the changing needs of educational spaces in the digital age. Many of their projects focus on multi-use spaces that can be used for socialising, group learning and conferences. They are based both the UK and Australia, and have led projects everywhere from Brighton to Brisbane, bringing an international flair to the idyllic Jodrell Bank site.CMS Danskin AcousticsCMS Danskin Acoustics describe themselves as experts in soundproofing solutions, and have a huge amount of well known projects to back this up. Many of their most inventive projects have been in partnership with SuperPhon, and showcase CMS Danskin Acoustics ability to create distraction-proof educational environments. Most recently they were involved in a reinvention of Teesside University Library. Tasked with breathing new life into the study space, CMS Danskin Accoustics suspended foam plates from the ceiling to emulate a rainforest retreat. The foam plates were specially designed with study in mind and dispersed sound, keeping interference at a minimum for the students below.The ProblemReverberation is consistently a problem in large educational spaces, affecting sound quality and causing distractions. With 20,000 schoolchildren expected through it’s doors each year, and countless speeches and workshops happening year round, reducing reverberation is of high priority for The First Light Pavilion. A useful measure for the effectiveness of any sound absorption solution is BB93: acoustic design of schools – performance standards. This details the level of sound absorption acceptable for a classroom environment. BB93 recommends reverberation time to be as little as 0.4 seconds, which should be used as the benchmark for this project.The SolutionIn a similar technique used at Teesside University, SuperPhon’s sound absorption rafts will be suspended from the ceiling of the pavilion. They will integrate into the design of the pavilion, as they can be cut to bespoke sizes, mirroring the night sky above. The panels are sound absorbent, made of a composite construction and covered in acoustically transparent woven textile fabric..The ResultReverberation should decrease to 60 decibels in less than half a second, as recommended by the BB93, making The First Light Pavilion the calming educational space it was designed to be. The building will be able to comfortably accommodate thousands of visitors each year with minimal noise disturbances, allowing guests to focus on the majesty of space and the world around us.

Project: Woodland View ASN School, KirkintillochSpecifier: McLaughlin & Harvey (Contractors) Scope of project: Supply and installation of rooflights throughout a new build Additional Support Needs School for East Dunbartonshire Council Products: 14 Solus Monopitch rooflights and 4 Solus smoke hatches The Challenge:Architects NORR Group designed the new state-of-the-art Woodland View School to provide a richly enhanced educational experience for 200 children and young people aged from 3 to 18 with additional support needs. Acknowledging the proven benefits of daylight to pupils’ learning and wellbeing, they wanted to use rooflights as well as fenestration to create flexible, light-filled, spaces. With some of the rooflights spanning 15m, the challenge for Whitesales was to design and supply durable, cost effective and energy efficient rooflights and deliver a smooth, hassle free installation.The Solution:Our team worked closely with main contractors McLaughlin & Harvey to design 14 separate Solus Monopitch rooflights for Woodland View School. Ranging in length from 4000mm to 15000mm, they have been sited above the many break out learning spaces and extra wide corridors in the school, bringing daylight into the very heart of the building. They help to meet the requirements of BS EN17037 2018, which focuses on the physical and mental health benefits of daylight, as well as the energy savings that can come from minimising the requirement for artificial light.Whitesales manufactured and installed the rooflights and four Solus smoke hatches in three phases as the build progressed, utilising a crane for the final installs to minimise time and disruption on site. They were all fitted on upstands constructed on site by the contractors and all comply with BS EN6375, BS EN1026 and BS EN1027 to withstand even the toughest Scottish weather conditions.The Benefits:The £34.9m Woodland View School was shortlisted for Project of the Year – Inclusive Design at the Learning Places Scotland Conference, partly on the basis of the light and space that the rooflights bring into the building.At the opening of the school, East Dunbartonshire Council Leader Gordan Low was hugely positive: “I'm very proud that East Dunbartonshire Council has delivered this landmark project that will make such a difference to the lives of our young people and their families. We’ve worked with pupils, families and staff to create a place of learning and nurture that meets their very specific needs in a safe and welcoming environment.”

The £440m redevelopment of Westgate Oxford shopping centre, Furnitubes designers worked with landscape architects LDA Design to develop a series of planting and seating solutions for the rooftop terraces, designed around a kitchen garden concept and creating a series of unique outdoor spaces for 12 bars and restaurants and offering impressive views of the Oxford skyline and the countryside beyond. Themed areas include the sinuous Crinkle Crankle, a Vegetable Garden and the more formal Garden Court as well as the Kitchen Garden itself. Planters were manufactured predominantly in steel, some with additional timber cladding, others with integrated seating and lighting.

Komfort’s Polar glazed partitions were used to divide spaces and create enclosed meeting areas. This is a stylish solution which allows light to permeate the space and creates an environment which encourages collaboration and creativity. Manifestations were used on the glazing to meet Health and Safety regulations and also to provide privacy when necessary. To maximize the use of space, whilst meeting stringent fire and acoustic performance requirements, we selected our Komfire system. Komfire offers a distinct angular partition that was integrated with door frames. Komfort manufactured the ceilings and Formica doors which were used on the meeting rooms.

Following the brief outlined by the water treatment plant the proposal adopted for implementation was for the creation of secure access control. Bi-Folding Speed Gates topped with razor wire were supplied to each of the main entry and exit points to the site. These were supported by PAS 68 rising bollards and rising arm barriers with synchronised operation and traffic light signalling. The gates and barriers were flanked by runs of Jacksons Securi-Mesh® fencing to provide a separate pedestrian entrance to the facility, while static PAS 68 rated bollards were additionally deployed to manage traffic within the site.

This impressive complex has been awarded Project of the Year 2018 in the Building category by Mexican Magazine ‘Obras’ - measures some 180,000m2 (1,900,000ft2). Opened in 2017. Designed by multiple-award-winning architect Teodoro González de León, who sadly died in 2016, the mall makes incredible use of glass to deliver uninterrupted views throughout the complex, thanks to its use of balustrades. But the most striking glazed feature is the egg-shaped skylight in the roof, which is fabricated using multiple shaped panels a slightly domed effect, which lets in as much natural light as possible.

Exclusive distributor of HI-MACS® in the UK and Ireland, James Latham, recently supplied 100 sheets of HI-MACS® solid surface for the construction of Hyundai’s new Rockar dealership at Stratford. HI-MACS® was selected for its elegance, functionality, technology and creative flexibility. The Hyundai specification required the material to have a light finish and give the appearance of being cut from one seamless, flowing piece across the entire project. The designers achieved this due to the ease with which HI-MACS® can be manipulated, cut and worked, creating a sleek, uniform and polished look.

Neaco supplied an extensive balustrade specification to help transform a Grade II Listed former Post Office and Telephone Exchange into Grade A contemporary offices in Sheffield. SDA Architects designed the comprehensive internal revamp of the property, built in the 1920s, to create Steel City House comprising 60,000 square feet of prime commercial space across five storeys. Neaco’s structural glass balustrade forms part of the £10m project’s signature feature: a new central atrium which brings natural light into the heart of the building. The roof terrace also features Neaco’s structural glass balustrade.

The Custard Factory, built around a century ago to manufacture Sir Alfred Bird’s famous dessert, has recently been revamped into an arts and media quarter for Birmingham. Specialist subcontractors DSM Flooring were looking for a quality floor access solution to install in the highly trafficked entrance atrium in the development. Howe Green supplied the 5000 Series Light Duty Floor Access Cover to provide easy and safe access to the essential building services concealed under the flooring within the atrium. The 5000 Series cover lay flush with the flooring to prevent any slips or trips.

Generous outdoor areas and a clear, reduced use of materials are characteristic of the gated community in Narlidere constructed by Emre Arolat. Folding sliding shutters play their part in the fascinating interplay between inside and outside. The new development near Izmir is characterized by the urban structure of a gated apartment complex with 168 units with floor areas ranging from 180 to 480 square meters. The wooden folding sliding shutters feature HAWA Frontfold 20 hardware which bathes the rooms in light when open. When closed, they offer an effective screen delicately integrated to protect from the sun and provide privacy.

Gradus supplied stair edgings, barrier matting and carpet to the New Look Support Centre at the Weymouth Gateway development. Committed to retaining its local presence and historic links with Weymouth, fashion retailer New Look underwent regeneration of its Mercery Road site as part of the Weymouth Gateway development. The purpose built New Look Support Centre is a modern three-storey building located at the entrance to the development. The finished look is one of clean modern elevations, substantially glazed to maximise the use of natural light and make the most of the spectacular view from upper levels.

From industrial wasteland to a future oriented, energy efficient, smart living environment, residents at Fenman House adopt a development of 76 stunning apartments by award winning property developer, Argent. Designed by a world renowned team of architects including Maccreanor Lavington, and interior designers like Johnson Naylor, thoughtfully chosen materials were selected due to flawless aesthetic appeal and sophisticated functionality. Gira was elected to provide an unparalleled lifestyle through full intelligent control of lighting, climate, curtains/blinds, fire safety, eco efficiency and door entry for the residents of Fenman House.

Modern, light, open, inviting – this is the new look of the office rooms at Warren Wixen Real Estate in Los Angeles. The same applies to the solution developed by architects HLW International LLP in cooperation with Pulp Studio. Glass from floor to ceiling – not only a functionally convincing approach but also a concept with a high degree of aesthetic appeal. Pulp Studio's recommendation of using the Interzum award-winning HAWA Puro 100–150 hardware for all-glass sliding doors defined the perfect solution. Concealed suspension made it possible to achieve the ideal of "glass from floor to ceiling".

Study shows the significant benefits of LLumar® films for saving energy, reducing CO2 emissions, improving thermal comfort, and controlling glare: Energy: - 3.9 year simple payback - 42 % annual savings on electrical energy - conditioning cooling - Savings of €125 800 on energy costs over operational lifetime of the film - Reduction of 46 tonnes annual CO2 emissions Thermal Comfort: - Reduction in indoor temperatures of up to 5 °C when HVAC cooling switched off - Productivity savings estimated at €40 per employee per cooling month Lighting and Glare: - Significant reduction in glare

P C Henderson has recently joined forces with SDS London to donate automated sliding door hardware for an Annex being built by Sam Robinson who is living with Motor Neurone Disease. The automated sliding doors are just one of many features in the Annex designed to enhance Sam’s independence and quality of life. When the sliding doors open, the bathroom lights are triggered to come on. An automatic toilet, a remote shower system as well as a full body warm air drying system were also included in the annex,providing Sam with a fully automated bathroom experience.

The challengeA leading UK water company refurbished its headquarters in Warrington, which included a full office fit-out and building a staff gymnasium. The solutionThe project utilised glass in the new gym as the light transmission was a priority. Arkoni, a fabricator based in West Yorkshire worked with Pyroguard to deliver a clean cut glass screen without the unsightly black edges often found on other fire glass screens. The glass chosen for the gym was the EI30 INT fire glass in a butt joint format, offering clean almost invisible joints similar to standard non-fire-rated screens.

Metal pipe boxing from the Pendock Profiles range is concealing heating pipework, electrical cabling and ventilation ducting at Phoenix Point in Thamesmead as part of a refurbishment and upgrade programme of homes at the striking, cylindrical high rise building.Originally built in 2008 on the site of a boiler house used for a community heating scheme, the 8 storey, circular building provides a mix of one and 2 bedroom flats. The Pendock aluminium boxing is used extensively in the refurbishment and is located below the walkway on each tier, following the form of the structure to conceal building services, as well as acting as a mounting point for lighting.

The project was to create a partitioned living space with the requirements of ample storage, traditional style, integrated LED lighting and a sliding door mechanism. After seeking advice from our Holland office, Ralpine Designs decided that our Husky 100 sliding door hardware was the right project for the job. Using a library and display unit, the living room and dining room could be separated into two rooms or opened up as one big room when required. The system was used to hold two biparting wooden doors, utilising a face fixed aluminium track for added quality.

Stratford, the latest location for the Gymbox family. It is a melting pot of fitness insanity with London's most unique classes, DJs, Personal Trainers and the very best equipment and changing facilities. Prospec has long-standing working relationship with respected interior design practice Ben Kelly Design whose Design Director Patrick McKinney is the visionary for the dynamic interior. Using a vibrant colour pallet on the Cabrillant 600 glass cubicles and glass lockers, a mirrored finish to a number of the doors, plus the innovative use of strip lighting between the banks gives the changing areas an urban nightclub feel.

The 61 spacious villas of Raffles Park, a gated community in Bengaluru, India, blend contemporary design with the love of green spaces. The residences make maximum use of natural light, giving you the feeling of living amidst nature. There were clear requirements for the atrium and balcony railings. To create that feeling of being surrounded by nature, maximum transparency and a high safety level were required. The Easy Glass Slim and the rectangular shaped Easy Glass MOD 0763 glass balustrade systems were the perfect fit. Both are quick and easy to install, which means big savings during the installation process.

To deliver a light, non-yellowing natural surface to existing oak floors, a combination of Bona White primer and Bona Traffic Natural polyurethane lacquer was applied. Bona White primer is designed to ‘whiten’ the surface from - as in this one coat application - simply providing a subtle pale sheen that inhibits any yellowing over time, to a true whitewashed look when two or more coats are applied. Bona Traffic Natural was chosen as the top coat because it maintains the non-yellowing look and feel of pure, untreated wood and, at the same time, offers superior surface durability.

Popular shopping centre The Mall Maidstone recently underwent a £6 million refurbishment that was completed in 5 months and took place mostly during the night. Some of the work carried out included smarter strip lighting which changes according to the weather, white porcelain flooring, and enlarged shop fronts. CS provided them with GTP-300 HD expansion joint covers. This is a strong, recess mounted, and flush floor cover that is perfect for this type of application with persistent traffic over the joint. This durable joint cover will allow traffic in the shopping centre to move safely for years to come.

Project type: RestaurantLocation: Rutland Street, Ilkeston, DerbyshireProduct: Shadex 100 Brise Soleil Horizontal Support method: First Fix Brackets: Through CladdingFirst Fix Brackets: Curtain-walling MullionsFirst Fix Brackets: Blockwork, Before RenderFinish: Syntha Pulvin RAL 5012 Matt Light BlueFire rating: A2 s1, d0 Non-combustible (Reaction to Fire EN BS 13501-1:2018)Architect: Peart Bradley ArchitectsContractor: Coxmoor Projects LtdSub Contractor: R. & J. Projects Ltd