"natural plant based glues and adhesives"

THE PROJECTThe Imperial College London project features multiple banks of freestanding mailboxes designed and manufactured to offer a secure postal storage solution for both students and staff whilst conforming to the style branding guidelines of the university.The products used in the university project are the popular H1 horizontal mailboxes, combining a classic design with an affordable pricing and robust materials. The mailboxes are finished in a Dark Sapphire Blue (RAL 5003) that matches the design specification that was set out by the project architect. This shade of blue used for the products matches the existing blue used in the Imperial College London logo.Each postbox has been engraved with numbering to easily allow for mail to be deposited and retrieved from the correct mailbox. The banks of mailboxes are mounted upon supporting tables finished in the same colour as the mailboxes, providing a secure and robust base for the mailboxes to be placed upon.PROJECT DETAILSProject Type: Student AccommodationProduct:H1 MailboxInstallation: FreestandingColour: Sapphire Blue (RAL 5003)Accessories: Engraving / Support legs

A trailblazing pre-school – in more than one wayIn Sweden, as in all Nordic countries, education is front and centre when it comes to societal priorities, and – unlike in some other places, where actual action sometimes falls short of intention – the country is allocating resources to the system that fully match its ambitions. This is nowhere truer than in Umeå. Located far up on the Baltic coast, 650km north of Stockholm, the city is home to slightly over 120,000 inhabitants. No less than 39,000 of them are university students!Higher education, though, is only one part of the story. For Jonas Kjellander, “Pre-schools are the most important buildings, because they lay the groundwork for everything that follows. That’s why I have specialised in pre-school concepts”. Based on this rather unique know-how, the architect, who is part of Sweco, Sweden’s engineering behemoth – with over 17,000 employees in 13 countries – spearheaded the team that won the architecture competition for the ‘Hedlunda Förskola’ in Umeå.

The recent fit out of Savills' new Welsh headquarters saw commercial interior design and supply specialists, Imium, enlisted to create modern-day, cohesive working environment, while still adhering to the brand's traditional values. Forbo Flooring Systems' striking Allura Flex Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT) and Tessera Seagrass carpet tiles have played an integral role in the smart new interior. Rhiannon Phillips, Interior Designer at Imium, explained: "The floor comprises of both employee and customer facing areas, therefore it was important that the space was conducive for clients without affecting business as usual . We were notified by the Savills marketing department of the brand guidelines that we needed to adhere to, in terms of finishes, to make sure that the Savills story was portrayed. We took inspiration from the company's heritage and ethos and incorporated different themes within the office based on the various sectors that the firm operates in. For the customer facing area, we used a lot of silk, walnut and a splash of the colour red to reflect the residential sector."

Back in 2013 when the Ipswich Basketball Academy based at Copleston Sixth Form College (which is home to the Ipswich Basketball Club) needed to refurbish their existing floor, they turned to international flooring specialist Gerflor to supply 700m2 of their world class Taraflex® Comfort vinyl sports flooring which was installed on top of an existing Granwood floor. By overlaying Taraflex® onto the pre-existing surface, the facility was able to quickly and cost effectively rejuvenate its floor, minimising maintenance costs whilst benefiting from long-lasting durability.Gerflor believe that supporting sports at the grass root level is imperative to ensure that every player and participant, regardless of age and ability, can become champions within their own right. To this end, Gerflor are proud to announce their 2021/22 sponsorship of the Ipswich Basketball Club. This golden opportunity will deliver a much wider social impact: it will help the players to lead healthier lives, to develop new skills for employment and to further engage with the local community in exercise and sporting initiatives.

The ProjectThe completion of Birmingham City University - Curzon B & Royal Birmingham Conservatoire forms part of the University’s £260 million dedicated investment into new and advanced facilities.Designed by Associated Architects to provide 100,000 square feet of additional facilities the £31 million Birmingham City – Curzon B Building officially opened in January 2018. The facility offers teaching and learning space for 3,000 students and staff.The ChallengePropose a robust cubicle system suitable for a heavy foot fall environment. Deliver all products compliant to BIM Level 2. Manufacture bespoke vanity troughs in a wave design. Manage production, delivery and installation to the high standards set by the industry.  The Solution As a local preferred supplier Excelsior were engaged by Birmingham based Willmott Dixon to supply and install the washrooms. T-Line Cubicle Range offered the perfect solution, with an extruded aluminium frame, inclusive of pilaster and headrail, coupled with Solid Grade Laminate Doors and Divisions ensure a robust cubicle that will stand the test of time.

GOplastic Ltd were contacted by the Head of Estates and Campus Services Donna Vallance.The University’s requirements were for the supply of sustainable and environmentally friendly seating and tables for their London Campus buildings, based near India Dock in East London.A site meeting was agreed and proved to be extremely important for this project. The terrace had a narrow width which meant the correct size and arrangement of seating was essential.The terrace is on the 7th floor of the building, so this also needed considered planning in relation to delivery and installation.To overcome these challenges, GOplastic offered the Canvas Table and Canvas 120 benches. The Canvas bench and table are part of the Govaplast® range of award winning recycled plastic products. A distinct advantage for this project is the Canvas range can be delivered in semi kit form and easily transported to the 7th floor in the internal service lifts.Seating and tables to accommodate up to 50 people were delivered and installed in just one day.Job type: Supply and installWaste plastic prevented from landfill: 1.7 tonnes.

When Dundee-based architects Jon Frullani wanted to refurbish their own Grade B listed office they turned to international flooring specialist Gerflor to supply 250m2 of their Creation 70 LVT Dryback vinyl flooring in ‘Deep Forest’.Creation 70 LVT is a synthetic, decorative, flexible, antistatic abrasion group T floorcovering available in tile or plank, with bevelled edges. It consists in a 0.70 mm thick transparent wear layer, a design film, and a Resilient Comfort Core to provide softness and comfort surface.The LVT flooring has been used throughout the practice including the offices, communal areas including corridors, staff break-out areas, recreation space and the kitchen.Jon Frullani, Architect, and Company owner commented, “We specified Creation 70 LVT from Gerflor as it was the most suited product for our bespoke requirements. In fact, there is not one level floor in the entire building and the Creation 70 LVT has coped very well in this challenging situation.”

Premier Inn located on Custom House Street in Cardiff is a Grade II listed building built in the mid 1800s. It has recently been transformed into a 248-bedroom hotel and associated bar and block restaurant.Custom House has been carefully renovated in accordance with the architectural plans, preserving its listed facades and historical elements. The scheme's concept was based on the goal of creating a superior tower that will blend in with Cardiff's ring of towering structures, serve as a backdrop for the historic Custom House building, and revitalise it from street level.KEIM Soldalit Fixativ was applied onto the newly lime rendered surfaces to equalise surface porosity. A coat of KEIM Soldalit Grob was used to act as a bridging coat on the painted render and to fill hairline cracks to create an even texture throughout. The technical representative, Bryan Roe, of KEIM Mineral Paints recommended the KEIM Soldalit-ME paint system by reason of withstanding the pollution with the added benefit of a long-expected lifespan.

Based in Lincoln this multiple dwelling new build project required sash windows to fit its architecture. The homes were built using local stone which meant standard white windows wouldn’t match its high-end appearance. The developers also needed windows that came with high performing benefits such as thermal efficiency, security, all while remaining maintenance-free. Using our in-house spray shop, Charisma Rose was specified in a solid cream option that complimented the stonework beautifully. The trickle vents were also colour matched to seamlessly blend in with the windows and keep the luxury charm of the buildings. A traditional astragal bar grid was picked to match Georgian architecture as well as run through horns and a 2/3 unequal split for the ground floor. This project ran smoothly providing more than 50 sash windows over seven dwellings. All windows were manufactured and delivered on time and snag-free, meaning there was no impact on the developers schedules.

CAT stair nosings have been installed into one of the Worlds first purpose-built meeting facilities based in Westminster, London.​AN69 was the main section to fit the rounded step edge, then aluminium extension piece ANEXT creating a wider tread connected to an ANRE25 ramp edge at the back covering the safety vinyl flooring. Finally, the robust Aluminium ATI49.5 aluminium inserts were inserted into the tread of the AN69 to conceal the screw head fixings and give an all-aluminium finish.​Opening in 1912, the Great Hall has an impressively long history for hosting various events, the first meeting of the United Nations in 1946, debates, concerts and shelter for Londoners during the second world war.​Situated in the venues undercroft, Wesley’s Cafe is a hot spot for visitors and especially popular with tourists, the cafe covers over 300m2 and also is adjacent to further event space. Due to the entrance into the cafe is via a staircase, the constant high footfall called for a stair nosing made up from a combination of our Aluminium products.

A fault-tolerant network of MxPro 5 intelligent fire panels from Advanced was chosen to protect the 3Ts Redevelopment programme at the Royal Sussex County Hospital.A total of 36 4-loop MxPro 5 panels, 46 repeater panels and two custom-built AdSpecials panels from Advanced were installed as part of 3Ts, a construction programme to modernise the front half of the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton. Phase one involved the construction of a 13-storey building with two basement levels. Incorporating all the functions of a modern hospital. The building includes a three-storey atrium reception, outpatient departments, operating theatres, wards, a teaching facility and administration facilities.The fire system was installed by the team at Essex-based EA-RS Fire Engineering Ltd, who installed Advanced’s industry-leading MxPro 5 fire panels alongside bespoke sprinkler indication and ventilation override panels, all linked to approximately 5,000 Hochiki devices.

Three Brewers Court consists of two connecting blocks of 4 and 5 storeys of affordable housing units within a sustainable brownfield location. These units consist of 10 two-bedroom apartments and 40 one-bedroom dwellings. The scheme also includes a commercial unit, car parking, bike store and outdoor communal space. Previously occupied by a car sales garage and the Three Brewers pub, these establishments were demolished for this new apartment block. After Wales and West Housing Association’s partner Jehu Group announced it was going into administration, they reached out to Hale Construction to complete the project.Cellecta’s ScreedBoard 30 was specified by Pentan Architects due to its composite acoustic overlay treatment specifically for concrete separating floors. The board’s high density and superior compressive strength resilient layer provides outstanding acoustic performance and an ideal base to accept a multitude of floor finishes.Hale Construction was supplied 3,287m² of Cellecta products to develop these units in Penylan.

FIREFLY ZEUS Lite™ Safeguards Ceiling Spaces Across Wakefield Food WarehouseForming a fresh element to the UK’s critical food supply infrastructure, a new distribution warehouse in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, is near to completion with the specialist suspended ceiling installer making use of ZEUS Lite™ 90:30 from the range of TBA FIREFLY™, to create vertical fire barriers at intervals within the roof-space across the footprint of the building.The 15,300m2 facility at Headways in Stanley, on the outskirts of Wakefield, has been built by GF Tomlinson for the Kitwave Group, a national distribution business with a fleet of over 500 vehicles supplying hotels, restaurants and many other venues across the country. The installation of the ZEUS Lite™ was undertaken by Nottingham Suspended Ceilings, as the sub-contractor well experienced with the performance and user-friendly characteristics of the Firefly range.All the rolls of ZEUS Lite™ 90:30 material and the well proven FIREFLY™ fixings, including stainless steel staples and fire-resistant adhesive, were supplied to Nottingham Suspended Ceilings by the merchant, Minster On-line.The site agent for Nottingham Suspended Ceilings, Mark Prescott, commented: “Our company carries out commercial contracts right across the East Midlands and beyond, where we have made use of Firefly barriers on a large number of past projects. Although you have to be a competent contractor and follow the manufacturer’s guidance precisely, we find the ZEUS Lite™ and other products in the FIREFLY™ range straightforward to install. In the case of the warehouse here, we have now completed the installation of the fire barriers up to roof level in dozens of locations across the building; as well as installing all of the suspended ceilings throughout.”FIREFLY™ ZEUS Lite™ is ideally suited to this type of application, comprising a flexible woven fabric fire barrier that has been specifically developed for the vertical separation and compartmentation of extensive concealed spaces within buildings.By offering 90 minutes integrity and 30 minutes insulation, FIREFLY™ ZEUS Lite™ 90:30 exceeds the minimum requirements regarding fire barriers under the Building Regulations’ Approved Document B (Fire Safety). The specially treated glass fibre fabric is strong and resilient as well as flexible while, crucially, the system’s certification covers the inclusion of service penetrations; which many alternative products do not.

TBA FIREFLY™ System Sub-Divides Supermarket RoofspaceDuring the recent pandemic supermarket chains have had to continue with property maintenance and improvement programmes to ensure the safety of their premises, including a store in Staffordshire where the APOLLO Lite™ 30:30 barrier, manufactured by TBA FIREFLY™, was installed within the roof-space as part of a major refurbishment project.The work at the store was carried out by sector specialist, The B Team. All of the APOLLO Lite™ 30:30, together with the heavy duty stainless steel staples and other ancillary Firefly products, have been supplied by distributor, CCF.Commenting on the success of the work, The B Team Site Manager Adi, said ”as the architects specified vertical fire barriers in the strategy according to the Approved Document B from the Building regulations, we decided to use APOLLO Lite™ 30:30 from TBA, as we have used it and other FIREFLY™ products on other project in the past: in supermarkets and other types of building. It is easy to cut and install, fixing it vertically to the metal profiles with stainless steel screws to create 20 metre by 20 metre compartments and we used the stainless steel staples to secure the joins in the material, all in line with the manufacturer’s installations manuals.”All of The B Team’s work had to be carried out while minimising any disruption to the store’s long hours of business, with the new APOLLO Lite™ fire barriers being concealed above the building’s reinstated suspended ceilings.The APOLLO Lite™ 30:30 has been developed for use in vertical separation or compartmentation situations, offering 30 minutes integrity and insulation thereby exceeding the minimum requirements of the Building Regulations.It is widely specified to form fire barriers within roof voids and floor voids in many different property types, including tower blocks and other HMOs.The flexible woven and non woven glass fibre material is easy to cut and fix and is treated with a proprietary coating to improve its fire performance properties and therefore prevent temperatures rising in adjoining areas. The system has been fully tested to BS 476 Parts 20 & 22 and is third party certified by IFCC. The six metre long rolls of APOLLO Lite™ 30:30 have a minimum thickness of 6mm and are installed using specialist staples as well as heat resistant adhesive.

Professional flooring contractors, Elvet Flooring Solutions, have made a homeowner’s dream come true after installing 40sqm of luxury vinyl flooring at their property using UltraFloor’s expert subfloor preparation materials.BackgroundAs part of their extensive home renovations, a homeowner in Durham dreamed of installing beautiful Tarkett Mini Plank flooring throughout their hallway and kitchen – the perfect finishing touch to their modern and luxurious home.The ChallengeThe 40sqm area is the main thoroughfare from front door to garden and so the floor needed to be smooth and bump-free to keep the family, and dog, safe. It was also important that the flooring was installed speedily so as not to delay the rest of the renovations.The SolutionUltraFloor have a reputation for providing the flooring market with quality and innovative subfloor preparation materials. For this project Elvet Flooring Solutions first secured 5.5mm FG1 plywood across the entire area and then primed the surface using Prime IT Multi-surface Primer.Formulated to promote the adhesion to all UltraFloor smoothing underlayments, Prime IT Multi-surface Primer reduces pinholing, minimising the risk of costly failures. With a coverage rate of 200sqm at 3:1 dilution, Prime IT Multi-surface Primer is a must-have product for all flooring installation projects.Once cured, Level IT Renovate was applied at a 5mm depth and left for 3 days before the LVT flooring was installed in a herringbone design.Developed for the renovation of existing floors, Level IT Renovate is fibre reinforced for added strength and to minimise the risk of hairline cracks – reducing a common cause of failure.Suitable for deep applications from 3-40mm, Level IT Renovate is multi-purpose for extensive use and boasts excellent flow properties, making this flexible and versatile floor leveller ideal for a wide range of flooring substrates.What’s more, Level IT Renovate can also be used externally, as a light wearing surface, can be walked on in as little as 2 – 2.5 hours and can receive floor coverings in just 4 hours.ResultsThe flooring took just 4 days to install from start to finish and the homeowner is now enjoying their beautiful new kitchen living area.On the performance of Level IT Renovate, Matt Williams owner of Elvet Flooring Solutions, commented: “The flow rate was very impressive and easy to work with. Perfect smooth finish ready for the LVT.”

A combination of external wall insulation and resin brick slips from Sto has helped create a thermally-efficient and visually striking appearance for a £7.8m residential refurbishment project in London. Located on the Stockwell Park estate, Tyler House now benefits from the use of Sto resin brick slips which have been installed as the final façade finish, onto the company’s StoTherm Mineral K external wall insulation system. The Tyler House building is organised around a central courtyard, and houses 48 flats with one, two, three or four bedrooms. “The buildings underwent a significant amount of refurbishment in order to improve the living conditions of the residents, and providing effective thermal insulation was a key element in that process,” explains Richard Watson of project architects Rock Townsend. “The Sto solution allowed us to provide that insulation. We also wanted to add 13 additional flats and the Sto brick slips gave us the opportunity to create a dramatic new appearance for the existing parts of the building which would contrast with the rooftop extension.” The Sto materials were installed by Sto applicator Regency Plastering of Dartford. “The residents remained in their homes throughout, and there were no problems in installing the external insulation and brick slips whilst they were there,” explains Regency’s Paul Brown. The BBA-certified StoTherm Mineral K insulation system is ideal for refurbishment projects such as Tyler House. Its external installation means that insulation performance can be substantially upgraded without the loss of any living space inside the premises. Comprising mineral-fibre boards which deliver high thermal performance and unrivalled fire protection, the system also incorporates reinforcing layers to provide additional impact resistance. For this project the insulation was installed using StoLevell Uni adhesive and supplementary fixings to create a strong and reliable bond with the substrate. Designed specifically for use with Sto’s external wall insulation systems and StoRend systems, the Sto mineral brick slips used on Tyler House are manufactured from a rugged and durable synthetic render, and combine a realistic simulated brick appearance with reliable, weatherproof properties. They can be used to match the appearance of surrounding buildings without compromising on thermal insulation, or as in this case, to create dramatic and individual facades. For Tyler House they were specified in a white brick slip colour which contrasts with the new, rooftop extension. 

Situated in Bedfordshire, Millbrook Golf Club is a magnificent golf course that sought to enhance specific areas of its course to ensure year-round suitability.In this case study, the greenkeeping team focused on improving the walk-on walk-off areas of newly constructed tee boxes to prevent erosion and the formation of muddy or boggy ground during the winter months.To create a pathway that would offer exceptional grass protection while preserving the natural beauty of the course once the grass beneath had grown, the team opted for our rubber grass mats.Our rubber golf path matting is highly sought after due to its remarkable benefits, including durability, ease of installation, permeability, and compatibility with wheelchairs and golf carts. These attributes make it the perfect solution for a wide range of projects and applications.Robert the Millbrook course General Manager told us; "We chose rubber grass mats to be used for the walk-on walk-off areas to two of our tee boxes, one of which has recently had a new pathway to the rear of the tee installed".Rubber Grass Mats On The 7th TeeExtending from the 6th green to the 7th tee, this particular section of the course experienced noticeable wear and tear. Without careful maintenance from the greenkeeping team, it could easily become an extremely boggy spot.To alleviate the risk of muddy ground in this area, the team devised a plan to revamp the space. They constructed a new pathway at the rear of the tee and re-turfed the slopes on either side. The surface of the path was then adorned with artificial grass. In addition, the lead-up to the artificial grass path was covered with our protective rubber grass mats. These mats were effortlessly laid in place by the team using plastic fixing pegs and cable ties.Once the area has matured, the golf path mats will become nearly invisible, providing a natural-looking yet protective surface to ensure the course remains in optimal condition for its members throughout the year.Robert kept us up to date with their progress; "Our Greenkeepers have been busy putting the finishing touches to the 7th Tee. Turfing the slopes, laying artificial grass for the path and installing a rubber grass mat infrastructure which the grass will grow through".Rubber Grass Mats On The 12th TeeSimilar to the work done on the 7th tee, the team at Millbrook devised a plan to enhance the approach from the 11th green to the 12th tee using our rubber grass mats.To enhance year-round usability regardless of weather conditions, they improved the approach to the tee box from the 11th green by installing our rubber grass mats. These mats were laid out, interconnected with cable ties, and easily secured in place using plastic pegs.Once the grass grows through the carefully designed holes in the rubber grass mats, the course will maintain its natural appearance while benefiting from a reinforced pathway that prevents the formation of boggy areas.Robert again informed us of the upgrade of this tee approach path; "The 12th Tee approach work is progressing really well thanks to our greenkeeping team. The area around the 11th bunker has also been re-turfed".The ResultRobert and the team are delighted with the project's outcome and the advantages provided by the rubber grass mats. Some club members have also expressed their appreciation for the new tee boxes and approaches on the Millbrook Facebook page; "The tee boxes looked very smart on Saturday".We are thrilled that our simple yet highly effective rubber grass mats have proven to be a resounding success for Millbrook Golf Course.Our exceptional golf pathway mats have assisted the greenkeeping team in achieving their objective of creating reinforced and natural-looking approach areas for their new tee boxes. Undoubtedly, these improvements will benefit the team, members and the course for years to come.For more information on our rubber grass mats and other rubber surfacing solutions, or to request a quote for an upcoming project, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Creating a Luxury Blind SystemThis project was a series of high-end luxury apartments developed by the Berkeley Group. There were multiple techniques used throughout the project that were vital to keep in-fitting with the luxury nature of the development.One of which was the coupled use of Umbra's Sirios motorised roller blinds with concealment profiles. The Sirios line is designed with compact functionality in mind, making the blinds perfect for projects that require concealment to create a sleek finish.The blinds also make use of a feature known as 'slave and drive', a system whereby a pair of blinds next to each other use a singular motor and a shaft to create a synchronized and energy efficient blinds system.Umbra's wide range of fabrics also came into play, the high end material were chosen to provide both privacy and an aesthetically pleasing design.

Foxhill Manor is an 8-bedroom Grade II-listed manor house on the 400-acre Farncombe Estate in the stunning Cotswolds area of outstanding natural beauty. Extensively refurbished in 2014 as an exclusive-use venue for weddings, house parties and corporate retreats, twin Amalfi baths feature in the Oak Room suite. Designer Frances Cracknell of Trevillion Interiors said of the design: “We wanted the eight individual bedroom suites to be contemporary, yet sympathetic to the Arts and Crafts heritage of the original house. Each bedroom has been carefully furnished with contemporary and antique pieces and embellished with a broad art portfolio. Every piece has been individually sourced and carefully chosen."Designer Frances Cracknell of Trevillion InteriorsPhotography: © Foxhill Manor

Immerse yourself in the captivating beauty of “Atlas Oak Beige.” This exquisite flooring choice combines the timeless allure of oak with a contemporary twist, offering a delicate balance of warmth and modernity. The subtle beige tones and natural wood grain texture create an ambiance that is both inviting and effortlessly chic, making it the perfect complement to any interior design scheme.Whiteriver Group’s “Atlas Oak Beige” laminate flooring transcends mere aesthetics. Engineered with durability in mind, this premium flooring option is designed to withstand the demands of daily life. Its scratch-resistant surface ensures that your floors remain pristine and captivating, even in high-traffic areas. With Whiteriver Group’s commitment to exceptional craftsmanship and attention to detail, you can trust that your investment in “Atlas Oak Beige” will stand the test of time.

Recently, Purple Rhino were approached to clean the iconic Aviva building in York. The Aviva building has a long and rich history, built to house increasing staff numbers of what was then the Yorkshire Insurance company several decades ago. It is now a well known and beloved landmark in the city of York.They chose to tackle the project using the Stonehealth DOFF Integra system due to its unrivalled ability to gently remove a variety of unwanted matter, without causing any damage to this iconic and historic building.Stonehealth Rosette Approved, Purple Rhino recognise the DOFF Integra as the very best in steam cleaning equipment and note it’s proficiency in phased, sensitive cleaning. Providing a high 150-degree superheated water vapour at a very low-pressure, the DOFF was a natural fit for the project.

Brett Martin delivers a gold standard performance at Dublin National ArenaBrett Martins’ Marlon Clickfix VF polycarbonate glazing system is delivering exceptional natural daylight inside Dublin’s National Indoor Arena. The system has been used to create a bright, appealing interior that will help provide the perfect environment for sports, whilst providing exceptional aesthetics.This 18,480m2 multipurpose facility features 2,300m2 of the Marlon Clickfix VF glazing system specified in clear and blue glass polycarbonate for the roof gables and as part of the triangular-patterned façade on the front elevation, a key architectural feature of this multi-sport arena. With aesthetics, light and U-values a vital consideration for the design of the arena, Brett Martin’s daylighting solution offered optimum light transmission, minimal installation time and an ability to accommodate building movement. 

This jaw dropping project featured Lazenby Light Natural polished concrete floors and cast in situ stairs. The concrete flows from the entrance hallways throughout the ground floor and up the feature staircase to the first floor landing.This 4 week phased project saw the polished concrete floor installed first. The formwork and reinforcement for the staircase was then fixed and built off the floor. Once the stairs had been cast the brass balustrades and handrails were retrofitted to the concrete.This self-supporting concrete architectural feature staircase involved discussions with external engineers who then designed the reinforcement. The complex angles, joins to other structural elements and the sleek elegance was meticulously planned and executed. The polished concrete floor joints carefully designed to enhance the creative charm of this project.Photography by David Butler

Sertus worked with the developer to deliver sustainable natural smoke ventilation products to this project. Comprising of head of stair vents and façade vents.Project Name: Lily's WalkLocation: High WycombeSector: ResidentialClient: Inland HomesInitial BriefAs providers of tested and certified smoke ventilation equipment, Sertus were approached to deliver smoke ventilation products of the highest quality to Lily's Walk.OutcomeSertus Façade Single Leaf products were used on this project, which are tested and certified to BS EN 12101-2. Sertus also manufactured Roof Single Leaf smoke vents for Lily's Walk. Have a look at the products here.The residents of this flagship development can be fully confident that the smoke ventilation products installed meet all the necessary compliance criteria.

Architect: Guy Hollaway Architects Main Contractor: Buxton Building Contractors Installer: Colorminium Stone: Jura Beige Guy Hollaway Architects designed the competition-winning scheme for the new concert hall at Benenden School near Cranbrook in Kent. The project, completed in 2021, delivered a new combined concert hall; school hall and music department. The new school hall has a capacity of 750. The Concert Hall includes a 150 seat recital hall and digital media suites. This development, the largest in the school’s history, achieves the combination of brick and natural stone, in the form of Aztec Rainscreen with stunning success. The honed Jura Limestone angled soffits give the windows a superiority as well as realising more light into the building. Areas of the large panel 1200x450mm rainscreen achieve a modern look on this prestigious development.

Architect: Allan Murray AssociatesMain Contractor: Cruden Home (East) Ltd.Installer: MetalTech Roofing and Cladding limitedAllan Murray Architects were the master planners and principal architects for the £150 million transformation of the former Caltongate area in the Old Town in Edinburgh. The site links Waverley Station with the historic Royal Mile, Covering approximately 7 acres this new urban centre mixes open spaces with retailers, restaurants, hotels and new homes and offices in this important area of the Edinburgh. Peakmoor was the stone of choice as it has a long history in the City.The project presents a major new Aztec rainscreen facade in the Peakmoor sandstone with balconies and a fully glazed iconic feature tower. A truly wonderful building with flexibility; lightweight, A1 non-combustible Aztec Natural Stone Cladding.

Sertus were commissioned to provide natural smoke ventilation products for the university.Project Name: Scape Student AccommodationLocation: GuildfordSector: Student AccommodationClient: ScapeInitial BriefHere at Sertus, we took a particular interest in this student accommodation development as it’s situated immediately adjacent to the unit where the Whitesales Group was founded in 1983, and it’s under ten miles from our current headquarters and factory! Consisting of 403 beds across two blocks and a 116-bed co-living block, we were asked by the main contractor’s in-house M&E department to provide compliant products of the highest standard.Outcome of the projectA successful project - which Sertus provided Roof Single Leaf smoke vents and Shaft Louvre Dampers for. Take a look at those products here.

Many years ago, on a site in Misterbianco, Catania, where the ancient, very active during the first two decades of the twentieth century, Monaco furnace used to stand, there now stands a modern multi-purpose centre created to bring a moment in time back to local residents.Designed by the Mimesi 62 studio of Florence, the new building offers large spaces lit up by light that passes through large glass windows and enhanced by the use of porcelain stoneware surfaces that are all different but that all match and perfectly harmonise with the destination of use: the 5,000 m² of the outdoor areas have been clad with the Plan collection, with a natural effect, in Black 30x60, while the discreet elegance of Format Black 45x45 has been used indoors.Photographs by Alfio Scigliano.

Durability, sustainability and innovation underpin the design of the Aspen Art Museum, located in the state of Colorado, USA. The building’s most striking feature is its exterior facade made of NATURCLAD-W panels, which provides it with protection against Aspen’s cold weather. PARKLEX PRODEMA worked closely with the architectural team to produce a mock-up of the facade prior to construction.The woven NATURCLAD-W exterior and timber support frame for the roof diffuse the light that enters through the glass walls and skylight. This innovative concept maximises the natural light of the interior whilst minimising its exposure to direct sunlight.The design concept of the building mimics the ‘thermos’ principle, whereby interior rooms are kept at a constant temperature by protective exterior spaces. These so-called ‘wrapper’ spaces support air circulation and serve as a visual connection to the outdoors.

When charity, Small Steps, secured its new home at the heart of Richmond, it required a warm and welcoming interior environment that would support children living with physical disabilities and their families. Providing the perfect natural canvas, Forbo Flooring Systems' linoleum brand, Marmoleum, was installed throughout the purpose built facility. Spread over three floors of a former office building on Worple Way, the 517 m² site that Small Steps now calls home, was funded through a generous donation. The entire design team – which included JTP Architects, Robert Bird & Partners, MTT Consultants, ISG Ltd, PIP Building Services and P2 Design – worked together, many on a pro bono or reduced fee basis to complete the refurbishment for the charity.

Take a read of our case study where our team manufactured and installed laminate lockers at Alexandra Park in Oldham. The specification of 55 two-compartment solid-grade laminate lockers was 1775mm high, 296mm wide, and 500mm deep. Along with 2 two-compartments with measurements at 1775mm high, 296mm wide, and 300mm deep. Additionally, 3 one-compartment laminate lockers with specifications of 900mm high, 296mm wide, and 500mm deep.The body of the laminate lockers was powder coated in the shade ‘Ice’ which is our standard shade for the mild steel body. Whereas the laminate doors were in a range of colours, ‘Red, Yellow Piper, Orange Crayon and Mountain Grey’ by Abet Laminate. These are excellent shades as it creates an uplifting atmosphere due to the bright colours whilst being in an environment of nature.

Sonixx Resilient 250 was installed as an acoustic underlayment. It was bonded to the subfloor and a heterogenous vinyl and carpet tiles were installed on top. The installation was completed as part of a refurbishment to a bar and restaurant area within the hotel. Resilient 250 is a 2.5mm thick, high performing acoustic underlay manufactured using sponge rubber. It significantly reduces impact sound at the source, while also providing superb underfloor comfort. It is a versatile underlay and can be used below various floor coverings including carpet, carpet tiles, wood, laminate, luxury vinyl tiles, vinyl and ceramic / porcelain / natural stone tiles. At only 24kg (43 Ib) per roll, it is easy to distribute around site. Resilient 250 therefore facilitated a simple, quick, clean and cost-effective installation.

The Opera 35 project is a boutique hotel developed as an existing building extension. Its location offers extended views over the garden and courtyard, reason why solar control solutions were required.The large windows provide plenty of natural light. Indoor curtains provide a textured effect, but do not provide the privacy that guests need.Our Arion motorized roller blinds have been chosen to protect the building's exterior. Their 5 meters high position gives dynamism to the façade without changing its style and elegance, at the same time that they guarantee an optimal solar control.The blinds have a Polyscreen® 351 fabric that offers a 10% openness factor. The Pebbles color has been chosen to match the project tones and provide an optimal optical factor.

The enormous redevelopment of the site around Broadcasting House is situated between the Bakerloo and Victoria underground lines and the tube trains are clearly audible in all the buildings. Therefore, CDM Stravitec was asked to install floating floors using the Stravifloor Deck system.To protect the BBC W1 technical boxes from structure-borne noise each one was built off a concrete floating floor.The construction of the floating floors depended on the location within the building: in the basement the floors were 125 mm concrete on 100 mm void supported by bearings with a natural frequency of <8Hz.On the ground floor the floors were 90 mm concrete on 100 mm void; the 2nd floor was 90 mm concrete on 75 mm void and the 3rd and 4th floors 90 mm concrete on 50 mm void.

Little Windrush was an abandoned hotel beside the A40, which has been redeveloped into a new community of homes, a farm shop and a restaurant. The development consists of two stages; the first stage includes the creation of 8 cottages, and the second stage involves extensively renovating and refurbishing the hotel into 24 luxury flats. These apartments, located within an area of outstanding natural beauty at the centre of the Cotswold, will have views over Windrush Valley.Cellecta’s ScreedBoard 28 was specified by coombes:everitt architects due to its high density and unique resilient layer providing unrivalled acoustic performance, typically 5dB better than legislative requirements. It is an award-winning composite acoustic overlay treatment featuring interlocking edges for installation convenience.Westfields Homes was awarded this 4,000m² contract to construct this regeneration in Oxfordshire.

Ten Locks Village is a range of 2, 3, 4, and 5 bedroom homes located in Market Harborough, Leicestershire. This countryside town has excellent transport links and proximity to major road networks, only an hour's commute to London by train. With off-street parking, natural beauty, and various amenities, including the historic Rockingham Castle, Ten Locks Village was named in the Sunday Times Best Place to Live within the catchment area for a primary and Secondary school education.Cellecta ScreedBoard 28 was specified for this project due to its unrivalled performance. The unique interlocking edges on our ScreedBoard 28 mean that no screws are required, making it easy to install, a convenience on-site saving installation time.Avant Homes were awarded the contract to construct this 400m² development.