"office and project management"

Project: Manufacture and installation of concrete worktops at the office canteenClient: Everybody’s Music ManagementMaterials used:  Bespoke BTX GRC 2500 x 65 x 30 mm precast and hand polished concrete worktops in Silk Mist finish.Three large concrete panels; each 2500 mm long and 650 mm wide with side returns; were installed by the Living Concrete team in the communal office space at Everybody’s Music Management offices in North London.The worktops were cast to the client’s individual and unique specifications using our BTX Ultra High Performance Concrete mix with a hydrophobic agent to limit moisture absorption. The worktops were cut to fit various kitchen appliances and then treated and sealed to make them stain proof. Concrete worktops are extremely strong and durable and designed to withstand high level of use.

Designed by AHR Architects, the new UK Hydrographic Office in Taunton has won numerous awards including the BCO National Awards Corporate Workplace Award and Best of the Best Award 2020 and a Regional RIBA Award, RIBA Sustainability Award and RIBA Client of the year 2019.The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office is the UK’s agency for providing hydrographic and marine geospatial data to mariners and maritime organisations across the world. The UKHO is a trading fund of the Ministry of Defence and is located in Taunton, Somerset with a workforce of approximately 900 staff.We worked with the Architects, Client and Contractors to select one of our exclusive GeoBrick range for this prestigious project. The clean sleek lines and hardwearing stone finish provide a stunning façade to this landmark building. The warm texture of the brick also gives depth and character and softens the mass of the building.“The design principles of the building called for a linear brick which was modern and unique whilst complimenting the landscape and a variety of existing brick buildings surrounding the new HQ. The EH Smith Geobrick brindle bricks stood out from all the rest and we are delighted with the results. Personally, this is my favourite material used on this project!”- Johanna Funnell New Build Project Manager - UKHO

The Old War Office is a magnificent refurbishment of Winston Churchill's headquarters during the World War II. The sensitive restoration of this Grade 2 historic building includes a 125-room world class Raffles Hotel and 85 luxury residences, along with restaurants, exclusive bars, a Spa and Wellness centre. Referred to as London’s anticipated destination, this architectural landmark opens its doors to the public in Summer 2023.RYNO’s involvement in the scheme included providing the paving and substructure to the Centre triangle Courtyard and the Penthouse Roof Terraces. The triangle Courtyard was finished with a RYNO Quadro porcelain range and supported on our TerraSmart Rail system. The system uses a double lattice structure to provide superior support to the pavers even around the complex curves of the planters on the courtyard and penthouse terraces. The design and detailing of the build-ups from concept to completion has been brilliant, fully complementing the building’s magnificent heritage and unique character.RYNO worked very closely with The Gardenists to ensure the rail layout and build-ups were designed to absolute perfection. Seeing is believing and as Calvin Dalrymple, Specification Manager at RYNO, testifies “to come to the site and see the results…, they really just speak for themselves. Knowing and understanding the coordination that's gone into this whole project and now to see it looking so fantastic has really been a huge reward.” Home to Winston Churchill and David Lloyd George, the Old War Office was designed in a trapezium shape to maximise the use of the land in Whitehall. Of the 25 million bricks that make up the building, the first was laid in 1901: the building was completed in 1906. For all Bond-fans out there, the building has featured in the background of many films: its first Bond-appearance was in 1983.

Helmsman have manufactured and supplied three compartment luxury Glass Lockers that have been installed at Eos Interiors office in Birmingham. The formica storm colour against the white interior walls and Ojmar OCS combination locks give a modern finish. Special numbering plates were used to match the modern style. The Glass Lockers are floating in the middle of the wall thanks to our locker stands and cladding.

Clement steel windows were chosen for the refurbishment of this double-fronted office building set within a busy part of the City of London near Smithfield Market. Surrounded by narrow cobbled streets it is situated on the boundary of the Smithfield Conservation Area.Blenheim House Construction (BHC) selected windows from the Clement EB24 range because they best suited the original look of the building and allowed for the maximum amount of light to flow throughout the property. Natural light was an important aim of this high specification refurbishment - central to the building is a mezzanine which creates a dramatic light-filled double height space.The windows are polyester powder coated in matt RAL 9005 (Jet Black) to match the frames as a finishing touch.Matthew Brown, Project Manager at BHC, commented:“We found Clement’s management team to be attentive, promptly addressing queries when raised and offering solutions and advice when called upon. This resulted in the windows being installed in a safe manner as per our agreed programme, and perhaps just as importantly, the client being pleased with the look of the end product.”Photography: CGS Photographers Ltd 

Rathbones is part of Rathbones Group Plc, one of the UK’s largest and longest-established wealth management firms. Reflecting a growing presence in Scotland, the company recently relocated their Edinburgh offices to 10 George Street, delivering a modern and enhanced environment for employees and visiting clients. Bringing over 20 years of partitioning expertise to the refurbishment project, Style worked closely with architects, Form Design Consultants, and contractor AKP Scotland, to create flexible space in the main boardroom.A Dorma Hüppe Variflex ML100 semi-automatic moveable wall system allows the impressive boardroom to be quickly divided into two separate meeting areas whilst a second Variflex can be moved into position to create a breakout room. Rathbones Group has been providing wealth management services for private clients, charities, trustees and professional partners since 1912, and has 14 offices throughout the UK and Jersey. Refurbished to the highest standards, the new George Street offices have strong environmental credentials, including a BREEAM rating of ‘very good’, and deliver flexible working space that actively encourages collaboration. Style’s final partitioning solution offers the ability to provide one large conferencing suite, a boardroom plus breakout area, or alternatively, two meeting rooms with breakout facility.Reflecting the inviting yet sophisticated interior décor, the walls are finished in a combination of contemporary Kvadrat fabric and dark walnut laminate. The semi-automatic operation smoothly expands the acoustic seals to exactly the right pressure every time, creating an exceptional acoustic rating of 60dB, allowing for complete privacy between divided areas.“This is an absolutely stunning installation,” said David Louden, Style’s director for Scotland, “and a credit to Form Design and AKP Scotland, who have been a pleasure to work with.“They have done a great job in delivering the designer’s vision for their client, and we were very privileged to be part of such a high-quality project.

VIEGA MEGAPRESS – THE IDEAL FIT FOR FESTOOL HQAward-winning international power tools manufacturer, Festool has invested £10 million into its new headquarters based in Bury St. Edmonds. As part of the construction, Viega’s Megapress press connection technology has been utilised for the building’s new state-of-the-art heating system, allowing for an efficient and effective installation.Festool has relocated its 55 office-based employees to the new site in Suffolk Business Park, in Bury St. Edmonds. The large, modern facility includes meeting rooms, cafés and office space with a separate warehouse and demonstration facility. It was important for the company that its new headquarters represented a modern and sustainable design and could be a facility where the company can continue to expand and develop.The headquarters has a complex range of HVAC systems, including a hybrid air conditioning system, underfloor heating and domestic services. Viega’s carbon steel press fitting system, Megapress was an ideal solution to create the pipework connections, offering a fast and effective alternative to traditional methods such as welding.David Aldous, Mechanical Project Manager at Ceetech, the contractor for the project, commented: “We selected Megapress as it ticked all the boxes. It provided a secure press connection without the need for welding and allowed our team to undertake the work efficiently and effectively. This project had to be completed to a tight deadline, so it was essential to make strategic time gains throughout the installation period.“We were also able to make valuable time-savings because with the Megapress system, there is no need to prepare the pipe surface or clean it after as with welding, threading or grooving. From a health and safety perspective – it also removes the element of hot works.”A highly effective pressing method, Megapress connections can be made in just seven seconds – helping to achieve a 60% reduction in installation time. After cutting the pipe to the required length, contractors need only deburr the cut surface, slide the press fitting into place and press the connection.The simplicity of the press fitting process also ensures that a uniform seal is created on each connection throughout the project; particularly important on large-scale developments where there is set to be thousands of joints across a single site. Once the fitting has been pressed, it forms a strong and secure connection.David concluded: “The Megapress system is excellent, I’ll certainly select Viega again for future projects. It was a clean installation and the end-client was pleased with the high quality of work."

When Galaxy Insulation – Hush Acoustics’ parent company – moved into its new regional offices near Glasgow, the team wanted to ensure the spaces were pleasant to work in and acoustically comfortable.The offices at Blantyre to the south of the city are contained within a modern building in a business park. This is typically designed and optimised for versatility, energy efficiency and low maintenance with large windows to allow for plenty of natural light transmission.As is common with office buildings of this type, given the relatively low levels of soft materials and furnishings used in the fit-out and décor, once the team moved into their offices it quickly became apparent that the environment was echoey and acoustically uncomfortable as a result of reverberation.RESOLVING ACOUSTIC ISSUESBeing familiar with this issue, the team at Galaxy Insulation were keen to ensure that everyone in the new office could work without being disrupted by excessive background noise, which is often caused by soundwaves reflecting off hard surfaces like glass and wood.Galaxy Insulation turned to the team at Hush Acoustics for assistance with this issue, having seen how it had worked with clients across the UK to address similar reverberation problems. Hush started the process by conducting an acoustic survey to determine the extent of the problem and identify where sound absorber panels could be fitted to resolve the issue.Hush proposed fitting six Hush Absorber 50 panels in varying sizes, including 1800x1200mm, 1200×1200 and 1000x1000mm, which would be strategically mounted on the walls of the offices.This is a Class A absorber that comprises a specially formulated 50mm thick acoustic foam, hand-finished with an interior fabric, which is applied to the face, edges and back return.ADDING A CREATIVE DIMENSIONAs Hush Absorber panels are always manufactured to order in a fabric cover coloured to the requirements of the client, this presented an opportunity for Galaxy to use the new panels for decorative purposes too.Rather than apply a single colour or generic pattern, the local team leading the project wanted to celebrate their great city by printing large photographs of famous Glasgow landmarks onto the panels. A number of high-resolution photographs were sourced and supplied to Hush to arrange the fabric printing as part of the manufacturing process.Hush manufactured and supplied the absorber panels within three weeks from the date of order, and installed them all in a matter of hours to minimise disruption at the Galaxy Insulation offices. Feedback from the team gave the panels an immediate thumbs up, with the difference in acoustic comfort noticed instantly and the images giving the office a distinctive new look.CLIENT FEEDBACKJim Downie, Scotland’s Managing Director of Galaxy Insulation said: “What a transformation the absorber panels have made! Firstly, they look amazing with the vibrant colours of the photographs reproducing extremely well, reflecting our intention to celebrate Glasgow’s iconic buildings and skyline.“Acoustically, the offices are far more comfortable for everyone. We’re an extremely busy office here as we work with customers across Scotland, so we’re always speaking on the phone or talking to each other to deliver for clients. We wanted to ensure high levels of background noise did not result in reverberation and make the working environment potentially unbearable.“The team at Hush Acoustics were quick to understand our requirements which gave us complete confidence that their proposed solution would meet our needs. Now the panels are installed, it is clear that the Hush Absorber 50 panels have worked exactly as planned, working in the background to minimise the risk of nuisance reverberation.”

Automatic Systems was asked by Aspex UK Limited to work with them on a project they had won at the head office of Riverside Group.Riverside is a group of complementary businesses driven by a clear social purpose, with a charitable housing association at its core.Established over 90 years ago, they have grown to become a major provider of affordable housing, care and support services in England and Scotland, with almost 56,000 homes in management. Operating at scale and across 160 local authorities, their vision is to transform the lives of the 90,000+ people they house and revitalise the neighbourhoods in which they live.RiversideGroup approached Aspex as a result of Covid to help secure and control the access of their head quarter building.SOLUTIONWith the help of Automatic Systems Aspex came up with a solution that fulfilled their criteria. This included the installation of the newly launched Firstlane and AccessLane.WORK TIMEFRAMEHaving worked with Aspex on a number of previous projects Automatic Systems were the preferred supplier when the contract was won in December 2020. Works took a week to complete as allocated in February this year.FUTURE WORKAutomatic Systems looks forward to working with Aspex on future projects.

Forbo Flooring Systems’ Marmoleum was the product of choice for a creative breakout space at investment management firm, Triple Point. With its growing headcount, Triple Point appointed AW Spaces to create an environment that could accommodate the company’s hybrid working strategy, whilst developing a light and warm aesthetic.  Founded in 2004, Triple Point employ 215 people and manage over £2.7 billion of private, institutional and public capital across five distinct investment strategies: Social Housing, Energy, Digital Infrastructure, Private Credit, and Venture. Each of these strategies helps to solve a problem society faces, and each one creates opportunities for investors.  With the company’s increased headcount and the new hybrid working strategy, AW Spaces suggested increasing the size of the breakout area available to employees. The aim was to make this area feel different from the working environment, by incorporating warmer colours with a dynamic flooring design.   Another important aspect for this project was the environmental impact. Lisa McLeod, Design Director at AW Spaces spoke on this, saying: “Sustainability was a big part of Triple Point’s brief. As such, when it came to choosing a floor covering for the space, the sustainability aspect led us to look at products such as Forbo’s Marmoleum. After discussing the sustainable flooring with Triple Point, where I also sent them a concept image of a design, we decided it was the perfect solution.  “Not only did Marmoleum fit the sustainability requirements, but it’s also available in a variety of contemporary designs that match in tone with each other, which allowed us to create a very dynamic space. Additionally, it’s a really nice material to work with, which aided the installation process.”   Forbo’s Marmoleum was specified in Terracotta, Titanium and Vintage Blue from the Marmoleum Walton range, and in Neptune Blue from Marmoleum Piano. Lisa commented on these choices, saying: “We chose these colours as they work beautifully together and coordinated with the joinery so it looked as though those elements rise from the ground. We also really liked the warmth of the Terracotta colourway and the brightness of Neptune Blue, which provided some contrast from eachother without looking disjointed from the joinery they connected to. The choice of colours really helped us to convey the feeling that this space was for relaxation rather than work, with all the colours flowing into one-another nicely.”  This refurbishment wasn’t like a typical installation as there were multiple different colourways which had to be combined in different shapes. As opposed to a typical refurbishment where tiles or sheet flooring is laid; this flooring had to be cut into shape in situ. The finished flooring mixes curved edges with sharp points, with all four colourways meeting towards the middle of the floor then flowing out at different angles around the room.  Lisa continued “The pattern was quite complex, so Forbo recommended an installer called Medifloor to us who could take on this challenge. We had worked with them on a couple of occasions before, so we knew they had the credentials, and they did a fantastic job with pinpoint accuracy!  “We’re absolutely delighted with the finished result and I’d say the breakout space remains my favourite part of the entire project.”  With a unique installation, a specialist approach had to be taken by installers, Medifloor. Jim Gordon, the Director of Medifloor, spoke on this, saying: “AW Spaces gave us this amazing design for Triple Point, which was extremely challenging to create with all the different curvatures. So, to achieve it we actually used computer aided templates which allowed us to cut the perfect curve – something that’s really hard to acheive in flooring.   “Forbo’s Marmoleum Walton was perfect for this, as it’s the only sheet flooring that lends itself to the natural materials used in this project and looks amazing when finished.”  With this method, a creative and dynamic flooring solution was created. With the installation starting in July 2022, Triple Point’s office refurbishment was finished in mid-September 2022 and has been well received by the staff who use it.  Luke Francois, Guest and Employee Experience Manager at Triple Point, concluded: “We asked AW Spaces to create a bright and inviting space, with a focus on using sustainable products and services, and Forbo’s Marmoleum ticked all the boxes for this. We’re happy with the end product delivered by AW, Medifloor and Forbo.” For more information about Forbo’s range of office products, visit: www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/offices  

Danish manufactured Troldtekt panels are commonly specified throughout the UK and Europe to improve the interior acoustic environment. Two recent Danish projects are the transformation of an old building into a car dealer’s offices for Karvil Biler, while the other is an extension of Randers Architects’ own headquarters into a mix of offices and exclusive residential units. Both projects use Troldtekt® line with its perfectly symmetrical vertical lines to balance walls and ceilings with great aesthetics, conveying warmth and providing a modern look coupled with high performance sound absorption.For the Architects’ washrooms, Troldtekt® line was chosen to add visual vibrancy to the rooms. It also exhibits different appearances depending on the angle from which the wall surfaces are viewed. The edges have been milled where the panels meet the ceiling, around electrical sockets and switches and also at floor level where bamboo skirting has been integrated. All have been elegantly cut to ensure a neat finish and fine detailing.In the car dealers, Troldtekt® line was selected in order to enhance and benefit the whole indoor climate. “We wanted to create a coherent look. The milled grooves have a visually calming effect and contrast well with the new raw concrete floor,” the project manager explained. Troldtekt® line forms nine acoustic solutions that make up the “design solutions” range which combines the best ideals of form and function. Founded on the Cradle to Cradle design concept, 100% Troldtekt’s natural wood wool panels are manufactured in a new state-of-the-art production facility. With a variety of different surfaces and colours, they can be supplied in the FSC® 100% category (FSC®C115450) contributing to a building’s BREEAM, DGNB and LEED rating. In addition to their high sound absorption and tactile surface, the panels offer high durability and low cost life cycle performance, as well as inherent sustainability. They are also a natural, breathable material which can absorb and release moisture, which is why they have been awarded an Allergy Friendly Product Award by Allergy UK. Samples, case studies and technical information are easily sourced from tel 01978 664255 or visit www.troldtekt.co.uk

Modern Office Space Boosts the Local Economy. This new Breeam “Very Good” office space was supplied by Wilmott Dixon for Adur and Worthing Council. The Office Raised Floor System covres 2,242m2 open plan office space and is arranged over three floors with communal dining/tea point areas to accommodate around 300 employees. Bathgate Flooring Ltd were pleased to be a part of this project. The Construction Manager, Rob Douglas commented that; “THE COLLABORATION AND TEAM WORK ON THE PROJECT HAS BEEN BRILLIANT WHICH HAS RESULTED IN AN AWESOME JOURNEY AND FINAL PRODUCT…TOP JOB AND THANK YOU AGAIN!! “

A new distribution centre at Littlebrook Business Park features market leading Gatic CastSlot Littlebrook (Orbital 47) is home to several industrial companies which rely on the near constant movement of goods.“Our work involved the installation of Gatic Slotdrain in a distribution centre at Littlebrook,” said Zach Graham, Alumasc Area Sales Manager for London and the South East. “The distribution centre is in an ideal location due to the surrounding environment with easy access to the M25. Further to this, as the loading area was fairly small, it is put under a lot of pressure every day, with constantly turning vehicles. This meant that any surface water management product installed had to be guaranteed to withstand extremely heavy and frequent loads.”In an area where unremitting, slow turning traffic is a major consideration, Gatic CastSlot, from the Gatic Slotdrain range, was an obvious choice in providing a reliable water management system for this project. Gatic specialises in integrated, high capacity surface water management and Engineered Access Covers, its surface water drainage systems have been used to capture, control and return run-off into the natural water cycle, even in high pressure situations.Gatic Slotdrain’s reputation as a front runner for surface drainage systems in infrastructure hubs such as ports, airports and industrial units, made it first choice for this project, and ideal overall for sites such as Littlebrook.

Drawing on over 20 years of experience installing operable walls, Style was recently challenged to come up with a solution to divide a large meeting area, despite there being no suitable structure in the ceiling to utilise as a fixing point. After some lateral thinking and close communication with the client, a non-structural timber frame was created for support, with the weight of the folding wall being transferred to the ground via a surface mounted floor track. A Stylefold 120 folding wall system was chosen as the only operable wall that could realistically accommodate the room structure.The client for this project was the international company, CEMAR, which offers a state-of-the-art, cloud-based administration support and contract administration product to companies in the construction sector. As part of a substantial refurbishment project of the Gloucestershire offices, CEMAR wanted to incorporate space flexibility to the existing open-plan meeting area. This would allow the expansive space to be quickly divided into two separate meeting rooms, or opened up for larger gatherings, presentations and as a general break out space.Demonstrating their expertise in this sector, Style was able to rise to challenge of installing an operable wall in an area with insufficient ceiling structure to support a partition, delivering a high-quality solution that directly meets the clients’ needs.“We’re very proud of our ability to work with clients to overcome complications in room structure and design, and develop a solution that works perfectly for them,” said Julian Sargent, Style’s group managing director.“The final installation not only complements the room’s interior design with a white melamine finish, but also offers 46dB Rw acoustic integrity and a pass door for room access when the wall is in place.”Style is the multi-award winning, market leader in moveable partitioning walls. With 4 regional offices across the UK and a showroom in London, the company specialises in creating flexible space across a broad cross section of sectors including corporate, hospitality, religion, education, local authority and healthcare.

Peri Ltd, one of the world's largest manufacturers of formwork and scaffolding, recently had Gatic CastSlot installed at its extensive multi-purpose service yard, where heavy lorries and vehicles come and go constantly.Our Area Sales Manager who worked on the project - Zach Graham revealed “The Gatic system was opted for due to its great hydraulic capacity and extensive reputation.” “This particular project required a safe solution that could bear the load of up to 40 tonnes, or D400, in technical terms. However, the Gatic range is designed to meet the needs of delivery or distribution areas where load ratings can reach up to 90 tonnes, or to F900 level, making it well within its capabilities.”Where continuous, slow turning traffic is a major consideration, Gatic CastSlot, from the Gatic Slotdrain range, is the front runner for ensuring a reliable water management system. The reputation of Gatic Slotdrain as the go to drainage range for infrastructure hubs such as airport runways and major ports, made this the obvious choice for this project.

The demand for an energy-efficient hot water distribution system was met by a single-pipe system with 850m of RAYCHEM HWAT-R self-regulating heating cables, managed by nine RAYCHEM HWAT-ECO smart controllers that interface seamlessly with the BMS. Eliminating the need for the secondary pipework of a conventional recirculation system saved space and achieved cost savings of between five and ten percent in material and installation time. Pipe freeze protection was also provided by RAYCHEM WinterGard self-regulating cables, supported by an AT-TS-13 surface-sensing electronic thermostat.

BW Workplace Experts looks to Oscar Acoustics to create health-enhancing workplace of the future Making a sound choiceOffice fit-out professionals, BW Workplace Experts, who specialise in delivering welcoming office environments, enlisted the help of Oscar Acoustics as part of a major workplace fit-out to ensure optimal acoustic comfort for occupants and a calm ‘home from home’ experience for staff.Central to achieving their goal of creating a peaceful office ambience was the issue of noise reverberation. It was imperative that workers using the office space could communicate easily without needing to shout and that staff could work harmoniously without distractions.The challenge: unconventional working spaces Located at Herbal House in Farringdon, London, BW Workplace needed to allow for agile ways of working, providing flexible environments that offer focused work areas, co-working spaces and relaxed break out areas. A combination of both impromptu and formal meeting rooms was also required.  Working alongside architects TP Bennett, Oscar Acoustics were faced with the challenge of how to achieve the perfect acoustic balance within the two-floor Manhattan loft-style space. As office workers would be dealing with important sensitive circumstances, such as judicial matters, unwanted noise needed to be kept to a minimum, allowing staff to concentrate and focus on matters at hand.Leanne Baird, Head of Marketing at BW, said: “We needed an effective design solution to deal with reverberant noise so that staff remained free of distractions and their ability to concentrate was not impaired by excessive noise. “Having worked with Oscar Acoustics previously, we knew we were in safe hands as far as finding an effective noise-reduction solution was concerned. Their expertise in architectural acoustic finishes was crucial to the success of this project.”The solution: calm, inviting interiors that sound as good as they lookChosen for its ability to absorb sound energy instead of reflecting it, Oscar’s SonaSpray K-13 is a seamless acoustic spray with a deliberately industrial, coarsely textured finish that helps control stressful noise reverberation in buildings. Blending in seamlessly with the fluid, flexible workspace, the spray was completed in a single application, allowing BW to keep to important project deadlines, with minimal installation time.  Sustainable acoustic solutionsSonaSpray K-13 also contributes towards many sustainable design and health certification systems including BREEAM, SKA, Living Building Challenge and adds up to 17 points towards the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating of a project. By choosing SonaSpray K-13, all parties could feel confident that the application met the highest health and welfare standards due its non-hazardous, GREENGUARD Gold Certified compliance for Indoor Air Quality. As a seamless M1 certified Low Emitting acoustic spray, it also contains renewable natural resources such as wood, and cotton which effectively lowers the carbon footprint of the building project by sequestering rich stores of carbon for the lifecycle of the structure. In a world where environmental impact is paramount, SonaSpray K-13 boasts further green credentials, having been covered by the Environmental Product Declaration in accordance with ISO 14025 and meeting the Living Building Challenge and LEED requirements. In addition to these, Oscar Acoustics are ISO 14001 certified; completing the environmental jigsaw and making them Great Britain’s most sustainable acoustic solutions provider.Fire rated acoustic sprayIt was also imperative that employee safety was considered, especially in terms of fire safety. Knowing that SonaSpray K-13 not only met but significantly bettered the updated Approved Document B fire requirement (Class 0 to BS476 & B-s1,d0 fire rating), gave both architects and designers complete peace of mind that should the eventuality occur, the acoustic spray would provide little to no smoke and absolutely no droplets, assisting in the safe escape of its occupants.Ben Hancock, Managing Director at Oscar Acoustics says: “When we were first approached by BW, we knew just the solution for this type of acoustic problem in an office space. With years of experience providing acoustic solutions to commercial workspaces, our tried and tested SonaSpray range is our go-to choice for achieving superb acoustic results without design compromise. “Working with BW has been a fantastic experience. With the increased focus on wellbeing and the work-life balance becoming more prevalent, office space must reflect this change. It’s long been recognised that poor acoustics and excessive levels of noise can be bad for occupants’ health so it was great to see this issue being taken seriously, to improve the daily lives of employees using the building day-to-day.”Image credit to Tom Green Photography.

Manage acoustics across several UK offices for a high-profile government department. The aim was to create different zones to enhance privacy, manage acoustics and reflect client branding and culture.

Excellent service and communication sees Broomfield Primary School extension completed on time with AlumascBroomfield Primary School in Essex has benefitted from multiple water management installations from Alumasc to complete its brand-new extension. These included Skyline aluminium Fascia and Soffits, GX pressed aluminium box gutters and Flushjoint aluminium downpipes.The specification of the integrated ‘Rain to Drain’ Alumasc Skyline and Rainwater ranges came as a result of Alumasc’s highly regarded product offer and strong working relationship with subcontractor on the project, Ipswich based Specialised Fixings Ltd.John Hemphill, Technical Sales Manager at Alumasc, explained: “Specialised Fixings is one of our Alumasc recommended installers that we have collaborated with on many projects.“This good working relationship which hinges on a high level of communication and readily available service and support from our products and technical teams, is what ensured we finished this project on time, to the highest specification.“Meeting deadlines can be a challenge for some ambitious projects, but certainly this year it has been for the whole industry!John continued: “We are very proud that our Alumasc Technical Services and Technical Sales Managers are able to provide such in depth help and support to our recommended installers and subcontractors, which benefits them out in the marketplace."

THE PROJECTXE in Bracknell was looking for a solution to their ever-growing parcel delivery problem. As with many other places of work, various couriers were arriving daily to deliver packages, and it was starting to be a full-time job for the already-busy Reception staff!When Reception staff were unavailable, office employees had to attend to couriers and manage the parcel deliveries themselves. It was affecting overall productivity and managers were receiving complaints.SEARCHING FOR SOLUTIONSAs a forward-thinking office space, XE proactively approached The Safety Letterbox Company part of Renz Group to provide a parcel management solution. With some changes in personnel approaching, the company wanted a ‘Smart’ reception area that could enable private parcel deliveries to the office. They needed a system that was as autonomous as possible which would reduce potential distractions from primary office workers, as well as freeing up time for any new reception staff.ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEE BENEFITThe system is evidence that XE is a forward-thinking and modern employer, who wants their employees to feel valued and looked after.The convenience of having a streamlined intelligent parcel management system at the office also helps to reduce stress levels in the workforce and increase employee engagement. Happy employees are productive employees, read our latest blog on wellness in the workplace here.The system was powder coated in Traffic White (RAL9016), which is one of SLB’s many standard colours.Process for PurposeThe team at myRENZbox worked closely with XE to tailor the system process to work in harmony with the business requirements. As well as the option to develop a bespoke delivery process, there are several standard processes available.STRAPPED FOR SPACEThe space that XE had available for myRENZbox was relatively small and allowed for a system to be placed in an alcove in the reception area, just outside of the closed access doors to the primary office. Three full-width extension modules fitted the size of the area exceptionally well and would easily cater for the number of potential users. Now in situ, it looks like the system was explicitly designed to fit the space.

What has been the true impact of 12 months of remote working on UK office staff? A recent YouGov poll by bathroom designer and manufacturer Geberit shows a workforce missing their colleagues and longing for a return to face-to-face meetings. With more than half of us missing the work-life balance that the office offers, its findings also reveal very little resistance from staff when faced with the prospect of a return to the office. Here, Sophie Weston, channel marketing manager at Geberit, reveals more about its insight and the impact of hygiene in the office moving forward – especially the washroom.

In its largest building project in over 100 years, the Victoria and Albert Museum’s Exhibition Road Quarter achieves architectural cohesion between museum and street with the help of Alumasc Water Management Solutions (AWMS) and Alumasc Roofing Systems. In a project that demonstrates expertise across the full building envelope, Alumasc Wade HCE drainage channels and access covers were installed to provide almost invisible yet functional water management, and a bespoke hybrid roofing system installed using Hydrotech and Derbigum waterproof roofing.Designed by Stirling Prize-winning Architect Amanda Levete and her practice AL_A, the landmark project aimed to “break down the barrier” between the great cultural artery of Exhibition Road and home of over 5000 years’ worth of cultural history.The entire project encompassed the construction of the Salisbury Gallery, a flexible 1100m2 temporary exhibition space, the Blavatnik Hall, a new entrance into the V&A from Exhibition Road, the Aston Webb Screen, a newly created colonnade formed from the original 1909 structure, and the Sackler Courtyard, a key area that strives for unity between the street, the museum, the historical and the modern.

Amazon has invested heavily in its UK operations in recent years and more recently with the accelerated growth of online shopping, significantly increasing its number of warehouses across the UK. One such distribution centre is in Kingsnorth, Kent. This 34,000 square metre warehouse opened in 2018 and has benefitted from the installation of a Gatic Slotdrain CastSlot system.With its high-capacity surface water intake and high-performance loading capabilities, the CastSlot system from the Gatic Slotdrain range is specifically designed to bear load ratings of up to F900, which amounts to 90 tonnes – making it the ideal product for major distribution centres such as this. In an area where unremitting, slow turning HGV traffic is a major consideration, Gatic’s CastSlot drainage system provides reliable water management.“Gatic CastSlot was specified by global professional services firm RPS, to provide high-capacity drainage that had a discreet finish, within the service yard and car park for the distribution centre,” said Zach Graham, Gatic Area Sales Manager for London and the South East. “They valued the design put forward to them and accepted to take away unnecessary costs to client and project without reducing performance of the system.”“In addition, RPS have used the Gatic range before and will look to use the system on a design whenever possible.”

FIREFLY™ PHOENIX Offers Temporary Fire Protection For Fenchurch Street OfficesThe refurbishment of two complete floors to one of the City’s largest office buildings is making use of the well proven and versatile TBA FIREFLY™ PHOENIX smoke & flame barriers, to create temporary fire barriers while the work is being carried out: protecting people and property across the rest of the five storey structure where business continues as normal.The project at 30 Fenchurch Street, EC3 is being led by Overbury – one of the capital’s most experienced fit-out contractors, while the London office of HLW Architects is leading the design team. T&R Fire Protection meanwhile is the specialist sub-contractor carrying out the installation of the PHOENIX around the atrium, as well as other passive fire protection measures as the scheme evolves.In total T&R has fixed 22 rolls of the lightweight PHOENIX material to create the two hour integrity smoke and flame barriers around the glazed edge of the floor plates at levels Three and Four of 30 Fenchurch Street. The lightweight barrier has been fixed to the bulkhead and at intervals down all of the existing columns, before finally being secured across steel angle sections bolted to the floor slab.IFC Certification duly inspected all 160 metres of the temporary barriers – up to 3,300 mm in height - once installed, on behalf of Overbury and duly issued a certificate of compliance. The permanent works are expected to include creating fire breaks within the ceiling zones at 20 metre intervals, as part of T&R’s overall contract for Fenchurch Street in the region of £250K.The Site Manager for T&R Fire Protection, Tom Port Smith, commented: “We’ve used PHOENIX and other FIREFLY™ products on many hundreds of projects in the past, but in this case it was the insurers for the project who insisted on the installation of the screens to protect the atrium while the sprinkler system was being replaced. The installation though was relatively straightforward and in our work generally, FIREFLY™ is our ‘go to’ manufacturer when it comes to fire compartmentation. We base our recommendations and design drawings on TBA FIREFLY™ standard details and, once they’ve been approved, go in and install the flexible fire barriers.”Tom, like the majority of T&R Fire Protection’s operatives, has attended training sessions at FIREFLY's premises in Rochdale, reinforcing their trade skills and gaining valuable insights into the performance parameters of the different barriers in the range.FIREFLY™ PHOENIX is a lightweight smoke & flame barrier developed to enable compartmentation within buildings to provide up to 120 minutes’ integrity under BS476 Parts 20 & 22. Certified by IFCC, the flexible and straightforward to install material and is suitable for both new-build and retrofit situations.Manufactured from woven and non-woven glass, the FIREFLY™ range is designed to optimise resistance to flame and smoke as well as offer heat protection in a wide range of scenarios. The flexible barriers are easy to install horizontally or vertically using a full selection of ancillary products. Used mainly in the construction industry across the UK and Europe, FIREFLY™ Fire Barriers help to contain fire, giving building occupants extra time to evacuate and the fire service to enter safely.

Radii joined the fit-out for this asset management company’s new European headquarters in mid-2022, working for approximately 20 weeks to deliver our high-end commercial solutions for 179 offices and meeting spaces across Levels 1 to 4 of the 88,000 sq ft site.Curved double glazed Parallel 50 (45dB Rw) partitions were manufactured and installed by Radii for a number of meeting rooms fronts, while single glazed Linear 25 (41 dB Rw) and double glazed Parallel 100 (50dB Rw) were also deployed to match the variety of acoustic requirements. Mesh glass was used in places on Levels 2 to 4 to provide extra privacy around reception and lounge areas respectively.Partitions were complemented with smoked dark European oak timber veneered doors throughout the space.

Design and fit-out specialist, Peldon Rose, selects premium TopBrewer coffee experience for office refurbishment project.With a culture very much based on family values, Peldon Rose designed their Wimbledon office to be a welcoming, homely environment that is future-proofed to facilitate collaboration and smart working concepts.With its design-led, minimal aesthetic, the award-winning TopBrewer helps to create a streamlined look and feel to the kitchen area, leaving the worktop area clutter-free and the brewing equipment fitted in the cupboards below out of view."The quality of the coffee has encouraged staff to grab a coffee at the office rather than visiting local coffee shops, which is a great incentive for the team." - Sophie Rutter, Front of House Manager, Peldon Rose

As part of a major transformation of Wembley Park, which includes Olympic Way, Wade Stainless Steel Linear Channels and Streamline, and perforated gratings were installed beneath the Olympic Steps to provide an effective and long-lasting drainage solution.Built by developer Quintain in a joint project with Brent Council, the Olympic Steps come at the end of Olympic Way—the stretch of road linking Wembley underground station to Wembley Stadium. It was named Olympic Way after it was originally constructed for the 1948 London Olympics.The final stages of this redevelopment were the iconic steps that lead up to the national stadium. The original ramp, known as the pedway, was built as part of the old Wembley Stadium and acted as a bridge over the old coach parks. The Olympic Steps development replaced the outdated, concrete pedway and extended the Olympic Way, increasing the width by 50% and improving accessibility for all visitors in and around Wembley Park. Volker Fitzpatrick was the main contractor on the project.“Working closely with Mick Hawkins, the Site Manager, the aim of the project was to fulfil the client’s drainage requirements to tight deadlines,” says Brian Holden-Earl, Area Sales Manager. “The area is frequently used by visitors, so it was important to deliver our services within a specific timescale.”

One Crown Place is a development that sets a new standard of architecture with two prismatic towers hosting 246 private apartments, rising 28 and 33 storeys into the sky. At lower levels, it is home to 109,675sq ft of high-quality office space and a variety of retail units.A Georgian terrace, a retained warehouse facade on Earl Street and 54 Wilson Street, and a 1970s block make up the remaining parts of this 24/7 destination delivering a boutique hotel, restaurant, collection of club lounges, bars, and affordable office space.ECLISSE UK Ltd supplied 158 bespoke Classic Pocket Door Systems for the project in various sizes, plus accessories. The pocket doors were used to provide convenient access to the ensuite bathrooms.Start on site: April 2018Completion date: May 2021Address: One Crown Place, 54 Wilson Street London EC2A 2ERGross internal floor area: 49,500m2 (new build)Construction cost: £518 millionArchitect: Kohn Pedersen Fox AssociatesClient: MTD GroupDevelopment manager: CBREProject manager: CBRE

Alicante Port, the well renowned commercial and cruise ship terminal has been upgraded to benefit from a Gatic Slotdrain high-capacity surface water drainage system.Slotdrain UltraSlot was specified during the re-conditioning of Dock 19 to increase capacity from 300,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) to 463,000 TEU.“UltraSlot was chosen by specifier SETI, SA, who are well established within the ports sector and who have worked with Gatic products for many years,” said International Sales Manager – Luis Triguero “The engineer in charge was familiar with the mechanical and hydraulic advantages of UltraSlot and requested a competitive price for the project. As Gatic is so well established in the Spanish market, we could exceed their expectations.”UltraSlot is used in external concrete areas which are subject to constant traffic, such as airports and ports. This high-capacity system is designed to ensure sufficient depth of concrete cover over the main body of the channel to withstand ultra-heavy-duty loads of up to F900 - 90 tonnes.“The biggest challenge we faced was ensuring the system could withstand the consistent, heavy traffic that will always be moving throughout the port,” continues Luis. “However, thanks to its capacity to bear heavy loads, UltraSlot proved to be one of the best drainage options on the market.”

The new clubhouse of the Machrihanish Golf Course has had its water management upgraded thanks to the installation of two Alumasc Rainwater products: Aqualine Box Extruded Aluminium Gutter and Flushjoint Aluminium downpipesThe golf course, founded in 1876, recently had its clubhouse rebuilt after a fire in December 2018 destroyed the original building. Local contractor McKinven and Colville Ltd carried out the work on the new clubhouse which was designed by G1 Architects. The building offers unparalleled panoramic views across the Championship and Pans courses.“For this project, two Rainwater products, Aqualine Box and Flushjoint were specified and installed for the new clubhouse on the golf course,” said Nicola McGowan, Area Sales Manager, Scotland. “It’s an elegant, modern building with stunning views over the Atlantic.“The Aqualine Box Extruded Aluminium Gutter and Flushjoint downpipes were chosen for their sleek, modern design, and durable, non-corrodible features.”

There is nothing quite like an ambitious project executed to the highest standard.This complete rebuild and extension of a late Victorian terraced house in Brockley, south east London, presented challenges at every turn. The existing house suffered from the addition of poor-quality extensions and structural problems, but was redesigned by Conibere Philips architects with the specification of Alumasc Rainwater Flushjoint downpipes and hoppers. This ensured elegant and efficient water management, as well as security against water ingress into the new masterpiece of a home.“It’s extremely unusual for a mid-terrace to be demolished and rebuilt in this way, but it was decided as the most economic and sensible course of action to take in this case. This also allowed us to adapt the property on rebuilding to look much more contemporary and elegant,” explained Robin Philips, Partner Director at Conibere Philips. Elegance was also firmly the desired direction when considering water management.“We chose to specify Rainwater Flushjoint downpipes and hoppers from Alumasc to maximise on their sleek and minimal design that would further contribute to the contemporary look of the building,” Robin confirms.“The joints in the RWP sections are very elegant. The whole effect is much less cluttered than most other RWP products. A simple, modern elevation would have been ruined with more traditional RWP products.”

The £45 million world-class School of Management is the flagship building of the University of Bath. The seven-storey building brings together the entire school under one roof and is a place to inspire new levels of collaboration and showcase the excellent learning, research, and industry partnerships available.The three principles of the design are flexibility, transparency, and collaboration. At the centre of the building is an impressive atrium with a feature steel staircase.   Within the atrium is the pavilion, a double height space flooded with natural light has been designed as a hub of activity where great minds meet. The buildings two arms emerge from a central node, each wing housing an array of academic and research space. The design brief called for openness and transparency which was achieved by the use of Lusso glazed partitioning throughout. The Lusso 25 glazed system and Silenzio doors were used to enhance and divide up space which at the same time allows natural light to filter through the building and encourage connectivity. Where the design required glass partitions in excess of 3.5 metres height the Lusso 105 glazed system was selected to meet the structural requirement which has created a visually impactful atrium.

Stowford Mill, built in 1787, is one of Devon’s oldest historic industrial sites to still be expanding.Because of its iconic features and characteristic atmosphere, Stowford Mill has long been established as one of the trendiest places to work, eat and shop, bringing commerce and prosperity to the surrounding area, and forcing the town to expand to make room for tourists who just never wanted to leave.Part of this expansion will eventually include Burrington Estates’ eight-acre vibrant community of contemporary new homes. This new development, for which the main contractor is URBN, is due for completion in 2023.Started in March 2018, the existing homes already include Alumasc Rainwater Infinity Steel gutters and downpipes, specified to provide eco-friendly, discreet and resilient water management that will last. Crucially, this system was favoured to the use of plastic systems, to meet the demand for a readily available product that was both environmentally- and price-conscious.As the new development creates a unique new environment in which to live, work and relax in the midst of the historic area, the most important part of the project was to keep the best of the stunning architectural heritage already there, whilst finding innovative ways to incorporate the latest modern building design. Helping to bridge this gap between the historic and the modern, AWMS offered a solution.“Alumasc systems were chosen as it was the project’s requirements to specifically use steel for gutters and downpipes,” David Loader, Key Account Manager at Alumasc, explained.

Harmer Building Drainage, part of Alumasc Water Management Solutions, has been specified for the luxury apartments at Chelsea Bridge in Battersea. The project is the latest phase of Battersea Park Development, Vista. It is a landmark development, designed by Scott Brownrigg and built by Berkeley Homes, consisting of 1, 2, and 3 bedroom apartments, with the remaining properties ranging from £895,000 to £1.910 million – and they are selling fast. There is extensive outdoor landscaping and each group of apartments benefit from feature terraces and private balconies so they can take advantage of spectacular views over Battersea Park and towards the River Thames.Harmer’s expertise and existing relationship with Architects Scott Brownrigg and Berkeley Homes were major factors in winning the contract. Both were aware Harmer could supply a high-end product in an achievable lead time. Constant open dialogue with all parties helped get the project off to a smooth start. Accurate specification, with Harmer’s in-depth knowledge of products and issues, and close involvement at every stage, means any challenges during the project are quickly rectified. The development is due for completion in 2018.

In 2020, Hewlett Packard Enterprises relocated to The 210 Building, an inspiring office development in the heart of Winnersh Triangle. Working with architects, Perkins and Will, and BW Construction, Style was specified to create an extensive range of flexible space within the meeting rooms as well as a chic, collaborative working environment.Using a combination of 52dB Dorma Hüppe semi-automatic Variflex glass moveable walls, 55dB solid semi-automatic Variflex moveable walls and Style’s ingenious ‘working wall’ pivot panels, a supremely flexible and stylish training and meeting suite has been created. Hewlett Packard employees enjoy a contemporary environment with the freedom to rapidly change room configuration as often as required. The 210 Building offers 62,000 sq ft of newly refurbished office space, of which 31,000 sq ft has been let to Hewlett Packard Enterprise. Aiming to enhance the work/life balance of employees and staff located in the Winnersh Triangle, the Park offers a plethora of amenities including fitness facilities, cafes, open spaces for walking and cycling, an on-site nursery and even its own dedicated railway station. “This is a stunning installation,” said Julian Sargent, Style’s group managing director. “Everything about it is first class, making this a project we’re incredibly proud of.“The Variflex moveable walls offer top-end acoustic integrity, which means meetings and training sessions can take place undisturbed. The combination of glass and solid panels deliver a wonderful blend of privacy and transparency, while bringing a light and airy feel to the floor space.“The mix of fabric and writeable white board finishes offer a chic interior design yet a practical one too, and the pivot panels offer the perfect solution for collaborative working and break out groups.”Style’s agile, floating panel ‘working walls’ remove the usual barriers of meeting and training rooms, segregated work desks and cubicles, instead offering companies a space where individuals can group together, team up quickly on projects, share ideas and change their environment to suit the task in hand.

The Louvre Post Office is an iconic building in the 1st Arrondissement, in the heart of Paris. The purpose of the project is really to keep postal activities in the heart of Paris. It aims also to enhance the spatial qualities of this building with a mixed-use program. Effisus Ecofacade P-Fix and Effisus Pre-Fab TrueSeal were integrated at this project. Effisus Ecofacade P-Fix is a solution for waterproofing facade connections. Effisus Pre-Fab TrueSeal is a pre-fabricated bespoke sealing solution.