"parking"

Automated parking system will combine storage and service for classic, racing and luxury cars.Lödige Industries has secured a contract from SSR-Performance to deliver an automated car storage system. The 141-space facility in Munich, Germany is billed to be the most modern automated system aimed at luxury and classic car owners.About the new classic car parking facility in Munich SSR-Performance is constructing a 10,000 m² classic, racing and luxury car hub with specialist repair and styling facilities, race sports services and showroom. The new automated classic and sports car storage facility complements these plans. The contract with Lödige Industries includes the planning, construction, installation and servicing of the new robotic system. Work on site has already begun and is scheduled to complete in early 2020. Combining maintenance and storage of classic, racing and luxury cars on a restricted footprintConsistent humidity and reduced levels of oxygen are important to reduce corrosion and fire risk when storing classic cars. Humidity, temperature and atmosphere inside the robotic parking system are controlled to cater for the specific requirements of vintage cars. “I have been looking for a facility like this myself for several years now. When it became clear that it didn’t exist, I decided to build one myself,” says Stefan Schlund, Managing Director of SSR-Performance. “After visiting Europe’s largest public robotic parking facility in Denmark a few months ago, I was impressed. In working with Lödige Industries, I have chosen an experienced partner that not only understood my needs but also knew how to make them happen.”In the fully automated facility, cars will be parked in one of the access cabins from where they will be transported into the system by a flat robot carrying them by their tires onto a transport vehicle and from there onto the parking space.About the customerStarting in spring 2020, SSR Performance GmbH will offer a demanding clientele automotive services with a focus on sports cars, classic automobiles and motor sports under one roof. SSR is opening an automotive competence and service centre in the north of Munich, which will offer a large number of lifting platforms, an air-conditioned four-wheel drive performance test stand, a showroom and fully automated nitrogen storage areas for exclusive cars on 10,000 m² of floor space and six levels.Challenges of storing classic, racing and luxury carsThe German market for classic cars is constantly growing and faces a gap in combined storage and service for classic, racing and luxury cars.Providing enough parking spaces on the restricted footprint, is one major issue SSR Performance faces.When storing classic cars, consistent humidity and reduced levels of oxygen are important to reduce corrosion and fire risk.High security standards need to be provided in storing classic, racing and luxury cars, as they value significantly higherA thorough maintenance and cleaning of the classic, racing and luxury cars is the basic requirement for an optimal storage. This prevents the formation of rust or other deposits on the vehicle.Our solution and benefits for the customerSSR Performance recognised the market gap and took the opportunity to serve high-quality service and storage for classic, racing and luxury cars within a new facility in Munich.Humidity, temperature and atmosphere inside the robotic parking system are controlled to cater for the requirements of vintage cars.The automated parking systems, provided by Lödige, delivers high security for customers, as access to the cars stored within the system is only for authorized personal.Our CUBILE technology uses a flat transport robot, which carries the cars by their tires and therefor reduces the risk of damages.The customized automated parking system for SSR Performance features direct automated access to mechanic workshops. With this fully automated link, SSR can provide the unique combination of storage and maintenance for classic, racing and luxury cars to their customers.“I have been looking for a facility like this myself for several years now. When it became clear that it didn’t exist, I decided to build one myself. After visiting Europe’s largest public robotic parking facility in Denmark a few months ago, I was impressed. In working with Lödige Industries, I have chosen an experienced partner that not only understood my needs but also knew how to make them happen.”- Stefan Schlund, Managing Director of SSR-Performance

Lorton Park development has been designed and built with energy and water conservation in mind. With a particular importance placed on the selection and quality of the materials used, Catnic’s innovative TBL was specified for all 46 luxury properties.BRE certified, the Catnic TBL range delivers industry leading linear thermal transmittance Psi values of 0.02 to 0.05 W/mK and safe working loads in line with Catnic’s existing Cavity wall lintels.Chris Watts, Sales Manager at Jewson, worked with Mr Hidari on the product specification,“After comparing different lintels on the market it became clear that Catnic TBL’s were best suited to the specific project requirements.“Due to the medium density concrete blocks being used onsite, AKI Ltd needed a product that could meet its thermal performance requirements and easily achieve the build’s load requirements – the composite design of the TBL made it the perfect choice.”The specifically designed flat top of Catnic’s Thermally Broken Lintel provides a simple, consistent junction with the cavity wall insulation. This removes the reliance on site workmanship, reducing the risk of a ‘performance gap’. There are also no brackets connecting the inner and outer leaf of the lintel and therefore there are no additional point thermal bridges that need to be considered.The large scale development project also benefited from Catnic Lintel Advance Scheduling System (CLASS). Through the fully comprehensive scheduling service, Catnic’s expert team created a concise document which detailed lintel descriptions, price, delivery time and a guaranteed structural accuracy.“This has been a huge, complex project and we needed a product that could deliver on the specific structural and thermal requirements,” commented Mr Hidari. “As the only lintel on the market with a complete thermal break, it seemed like the ideal product. I was particularly impressed by the Catnic team who provided us with a full design and specification for the entire development.”For further information on Catnic’s Thermally Broken Lintel range, please visit https://catnic.com/products/lintels/thermally-broken-lintels/overview

THE PROJECTThe One City Park development, designed by architect Sheppard Robson, is being built on a former police HQ site, is the first Grade A office scheme delivered in Bradford city centre for 20 years to address the need for high-quality offices. As a five-storey high rise building, the basement required an effective below-ground waterproofing solution to the main building core that would be fully compliant with the client's requirements and the relevant codes of practice and stand the test of time. The main contractor for the project, Caddick Construction engaged specialist concrete contractor Howard Civil Engineering for the basement build who then contacted Fosroc for assistance in producing a tailored waterproofing specification solution that would address the requirements of the project. As a trusted supplier of building materials and technical specification advice, Howard Civil Engineering has utilised Fosroc’s products for many other projects previously.THE SOLUTIONFosroc specified a full product solution for installation in accordance with BS8102 supported by a fully detailed waterproofing design provided by Waterproofing Design Services Limited. This included one of Fosroc’s innovative self-healing Supercast CWA product – crystalline waterproofing additive for concrete, Supercast SW20 and Supercast SWX waterstops in conjunction with Proofex Engage waterproofing and Proofex Total damp proof membranes. Materials were available to order ready to commence installation when required.THE BENEFITSThe main core works and basement project element is now complete, allowing the next construction phase to continue. Fosroc’s Supercast CWA will allow any small cracks to ‘heal’ with free lime crystal before they create damp problems, and the tough damp and water proof membranes will protect against ground gas, chemicals and corrosion. As the Fosroc products are designed to work together, a truly reliable and robust solution is delivered that keeps long-term costs of repair and maintenance to a minimum. Additionally, the contractor was able to access high quality technical advice from specification through to application, allowing them to mitigate potential problems and delays before they happened.

The first to enjoy the latest generation of Lödige Industries' proven technology are the homeowners of a luxury residential complex containing 29 luxury apartments for the over 60s on Fitzjohn’s Avenue in London. The building’s footprint could not accommodate enough conventional parking spaces and street parking was not a viable option. To meet this challenge, Lödige Industries, on behalf of the London-based residential development company Lifestory Group, installed a fully automated parking system with capacity for 29 vehicles, all equipped with electric vehicle charging docks, at a depth of 10m over two levels.Today's cars are bigger, heavier, and more and more often electric. We are responding to this development with a major update of its RESPACE technology. Among other things, we have increased the load capacity of the automatic parking solution to 3 tons, adapting the equipment and drives as well as expanding charging technology for electric vehicles. Globally the number of electric vehicles is on the rise. In 2019 alone, global e-vehicle stock climbed by 43%. Architects and developers alike are forced by regulations as well as buyer intent to offer e-charging in their parking facilities. This has long been an issue for many automated parking technologies, especially since car manufacturers have yet to agree on a standard for wireless charging.  The new RESPACE offers 100% e-charging for all spaces. Following an engineering breakthrough, the new technology is resilient against dust and dirt and responds automatically to periods of high system activity to ensure vehicles can be retrieved quickly and efficiently at any time. The new e-charging technology supports individual billing per vehicle and can be retrofitted in existing systems. Furthermore, an intelligent load management system automatically exchanges a fully loaded car with an empty car, if not all parking spaces are equipped with a charging facility. RESPACE uses a sliding pallet system and provides optimal use of space in residential developments as it eliminates the need for drive or walkways within the parking system and the requirement for internal or external access ramps, the combination of which can save more than 60% of the space taken up by traditional car parks.  Faster installation and commissioning times are another major benefit of the optimised RESPACE technology. This increases the number of parallel movements possible, whilst avoiding any single point of failure. New engineering software integration also means that system configurations can be tested early in the development process using simulation programmes to optimise planning and give a greater range of viability options to developers.An improved cabin setting means that drivers accessing the system are now going to benefit from a much-improved user guidance. Users of the system will enjoy the new on-screen visualisation with specific step-by-step task focused instructions, on larger, eye friendly screens. In-cabin panels have been given a modern design overhaul in line with Lödige Industries’ successful CUBILE technology and are now equipped with security and motion sensors, cameras and number plate recognition technology if requested.  In addition, a new app, called ParkGO!, now available in iOS and android app stores, enables users to park and recall their vehicles with the touch of a smartphone. A handy system status view allows retrieval of cars during less busy periods. With its overhaul of the cabin and introduction of the app, Lödige Industries has brought the luxury parking experience that has defined their public automated parking systems in outstanding architectural objects in Denmark and elsewhere to private parkingUSP -       The Car Park System RESPACE is an extremely space-saving option - up to 60 percent more cars can be placed in the same space in comparison to traditional car parks. -       Residents will use a modern and intuitive smartphone app ParkGO! developed by Lödige Industries to retrieve their cars.  -        Due to the increase of e-vehicles, the new RESPACE offers 100% e-charging for all spaces. Easy parking and unparking guaranteed by parking aids, safety checks and the provision of the vehicle in the direction of travel. “This solution ticked all our boxes. With Lödige’s RESPACE, every apartment has its own parking space and owners will benefit from a seamless parking experience; they will simply drive their car onto a pallet in a cabin, the only interface between the driver and the car park. From then on, the process is entirely automated.”David Newey, Director of Development at Lifestory Group

Park Farm Barns are barn conversions set in the Shropshire countryside. The simple, elegant interiors have been curated by Charters Property, with sustainability at the forefront. Beautiful designs and detailing has been evident, from the original roof boards, gravity arches and beams to the soft lime plastered walls. KEIM Mineral Paints were chosen on these barn conversions due to its breathability and sustainability credentials. The mix of lime plastered walls and gypsum walls were decorated using KEIM Optil in a warm neutral palette. It is a modern mineral paint, ideal for application onto historic and contemporary buildings. KEIM Innostar, which is a one coat paint, was applied onto the gypsum ceilings for a clean healthy living environment. It allowed rooms to be occupied the same day.

Crest Nicholson’s multi award-winning Park Central regeneration scheme is a fifteen-year project delivered in partnership with Birmingham City Council and Optima Community Association. Awarded ‘The Placemaking Award’ at the National Property Week Awards and recognised for regenerating the Lee Bank area in Birmingham, the scheme has created 1300 new homes promoting desirable city living. The project required IG’s special bow lintels for the final phase of 355 apartments to achieve the curvature of the façade whilst accommodating large span balcony openings and unusual loading conditions.Challenge:Glenn Howells Architect’s creative design composed of intricate brick detailing throughout the curved façade. The combination and variation of multiple bond patterns presented unusual loading conditions. A three-course stacked soldier bond pattern above window openings significantly reduced distribution of load through adjacent masonry. The heavy concentrated load carried down the brick piers and through the stacked masonry onto the central point on the lintel. IG’s experienced technical experts attended design meetings to find a viable special lintel solution for each application without disrupting the integrity and design of the architects vision.Solution:IG’s technical team designed bespoke special bow lintels to accommodate opening spans up to 4284mm and allowed for a 650mm end bearing for typical sizes to counter the cantilevered effect of the curved openings. In order to further improve the load bearing, IG designed brackets that secured into a pre-cast channel maximising structural strength at the central point of the lintel. The centrally located brackets bolted through the back of the lintel and accommodated the concentrated loads and eliminated the need to prop lintels during construction. IG provided comprehensive technical support throughout every stage of construction process for the most effective structural design solution.Testimonial:“The development has been a resounding success in transforming and rejuvenating the Lee Bank area in Birmingham. IG’s technical team were responsive and receptive to all urgent requirements throughout every stage of the construction process. An outstanding technical service that we have come to expect from IG.”Crest Nicholson

Project detailsParadise Wildlife Park, situated in Hertfordshire originally contacted Watco for advice on a floor paint suitable for their lion enclosure. "The product needs to be ultra hard-wearing to withstand the wear and tear of the area, whilst also having the ability to tolerate lion urine."Our solution Our Expert Advisor's recommended Chemi-Coat Acid Strength as it is extremely tolerant to chemicals and strong enough to withstand 95% sulphuric acid. An ordinary floor paint would fail, but the chemical resistant properties of Chemi-Coat make it ideal for this type of environment. Chemi-Coat Acid Strength is a virtually solvent free, 100% solids epoxy formula, which means it's extremely heavy duty and will last for years. Due to the porosity of the surface our Advisors also recommended they prime the surface using our 4 Hour Epoxy Primer.Click here to see a short timelapse video of Paradise Wildlife Park applying the products.

F. Ball’s Styccobond F49 Hybrid PS vinyl adhesive, a revolutionary development in temperature tolerant adhesives, has been used to install luxury vinyl tiles in a shopping park food court that is subject to temperature change and heavy footfall. Extreme temperature fluctuations can cause floorcoverings to expand and contract over time, leading to tenting and gapping. The innovative formulation of Styccobond F49 limits any movement and holds the floorcovering firmly in place.  Importantly, the adhesive also delivers the instant grab associated with pressure sensitive adhesives, which, until now, hasn’t been available for temperature tolerant adhesives.

The ChallengeModern paving was required to complement state-of-the-art offices Scott Brownrigg’s design aim was to attract the world’s most high-tech companies to the Science Park. The architecture, design and landscaping of Buildings 1 and 2 was key to setting the tone for the tech hotspot. Buildings 1 and 2 form a new gateway to the dedicated technology estate while collectively making up 210,000ft2 of commercial office space.  The two-building design spans four storeys tall and showcases a striking colonnade. The cladded feature columns provide an impressive new entrance to the park, while echoing the curve of the spine road. Buildings 1 and 2 offer a dedicated pedestrian and cycle area. The public realm space between the two buildings required extensive paving which complemented the state-of-the-art buildings. The client’s primary objective was to remove existing, dated buildings and replace them with state-of-the-art facilities for the scientific community. The master plan has sustainability and efficiency at the core of its design.The SolutionTobermore’s high quality granite aggregate paving accentuates the contemporary office scheme Tobermore supplied paving of exceptional quality to complement the state-of-the-art office hub. The public realm space between the two buildings features Tobermore’s granite aggregate paving in contemporary grey tones. The dedicated pedestrian and cycle area are paved with Braemar, Fusion and Hydropave Fusion which all feature a striking granite aggregate surface which adds to the ultra-modern scheme. Braemar offers a premium concrete paving product with aesthetic appeal of natural granite. It boasts a striking, contemporary look while being a more cost-effective and sustainable alternative to natural stone.  Fusion made a modern striking entrance to the Science Park. The area required a combination of permeable and impermeable paving. It would take a keen eye to spot where the standard block paving ends and permeable paving starts. Hydropave Fusion and Fusion was applied in permeable and non-permeable format which added continuity to the streetscape.  The new buildings achieved a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating. The facilities provide a much-needed innovation hub for scientists and graduates, and successfully generated income for Trinity College. 

Bexley Park Sports and Social Club is home to a wide range of sporting facilities and teams, including bowling, squash, football and rugby. They also have a large function room that is available for hire. Read on to learn how Axter was able to help them with a complete roof refurbishment.Project overviewThe original roof had been on the building for over 40 years. It was coming to the end of its serviceable life and was starting to show signs of aging, such as leaks around the rooflights.Axter were brought in to carry out the roof refurbishment of the main building.Overall, this project ran very smoothly and we were incredibly happy with the result. The writing on the barrel roof was a lovely added touch by our Axtershield Installer partner, Henley’s Roofing Ltd.This case study will focus on the main roof. However, as we will touch on towards the end, the client was so pleased with the work that they decided to go on to refurbish the other three roof areas.ChallengesThis was a complex project for several reasons. Several different parts of the main building had been added over time, so there was a change of level details throughout the roof.Part of the building had a barrel roof section, which added an extra level of complexity to the job.As well as this, there were a few existing features, such as a water tank on the roof surrounded by rotten chipboard, which also had to be taken into consideration when it came to planning installation methods.SolutionsGiven the age of the roof and the defects observed, it was recommended that a full overlay be carried out.As well as the specific roofing considerations, Bexley Park Sports and Social Club were looking to keep within a tight budget. For this reason, the single layer overlay solution worked perfectly to provide a cost-effective option. Our Reinforced Bitumen Membranes (RBM) combine strength with longevity to provide a durable waterproofing system with a 20-year guarantee.The rotten chipboard was removed and replaced with timber cladding. Flame free Starcoat® PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate) was used for the sections where it was necessary to eliminate fire risk. This cold-applied liquid system provided a great non-flammable solution.Systems in useExcel®Starcoat® PMMAAdditional works carried outThe client was very impressed with the quality of the work carried out on the main roof, and our ability to provide them with a cost-effective solution. The work came in under budget and they were so pleased with the job that they accelerated the project and decided to refurbish the other three club roofs – something that hadn’t been on the cards before. The initial work had provided them with the peace of mind that everything would go to plan and enhance the building, all with minimal disruption to the club. So we went on to refurbish the squash court, changing rooms and storage room roofs.Condition surveys were taken across all four of the roof areas. The additional roofing areas all needed re-decking as they were incredibly warn from ongoing water ingress.This meant we had to strip down to and remove the existing support structure, before installing a new ply deck, ready for the waterproofing works to go ahead. The changing room roof was pitched, adding an extra complexity to the job, as the shingle had to be replaced.

Cornwall Council identified a requirement for a Porous Paving system for a park and ride being built in the east of the city. The system would need to meet all planning limitations relating to run off and cope with coach overrun as well as being able to resist the forces exerted by manoeuvring HGVs. Truckcell is a highly effective source control system that manages storm water run off, as well as a cost effective SuDS compliant porous paving solution that facilitates rapid installation. Truckcell is manufactured using 100% recycled plastic and can withstand frequent HGV overrun

The North Northamptonshire County Council approached Care Spaces to create a Changing Place facility at East Carlton Country Park due to a high number of disabled visitors. With limited space in the existing Visitor Centre, we installed a Care Capsule™, a modular Changing Place toilet designed offsite for easy transport and assembly. Facing access challenges, the Care Capsule™ had to be delivered in kit form and assembled on-site. Electrical and plumbing services were extended to the location. To minimize environmental impact, ground screws replaced concrete for stability without harming the natural surroundings.The customisability of the Care Capsule™ allowed the client to match the unit with the Visitor Centre's aesthetics, featuring a brick exterior and a steel security door. The unit met Changing Places standards, including Fibo® waterproof internal cladding. Care Spaces provided awareness training to park staff, and the client is pleased with the results, emphasizing the importance of accessible facilities for all visitors. Cllr Matthew Binley expressed delight, stating the facility at East Carlton Countryside Park ensures worry-free visits for everyone.

Project DescriptionBioMed Realty’s development comprises 94,000 sq.ft. of new office accommodation over three storeys located in the heart of Cambridge’s Granta Park Estate. Rated BREEAM “Very Good”.The building features a dramatic top-lit central atrium space arranged at the heart of the floorplates. It affords the client, a leading international biotechnology company, to operate in exemplar facilities in a flexible environment to meet current needs, planned growth and evolving working patterns, including future proofing for laboratory uses. Aukett Swanke’s design embodies quality, simplicity and elegance, which enabled rapid construction to meet the proposed occupation date.Specific Project ChallengesThe façade design needed to be optimised so that the building could capture heat in the winter, minimise heat gain in the summer and maximise the use of natural daylight.The south-facing elevation, therefore, required a dynamic screen, acting as a brise soleil, maximising daylight opportunities and simultaneously avoiding excessive solar heat gain in the building interior.Solutions OfferedAsh & Lacy provided a bespoke two-step facade solution, using 3mm natural silver anodised aluminium to meet both the aesthetic and practical requirements at BioMed Realty.South elevation panels were rectangular perforated and mounted on a frame in front of the glazed curtain wall to form the dynamic screen.North, East and West elevation panels consisted of matching solid castellated panels with an embossed pattern matching the dynamic screen panels.

Repair and restoration of decaying structure

Built on the site of the former East London Bus Garage, The Forge creates 192 residential apartments clustered around communal courtyards. Working alongside installer Ravenworth, a two-million pound systems package of 1,000 aluminium windows, 170 aluminium patio doors and 20 aluminium commercial doors were provided to this project.The light buff buildings range from three to five storeys with a contrasting white brick 14-storey focal building. This forms the gateway to the development together with a row of interestingly designed townhouses. Each block displays frequent openings with contrasting areas of glazing and cladding, softened with balconies.

Tobermore’s smooth Shannon block paving was the ideal hard landscaping material for the outdoor dining area at this McDonald’s outlet is Birmingham as the smooth, deep coloured surface is ideal for pedestrian use and wheeled traffic such as prams etc.

With a rich cultural and historic heritage, Elephant & Castle is a key area of growth for the Greater London Authority. Mature trees and new, green, open spaces connected by tree-lined streets make this Central London’s new green heart, and one of the capital’s most exciting places to live, work or visit.InterLace designed, manufactured and installed blinds to the 2000+ new homes of this vibrant new neighbourhood.

Find out why IOBAC Adhesive-Free Magnetic Flooring was specified by innovative house-builder Etopia for its BRE test house showcasing best-in-class sustainable buildings.The magnetically receptive Ezy-Install Underlay took just 45 mins to lay over the 55m2 ground floor area, followed by 3 hours to dry install magnetic Karndean Luxury Vinyl Tile in a modern herringbone pattern.

Products: • Deceuninck 5000 Series • Anthracite Grey RAL 7016 • Tilt and Turn

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.”

The massive development of the Addenbrookes Hospital site in Cambridge has seen the construction of several new buildings over the last few years. The most recent part of the project saw Bilco UK supply special size Smoke Vents for the new nine-storey car park at the hospital. This project, undertaken by Vinci Construction, has created 1,228 new parking spaces to meet growing demand at the renowned medical facility as it expands to accommodate the relocation of Papworth Hospital.

ASSA ABLOY Security Doors supplied steel doorsets to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. To meet the performance criteria set out by Poulous, the architect re designing the Olympic Stadium for the London Legacy Development Corporation. The requirements were to supply steel doorsets that meet the fire and security standards and stand the test of time for this prestigious project... Click on the link below to read more.

Refurbishment of a campsite services facility at a popular country park provided an unusual testing ground for part of a new stainless steel kitchen furniture range developed for the professional catering sector. But after a full season’s camping at Emberton Country Park, the double bowl sinktop from GEC Anderson’s new Decimetric® range has met all expectations and is set for a long service life.Emberton Country Park, near Milton Keynes, was developed from disused gravel workings and is today an attractive parkland setting of 200 acres. It caters for a variety of uses and includes 58 pitches for tents and touring caravans, rally fields, lake and river fishing, a conservation area, children’s play areas, a shop and washroom/toilet facilities.As part of a major refurbishment of the services block for campers in the touring field, Milton Keynes Council’s Construction Services Department refitted the washroom where campers wash their crockery and cooking utensils. After another supplier was unable to deliver a suitable sinktop within the council’s timeframe, Robert Gritton, Project Manager for Milton Keynes Council, shopped around for a cost effective alternative – and became one of the first customers to order from the Decimetric® range. “GEC Anderson was able to custom make the sinktop in a very short time, and everyone has been very pleased with it. I’m very glad that the other make was not available,” he says. “The other big advantage of the Decimetric® product is that its 100mm modular size increments permit specification of the largest possible unit to fit a space, without the premium of a true bespoke installation.”The Decimetric® sinktop is extremely durable, but requires minimal maintenance. Park Manager David MacCarter says: “It’s really solid, well made and it will never wear out. The cleaners just give it a wipe over every day: it’s easy to keep clean and it looks great.”The 1,700 x 600mm sinktop of commercial grade stainless steel has a water-retaining 40mm lipped edge at the front and sides, and an 85mm sloping upstand at the back. The bowls are 400 x 400 x 250mm and positioned 100mm apart, centrally along the length of the sinktop. Both have 38mm outlets and two 30mm diameter tapholes at 200mm centres behind each bowl. The sinktop stands on square section stainless steel legs with adjustable feet. A solid stainless steel shelf is fitted under the sinktop. The new Decimetric® range from GEC Anderson offers a flexible and comprehensive selection of sinks, surfaces, support frames, cabinets and shelving. The range was developed mainly for the professional catering market, but its versatility, good looks and low maintenance requirements make it an excellent choice for applications requiring hard-wearing and hygienic surfaces. Decimetric® units are easy to specify and are offered in sizes from 500-3,000mm, with 100mm sizing increments (100mm = 1 decimetre). The modular approach makes for economy and short delivery times. Founded in England in 1962, GEC Anderson has pioneered the development of made-to-measure stainless steel products. Today, the company’s range includes bowls, worktops, cabinets, shelving and sanitaryware for use in domestic, commercial and specialist environments. All products are manufactured to ISO 9001 and backed by a comprehensive support service from planning and product specification to installation and maintenance.

One of Cardiff city centre’s recent regeneration schemes, Capitol Quarter, required a multi storey car park to provide parking for the new office buildings within the development. To ensure the car park was protected and finished with the highest quality materials, the main contractor sought advice from Degafloor Ltd to ensure a suitable cost effective, high performance waterproofing system for the top deck, ramp and an inter deck area over occupied premises was specified. Following a full site visit and having assessed the client’s requirements in full, Degafloor specified the CP TD system with fleeced banding to substrate cracks and all upstands for the top deck, the CP HD system for the ramp and a fully fleeced CP TD for the area over occupied premises. Capital Quarter Multi-Storey Car Park Cardiff Why Degafloor Degafloor car park decking systems use highly advanced fast curing MMA chemistry to create flexible and incredibly durable systems that cure fully within just 1 hour of installation, even at temperatures as low as -10°C. They are completely waterproof, so guard against water ingress that could result in the decline of structures or damage to property (premises or vehicles). This combination of superior performance, skid resistance, rapid cure times and design flexibility, have contributed to the Degafloor range of car park decking systems becoming a popular choice for new build and refurbishment projects where speed and ease of installation, longevity and visual aesthetics are paramount.

Terrabase Rustic was selected for a ‘no-dig’ project creating new pathways across existing grassed, macadam and gravel areas in a popular park in Putney, London.Addagrip approved contractor True Grip Ltd was approached by the local authority to provide a quote and proposal to upgrade the existing pathways and create new paths to the Leader’s Gardens, a small public park lying alongside Putney Embankment, opened in 1903.SURFACING REQUIREMENTOne of the issues to be resolved was that the tree roots could not be disturbed so a ‘no-dig’ system had to be applied around the trees and rooted areas. For these ‘no-dig’ areas True Grip specified Addagrip’s innovative Terrabase Rustic system to be laid directly onto the existing grass and directly over the rooted areas, creating a new pathway. This meant that the trees and tree roots were not disturbed and due to the porosity of the Terrabase Rustic system, precipitation would not be reduced, irrigating the existing surface without changing the trees’ climate or environment.Over 250m2 of Terrabase Rustic Oak 6 -10mm aggregate blend was selected to provide attractive, hard wearing, natural aggregate pathways that are low maintenance, seamless and in keeping with the park setting. The porosity of the Terrabase Rustic system allows essential drainage to reach the tree roots and provide all year round access for pedestrians and wheelchair users.

When architects Scott Brownrigg were given a brief to create a new gateway to Cambridge Science Park they knew the building had to be impressive to attract the desired high tech and research and development companies. The design features a colonnade sweeping across the front of the building echoing the curve of the spine road and a new public space. The column spacing guides occupants and visitors to the entrance – a GEZE SlimdriveSCR curved automatic sliding door. Slimdrive SCR was chosen to fit with the building BREEAM Excellent rating. The circular entrance features two sets of automatic bi-parting curved glass sliding doors, creating a lobby that minimises heat loss or gain and so helps to contribute to the building’s environmental credentialsWhen architects Scott Brownrigg were given a brief to create a new gateway to Cambridge Science Park they knew the building had to be impressive to attract the desired high tech and research and development companies. The design features a colonnade sweeping across the front of the building echoing the curve of the spine road and a new public space. The column spacing guides occupants and visitors to the entrance – a GEZE SlimdriveSCR curved automatic sliding door. Slimdrive SCR was chosen to fit with the building BREEAM Excellent rating. The circular entrance features two sets of automatic bi-parting curved glass sliding doors, creating a lobby that minimises heat loss or gain and so helps to contribute to the building’s environmental credentialsIn addition the Slimdrive SCR automatic curved sliding door provides a light and airy all-glass lobby entrance which blends into the façade and the large glass atrium; it combines high performance with unobtrusive operation. Inside the operator’s deep canopy an integrated air curtain was installed to further minimise any heat loss and maintain the aesthetics of the building. The Slimdrive SCR automatic operator also provides uninhibited access and so meets the demands of Part M, BS 8300 and EN 16005, whilst the access control system ensures security. Shortlisted for office awardsRecognising the outstanding design of the building, the Cambridge Science Park has been shortlisted for the 2023 British Council for Offices (BCO) Awards. The BCO’s primary objective is to define excellence in office space. Ross Mcwatt, associate architect at Scott Brownrigg said: "We have worked with GEZE several times, they have the same focus as we do in terms combining sustainability, accessibility and aesthetics." Richard Richardson-Derry, national specification manager at GEZE UK added: "This is an outstanding building, that meets many demands. We were delighted to play a part in creating an entrance and achieving the criteria of the brief." 

St James Quarter is one of the UK’s most significant regeneration projects creating a new retail-led, lifestyle district in Edinburgh which incorporates leisure venues, hotel accommodation, private apartments, public spaces and shops.The £1 billion scheme included 1,600 of underground parking spaces. Grating panels were used within the car park to separate the zones for public access from commercial vehicles. In addition the grating provided secure openings for ventilation and the enclosure of storage areas. The panels were fabricated to exact dimensions to fit the structural openings.The panels were manufactured from Lang+Fulton’s Stereo-4, which is an extremely robust grating made with a heavy 30×4mm flat bearing bar, and supplied in a hot-dip galvanized finish.

In 2013, the largest and most impressive Wall-Holla in the world was sold to Ketteler Hof - a family-owned Play Park that wanted something truly extraordinary to add to its playground. After extensive research, planning, and customisation tailored to their unique needs, they got exactly what they wished for - an incredible 36m wide Wall-Holla with not one but three thrilling Drop Zone elevators!Turning unused space into a popular family oasisThe Czyżyny Park Avia is an example of how public participation can help create vibrant recreational spaces that benefit the whole community. It provides an opportunity to get outdoors and enjoy nature while engaging in physical activity with friends and family. The park is located in the area of the former bus depot and part of a disused airport where used to be 3 hectares of asphalt and concrete.The playground includes climbing frames, carousels, swings, and a vertical playground Wall-Holla with challenging obstacles that will keep kids entertained for hours. There is also an outdoor gym with Lappset's metal gym equipment.The end result is a very popular recreational family place in the city of Kraków with a nice story still referring to its previous function: planes and buses are part of the pattern on the EPDM surface at the playground.The project was part of THE GREEN CITIES EUROPE AWARD – 2022 and it has been praised for its quality recreational spaces and innovative value.

Unit 25 Cambridge Science Park is a state of the art facility providing laboratories and office space for Bio tech and Med Tech companies. This BREEAM Good facility was built by SDC and features an external façade of glass, metallic panels and fins for solar shading. At each corner of the building a chamfered picture frame feature of curtain walling and panels, adds to the modern design. Metalline who manufacture a range of architectural fabrications worked closely with MTW Architectural the specialist façade contractor to ensure that all materials were delivered on time and to exact specification. They supplied in excess of 1000m2 of A2 Ultima insulated panels, Unity interlocking rainscreen panels, interlocking soffits, copings, pressings and cills for the project.The picture frame finish to the corners of the building were finished in a slate grey polyester powder coating. The horizontal rainscreen panels used to break up the expanse of glass shown on the front of the building were finished in tiger drylac 068/70764 PPC This finish mimics an anodised finish and features on all four sides of the building 

The Award winning Erwlon Caravan and Camping Park in Llandovery, Southwest Wales is a family run park with a large range of facilities open all year round. It is an ideal base for touring, exploring, walking, mountain biking or cycling on the edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park and the Cambrian Mountains. Erwlon Caravan Park contacted Frontier Pitts to upgrade their site entry and exit access control to an Automatic Rising Bollard system.The 600mm lift height stainless steel bollard was installed complete with safety photocells, safety vehicle detector loops and dual direction LED traffic light system. The bollard was connected to ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) which is linked back to a popular booking system for Holiday and Caravan Parks called ‘Anytime’. The complete system allowed visitors to book their holiday online and allows authorised visitor vehicles to gain access to the park during their stay, even allowing entry in the middle of the night when reception is closed. On the last day of the stay the system automatically deactivates the vehicle registration number after a predetermined time. Easter Holidays are known to be one of the busiest times of a Caravan and Holiday Parks year, and Erwlon Caravan Park were very pleased with the system. Frontier Pitts manufacture a range of made to order perimeter security barriers, bollards, and gates. We have installed equipment at many sites nationwide and have a network of Technical Consultants that will visit any site in the UK to provide you with a full proposal and quotation. We also provide a range of maintenance contracts and response times to suit your sites individual requirements.

Dalton Retail Outlet Park in the North East was modernised in order to create a premium shopping destination. Contemporary external landscaping as well as lighting, bespoke planters, seating and signage were to be part of the planned renovations. Product suggestions made by the Artform team offered a consistent design and complemented the original brief, whilst offering a robust durable result and a cost effective solution. The Stone Bench, Treeline bench, FGP seats and FGP Litter Bins were chosen to suit the overall project theme.

Starboard Hotels and Maith Architects invited Licata Building Systems and Licata contracting partner Build-Therm Services Limited to assist with the redevelopment of the previous Park Royal bar to provide a 162-bedroom Hampton by Hilton hotel. The original building, lying vacant and in a state of disrepair, has a listed Art Deco façade, which has been retained and refurbished to its former glory, with the new hotel being built in behind and wrapped over with new, substantially glazed floors and Licata FireSafe Brick Slip system. Completed in 2018, the system comprised of 160mm high density mineral fibre, comfortably achieving the target U Value of 0.04W/mK. The brick slips were selected and cut from handformed clay to match the original building.

KlasseCLAD™ now features at one of the world's most significant new museum projects, V&A East will comprise of two sister sites, currently under construction in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London. 

The new Winchester Sports and Leisure Park has succeeded in making a centre that is accessible for everyone. Through a collaboration with LA Architects and Pressalit, Winchester City Council installed not just one, but FIVE high specification Changing Places bathrooms in its recently opened state of the art sports and leisure complex.These Changing Places rooms will enable severely disabled people and their carers the chance to enjoy the new centre by providing safe and secure environments for changing and toileting before and after using the leisure centre facilities.

Manchester Piccadilly Station has received a huge cycling boost after Falco manufactured and installed a series of 228 mixed-use cycle parking spaces across five separate areas at the north west city’s principal railway station.Working in conjunction with Network Rail, TfGM and Avanti West Coast, the scheme involved the manufacture, supply and installation of a number of mixed-use cycle parking systems with associated canopies, along with the provision of a cycle repair and maintenance station to allow commuters to carry out cycle maintenance whilst on the go.Falco provided station operator, Network Rail, with feasibility studies, completed landlords consent submission, contract planning and worked with station staff and stakeholders to re-configure the stations CCTV systems to ensure full coverage of the new cycle racks. Falco provided a full turn key solution, including required civil engineering works and hand back documentation to ultimately deliver the full implementation of the new cycle parking infrastructure. This installation forms part of TfGM’s continued commitment to improving active travel facilities across the region.The new facility benefits from Falco’s modular product range of shelter and cycle parking products enabling Network Rail to ‘mix and match’ the products to meet the different requirements of cyclists. The FalcoLevel-Premium+ two-tier rack is the UK’s most popular high capacity space saving cycle rack, whilst the FalcoRail canopy provides both single and double sided shelter with the option to extend in the future to meet growing requirements.Conveniently located across five separate areas, which includes an exclusive staff only secure cycle parking facility, the extensive installation took place at:Station ApproachInstallation of two x 4m FalcoRail single sided cycle shelters to accommodate 36nr cycles using FalcoLevel-Premium+ two-tier racks, installation of a 7m FalcoRail double-sided cycle shelter to accommodate 64nr cycles using FalcoLevel-Premium+ two-tier racks and installation of a Falcofix 2.0 Cycle pump and repair station.Fairfield StreetRemoval and disposal of existing cycle parking and installation of two x 5m and one x 4m FalcoRail Single sided cycle shelters to accommodate 66nr cycles using FalcoLevel-Premium Plus two-tier cycle racks.Exclusive Staff Cycle ParkingRemoval and disposal of existing cycle stores and installation of two FalcoLok secure cycle stores to accommodate 48nr cycles using FalcoVert-Pro semi vertical cycle stands.North DeckInstallation of a 9m FalcoGamma cycle shelter to shelter nine existing Sheffield stands.Fairfield Street Under CroftSupply and installation of seven root fixed Sheffield Stands to accommodate 14 bikes.The flagship station is fitted out with the latest FalcoLevel Premium+ two tier cycle racks which incorporate an integral gas strut to enable easier lifting of heavier bikes as well as additional locking points so that cyclists have multiple security points for their bikes. In addition there is a mix of largely two-tier as well as Sheffield cycle stands and semi-vertical racks to provide more traditional cycle parking where people are unable to use the two tier racks or if users have an adaptive / non standard cycle.In addition to the Manchester Piccadilly Station scheme shown here, Falco has just completed the roll-out of secure cycle hubs across ten of Avanti West Coast’s franchised network - connecting six of the UK’s largest cities, over 350 cycle parking spaces for a number of stations on the Govia Thameslink Railway network, over 600 cycle parking spaces for a number of stations on the Abellio Greater Anglia network and over 1,000 cycle parking spaces on a number of stations on the Abellio West Midlands Trains network.Falco’s design team works in conjunction with designers and specifiers to optimise the products and provision of a scheme. Having already supplied a huge number of railway schemes across the UK, Falco is well placed to help planners, consultants and station operators undertake feasibility studies, provide advice on key issues and ultimately deliver the full implementation of cycle parking facilities.For more information about the flagship cycle parking installation at Manchester Piccadilly Station, please contact our helpful sales team on 01538 380080.

A new and vibrant housing development in Chelmsford, Essex recently specified a range of bespoke Skyline solutions where ‘inspirational architecture’ is a key element.Beaulieu Park is a charming new district set around New Hall School, which was originally King Henry VIII’s Tudor palace and estate parkland. The concept behind the development was to create a series of individually designed neighbourhoods, which connect to the wider landscape. “This was an exciting project to get involved with as it was an open specification. This also meant that it was important to get this project absolutely correct commercially,” says John Hemphill, Skyline Technical Sales Manager at Alumasc. “Our work at Beaulieu Park, in conjunction with our customer, involved designing and manufacturing a full and comprehensive range of bespoke Skyline aluminium products such as window pods, copings, canopies, fascia and architectural feature cladding and corner post details.”For this unique project, Skyline collaborated with our ‘Recommended Installer’ Specialised Fixings to deliver and design products that were tailored to each individual house type and plot.