"people"

Places for People, a group of more than 20 housing providers, developers, property managers and care providers, and known for their full-spectrum approach of placemaking, called upon CDM Stravitec to isolate a gym in one of their latest commercial property developments.Like many other contemporary office buildings, Places for People’s latest project houses a gym. People working in the building can make use of this popular amenity before or after work or during their lunch-break. In order not to disturb those working in the surrounding spaces, the gym needed to be acoustically isolated from the rest of the building structure.A tailored Stravigym XP gym floating floor was installed to acoustically decouple the gym located on the 5th floor of the office building, preventing vibrations from fitness equipment such as falling dumbells, kettlebells, and treadmills from disturbing the people working above and adjacent. The added dBooster® strips increase the system’s performance even further, by decoupling the load distribution layer from the resilient supports.To achieve the finished floor height specified by the architect and to deal with any irregularities of the structural floor, timber chims were placed underneath the dBooster® channels.

Designed by Cubo Arkitekter and Force4, the House of Disabled People’s Organisations Denmark’s new structure was conceived so that everyone – regardless of ability – could work and move freely within it.The building’s disability solutions had to be subtle enough to integrate into the architecture, and the d line Cut lever handle, created in collaboration with both Cubo and a group of occupational therapists, was one of the solutions chosen.

See how our innovative, printed acoustic ceiling baffles for this new 109,000 sq ft flagship office in Loughborough would help draw people back into the office - encouraging collaboration, community and a sense of camaraderie.

Social trends in sports are changing. Urban activities traditionally consigned to the urban landscape are now being embraced by the mainstream and incorporated into the interior sports environment. Sports such as parkour, street football and street basketball have been adopted by leisure companies to attract younger members and to keep people moving. This new encouragement in sports, movement and activity, has led to a new generation of buildings offering urban activities in a raw industrial environment and which require specialist architectural innovation. For example, Troldtekt wood wool panelling is frequently used to combat the effects of noise and reverberation around these large spaces while offering visual aesthetic appeal.  This trend is examined in detail by Troldtekt in its latest theme on sports and movement which can be found here https://bit.ly/2vR90l6. The theme includes expert articles and interviews with architects and sport science lecturers along with relevant case studies. A good example is the 23,000 sqm Holbaek Sportsby in Denmark which encompasses a swimming pool, racquet sports, multi-purpose hall and mountain bike trails together with a modern Health Centre. Here, Troldtekt acoustic panels offer robustness and strength and natural breathability from the wood. The panels. with their superior acoustic properties, dramatically reduce reverberation where physical activity takes place.  However, with cities having less space to build on new solutions have also emerged to integrate sport and movement inside the built environment itself. This involves innovative thinking to create the efficient use of existing facilities, such as schools which can have a major impact on children’s activity levels because it is easier and more convenient to be active in buildings you are already using. Even sports parks on city roofs and corridors turned into race-tracks are become more frequent.  The essential characteristics of a good activity environment is accessibility and flexibility, inviting and comfortable zones and movement areas which are green and sustainable. Troldtekt acoustic solutions are an important part of the design, especially where activity noise is increased and the space must accommodate everyone from keen football players to jubilant children. In addition, robustness and strength, such as impact resistance to balls hitting ceilings and walls, are vital. This is why Troldtekt is so widely specified where the focus is on movement. Specified throughout the UK and Europe, the benefits of 100% Troldtekt natural wood wool panels include high sound absorption, high durability, natural breathability, low cost life cycle performance and sustainability. Available in various sizes and in four grades from extreme  to coarse, the panels can be left untreated or painted in virtually any RAL colour. Samples, case studies and technical information are easily sourced from www.troldtekt.co.uk (tel 01978 664255) while information on Troldtekt’s CSR, Environmental and Sustainability can be found at https://www.troldtekt.com/News/Themes/Create-architecture-for-sports-and-movement or https://bit.ly/2vR90l6Photo Credit:Photo: Rasmus Hjortshøj/COAST Studio

When you design a building that will be used by lots of people, like a tower block, you need to make sure that the building has the correct level of fire prevention and fire protection equipment. In instances where this isn’t the case, tragedies like the Grenfell Fire can happen. The importance of passive and active fire protection methods are vital for the safety of the intended occupants, but how can you ensure they’re going to be safe?

With outdated electric storage heating in all 72 flats, Places for People knew that heating system upgrades would reduce bills and improve comfort for residents. TMS Electrical Contractors Ltd, based in Rudgwick, Horsham, was instructed to specify the most suitable replacement – and Dimplex Quantum was the obvious choice.

Speedwell Baths were originally opened in 1937, and quickly became a beloved recreational spot for hundreds of Bristol City dwellers for more than 7 decades. Unfortunately, in 2005, Bristol City Council made the decision for the Baths to close. Subsequently, the site remained abandoned for several years until their demolition in 2019.This paved the way for a new five-storey complex comprising 31 affordable homes, featuring a mixture of 1 & 2 bedroom apartments.This signifies the successful conclusion of a vital revitalization initiative for the local community, bringing much-needed affordable housing to Bristol. PARTNERSHIPThe architectural design for this development was entrusted to Angus Meek Architects, a Bristol based firm, who worked alongside Bristol City Council & property developer, Crossman Homes, to bring the project to fruition.HAG Ltd was successfully awarded the contract & crucial responsibility of delivering security and fire protection door solutions throughout the five-story building, leveraging our expertise and track record. THE PROJECTWork on site began in 2019, starting with the dramatic demolition of the historic swimming pool and the building was eventually completed & handed over to Abri Housing Association in January 2022.The front of the building is designed as an "art moderne" style but incorporating elements of art deco detailing from the original Baths, demonstrating that the development has been thoughtfully designed to enhance the area, reflecting the style & shape of the existing building in a contemporary way.HAG Ltd. were delighted to have been chosen to work on such ground-breaking local development and were keen to assist in the design & installation of high-end security & fire protection products that could aesthetically compliment the design & style of the building.Steel doorsets are versatile, can provide high levels of security, as well as fire protection tested to BS EN 1634, and offer excellent value for money. Bespoke options that were utilised on his project, were louvered doors, communal doors & insurance certified doors, which conform to LPS1175.Louvered doors allow for bi-directional airflow, a medium level of security and can be fully customisable to meet your specification. This was key in this project, to allow ventilation to various secure plant rooms across the site and offer a bespoke colour option, so doors can blend seamlessly into their surroundings.In a busy City complex of 31 apartments, secure yet robust communal entrance doors are a necessity to allow for a high level of pedestrian traffic throughout the day. Double glazing panels allow for through vision and locking systems can be adapted to include access control.Our Fireguard Fire Resisting steel doors gave Speedwell Baths fire protection & high levels of security. Fire protection can be guarantee from 60 to 240 minutes and these doors are certified to BS EN 16034. HAG Ltd. hold the CERTIFIRE certification as well as being FIRAS installation certified – one of only a few installers in the UK to hold such a highly sought after accolade. Sean Gill, management company manager at Abri, one of the largest housing providers in the south, said: “Our new development on the Speedwell Swimming Baths sites will provide further much-needed affordable housing in the city."

Slaithwaite suffered extensive flood damage in 2015 after a blocked debris screen caused Crimble Clough Stream to back up, demolishing the wall at the end of Clough Road, flooding the area and causing extensive damage to local homes and businesses.Slaithwaite is a village within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees in West Yorkshire, situated in the Colne Valley five miles south west of Huddersfleld.The devastating flood of 2015 in Slaithwaite The 2012 Kirklees Flood Risk Management Strategy identified that around 2,000 properties were at high risk of flooding with a potential £70 million of damage. When we started our conversation with Kirklees Council, they clearly expressed an interest in a local flood warning and monitoring system to proactively respond to future flood risk.Kirklees Local Flood AuthorityKirklees Council in West Yorkshire is the third largest metropolitan council in the region. As the lead local flood authority for the district, Kirklees manages local flood risk from surface water, groundwater and smaller watercourses and ensures cooperation between local risk management authorities. As part of a smart monitoring project for flood risk areas, funded by Chester University, Andel worked with the Kirklees Council flood risk team to design a local flood alert and monitoring solution for Crimble Clough, enabling the Kirklees Council to better manage the risk of flooding in Slaithwaite.The challengeThe project is designed to monitor high water levels at Crimble Clough caused by debris washed down from the upper wooded catchment and blocking the debris screen. The sensor-based system monitors the difference between water levels, before and after the debris screen, automatically sending alerts for pre-set trigger points.No real-time information: in 2015 the Crimble Clough debris screen became blocked by debris washed down from the upper wooded catchment, with no warning system in place to alert the screen contractors.No strategic information: in 2015, there were many flood hotspots that needed attention but with limited council resources. Because there was no remote monitoring system in place, it was difficult to choose where best to deploy support.Extensive damage: In 2015, due to the stream backing up and demolishing the wall, homes and businesses downstream from Clough Road were flooded and severely damaged.Disruption: following the flood, the clear-up and restoration process for the affected area meant residents had to leave their homes and businesses were closed for months. The economic damage from the 2015 flood was significant with many hours of Kirklees Council labour invested into the recovery. With a monitoring and alert system in place, all of this could have been prevented.The solution – Andel FloodAlertAndel FloodAlert provides 24/7 local monitoring and alerts for areas at risk from flooding. FloodAlert provides real-time information on rising water levels and automatically sends out early flood warnings. The robust and reliable system is easy to install and set up and tracks water levels in watercourses and other parameters for up to 15km from a gateway.From a single water-level sensor to a catchment sensor network monitoring water levels, soil moisture, rainfall data and water quality, FloodAlert provides real-time local flood monitoring and alerts for projects of any size.Installing Andel’s FloodAlert system now means that Kirklees Council has:A cost-effective, real-time local flood monitoring and alert system. A water level monitoring system at the debris screen that sends out SMS and email alerts when water levels reach critical. A system that recognises that the debris screen is blocked by monitoring water levels before and after the screen, sending out SMS and email alerts when the difference is too much. A dataset with detailed catchment data including rainfall, water levels at strategic points and soil moisture in the surrounding farmland – all helping to develop future flood risk models and flood alerts. Live monitoring of sensor data via a cloud-based portal with easy-to-use visualisation accessible from any device with internet connectivity. A system that can communicate with an unlimited number of designated users. Communication via a low-power, low-impact LoRaWAN ® network.The resultsAn effective early warning system: Kirklees Council now receives real-time alerts, allowing for timely response to blockages of the debris screen at Clough Road that has historically caused flooding during periods of heavy rain.Data collection: Kirklees Council can now collect detailed data about how the Crimble Clough catchment responds to rainfall and can develop models to predict future response.Impact measurement: Kirklees Council is developing a baseline to measure the effectiveness of natural flood management interventions at critical locations within the catchment.What the customer saidWorking together on the ‘buildbacktogether’ project was a pleasurable experience, it was essential to have the complimentary skills that made the outcome of the project much more effective. The support from team Andel was very useful and Gerbren Haaksma especially was extremely supportive and efficient with his quick response and stimulating input through the term of the project. I am keen to continue our collaboration and work with the local communities on more engagements like the Slaithwaite project.Namrata Bhattacharya-Mis, Programme Leader, Natural Hazard Management (BA/BSc), Chester University

Located in Hampshire and partly funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development which invests in rural areas, this farm shop is packed with delicious, locally grown food and household essentials.Project Year: 2020Product: ASSA ABLOY SL510 Slim Eco 4 panel bi-parting sliding door.  See our sliding door rangeProject Background:  The client was working with a tight schedule to have an existing brick building fitted with a sliding door and pocket screens to be part of a new country store. Looking to enhance accessibility whilst giving a modern look to the traditional farm shop, they got in touch with our local expert who visited the site to assess all requirements.Solution: We proposed our SL510 Slim Eco beam-mounted system with a bi-parting operator and 22mm clear insulated laminated glazed units. Combined activation/threshold presence detection sensors and glazed pocket screens to comply with EN16005, making it a safe and convenient entrance that complimented the existing brick structure. Working together with the client and our operations team, we also managed to expedite the order to work to meet the much awaited opening day.For more information or assistance with any project, please contact enquiries.esuk@faactechnologies.com where we can provide expert guidance and detailed documentation.

St Vincent’s is a day centre and hostel, and Head Office of ‘The Passage’, London’s largest voluntary resource centre for homeless and vulnerable people. Established in 1980, The Passage provides resources which encourage, inspire and challenge homeless people to make lasting and long-term changes to their lives. Since its inception, The Passage has helped over 100,000 people in crisis. Officially opened in May 2016 by The Duke of Cambridge, St Vincent’s Centre has been recently refurbished providing an uplifting environment in which to help people transform their lives.

The Coborn Centre for Adolescent Mental Health, opened in 2006, is one of the first purpose-built adolescent units in the UK. The Centre offers in-patient and day care services for young people between 12 and 18 years old. With 12 bedrooms, the Galaxy Ward provides specialist Intensive Care services for young people who are experiencing significant emotional or mental distress. Working with young people, their families and carers, Galaxy Ward aims to provide young people with the best possible care whilst respecting their views, beliefs and culture.  After great consideration, they selected our en-suite door, seeing it as the only solution to balance safety, whilst ensuring privacy and dignity for those staying at the facility.

Chilly’s has plenty of experience encouraging people to drink more in their day-to-day lives thanks to the very idea it was founded upon; providing people with the ability to always have chilled water on-the-go without having to use single-use plastic bottles.

More and more people are opting to stay at their current property and to extend rather than move. This is down to several reasons, but on the most part due to the increasing cost which are involved in moving home. With the ever-increasing property prices this has pushed up the cost of Estate Agents’ fees and Stamp Duty – and it is the latter which can really deter people from moving.

Traditional park benches bring people together in a community hub.

Farrow Court, in Ashford, is a modern, vibrant older people’s housing scheme designed to enhance quality of life through innovative, thoughtful design. Built in two phases, Farrow Court will eventually comprise 84 care-ready apartments, an eight bed recuperative care centre, 12 independent living apartments for people with learning disabilities, a shop, hairdressers and therapy room, along with an Age UK Community Resource Centre.

Sowenna - the first of it's kind for Cornwall Partnership NHS FT - is a purpose-built child and adolescent mental health (CAMHS) unit, providing inpatient treatment for young people aged between 13 and 18 years. The project had huge local demand, with young people and their families previously having to travel out of county for vitally important care.Thoughtfully designed by Ryder Architecture, the unit focuses on non-institutional safety, wellbeing and recovery.

Christchurch, Newport is a church in South Wales which plays a big part in the local community. They offer meeting and conference space, host local groups, run clubs and work to help people in need. They were keen to install a Changing Places Toilet in the building to ensure that their facilities are as inclusive as possible, and they are able to welcome families and groups with disabled members, and cater for people travelling down the nearby M4. The installation was made possible by funding from the National Lottery.

Laser-cut litter bins are helping to restore pride in a town centre by connecting people with their location.

A new community plaza features a seated planter from Broxap to create a mini green haven for people.

A new £1 million state-of-the-art rehabilitation center for people who have suffered catastrophic sporting injuries

The ChallengeThe client’s requirements were to provide value for money and create a building that was easy to maintain and appropriate to its function and setting.Deafblind Scotland provided training for the architects so they could gain an appreciation of the barriers faced by those who would use the building. The design was then developed to satisfy funding requirements. Technology was utilised to assist the client’s team with visual impairment to understand the building layout.The SolutionWorking closely with the client the architects carefully selected materials, colours, stair detailing, thresholds and ironmongery. Our Welford Buff brick was chosen for the brickwork.Careful consideration was also given to the pedestrian route configuration that visitors would use when approaching the building – it was important to ensure a strong colour contrast between road and pedestrian walkway.Natural ventilation was maximised to reduce energy consumption and associated costs.The BenefitsThe 7,500 square foot building provides a centre of excellence for deafblind people with a hub for training and development. It is a daily resource for more than 300 deafblind people in the Glasgow area, and a further resource for the 2,700 people across Scotland who are severely dual sensory impaired.The project offers deafblind people more opportunities to learn, enjoy a range of subjects, collaborate, and to become more familiar with IT through the assistance of specially adapted technology and equipment.Feedback from building users has been extremely positive with the client remarking on the ease of way finding and legibility within the layout.

Brentford Market Place was one of the main areas scheduled to be redeveloped as part of a wider scheme to entice people back into the town centre. ‘Making the connection’ is a project set up to improve Brentford town, funded by the Mayor’s outer London fund. The aim of the scheme is to attract people to Brentford High Street, one of West London’s most historic and diverse shopping areas, by improving the public realm space and creating a new route for walkers and cyclists along the Grand Union Canal, between Great West road and Brentford High Street.

A Stannah people-moving platform lift is welcoming mobility compromised patrons to Dishoom Kensington, a London restaurant that rekindles the cosmopolitan romance of Irani cafés in 1940s Jazz Age Bombay. Filled with original period and bespoke pieces, this atmospheric venue calls on its access lift to escort people of all mobilities, from bag-laden buggy-pushers to wheelchair users, between ground-floor entrance to the bar / dining room with its Bombay comfort food and live jazz. Does the platform lift mirror Dishoom’s carefully curated design? Naturally…

A series of Parklets have been established across a Welsh county to help support high street businesses and attract more people to town centres.

Higher Potential is a north London based charity that helps disenfranchised young people, with projects designed to divert them away from anti-social behaviour and embrace education, helping them to develop life skills and reaching their potential.Within the two-storey building the area was created for young people to express themselves through dance, drama and music video production.To achieve this, the building required a suitable acoustic treatment to avoid noise leakage whilst creating an acoustically neutral space for music production.ROCKWOOL Sound Insulation Slab and Acoustic RockFloor were implemented.

The Tiber Square project involved the renovation of a community space in Liverpool. It was inspired by a group of 14-18 year olds who are members of the Tiber Young People’s Steering Group (TYPSG). The group of young people were given the opportunity to improve their local area thanks to a 100K grant from a national scheme, which supplied funding for just 24 town centres or high streets across the UK. Artform Urban were asked to supply robust but inspiring picnic sets for the new community development. The products chosen were the Twin picnic sets from our Metalco range.

This 2,000+ m² project was a new build for a Special Free School in Croydon for children and young people with autism and learning difficulties.Addington Valley Academy is a co-educational Special School with 150 places for children and young people aged 2-19 who have autism and social communication, cognitive, sensory and social, emotional, and behavioural needs in the Croydon region.Valcan’s A1 non-combustible cladding systems were reviewed and after working closely with the architects on the project, Ceramapanel was specified installed back using our Vitrafix VF1 carrier system and colour matched fixing solutions.

Sliding pocket doors are hugely beneficial when designing new or refurbished accommodation for people with disabilities where inclusive design is deemed important. More than 30 sliding pocket door systems and 11 Eclisse Hoist pocket door systems have been installed inside the new building. The Eclisse Hoist pocket door system has meant that a hoist lift can be between rooms to transport the young people from one area to another. Three ECLISSE Hoist pocket door systems have been installed in the physiotherapy area and a motorised lifting system in the pool area.

The cantilever shelter has become a real focal point on the site and has created the perfect environment for people to stand outside and get some fresh air.

Re:Haus Aid is a registered Community Interest Company who work with both global and local charities to provide safe, warm, secure and robust relocatable accommodation pods for people who have been displaced due to armed conflicts or natural disasters.There are countless people who flee their country every year because of armed conflicts or natural catastrophes and many more who are displaced within their countries.Stelling properties designed an accommodation pod  that took a maximum of ten days to manufacture and can be installed at its destination in less than two hours.With this the pod had been insulated with ROCKWOOL® RWA45 75mm.

Maggie’s Centre’s provide free practical, emotional and socialsupport to people with cancer, and their family and friends.Founded upon Maggie Keswick Jencks’ view that people shouldnot “lose the joy of living in the fear of dying”, each Maggie’sCentre is designed to alleviate the clinical and dispirited feel ofhospital environments, while enabling patients to feel empoweredand comfortable.Architects dRMM, chose to use tulipwood CLT for the positiveinfluence the material has on people and for its beauty, strength,and warmth. With research suggesting wooden structures canhelp lower blood pressure and pulse rates, the Wood HousingHumanity Report found that the material has more health andwellbeing benefitsthan any other.Visiting the Allgood showroom in London, dRMM were introducedto the Holt range, designed by Alex Mowat. With an elegant supercircular shape, the Holt range is handcrafted from European oakand provides the optimum grip for users.Incorporating Holt L shape lever handles, WC turns, coat hooks,doorstops and toilet roll holders as well as disabled toiletfurniture, Maggie’s Centre in Oldham has created a thoughtfulenvironment for its users.

The events industry is worth around £11bn to the UK economy*. With just over half a million employees, success in the industry relies almost entirely on the shoulders of its people. Effects of the pandemic are still being felt in a sector undergoing dramatic transformation. The events industry now faces a choice of embrace change or face decline.A large part of the industry’s response is a shift in culture, realising and accepting that the events industry is nothing without people. Never before has it been more important to protect and nurture employees. In this guide to lifting and handling equipment, we focus on how events hire companies can provide a safe working environment for employees.

When the last remaining building of Birmingham’s first gas works was bought by the Church of England, they were aware that, when newly constructed in 1818, its main function was the supply of gas to illuminate the dark streets. Now redeveloped into a vibrant church named St. Luke's, Gas Street it offers a different kind of light to the people of the city.In its new role, the former Gas Retort House now has a growing congregation of over 300, mainly comprising of young people and students, who are led by The Revd. Tim Hughes, his wife Rachel and a dynamic team who are committed to making positive impact on Broad Street and the wider area.

The new institute will feature programs to annually educate and train up to 2,500 people, including biopharmaceutical professionals and bioprocessing engineering students, on how to produce potentially life-saving biotherapeutic drugs.

The Junipers is the first of its kind in the south west of England; offering inpatient support that's closer to home for people with complex mental health needs. The design of the purpose-built unit included input from experts by lived experience and is truly a facility designed with people in mind. When we first discussed the plans for The Junipers PICU with Devon Partnership, we knew it was an opportunity to work together to create a new state-of-the-art ward. After reviewing their options, Devon Partnership chose to install our full doorset range. We worked closely with them before, during and after installation to ensure all of the doors and locksets were operating to help both patients and staff.

BACKGROUNDTTP has operated from Melbourn Science Park for thirty years, but a new facility was needed to bring people together for collaboration as the business has grown. The new buildings would incorporate state-of-the-art labs, offices and manufacturing spaces, but key to the design were a variety of indoor and outdoor workspaces to stimulate TTP’s people to think differently.BRIEFThe development featured three separate, differently shaped buildings - The Hive, Tech Barn and TheExchange - that presented design challenges such as curved walls and an open plan layout requiringacoustic enclosures. Features such as an exposed roof slab, concrete columns and a raised-access floor system to house mechanical ductwork required special design elements to soften the concrete surfaces.