"people"

To provide optimum weather and thermal performance and to maximise the building’s energy efficiency, ADP Architecture specified a range of aluminium products from Kawneer, installed by approved specialist subcontractor Norman & Underwood. The building’s façade features Kawneer’s AA®100 curtain wall system while AA®190 TB severe-duty doors were specified to handle the high volume of people entering and leaving the building. These were complemented by Kawneer’s AA®720 casement windows with louvreshields which provide both ventilation and fall protection. As the construction is a gateway to the city’s commercial area, the aesthetics were also paramount.

Norstone UK is the leading provider of natural stacked stone and stone veneers in the UK. When used for interior applications such as around enclosed fire places and feature walls, Norstone recommends Hardie® Backer cement backerboard for tile and stone. Jack Jago, Director of Norstone UK, explains how the relationship with Hardie® Backer board came about: ‘we were having problems with many projects that have existing plasterboard where people wanted to tile stone on the plasterboard. But this won’t work as it will pull away half of the time as Norstone is a natural stone; it weighs 65kg per square metre.’

Franke Products were chosen for a ground breaking transformation of the disused Bute Mill facility for Youthscape: a charity who works with young people across Luton. Franke’s Xinox stainless steel accessories were chosen for the bathrooms, which included soap dispensers, paper towel dispensers, waste bins and a hand dryer as well as touch free options. “Product quality and uniqueness were factors in deciding which suppliers to choose for this prestigious project. A brand like Franke ensured we would get the best quality that would last for years, and still look good too!” commented Chris Curtis Chief Executive of Youthscape.

The Birmingham New Street refurbishment completely re-imagined the Pallasades shopping centre situated above the station. SAS designed, supplied and installed several bespoke metal ceilings specified for the lower retail area within the mall: A mall link feature installed below glass reinforced gypsum features in the mall’s access areas.A lozenge shaped, metal can ceiling with integrated lighting, a slatted SAS700 linear ceiling and SAS320 alongside linear grilles. The aim was to create an ideal meeting place which would serve as a gateway to Birmingham. A massive 50 million people are expected through the door each year.

SAS International delivered standard and bespoke SAS metal ceiling systems to PwC, Manchester. Across the main workspaces, SAS330 was installed presenting a pristine and uniform aesthetic which contributes to the open-plan design. For the communal area, bespoke hexagonal SAS600 rafts were designed and manufactured to protect the specified lights. SAS810 Tricell was installed in the break-out area contributing to the sleek and intelligent design. Further floors were completed in early 2019 which introduced SAS330 Mesh in 12 meeting rooms. This striking people-centric office space has won the Fit Out of Workplace Award at the BCO Awards.

The project is located in a strategic and symbolic place in Marseille. It is close to representative buildings such as the Unité d'Habitation, designed by Le Corbusier.It has 676 housing units, 90 units for elderly people and the Renault concession with its garage and offices.Our Premium Plus roller shades are crank-operated and have double brackets to reduce the space between each system.Polyscreen® 365 fabric fits perfectly with the system, providing thermal efficiency and visual comfort as well as aesthetic value. Also, our products helped achieve HQE Certification for offices and services.Pyramides d’Argent, 1st prize in the “Directional building” category. (2019)

The Oaklands House development on Old Oak Common Lane represents London’s biggest regeneration since the 2012 Olympics. Constructed by Vistry Partnerships, it has transformed a derelict brownfield site into a new neighbourhood, providing local people with 605 homes, as well as office and commercial space across three major blocks.Titan Interior Solutions was appointed to install the flooring throughout the 24,000m² housing-led development in West London. They turned to long-term supplier Bostik, who could provide the expert subfloor preparation advice, as well as its market-leading products, needed to make this site’s regeneration a reality.

Langdon Hospital provides forensic mental health services for the Devon Partnership NHS Trust. The service supports people who, as a consequence of their mental health problems, have had contact with the legal system and require a safe and secure environment.Dart Valley Systems have worked with the Hospital for many years helping to improve the patients living environment, with a combination of the DVS high security sanitaryware installed.Products from the DVS safe ensuite range included:Ligature resistant wash basinsLigature resistant shower headsTouch-free ligature resistant flush controlsA range of ligature resistant mirrors

Established in 1982, Wirral Metropolitan College was founded on a vision to enhance the economic prosperity of young people, adults and employers through the delivery of high quality, work-related education and training. Currently, the college consists of four unique campus settings, but a fifth is under way. The new site will be dedicated to Professional Studies and Leadership Development and is due to open in September 2021.The College has recently benefited from a £6 million refurbishment programme to improve both the quality and aesthetic of the campuses, an investment that represents significant progress toward their aim to be an inclusive, outstanding college. One of the beneficiaries of this investment was the vibrant orange Twelve Quays Campus.

Ahmarra's Residential Door Range includes secure internal apartment entrance doorsets that offer dual security and fire certification – providing peace of mind that the people, property and assets within the building are protected from opportunist thieves, vandalism and attack, as well as fire. This high security fire door was designed and manufactured for a sheltered housing complex.Certified under the Q-Mark Enhanced Security scheme, the doorset is Secured By Design (SBD) approved and meets PAS 24: 2016 standards. Also certified under the Q-Mark Fire Door Manufacture scheme, it is FD30 fire rated to BS 476 Pt. 22.

Since opening night in Dublin seventeen years ago, Riverdance has been packing out theatres around the world. With over 10,000 performances and 22 million people having watched the show, Harlequin Cascade has been consistent throughout. Riverdance explain why they chose Harlequin Cascade for their performances. “Well over 1,000 dancers, musicians and singers have performed their magic on those Riverdance stages, safe in the knowledge that Harlequin Cascade works as well and as consistently as they do!... Harlequin Cascade allows all our performers to deliver exhilarating performances in complete safety.” Julian Erskine Senior Executive Producer Riverdance

According to Alzheimer’s UK, there are around 900,000 people with dementia in the UK and this figure is expected to rise to 1.6 million by 2040. Dementia is an umbrella term and is caused when diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia and other conditions, damage the brain. As well as memory problems, dementia can also cause issues with vision and perception, leading to problems such as a welcome mat by a door looking like a black hole. The Equality Act and Building Regulations (Part M) make provision for people with dementia and there are some, when specifying paving for care homes and in the public realm, that can make a significant difference. One of the key points that can be addressed by speaking to a reputable paving manufacturer is the consistency of light reflection values (RV) throughout the landscape design. LRV measures the amount of light reflected back from a material when illuminated by a light source. The more light reflected, the higher the LRV. It is usually measured using aspectrophotometer. Research by Liverpool John Moores University demonstrated that an ‘uneven’ appearance of ground surface or patches of darker tone or colour can be confusing and potentially cause accidents. The institution also described how paving patterns or changes in colour that are arbitrary can cause confusion. It has concluded that strong paving patterns - such as chequerboard - may cause disturbance, as consistent light reflectance values are required. When Keepmoat Homes was involved in the building of the planned dementia care facilities in Litchfield, Staffordshire, the company spoke to specialists at Brett Landscaping. Keepmoat was working on a centre that would house up to 90 people in six buildings and needed the paving to be suitable for the residents at the centre. It required external paving which registered between 25 and 45 on the light reflective value spectrum. Rigorous and extensive testing of the LRVs of Brett’s products enabled Keepmoat to install paving that falls within the strict parameters of the guidelines. Testing of Brett’s Alpha Flow permeable paving systems at Brett’s manufacturing plants in Kent and Dorset, showed that the LRV was consistent on individual colour ranges. It also revealed that the variance between all three colour ranges (Autumn Gold, Brindle and Charcoal) is ideally suited for the project. Brett’s Alpha Flow paving is already widely used across the country for developments where developers are looking to improve surface water drainage and prevent flooding. Existing Alpha Flow pavements are also still offering between 15 and 20 years of low maintenance service. Other than the consistency of light reflective values, Alzheimer’s UK has called for other work to help those living with dementia. It also recommends carefully selecting materials to avoid reflective or dark surfaces which could confuse perception, planning continuous, level routes and avoiding steps if possible.

Willowbrook Care Home in Birmingham provides specialist support for people with dementia and mental health problems who need personal care or nursing care on a long term basis. The care home recently extended the premises and Altro floors were used throughout the over 2000m² new build extension. Paul Willis, Care Home Owner said: “We chose Altro Wood Safety, Altro Pisces and Altro Walkway 20 to help provide a homely appearance with excellent sustained slip resistance, durability and ease of maintenance. The end result is superb and we have had many wonderful, positive comments from residents, families and numerous healthcare professionals.”

Featuring the UK’s longest indoor real-snow ski slope, Soar at Intu Braehead is Scotland’s largest retail and leisure complex, attracting up to 17 million people every year. Construction Specialties were asked to provide an expansive entrance mat for the centre’s main entrance. The chosen product was CS’ Pediluxe entrance mat with Platinum covered exterior grade carpet inserts. They have stronger bristle than interior grade carpet inserts, assuring dirt and moisture is effectively removed from the soles of shoes. This enormous entrance mat strongly protects interior floor surfaces and maintenance budgets from foot and wheeled traffic.

Profile 22 has supplied its Optima Casement solution to 84 social housing properties in Hulme, Manchester. The three blocks of two and three-storey buildings belong to People First Housing. David Smith, director of A&D Joinery, said: “We’ve been working with Profile 22 since 1991. On this particular project we were fabricating and installing windows from the new Optima range, which we’ve been using since it was launched in 2016. “Profile 22’s specification manager had done an initial window design survey and technical design drawings, which we were able to use during the tendering process.”

Neaco have supplied a contemporary balustrade specification for a 60-bed residential care home in Barrow. The £7m Parkview Gardens care home has replaced four older Cumbria Care homes as part of a wider modernisation programme of care for older people in the Barrow area. Architects Alston Murphy Associates specified Neaco’s powder coated aluminium balustrade with glass infill panel. The building was designed to provide outdoor space on every floor, including first floor terraces featuring Neaco’s glazed balustrade installed to an extended height to provide additional safety. The terraces also include Neaco’s Techdek aluminium grilles as terrace decking.

Project: Memorial Bahçelievler Hospital, Istanbul [TR]Year: 2018Architect: Memorial Project ManagementProducts: LOOP Type 3 and acoustic metal panel sub-ceiling Innovative exclusivity: In Istanbul, the impressive Memorial Bahçelievler Hospital has just been opened. A world-standard hospital that satisfies international accreditation and quality standards – the focus is always people with their individual needs.This hospital, in the centre of the Eurasian metropolis is one of the most comprehensively equipped healthcare complexes in the world. It has received Leed Platinum status (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), the most prestigious green certificate awarded in relation to the design of leading institutions. Modern and futuristic – this is the architectural claim of this hospital, which extends over a surface area of 72 000 m². One component of this comprehensive concept is the durlum LOOP® design ceiling, used in the lobby, the vestibule areas and the atrium.Powder-coated in gold bronze, this design ceiling creates a high-end and aesthetically pleasing atmosphere in these interior spaces. With round apertures as its hallmark feature, this unique ceiling blends harmoniously into the interior design. Curved, organic shapes create an impression of infinite distance. Perfectly matched to the carefully crafted interior decor, a vision of absolute perfection is created.Moreover, this ceiling system is more than simply an eye-catching feature: The LOOP® elements are attached by magnets to the suspended ceiling, made of rectangular metal panels. Perforated and lined with fabric, the acoustics are enhanced greatly – which also improves the feel-good factor.The Memorial Bahçelievler Hospital is based on a comprehensive concept in which nothing is left to chance. A hospital in which people occupy centre stage – a place to enjoy.

With over nine million people visiting The O2 a year, ICON Outlet required a robust washroom solution to withstand the demands of a high traffic environment, while being easy to clean and maintain. Unity’s clean, modern and minimal cubicle design and the solid surface vanities in “Vermont” gave the washroom facilities a contemporary look, while being functional and hard-wearing. ICON Outlet selected our ground-breaking pre-plumbed Vepps system, making regular duct maintenance effortless thanks to its linear-bearing hinge.Vepps also makes it impossible for the public to access duct space, with specially engineered anti-tamper locks.Read the full case study for more details.

ASF were already doing extensive works at Sale Town Hall using the ASF Balmoral Panel Post with sight gap, employed as pedestrian guardrail. To the rear of the Town Hall is the Bridgewater Canal which is followed by the Bridgewater Way. An existing wall was being heightened alongside the footpath to make it higher than the mixed use development area directly to the rear of the building. Wishing to ensure a suitable barrier but not completely obscure the view, the client chose the ASF Balmoral Parapet Post and Panel System for the wall top.This allows people to stand on the higher ground and still enjoy the vistas along the canal whilst ensuring the wall itself reaches an overall height to meet the required standards.

ASF manufactured and supplied the ASF 211 5 Rail Quayside Post System for the above project. Sited on a raised plinth, the baseplate option was chosen. The client decided that all the rails were to be the same diameter - in this case 48mm. The rails were grouped on the lower part of the posts to reduced the risk of 'roll through' into the water and as such increasing the safety for children and young people at the waters edge. The posts are 100% recycled cast iron and are 100% recyclable. Cast iron can be recycled indefinitely with no loss in property. Posts were hand finished in zinc rich metal primer and ASF metal shield top coat. Rails were left galvanised which offers a pleasing contrasting effect.

Bespoke wall protection from contract interior specialist Gradus is creating a fun and attractive atmosphere at a state-of-the-art new medical facility, while also ensuring excellent hygiene and low maintenance costs. Evelina London Children’s Day Treatment Centre, part of Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, has been built to provide more life-changing care for children and young people with rare and complex conditions. Overseen by Morgan Sindall, the project saw Gradus collaborate with Art in Site - a London-based studio of artists, designers and strategists – and ADP Architecture, to create a wall cladding solution with integrated art that helps the hospital’s young patients to heal, learn and thrive.

The Skyper building complex in Frankfurt am Main boasts a very special architecture. The three-part complex – consisting of the 153.8-metre Skyper high-rise with 39 floors, the neoclassical Skyper Villa from 1915 and the Skyper Carrée – offers a total of 53,900 m2 of office space for numerous companies and banks. When the existing single access entry systems were dismantled in the summer of 2020 as part of renovation work on the foyer, the owner opted for a new, modern solution that would blend in perfectly with the architecture of the skyscraper. Every day, large numbers of people go the foyer to get to their workplace. Numerous visitors also pass through this area. This called for a solution combining functionality, safety and an appealing design.

Here is an email we received after a client installed the conservation cowled cast iron air vents to a London property in September 2022)...We recently did a project on an old coach house in a listed building. They wanted a/c but we couldn’t route water for the h2o unit and couldn’t have two big white plastic vents on the outside of the building.The solution was to combine your products, a pair of CON6 cast iron conservation vents. The clients are ecstatic. I thought I’d share as I’m sure a lot more people in old houses will be looking for a/c going forward.Sally Estad, Elstad Interiors, Chicago USA ( working on a property in Wimbledon, UK)

Strawberry Gardens is a private housing living development in Yatton which offers independent living with access to on-site care for people over the age of 55. This 1,200m² development of timber frame apartments have created 60 apartments and various houses, shops, a post office, pubs and transport links. Situated 10 miles from Bristol airport and around 30 minutes from the centre of Bristol.Cellecta HEXATHERM XFLOOR 250 was specified on this project for its high resistance to compression and closed cell structure that provides unrivalled resistance to water absorption, making them ideal for residential applications.Oakmere Homes was awarded the contract to construct this picturesque village and civil parish within North Somerset.

The Hard Rock hotels are an iconic music brand with an international presence.During the refurbishment of their retail premises in Great Cumberland Place, London they approached ASH to design a handle that reflected the values synonymous with their music brand and could be placed throughout the hotel.During the briefing session their iconic music associations and guitars were chosen as a product that many people identified with and was a design that could be practically developed into an entrance handle and handles throughout that kept it’s original design qualities whilst remaining practical and functional.Following the initial briefing ASH worked to develop the design for their new pull door handles, informing the client throughout the design process and providing technical drawings for the client’s interior designers.

Children and adults can enjoy a workout together thanks to the innovative design of an outside gym installed at Hadley park.Sunshine Gym worked with residents, parish councillors, the local authority and outside play consultants to develop the open space.Thought to be the first of its type in the UK, the public outdoor gym features separate areas for children and adults.But with the two sides facing each other, all age groups are encouraged to get fit in the outdoors together as the equipment is mirrored in both gyms.Safety factors considered by Sunshine Gym included the location of the children’s equipment so adults can supervise while taking advantage of the health park themselves.A fence also surrounds the children’s area so that it is safely enclosed. Playground markings mean youngsters can take part in additional games and activities as well as make use of the multi gym fitness equipment.On the opposite side, equipment for adults and young people include a rower, double health walker and double slalom skier alongside a sky stepper to get the heart pumping with cardiovascular routines.Parallel rails, double squat push and Sunshine Gym’s combi pull down challenger and power push offer a strength workout, coupled with an accessible arm and pedal bike suitable for wheelchair users and those who may have difficulties with mobility.In between the sections, a sprint track was marked out.Councillor Derek White, chairman of the health scrutiny committee at Telford and Wrekin Council, said: “The community decided they wanted something that was a bit different, something that was healthy and that the community could engage with.“They thought it was important to provide for adults and young people, but also for children as well.”The park is being maintained by Hadley and Leegomery Parish Council, which held public consultations over the park design with development consultancy apT, part of Telford and Wrekin Council.  Hadley and Leegomery Parish Council chairman Malcolm Smith said: “The new gym has increased awareness of the park to the local community and has already become a popular community venue which the community value.“The park is now used as a community meeting point to meet old friends and new, and exercise together.“Being in the outside this healthy park aims to connect people to nature where they may unwind in the park and exercise for free to maximise the free health benefits on their doorstep and positively impact upon the community.”Bespoke seating and signage, designed, built and installed by Sunshine Gym, completed the near-£40,000 health park project.Councillor Hilda Rhodes, Telford and Wrekin Council’s cabinet member for parks, green spaces and the natural environment, said: “The gym facility has transformed an underused open space into a well-used healthy park.“This provides opportunities to exercise and for quiet contemplation to support mental health and has become a park with a purpose.”

North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust, serving over 350,000 people in North London, has been a pillar of healthcare for a century. Embracing innovation, they recently expanded their services to include on-site electric vehicle (EV) charging, aligning with the government's Net Zero goals. In collaboration with Rolec, they installed 23 dual socketed BasicCharge pedestals, providing 46 EV bays in their new parking garage. Compliant with regulations and designed for accessibility, the solution includes LED amenity lighting and a Smart back-office management system for tailored charge point management and tariff settings. This initiative reflects the hospital's commitment to both public health and environmental sustainability.Click "view more" to read the full case study.

Better Bankside is a Business Improvement District located in Southwark, London. They invest in the area on behalf of local businesses to help make Bankside a thriving place to work, live and visit. Like many districts, Bankside experienced a significant rise in people arriving to work by bicycle.Cyclists are known to increase the vibrancy of a place, yet the risk of bicycle theft around the UK had risen to an all-time high.Having long advocated the benefits of cycling, Better Bankside saw an increased need to provide further safe and accessible parking for their business members. Their solution? Transform a vacant railway arch into a secure cycle parking space, with CCTV, smartphone access and eye-catching ‘Better Bankside pink’ cycle racks.Cyclehoop provided the six custom powder coated toast racks, creating 60 new spaces for people to park their cycles in Bankside. The custom colour stands out against the character of the brick to create an attractive and recognisable space.The facility immediately proved popular, within two weeks of the launch more than 80 users signed up for access.Cyclehoop is delighted to have helped Banksiders reduce the risk of cycle theft and keep their bikes safe and dry. The park is located on Ewer Street and is available to local employees in the Bankside area. If you work in Bankside, you can find more information here.“More Banksiders are choosing to cycle than ever before. The new secure cycle park was immediately popular: within two weeks of the launch more than 20 businesses and 80 users signed up for access. Cyclehoop were helpful and friendly throughout, offering advice when needed. The new secure facility is one of several initiatives offered by Better Bankside to encourage local employees to adopt cycling as an active form of transport”.Nicole GordonCEO of Better Bankside

The Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon has undergone an ambitious and exciting £112m project to install a brand new auditorium inside the skeleton of the art-deco original. The internal refit created some interesting acoustical challenges. One of the most important aspects of the project was to ensure that theatre performances were not disturbed by noise from other parts of the building. In particular, the gantry – from where scenery changes and lighting are managed – was identified as requiring a specialised acoustic solution, to stop the noise of people working behind the scenes from carrying through to the audience. This is where CMS Danskin stepped in.The SolutionAs soft flooring subcontractors on the project, Loughton Contracts installed CMS High Impact Mat in the gantry. Composed of reclaimed rubber, EPDM granulate and PUR binder, CMS High Impact Mat is a durable, environmentally friendly type of floor covering that reduces excess sound, prevents unwanted noise and has excellent impact reduction. CMS High Impact Mat is available in a variety of thicknesses and colours. Simple to install, LoughtonContracts fitted 573m² of blue, 10mm thick CMS High Impact Mat onto wooden, concrete and screeded floor areas in the theatre gantry. As a non-reflective, slip and tear resistant material that meets the highest safety standards, it provides a safe surface for an area of the theatre where there is constant movement of scenery, people and heavy lighting.CMS High Impact Mat also has other qualities which made it the preferred specification for this refurbishment. As well as providing high acoustic performance, it offers an aesthetic, ‘final floor finish’ which is warm underfoot and has anti-fatigue properties. It creates an attractive, comfortable and quiet working environment in the gantry, as well as contributing to the quality finish that runs throughout the theatre.

Alghanim International Planetarium Kuwait City, KuwaitCultural Innovations was appointed in 2013 to develop the vision, content and exhibition design for the world’s largest cultural project - the Sheikh Abdullah Al Salem Cultural Centre.As part of this project, a Planetarium was designed which incorporated our 3D Tetris acoustic panels, which were specifically designed to follow the curvature of the building.Using their wealth of experience in museums, culture, science and attractions development, the Cultural Innovations team curated a modern and immersive series of museums with enormous breadth, not constrained by existing collections, which delivered content and experiences that are directly relevant to the people of Kuwait. Opened in 2018 on a 13-hectare site in the Al-Sha’ab district of Kuwait City, the cultural centre includes the Natural History Museum, Science and Technology Museum, Arabic Islamic Science Museum and Space Museum.Using leading-edge technology, immersive environments, large-scale models and compelling interactivity across all four museums, the Sheikh Abdullah Al Salam Cultural Centre provides an exciting range of attractions as well as a fresh new learning approach for Kuwaitis.To deliver this landmark project Cultural Innovations worked in collaboration with architects SSH Design and contractors Alghanim International and Beck Interiors. The museum complex houses 23 galleries in over 22,000 square metres, presenting over 800 exhibits and experiences. To deliver the project a team of over 140 people, with 30 content specialists focused on interpretation and content development, and 25 exhibition designers with additional expertise for graphics, lighting and audio-visual development. Our extensive range of experts were assembled from universities, zoos, botanic gardens, museums and organisations such as the European Space Agency to provide advice and to ensure scientific facts and interpretation are correct.

In 2014, Cyclehoop was commissioned by Network Rail to find a cycle parking solution for Victoria Station.These improvements were to ensure a more cycle-friendly environment, to encourage more people to combine rail and cycle travel and to reduce congestion within and around the station. Used in conjunction, bicycles and trains can help reduce carbon, provide a door-to-door commute and deliver huge environmental benefits, all of which are issues that Cyclehoop are incredibly keen to encourage.The locations that were chosen for the cycle parking were the front and the rear of the station by the car park and taxi rank, due to convenience for users and also the CCTV coverage which enhances bike security.We designed the 100-strong custom made cycle parking facilities in line with Victoria Station’s interior aesthetic. This comprised Two-Tier Cycle Racks, maximising its footprint, as well as fencing securely enclosing the racks, adding an extra deterrent to thieves.The success of the cycle parking prompted a request several months later from Network Rail to upgrade the facility into a repair hub. We installed our Public Bike Pump and Repair Stand to provide a convenient repair hub for commuters in an emergency situation, or just for a quick shot of air. The idea of adding pumps and repair stands at major stations prevents abandoned bicycles and ensure people who cycle can get to their destination swiftly in the event of any fault with their bicycles.“Overall we have found the racks have been a source of positive feedback from station users. They significantly increased capacity, coverage by CCTV and a more convenient location allows us to provide a more effective customer service to our passengers. Equally their design allows a more efficient use of space at the station and offers a modern and user friendly experience.” – Adrian Gogay, Network Rail

The development of a new emergency care centre at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead was an investment of £32m. The project provided state-of- the-art healthcare services to people across the region. The centre now provides a smoother service to its patients and a more efficient way of treating people.Artform Urban Furniture were asked to provide seating and litter bins to the main entrance of the hospital's drop in centre, as well as the car park and the taxi drop off / pick up point. The products had to complement the soft landscaping whilst also being durable enough to cope with the extensive usage. The Artform team proposed items from the Multiplicity range, with their cast anodised aluminium frames, offering superb longevity and minimal maintenance requirements.The overall project was constructed within a tight budget and the street furniture supplied by Artform needed to be of a very high standard, ergonomically designed for comfort and all delivered within the economic constraints.The products also had to be on site and installed within a short time frame, due to the fast track nature of the project. The Artform team provided full technical drawings and specification information to ensure that the client’s facilities team were supported fully and the installation process was seamless.OutcomeThe completed emergency care centre is now a busy hub for all types of emergency healthcare services and the entrance provides a clean and welcoming first impression to all those using the centre. The landscaped outdoor areas including the entrance, the car park and the busy taxi point, offer an engaging space, for use by staff, patients and visitors alike, with the thoughtful distribution of attractive seating and clean, modern litter bins.Ian Renwick, chief executive of QE Gateshead commented: "This is a unique hospital building and the environment for patients and visitors is really something special."

The 65-year old Altro safety flooring that is still performing todayWhen West Bridgford Baptist Church refitted its kitchen, they wanted high quality flooring that was safe, durable and easy to maintain. They chose what was then a new product – Altro safety flooring – and hoped it would deliver. That was in 1950, and over 65 years later, after innumerable coffee mornings, christenings and other events, Altro revisited the site with the most modern testing equipment and found the original safety flooring still meets the latest HSE standards. A pendulum test achieved PTV 40, representing a one in a million risk of slipping in both wet and dry conditions.Church Secretary Carol Hodgkinson said: “Our kitchen has had much use over the years and is important to the people who attend the Church and use its facilities. We’ve run a lunch club, cooked up amazing Christmas dinners and plenty of simple lunches too. Today it’s mainly used to prepare refreshments for our own church activities and for other groups that use our building, which includes toddler groups, keep fit groups, uniformed organisations and U3A groups, amongst others.“We were amazed when we were told how old the flooring is, we had no idea! We just know that it’s easy to clean. It’s reassuring to know that it’s still helping to prevent people from slipping after all this time.”The flooring that was laid at West Bridgford Baptist Church was called ASF Classic X25 and was the first Altro safety flooring solution. Roll-on to today and Altro Classic 25 is still here, albeit with a few tweaks! It remains a popular choice, although these days you’re more likely to find it in craft, design and technology rooms plus circulation areas.

In 2018, Cyclehoop designed and delivered two major Cycle Hubs for the London Borough of Enfield. These were the first cycle hubs to be provided in the borough and were delivered as part of the award-winning Cycle Enfield scheme.Both Cycle Hubs are steel and glass structures with CCTV and provide cycle parking for 50 bikes and three non-standard cycles such as cargo bikes. They can be accessed 24 hours a day, seven days a week by using an access card. Members can make use of a bike pump and repair stand so that they can make quick repairs and keep their tyres pumped whilst on the go.Cyclehoop is managing the membership of both cycle hubs on behalf of Enfield Council.Cycle Hub FacilitiesThe Enfield Town Cycle Hub and the Edmonton Green Cycle Hub are fitted with user-friendly cycle parking and repair facilities, as well as featuring an industry-leading security and access control system.Each Cycle Hub provides cycle parking for 50 bikes and is fitted with Optima Two Tier Racks. This is a space-saving solution that doubles the amount of cycle parking compared with traditional cycle racks. The Two-Tier racks can accommodate most types of bikes and feature gas-assisted moveable upper sections that make it easy to position them in the racking. Members can easily secure their bikes to the locking bar which has been welded into the design rather than the less secure bolted version in our competitors’ solutions. We have installed 3 ground anchors to accommodate non-standard cycles – each with its own marked out space.The door has been fitted with an industry-leading access control system allowing members to get in and out via access card 24 hours a day. Lighting and CCTV cameras are in operation throughout giving extra assurances of security.The Cycle Hubs also feature a Public Repair Stand and an Indoor Pump which provide members with the resources to make repairs on the go as well as pumping up deflated tyres.Design and Build ProcessEnfield Council chose two locations within the borough, each one connected to a local transport link, as well as amenities and shopping centres to accommodate the footfall. These locations were Enfield Town Railway Station and Edmonton Green Railway Station. Planning permission was required to develop the land.Enfield Council required two secure Cycle Hubs that maximised cycle parking spaces and the structure needed to be modular to allow it to be extended in future. Enfield is a growing borough that is regenerating and constantly growing, therefore this needed to be reflected in the design of the Cycle Hub.Each Cycle Hub is a steel and glass structure designed as a modern facility for securely storing cycles. The use of glass provides both good natural lighting as well as excellent visibility and passive surveillance, increasing the security of the facility.The Cycle Hubs also have a sedum green roof which reduces the surface runoff from rainfall, improves local air quality and supports the local insect population.The two custom and secure structures are comprised of:Toughened glass panesPerforated steel kick plates (over 3 tonnes of steel)Toughened glass sliding doorsLow maintenance sedum roofEnfield Council’s Deputy Leader, Cllr Daniel Anderson, said:“If we want to encourage more people to get on their bikes and change their transport habits we need to provide proper, secure parking for cycles. We hope these hubs will encourage people to get on their bikes to visit our town centres and reap all the benefits leaving the car behind will deliver. We are determined to encourage as many people as possible to use sustainable transport as we possibly can and these hubs will play an important role in helping us achieve that aim.”Enfield Council’s Cycle Enfield Scheme aims to regenerate and improve town centres, dramatically improve transport links and encourage more people to use sustainable methods of transport in the borough.

Here at Cyclehoop we are proactive, not reactive. We continually work to come up with innovative solutions to problems. This is why we are so pleased that members of our Bikehangar scheme are equally as proactive as we are and continually strive to support the cycling community.In 2014, the London Borough of Bromley celebrated the long-awaited installation of its very first Bikehangar on Tudor Road, Anerley. Not just any old Bikehangar, this one has an extraordinary story and is an inspiration to anyone who wants safe on-street cycle parking on their street.Alex Baines-Buffery, keen cyclist and owner of cycling holiday business Wine Rides first made the request for a Bikehangar on Tudor Road after the lack of storage for his cargo bike started to become troublesome for him and his neighbours. At the time, there were no Bikehangars in the borough of Bromley. However, Baines-Buffery knew about Cyclehoop and our successful Bikehangar scheme in other London boroughs such as Lambeth, and made sure that was soon to change.He gathered support from his local neighbours through sending a letter of proposal for the Bikehangar listing out the benefits of what safe secure on street cycle parking can have for the street. He clearly outlined the benefits to non-cyclists, making the case for the lack of clutter on the streets or in communal parts of the buildings. In the letter he identified himself as a key point of contact, asking them to email him their details so he could register their interest on the Cyclehoop Suggest a Location page (he also encouraged them to register their interest themselves). As well as this, he encouraged residents who had any further queries or objections to contact him.“I wrote a letter to my neighbours and stuffed it through all the doors on my road. As a result, I got one email from someone who didn’t want it and about eight from people who were supportive. In this letter, I think it is important to introduce yourself and set out what will be lost: half a parking space. If you don’t do that, people won’t trust your intentions. You can then explain why it will be a valuable addition to the road. It is also important to state that it isn’t just the cyclists who benefit: the people they share properties with will also be better off.” – Alex Baines-BufferyOnce he had gathered support he then got in touch with his local councillor, asking for a meeting to pitch the idea of a Bikehangar scheme. Again, he had to make the case for the community benefits, how it can improve the area and what visible difference it would make to the area. Once the councillor was on board, Alex had secured a voice within the council to represent him at a higher level and speak to the right people who could make decisions.This developed into a full consultation between the council and the local neighbourhood, where they wrote to everyone on the street asking their opinion on the Bikehangar. It was at this point that Alex got in touch with his neighbours again via social media and visited them again encouraging them to respond, reiterating the case for secure on-street cycle parking.The result was so overwhelmingly positive that Bromley’s first Bikehangar was installed on Tudor Road, Anerley six months later. To mark this occasion and in recognition of the community spirit in Crystal Palace, a competition was run to name the hangar after a local hero. There were numerous nominations including ‘Paxton’ after Joseph Paxton, the architect who designed the original Crystal Palace. After much deliberation, the chosen name for the hangar was ‘McKenzie’ after Don McKenzie, a local retired man who “has tirelessly driven community projects in Weston.” A further fourteen Bikehangars have been installed in Bromley to date.“I am really grateful to everyone who has helped make the installation of this cycle storage a reality. It will make life more pleasant for everyone who uses it, and I have already been asked by others how to go about getting one where they live.” – Alex Baines-Buffery

Broadleaves, in Boughton, near Ollerton, is the fourth ‘housing with care’ scheme to be opened by Newark and Sherwood District Council. The state-of-the-art scheme has been designed for people aged over 60.There are 30 spacious and accessible apartments designed to meet possible future needs, with features including a wet room and wider doorways.SMART Balustrades were contracted by NMCN to design, manufacture and install their stainless steel balustrade system with oak handrail to 4 stairs as well as 15 stainless steel Juliet balconies, 250m of timber corridor handrails, and a large external terrace with 1600mm high stainless steel balustrade.SMART’s timber balustrade system comes complete with a steel core rail to ensure the balustrades meets the required 0.74kN/m horizontal line load requirements.