"play equipment for the disabled"

Innovative Solutions to Common ChallengesThe StayCity Hotels project was one in which Umbra's unique motorisation options were brought into play in a major capacity.The main challenge at the time was that motorised blinds were catching on objects within the room such as furniture and other objects obstructing the blinds mechanism. This was causing damage to the blind system themselves and meant a lot of downtime and maintenance cost. This was solved by a unique obstacle detection solution that Umbra offers, meaning that the blinds would stop when coming into contact with an outside object.The wide range of fabric options Umbra offers also helped greatly in this project. A fabric with high heat control properties meant that over the entire hotel, large savings could be made on heating and cooling costs. With sensors within the blinds also being able to communicate with the BMS, helping further with heat control and therefore energy efficiency.This is where Umbra's unique obstacle detection motors came into play, whereas before an obstacle would have been met with the force of a blind trying to close despite being unable to, now the smart sensors detected the obstacle and brought the mechanism to a swift halt, saving the obstruction from damage or wear.The full blackout KuroLok blinds also go a long way in quality of sleep for the residents of the hotel, blocking all light and creating a private environment greatly heightened the customer experience.The wide range of fabric options Umbra offers also helped greatly in this project. A fabric with high heat control properties meant that over the entire hotel, large savings could be made on heating and cooling costs. With sensors within the blinds also being able to communicate with the BMS, helping further with heat control and therefore energy efficiency.

With stringent demands in terms of design, comfort, and functionality, the new City of Glasgow College is considered a ‘University of the Future’. GEZE UK made a key contribution to the modern look & feel of the technical college with custom door solutions, including revolving doors and swing doors.State-of-the-art door systems for the City of Glasgow CollegeThe £228 million project for a capacity of 40,000 students and 1,300 employees was completed by the Sir Robert McAlpine construction company. The entrance areas on the west and south sides were designed using GEZE door technology to reflect the structural aesthetic of the City Campus.The highly modern new building, with over 1,000 classrooms, boasts a striking design while fulfilling high requirements for functionality and safety.Manual revolving doors ensure the flow of trafficThe west and south wings impress with modern steel and glass façades with two manual revolving doors. An additional automatic swing door was installed directly beside each of the revolving doors.Manual revolving doors with TSA 325 NT door drives are the ideal solution for the building's specific requirements in terms of functionality and ease of access. The generous door leaves are easy to move, and the integrated control mechanism stops pushing behind an individual entering into the swing door. In addition, the revolving doors effectively protect the lobby from draughts, dust and noise.Automatic swing doors, designed as emergency exitsThe automatic swing doors directly besides the revolving doors were equipped with electro-mechanical GEZE Slimdrive EMD-F swing door drives to offer maximum flexibility. They can be activated with the push of a button, providing barrier-free access for persons with restricted mobility. The door drive is just 7 cm tall, and integrates discreetly into the door frame to move the door leaf precisely, reliably, and extremely quietly. In the event of a fire, the swing doors also serve as barrier-free emergency exit doors.Automatic sliding doors: effortless door comfortA single leaf automatic sliding door with GEZE Slimdrive SL NT drive guides students and visitors into the interior of the Riverside campus. The highly modern building, which was nominated for the prestigious Stirling Prize, houses student accommodation hat is home to over 3,000 ship building and marine technology students.The slim Slimdrive SL NT drives (just 7 cm tall) integrate almost invisibly into the modern, column-encased entrance area, moving door leaves of up to 125 kg quietly and effortlessly. This makes it the ideal drive solution for a public building with consistently high traffic in both directions – especially one such as Riverside that is also used as a residential building. GEZE's modern door solutions have played a key part in ensuring students can move comfortably and safely through their environment.

The city of Colchester in Essex, England, has a long, eventful history. It is the oldest documented settlement in Great Britain and was the first administrative capital of the Romans after they conquered Britain some 2,000 years ago. Today, Colchester has around 100,000 inhabitants and functions as a satellite city of London, around 100 kilometres away.In the nearby village of Tendring, the city has found a kindred spirit for local communal activities. Today, the village is home to both the Tendring-Colchester Borders Garden Community and the Colchester and Tendring Athletics Club. The latter defines itself as a family-friendly, inclusive club that wants to offer sports enthusiasts in the nearby and wider area the best possible opportunities at every performance level. For example, the club provides younger athletes with playful training programmes featuring elements of all the athletics disciplines to inspire a love of sports at a young age. Increasingly specialised training programmes are then offered to the athletes as they grow up. And successfully so: members of the Colchester and Tendring Athletics Club compete in the Eastern Young Athletes League, the East Anglian T&F League, the Southern Athletics League and the Eastern Masters Athletics Club.The home of the club is the Colchester Garrison Athletics Stadium, in the middle of the Abbey Field Park, aka the “Garrison Track”. The grass pitch, which is surrounded by an athletics track, is used for various sports, such as football, cricket and rugby. The running circuit was renewed in 2020 using our Rekortan BS synthetic surface in brick red, Polytan’s all-rounder for competitive tracks and training facilities in athletics. The structural spray-coated surface is primarily used for running tracks and run-up tracks. In Colchester, its eight lanes run right past the clubhouse, a typical English cottage-style building. Rekortan BS has a thick, water-permeable surface and is quick, easy and cost-effective to install.To ensure optimal training conditions for the athletes at the Garrison Track, the running track is also equipped with our Polytan SMART system, which provides professionals and amateurs alike detailed recordings of their training sessions. Polytan SMART not only enables precise time measurements and performance diagnostics for classic running sports, it can also measure an athlete’s approach in the long jump or when pole vaulting. The results help athletes to direct their training more effectively and ultimately improve their performances.There’s also a great deal taking place off the field of play at the club, which holds regular events for its members to give them the opportunity to spend time together in a more relaxed setting. Together they celebrate the successes of their athletes in and around Colchester, with our Rekortan BS providing the perfect foundation.It wouldn’t be a stretch to say, therefore, that our products are helping to bring the motto of the Colchester and Tendring Athletics Club to life: Striving for success and enjoyment through athletics.

The town of Filderstadt wanted to develop, upgrade and further develop the campus of two neighbouring schools in the district of Bernhausen. For the project, it hired Stuttgart-based, international architectural firm, Behnisch Architekten. The stunning piece of architecture features our special coloured synthetic surfaces – which we are immensely proud of!The guiding principle of the architectural design by Behnisch Architekten: a lively school campus in a pleasant environment for students. The result is a building with levels of different shapes and sizes, which appears playful yet balanced, and stands out perfectly from its relatively heterogenous surroundings with its free-flowing, organic design. The harmonious, vertically staggered horizontal lines and terraces around the circumference of the building make a striking impression.A facade consisting of a wood and aluminium construction with opaque wood elements reflects the idea of an open learning landscape. The central foyer, containing functional spaces and a cafeteria for common use, leads to all other areas on the levels above. On the upper levels, the building branches out architecturally and functionally. The daylight-flooded atrium, which spans all four levels, forms the vertical core of the building. From there, students can easily navigate the school and find their classrooms almost intuitively.Each level also has a small vestibule with niches and seating areas for sitting or relaxing. The third floor features a large terrace, which is easily the highlight for the Bernhausen students: it can be used to hold lessons outdoors – at least in the summer months.As well as thoughtfully planning the spatial structure, Behnisch Architekten specially designed the school to be experienced through the senses. To give the individual learning areas a distinctive character of their own, individual colour schemes were used on the walls, in which the colours not only indicate the respective year group, but create a lively, stimulating environment in intense orange, yellow, green and earth tones.Our durable all-rounder, PolyPlay SE, which is designed for ball sports and leisure activities on playing fields and school sports facilities, was used for the coating of the terraces around the circumference. The single-layered surface offers many advantages in Bernhausen: for example, it has a smooth surface, dries quickly thanks to its permeability, and is nevertheless slip-resistant at all times. Another advantage is its high wear-resistance and low maintenance – along with its colour scheme, which chimes perfectly with the design concept by Behnisch Architekten. It is installed in the colours light grey and pearl white, as well as three fresh shades of yellow.Our PolyPlay FS fall protection surface is used on the school’s playground. The shock-absorbing surface offers a clean and safe solution for various uses – usually playgrounds and parks. The bulk-coated, water-permeable covering is particularly easy to care for and, thanks to its cushioning effect, protects against injuries in the event of falls. In Bernhausen, the surface is installed in three colours and different thicknesses between 42 and 122 mm – coordinated with the respective fall height of the playground equipment.

Unrivalled in scale in the UK as a hub of engineering and material science expertise, the new Manchester Engineering Campus Development (MECD) embraces the refurbished, Grade II listed Oddfellows Hall, the MEC Hall and buildings on Upper Brook Street and York Street. Brick played a crucial role in creating the campus and, to find the perfect products to fulfil their aesthetic vision, the architects turned to Vandersanden.The new campus is one of the largest construction projects undertaken by any higher education institution in the UK. It will allow 1,300 staff and 7,000 students to work and study in spaces that enable connection, collaboration and concentration across the faculty.Working with Mecanoo, Penoyre & Prasad and Balfour Beatty Construction, BDP provided detailed design consultation services for the entire MECD project. The collaborative team completed the sensitive renovation and extension of Oddfellows Hall to accommodate a suite of conference rooms, academic workspaces and a restaurant.Originally built in 1857 and rebuilt in 1916, Oddfellows Hall anchors the new MECD to its formative past. Set back on the north side from the listed building, the modern extension presents a neat facade where Vandersanden’s Berit water-struck facing brick, which is white with a light texture, is coupled with areas of glazing and tile. “The approach to the scheme has been to add a twenty-first-century building of its time but in continuity with the existing language, using materials such as brick and glass,” explains Paul Owen, architect associate at BDP.Configured horizontally, the elements wrap around the façade of the extension to create a strong connection to both the north and south facades of the older building. The aesthetic is enhanced further by a combination of narrow brick piers and vertically proportioned windows. A defined brick plinth at ground floor level achieves additional visual interconnection between the old and the new.On the roof, the plant enclosure uses the same Vandersanden Berit brick as the façade, but the structure is set back from the parapet line. A hit and miss pattern allows for ventilation of the mechanical and electrical equipment inside as an elegant alternative to standard ventilation grilles.On Upper Brook Street and York Street, the new buildings are of solid brick that includes feature brick vertical and horizontal elements to articulate the façade and frame the window openings. Again, the brick is from Vandersanden; in this case, the company's Herning water struck brick with a dark brown-purple-blue multi-coloured appearance.“The technical advice the team at Vandersanden gave was incredibly helpful while the bricks offer great visual appeal. In the long term, they will age gracefully in combination with the existing material of Oddfellows Hall, ensuring the new extension sits well in its context,” says Paul Owen.For more information on the development go to https://www.mub.eps.manchester.ac.uk/science-engineering. For details on BDP visit, www.bdp.com and to find out more on Berit, Herning and the wide range of high-quality bricks available from Vandersanden, visit Together we build greatness | Vandersanden

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

The village of Papekop is located in the west of the province of Utrecht, surrounded on three sides by the province of South Holland.Here, in collaboration with Arco Architecten Bna, a stylish barn house is fitted with two louver systems. By Sunshield.The entire facade on the southwest is made of glass, and has a surface area of 34 m2. The ground floor is equipped with a rectangular slat system. On the second floor, the louver system begins as a rectangle, but ends at the top of the ridge triangular.Each system is operated by a motor with remote control, so independently of each other.The residents have opted for the 96-E louver. A blade with a modern, sleek design and a width of 96 mm. When the slats are fully open, the view between the louvers is 90 mm. The residents can then fully enjoy the rural panorama from their residence.The aluminum components are powder coated in RAL 9004, signal black. The plastic parts are black.

Resin flooring systems from Sherwin-Williams for food and drink manufacturing areas are seamless, strong, slip-resistant and safe for pedestrian traffic. Textured products including FasTop TG69 are independently tested as having low slip potential when tested with the TRRL Pendulum method promoted by the Health & Safety Executive.In order to reduce the impact on daily operations and allow food production to continue, FasTop TG69 is low odour and can be installed as quickly as possible in line with fast-track programmes to avoid disrupting manufacturing procedures as much as possible.This flooring system can withstand high temperatures, thermal exposure to reflective heat from ovens, as well as heavy impact, heavy machinery and equipment, and a high volume of footfall. It can also resist particularly harmful chemicals used as part of the Clean-In-Place CIP process such as caustic soda, nitric and phosphoric acid.

The project, designed by Uno-A, welcomes 110 flats in three different types of buildings linked by several planted areas; and various common areas, such as a coworking space and an equipped gym.The façades use GRC (Glassfibre Reinforced Concrete) panels and coloured glass panels to provide architectural identification.Bandalux worked closely with both the architect and the real estate Iempa Immobiliare to provide shading solutions depending on the location and type of building. Z-Box, B-Box Systems and Cofre style awning are place externally, being three different options to management sunlight.Polyscreen® 403 and Trend Light BO fabrics configured these systems according to the lighting needs: visual contact or perfect occultation. On the other hand, Premium Plus roller blinds s are installed inside, providing optimal solar control and comfort.

The project involves demolishingthe legacy pool and hall to makeway for two new swimming pools, athermal suite, a modern gym,state-of-the-art fitness equipment,exercise and refreshment facilities. Brett was able to provide 305 m2 ofInvicta Trio in each of the threecolours – Moonstone, Onyx, andPearl – as well as an additional 20m2 of mixed size paving in 80mm ofeach colour for the project. Bycombining these colours, the clientwas able to create an eye-catching,mix n match design leading up tothe Leisure Centre entrance.Brett’s Invicta block pavingproducts were able to solve severalchallenges faced by the project,including the need for a suitableproduct that was readily availableand competitively priced. WithBrett’s help, the paving contractorwas able to source the requiredpaving products without any delays,ensuring that the project wascompleted on time and withinbudget.

Project Name:Niles Bakery, St AustellProject Location:St Austell, CornwallProduct UsedCemfloor C30Based in the scenic town of St. Austell, this project consists of a ground floor baking factory over 630m2 and first floor office space of similar size.Cemfloor was chosen for this project thanks to its many benefits including easy installation and reduced drying time.The floor needed to be strong enough to carry the weight of the baking machines so Cemfloor c30 at75mm was the proposed solution for the ground floor.On the first floor, heavy foot traffic and office equipment needed to be considered and Cemfloorc30 at 50mm was installed.Time on site was limited and the screed needed to be installed in a short time frame. NMA Flooring started the pour at 8am and were offsite by 11:30am. Light site traffic work was able to commence 48 hours after the pour

Clarke is a Construction Company based in Ballymena, Northern Ireland with over 25 years in business.In line with the company’s sustainability strategy of designing and building safe, eco sustainable and elegant buildings the office building is paved in AG’s TerraPave® Rimini Ground flagstones.With sustainability in mind, AG’s TerraPave® flagstones were the perfect choice. The striking granite aggregate finish of the flags ensures to complement the modern finish of the building. TerraPave® flags are manufactured from specially selected granite and other natural aggregates. Their exceptional appearance is achieved by using the most up-to-date manufacturing and finishing equipment.TerraPave® flagstones has now also the added benefit of Enduur 1 concrete technology which enhances the surface colour and reduces efflorescence. The enhanced mix increases strength, resistance to wear and tear, longevity and delivers more vibrance to the surface finish

The Heineken brewery at Tadcaster has a 38 million litre capacity and is one of the largest in the country.The Heineken brewery produces more than 90% of the beers sold in the UK, and around 30% of the nation’s apples go into their ciders. The company required upgraded door systems at their processing facility in Tadcaster. Dortek supplied large Novosprint high speed doors between storage and production areas. The short opening and closing speeds of the Novosprint doors which have speeds of up to 5 m/s were ideal for this client who wanted fast, collision free access. The doors were also equipped with radar activation sensors, two photocells and traffic light control for safe and trouble-free operation. The safety sensors prevent the risk of accidents and drastically reduce any damage to the goods or the transport vehicles using the doors.

The client required a durable, low-maintenance, all-season surface for this 3.3 km stretch of two-way, segregated cycleway in Birmingham that would offer clear demarcation and provide a safe, appealing route for cyclists.ULTICOLOUR, Tarmac’s durable coloured asphalt was chosen to surface this cycleway, in a mid blue colour, to provide clear demarcation from the existing road surface. Using a high performance clear binder it offers brighter coloured asphalts, ideal for demarcation. ULTICOLOUR SMA is BBA HAPAS approved for use on UK highways as a coloured thin surface course and has been in use on UK roads for over 20 years. It has proven to be highly durable, delivering lasting performance, even on highly trafficked roads. ULTICOLOUR can be laid quickly over large areas using standard paving equipment, just like a conventional surface course.

A full refurbishment and renewal of the Endoscopy Unit included specialist stainless steel equipment from GEC Andertson Limited. Height adjustable sink units were required due to the ergonomic demands associated with the rigourous and meticulous cleaning of scopes. A fully stainless steel specification was demanded for reasons of hygiene but also of durability.Endoscopy is an activity under ever-increasing demand for may and varied ailments that are treated in hospitals, due to it’s relative speed and to its less invasive nature, compared with conventional operations.GEC Anderson were able to provide the necessary sink sizes to accommodate the [sometimes large] scopes. The cost of the scopes make it essential to do everything that is reasonably possible to prolong their life through correct cleaning and maintenance procedures.GEC Anderson have been involved in many other such facilities as well as other specialist hospital units.

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

Housing over 360 apartments, the Wembley Park redevelopment was a huge transformation of a long-neglected space around Wembley Stadium and turning it into a fresh, new part of London.By using Michelmersh’s Floren Polaris, the architect, Flanagan Lawrence was able to create eye-catching, monolithic facades that are easy to recognise from a distance. Chris Kallan of Flanagan Lawrence stated ‘This is a beautiful brick which has a hint of whiteness; because of that it changes colour subtly as the daylight changes to give the facades a real dynamism,’.The project was envisioned to be a multi-use area and regenerate the area into a vibrant, residential retail and entertainment area. First-floor podium gardens allow for playing space for children as well as areas designed to create community spaces for areas such as libraries and further gardens.

Chosen in a riven textured finish and in Iceberg, Bordeaux and Basalt colours to create symmetry in the building’s decorative facade, the high quality of each Carea cladding panel creates a stylish finish which met the architect’s vision. In addition special vent tiles were specified which were used above the windows and for kitchen extracts to create an invisible way of creating ventilation for the building.Each of the riven panels were installed by OCL Facades using innovative grooves at the top and bottom edges to create a seamless finish. As well as an efficient secret fix installation process, Carea cladding panels provide several performance benefits. Offering a high degree of insulation, they will play a pivotal role in the development’s thermal efficiency, thereby lowering its heating needs and aiding sustainability. 

Founded in 1903, Ransom Everglades is a premier independent school for grades 6 - 12 located on two campuses in Coconut Grove in the south of Florida. The institution combines rigorous college preparation with a long tradition of experiential learning and a commitment to educated graduates to leave the world better than they found it.As part of the mission, Ransom Everglades has made a concerted effort to promote environmental sustainability by continually seeking out opportunities for energy conservation measures across its facilities. Over the years, the school has worked closely with its controls contractor, Smart Building Solutions (SBS), to update aging systems and deploy cutting-edge solutions to improve energy efficiency. One technology that played a critical role in its most recent capital project was the Belimo Energy Valve.

Stoneham Park is a primary academy that can place 315 children aged 4 to 11. Sponsored by the University of Winchester, the academy is set over two floors with 11 classrooms, group working rooms, library, multi-use games area and grassed play areas. All the while, it maintains stunning views of its historic deer park setting. Conceived as a lean, compact and energy efficient two-storey form, the building is modest in scale and future-proofed for expansion to the east.Cellecta’s ScreedBoard 28 was specified by Hampshire County Council due to its unrivalled acoustic performance, typically 5dB better than legislative requirements. The interlocking edges on our ScreedBoard 28 makes it easy to install.Morgan Sindall Construction was awarded this 600m² contract to construct this development within the Hampshire area.

The children’s hospital is the largest centre for child heart surgery in the UK and one of the largest centres for heart transplantation in the world. The hospital is constructing a new building which will contain an Intraoperative Magnetic Resonance suite as well as physiotherapy and rehabilitation facilities. The suite will enable surgical teams to check whether complex procedures have worked, before patients wake up.Dortek supplied our specialist hybrid doors which are hygienic, lead-lined, fire-rated, automated and hermetically sealing. Our doors are specifically constructed for high hygiene areas and are completely free from timber or other organic materials which can harbour bacteria. The doors play an essential role in preventing cross-contamination as well as providing certified fire and x-ray protection and ensuring safe and efficient access for patients and staff.

Project Name: Charter SquareLocation: SurreySector: ResidentialDeveloper: London SquareSystem Supplied: Bespoke Fabrication, LandMark IICharter Square, a large-scale residential and commercial development in Staines-Upon-Thames, was delivered in three phases to revitalize a previously neglected stretch of the high street. The project aimed to create a vibrant, mixed-use community by providing 440 homes alongside commercial spaces, improved public areas, and amenity space for residents.Fusion Facades played a pivotal role in the success of Charter Square by being awarded the supply contract for various components of the development's facade. The company was responsible for supplying window heads and cills, spandrel panels, and LandMark II rainscreen cladding.The flagship development is located in a highly sought-after area and features an impressive mix of contemporary and traditional architectural styles. The facade, in particular, was designed to be visually striking and functional, as it needed to be able to withstand various weather conditions while providing thermal insulation to the homes and commercial spaces.Fusion Facades rose to the challenge by providing high-quality bespoke solutions tailored to the specific requirements of the project. The company's expertise and experience in delivering complex facade systems were evident throughout the development's construction, ensuring that the project was delivered on time and to the highest standards.Charter Square has already made a significant impact on the surrounding area, breathing new life into a previously neglected stretch of the high street. The development's blend of residential and commercial spaces has created a vibrant, bustling community that has quickly become a desirable place to live and work.Overall, Charter Square is an excellent example of how innovative design and high-quality construction can transform a neglected area into a thriving, modern community. Fusion Facades' contribution to the project played a vital role in its success, highlighting the company's commitment to delivering outstanding facade solutions that meet the needs of clients and communities alike.

Paving with character required for one of UK’s most biodiverse developmentsWorking in conjunction with London Wildlife Trust, Berkeley Group’s design objective was strongly influenced by the environment surrounding the scheme. The overall aim of the multi-functional location was to encourage users to socialise and enjoy the open space and facilities available. Residents can enjoy 13 acres of parkland across 2 new parks in addition to outdoor leisure spaces including an amphitheatre, play areas, and fitness trails. The Green Quarter hard landscaping design needed to tie in with the vibrant nature of the area. A functional yet aesthetically pleasing solution was required, ensuring commuter-friendly paving options. Due to the scale of the location, creative laying patterns were required to add character and break up the space.   Tobermore’s Artro adds vibrancy and personality to transformed development Tobermore worked closely with the project team throughout the design process offering complimentary paving visualisations and bespoke sample panels for the extensive hard landscaping on the scheme. The visualisation and sample service provided confidence in the final product selection.  Outdoor leisure spaces including an amphitheatre, play areas, and fitness trails provide a place for residents to unwind. Community events including outdoor cinema screenings and food markets will create a thriving new community. There will also be a new primary school, health centre and community facility. With creativity at its core, Artro block paving was laid in an interesting five-way colour mix of Heather, Bracken, Autumn, Slate and Carbon in a trendy herringbone pattern. Other pedestrianised zones feature Artro in warm clay-like tones of Heather and Autumn in a stretcher bond laying pattern. Artro’s ability to create unique design patterns by seamlessly blending various colour tones adds originality and personality to the scheme.  Thanks to Tobermore’s PrimeTop hard-wearing surface layer, Berkeley Group can be confident that Artro will retain its original appearance for many years to come.     

For Sheila Dearns, a former language teacher for 32 years, living with MS meant that as her condition progressed, she found her kitchen ill-equipped to cope with her changing needs.Sheila’s home is a bungalow in the centre of Chelmsford, where she has lived since 1996. It was when her MS began to leave her with little energy that Sheila decided to retire in 2010 and since then, she is finding it harder to ‘load bear’ and now classes herself as a full-time wheelchair user.It was when Sheila was left an inheritance from a relative that she began to consider making some practical changes to her home. The former kitchen was narrow with no accessible workspace to prepare meals. In fact, Sheila had to chop vegetables on the dining room table instead. With little energy and as a full-time wheelchair user, Sheila needed something to change in order for her to continue living independently at home.Her friend’s sister, Teresa Shaw; who owns the company Onyx Rehabilitation Ltd  that helps people with life-changing injuries, put Sheila in touch with leading designer of accessible kitchens Adam Thomas of the Adam Thomas Consultancy. It’s thanks to Adam’s input and collaboration that Freedom by Symphony have transformed the lives of so many people by empowering them with a sense of independence, enjoying accessible kitchens that are both practical to use and stylish to look at.Adam worked with kitchen retailer Blaines Interiors to create an accessible kitchen for Sheila that now works as the hub of her home. The project began by knocking down the wall between the former kitchen and living room to create one larger, open-plan space. Sheila moved out while the work was being done and the result is a fully wheelchair-friendly area with widened access to the garden, too.“Working with Blaines, we designed a fully functional and accessible kitchen,” says Adam, “which now includes I-move pull down baskets, allowing Sheila to access top shelves in wall cabinets without standing up from a seated position along with a 2.4m Rise & Fall worktop, a lovely feature that Sheila can adjust to suit her height so that she can use the worktop, sink with front access tap and hob when seated in her wheelchair. It’s a really flexible solution, as it can also be used by family and friends in the rise position. We also included a lowered dining table on hairpin legs for wheelchair access underneath, a pull and twist larder for easy access to dried ingredients, corner Le Mans storage and a combination oven, which suits Sheila’s style of cooking.”Sheila and Adam worked closely with Anthony Elsey from Blaines Interiors, who was a wonderful source of inspiration and ideas. Sheila wanted her kitchen to be calm and soothing with a brightly tiled splashback to add a statement look. “As a one-stop shop, Blaines takes clients on a seamless journey from conception to completion,” says Anthony. “This includes personalised consultation, expert advice, meticulous planning, flawless installation and the final finishing touches. Our team of designers are not only creative but also empathetic and supportive, ensuring that every client’s needs are met. They take pride in designing kitchens that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also affordable and accessible to all.”Design manager Anthony has experience in working with young people and adults with special educational needs and disabilities and is fully committed to serving Freedom clients by creating fully functional and accessible kitchens. Blaines Interiors has two Freedom showrooms with four operational displays, where customers can explore and experience their designs first-hand. Their reach extends across the entire Eastern region, serving Norfolk, Essex, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.Sheila now has the hub of the home she really wanted. “I can now cook for myself and use all the facilities,” she says. “My energy also now lasts longer too, as everything is made so much simpler for me.”

As we strive to create optimal learning environments for students, innovative solutions that blend functionality with aesthetics are gaining popularity. Among the frontrunners in this domain is Twinfix, a leading manufacturer and installer of high-quality canopies for educational institutions. With a strong commitment to transforming school spaces, Twinfix has been spearheading remarkable projects in Welsh schools, providing students with covered areas that foster learning, play, and socialisation.One standout example of Twinfix’s exceptional canopy work is the transformation of Ysgol Bro Myrddin. Situated in Carmarthen, this primary school now boasts a stunning and practical canopy that has revolutionised its outdoor learning opportunities. By collaborating with the school staff and understanding their unique requirements, Twinfix manufactured, designed and installed a bespoke canopy solution tailored to the school’s needs.The results have been nothing short of transformative. The canopy provides a versatile space for various activities, enabling outdoor learning experiences regardless of the weather. Students can now engage in educational sessions, play, and socialise, all while being protected from rain or excessive sunlight. Twinfix’s innovative design has seamlessly integrated the canopy into the existing architecture, enhancing the school’s overall aesthetic appeal.Expanding Impact: Other Inspiring Examples:In addition to the remarkable work done at Ysgol Bro Myrddin, Twinfix has been involved in several other school canopy projects across Wales. Below we have listed a few more examples that showcase the diverse applications and positive impact of their installations:Ysgol Llanllechid:Located in Gwynedd, Ysgol Llanllechid is an exemplary bilingual primary school. Twinfix partnered with the school to create an inviting outdoor area that complements their commitment to holistic education. The school have continued to invest in utilising their outdoor space by adding five new canopies and extending one since the first canopy was installed. The new canopies have become a hub for creative activities, stimulating curiosity and imagination among the students.Ysgol Glannau Gwaun:Twinfix’s collaboration with Ysgol Glannau Gwaun in Pembrokeshire led to the creation of an expansive canopy that connects different areas of the campus. This architectural marvel provides a sheltered walkway spanning 40 sqm, providing sheltered passage and waiting area for the students.Ysgol Rhyd Y Llan:Twinfix’s canopy installation at Ysgol Rhyd Y Llan in Anglesey has revolutionised the school’s approach to outdoor learning. The versatile canopy space now serves as an outdoor classroom, enabling teachers to deliver engaging lessons in a stimulating environment.Twinfix’s dedication to enhancing learning environments in Welsh schools through their exceptional canopy work is commendable. By collaborating closely with educational institutions and understanding their unique requirements, Twinfix has successfully transformed outdoor spaces into dynamic hubs for learning, creativity, and socialisation.As we continue to recognise the importance of providing holistic educational experiences, Twinfix’s canopies have become instrumental in breaking down traditional classroom barriers. Through their innovative designs, they have opened up new avenues for outdoor learning, play, and exploration, empowering students to thrive in inspiring environments.

A brand new, state of the art Oncology Unit had been proposed for Southampton General Hospital, to become a flagship facility for the area. Designed to house 27 dedicated beds, cutting edge treatment rooms and medical equipment, the new Oncology Unit would provide life-saving treatment for cancer patients and essential support services to the locality.With works originally scheduled to commence during the COVID-19 pandemic, the NHS Trust Estates Team worked closely with Garland UK and all contractors to speed up the construction as safely as possible, to ensure the vital facilities were available at the earliest convenience.From the outset, Southampton General clearly outlined their future intentions to increase the capacity of the Oncology Unit, and fully utilise the inverted roof design by adding extra stories of ward space.As an essential part of Garland’s brief, the unique design intentions for the building had to be factored in and the rooftop waterproofing system required careful planning.

Gradus has provided LED Step Lighting solutions for a new cross-media venue based in Nottingham, creating an atmospheric lighting effect while aiding wayfinding.Confetti X, a £5m complex at Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies, part of Nottingham Trent University, offers students state-of-the-art technology for esports production, content creation and other emerging technologies like virtual production. The 100-seater venue features a large video wall for 4k broadcast complete with LED wings and hosts amateur and professional esports tournaments.The Gradus ATD121L Aluminium Step Profile was supplied and fitted on the steps in the seating area, featuring the company’s 5w Gradus Impression 3000k Warm White commercial-grade LED tape to ensure long-lasting reliability. A selection of control equipment was supplied, including an RF controller with a wireless hand-held remote, enabling the theatre to control and adjust the lighting as required.

Dart Valley Systems (DVS), part of Franke water systems was chosen for the washroom revamp at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in North London. The client required a setup that was robust, modern, and aesthetically pleasing. During the initial phase, DVS worked closely with the client to create a solution based on the project teams’ requirements. DVS has in-house capabilities to create bespoke product specifications and has worked alongside the client previously at their leading training facility. This was a great opportunity to put forward tried and tested products which were tailored to the client’s specific needs. DVS put forward customised programmable sensors for WCs, urinals and showers, alongside WC flushvalves. The stadium is now equipped with an intelligent and fully customised washroom system that saves water, increases hygiene and allows data capture. DVS is proud to have contributed to what is considered by many as the benchmark for future stadium and entertainment venues worldwide.

In response to the aspirations of our up-and-coming fast-food customer, seeking to extend the dining experience into the inviting embrace of summer months, we embarked on a project to seamlessly integrate a patio terrace with their new restaurant. Positioned at the front of the establishment, this terrace would not only enhance the dining experience but also provide patrons with a warm and enticing view of the dining facility.To bring this vision to life, we proposed a sophisticated bi-folding system designed to offer an expansive opening, effectively blurring the boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces. This innovative solution provided a seamless transition, allowing guests to seamlessly move between the restaurant’s interior and the charming patio terrace. Moreover, the bi-folding system was equipped with an easy-to-use lockable folding door mechanism, ensuring both security and convenience for staff. To further personalise the space and align with the customer’s corporate identity, custom graphics were incorporated, adding a unique touch that resonated with the brand’s ethos and aesthetic.

PROJECT OVERVIEWHaving a strong reputation for developing innovative design-led partitioning solutions, Norwood was given the challenge of creating an acoustically sealed teaching pod areas within the iconic Round House grade II listed building at Derby College. The project was commissioned in consultation with Bowmer & Kirkland and Maber Architects.OUR SCOPE OF WORKWe demonstrated our ability to introduce fully demountable and relocatable teaching pods into a grade II listed building, with the benefits of their obvious stunning visual and acoustic appeal. Whilst the solution emphasises the importance of using a design-led partition solution partner, our on-site manufacturing facilitates allowed delivery of finished materials direct to site, thereby minimising on-site disruption. Furthermore, the incorporation of electrical and mechanical equipment within the partition design was a significant to the overall project finish. We provided our Mediline solid and glazed partitions, PodSolve, doors and walk on ceilings.

A ground-breaking initiative that certifies installers of gas membranes has been launched by JUTA UK and the British Board of Agrément working closely with specialist installer DMI and other industry partners.The new Gas Membrane Approved Installer Scheme is the culmination of three years’ work and is the first of its kind in the UK, delivering supply chain reassurance of high-quality products installed by competent, certified professionals to ensure safe outcomes.It is ‘absolutely right that competent and trained professionals should install these critical barrier applications, which play a key role in the built environment and are designed to last for the lifetime of structures into which they are installed. We talk as an industry about sustainable and resilient solutions for the built environment, and that means using the best possible products, independently certified, installed to the highest possible standards, designed to last for the lifetime of the structure.

Aluminium curtain walling was used for the impressive glass extensions on the pre-existing Great Sankey Leisure Centre building in Warrington. As a part of a multiple-phase, £16 million development, the project transformed the site into a state-of-the-art leisure, health and culture facility.The transformational two-storey glass facade extension was built with 4300m2 of TECHNAL Visible Grid and Vertical Trame curtain walling at double height, incorporating glass and spandrel panels. Now known as the Great Sankey Neighborhood Hub, the centre plays host to a wealth of facilities including swimming pools, tennis courts, a sports hall, 3G football pitch, dance studios, cafe, spa, library and even a GP surgery. The entire site has been designed to be dementia friendly and over 700 locals were consulted over the plans to ensure that everyone's needs were met.

The award-winning offices at the Angel Building!When they launched in late 2010, Angel Building was Derwent London’s largest redevelopment. Designed by AHMM architects with elegant and robust modern detailing, the six-storey office building is playing an important role in regenerating the area.Angel Building was shortlisted for RIBA Stirling Prize 2011 and has won awards from RIBA London, the British Council for Offices and New London Architecture. Within the first 13 months of opening it was fully occupied. Expedia now occupy the entire office until 2030.In this development our Arriva was used, the frameless doors crafted for modern interior settings. Arriva stands out as an exceptionally versatile doorset featuring an outward-opening action. When positioned in front of the concealed flush side, the door gracefully swings open towards you, adding to its user-friendly and adaptable design.

Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW) continuously strive to provide better education for the next generation of medical professionals. As such, with help from NTW Solutions they wanted to create a modern learning space for their medical education centre in Gosforth. Forbo Flooring Systems' Flotex, Modul'up and Allura Flex ranges all played a key role in bringing this project together .NTW solutions was established in 2017 by CNTW NHS Foundation Trust to provide a range of important services, across a variety of teams. They work alongside stakeholders such as NHS Foundation Trust to provide high-end project outcomes. Offering a variety of foundation placements, the medical centre will provide young nurses and doctors with a good base level of education to then move forwards in their chosen speciality. To do this there was a variety of factors to review when looking at designs.

Kawneer played its part in the impressive Hale Wharf regeneration project by supplying our AA®100 Curtain Wall System, known for its excellent thermal performance and flexibility of design choice. The system features on both the ground floor retail and communal entrances of the 21-Storey (Block A) and 15-Storey (Block B) Buildings. It also features our AA®190 TB Doors on Block B that excel in high-traffic environments due to its robust and welded construction. The one and two-bedroom apartments are also fitted with Kawneer’s AA®720 Casement and AA®720 Tilturn Windows and AA®3572 Lift/Slide Doors, giving residents access to their balconies and the far-reaching city views which help set this exceptional development apart.

In May 2014, the “Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre” was opened at the northern entrance to the “Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park”, marking the conclusion of the sustainable development of the former London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic sports venues on the Eton Manor site. Today, the sports centre is the headquarters of the English hockey umbrella organisation, ‘England Hockey’, as well as an important training centre for the “Lawn Tennis Association”. The hockey pitches are fitted with Polytan’s Poligras artificial turf system and therefore meet the highest professional standards, as shown by the fact that they were chosen as the venue for the European Hockey Championships in August 2015. Participants played on a synthetic turf system with an unusual design: A Union Jack was incorporated into the border of the London Blue pitch using red and white patches. In conjunction with the high-quality and modern architecture, the hockey and tennis centre therefore now has a supremely stylish appearance.