"steel"

The new flagship outlet of Pioneer Foodstore in Carlisle was built to a high specification with the aim of significantly extending their client base. The planning application had to meet the requirement for a screen to conceal the roof-top services and air-conditioning plant.Italia-80V was proposed, which could be bent to a radius, to fulfill the vision for a semi-circular end to one side of the compound. The 2950mm high steel louvre panels were welded onto appropriately shaped RSA support rails at top and bottom, which were supplied with multiple holes for fixing to the posts to ensure perfect continuity of spacing. A double-leaf gate was also seamlessly incorporated by using a front fixing design.Lang+Fulton worked closely with the architect at an early stage to advise on the fixing points for the posts which would carry the screen. This ensured that the thermal barrier and waterproof membrane could be wrapped up the footings for a neat and effective installation.

The project design included a car park solar shading system from Contrasol Ltd. The extruded aluminium profiles form feature solar shading ‘fins’ running vertically on the exterior of the multi-story car park, with galvanized steel plates behind the fins at each floor level to screen car headlights. By using Powdertech’s PWF 020 Wood Finish on the metal the large building could be brought into harmony with its environment, being less visible in the landscape. Unlike wood, PWF will not deteriorate or warp. It is also a benefit for the installer to be working with a homogenous material with good dimensional stability. The colour and gloss retention for Wood Finish is excellent and it will remain looking good for over 25 years with minimal maintenance required. The project in numbers: 9000 metres of 200 x 50mm extruded aluminium profiles 530 pre-galvanized plates, 1m x 1.5 m 7700 fixing brackets 5780 end caps

The responsive service and high standard of craftsmanship offered by stainless steel specialist, GEC Anderson has led to the manufacturer repeating the success of a previous collaboration with a design practice renowned for its expertise in historic buildings: creating a commercial style kitchen within a very confined space in the undercroft to London’s French Protestant Church.  Although it was established in London by Royal Charter five centuries ago in 1550, the French Protestant Church’s current home in Soho Square was designed by Sir Aston Webb and was completed in 1893. The current contract came about partly as the result of an aspiration for improved facilities, able to cater for larger numbers of people and a pressing need to replace the sub-structure’s failing tanking system. Caroe Architecture Ltd. was duly appointed as the lead consultant while Coniston Ltd. was the main contractor for the work.Having worked with GEC Anderson on previous projects such as The Old Deanery in the City of London, Caroe Architecture was confident in seeking the company’s advice on the possibilities for the refit in the very confined space of the barrel-vaulted crypt. GEC responded by conducting a detailed site survey, followed by a ‘templating’, supply and installation contract.  The Project Architect, Alanah Honey, commented: “Not only was the existing, domestic scale kitchen beneath the French Protestant Church not meeting its full needs, but the failure of the old waterproofing measures required the walls to be taken right back to bare brickwork for repair.From previously just providing tea and coffee, the client wanted to move to more of a commercial scale installation, but unfortunately there wasn’t the space or the extract capacity for a full commercial facility, we therefore went for the highest specification we could, calling on the services of GEC Anderson on the basis of our past experience of working with the company.”  “The fit-out has gone very well with GEC installing all of its stainless steel drawer units, shelves and work-surfaces as well as providing a detailed specification for the church to purchase all the appliances direct, to help keep within budget. We are delighted to have been appointed to York Minster this year, having been nominated as Inspecting Architects to a number of other Cathedrals and major churches over the last 10 years. So our work is expanding significantly beyond London and Cambridge – also involving National Trust properties as well as the Oxbridge Colleges – so there is the likelihood for further cooperation with GEC.”   Benedicte Fougier, the President of the Consistory stated, “On the advice of our architects, Caroe Architecture Ltd., we contracted GEC Anderson to design and build a kitchen in our quirky, grade 2* historical building which was no small feat given the many architectural constraints. GEC Anderson has been terrific, coming up with creative ideas and delivering exactly what we needed and more. They have been extremely professional and personable throughout, very engaged with us through constant communication and adjusting their design until the last minute to take into account our needs”. Since its formation in 1962, GEC Anderson has built its reputation for the supply of top end stainless steel sinks and sanitaryware on a combination of innovative design, top quality materials and expert craftsmanship. In addition to the company’s Decimetric system of cabinets, sinks, drainers and other equipment - widely specified for sectors including health and catering - the company’s custom engineered solutions have been selected for some of the country’s top sports, entertainment and leisure destinations. 

Viega’s Megapress press connection technology has been installed across 11 floors of a new £85 million development, 125 Deansgate in Manchester. Selected for its speed of installation and its reputation as a trusted method for connecting thick walled steel tube without hot works, the Megapress connections have been used throughout the heating system.With 12 floors in total, 125 Deansgate echoes the industrial Victorian architecture of the Deansgate area and comprises 117,000 square foot of offices above 12,000 square foot of retail space at ground floor level. The development is expected to achieve a BREEAM Excellence rating on completion.Briggs & Forrester Engineering Services Ltd. were awarded the M&E contract by main contactor Marcus Worthington & Co. Ltd. and began on site in May last year. Briggs & Forrester had not previously worked with Viega’s Megapress system in its northern region so this was the team’s first experience of the product.On the decision to use it in this development, Richie Jones, Site Manager for the company commented: “The project specification suggested using a crimp system for the pipe connections, but Briggs & Forrester Engineering Services do not use lightweight carbon steel crimp systems, so we were looking for an alternative.“Our sister company, Briggs & Forrester Living highlighted that they had used a Viega press connection system on one of their projects and had also been on a Viega factory tour where they had been impressed with the Megapress system. After researching Megapress and the installation process ourselves, we decided to use the product for 125 Deansgate.”In total, approximately 7,000 Megapress connection joints were installed, with somewhere between 500 and 650 joints being used per floor across the 11 floors of office space.Richie highlighted that while Briggs & Forrester were working to a tight programme, Viega’s Megapress helped the company to meet its installation targets though its simple installation process.Using Megapress press connections can provide a 60% to 80% time saving compared with alternatives such as welding, grooving or threading tube. Viega’s proven SC-Contur technology is also designed to deliver a 100% positive leak if a fitting is left unpressed which is clearly discernible during leakage testing or when the system is filled for the first time. This prevents costly remedial work that might be required later on and can again save contractors a significant amount of time on site.Richie continued: “The installation of the Megapress connections was simple and we did not have any issues with the products. There is a good selection of connections to choose from to suit any installation requirement and the system is also simple to clean which reduces the flushing time and overall cost.“We will definitely use Megapress again - using Viega is like going back to using traditional heavy grade steel pipe systems but with a modern twist.”Paul McCormick, Senior Project Manager at Marcus Worthington & Co. Ltd commented, “As yet, Briggs and Forrester have not started to test the system; however, from a safety stand point the Megapress system is much better than traditional brazed pipework as it cuts down on the number of live hot works permits required at any one time and is also less prone to workmanship errors. I look forward to seeing the system prove its reliability during testing.”

The Kunsthalle Mannheim museum of modern and contemporary art was opened at the end of 2017 by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. As Germany’s largest new museum building, it is a prime example of both civic commitment and architectural skill. The private patrons initiative – with SAP founder Hans-Werner Hector alone donating EUR 50 million – was what made the bold design at Friedrichsplatz possible. Based on the concept developed by the architects von Gerkan, Marg and Partners, a city within the city was created here, which reinterprets classic museum architecture while honoring Mannheim’s historical city layout. The composition of room-forming cubes is visually connected by a sophisticated façade made of bronze-coloured stainless steel fabric from GKD – GEBR. KUFFERATH AG (GKD). The translucent shell creates a subtle dialog between the inside and outside world. At the same time, the masterfully varying transparency of the fabric translates the scale of the building, creating a balanced sense of near and far.Following a construction period of around two and half years, the museum ensemble comprising the Billing Building from 1907, the connecting Athene Wing, and the new Kunsthalle museum building – named the Hector Building after the main benefactor – presents itself as an inviting whole. The Kunsthalle museum building replaces the rather dilapidated Mitzlaff Building, an extension constructed in 1983. The new building, developed by gmp as the winner of a two-stage architecture competition, respects the art nouveau architecture of the old building through its consciously reduced language. The architects created a monolithic, seamless concrete structure for the prominent location which fits in harmoniously with the development at Friedrichplatz and blends with the historic building. Their concept of transforming the museum into a city within the city comprises 13 cubes of different heights and widths that are offset from one another. As a tribute to Mannheim’s chessboard city layout, sometimes also referred to as the city of squares, a network of open and closed rooms was created with alternating perspectives depending on the location of the viewer. Seven of these cubes are grouped around the heart of the new Kunsthalle Mannheim, the 22-meter-high open atrium that boasts an area of 700 square meters. The cubes are connected to one another via galleries, terraces, and bridges. These guide visitors around the space and then back to their starting point in the atrium. The museum’s visitor experience thereby reflects the dynamics and architecture of a city. A total of three exhibition levels offer new presentation opportunities, including the full-height city window on the first floor, which offers an impressive view of the water tower. The atrium, which is covered by a glass roof and therefore flooded with light, grants fascinating views in all directions. Even without an admission ticket, visitors can enter the building, immerse themselves in its atmosphere, and take a few minutes out to enjoy a coffee. The feeling of wide open space and cosmopolitanism stimulate a sense of curiosity among visitors to explore the other rooms. At the same time, the window-like façade creates a sense of togetherness between the city and the museum, ensuring that everyone feels at ease.Woven work of artThis feeling is underlined by the stainless steel fabric façade cladding. It unites the real urban environment with its artistic counterpart and allows the city and museum visitors to come together and participate in one another’s lives. To this end, the architects went with a significantly higher degree of transparency for the fabric in front of the large-format glazed surfaces than for that cladding the fiber cement panels in front of the cubes. This varying degree of transparency preserves the effect of the architectural concept, regardless of the viewing distance. Despite the colossal dimensions of the building’s structure and façade, the woven skin loses nothing of its textile effect even from a distance. This was made possible by the fabric design developed by GKD especially for this project, which acts like a work of art in its own right. The company wove stainless steel wires and tubes of two different diameters – 3 mm and 25 mm – into four-wire warp wire groups made of untreated stainless steel. The key here was to use weaving techniques to completely balance out the varying stress ratios in the fabric due to the differences in wire thickness, so that the façade would withstand the strict static requirements caused by wind and snow. However, the exceptional fabric design also had to face another challenge: to replicate the precisely stipulated colour tone of the woven skin chosen, itself selected following a lengthy decision-making process. Despite the various metal mesh components employed, including cables, wires, tubes, and tube side closures, its homogeneity needed to be guaranteed across the entire surface. GKD’s many years of experience with coating technologies and their effects on buildings proved invaluable here. For example, the wires were coated in a continuous process, while the tubes were painted together with the closures in a spraying process and all then interwoven with the untreated warp wire groups.A total of 72 panels, each measuring around 20 meters in length and 3.26 meters in width, were used to create the sophisticated skin which lends the Kunsthalle its versatile face. With the discreet brilliance of the warm bronze tone, the finished fabric reflects the colour of the sandstone used in neighboring buildings. The large, stainless steel fabric façade measures over 4,600 square meters and changes its appearance throughout the day, in all weather conditions, from near or far. During daylight hours, it reflects the sunlight and its surroundings with the water tower and urban life. In the evening, it employs an intelligent lighting concept from below which transforms the Kunsthalle into the illuminated focal point of Mannheim’s most elegant square. The transparent façade grants unobstructed views of the city and the water tower from inside the museum. At the same time, it offers passers-by inviting insights into what goes on inside the museum. The metal fabric façade thereby establishes a connection between the city and the museum, which effortlessly succeeds in striking a perfect balance between reduced design language and desired emotionality.

2021 sees Rolls Royce unveil Testbed 80, the world’s largest & smartest indoor aerospace testbed, as part of a £90million investment. It has been a hard year for the aerospace industry, with production slowing, and cuts in jobs, however this ground breaking facility shows Rolls Royce’s confidence in the future of aerospace for decades to come.HAG Ltd. have proudly worked alongside Buckingham Group to assist in this ground breaking facility that will not only test propulsion systems of the future, but also secure jobs in Derby, UK for many years to come.HAG Ltd. were tasked with designing & manufacturing a roller shutter for this distinctive & state of the art facility, to enable Rolls Royce to test the largest, smartest and most powerful engines in the world by MDS Aero Support Corporation of Ottawa, Canada.HAG Ltd. designed, manufactured and installed 2 Armourguard F1 insulated roller shutters that were 7.5m by 15m. The F1 model is a high quality insulated security shutters delivering the highest level of security and offering thermal protection. A composite of foam filled sections is encased in a flat double skinned interlocking galvanised steel lath.The project:£90million project3 years of construction7,000 square metres, the same size as a Premier league football groundHouses the world’s largest exhaust pipeContains 3,218 tonnes of steelAnd 27,000 metres3 of concreteEquipped with a 40,000 litre fuel tankCapable of testing engines on Sustainable Aviation FuelThe most capable & complex testbed ever designed & builtWarren East, Chief Executive, Rolls-Royce, said: “Testbed 80 is the largest facility of its type in the world. However, it is not only big, it is also smart and features the most advanced testing technology we have ever used. As the new global hub of our testing capability, it will support the next stage of our UltraFan programme as we begin ground testing the first demonstrator in 2022. This incredible piece of infrastructure is a very visible sign of our commitment to this site and secures the future of Derby as the home of large engine development, continuing a history that began in the late 1960s with the RB211.”HAG Ltd. are proud to be part of this monumental development in the aviation industry.

This is the latest cycle hub designed, manufactured, supplied and installed this month by Falco for Stromness Travel Centre, located on the southwestern area of the picturesque Orkney Islands mainland.Installed on behalf of the Orkney Islands Council, the new cycle hub provides visitors to the Travel Centre with up to 20 secure cycle parking spaces utilising traditional Toaster cycle racks.In addition to the cycle parking, the cycle hub has been provided with 24 convenient lockers for the storage of helmets and personal equipment. The cycle hub makes use of toughened safety glass and bespoke branding graphics chosen by the client with powder coated applied to the galvanised steel framework in an attractive ‘Sapphire Blue’ RAL colour.The images attached show the new cycle hub installation, taken on a windy Wednesday afternoon and located on Ferry Road, near to the Stromness Ferry Terminal.Stromness Travel Centre is a tourism office providing visitors to the island with all travelling and sightseeing needs within one stop - with leaflets, timetables, booking services and a souvenir shop available to use and now secure sheltered cycle parking.The FalcoLok cycle hub as shown here at Stromness Travel Centre, is a contemporary cycle store manufactured from a combination of a galvanised steel frame and reinforced safety glass, designed to be sympathetic to the surrounding area. The FalcoHub was developed by Falco’s in house design team to ensure it met the client’s specification including structural calculations so that the whole design meets the UK/European CPR regulations EN1090 and is CE marked as per UK law.In addition to the cycle hub shown here for Stromness Travel Centre, Falco has also recently installed cycle hubs for many locations across the UK including Crewe, Runcorn, Birmingham International, Warrington Bank Quay and Carlisle station for Avanti West Coast, Bradford Royal Infirmary and St Luke’s Hospital for Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation, The Royal Oldham Hospital for Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, Ninewells Hospital & Medical School in Dundee and a bespoke cycle hub for Leicester City Council.For more information about the scheme here at Stromness Travel Centre, or how Falco can assist your cycle parking project, please contact our helpful sales team at sales@falco.co.uk.

Falco has completed the fourth cycle hub installation at The Telford Langley School in Telford as part of a new tranche of secure cycle hubs located at key areas across the borough.The scheme which got underway last year involves the design, manufacture, supply and installation of bespoke cycle hubs coupled with associated FalcoLevel-Eco two-tier cycle racks to allow commuters, residents and visitors to quickly and conveniently park their bike whilst on the go.The latest 6m x 4m cycle hub as shown here at The Telford Langley School, is based upon the UK’s most popular cycle hub design – the FalcoHub, which is manufactured from a combination of a hot-dip galvanised steel frame with reinforced safety glass cladding. FalcoLevel-Eco two-tier cycle racks have been installed providing secure accommodation for up to 28 bikes.A convenient FalcoFix 2.0 cycle station has been supplied allowing cyclists to inflate tyres and carry out basic cycle maintenance whilst on the go.The secure cycle hub also comes complete with proximity LED lighting, eye-catching ‘Travel Telford’ branding graphics and powder coating in an Anthracite Grey RAL colour.In addition to the cycle hub here at The Telford Langely School, Falco has also manufactured and installed three other cycle hubs for Telford & Wreking Council, with other cycle hubs located at Rampart Way – across the bridge from Telford Central Station, at Wellington Civic & Leisure Centre – to the right of the car park entrance, next to the Wellington Town Council building and at Oakengates Station – situated to the right side of the main entrance.The FalcoHub, as shown here for Telford & Wreking Council, is a contemporary cycle store manufactured from a combination of a galvanised steel frame and reinforced safety glass, designed to be sympathetic to the surrounding area. The FalcoHub was developed by Falco’s in house design team to ensure it met the client’s specification including structural calculations so that the whole design meets the UK/European CPR regulations EN1090 and is CE marked.For more information about the scheme here for Telford & Wrekin Council or how Falco can assist your cycle parking scheme, please contact our helpful sales team on 01538 380080.

Smet Supported Partner, Hargreaves Group contracted to M2 Plastering, machine applied the LIDL External Render System in Waterlooville onto Poroton blocks externally using as Base Coat: Bauprotec 850 M – Lightweight Lime Cement Render and as Finish Coat; Mineral Finish Coat K.  As Key Coat: Change of substrate concrete/steel pillar/Poroton block or mass concrete and insulated plinths: Bauprotec RHS Multi-Purpose Render with the addition of Bauprotec SLP for plinths.The Internal Render System specification onto Poroton blockwork consists of a base of Coat: Bauprotec 850 M, Lightweight Lime Cement Render, sponge floated in warehouse areas and skim finished in sales areas. Key Coat: Change of substrate concrete/steel pillar/Poroton block: Bauprotec RHS is used.The LIDL render spec, available from SMET consists of:Bauprotec 850 M is a factory produced Lightweight Lime Cement Render, specially designed for machine or hand application produced to EN 998-1: 2010 and is CE Marked.Bauprotec RHS is a CE Marked, factory-produced highly polymer-modified render specially designed for hand and machine application produced to EN 998-1: 2010.Mineral Finish Coat – K is a CE marked, factory-produced mineral-based, high-quality finish-coat render, specially designed for hand and machine application to EN 998-1, 2010.Bauprotec SLP is a CE Marked, factory-produced Lightweight Sand & Cement Render specially designed for hand and machine application produced to EN 998-1: 2010.The special render properties; lightweight, low thermal conductivity, high yield, and Smet Supported Partner superior technical backup, are key factors in choosing SMET.SMET is committed to delivering consistently superior quality, German-made Render Systems to Lidl Plastering and rendering/plastering contractors across the UK and ROI.  If you’d like to speak to us about your Lidl job – contact SMET.All LIDL spec SMET Render System products are available directly from Smet Building Products Ltd, who ensures the contractor has a superior level of technical back up in the machine application of the LIDL specification.

Falco has completed the roll-out of a new tranche of cycle parking facilities across East Midlands Railway’s Uttoxeter, Boston and Long Eaton stations. The scheme which got underway at the start of this year involved the manufacture, supply and installation of a number of cycle parking facilities with associated shelters to allow commuters and visitors to securely park their bikes whilst on the go.Two key products of this tranche of the East Midlands Railway scheme includes the open and spacious FalcoZan-180 cycle shelter and the UK’s leading FalcoLevel-Premium+ two-tier cycle rack, providing mass, sheltered and secure cycle parking across the network.To date, Falco has supplied the East Midlands Railway network with the following cycle parking infrastructure:Long EatonFalcoZan-180 cycle shelter with FalcoLevel-Premium+ two-tier cycle racks to securely accommodate 36 bikes. UttoxeterFalcoZan-180 cycle shelter with with FalcoLevel-Premium+ two-tier cycle racks to securely accommodate 18 bikes. BostonBespoke FalcoLok secure store with FalcoLevel-Premium+ two-tier cycle racks to accommodate 16 bikes.The FalcoLevel-Premium+ as installed at all three East Midlands Railway stations, is the UK’s most user friendly two-tier cycle parking system which makes use of both steel and aluminium to create a significant reduction in noise pollution and a much smoother transition of the upper tier.The FalcoZan-180 shelter, as installed at two stations, is a straightforward two-tier cycle rack shelter manufactured from a combination of hot-dip galvanised steel and sustainable hardwood slats.Pictured here is the new cycle parking facility at Long Eaton Station, installed at the main car park off the B6540, the new cycle parking facility installed at Uttoxeter station at the main carpark off station road and the new cycle parking facility at Boston station next to the main carpark off Station Approach.For more information about Falco’s scheme for East Midlands Trains or how Falco can assist your cycle parking scheme, please contact our helpful sales team on 01538 380080. 

Protecting detection systems is vital to fire safety with only a functioning smoke alarm able to protect you in an emergency.Landlord regulations and Government policesLandlords have responsibilities to keep tenants safe in their properties by providing functioning life safety equipment.Regulations introduced in 2015 require private sector landlords to ensure they ‘have at least one smoke alarm installed on every storey of their properties’ as a legal requirement.There is also a proposed change to this regulation, coming into effect later this year, which will mean social housing is also included, making it mandatory that all rented accommodation must have working smoke alarms fitted. It will also be compulsory for landlords to repair or replace any faulty alarms as soon as they are made aware of defects.Fines up to £5000To protect their tenant, it is the landlord’s responsibility to ensure detectors are fitted and working at the start of every new tenancy agreement. Failure to comply with The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Regulations introduced in 2015 can result in a hefty fine of up to £5000.One exasperated landlord wrote online that in one of his properties “Two of the detector heads have been tampered with, presumably so that the tenants can smoke in their rooms”. Consequently, this had been causing false fire alarms and it is up to the landlord to repair or replace the alarm.In some extreme cases, landlords have discovered that smoke alarms have been removed all together from properties, due to disturbances when cooking, smoking, etc. It is then up to the landlord to replace the alarm, and so it is advisable to invest in measures to prevent the alarms removal; some recommendations have been made in government legislations such as BS 5839-6:2019.Ultimately, landlords should feel obligated to ensure regular testing of smoke alarms and the replacement of batteries in their properties to reduce the risk of void insurance or a remedial notice. Simply testing smoke alarms can also help to prevent any danger to tenants and damage to properties should a fire occur.BS 5839-6:2019The latest recommendations in BS 5839-6:2019 are primarily concerned with saving lives and reducing injuries caused by fire, but also covers reducing property damage, which can be extremely costly to landlords in the case of fires.The guidance in BS 5839-6:2019 suggests that in environments such as HMOs, where multiple occupants can be disturbed by false alarms, landlords could alter their smoke alarms systems to have delays before the signal is sent to all tenants for the occupier to investigate the cause. This can help to reduce complacency during false fire alarms or the temptation to dangerously compromise smoke alarms.The recommendation also states that landlords should seek alternative smoke alarms that can alert to intervention or disablement of the alarm in the event of tenants continually tampering.Tenants’ responsibilityAlthough it is the landlords legal duty to provide working smoke alarms in all properties, tenants must not tamper with smoke alarm, remove them, cover them up or in any other way damage or prevent them from operating in their intended manner. Failure to comply with this could result in the tenant facing a substantial fine, or termination of their tenancy agreement.It falls to the tenants to take their own safety into consideration and should contact landlords if there are any issues with smoke alarms, such as false fire alarms, so their landlord can test and replace the batteries, or alarms themselves if necessary. Preventing alarms from effectively detecting fires can result in fatal incidents and also fines for misconduct falling to the tenants.One student at Edinburgh University covered the smoke alarm in his room with bubble wrap whilst living in student accommodation. Preventing the smoke detector from working effectively proved a dangerous mistake when a fire started in his room and he had to be pulled to safety after being found struggling to escape the flames while the building was being evacuated. As a consequence for this reckless behaviour, he was fined and ordered to pay £1000 in compensation after being arrested and pleading guilty.Steel Web Stoppers®  Safety Technology International is a specialist manufacturer of a range of fire, safety and security products; their wire cages help to prevent tampering with essential life safety equipment, such as smoke alarms.STI’s Steel Web Stoppers®  are designed to protect against vandalism, misuse and damage to smoke and fire detectors. Constructed from plastic coated, heavy-duty galvanised steel rod, the Steel Web Stoppers can withstand the severest of abuse from vandalism or accidental damage. It also prevents tampering with the alarm, without hindering legitimate use, therefore still allowing the landlord to service the device and replace batteries when appropriate.

Originally built in 1986, Dukes Court has formed part of a £77 million regeneration scheme in Woking, Surrey. The redevelopment included new signage and pedestrian routes, updated office space, a new restaurant and a living ‘green’ wall - aimed to improve air quality. Outside of Dukes Court a new pedestrianised public space was designed and required the creation of large wavey planting beds all in corten to sit either side of the entrance to the building. The planter had to adapt to the stairways, slopes and columns present in the final design, adding a lot of complexity to the required planter wall geometry.Our latest solution, AKRI steel retaining planters were best suited for this as they are flexible enough to allow for varying levels and can be manufactured in the desired style of corten to harmonise with the existing building facade. The AKRI planters were then welded on top with a return, to create an attractive wave look. The finished scheme has created a pleasant, open space for tenants and members of the public to enjoy.

The Project £12m investment into a new facility at Dudley College will enable the college to specialise in training people working in construction using brand new/state of the art apprentice standards. On completion of the project, the college have pledged approx. half a million pounds sponsorship into Dudley Academies Trust which will benefit a number of local schools and enable the sharing of resources and expertise. The ChallengeDeliver a package that will inspire the students and present a true representation of the quality and standards expected in the construction industry. Install a full height, flush frontage cubicles system in a warehouse style space with ceiling heights exceeding four meters. Use local trades and services to the Black Country. Offer non-standard products to class-room areas. The SolutionExcelsior Flush 30 Full Height Cubicles installed on 150mm leg with upgraded stainless steel fittings. Complementary Duct panelling installed to house cisterns and associated plumbing work.Manufacture and install Solid Grade Laminate workstations in the classrooms.

It was a partnership that was meant to happen. Premier Inn Hotels meets Premier Security & Fire Ltd.It was our absolute pleasure to assist commissioning company Mulalley by manufacturing and installing the external glass and steel communal entrance doors, industrial louvres and security gates (all to LPS 1175 SR2 standard) at the impressive Ladderswood Estate regeneration project in New Southgate, North London, a development that includes a new 85-bedroom Premier Inn hotel.New Ladderswood LLP is a joint venture between top UK developer Mulalley and housing association ONE HOUSING GROUP LIMITED, working in collaboration with the London Borough of Enfield.This major regeneration development features:93 social housing properties56 shared ownership apartments368 privately owned properties517 properties in total (426 apartments and 81 houses)There will also be:6 commercial unitsAn 85 bedroom hotelA new community centerFor more details, call us on 0208 559 8295.

Architects HLW reached out to the Radii Pre-Construction Design team back in September 2021 with their design intent for a really unique glazed partition project for British multinational retail company Kingfisher.With the client being the home of many notable DIY and home improvement brands such as B&Q and Screwfix, HLW’s initial design aimed to create a ‘workshop’ aesthetic to the space through a combination of timber doors and upstands with glazed windows.The final design required steel framework to support the glazed windows and create the timber upstands.Radii’s Product Development Department developed this detail with the Pre-Construction team and conducted virtual stress testing to ensure the structures would be adequate to support the weight of the glass.The bespoke nature of the design and system meant that acoustic assessments needed to take place before the system could be specified for the project.Radii’s internal acoustic team helped to develop the design and conducted our own assessments, before the system was externally assessed by a third party to provide certification to the architect.

Nestled in Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, over-looking the Shannon Blueway and River Shannon, Drumhierny is a unique development of high-end holiday lodges situated in a 100 acre woodland estate. This multi-unit project, consists of sixteen lodges, in four distinct architectural styles, each nestled within their own private area of woodland. The lodges have been designed, manufactured, and constructed to achieve an A-rated Building Energy Rating (BER). To help achieve a thermally efficient building envelope a number of products from Partel have been used.The buildings were constructed using an offsite fabricated Light Gauge Steel (LGS) frame. As part of the frame construction a number of Partel’s low carbon building envelope solutions were used. This included EXOPERM MONO 150, a high performing breather membrane, IZOPERM PLUS, a phA Class Passive House Certified vapour control layer; and CONEXO MULTISEAL, a phA Class Passive House Certified airtight tape.

The Chocolate Quarter is a St Monica Trust’s retirement living village. Formally home of Fry’s and later Cadbury’s chocolate factory, the development was completely refurbished, restoring the iconic buildings, and converting them into apartments. The development comprises of three interconnected blocks. Block A was converted to provide 106 apartments with two floors built off the factory roof. Block B was converted and extended at ground floor level providing communal areas and a 93 Bedroom Care Home and housing apartments. Block C accommodates offices on the upper four floors and a Doctors Surgery at ground floor level.Cellecta’s DECKfon Batten 70 was specified by KWL Architects as they have been rigorously tested and are robust detail complaint for steel, concrete and timber separating floor applications. The battens consist of a layer of recycled, low resonance, open cell, flexible polyurethane foam bonded to an FSC/PEFC certified timber batten.Hall Bros Carpentry was awarded this 4,953m² contract to construct this development in Keynsham.

St Pauls’ Way is an award-winning 1, 5, 6, & 7 story building with 23 units consisting of one, two and three bedroom flats over a ground floor community space. This scheme was designed using Building Information Modelling (BIM) to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating of 72.7%, awarding it winner of 6 national housing awards, including Evening Standard New Homes Award 2019’s ‘Best Regeneration Project'. Constructed of light gauge steel frame and faced with a buff brick, this scheme will contribute to London Borough of Tower Hamlets Community Plan.HiDECK Overlay 18 was specified by Architecture PLB in this project as the overlay flooring solution. It’s ideal for flooring applications incorporating an underflooring heating system due to its high thermal conductivity which provides rapid reaction times, saving on running costs. In addition, its high density makes it perfect for a variety of acoustic applications.Stack London was awarded this 6,300m² contract for this development in Tower Hamlets.

Products:Externals: OS221 Orbis Midrail Infill Top FixAtrium: M311 Mono Glass Infill Top FixStairs: M310 Mono Glass Infill Side FixContractor: Galliford Try Construction LtdArchitects: Ryder ArchitectureThe £25m redevelopment of the Greenhead Sixth-Form College Campus was one of the first Net Zero Carbon in Operation school buildings built by the Department for Educations Rebuilding Programme.Galliford Try Construction enlisted Delta to fulfil the requirements of this balustrade and handrail package – totalling 280 metres of balustrade system.With Greenhead College situated within the Greenhead Park Conservation Area and in close proximity to historic buildings, the more traditional tubular Orbis powder coated balustrade with midrail’s was installed to the external steps.Whereas a more sleek, modern aesthetic was decided upon for the atrium and stairs in the form of Delta’s Mono powder coated balustrade with stainless steel handrails and glass infill secured with a bolt-through banjo lug.

A bespoke Gatic CastSlot system was installed as part of the redevelopment of the riverside stand for Craven Cottage, home to Fulham FC. The project, which began in July 2021, incorporates Gatic CastSlot Treadsafe, which was chosen to drain away any excess surface water from the seating/standing areas along the deck of the stand. It was installed by main contractors Buckingham Group.The unobtrusive profile of CastSlot sits neatly within concrete, asphalt, and block surface finishes and features an electro painted ductile iron throat section. This is securely fixed to the galvanised steel channel body to provide an exceptionally robust yet discreet drainage system.The treadsafe option was chosen for this project. Treadsafe is available for areas where there is regular foot traffic and is available with a 10mm or 30mm opening—ideal for stadium standing and seating areas.Bespoke access boxes were also created for the new stand, and channel throat depths were also extended for level changes, allowing a constant invert within the channel.

GRP End of Platform Steps | Case StudyContractor AmcoGiffen selected Dura Composites to design and fabricate 6 sets of GRP End of Platform Steps for Kings Cross Station in London, which were installed by Amco in a very short time frame to meet the needs of the tight project timescales. Weighing up to 80% less than steel and 30% less than aluminium, Dura Composites End of Platform Steps offer equivalent performance for considerably less weight. This results in major savings including lower installation costs due to more economical transportation, handling and on-site positioning.The client was delighted with the quality of the design and workmanship and with Dura’s ability to turn the fabrications around in such a short space of time, describing the structures as having “gone in like a dream”. As well as fully fabricated non-corrosive and non-conductive single unit GRP end of platform steps Dura Composites can also supply in component or flat pack kit form ready for quick assembly on-site.

Mono M311 Glass Infill Top FixOrbis OS211 Glass Infill Top Fix As part of the North West Fire PFI scheme, the Southport Community Fire Station provided improved facilities for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service and the North West Ambulance Service.The client’s main objectives were to create well designed facilities to a high architectural standard and provide a safe and healthy environment. Designed and built by Balfour Beatty Construction, this new 6 bay station included community-orientated facilities, training facilities, rest rooms, additional office space and two staircases.In line with the client’s vision, Delta Balustrades were appointed by Balfour Beatty to design, supply and install handrails and balustrades to both staircases and an external balcony area. Combining a minimalistic look and feel with a high quality stainless steel finish, the Mono system with clear glass infill panels was chosen for the main staircase. For the rear stair and external areas, the Orbis system with powder coated uprights was chosen.

This stunning self build property delivered the dream home for our client. The vision of completely open plan areas, stunning vaulted ceiling spaces and stairwells made SIPs an obvious choice. The vaulted ceilings were formed with precision during the SIPs design stages and this complex roof them installed to exacting precision on site ensured the clients precise vision could be delivered.The specification of the 172mm SIPs panel ensured that U Values a low as 0.15 were achieved straight off the shelf which also delivered on the thermal, environmental and sustainability requirements requested by the client.This stunning property has endless features and is an aesthetic master piece, all of which was delivered through detailed design, engineering and installation by SIP Build UK as the appointed SIPs specialist.SIP Build UK took complete responsibility for the design, engineering and installation of the SIPs including all internal walls, floors and the huge amounts of additional structure in both glulam and steel to deliver this open plan, vaulted, stunning property.

This work at Holborn’s Chancery House  — The Office Group’s largest location to date spanning 127,000 sq ft — focused on a design that accommodates multiple working zones and breakout spaces, enhances wellbeing and offers an abundance of natural light.Radii’s design department provided multiple bespoke solutions for this fit out, working on four of the building’s nine floors.For glazed fronts, our elegant Parallel 50 (Rw 45 dB) double glazed partitions in emulated satin stainless steel finish — a reference to the historic London Silver Vaults that are located at the base of Chancery House — were utilised along with wraparound framing and a custom blade detail to create an eye-catching visual effect.On the Ground floor, single glazed Linear 59 partitions (Rw 39 dB) with a bespoke pocket sliding door into drywall was installed for platform lift access.Finally, E30 fire rated double doors were placed on the Lower Ground Floor to provide fire route protection.

Located in the painstakingly conserved 16th century Riddle’s Court in Edinburgh’s Old Town, the Patrick Geddes Centre is aworld-class centre for learning. Steeped in history, culture andarchitectural wonder, it reopened as a community, conferenceand events space following a £6m restoration in 2017.Allgood was selected by conservation specialist architectsLDN to deliver an ironmongery solution that would providemodern facilities within the picturesque Category A-listedmerchant’s house, without compromising the integrity of theoriginal building.Prestigious heritage hardware brand Frank Allart was chosen,and an antique brass finish was applied to blend in with thehistoric areas of the venue. Throughout the modern quarters,the high-performance and ultra-durable Modric stainless steelrange was used.Bespoke hinges and door closers were developed to matchthe different manufacturers’ ironmongery, while Certifireapproved Alite door closers and Allgood’s integrated securitypackage including secure access controls, intercom andvideo entry systems were employed to deliver a high-qualityfinish.

Architect/Designer: Norman Foster/Foster + PartnersLocation: The Robert Parfett Building, ManchesterProject Overview: New single storey building arranged around a central spine incorporating a mezzanine level, kitchen and variety of meeting spaces. Scope included a complete ironmongery package for all new glazed and timber doors.ServiceFull hardware scheduling & Bespoke finish.Project DetailsHere at 3v we were honoured to provide the ironmongery for the new Maggie’s cancer centre in Manchester that was designed by one of Britain’s most respected architects, Norman Foster, and engineered by his team at Foster + Partners.The first Maggie’s Centre opened in Edinburgh in 1996, there are now 19 Centres at major NHS cancer hospitals across the UK. The Centres have been set up to offer a non-clinical environment where anyone affected by cancer can stop by for advice or support. The timber frame creates a striking angular structure with tapered wooden columns and beams, however the use of warm wood and glass create a soft light-filled environment for people to gather in. What ironmongery do you choose to work with such a beautiful building? With timber as the primary building material and Nordic Bronze roof cladding we turned to our bespoke range and specified solid bronze ironmongery to compliment the natural feel of the buildings material palette. The simple design of our 304 model pull handle works in perfect harmony with the clean angular structure and homely aesthetic; functional while perfectly blending into the final design. Our most popular raw material is high quality stainless steel but increasingly our clients have been asking for something a bit different or unique. Stainless steel would not have worked in this design scheme, matching the bronze cladding added the perfect finishing touches to the warm and tactile materials used in this amazing structure. If you are thinking about specialist finishes for one of your future projects please contact our experienced team so we can advise you in more detail. To find our more about Maggie’s Manchester and to read Norman Foster’s interview on the design of the new centre follow the below link https://www.maggiescentres.org/about-maggies/news-and-publications/latest-news/designing-maggies-manchester/Photographs © Nigel Young/Foster + Partners

Falco has completed the fifth cycle hub installation at Telford Town Park Visitor Centre as part of a new tranche of secure cycle hubs located at key areas across the borough.The scheme which got underway last year involves the design, manufacture, supply and installation of bespoke cycle hubs coupled with associated FalcoLevel-Eco two-tier cycle racks to allow commuters, residents and visitors to quickly and conveniently park their bike whilst on the go.The latest 4m x 4m cycle hub as shown here at Telford Town Park Visitor Centre, is based upon the UK’s most popular cycle hub design – the FalcoHub, which is manufactured from a combination of a hot-dip galvanised steel frame with reinforced safety glass cladding.FalcoLevel-Eco two-tier cycle racks have been installed providing secure accommodation for up to 18 bikes.A convenient FalcoFix 2.0 cycle station has been supplied allowing cyclists to inflate tyres and carry out basic cycle maintenance whilst on the go.The secure cycle hub also comes complete with proximity LED lighting, eye-catching ‘Travel Telford’ branding graphics and powder coating in an Anthracite Grey RAL colour.In addition to the cycle hub here at Telford Town Park Visitor Centre, Falco has also manufactured and installed four other cycle hubs for Telford & Wrekin Council, with other cycle hubs located at The Telford Langely School, Rampart Way – across the bridge from Telford Central Station, at Wellington Civic & Leisure Centre – to the right of the car park entrance, next to the Wellington Town Council building and at Oakengates Station – situated to the right side of the main entrance.The FalcoHub, as shown here for Telford & Wrekin Council, is a contemporary cycle store manufactured from a combination of a galvanised steel frame and reinforced safety glass, designed to be sympathetic to the surrounding area. The FalcoHub was developed by Falco’s in house design team to ensure it met the client’s specification including structural calculations so that the whole design meets the UK/European CPR regulations EN1090 and is CE marked.For more information about the scheme here for Telford & Wrekin Council or how Falco can assist your cycle parking scheme, please contact our helpful sales team on 01538 380080.

BackgroundOccupying a prominent position on the Kingsway, The Curve development is a portfolio of 27 apartments. The key requirement for Cube Homes was to offer residents high quality, low carbon, affordable and sustainable apartments.After extensive planning, K Systems specified a direct fix system with mineral wool insulation and a silicone render finish. Our Direct Fix system for steel frame structures is KIWA BDA certified and provided the ideal solution for these newly constructed mid-rise apartments.Our team designed a façade solution that delivered modern, thermally efficient and aesthetically pleasing homes, meeting the client’s requirements.Our ServiceDue to the number of fixings and the curvature of the property, this was a technical project which required bespoke detailing.In collaboration with Bowker Sadler Architects and our approved installer Profac, we designed a comprehensive specification and were on-site when required, offering Profac technical and installation support throughout the build.The Direct Fix system specified is a cost-efficient solution for steel frame structures, with fewer components for a simpler and faster install. Direct Fix generates exceptional insulation and with a silicone render finish provides high levels of fire rating (A2,s1-d0), allowing Cube Homes to deliver safe and thermally efficient homes.Technical Project DetailsThe EWI needed to be line and level with the ground floor brickwork. To achieve this specific requirement, 300mm mineral wool (which is deeper than available mineral wool) was specified for the project. This meant 110mm and 190mm boards were combined to achieve the required 300mm.This thicker mineral wool meant that the curved elevation on the building was difficult to achieve. The insulation was facetted around the curve and carefully installed by Profac to create a seamless façade. The 300mm mineral wool resulted in a low U-value of circa 0.10 W/m²K, meaning heating costs for the apartments will be minimal and carbon usage will be reduced to a minimum standard.For the finish, silicone render (TC 15) was specified to create a striking curved elevation. Silicone TC incorporates the benefits of silicone technology to provide a water repellent finish with a fresh and modern appearance. The silicone allows water vapour to pass freely through the render whilst allowing the finish to remain weather resistant, making it the ideal solution for a low maintenance, long-term finish.

SubFloor flooring was used to help renovate and raise a concrete floor into a level school floor in Skövde, Sweden.This simple and elegant solution raised and levelled the floor to allow for installations and insulation. The joist and screw system allows for quick and easy assembly so that the floor can reach the desired height.45 mm Rigid insulation was positioned on the insulation bearers to leave a clear void underneath and a 22 mm chipboard was placed on top.Products:Wooden Joist 45x45x3600 mmSubFloor Screw 100 mmSubFloor Screw FootInsulation Bearer 45 mmHeight Variation: 50 - 111 mmJoist separation: c/c 600 mmSystem Weight - c/c 600 mm: 2.66 kg/m²Materials:Pine T0-C24Fibre-reinforced polypropylenePolyamideCold Galvanised Sheet SteelPoint Load Limit (50 x 50 mm):Load next to screw over joist edge - 9.72 kNLoad between screws over joist edge - 15.85 kN

Cambridge Biomedical Campus. (CBC) created a vibrant and groundbreaking health care community at the forefront of science and medicine.Dortek’s brief was to supply and installation of doors to a very specific programme, across primarily 3 floors.Our Dortek doors were installed within the BRF rooms, laboratories, holding room, procedure rooms, CL3 labs, equipment store, changing rooms, and circulation routes. The type of doors we installed were GRP hinged and sliding in stainless steel frames, many with integrated privacy panels.SolutionThe particular project requirements that made our doors suitable was the durability, acoustic performance, non organic door quality of our SS frame which ensures suitability to this environment. The SS frame had previously been used at Francis Crick Institute also. We fulfilled the clients expectations by meeting the specification and programme, and working closely with planners to interface with other trades. There was some complexity about the project as most doors are very large for equipment access and some have acoustic requirements, also to include is there are a lot of doors in a concentrated area.

SubFloor flooring was used in a conversion of an industrial premise for youth gaming activities. This allowed insulation to separate the cold floor from the main area and for wiring installations under the floor.This simple and elegant solution raised and levelled the floor to allow for installations and insulation. The joist and screw system allows for quick and easy assembly so that the floor can reach the desired height.95 mm Rigid insulation was positioned on the insulation bearers and a 22 mm chipboard was placed on top.Products:Wooden Joist 45x45x3600 mmSubFloor Screw 200 mmSubFloor Screw FootInsulation Bearer 95 mmHeight Variation: 105 - 236 mmJoist separation: c/c 600 mmSystem Weight - c/c 600 mm: 2.82 kg/m²Materials:Pine T0-C24Fibre-reinforced polypropylenePolyamideCold Galvanised Sheet SteelPoint Load Limit (50 x 50 mm):Load next to screw over joist edge - 9.72 kNLoad between screws over joist edge - 15.85 kN

Formally known as the Olympic stadium, this structure was constructed in the Stratford district of London for the London 2012 Olympics. After the Olympics, redevelopment of the stadium began, including installation of the new floodlights in March 2015. The 60,000 capacity stadium is now home of West Ham United.The project involved working with 2 different clients on the same project – Populous (Global stadium developers) and Buro Happold (consulting engineers) for 14 no lighting puddles for the London stadium. The driver for the use of composites was seeking a way to reduce the weight at the end of what was then the largest cantilever roof section – so weight at the end was more critical than normal. We also supplied 2000m² of steel gratings to the same project – demonstrating how we can identify the most suitable material for each application.The material used was Flowdeck solid top 41mm deep in RAL 7043. Flowdeck is resin moulded with a 3mm thick applied plate on top of a 38mm thick standard panel. It was fabricated at our facility in Middlesbrough with each one delivered on a phase-by-phase basis to a tight programme.

Our coatings look after the world’s most iconic and acclaimed buildings. Among them is the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki. Since its redevelopment in 2011, the principal public gallery in Auckland, New Zealand has won 23 awards and counting, including the prestigious World Architecture Festival's 2013 World Building of the Year. The redevelopment plan aimed at restoring and preserving heritage elements and sensitively combining them with 21st-century design. This included earthquake-proofing and heritage restoration of the 1887 and 1916 components of the main building and the addition of new, contemporary elements that increased display space by 50 per cent. One of the most distinctive features of the new building is its roof design, which forms a series of fine ‘tree-like’ canopies that define and cover the forecourt, atrium and gallery areas.Our coatings complemented this architectural challenge of blending old with new. A coatings system comprising of Interzinc 42, Intergard 251 and Interthane 990 was used to protect structural steel, while Interchar 963 was used to provide essential protection from the effects of fire.

Whitethorn Village is an attractive residential scheme positioned adjacent to the centre of Naas. The contemporary development led by Cairn Homes PLC includes a mix of spacious family homes and two apartment buildings. These comfortable, sustainable residences offer the very best in terms of quality and energy efficiency.Developer Cairn Homes collaborated with Horizon Offsite to deliver the impressive 5-storey residential blocks in Whitethorn Village, benefiting from off-site fabrication, accuracy, and rapid completion within a tightly controlled cost plan.The apartments were constructed using an offsite fabricated light gauge steel (LGS) structural system. The external LGS wall panels and floor decking used in this system incorporated a number of Partel’s low carbon building envelope solutions. This included the advanced fire rated components EXOPERM MONO DURO 200 breather membrane and ECHOSEAL ALU FR airtight and windtight tape, the multi-purpose adhesive VERBOND, and also the phA Class Passive House Certified components IZOPERM PLUS vapour control layer and VARA SEAL smart airtight tape.

Canal Architectural were approached to design, manufacture and install a luxury feature staircase for Gresham Street. A leading workspace design company collaborated with the Technical Sales Team to engineer a four flight staircase for the atrium of the building.The 50,000 sq ft of commercial space in the heart of London was developed to connect its employees and working spaces together. The mild steel structure featured oak timber box treads, painted stringers, bronze metallic balustrade and a wrapped brown leather handrail. The entire development was transformed into a contemporary co-working area for a modern and innovative space for the specialist investment firm.The Canal site team worked closely with the contractor throughout the entire installation process to ensure smooth delivery in line with current building regulations. Canal Architectural are proud to have a long-standing collaborative relationship with leading design and build firm. Canal has worked directly with the workspace design company to engineer exquisite architectural metalwork designs for some of the UK’s most prestigious projects over the years including Gresham Street.

The ChallengeParmiter’s School needed five of their washroom blocks refurbished and work was initially planned to take place during term time for two of the quieter rooms and Summer for the other ones.The main objective for the school was to increase the amount of cubicles in all the washrooms to accommodate their increased student numbers.The SolutionBrookhouse, having created a strict methodology for term-time work, was able to refurbish both the Sixth Form Washroom and Gym toilets during term time with minimal disruption.The washrooms were designed utilising the spaces effectively to obtain the maximum amount of full-height enclosed cubicles which increased capacity by over 30% for each room.Superbly stylish, practical and highly durable, these solid grade laminate cubicles were the exact finish that Parmiter’s School were hoping for. We Provided:Full Height Washroom Cubicles and IPSSolid Grade Laminate (SGL)Contrasting Colour Doors and PanelsAutomatic Infrared Taps & Soap DispensersHygienic Hand-DryersModern Solid Surface TroughStructural SteelDrainage Groundworks