FC&A June 2020

FUTURE CONSTRUCTOR & ARCHITECT

ISSUE 124

JUNE 2020

Discover Discover Nordic Copper Nordic Copper for Architecture for Architecture Copper: Nordic Brown Light; Project: Branch Place, Colville Estate, London Architects: Karakusevic Carson Architects; Photo: Peter Landers Copper: Nordic Brown Light; Project: Branch Place, Colville Estate, London Architects: Karakusevic Carson Architects; Photo: Peter Landers

Architectural Copper Surfaces and Alloys Copper is a constantly evolving, natural and durable material with an indefinite design-life. With an ‘A1 (non-combustible material)’ fire classification to EN 13501-1 and melting point of 1083˚C, copper is also suitable for cladding tall buildings, using appropriate constructions. It is fully recyclable, safe to use, and requires no maintenance.

Architectural Copper Surfaces and Alloys

CopperCopper is a constantly evolving, natural and durable material anfor indefinite design-life.

WithNordic an ‘A1Standard (non-combustible fireBrown classification to ENcopper.

13501-1 and Nordic offers an impressive portfolio of surfaces andwith alloys architecture, including ‘mill finish’material)’ and Nordic pre-oxidised The meltingBlue, pointNordic of 1083˚C, copper is also Turquoise suitable forpre-patinated cladding tall buildings, using appropriate It isthe fully recyclable, safe to use, and requires maintenance.

Nordic Green and Nordic ranges share properties and constructions. colours based on same brochantite mineralogy found inno natural patinas.

Alongside traditional Nordic Bronze and Nordic Brass alloys, the innovative Nordic Royal retains its rich golden colour over time. An extensive choice of Nordic Décor Nordic Copperapplied offers an impressive portfolio of surfaces and alloysCopper for architecture, including Nordic Standard ‘mill finish’ and Nordicarchitectural Brown pre-oxidised copper.

The mechanically surface treatments is also available.

Nordic offers limitless possibilities for innovative contemporary and interior design.

Nordic Blue, Nordic Green and Nordic Turquoise pre-patinated ranges share properties and colours based on the same brochantite mineralogy found in natural patinas.

Alongside traditional Nordic Bronze and Nordic Brass alloys, the innovative Nordic Royal retains its rich golden colour over time. An extensive choice of Nordic Décor mechanically applied surface treatments is also available. Nordic Copper offers limitless possibilities for innovative contemporary architectural and interior design.

NordicCopper.com g.bell@aurubis.com

NordicCopper.com g.bell@aurubis.com

EDITOR’S NOTE Cross Platform Media LTD

W E L C O M E

T O

Barham Court, Teston, Maidstone, Kent, ME18 5BZ Tel: 01622 232725

JUNE 2020

F

EDITOR Rebecca Kemp rebecca@crossplatformmedia.co.uk P R I N T & D I G I TA L A D V E R T I S I N G Sam Ball sam@crossplatformmedia.co.uk Jim Moore jim@crossplatformmedia.co.uk Glenn Dixon glenn@crossplatformmedia.co.uk PRINT DESIGN MANAGER Jack Witcomb jack@crossplatformmedia.co.uk D I G I TA L D E S I G N M A N A G E R Matt Morse matt@crossplatformmedia.co.uk P R O D U C T I O N A S S I S TA N T Philip Coyle philip@crossplatformmedia.co.uk ACCOUNTS/CREDIT CONTROL Jackie Dearman jackie@crossplatformmedia.co.uk

In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, not only have we learned to pay more attention to our own wellbeing but we have also spent more time considering sustainability, reducing our carbon footprint and taking care of planet earth.

Of course, many within the construction and architectural worlds have been heavily advocating sustainability, recycling, upcycling and environmentally-friendly materials and techniques for some time.

However, with life on pause, fewer flights and journeys and less pollution in our towns and cities, we have been treated to a rare glimpse of the low-carbon future we are all striving for, and it’s painted the picture we have all been anticipating.

With less travelling and more working from home, what has been evident is the change of heart regarding workplace habits from many employers around the world. With titans such as Twitter announcing staff will be permitted to work from home permanently, many employers are switching on to the benefits and healthy work-life balance this presents – which means the workplace as we know it certainly has some changes in store. To learn more about the destiny of the UK office, we have talked to Joint Managing Director and Co-Founder of design and workplace consultancy, Office Principles, Cyril Parsons. Turn to page 33 to learn more about how the workplace could look in the not so distant future.

I hope you enjoy this issue. Don’t forget, you can also access all of the magazine’s features, product news and supplier information on FC&A’s user-friendly and engaging website.

Fully responsive, the website allows you to read all the latest stories on-the-go either on your phone or tablet. Simply search www.fcamagazine.com.

Rebecca

REBECCA KEMP

SALES SUPPORT & A D M I N I S T R AT O R Klare Porter klare@crossplatformmedia.co.uk

Editor, Future Constructor & Architect

ON THE COVER:

PUBLISHER Sam Ball sam@crossplatformmedia.co.uk

RMJM Shanghai was recently appointed by Hengyan authorities to design the Xiangjiang Gate.

SEE PAGE 16

Te r m s a n d C o n d i t i o n s : Contributions are invited and when not accepted will be returned only if accompanied by a fully stamped and return addressed envelope. No responsibility will be taken for drawings, photographs or literary contributions during transmission or in the editor’s hands. In the absence of an agreement the copyright of all contributions, literary, photographics or artistic belongs to Cross Platform Media Ltd. The publisher accepts no responsibility in respect of advertisements appearing in the magazine and the opinions expressed in editorial material or otherwise do not necessarily represent the view of the publisher. The publisher does not accept any liability of any loss arising from the late appearance or non-publication of any advertisement.

The glass and glazing industry’s essential partner Call: 00 800 0421 6144

CROSS PLATFORM MEDIA

FUTURE CONSTRUCTOR & ARCHITECT MAGAZINE

ollowing on from last month’s wellbeing focus, it comes as no surprise that our June issue follows the theme of healthy buildings and endusers. In this issue, Architect Christopher Sykes returns; this time with an article on the use of aesthetically-pleasing, energysaving and crowd-pleasing green roofs and living walls. Turn to page 18 to learn how green roofs are encouraging much-needed biodiversity in our built environment and how living walls are brightening up our concrete and asphalt surroundings.

fcamagazine fcamagazine

More than 50,000 products available Year round special offers, deals and discounted products Specialist advice from our in-house experts CRL’s guarantee of quality products across our range

Email: CRL@crlaurence.co.uk

3

Web: crlaurence.co.uk

FC&A – JUNE – 2020

Frameless Shower Hardware More products, more options, more choice From best-selling hinges and U-channels to minimalistic hardware for sliding shower doors, CRL is the one-stop shop of quality hardware that will fit your space.

CH Chrome

SC Satin Chrome (Matte)

BN Brushed Nickel

BR Brass

These are some of our more popular finishes. *Other finishes are available. Not all products are available in all finishes.

NEXT DAY DELIVERY

NO RISK, 30 DAYS RETURN RIGHTS

For information call FREE on 00 800 0421 6144 e: CRL@crlaurence.co.uk f: 00 800 0262 3299 w: crlaurence.co.uk

SB Satin Brass

PCO Polished Copper

MBL Matte Black

ORB Oil Rubbed Bronze

JUNE CONTENTS

NEWS

06

INDU STRY U PDAT E S :

20

VOICE OF THE I N DU S T RY:

22

LEGAL & BU SINE S S:

FC&A rounds up this month’s industry news, including awarded contracts, completed projects and much more.

2020 has seen an assertive drive towards the establishment of new laws and a dedicated regulator to improve building safety. Here, Richard Waterhouse, Chief Strategy Officer at NBS, looks into some of these new laws and explores their potential for a digital future in the construction industry.

In the early part of February 2020, the UK Government began to set out the trading landscape post-31st December 2020. Here, Gerry Myton, Partner at Streets Chartered Accountants, explains what this means for the construction industry.

FEATURES

18

ON SITE WITH S YK E S:

24

DOOR S, W INDOW S & B A L U S T RA DE S:

26

PAINTS, COATI NG S & F I N I S HE S:

28

WATERPROOFI N G & MA I NT E NA NC E:

30 32

Architect Christopher Sykes returns this month with an exclusive article on the advantages green roofs bring to the built environment. From biodiversity and reduced carbon footprint to insulation and water management, it’s clear to see why green roofs are set to become commonplace within our towns and cities.

Steve Tonkiss, Commercial Manager at REHAU Windows, discusses the vital role windows play in commercial project design and the key factors that need to be considered for those tasked with selecting the best windows for their commercial build project.

Paul Smith of F.H. Brundle talks FC&A through five key types of coatings in commercial projects, and what makes them useful and popular.

Jamie Squires, Product Manager at global building products manufacturer Sika, offers some sound, preparatory advice in relation to concrete repair, as well as a proven, long-term repair and protection solution.

TIMBER: 81-87 Weston Street provides a sustainable, healthy building for work and living. Here, Wood for Good explains how its timber made the perfect companion for the existing structural concrete shell.

BU ILD FOCU S: Office: From the future of office design following the coronavirus outbreak to popular flooring trends, FC&A wraps up the latest advice for designing optimal workplace settings from two industry leaders.

5

FC&A – JUNE – 2020

INDUSTRY UPDATES

NE W S I N BR I E F: ARCHITECT FIRM OFFERS FREE HELP TO FRONTLINE SERVICES London-based firm WindsorPatania Architects is rapidly repurposing its team to provide free services to frontline organisations, in the UK and beyond, in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

With 95% of employees being of Italian descent, COVID-19 has had a very real impact on everyone in the company.

Accustomed to taking on at least one pro bono project each year, the team is keen to help. Across the country, hospitals, care homes, hotels, hostels, schools and more are working around the clock to repurpose buildings to accommodate social distancing and ensure self-isolation is possible.

WindsorPatania’s Ryan Windsor and Giovanni Patania decided to use excess capacity within their architectural firm to provide free design and layout optimisation services, along with infographics design and translation services.

PLANNING WIN FOR MAIDSTONE HOTEL Dexter Moren Associates (DMA) is celebrating planning approval for a new 132-room hotel on Week Street in the centre of Maidstone.

Alongside a welcoming reception, lobby, cafe area and restaurant, the 5779m2 (GIA) hotel will include the town’s first publicly accessible rooftop bar, with views overlooking the beautiful Kentish hills. DMA’s design for client Assetrock Maidstone gained unanimous support on the evening of the planning committee and has been very well-received by local businesses and the general public who were keen to see the hotel play a key role in the revitalisation of the local high street. The landmark hotel will sit on the site of a former Mothercare building and will bring additional footfall and an estimated £650,000 in annual spending to the heart of Maidstone town centre.

FC&A – JUNE – 2020

INDUSTRY U P D AT E S FC&A ROUNDS UP THE LATEST INDUSTRY NEWS AND UPDATES.

HAWKINS\BROWN WINS PLANNING FOR 1854 BRUNEL ENGINE SHED Hawkins\Brown has won planning consent for the 13,560ft2 refurbishment and extension of an 1854 railway shed in High Wycombe built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel for the Great Western Railway.

WWW.HAWKINSBROWN.COM

W

orking with engineer Heyne Tillett Steel on behalf of the former Wycombe District Council, now Buckinghamshire Council, which acquired the site in 2019, the practice has designed a scheme to breathe new life into the historic structure with a range of flexible commercial uses.

The Brunel Engine Shed sits on an island site directly in front of High Wycombe railway station, at a key location within the council’s plan to regenerate the eastern district of the town.

The shed will be sensitively refurbished, with a welcoming new main entrance facing High Wycombe Railway Station and improved landscaping.

A new roof will restore the original character of the building, and major improvement will be made to access: including stepfree access from the main entrance, accessible toilets and a new lift for the mezzanine level of the extension.

A new extension to mirror the form of the existing building will add 6000ft 2 to bring the whole scheme to 13,560ft 2 . Standing seam zinc cladding will be applied to the CLT and glulam structure of the new building

to create an extension that expresses modern structural engineering in the same spirit that the Victorian building reflects its own era.

Materials found on site, such as railway sleepers and original timber trusses, will be re-used throughout the project and the building will make use of natural ventilation. Hawkins\Brown’s design embraces the flexible plan of the building with large open areas and linear tracks for power and data 6

installed in the floor to allow many configurations in use as well as referencing the memory of the original broad-gauge railway tracks that ran through the building.

For more information on The Brunel Engine Shed, turn to page 08, where Xuhong Zheng, Architect at Hawkins\Brown, sheds some light on the project.

INDUSTRY UPDATES

TWEETS

NEWS IN BR IEF:

HERE, FC&A LOOKS AT THE SECTOR’S SOCIAL MEDIA RESPONSES TO COVID-19, ITS IMPACT ON THE INDUSTRY, AND HOW THE REALM IS OPERATING WITH SOCIAL DISTANCING MEASURES IN PLACE. #COVID19

WORLD’S FIRST DECORATIVE TOUCHFREE WALL-MOUNTED HAND SANITISER

Image: ©Aaron Hargreaves/Foster + Partners

Amidst the current Covid-19 pandemic, Wates #Construction has worked hard to ensure that progress on the Sandwell Aquatic Centre in Smethwick could continue. @sandwellcouncil #midlands #socialdistancing – @WatesGroup

Today’s #construction tip: build two doors into a conference room, one for going in and another for going out. This helps maintain #socialdistancing and will help keep your employees safe. #StaySafeMN #PropertyManagement #cre #commercialrealestate – @Suntide

We are making huge efforts to ensure the health and safety of staff, clients and visitors. #waste #recycling #construction #demolition #SocialDistancing #covid19 #coronavirus #staysafe #essentialworkers #driverpacks #ppe #antibac #multilingualguidance – @ODonovanWaste

Laser Surveys are now operational and can help with a vast range of surveying services. #surveying #midlands #london #socialdistancing #laser #construction #keepsafe #announcement #surveyors #westmidlands #contractors – @Laser_Surveys

Did you listen to our MD, Ben Hancock and Dame Judith Hackitt speaking about safe returning to work at construction sites? @BBCRadio4 #returntowork #Construction #manufacturing #Covid_19 #coronavirusuk #SocialDistancing – @OscarAcoustics

#Servicing & #maintenance are still going ahead. The service is performed by experienced movable partition experts who can maintain, diagnose and repair most movable, operable, retractable and folding partitioning systems whilst #socialdistancing. #movablewalls #construction – @LondonWallGroup

Across all of our sites new working practices and social distancing measures are in place to allow our staff, subcontractors and partners to continue working safely. #constructionsites #construction #safety #socialdistancing #building #loveconstruction #healthandsafety – @HigginsCPLC A fantastic example of social distancing in full swing at our site in Winnersh Triangle. A great team effort by all to keep this project moving forward #Construction #SafetyFirst #SocialDistancing #Covid_19 @FrasersUk @spratleyprtnrs @WinnershTri @GavinJonesLtd @ASALandscape – @ScottOsbornLtd With labour levels back to what they were before lockdown, it’s great to see our Covid tool box talks taking place every morning at 5 Fleet Place. #SocialDistancing #covid18 #backtowork #construction – @builtbyitc We’re still here, and still pricing. Aspect is continuing to work (safely) to bring you the quality and professionalism that you’ve come to expect. #AspectFlooring #Commercialflooring #flooring #floors #carpet #LVTs #construction #fitout #socialdistancing #workplacewellness

We’re thrilled to work with @SuffolkBuilds to help them meet their increased safety needs during this unprecedented time. #constructiontechnology #construction #technology #IoT #wearables #socialdistancing #contacttracing – @TriaxSpotr #JCTCONTRACTS The JCT Online store will continue to process your orders as usual and your items will be dispatched as soon as possible. #SocialDistancing #StayAtHome #Construction #contracts #FridayMotivation – @JCTContracts

NEW IMAGES OF £60M HOVE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT REVEALED BY YELO ARCHITECTS

Hoardfast is a quick to install, modular hygienic screening system, which can be configured as required to help construction sites implement social distancing requirements and maintain safety. #construction #socialdistancing #backtowork

New images and details of a landmark development of 148 flats, office space and a cafe planned for Newtown Road in Hove have been unveiled by Yelo Architects.

The plan was approved

by Brighton and Hove City Council’s first virtual planning committee after lockdown began. The £60m scheme will be built on an under-used brownfield site at KAP Motor Group’s former Peugeot garage. This development comes in the wake of other Yelo Architects awardwinning housing schemes at nearby One Hove Park and New Wave. Newtown Road includes rooftop allotments and green spaces to encourage wildlife, while landscaping was designed by award-winning landscaper Nicholas Dexter.

– @Westgate_UK

The safety of our staff is our main priority while they are at work. We have put up our safety signs to ensure everyone is staying safe and adhering to the guidelines on social distancing. #keepingsafe #socialdistancing #construction #working #keepsafeatwork #governmentguideline – @McDermottHomes

– @AspectFlooring

We’ve been designing one-way #socialdistancing routes to ensure the safe reopening of sites to get projects back on track for our clients. As always, the #safety of our clients and staff is our priority. #healthandsafety #covid19 #coronavirus #construction #constructionindustry – @TCiGB #Construction #Siteworks are being restored for #Commercial #Buildings #SocialDistancing #StayAlert #SaveLives – @InfoEcowelle

Decorative lighting design company Imagin has partnered with hospitality design expert Dexter Moren Associates (DMA) to launch the world’s first decorative wall-mounted touch-free hand sanitiser dispensers, the Imagin CleansePoint Collection. Comprising four bespoke finished designs, The Windsor and The Richmond in collaboration with Dexter Moren; The Henley and The Marlow by Imagin’s designers, the CleansePoint decorative wall-mounted automatic hand sanitiser collection was conceived in response to the expected far-reaching impact of COVID-19 on hotels.

Produced to order, design features include optional finishes, colours and materials; motion-sensing technology; optional room numbers for use in hotel corridors; easily refillable, with an optional light.

Maintaining social distancing in #highways and #construction sites isn’t easy, but Re-flow is offering some free support in removing unnecessary contact to help reduce contamination risks. #socialdistancing #covid19 #coronavirus #digitaltransformation – @reflow247 We’re back, we’re open and we’ve got plenty of stock. We also have some new procedures in place to keep us all safe. #construction #civilengineering #building #groundworks #WeAreOpen #COVID19 #SocialDistancing – @CivilsLintels 7

FC&A – JUNE – 2020

INDUSTRY UPDATES

ARC H IT EC T I N P RO F I LE Xuhong Zheng has worked at Hawkins\Brown for the past six years and completed her Part III qualification at the practice while working on a diverse range of projects across the residential, education and workplace sectors. Here, FC&A talks to Xuhong about her time before Hawkins\Brown and finds out more about her passion for architecture.

HAWKINS\BROWN

XUHONG ZHENG is an Architect at Hawkins\Brown 1:

IMAGES : 1:

Brunel Engine Shed

2:

Brunel Engine Shed

3:

Brunel Engine Shed

4:

Xuhong leading a workshop

in High Wycombe in High Wycombe in High Wycombe as part of the RIBA National Schools programme

www.hawkinsbrown.com FC&A – JUNE – 2020

Please tell us a bit about your career background.

Prior to working at Hawkins\ Brown, I worked and interned at several other architectural practices, including ADEPT Architect in Copenhagen, Kohn Pedersen Fox and Pollard Thomas Edwards in London. I completed my Part I at the University of Edinburgh and Part II at the Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL. Had you always wanted to pursue a career in design?

I wanted to be an art teacher as a kid, but I later decided to explore a career beyond the classroom. Architecture seemed like a good balance between creative and practical thinking, but to be honest, I entered it not really understanding what it was about. It has led to a challenging but really rewarding career which has broadened my perspectives and interests. I’m still passionate about education – promoting creativity, handson design and making. I lead Hawkins\Brown’s involvement in the RIBA National Schools Programme and also run architectural design workshops for children and young people as part of ‘muprojects’.

2: Who has been your greatest influence and source of inspiration?

The work of Olafur Eliasson’s studio has been a continuous source of inspiration for me, particularly the experiential quality of his work as well as explorations in colour and light. I like that his work spans across art, installation, architecture and research.

What has been your most notable project to date?

I’m currently working on the Brunel Engine Shed in High Wycombe, which involves the sensitive refurbishment of a Grade II Listed building and a 8

new contemporary extension.

The disused, deteriorated existing building is the first thing you see when you come out of the train station, so I’m excited to see the transformation of the site when construction begins later this year. Another project I’m proud of is a research project I completed last year that investigated the relationship between light and wellbeing, exploring creative design approaches that could have a positive influence on occupant wellbeing. The integration of research with design practice is crucial, and I’m still learning how to engage in both.

INDUSTRY UPDATES

3: What do you think is the greatest challenge for architects today?

Of course, the COVID-19 crisis has presented many challenges – we’ve quickly adapted to working remotely but, going forward, architects will need to consider how the design of workplaces, schools and public spaces may need to change. It’s also important to make sure we continue to focus on reducing carbon impact, designing for mental as well as physical health and wellbeing.

What do you think is the greatest challenge for architecture students at the moment?

Working in the studio and having the company of other students kept me sane during university, so I can imagine how difficult it must be for architecture students right now who are working at home and may be feeling disconnected.

4: How do you approach your projects?

It’s important for me to do a lot of research at the beginning of a project to understand the historical, social and local context, and interrogate the different aspects of the brief. I enjoy engaging with the client and end-users by carrying out briefing workshops, listening and understanding their needs but also working together to share ideas and consider different ways to solve the problem. I recently took part in a pro-bono project for an outdoor education charity where we stayed at the centre for several days, took part in their activities to really understand how they work and we ran different types of briefing and co-design workshops with the staff there – it would be great to be able to do this type of user engagement more.

What do you think is the greatest challenge for designing in sustainability?

Balancing budget expectations and sustainability targets can be a challenge.

There is more work we need to do, measuring and reducing whole-life carbon rather than just operational carbon – I’m keen to learn more about this, using Hawkins\Brown’s emission reduction tool ‘H\B:ERT’ on recent projects.

What advice would you give to newly qualified architects?

Keep asking questions even if you’re worried about sounding stupid – learning continues throughout your career. Pursue your interests and express what you’re passionate about, it may not seem relevant to what you’re currently working on, but if you’re determined, you’ll be able to build it into your work.

What is your favourite building and why?

The Barbican Centre and Estate in the City of London – for its bold vision of inner-city living, its beautiful Brutalist use of concrete, its maze of elevated walkways and sunken gardens and water pools. The whole place is both exciting and calming, depending on which part you explore. I never get bored of it.

What can we expect to see from Hawkins\Brown over the next year?

We have a number of projects that won planning permission this year, so we will be progressing work with these. You’ll also be hearing about our continuing work on Whole Life Carbon and developments to the H\B:ERT tool.

9

FC&A – JUNE – 2020

COATINGS & FIXINGS

QUEEN’S QUAY ENERGY CENTRE BOASTS A STUNNING FACADE Powdertech’s Evolution range is the perfect choice for the Energy Centre building at Queen’s Quay, Glasgow.

POWDERTECH CORBY

T

his is a £250m mixeduse regeneration project, built on the site of the former John Brown’s shipyard on Clydebank. The Energy Centre is the focal point of the development with the historic Titan Crane being a nearby landmark.

The designers were keen to reflect the industrial heritage of the site with an updated industrial appeal – a nod to the past and the future at the same time. The QE2 and Queen Mary ocean liners were built here.

The client chose Evolution ‘Sandstorm’ which echoes rusted steel with a vibrancy and modern appeal. Evolution emulates metal patination but with no run-off or staining and conforms to ISO 12206 and Qualicoat specifications.

Powdertech coated 300m2 of aluminium rainscreen facade, corner cappings and roof cappings. A marineenhanced pre-treatment process was used prior to the final coating for added protection due to proximity to the River Clyde. The new waterside development will include housing, commercial units, a £19m health centre, a £10m care home and a hotel.

The colourful and glowing Energy Centre facade makes a stunning backdrop for the other buildings on the site.

The client chose Evolution ‘Sandstorm’ which echoes rusted steel with a vibrancy and modern appeal. Evolution emulates metal patination but with no run-off or staining and conforms to ISO 12206 and Qualicoat specifications. www.powdertechcorby.co.uk FC&A – JUNE – 2020

pcl@powdertech.co.uk 10

01536 400890

RMIG City Emotion

we make ideas come to life

OFFICE HEADQUARTERS

INSPIRING FACADE CLADDING A FACADE WITH AN EYE-CATCHING CLOUD AND SKY MOTIF MADE FROM PERFORATED SHEETS When designing their new headquarters, the Sun-Air Aviation Group wanted an innovative building constructed from sustainable materials.

Using RMIG ImagePerf, the facade depicts a cloud formation – a very appropriate motif for an airline office which also happens to be located on Cumulusroad. The perforated sheets manufactured and

supplied by RMIG, provide shade during the summer and diffuse glare-free light during the winter months.

If you are interested in booking a CPD presentation or require further information, please contact wgw@rmig.com

RMIG Ltd | 1-7 Adlington Court | Risley Road | Birchwood Warrington | WA3 6PL Cheshire | Tel: + 44 1925 839610 | cityemotion@rmig.uk | www.city-emotion.com

NATURAL OIL WOODSTAIN Osmo has the solution for all exterior wood surfaces!

• Natural wood grain remains visible • Fast drying, two coats in one day • Finish doesn’t crack or peel • Very water, dirt, weather and UV resistant • Reduces wood swelling and shrinkage • Resistance against algae, mould, mildew and fungal attack • No sanding necessary for future applications

www.osmouk.com

11

FC&A – JUNE – 2020

QUZHOU SPORTS CAMPUS, MAD ARCHITECTS

MAD’S QUZHOU SPORTS CAMPUS STADIUM VANISHES INTO THE LANDSCAPE

Competitive sports has a history that is practically as old as human civilisation. Born from humanity being faced with the great unknown, brought on by physical nature, it became a means for one to reflect on their own existence and cognition of function, proving their physical capabilities and striving to explore and further push one’s limits. To some extent, the competitive spirit it represents catalysed modern society – between people, between enterprises, between cities and between countries – becoming a catalyst for progress and positive growth, but it has also brought on some disadvantages.

MAD ARCHITECTS

W

hen designing a stadium (or several stadia), the building should convey the essence of “a place where people gather and engage in exercise”, masking the strength and muscle of the arena. Furthermore, the design should be derived from the architect’s vision for the city, bringing both the competition among sports stars and the FC&A – JUNE – 2020

physical activity of people’s daily lives, together. The buildings and the architectural techniques should dissolve into human behaviour and humanity’s greater spiritual pursuits, to inspire the birth of a new urban civilisation.

MAD Architects, led by Ma Yansong, is building a vanishing stadium as part of its larger Quzhou Sports Campus project. Located in Quzhou,

in China’s Zhejiang province, the park covers an area of 570,000m2, of which the total building area of the stadium complex and supporting facilities is 390,000m2. The park includes a 30,000-person capacity stadium, a 10,000-person capacity gymnasium, a natatorium, outdoor auxiliary training grounds, athlete service and 12

experience centre, as well as a science and technology museum and children’s place.

The project’s overall design has been finalised and is now under construction, with the first phase, the stadium, to be completed in 2021. Upon its entire completion, the Quzhou Sports Campus will become the world’s largest earth shelter building complex.

QUZHOU SPORTS CAMPUS, MAD ARCHITECTS

Quzhou is a well-known cultural city with a long history and beautiful natural scenery, with 71.5% of its land covered in forest. The site of the project itself has natural slopes and lush vegetation. MAD’s scheme for the sports park takes into consideration the plot’s existing characteristics by respecting them to the fullest, regarding the culture of the city, the relationship between its buildings, and the relationship between the buildings and the city boundaries.

The buildings are embedded into the ground, whereby the facade disappears into the terrain, covered by greenery so that it becomes the landscape itself. While contours engrave curves into the surface, some function as pedestrian walkways. Thus, the sloping facade naturally serves as a new place for citizens to engage in exercise, and offers the opportunity to ‘climb’ the architecture. The lawn also provides a place where people can relax after their sports, introducing a new public green space in the city.

The colossal sports venues and expansive park have been imagined as a cohesive scene, whereby the winding trails complement the sloping land. Envisioned as an earth landscape, the three dimensionality of the design is scattered and softly layered.

Throughout the campus, there are multiple platforms integrated for people to enjoy the park’s beauty from different perspectives. At the same time, the skylights of the various athletic facilities not only introduce natural light into the interior spaces of the buildings, but also serve to function as alternative lookout points for citizens once they have traversed the buildings to their peak, breaking the boundaries between indoor and outdoor.

30,000-seat stadium The enormity of the 30,000-seat capacity stadium is hidden. The volume of the grandstand structure recedes into the landscape so that its function disappears.

Hovering above is a rain cover, that with outstanding visual effect, abandons the stereotypical design it would typically adopt. This is achieved through the material selection and the actual design of the structural nodes themselves, that while satisfying the practical functions of a rain cover, also achieves a new aesthetic purpose.

It becomes an installation, such as clouds appear light and floating above the grandstand, that forms a reflection of the neighbouring lake. For citizens jogging or walking the grounds, it creates a perfect transcendental harmony with its surroundings.

A mountainous 10,000-seat gymnasium The internal dome of the gymnasium hides the design details inside the structure.

The smooth roof encompasses a concrete shell that spans 130m. The sports lighting is integrated and embedded into the ceiling structure, ensuring simple but complete expression of the building’s structural beauty and performance. In addition, the rigorous design of the gymnasium has taken on special considerations in regards to its acoustics.

13

FC&A – JUNE – 2020

QUZHOU SPORTS CAMPUS, MAD ARCHITECTS

Swimming pool

TRAINING CENTRE

The design of the natatorium sees each key function of the space conceived as a separate bubble. Three bubbles are combined and aligned on an axis that runs through their centre, forming the overall space and structure of the building, creating a sense of sequence and feeling of continuous space. The perfect circular shape of the sphere, while referencing the building’s function – echoing the elements of water – has been applied for economic reasons, minimising the cost of the structure. It is simple and pure in form, and eliminates the need to consider a new design logic for the interior.

The lighting details of the facility have also been carefully taken into account. The arc-curve arrangement has been determined on the basis of ensuring the lighting function. Echoing the simple and pure interior design concept, it emphasises a sense of sequence, tracing the lines of the domed roof. Simultaneously, natural light is introduced into the interior through circular apertures in the ceiling.

Building an earth landscape In planning the expansive sports campus, MAD has integrated many pedestrian walkways that interlace with one another, inviting citizens to leisurely explore the park. A large number of bicycle paths have also been introduced, acting as an extension of the urban roads through an express lane that allows daily commuters to pass through the park and its forested areas, and experience the beauty of nature.

A fitness bike path surrounds the perimeter of the park, providing exercise areas and different pedestrian and bike routes that encourage low-carbon travel.

The idea is to create a sports park that is not an enclosed theme park, but rather a place that is truly integrated into the city and the daily lives of its citizens.

Eventually, all complicated technical details and challenges will disappear into human behaviour and its appeals for aesthetics. Using imagination as a driving force, the complex, while dedicated to competitive sports and training, will also become a place for leisure activities for the public. The buildings are integrated into the terrain, transcending practicality, functionality and expressing aesthetic appeal. They are a statement of competition and everyday life, and also an expression of art.

www.i-mad.com

FC&A – JUNE – 2020

14

NATATORIUM

GYMNASIUM

KØGE NORD STATION, COBE QUZHOU AND DISSING+WEITLING SPORTS CAMPUS, MAD ARCHITECTURE ARCHITECTS

STADIUM

TRACK

FACT FILE: Base area: 574,931m2 (phase one: 327,370m2; phase two: 247,561m2) Construction area: 390,074m2 (phase one: 269,474m2; phase two: 120,600m2) Partners in charge: Ma Yansong, Dang Qun, Yosuke Hayano Associate partners in charge: Liu Huiying, Kin Li, Fu Changrui Owner: Quzhou West District Development and Construction Management Committee Class A Design institute: Sidi International Design Consultant (Shenzhen) Co. Landscape planning designer: PWP Landscape Architecture, EADG Structural consultant: Schlaich Bergermann Partner Mechanical and electrical consultant: SC Consultant Curtain wall consultant: RFR Asia Lighting consultant: Beijing Ningzhijing Lighting Design Co. Logo design: Kenya Hara (Japan Design Center) Digital media support: SAN Design team: Kin Li, Xu Chen, Li Cunhao, Iting Lien, Kyung Eun Na, Thoufeeq Ahmed, Alessandro Fisalli, Li Hui, Ma Yin, Tian Jin, Melanie Weitz, Ma Yue, Zhou Haimeng, Xiao Yuhan, Li Gang, Yuki Ishigami, Luis Torres, Su Le, Kang Wenzhao, Zhang Kai, Pittayapa Suriyapee, Yu Lin, Neeraj Mahajan, Connor Hymes, Zhang Yufei, Zhang Bo, Li Guangchong, Wang Qi, Song Minzhe, Cao Xi, Liu Hailun, Zhang Xiaomei, Zheng Kangcheng

15

FC&A – JUNE – 2020

XIANGJIANG GATE, RMJM SHANGHAI

RMJM REVEALS DESIGN OF XIANGJIANG GATE RMJM Shanghai was recently appointed by Hengyan authorities to design the Xiangjiang Gate. It is the culmination of an international design competition set to bring a monument to the city of Hengyang located in the province of Hunan in China. The confluence of the Xiang, Zheng and Lishui rivers will be home to the gate.

RMJM SHANGHAI

T

he mixed-use project will serve – among other things – as a tourist information centre and a monument with a panoramic platform. It will set a benchmark in the region and is expected to attract visitors from all over the world. At 177m tall, the building’s design steps away from the traditional vision of the gate and moves towards a more contemporary depiction.

The concept behind the design is deeply rooted in the history of the city.

The design pays tribute to the geographical location of the city but also to its convergent spirit.

Hangyang is a city where old and new and culture and modernity converge in many aspects.

The joint towers represent the essence of humanity: fire. In religious tradition, it is said that Hengyang was the first to bear the mark of Zhu Rong, the God of Fire and South, whose story is contained in ‘Shan Hai Jing, The Great Wild West’.

Viewed upside down, the building becomes a goose flying through the sky. In ancient Chinese poetry, Hangyang was a winter refuge for wild geese escaping the cold of the north, earning it the nickname of the ‘Wild Goose City’.

FC&A – JUNE – 2020

Hengyang is not only a city with a rich cultural past but also the region’s secondlargest city and a fast-evolving tech hub.

The structural system of the gate will fully reflect the highest level of contemporary structural engineering technology. RMJM designers decided to reinterpret the “sustainable” architectural design from a more comprehensive perspective, rather than relying solely on the construction of natural spaces required by roadside buildings, which will affect the architectural design, surrounding environment and urban residents. The design embraces the local environment and forms an interaction between technology, climate, building materials and human behaviour.

“The relationship between architecture and the environment has always been a complex one,” says Jieha Qiu, CEO of RMJM Shanghai. He adds: “ To reach harmony between the two, we, at RMJM, use climate statistics and engineering parameters to study the most appropriate design forms so that we can shape the best and most suitable architectural forms under special environmental conditions.”

RMJM Shanghai’s design combines a timeless and modern aesthetic with flexible and sustainable technology and fully reflects the cultural essence of the city. The building harmoniously integrates its environment and represents a great opportunity for the tourism industry. The Xiangjiang Gate will act as a business card for the city of Hengyang.

www.rmjm.com

16

XIANGJIANG GATE, RMJM SHANGHAI

ABOUT RMJM: Founded by Sir Robert Matthew and Stirrat Johnson-Marshall in 1956, RMJM Group is one of the largest, most geographically and culturally diverse architecture firms in the world.

With studios across five continents (collectively representing 56 nationalities and 40 different language groups), the RMJM Group is a family of architecture studios who share knowledge, expertise and design talent, working together to solve design problems and focusing on consistently adding world-class projects to an everexpanding portfolio.

17

FC&A – JUNE – 2020

COLUMN

ON SITE WITH SYKES CHRISTOPHER SYKES I S A N A R C H I T E C T W H O T R A I N E D AT T H E B A R T L E T T S C H O O L O F A R C H I T E C T U R E AT U N I V E R S I T Y C O L L E G E LO N D O N . A F T E R H E Q U A L I F I E D , H E W O R K E D I N B O T H LO N D O N A N D S W E D E N . H AV I N G W I D E N E D H I S W R I T I N G A N D J O U R N A L I S T I C S K I L L S , H E S U B S E Q U E N T LY S TA R T E D H I S O W N P U B L I S H I N G C O M PA N Y S P E C I A L I S I N G I N B U I L D I N G M A G A Z I N E S A N D E V E N T S . A S A H O B B Y, H E U S E D T O W R I T E S I T C O M F O R T H E B B C .

GREEN ROOFS AND LIVING WALLS

O

n a social scale, everyone is much happier in a green environment and a natural habitat which is so much more desirable than concrete and asphalt and improves personal health, wellbeing and interaction.

How wonderful to enjoy replicated valuable land which was lost through the building’s footprint.

In the UK, it all started in 2008 when the ambitious and pioneering Living Roofs and Walls Policy was first introduced into the London Plan. Today, many authorities stipulate that urban development and largescale new communities will only be permitted where all flat roofs are either green or biodiverse. These latter ones, for example, can be simply sedum, sedum with wildflower or brown wildflower.

Interestingly, some European countries (Austria, Germany and Switzerland) were already ahead of the UK. Over the last 12 years, we have seen the rapid development and acceptance of green roofs and their enormous benefits both for the environment and for buildings themselves, especially in terms of biodiversity, sustainable water management, insulation and saving energy.

The green roof system, flat or sloping, creates a natural habitat for plants, birds and butterflies and helps biodiversity by encouraging a wider spread of species.

Importantly, it reduces the building’s carbon footprint because running costs are lowered. These are lowered because the green roof is a natural insulator (much the same as heavy snow) and reduces energy related to air conditioning in summer and insulation in the winter.

Architects, urban planners and roof designers are no longer dismissive of this ‘new’ building material which was widely introduced to them 12 years ago. Any initial hesitation they may have originally expressed has given way to a profound understanding and professionalism which has radically influenced our urban environment. In other words, they are no longer ‘green’ about the enormous physical, social and money-saving benefits of green roofs.

St James’s Market Valentine.

Image courtesy of ANS Global.

Waitrose, Camberley.

Image courtesy of Bauder Ltd. FC&A – JUNE – 2020

18

Soil is incredibly effective in sound absorption, reducing by up to 8 dB, and regulates temperature both in and out.

In addition, the efficiency of solar panels is increased.

Also very valuable is the storing of between 50 and 100% of rainfall, which means that the cost of expensive rainwater dispersal design is radically reduced.

Surprisingly, research shows that the roof surface can last for up to three times longer and is reckoned to recoup investment within eight to 21 years.

Perhaps the most dramatic development in recent years has been the emergence of green walls. The public love them not only because of their stunning aesthetics and surprise, while the owners reap yet more benefit from high energy savings.

For example, a Boston Ivy trellised wall is said to save up to 34% energy.

Obviously, growing plants up walls is a centuries-old pursuit. What is new is the technology involved with two other variations of a green wall. These are the living wall and the bioactive facade. The first involves clever design to hold it all in place while the other involves specially crafted surfaces, such as modified concrete, for selfsupporting vegetation. Some may need artificial watering systems while others may require substances and chemicals for the wall to survive and flourish.

Although green roofs and living walls are relatively new, there is a wealth of information available from professional suppliers and users. In addition, many case studies explain in detail all the benefits and show exactly how to create perfect solutions.

High Quality, Traditional Timber Windows and Doors Providing Tailor Made Solutions For Your Project. Period Property Experts.

Supply Only, Supply and Install, Draught Proofing and Overhaul.

Trusted trader

01344 868 668

www.sashwindow.com

FIRE DOOR HARDWARE As important as the door

A fire door is an essential part of a building’s passive fire protection system. A critical component of every fire door is the hardware on it.

At ZEROplus we have been independently fire testing door hardware for over 20 years, to be able today to offer an extensive range of tested products.

UV-PROTECTION OIL EXTRA Perfectly protected against the sun.

The first clear UV protection for the outdoors!

• UV resistant factor 12 in comparison to untreated wood

Seals Hinges Locks Euro Cylinders Lever Handles Door Closers Letter Plates

• For vertically structured exterior surfaces • Very water and dirt resistant • Reduces wood swelling and shrinkage • Resists the growth of algae, mildew and fungal attack • Microporous, breathable finish – doesn’t crack, peel, flake or blister • No sanding necessary for future applications

Door Stays Vision Frames Louvres Door Viewers Flush Bolts Panic & Emergency Exit Hardware

FIND OUT MORE AT: WWW.ZEROPLUS.CO.UK ZERO SEAL SYSTEMS LTD: 01785 282910

www.osmouk.com

19

FC&A – JUNE – 2020

VOICE OF THE INDUSTRY

Photos: 2020 NBS Construction Product Leaders’ Summit

NEW LAWS WILL LEAD TO A DIGITAL FUTURE For the last few years, the construction sector has been high on the Government’s agenda, particularly around the subjects of fire and building safety. Recently thrown into sharper focus through the publication of the Hackitt Report and industry reaction, 2020 has seen an assertive drive towards the establishment of new laws and a dedicated regulator to improve building safety. Importantly, the new legislation will also act as a much-needed catalyst in the move to digital transformation, which has started to stagnate following an initial flurry of activity, writes Richard Waterhouse, Chief Strategy Officer at NBS. THE NBS

RICHARD WATERHOUSE I S T H E CHI EF EXEC U T I V E O FFICER O F NB S . HE I S AN ARC HI T EC T A ND B I M SPEC I AL I S T

T

he construction industry as a whole is underdigitised, yet we’re rapidly approaching a time when digital will be a ‘must-have’, not a ‘niceto-have’. While architects and engineers have led the transition, compelled by the Government’s BIM mandate, not everyone has gone digital.

However, the benefits are clear and wide-reaching: digital tools improve standards, reduce mistakes at every stage and improve record keeping and auditing. This keeps costs down, builds on schedule and standards high.

The new building safety regulator will be part of the Health and Safety Executive. Clear, transparent, unambiguous; it will have a significant impact throughout the building process. Not only will it be able to impose sanctions and instigate prosecution at any stage of construction, but its remit will also cover in-use. Beyond this, its scope will also include revoking building safety certificates and levying unlimited fines for non-compliance.

As part of the new Building Safety Regulator, there will also be a new construction product regulator, focused on strengthening materials regulations. Its responsibilities will include market surveillance, manufacturer enforcement and advising both the industry and the Government.

New regulator The Government asked HSE to establish a new building safety regulator following recommendations in the ‘Building a Safer Future’ report by Dame Judith Hackitt.

FC&A – JUNE – 2020

20

Better decision-making When it comes to design decisions, creating accurate specifications can be a headache, with some projects needing thousands of choices to be made.

At the NBS Construction Product Leaders’ Summit earlier this year, John Carpenter, Associate at architectural practice Allies and Morrison, said: “Specifiers require highly accurate product descriptions using the most relevant and up-todate industry standards. We need to be able to compare similar products, and product information has to be clear.

Are we comparing apples with apples or apples with oranges?

All too often, the product information is unclear, and performance data ambiguous.”

VOICE OF THE INDUSTRY

New laws Early in April, Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick announced a series of measures comprising what he called “the biggest change in building safety for a generation”.

This is the Government’s response to ‘Building a Safer Future’ (Hackitt, 2018), the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety.

The changes will initially apply only to multi-occupancy buildings of height 18m and above, or six storeys, whichever is reached first. For buildings in-scope, a duty-holder regime will apply. The client, principal designer and principal contractor will have to demonstrate that the building is safe. Crucially, the ability of the dutyholder to choose which building control body oversees construction/refurbishment will be removed.

There are gateway points at various stages, requiring evidence-based sign-off from the regulator before the project can move forward. The three gateways are: preplanning, before construction and before occupation, each focusing on people’s safety and the quality of record-keeping.

Design changes will need to be properly recorded and notified. Before occupation, full digital documentation has to be provided, including drawings and a dataset of assets.

Sewing it up The Building a Safer Future report identified a need for a ‘golden thread’ of information.

Updated throughout a building’s life and in use from design through occupation, it will be an accurate and real-time record of what has gone into a building, how it was installed and maintained. This encourages transparency and accountability.

Right now, the golden thread is an aspiration, and a major sticking point is around having consistent standards and interoperability. As we all know, technology can be frustrating. Files need reformatting, cut and paste is part of the grind. It’s still too hard to move information without losing data, thus risking costly mistakes.

The Centre for Digital Built Britain recently released its report on interoperability, which was overseen by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). This is a welcome look at a real sticking point.

Changing ways of working He adds: “This is unnecessary, taking up a huge amount of our time while we try to work out if a product is genuinely compatible and if it meets the specification brief. It’s all too easy to see how this can lead to mistakes.”

Under the new regime, manufacturers will have to provide data and performance accreditation, use standardised systems and take a more collaborative approach. This includes adopting a transparent attitude to data sharing. All of this can be done effectively using digital methods and will no doubt make specification less of a challenge.

This legal framework will result in less substitution, and as ‘value engineering’ combines with rigorous record-keeping and sign-off procedures, construction culture will move from being costfocused to quality-driven. Product stewardship will lie at the heart of this new approach.

The increase in oversight doesn’t stop there. ARB has announced a consultation with a view to career-long competency assessments.

21

It’s clear the future is both digital and safety-first. This requires true collaboration and making the people who will live in the buildings you create a focal point.

This will no doubt lead to a wholesale revolution around working practices, contracts and approaches. The regulations, coupled with new technologies, provide a fantastic opportunity for the industry to use digital collaboration to focus on creating safe homes for all.

www.thenbs.com FC&A – JUNE – 2020

LEGAL & BUSINESS

HOW WILL THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY TRADE WITH EUROPE FROM 2021?

In case you missed it, the UK ceased to be a member of the European Union (EU27) on 31st January 2020. In the early part of February 2020, the UK Government began to set out the trading landscape post-31st December 2020. So what does this mean?

Gerry Myton, Partner at Streets Chartered Accountants, explains.

STREETS CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS

W

e find ourselves in 2020, a whole year stretching ahead of us with time to plan, prepare and arrange various measures to deal with our exit from the European Union. However, it may not have occurred to many, but this means much more for exporters and importers. There will now be no frictionless trade with the EU after the end of the transition period. To add to this, customs declarations and checks that currently only apply to trade with non-EU countries will become the norm for goods moving between the EU27 and the UK. A reality check might well be needed for those who have not considered this yet.

In recent speeches and interviews, senior UK Government ministers have confirmed that: “The UK will be outside the single market and outside the customs union, so we will have to be ready for the customs procedures and regulatory checks that will inevitably follow”.

This sounds official enough,but what does that actually mean?

Here are some clear takeaways: Full import controls will apply to goods arriving in the UK after 31st December 2020 Transitional Simplified Procedures (TSP) will be withdrawn. Anyone authorised to use TSP will need to hold the appropriate authorisations.

FC&A – JUNE – 2020

The proposed special arrangements for exports and imports at roll-on, roll-off (RoRo) ferry locations will not apply. Therefore, import declarations or transit movements must be presented on arrival to a Customs Office or via a Port Inventory System. For exports, goods will need to be presented on exit of the UK as it happens for exports to non-EU countries.

EMCS (Excise Movement and Control System) movements will start at the port of import and not within 24 hours as was proposed The proposed VAT Postponed Accounting has also been shelved. VAT will be due on imports at the point of importation (cash on the table) subject to the use of deferment accounts and financial guarantees being in place.

The ‘Brexit Tariff’ with 88% of goods being imported free from customs duties has been withdrawn. Instead, the Department for International Trade is consulting on the future tariff and potential removing nuisance tariffs (those under 2.5%) and rationalising others but at the same time protecting indigenous industries, promoting inward manufacturing while not undermining any negotiated free trade agreements.

22

GERRY MYTON IS A PA RTN E R AT S TRE E TS C H A RTE RE D AC C O UN TA N TS

How will this impact the construction sector?

The most notable thing that jumps out from the above is that imports of materials from EU suppliers to incorporate into construction projects will attract duty and VAT. Duty is calculated on the value of the product, and VAT is added to the duty inclusive price. The duty on a select number of products is set out below: Bricks: 1.7% Ceramics: 2% Screws/bolts: 3.7% Plasterboard: 1.7% Aluminium windows: 6% Electrical cable copper: 5.2% Cement: 1.7% Plastic piping: 6.5% Aluminium pipes: 7.5% Electrical sockets/fuses: 2.3% Electrical storage heaters, cookers: 2.7% Copper pipes: 4.8%.

For an immediate example, on an order of £100,000 of copper pipe, a typical construction company buying from a German supplier will incur duty of £4800 plus import VAT of £20,960.

LEGAL & BUSINESS

In this instance, only the VAT is recoverable.

Today, there is no duty nor import VAT; therefore, businesses will need to absorb or pass on the duty cost and work around the negative VAT cashflow.

The import VAT is either paid at the time of import or deferred until the 15th day of the month following. It is then recovered on a subsequent VAT return which could be three months or more after it was paid.

To mitigate the above, businesses will need to: Obtain an EORI number Consider applying for a deferment account which will require a guarantee Review terms of trade with EU27 customers/ suppliers to determine who is the importer Consider how declarations will be made and who will make these declarations. There will be a rush to secure valuable customs agent’s resource in autumn 2020.

Review which HMRC regimes could mitigate exposure to the above, such as AEO, warehousing, etc.

It is also worth noting that the EU27 never promised any simplified procedures to importers or exporters, so the UK is mirroring this. But businesses in the UK now have less time to get prepared. UK business needs to move quickly to ensure it can continue to operate supply chains as smoothly as possible.

There are set to be several months ahead of planning, but the thing to remember is that you are not alone and there is help at hand. Negotiating these new waters will be a headache the sector does not need, but is inevitable given the sea-change that all UK trade is having to adapt post-Brexit.

www.streetsweb.co.uk 23

FC&A – JUNE – 2020

DOORS, WINDOWS & BALUSTRADES

THE LATEST CONSIDERATIONS FOR COMMERCIAL WINDOW SPECIFICATION A whole host of factors need to be considered when it comes to the design, construction and ongoing maintenance of large commercial projects. With the growing pressure on developers to select products capable of maximising the performance and durability of the buildings they work on; windows have been looked to for those marginal gains.

Steve Tonkiss, Commercial Manager at REHAU Windows, discusses the vital role windows play in commercial project design and the key factors that need to be considered for those tasked with selecting the best windows for their commercial build project.

REHAU WINDOWS

N

o product typifies the need to balance form with function more than a building’s windows. Capable of enhancing a number of characteristics concerning building performance and appearance, architects, specifiers and developers have been urged to place more emphasis on window specification. With so many considerations to be made when it comes to selecting and installing the right window for a commercial building, it is of prime importance that those tasked with specifying windows make the most informed choice.

Sound attenuation In order for the choice of window to be narrowed down, firstly, appropriate sound levels need to be identified. The World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines state that community noise needs to be less than 30 dB in bedrooms during the night, and less than 35 dB in living spaces to allow for adequate living and working conditions.

FC&A – JUNE – 2020

It comes as no surprise that the constituent parts of a window all have a part to play in acting as an effective sound barrier. Generally, the thicker the glass, the better the level of sound attenuation.

However, as a note of caution, thicker, heavier glass may not be suitable for certain types of window or installation.

The level of ventilation required within a building can also dictate a window’s sound acoustic performance. Trickle vents, for instance, will allow small amounts of ventilation through the window to avoid issues like condensation, but will also allow a certain level of noise through as well. Modern buildings boasting a mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) system, are more likely to have windows that don’t open; making them much more soundproof.

The window frame itself will tend to enhance the performance of the glass up to around 37 to 38 dB, and this usually comes down to the frame material. Multi24

chambered uPVC frames, for example, can help reduce noise levels coming through the window. However, it is still key specifiers select solutions that have undergone stringent performance checks. This can include testing up to 47 dB using a triple glazed unit with varying thickness of glass, all contained within the window itself.

So, while every window will have its own performance characteristics, it will ultimately only perform as well as the quality of its installation. Sealing the window around its perimeter using an expanding foam tape enhances both energy and sound insulation.

Premium insulation With people becoming increasingly conscious about the impact their actions have on the environment, there is more pressure than ever to reduce energy consumption. For this reason, windows play a vital part in ensuring a building is suitably insulated with the added benefit of keeping heating costs down.

DOORS, WINDOWS & BALUSTRADES

To measure how effective a building is at transmitting heat between the outside and the inside of a building, the U-values have been established.

The lower the U-value, the slower the heat can transfer through the material in question, and; therefore, the better an insulator it is. Approved Document L of the Building Regulations state that developers should achieve a minimum U-value of 1.6 W/m2K for windows installed in a retrofit scenario, or 1.4 W/m2K in new-build dwellings. To achieve future Government targets, window and door U-values are also set to be reduced in the near future.

Occupant safety As with most modern building fabrics, windows have been targeted for the role they play in fire protection, and the result of that is a generation of windows capable of acting as effective fire protectors and smoke ventilators in the event of a fire. There are many product features, testing conditions and legislative requirements which come into play for specifiers of commercial windows.

One of the most appealing features of a uPVC window is that the material itself is ‘selfextinguishing’, taking the heat source away so the window will not burn or act as a fuel. As such, suppliers can provide fire-rated fixed uPVC windows that have been tested and certified with various firerated glass solutions from the major glass producers.

25

Aesthetics

Sustainability

A window’s performance goes hand-in-hand with its appearance. As part of the building fabric, they need to contribute positively to the aesthetics of the building.

Architects will often be on the look-out for a window with minimal sightlines so that the break between the external building material and any expanse of glazing is reduced.

It is also important to factor colour into building design, as it can reduce the impact of sightlines. White window frames tend to contrast with the building fabric or the glass, whereas darker shades often appear far subtler, ultimately reducing the impact of the window on the building’s appearance.

Furthermore, though there is a common assumption that aluminium windows achieve significantly slimmer sightlines than uPVC, in reality, there is very little between the two.

Advancing foil technology means uPVC ranges enjoy greater colour choice than ever before, and includes certain options that have been designed to simulate aluminium.

Consequently, polymer-based window profiles continue to endure as an attractive option for specifiers, architects and building designers.

With environmental pressure mounting, a growing number of developers are now looking to work with manufacturers and suppliers that take a responsible approach to producing, delivering or installing the chosen products.

To dispel another myth, uPVC, or ‘plastic’ windows, can be among the most sustainable materials around. UPVC can be recycled and reintroduced into the supply chain to ensure conformance with Circular Economy (CE) requirements, making it a perfect solution for developers looking to ensure a green thread runs through their commercial building.

In response to this, key sector stakeholders have further overhauled their PVC recycling offering in order to ensure fabricators and installers have access to a responsible, yet profitable way to protect the environment. By using PVCR to recycle old uPVC windows and doors, businesses can not only manage their waste effectively, but can also minimise disposal costs and reduce their impact on landfill.

For more information, download REHAU’s guide, ‘Seize your window of opportunity: How windows can unlock the potential of your commercial building’, by visiting the below website.

www.rehauhome.co.uk FC&A – JUNE – 2020

PAINTS, COATINGS & FINISHES

5

COMMERCIAL COATINGS, AND WHY THEY’RE POPULAR

Paint isn’t exciting, but it’s hugely important in the commercial realm.

Paul Smith of F.H. Brundle, which stocks a wide variety of paint alongside wrought iron, mesh, steel and other products, talks us through five key types of coatings in commercial projects, and what makes them useful and popular.

F.H. BRUNDLE

P

aint. It’s hardly the most inspirational topic. But without it, the world wouldn’t just be a much uglier place to be – the amount of maintenance needed on buildings, fences, railings and anything else exposed to the elements would be drastically increased.

In the commercial realm, when project managers and specifiers are concerned with making spaces as durable and easily maintained as possible, that makes coatings extremely important.

Choose wisely, and you’ll have a site that stays looking its best for years to come. Get it wrong, and it’ll prove costly, both for yourself and your client.

To help you make the right choice, here’s F.H. Brundle’s guide to five important coatings used in commercial projects, and what makes them so popular.

Vinyl coatings are particularly suitable for use on ironwork, and if it’s been freshly galvanised, two coats will give a long-lasting finish. Gloss, semi-gloss and matt sheens are all available.

Vinyl coatings

One of the more modern coating techniques, powder coating is becoming increasingly popular for commercial and industrial applications. As the name suggests, dry powder is sprayed onto a surface, then heated to bind it.

The powder itself is a mix of finelyground pigment particles and resin, that gets electrostatically applied to the surface in question. In a curing oven, those particles are fused into a smooth coating.

Vinyl coatings, like F.H. Brundle’s own Rourke’s Vinylast, are made of various types of resin, like polyvinyl acetate or polyvinyl chloride.

They’re attractive, long-lasting and low-maintenance, and well-suited to providing abrasion and scratch resistance, heat-resistance and corrosion resistance, as well as simply improving the aesthetics of a surface.

FC&A – JUNE – 2020

Lacquer Humans have been using lacquer for a very long time – the earliest known examples date back 9000 years from ancient Japan, where it was routinely mixed with vermillion and used to decorate pottery.

Essentially, lacquer is a naturallyoccurring plastic. It’s extracted from the clear sap of the lacquer tree, common in China, Japan and other parts of East Asia, and then used to protect surfaces.

It’s highly durable, and frequently used on everything from wood to metal. It also dries and hardens very quickly, but is liable to chip if not treated carefully.

Powder coating

26

Powder-coated finishes are very durable and cost-effective, and are much cleaner to use than applying wet paint. They’re also quicker and more environmentally-friendly than some alternatives.

Enamel Enamel is a slow-drying paint that contains resin. Its key benefit is its smooth, semi-transparent finish – the extra drying time allows it to level out more than other types of paint.

The added resin also makes it highly durable – that’s why we recommend F.H. Brundle’s Enamelrite whenever a tougher finish is required. Enamel finish paints can withstand mechanical abrasion better than other alternatives. That makes them ideal for use on handrails, furniture, seating and other high-use settings.

Anti-climb paint Anti-climb paint is the black sheep of the family. It’s not designed to improve aesthetics at all – but nonetheless plays a critical role in keeping important buildings safe all around the country.

Anti-climb paint doesn’t set, meaning it’s permanently slippery, and therefore an excellent way of preventing wouldbe burglars from scaling walls, fences, drainpipes, streetlamps and virtually any other surface it’s applied to.

To be effective, anti-climb paint has to be applied quite thickly – a layer that’s 2 to 3mm-thick is best. However, be wary of the law before applying it – you need to put up warning signs if there’s anticlimb paint in use on a site.

PAINTS, COATINGS & FINISHES

At F.H Brundle, we offer an extensive range of paints for metalwork. We stock anti-corrosion primers, gloss and semigloss paints, as well as hammered, metallic and patina finishes.

Our high-quality Vinylast paint doesn’t require pre-treatment, and gives an attractive, long-lasting finish to freshly galvanised ironwork. What’s more, our cold zinc galvanise provides both a highly effective anti-corrosion coating, and a method for repairing zinc surfaces, while GALVAFROID can be used as both a primer and a topcoat to prevent rust and corrosion.

www.fhbrundle.co.uk 27

FC&A – JUNE – 2020

WATERPROOFING & MAINTENANCE

PREPARE FOR A PROVEN, LONG-TERM REPAIR SOLUTION TO CORROSION-CONTAMINATED CONCRETE Time is money; a motto that is particularly pertinent to the refurbishment of concrete infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, tunnels and the like. Delays in the repair of these vital transport links not only pile unnecessary stress on the commuting public, but local authorities also face additional expenditure each time a public project overruns; a financial burden that will inevitably be borne by the taxpayer.

SIKA

G

ood planning is a perquisite to helping offsetting perils that may lie ahead, hence Jamie Squires, Product Manager at global building products manufacturer Sika, offers some sound, preparatory advice in relation to concrete repair, as well as a proven, long-term repair and protection solution.

Corrosion, either as a result of chloride or carbonation contamination, is a major contributor to concrete debilitation. If not diagnosed early enough and effectively dealt with, the consequences of such damage can have serious structural implications. By getting the pre-project basics right; however, the first step to successful concrete repair has been taken.

Pre-project checklist Before any work is carried out, it’s essential to check the right tools and products are available to do the job. This means ensuring said FC&A – JUNE – 2020

tools are in excellent condition – clean and well-maintained. In terms of concrete removal, only defective areas highlighted by a supervising officer or qualified engineer should be removed, and as with any repair project, only use clean, potable water when required.

It’s essential to avoid contaminating mixture with other chemicals or mixing powders from different products. It’s also not advisable to add more water than recommended. In addition, mixing and applying product in direct sunlight should be avoided.

Concrete should be removed to a minimum of 15mm behind the reinforcing bars. Cut the sides to a minimum of 90° to avoid undercutting and maximum of 135° to reduce de-bonding around edges. The substrate should be sound and devoid of loose material before repairs continue.

If the substrate appears cracked, immediately inform a supervisor.

For the reinforcement preparation, remove all tie wires, mortar/concrete, rust/scale and any other loose material.

This can be completed with a steel wire brush or hand/power tools – a technique is applicable only in carbonated concrete and under environmental constraints where abrasive blast cleaning or high-pressure water jetting cannot be carried out. Ideally, the steel should appear bright and in accordance with SA2 ½.

Substrate priming For the all-important substrate preparation, defective concrete should be marked and removed accordingly. For small patch repairs, a hammer and chisel will likely suffice. A hammer drill should be used on larger areas, whilst even larger sites might best be treated with a high-pressure water jetting.

Repair solution With the concrete primed, sacrificial anodes represent an effective and sustainable long-term 28

solution to the debilitating effects of chloride contamination. They are particularly suited to the repair of bridges and buildings in large suburban areas where carbonation is more prevalent. Indeed, where environmental and safety grounds play a significant role in deciding on an appropriate refurbishment solution, the anodes system scores highly over grit and water blasting.

Galvanic, sacrificial anodes comprise a zinc core encased by a small, cementitious shell which can be installed within the perimeter of repair sites to prevent incipient anodes developing, or outside the repaired area to protect the reinforcement in chloride – infused concrete.

The anode is quickly and easily fastened to exposed steel reinforcement in repair sites or cored and grouted holes within concrete, yet outside the repaired area. Once installed, the anode’s zinc core corrodes sacrificially to protect the surrounding rebar.

www.sika.co.uk

WATERPROOFING & MAINTENANCE

CASE STUDY – TICKTON FLYOVER: Sika’s embedded galvanic anodes provided the rapid, corrosion control system for the long-term protection of a major transport link.

Tickton Flyover, which carries a vital ‘A’ road over the River Hull in North Yorkshire, was found to be at risk of corrosion due to signs of chloride in its concrete columns and beams. A proven solution was required to prevent corrosion forming on the steel rebar and maintain the flyover’s structural integrity. It led to the specification of Sika Galvashield CC100 anodes.

Nearly 1000 anodes were used in the flyover’s repair. These were tied at intervals to the reinforcement and charged using a Sika Galvashield Anode Connection Kit. Sika Galvashield Embedding Mortar was used to repair drill holes created to install the anodes.

The flyover’s repairs were completed in September 2018. Thanks to Sika Galvashield’s ingenious technology, this vital transport link has been long-term protected against the perils associated with chloride and carboninduced corrosion.

Good preparation paid fair dividend in lieu of installing Sika’s proven, high-performance total control management system. Each process was vital for the restoration of this crucial transportation link and its long-term protection against the perils associated with concrete corrosion.

29

FC&A – JUNE – 2020

TIMBER

CREATING A TIMBER ALLIANCE: 81-87 WESTON STREET Looking up at 81-87 Weston Street, it is hard to believe it was a former warehouse. This impressive Moderniststyle refurbishment is now a mixed-use building comprising eight spacious, multi-level apartments and ground floor office space.

WOOD FOR GOOD

S

tanding in the heart of Bermondsey, South London, the external appearance of the new building aims to reflect Southwark’s historical fabric whilst asserting the building’s unique spatial arrangement.

The mix of wood and concrete is sympathetic to the local area and its new developments such as The Shard, constructed among more ubiquitous mid-rise Victorian warehouse buildings.

Mixing it up The decision to refurbish rather than knock down the building was a positive step in the building’s journey to becoming a sustainable project.

Though timber is a more environmentally-friendly building material, in this case, it was more sustainable to preserve the existing structural concrete shell.

The result is a tessellating ‘Brutalist’ look. The sharp angles and industrial combination of concrete and brickwork is FC&A – JUNE – 2020

softened by timber, which features heavily throughout the interior.

This hybrid construction approach allowed for an innovative arrangement of eight apartments in two staggered blocks. The office space occupies the ground floor of the building and is accessed via a separate entrance.

There are three apartments in one block and five in the other, ranging between two and three bedrooms, with a stair and lift core running up the middle of each cluster. This intelligent design, created by award-winning architect practice AHMM, ensures that all the apartments have a split section, are dual aspect and benefit from both north and south light.

the diverse architecture of the neighbourhood, the block is also given variation by way of the fenestration with large L- or T-shaped window openings that permit glimpses of the split-level spaces within. The windows are internally oak framed and set into deep reveals. Further surface relief is given by terraces set into the stepped roofline and by the large pre-cast balconies which cantilever out from the elevation.

Inside, the apartments are all unique, while demonstrating the same approach. They are split across several floors and centred around an open-plan, double-height space which contains the internal circulation and forms the main heart of the home. Each multi-level apartment is flooded with light

Let there be light The mass of the building steps up and away from the adjacent buildings on Weston Street to preserve the neighbours’ rights to light. In keeping with 30

from either a large full-height window or, in the case of the apartments in the centre of the two blocks, by rooflights.

Work, eat and live The social spaces – living, kitchen, dining and study areas – are placed in this fluid central volume, separated by stairs and not doors, with more cellular bedrooms located above, below or adjacent. This design is influenced by the client, Solidspace’s, philosophy of ‘work, eat and live.’

Through this design and the variation in levels, each apartment feels open, airy and spacious. The combination of exposed concrete surfaces and timber linings provides warmth and texture to the internal spaces.

TIMBER

The stair cores have a smooth matt concrete finish with expressed joints. In contrast, the apartment and office interiors incorporate timber and self-finished materials to complement the concrete, and give a warm, hand-crafted feel.

Workspace desks, bedroom storage, library shelving and timber linings to the internal stairs are finished in either oak or walnut. Solid oak parquet flooring features throughout.

The high-quality joinery is a feature in each room of these high-end apartments, injecting a luxurious feel to an industrial shell.

Facilities including the bike shed, the sensitive refurbishment of the building and the use of renewable building materials, such as timber, resulted in 81-87 Weston Street achieving a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ status.

Since its completion, the building has won a number of awards, most notably the RIBA London Award and RIBA National Award in 2018.

Fusion spaces Wood is used extensively in construction yet sometimes it’s necessary to combine wood with other materials such as steel or concrete; creating a hybrid structure such as 81-87 Weston Street.

Many buildings do not suit the ‘one size fits all’ criteria, and this applies to building materials too. The use of timber for this project has resulted in an aesthetically pleasing and sustainable building.

Hybrid structures achieve structural efficiency and often a reduction in carbon footprint. They are an economical, architectural, sustainable and structurally feasible alternative.

Hybrid construction takes the best qualities from each material, and in the case of 81-87 Weston Street, the concrete provides additional structural support. Moreover, re-using the existing concrete shell was the most sustainable option for this building.

31

Healthier, happier homes In addition to its aesthetic qualities, timber can help create a healthier home environment.

The need to stay at home due to the coronavirus pandemic has highlighted more than ever the need for healthier and flexible homes, which is what AHMM and Solidspace have achieved with this building.

The space is flexible, and as proven in numerous studies, the presence of timber in a home can help to improve emotional state, reduce blood pressure, heart rate and stress and improve sleep patterns.

81-87 Weston Street is an exemplar of how wood can help create homes that will stand the test of time, and testing situations.

www.woodforgood.com FC&A – JUNE – 2020

BUILD FOCUS: OFFICE

BUILD FOCUS:

OFFICE

FC&A rounds up the latest case studies, advice and stories from the industry’s leading professionals. This month’s Build Focus shines a light on the future of the workspace, following the coronavirus pandemic.

LAURA LIGHT CONCEPT DESIGN TEAM LEADER AT INTERFACE

THE COLOURS INSPIRING US IN 2020 As we navigate through these uncertain times, it is more important than ever to create workplace environments that help people to work in a way that best suits their needs. As the base of any design, it is important that the flooring you choose incorporates the right colours, patterns and textures to support the mood and experiences you wish to create and curate, says Laura Light, Concept Design Team Leader at Interface.

INTERFACE

Colour, in particular, plays a vital role with its innate ability to change our behaviour and mood. To help inspire your creative vision, we’ve put together three of the biggest colour trends for the year ahead which we believe will significantly influence the design of workspaces.

1. Into the blue While many shades go in and out of fashion, our love of blue remains. It came as no surprise when Pantone announced Classic Blue as its ‘Colour of the Year’ for 2020. In a chaotic world, blue is a sign of trust and stability and naturally makes us feel safe and secure.

Taking a deep dive into the naturally soothing shades of indigo, denim and lavender blue, our palette spans dark, rich mid-tones and pale hues and helps to provide spaces for concentration and calm thoughts.

With Classic Blue, intense tones remind us of the ocean, while crisp, light and bright shades of powder blue make us think about blue skies and clouds. Frosted lilac and blueberry tinged with lavender also signal a significant shift, moving away from ‘true blues’ that have dominated recent seasons.

Blue has the power to positively impact our wellbeing in the workplace. The colour palette reflects the differences between night and day, emulating the feelings and mood they create. Brighter, lighter shades of blue awaken our minds and pave the way for fresh thinking. In contrast, warm inky tones naturally aid concentration and focused discussion.

As busy workers continue to look for spaces to retreat and recharge, we expect to see this uplifting and welcoming colour palette adopted in workplace design across the world to help soften our places of work.

3. Golden ochre When we are looking for reassurance, we are often drawn to more optimistic colour palettes, so it’s no surprise that yellow remains a key colour for office interiors in 2020 and beyond.

The golden ochre offers a much-needed uplifting and energising spectrum of colours. Rich jewel and spice tones are perfectly paired with more muted shades to instantly energise interiors and lift spirits.

The zesty yellows of previous seasons have made way for calmer tones. In many ways, these colours provide a subtle nod to the 70s revival we are witnessing in interior design today, bringing back nostalgic shades which evoke a deep, timeless quality.

These golden shades instil a sense of lightheartedness and add a burst of brightness to workplace environments and are useful for zoning areas. We’ll continue to see this warm and soothing colour palette reflected in design throughout 2020 as we navigate through this period of unknown.

2. Subtle blush Following the buzz around pink at Milan Design Week 2019, we predict that people’s love affair with this colour will continue with the emergence of warm shades like berry and rose blush. These colours, which are warmer, offer an antidote to our often, hectic digital lives.

The warm and nurturing Subtle Blush colour palette offers a calm and soothing mix of softened tones like pink, salmon and rose blush to revitalise an office. Sumptuous, earthy, colours including red clay, terracotta and russet bring about a sense of nostalgia for simpler times.

FC&A – JUNE – 2020

www.interface.com 32

BUILD FOCUS: OFFICE

If a more fluid and blended approach, encompassing home and office, is established, then space will most certainly have to change to accommodate the new requirement.

CYRIL PARSONS JOINT MANAGING DIRECTOR AND COFOUNDER OF OFFICE PRINCIPLES

REIMAGINING THE FUTURE OF THE OFFICE Joint Managing Director and Co-Founder of design and workplace consultancy, Office Principles, Cyril Parsons considers how the office is destined to reinvent itself as the way we work changes dramatically moving forward.

OFFICE PRINCIPLES

As we feel our way through this period of significant change, the way we consider and approach our work has shifted irreversibly. For many office workers, now used to working from home, work is no longer a place to go to but an activity to be done.

The lockdown has peeled the lid off how we feel about work, along with many of the possibilities surrounding how we work and what we hope to get from any new work environment.

Now that working from home is a viable option, many of us are keen to retain the work-life balance we’ve managed to achieve and are not eager to return to a daily commute.

This is a time for listening as we reshape the office landscape to make it future fit. Employers should spend time consulting with their teams to find out what people value most about the time they spend in the office.

Moving forward Reconfiguration is taking place to accommodate social distancing and to ensure workers can be seated safely; however, there will need to be changes to how space is planned and fitted out in the longer term.

An open-plan style dominates current office design. On average, two-thirds of office space is taken up with open-plan desk areas, while the remaining third is split between storage, meeting rooms and social areas. If we adapt our working style, opting to come in just for meetings, collaborative working and to see colleagues, rather than for deep concentration work or to make work calls, this split is very likely to switch around.

Positive change The perception of what we need from our workspace has drastically shifted, and we have the opportunity to embed positive habits as we introduce significant change.

This pandemic allows us to take steps towards a more sustainable way of working. It’s not just less work travel and commuting; it’s also a reduction in the amount of electricity used and gases emitted as the office becomes less populated.

During our time working from home, we’ve stopped relying on printers and photocopiers. We now have a chance to reduce such office equipment, contributing to a more environmentally-friendly working model.

What our future offices might look like What’s been most evident during lockdown is that people miss people and yearn for social interaction. There’ll always be a need for a business to hold space to bring people together so the office will remain intact – however, its current incarnation is unlikely to.

The future office is likely more of a destination; somewhere to go to mix with coworkers. With that in mind, designs may reflect a look more commonly associated with lounge areas and boutique hotels in order to provide the necessary welcome social spaces.

We have a chance to revolutionise the blueprint of the office; to support the shift in culture and to reflect a deeper commitment to staff wellbeing. If we keep that front of mind, then a new and improved office will survive and thrive.

www.officeprinciples.com 33

FC&A – JUNE – 2020

BUILDING ELEMENTS

BESPOKE, TRADITIONAL TIMBER WINDOWS AND DOORS FOR A RENOVATION PROJECT Established in 1994, The Sash Window Workshop has extensive experience manufacturing, installing and repairing traditional timber windows and doors.

THE SASH WINDOW WORKSHOP

T

he company is open for business, having made the necessary adjustments to enable it to continue manufacturing and to carry out installations, where the customer wishes the company to proceed and is happy to adhere to the guidelines.

The Sash Window Workshop was contacted by a property refurbishment company, with whom it has worked on multiple past projects, to manufacture and install timber windows and doors as part of a large restoration project in Oxfordshire.

With several of the windows at the property requiring bespoke specifications, extra care was essential to ensure that the new windows fitted perfectly.

The new joinery was manufactured at the company’s workshops in Berkshire using the latest computer-operated machinery, alongside its craftsmen’s eye for detail.

The materials used allowed the company to manufacture replacement windows and doors to the highest specifications, giving the best possible performance and combining minimum maintenance with maximum lifespan.

In total, 21 complete new windows and doors were installed, alongside 21 new sashes into existing window frames and repairs were carried out to four further windows and doors.

The Sash Window Workshop liaised with the property refurbishment company, who was responsible for the project,

to ensure that the windows and doors were installed in several phases to align with the project’s progress.

Upon completion of the project, the owner of the property commented that they are very happy with the windows and doors, which have helped transform the property into a welcoming home. The owner has since placed an additional order with The Sash Window Workshop.

The Sash Window Workshop understands the importance of providing excellent customer service, highlighted by the fact that around half of its orders come from existing customers or recommendations. They are proud to be Which? Trusted Traders, are FENSA registered and FSC certified.

The company recommends using Accoya timber, which comes with a 50-year antirot guarantee, due to its high durability and stability. It offers a wide range of glass, finishes and ironmongery options to meet your requirements. All their materials are chosen to give the best possible performance, combining minimum maintenance with maximum lifespan.

The Sash Window Workshop has previously collaborated with multiple homeowners, architects, contractors and developers and worked on various period properties, from small flats in Central London to large mansions and prestigious properties. Where necessary, The Sash Window Workshop can also comply with conservation area and listed property requirements.

In total, 21 complete new windows and doors were installed, alongside 21 new sashes into existing window frames... www.sashwindow.com FC&A – JUNE – 2020

info@sashwindow.com 34

01344 868668

BUILDING ELEMENTS

SELECTAGLAZE AND PILKINGTON SUPPORT CRASH WITH SECONDARY GLAZING FOR NEW COMPUTER ROOM Caritas Anchor House is based in Newham, one of the most deprived boroughs in the UK, and works to support the ‘vulnerable’ in the area.

SELECTAGLAZE

C

RASH, the construction industry charity, assists homelessness charities and hospices with its construction projects. It recently supported Caritas Anchor House to convert some old, rundown office space into a computer suite where residents could have secure and safe access to computers to research opportunities.

To comply with health and safety regulations, the area needed to have fire insulated walls. To create a bright and airy facility for the residents, three internal fire-resistant windows were fitted, creating internal vision panels.

Selectaglaze has supported the CRASH ‘No Christmas Card’ appeal for a number of years and was happy to contribute towards this particular charity project. Pilkington donated the Pyrodur fire-resistant glass to support the secondary glazing installation.

www.selectaglaze.co.uk

Three Series 40 units with 10mm Pyrodur fire-rated glass were installed, providing 30-minute fire integrity. An additional benefit was the improvement to acoustic insulation.

Selectaglaze is the leading specialist in secondary glazing, established in 1966 and Royal Warrant Holder since 2004.

enquiries@selectaglaze.co.uk

The company offers a wide range of tested products. A free technical advisory service is offered, and RIBA-approved CPDs are available to architects and designers.

01727 837271

OFFSITE SOLUTIONS AWARDED FOURTH BATHROOM POD CONTRACT FOR STUDENT DEVELOPER OFFSITE SOLUTIONS

Offsite Solutions has been awarded its fourth project for student accommodation developer, urbanest. The £1.8m contract is to manufacture over 500 high-specification en-suite shower pods for urbanest City in London. The £90m mixed-use student scheme at Vine Street in the City of London is under construction by Balfour Beatty and will deliver 656 student beds alongside 75,000ft2 of commercial offices and 10,000ft2 of incubator space for start-up businesses. Offsite Solutions has a long-standing relationship with urbanest, having supplied bathroom pods for other high-quality student schemes across London. By moving bathroom construction into a controlled factory environment, fewer materials and labour are required on site, which is a key benefit for a constrained central London site. Angus Kearin, Head of Development at urbanest, said: “Maximising offsite construction saves a huge amount of work on site and allows us to dispense with several processes. The quality of bathroom pods is superior, and delivery is consistently on time and on budget.”

COUNTRY COLOUR • The wood structure remains visible • All colours can be mixed with each other • Weather-resistant and robust against small damages • Resistant to saliva and perspiration, suitable for children’s toys

www.osmouk.com

www.offsitesolutions.com 01278 780807 info@offsitesolutions.com 35

FC&A – JUNE – 2020

BUILDING ELEMENTS

Lightweight construction

CONTEMPORARY AND CLASSICAL COPPER A striking contemporary rooftop extension clad in Nordic Brown Light copper scalloped panels announces the rejuvenated Aberdeen Art Gallery and reinforces copper’s historic presence on the city’s civic roofscape.

AURUBIS

C

ompleted in October 2019, Hoskins Architects’ award-winning scheme incorporated a complete overhaul of the entire listed, late 19th/early 20th-century complex. Following decades of ad-hoc alterations to the buildings, the design transforms the visitor experience, increases display areas and improves public services. It also gives clarity to the complex while enhancing its key spaces.

Nordic Brown Light The Nordic Brown Light copper rooftop extension contains a suite of environmentally controlled temporary galleries, as well as much-needed learning and event spaces, providing bold new interiors. These new spaces enable the gallery to hold large international touring exhibitions with their associated events. The extension also facilitates the use of two newly created, outdoor rooftop terraces with spectacular views across Aberdeen.

The extension was designed as a sculptural element, responding to the proportions and colours of the existing granite frontages. It is defined by vertical, scalloped panel facades of Nordic Brown Light pre-oxidised copper – a thoroughly contemporary design but sharing materiality with the buildings’ classical copper dome. The Nordic Brown Light copper will also develop naturally over time, responding to the local environment.

The copper panels, including some perforated for transparency, were manufactured by CGL Facades. Nordic Brown Light copper was pressed and rolled to take the scalloped shape, then installed on secret-fix support rails. The system forms part of a lightweight construction, minimising extra deadloads onto the existing granite walls below.

Copper’s unique architectural qualities are defined by its natural patina, developing gradually in the environment, exemplified by the gallery’s original dome.

Repairs to the dome itself were carried out using Nordic Green pre-patinated copper, complementing the existing historic patination. This cannot be replicated successfully using other materials with paints or coatings, but the ‘Nordic Copper’ range provides a wide range of natural surfaces straightaway. All these surfaces form an integral part of the copper, generally continuing to change over time.

Extensive range The Nordic Copper range from Aurubis – part of the world’s leading integrated copper group and largest copper recycler – includes Nordic Standard ‘mill finish’ and Nordic Brown pre-oxidised copper offering lighter or darker shades of brown determined by the thickness of the oxide layer. Copper alloys include Nordic Bronze and Nordic Brass, which can also be supplied pre-weathered. The innovative Nordic Royal is an alloy of copper with aluminium and zinc, retaining its golden colour.

The extensive Nordic Blue, Nordic Green and Nordic Turquoise ranges have been developed with properties and colours based on the same brochantite mineralogy found in natural patinas all over the world. As well as the solid patina colours, ‘living’ surfaces are available for each with other intensities of patina flecks revealing some of the dark oxidised background material.

Photos: dapple photography www.dapplephotography.co.uk Architect: Hoskins Architects www.hoskinsarchitects.com

www.nordiccopper.com FC&A – JUNE – 2020

g.bell@aurubis.com 36

01875 812144

BUILDING ELEMENTS

INNOVATIVE CRITTALLFENDOR WINDOW FOR SECURE HOSPITAL Leading provider of secure windows for medical establishments Crittall-Fendor worked closely with architects throughout the design phase of a new state-of-the-art mental health hospital in Kent.

CRITTALL-FENDOR

C

ygnet Hospital Maidstone is a low-level secure and rehabilitation unit comprising four wards for up to 65 male and female patients. The £13.5m new-build project was designed by Tangram Architects, a London-based practice specialising in facilities for medical and police services.

Crittall-Fendor products specified for the building included CleanVent sliding windows featuring either inward or outward opening cleaning variant dependent on their location within the building. AlphaLine sliding windows were also supplied, as well as curtain walling, with integrated sliding and top hung windows to nonpatient areas. Doors have anti-finger trap profiles for safety.

David Whitehead, Director of Tangram Architects, said: “We worked closely with Crittall-Fendor in the design and delivery of the project. They supplied secure windows with an innovative mesh screen detail within the ward environment over three floors of the hospital, the windows being designed for challenging environments.”

www.crittall-windows.co.uk

Describing Crittall-Fendor’s specialist products as attractive on price, Mr Whitehead said the company’s design department had worked well with the architects on earlier mental health projects. For this reason, they were chosen as key members of the team to deliver the Maidstone Hospital.

“Crittall-Fendor is innovative and practical and add value when working closely with ourselves and

hq@crittall-windows.co.uk

the cladding sub-contractors during the detail design process in working up fully coordinated construction details to produce stunning results,” he added.

CleanVent are high-specification sliding security windows, thermally enhanced with an anti-ligature frame and locking mechanism that can be customised to meet client requirements. AlphaLine windows are more suited to a rehabilitation environment with lower security needs.

01376 530800

SAPPHIRE’S HIGH-QUALITY CONTROL CONTRIBUTES TO AWARD-WINNING DEVELOPMENT SAPPHIRE

Beautiful glass balconies by Sapphire are part an awardwinning Glasgow development by Barratt Homes in Queen Margaret Drive, a stone’s throw from the city’s Botanical Gardens. Sapphire’s off-site manufacturing process enabled high-quality control standards to be maintained consistently within a controlled factory environment. This exceptional quality control ensured that all 99 Glide-On Cassette balconies for the project were prefinished right and passed a series of checks before being released to site. Offsite manufacture was also vital in overcoming the site’s space restrictions. Balconies for Botanics were produced by Sapphire ahead of the agreed date and held in a secure storage facility, ready to be called to site as needed.

www.sapphire.eu.com

0344 88 00 553

sales@sapphire.eu.com

ISO CHEMIE’S NEW THIN BLUE LINE SEALS WINDOW SUSTAINABILITY ISO CHEMIE

A new range of bio-based self-adhesive connection foils from fenestration foam tape specialist ISO Chemie offers improved sustainability around window sealing. High-performance ISO CONNECT BLUE LINE is manufactured from renewable materials, including polymers based on sugar beet, sugarcane, corn, maize and other similar plant species, which absorb large amounts of CO2 during growth, providing performance qualities similar to foils manufactured from synthetic materials. The INSIDE BLUE LINE option provides rapid and effective airtight bonding of window connection joints on the interior side of a building structure, creating a vapour diffusion barrier that prevents condensation and mould build-up around the window frame area.

www.iso-chemie.eu/en-GB/

07837 337220

a.swift@iso-chemie.co.uk 37

SENIOR ON BOARD AT NEW TRANSPORT HUB SENIOR ARCHITECTURAL SYSTEMS

Senior Architectural Systems’ slimline SF52 aluminium curtain walling system proved just the ticket to create the bright and modern facade of the new-look bus station in Rawtenstall, Lancashire. The £3.5m transport hub has been designed

by Day Architects to provide passengers with a more pleasant travelling experience. Senior’s SF52 aluminium curtain wall system was installed by UK Curtain Walling for RTB Projects and has been used throughout the station to open up the main entrance and stand areas. Maximising the flow of natural light during the day, the extensive use of glazed curtain walling also transforms the facility at dusk to create an eye-catching addition to the town’s urban landscape.

www.seniorarchitecturalsystems.co.uk 01709 772600 info@sasmail.co.uk FC&A – JUNE – 2020

BUILDING ELEMENTS

NORDIC DÉCOR – A NEW DIMENSION FOR INTERIORS The launch of Nordic Décor adds an extra dimension to the diversity of Nordic Copper surfaces and alloys from Aurubis, particularly for interior design.

AURUBIS

C

opper is the metal of choice for interiors and Nordic Copper standard, pre-oxidised and prepatinated surfaces, along with various alloys, provide an impressive range of living colours. Now, Nordic Décor takes design opportunities with copper to a new level with eight embossings for rich surface textures and seven grindings for distinctive matt surfaces – each with its own warm natural colour tone.

Nordic Décor products are wellsuited to a wide range of interior applications, such as wall and ceiling cladding – including elevators – highlight surfaces, bars and counters, as well as external facades. The material can be shaped, edged, milled, lasered, cut and bent.

www.nordiccopper.com

Nordic Décor Embossings are available in Nordic Brass Weathered or Nordic Royal alloys, Nordic Brown and Nordic Brown Light preoxidised copper, and Nordic Green pre-patinated copper.

They provide regular patterns of raised or recessed forms, some abraded to reveal highlights of the base material colour for additional design effects. Nordic Décor Grindings are available in Nordic Brass Weathered or Nordic Brown.

They are abraded with linear, cross-hatched or curved-swirl hairlines to give distinctive matt surfaces.

Nordic Copper is a natural, non-toxic material that is nonbrittle and safe to handle and work. Its inherent antimicrobial qualities make it ideal for touch surfaces in buildings. It has a melting point of 1083˚C, ‘A1 (non-combustible material)’ fire classification to EN 13501-1 and, therefore, ‘Class 0’ surface spread of flame, making it suitable for wall and ceiling surfaces in communal areas.

g.bell@aurubis.com

01875 812144

NEW F. BALL ADHESIVE SAVES ICE RINK INSTALLATION F. BALL & CO.

F. Ball & Co.’s Styccobond F73 PLUS adhesive has been used for a rinkside flooring refurbishment at Slough Ice Arena. The adhesive was called upon to secure Norament rubber tiles on the walkway.

Westcotes Flooring required a replacement adhesive after the product specified for the job failed to bond. A site visit from F. Ball resulted in a switch to Styccobond F73 PLUS to complete the installation. Styccobond F73 PLUS has been developed to provide the high bond strength required to hold a range of textile and resilient floorcoverings, including rubber, firmly in place in areas that will be subject to heavy loads and high foot traffic, as well as surface water.

www.f-ball.co.uk

mail@f-ball.co.uk

01538 361633

9MM MAGPLY GIVEN ‘PURPLE PASSIVE’ TREATMENT FOR PECKHAM PROPERTIES MAGPLY

A development of two- and three-bedroom terraced homes on a brownfield site in South London is making use of Magply boards’ fire resistance and other physical benefits: receiving a special polymer-based, purplecoloured membrane finish to provide excellent airtightness as part of an ‘eco-homes’ energy specification. The high-performance MgO boards will be overclad with black timber boarding across a batten cavity, with widths varying from 50-120mm which conceals the rainwater downpipes. Project Manager, Tony Buck, commented: “...The client...wanted the additional protection provided by a fire-rated sheathing board – in addition to fire-rated timber cladding – and we are using 9mm Magply boards on the outside of the timber frames.”

www.magply.co.uk FC&A – JUNE – 2020

01621 776252

john@magply.co.uk 38

BUSINESS SOARS AT DESIGNER CONTRACTS DESIGNER CONTRACTS

Turnover at Designer Contracts leapt by nearly a quarter in its last financial year. Figures for the year to October 31st 2019 show the company grew by 23%, boosting turnover from £38m to £46.7m and creating 74 jobs. It is the second successive year of significant growth, taking its average number of employees from 276 to 325. Current numbers stand at 350 across its 15 UK regional facilities.

Said Designer Contracts MD, Peter Kelsey: “Despite the current situation with coronavirus, we remain positive and are confident that we can reach our target £80m turnover and increase the number of staff from 300 to 600 by 2023.”

www.designercontracts.com

BUILDING ELEMENTS

DENMARK’S OFFICE OF THE YEAR Troldtekt’s acoustic wood-wool panels have helped interior design company Ambiente to win Nohrcon’s annual Danish ‘Office Building of the Year Award’ with its own office in Skanderborg, Denmark.

TROLDTEKT

C

reated in collaboration with architect Ardess, the new 11,500m2 headquarters for this well-known interior design and exhibition stand company has unique features set within a raw and rustic environment and behind a minimalistic black steel facade.

The centrepiece of the office is a 1000m2 open external atrium which is overlooked by every department to develop a sense of bonding and equality between the tradespeople in production to the designers and sales team at their desks.

“The goal was to create something unique where high ceilings and spaciousness within a raw concrete frame would be a source of inspiration for both employees and clients,” says Ambiente Owner and Creative Director, Michael Skjodt. Consequently, the decor and spaces are designed to release creative ideas and build them up together with the customer.

The result is raw concrete floors and walls with 6.5m high ceilings contrasting against 18 staggered White City cubes, as they are called. These bright white rooms are used to stimulate creativity from meetings, exhibitions, showrooms and offices.

www.troldtekt.co.uk

Black-painted Troldtekt acoustic ceiling panels which have a natural rugged and uncomplicated appearance are used throughout the open areas and, when combined with long and heavy curtains, give the space an intimate and quiet atmosphere. These are complemented by whitepainted acoustic panels lining the ceilings and overhangs of the cubes to maximise their brightness.

Specified throughout the UK and Europe, the benefits of 100% Troldtekt natural wood-wool panels include high sound absorption, high durability, natural breathability, low-cost life cycle performance and sustainability.

Available in various sizes and in four grades from extreme fine to coarse, the panels can be left untreated or painted in virtually any RAL colour.

01978 664255

info@troldtekt.co.uk

MARMOX MULTIBOARD MEASURES UP IN 17TH-CENTURY CONVERSION MARMOX

Bringing an old building up to modern standards of performance and comfort can be challenging, but when the owners of a 400-year old-property in North Wales wanted to create a total of nine en-suite bathrooms, Marmox Multiboards provided the ideal starting point for the various room conversions. The rambling three-storey structure – which features several traditional building methods, including masonry and oak framing with lath and plaster – is the subject of far-reaching renovation and alteration work by Crewe-based Pioneer Design & Build. This includes basic repairs and energy upgrades, as well as the introduction of the high-specification bathrooms and shower rooms, involving extensive use of 12mm Multiboards. Nearly 60 of the 1250 x 600mm boards, including special acoustic grade Soundboard versions, were purchased along with quantities of the special Marmox fixing washers and Marmox Multibond Sealant as well as the manufacturer’s waterproof jointing tape.

CREATE A COLOURFUL STATEMENT WITH OSMO UK COUNTRY COLOUR OSMO

With the summer months upon us and recent social distancing rules keeping people at home, it’s the perfect opportunity to get into the garden to make sure exterior spaces are looking and functioning at their best. By opting for a high-quality wood finish such as Osmo UK Country Colour, external surfaces can be updated with a splash of colour to bring the garden to life.

Country Colour is an opaque, satin wood finish that is suitable for use on fencing, cladding, garden furniture and sheds.

Designed especially for use on exterior wood, Country Colour is UV-resistant, protecting the wood from harmful UV rays that cause discolouration.

www.marmox.co.uk 01634 835290 sales@marmox.co.uk

www.osmouk.com 01296 481220 39

FC&A – JUNE – 2020

BUILDING ELEMENTS

DEANESTOR SUPPLIES CLINICAL FURNITURE FOR THREE NHS FIELD HOSPITALS DEANESTOR

CUT-TO-FALLS MULTIBOARD SPEC SPEEDS PROTECTION OF SEMIBASEMENT TO SOMERSET HOME MARMOX

A refurbishment on a residential property near Exmoor has included the specification of cut-to-falls Marmox Multiboard. The work is being carried out

by NTG Property, while Peter Reid of P2 Design drew on his experience of using Marmox Multiboard. He commented: “...

There was a habitable semi-basement level where water had been getting in over a long period and causing damage...

We went to Marmox to obtain calculations on the heat loss: to maximise the energy retention and avoid any risk of interstitial condensation forming. And there was also the added bonus that utilising the tapered boards allowed us to speed construction and do away with one of the wet trades.”

www.marmox.co.uk 01634 835290 sales@marmox.co.uk

Deanestor has provided clinical equipment to three of the new NHS field hospitals – Harrogate, Glasgow and Birmingham. Two projects were completed for principal contractor BAM Construct UK and with architect firm BDP supplying a total of 12 lorry loads of specialist equipment to the Harrogate Convention Centre which was converted into an NHS Nightingale Hospital. Clinical workbenches and modular storage units totalling 500 items were offloaded, unpacked and delivered just 48 hours after receiving each instruction. This project has delivered a 500-bed level-three critical care field hospital for COVID-19 patients for the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

www.deanestor.co.uk

enquiries@deanestor.com

01623 420041

USING DUTCH TECHNOLOGY, HYDROROCK AQUIFER SUDS ARRIVE TO THE UK HYDROROCK SOLUTIONS

Earlier this year, Hydrorock Solutions launched its Natural Aquifer sustainable drainage system in the UK and Ireland. Using Dutch technology and years of research and development by Rockwool has created this revolutionary green Hydrorock Natural Aquifer SuDS system – an aquifer drainage system made from natural materials, designed specifically to help overcome worsening flooding and drainage problems due to climate change. Hydrorock is transforming Dutch water management for architects, developers, engineers and contractors. The system replicates exactly how the natural water cycle works; retaining and properly managing rainfall where it falls, controlling runoff and preventing flooding, whilst also benefitting water quality, soil condition and biodiversity.

www.hydrorocksolutions.com 01233 510094

info@hydrorocksolutions.com

F. BALL SUPPORTS KEY WORKERS AT LEICESTER HOSPITAL F. BALL & CO.

Products donated by F. Ball & Co. have been used to help support the wellbeing of NHS staff at a hospital in Leicester during the coronavirus pandemic. The company’s Stopgap 1200 Pro levelling compound was used to create a base for new floorcoverings as part of ‘The Secret Garden’, a charitable restoration project at Glenfield Hospital, part of University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust. After ensuring that the subfloor was sufficiently sound, dry and free of contamination, contractors proceeded to apply F. Ball’s Stopgap 1200 Pro, fastsetting, fast-drying, two-component levelling compound to the floor at a thickness of 3mm. The product can be applied directly over old adhesive residues, without the need to prime beforehand, allowing valuable time to be saved. Stopgap 1200 Pro is also protein- and latex-free, making it suitable for use in clinical and biologically sensitive areas. The levelling compound can also be used in other hospital areas, including laboratories and clean rooms.

www.f-ball.co.uk 01538 361633 mail@f-ball.co.uk FC&A – JUNE – 2020

40

BUILDING ELEMENTS

Yes, we use the latest design software integrated with 3D Modelling and manufacturing technology, but it goes much deeper than that. Only by utilising the skills, products and services within our own group of companies combined with outstanding communications, can we enhance productivity and deliver the best possible outcomes.

Frictionless design and manufacture

1 Finsbury Avenue, London

THE COMPLETE PACKAGE As one of the UK’s leading providers of rainscreen systems, metal fabrications and bespoke full envelope solutions – quality is at the core of the PSP Group’s operation. Here, Chairman Heath Hindmarch explains why they made a vast investment to provide a single point of procurement for the entire building envelope.

PSP GROUP

F

rom small quick turnaround developments to extensive multimillion-pound schemes – all construction projects benefit from a single point of procurement.

Achieving value creation through supply chain rationalisation can be complex.

Collaborative supplier frameworks are good but using one delivery partner is even better. Dealing with just one company to design, manufacture and deliver a range of bespoke products to achieve a full building envelope, complete with doors and windows – eliminates hassle and creates measurable value.

The perfect fit There are numerous supply-chain-related challenges facing the construction industry today, from various points of contact and complex financial arrangements to lack of communication and trust. These problems can jeopardise construction schedules, creating delays and costly overruns.

Structures are the sum of many parts, and 3D Modelling is now extensively used to bring disparate elements together and avoid issues throughout the manufacturing and installation process. But detecting clashes before products reach construction sites is only part of the equation.

Greenwich Square, London

www.pspuk.com

As the leading manufacturers in our field, we work closely with our clients to build long-lasting working relationships.

We invest in the latest technology and cutting-edge software to optimise Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) protocols to eliminate waste and value engineer our products to offer practical yet aesthetically appealing solutions.

PSP’s manufacturing processes take place in our precision-controlled advanced factories in County Durham.

Our architectural and aluminium manufacturing teams also collaborate with our experienced designers to maintain premium quality throughout all processes, from design to manufacture, to transportation of finished systems.

Our Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system supports quality procedures to consistently provide up-to-date information and a single point of contact.

This facilitates full traceability of materials and provides real-time updates on the project’s status. Our systems have been CWCT tested to ensure they meet rigorous industry standards and are resilient against extreme weather conditions.

Full service approach We acknowledge that all clients require bespoke facade solutions, tailored to individual needs. By offering design as well as manufacturing services for the entire facade, are we able to minimise risk by obtaining full control and responsibility from point of design.

PSP offers a range of rainscreen cladding, rainwater goods, ventilation systems, solar shading, flashings, pressings and facade support systems.

We also design, manufacture and supply specialist fabrications to meet individual needs, using materials such as aluminium, brass, copper, COR-TEN, galvanised steel, pre-coated steel, stainless steel, zinc and composite materials. During the final construction phase, add-ons such as curtain walling, windows and doors can also be supplied.

Working in close synergy, the PSP Group of companies offer a coherent sequence of operations which enables seamless integration of the design, manufacture and delivery process to improve quality and client satisfaction.

info@pspuk.com 41

FC&A – JUNE – 2020

BUILDING ELEMENTS

SCHÖCK CREATIVITY AT NEW GREENWICH DESIGN DISTRICT The O2 Arena on the Greenwich Peninsula has a new neighbour – Greenwich Design District – providing 14,000m2 of affordable studios and workshops for creatives working across areas as diverse as design, fashion, art, music and digital technology. This pedestrianised, vibrant neighbourhood comprises 16 free-standing buildings, situated around five courtyards and a central public square. With the exception of the single level food hall, the buildings range in height from three to five levels and are a mix of reinforced concrete, structural steel and cross-laminated timber.

SCHÖCK

Minimising thermal bridging is crucial Improved thermal performance is becoming increasingly important in large new-build developments, and the prevention of thermal bridging has a huge role to play. Ineffectual insulation at cantilever connectivity points results in local heat loss, requiring more energy to maintain the building’s internal temperature. Low internal surface temperatures around the thermal bridge can also cause condensation, leading to structural integrity problems with absorbent insulation products and the potentially serious occurrence of mould growth.

Design freedom from Schöck As the leading international supplier of structural thermal breaks, Schöck has hundreds of variants in its Isokorb range, offering a solution to practically any design detail.

www.schoeck.co.uk FC&A – JUNE – 2020

The predominating Isokorb at the Design District is for concrete-to-concrete, but not all of the requirements were so relatively straightforward.

Building C1 is a prime example. Set on the east side of the main entrance, this three-level workshop and studio building has a basketball court on the roof.

It has unusually deep floor zones, several large cantilevered elements and a steel mesh enclosure supported on a braced-steel frame around the court, which utilises Isokorb elements for concrete-to-steel detailing. There is also an external staircase and concrete cantilevered walkway. Where the walkway encloses the staircase, there are particularly large cantilevers and here the walkway slabs, supported by a main beam, enclose cast-in steel beams and three cross-beams. These are bolted back to the structural slabs using Isokorb units for steel-to-steel construction and steel construction-to-concrete slabs.

Large capacity thermal breaks required Building D1 is a community of studios, workshops and office spaces, which structurally consists of robust concrete slabs – with trees located on the external decks. Some extremely large capacity structural thermal break elements were developed to take the loads. Other buildings that incorporate Schöck Isokorb solutions are A1; which marks the main access to the Design District. D4, with its tall slim facade; and A4 on the western edge of the site, which welcomes visitors with a large roof-mounted illuminated sign.

design@schoeck.co.uk 42

Totally verifiable performance The comprehensive Schöck Isokorb range enables concrete-to-concrete, steel–to-steel and concrete-to-steel detailing. And there are solutions too that provide a maintenance-free alternative to wrapped parapets; along with a product which thermally insulates connections for reinforced concrete walls and columns.

Products meet full compliance with the relevant UK Building Regulations, have NHBC approval and offer LABC Registration. There is also the security of independent BBA certification.

Images courtesy of Whitby Wood

01865 290890

BUILDING ELEMENTS

BRINGING LIGHT AND LIFE TO ART The McLean Museum and Art Gallery in Greenock, Scotland, has reopened following a three-year £2m refurbishment using Kalwall translucent cladding at its heart.

STRUCTURA UK

M

uch of the refurbishment hinged around the problem of the original large glass roof over the atrium. There has always been an issue between allowing direct light into museum spaces to view objects in a natural environment.

This is because of the associated degradation and damage caused by solar radiation and ultraviolet lights on artefacts such as paint, varnishes, wood, textiles, pigments and dyes. Many museums will often limit the annual exposure to daylight by rotating displays.

At this museum, the glass roof had been covered with layers of black paint to block out the daylight to reduce damage. This, however, made for a dark and depressing space. Consequently, when Collective Architecture was appointed to refurbish the building, Kalwall was specified to replace the existing glass running the length of the central atrium. Collective Architecture, working with Historic Environment Scotland, chose this translucent cladding for its ability to transmit diffused daylight deep into the space below. Its unique structure also deflects harmful UV-A and UV-B rays for the

www.structura-uk.com/kalwall

Image: ©John Sinclair

lifetime of the product, unlike coatings used on other solutions which gradually wear away. The lightweight nature of Kalwall also meant the existing supporting structures could be used, while additional insulation was also incorporated to achieve a U-value of 0.57W/m2K. Kalwall is a popular choice for projects where performance, long life cycle and

01233 501504

low maintenance are required, coupled with an aesthetic finish.

It offers the highest protection in terms of wind-borne debris and resistance to impact, abrasion and point load and is also very secure, making it popular for projects such as this where valuable artefacts are on display.

mail@structura.co.uk

TG ESCAPES SUPPORTS FESTIVAL OF LEARNING SPACES TG ESCAPES

Running from 1st June to 10th July, the festival features over 40 webinars over six weeks as well as a whole host of engaging and thought-provoking on-demand content to view at your leisure. James Lee, Managing Director at Step Connect, said: “We’re delighted to announce TG Escapes as a festival headline sponsor. Since I launched Education Estates eight years ago, TG Escapes has been a valued exhibitor, and we’re delighted that they are supporting us in this ambitious and exciting festival.” Included in the programme will be practical advice and guidance, addressing the current situation; industry resilience; examples of how projects are being progressed and how to do stakeholder engagement in these current times. The webinars will be covering topics such as: compliance, how-to progress projects, living and learning through a global pandemic, practical advice, outdoor learning, project showcases, responding to the zero-carbon challenge, sector resilience, understanding BIM from a clients’ perspective and many more.

RECORD FLOWCONTROL CONTROLS FLOW IN YOUR PREMISES, TO AID SOCIAL DISTANCING RECORD UK

The record FlowControl is an automatic people counting system, which controls the number of customers entering your premises and employees using shared areas, to enable safe social distancing. Designed in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the record FlowControl is a cost-effective system which is ideal for use in retail stores, public buildings, offices and factories, education facilities, banks, healthcare and hospitality and leisure (once opened) to aid social distancing. Completely automated, the ‘traffic light system’ reliably counts all people in both directions in and out. Once the pre-defined people count is reached, the entry door is automatically deactivated to prevent further access until someone exits the building or shared areas.

www.tgescapes.co.uk 0800 917 7726 info@tgescapes.co.uk

www.recorduk.co.uk 01698 376411 info@recorduk.co.uk 43

FC&A – JUNE – 2020

So much more user-friendly than your old fashioned heating styles like radiators.

-Ben Hillman, Interior Designer & TV Presenter

CHECK OUT WUNDAGROUP.COM/ARCHITECTS FOR VIDEOS & INFO

RAPID RESPONSE® FLOOR HEATING IS THE WAY FORWARD... · Costs 25% less to run than radiators

Wundatherm water based floor heating boards are fitted directly to the existing floor with no need to dig floors up. Wundatherm’s a rapid response system that heats up in minutes not hours.

· 60% less to run than electric UFH

Ideal for extensions, renovations & new builds because Wundatherm works perfectly with existing boilers, & future heat sources like heat pumps etc.

Suitable and fully approved for all floor finishes including Tiles, Laminate, Wood, Vinyl, etc.

· We provide industry leading guarantees & tech support 6 days a week · UKAS accredited acoustic board also available

Give your clients the comfort, style & economy that suits their Zero Carbon future.

Specify modern Wundatherm rapid response floor heating with confidence...

APPROVED BY Wunda Group PLC.

Underfloor Heating Specialists Since 2006

FC&A – JUNES –E 2020 ND YO UR

44 PLAN S IN FO R A FREE ESTIMAT E WUNDAG ROUP.COM/ARCH IT ECTS | T EL: 01 291 634 145