Construction Manager November/December 2019

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019 For members of the CIOB

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CONTENTS

constructionmanagermagazine.com

11/19

Contents News 04 News in pictures 06 Data: Brick sales past their peak?

08 Awaiting a new safety regime 10 Paul Hamer interview

Sir Robert McAlpine’s CEO profiled

28

Opinion 14 Caroline Gumble on community 16 Feedback: Readers’ views

Technical 20 Conserving Lincoln Cathedral

How new tech has updated the job

Structural Steel

Design Awards 2019 28 Tottenham Hotspur New Stadium 30 Coal Drops Yard, King’s Cross 32 Taplow Riverside Footbridge 34 Tombola HQ, Sunderland 36 Wimbledon No.1 Court 38 Commendations 39 Merits

40

42

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BIM & Digital Concrete monitoring system Real-time data from the IoT Overcoming BIM’s two-tier system How to engage beyond the elite Procurement is the key to change The next wave of disruptive tech

CPD 48 National BIM standards

Working towards standardisation

Legal 54 Approved inspectors duty of care

Herons Court v NHBC

Community 56 CIOB launches two webinars 57 Business school wins award 58 Midlands members’ site visits 59 Contractors back scholarships 60 Maidstone Hub annual dinner 62 Diary dates 64 Wells Maltings restoration 65 R&D tax relief and digital skills

Training & Recruitment 66 A sustainable offsite career

Technical director, Project Etopia

20

10

65

Switchboard: +44 (0)20 7490 5595 Editor: Will Mann, 020 3865 21032 will.m@atompublishing.co.uk Associate editor: Neil Gerrard, 020 3865 21031 neil@atompublishing.co.uk Production editor: Sarah Cutforth Art editor: Heather Rugeley Community editor: Nicky Roger Advertising manager: Dave Smith 020 3865 21029 Key account manager: Tom Peardon 020 3865 21030 Credit control: Eva Rugeley Managing director: Stephen Quirke Circulation: Net average 30,999 Audit period: July 2018 to June 2019 Subscriptions: To subscribe or for enquiries, please contact: Subscription team: Tel: 01293 312160 Or go online at: http://construction manager. imbmsubscriptions.com

Or write to us at the address below: Construction Manager Published for the Chartered Institute of Building by Atom Media Partners, 3 Waterhouse Square, 138 Holborn, London EC1N 2SW Tel: +44 (0)20 7490 5595

Construction Manager is published monthly by Atom Media Partners.

The contents of this magazine are copyright. Reproduction in part or in full is forbidden without permission of the editor. The opinions expressed by writers of signed articles (even with pseudonyms) and letters appearing in the magazine are those of their respective authors, and neither the CIOB, Atom Media Partners nor Construction Manager is responsible for these opinions or statements.

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firstname@atompublishing.co.uk Editorial advisory board Mark Beard FCIOB, Ann Bentley, Peter Caplehorn, Ian Eggers, Harvey Francis, Professor Jacqui Glass FCIOB, Shelagh Grant, Paul Morrell, James Pellatt, Richard Saxon, Phil Wade

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NEWS

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News Tideway erects giant mental health sculpture

Kier has demolished the first bridge as part of the £79m A13 widening project in Thurrock over a weekend, two and a half hours ahead of schedule.

Kier oversaw the removal of the Saffron Gardens Bridge, previously used by farm vehicles, while also undertaking works such as street lighting column removal and BT communication cable installation at the same time to minimise future closures.

Skanska claims V-shaped bridge refurb first Skanska has claimed to be the first contractor in the UK to deliver a unique reinforced concrete encasement for V-shaped piers, completing the work one month ahead of schedule. While working on a refurbishment of a bridge for Peterborough City Council, the contractor strengthened six of the eight piers supporting the 155m-long Nene Bridge, which carries 60,000 vehicles a day.

DANIEL LYNCH

MJ CHAPMAN

A wooden sculpture designed to raise awareness of mental health issues in construction has been re-erected on a site in Kent. Head Above Water, by Steuart Padwick, which previously stood at Gabriel’s Wharf in the heart of London, has been relocated to a Northfleet site that provides materials and logistical support for London’s new super sewer. The 9m-tall structure was initially created to support a Time to Change campaign aimed at encouraging more people to talk about and address issues associated with mental health.

Kier demolishes A13 road bridge in a weekend

Offsite-constructed pier to be London’s longest A pier built offsite in Holland has become London’s longest after it was installed at the Royal Wharf development in Greenwich. The canting brow, part of the pier structure, for the Royal Wharf Pier arrived in the capital in September, carried on a 65m x 60m vessel, while the pontoon was transported by the MTS Viscount tug along the river Thames. Developed by Ballymore & Oxley, the pier will serve as a new stop for the Thames Clippers service.

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NEWS

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The world’s largest crane, dubbed Big Carl, has started work on Hinkley Point C, where it is being used by BYLOR – a joint venture between Laing O’Rourke and Bouygues TP – on the main civil engineering works. The 250m-tall Sarens SGC-250 crane can lift 5,000 tonnes at a radius of 40m.

News story for CM? Email neil@atompublishing.co.uk

Balfour Beatty develops giant motorway vacuum cleaner Balfour Beatty’s plant and fleet division has developed a custom-designed, vehicle-mounted vacuum litter-picking machine to help clean busy motorways. The new machine enables maintenance crews to collect litter of various sizes, shapes, and weights from the roadside with use of a handheld vacuum pipe secured to a machine, mounted on a truck bed. The litter is then deposited into a compartment within the vehicle, and any dust contained through a specialised filter.

Reinvention of centuries-old cob houses wins major European award A team of researchers from the University of Plymouth who have found a way to bring the centuries-old technique of building cob houses – by mixing earth and natural fibres with water – up to date and turn them into sustainable homes have won a major European award. The CobBauge project won a category devoted to sustainability at the RegioStars awards in Brussels. The team has developed a new method of using cob that will comply with thermal regulations on both sides of the channel (Part L in the UK and RT2012 in France). Previously cob has not been compliant.

Skanska and Ikea to build 200 BoKlok offsite homes in Bristol Offsite homes builder BoKlok, a joint venture between Skanska and furniture retailer Ikea, is to build 200 homes in Bristol in one of its first UK schemes. Work on the project for Bristol City Council is due to start in autumn 2020, subject to planning permission. BoKlok homes are built primarily from wood, using industrialised processes and are completed offsite at a facility in Estonia.

RG Carter’s offsite-built council homes win Stirling Prize A council house development of 105 homes built using offsite construction methods by RG Carter and designed by Mikhail Riches Architects has won the RIBA Stirling Prize 2019. Goldsmith Street in Norwich is one of the UK’s largest Passivhaus developments and the £14.7m project was constructed using offsite-manufactured timber frames, reducing construction traffic to the site.

News in quotes “A common pool of resources across the entire UK construction industry would vastly increase the potential for keeping vital resources in the marketplace at high value” Philip Charles, principal sustainability consultant, Aecom, on why his firm is leading attempts to create a national resource and exchange mechanism to allow the trade of surplus materials and products across UK construction projects.

“Ensuring that every service we offer is digitally optimised… is core to our new Leading Edge strategy” Costain CEO Alex Vaughan explains why the firm has made Nathan Marsh its first ever chief digital officer.

“What are we waiting for? Why is there still a sense of waiting to be told?”

Speaking at a Local Government Association conference, Dame Judith Hackitt warned construction firms on higher-risk residential buildings not to wait for the government to introduce new regulations before improving competences.

“A serious issue” A new survey by the Considerate Constructors Scheme found that fatigue is rife in the sector, with over a third of respondents working in excess of a 50-hour week.

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NEWS

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£2.9bn

The amount by which the construction of Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant could exceed its original budget according to projections by client EDF Energy. Under the terms of the contract, there will be no impact for UK taxpayers.

Brick sales past their peak?

Data

There was a 7.7% decline in brick deliveries in August 2019 compared to the same period a year before. Brick deliveries fell during the recession of 2008 to 2009 and have recovered slowly since 2013, although the latest decline sees numbers dropping from a 10-year peak in 2018, suggesting slowdown in the pace of housebuilding. Brick sales are still well below their 17-year high in the early 2000s when monthly deliveries surpassed 250 million.

Housing boosts output Construction output between January and August 2019 was £2.8bn higher than a year ago – growth which has been driven almost entirely by infrastructure and housing, new figures show. There was minimal growth in construction output in the three months to August 2019, with the Office for National Statistics recording a 0.1% rise.

Seasonally adjusted deliveries of bricks, Great Britain Number of bricks

300

20%

ONS construction output (% change)

15%

(January 2019 to August 2019 vs a year ago)

10%

250

5% 0%

200

3,000 2,500 2,000

Total construction

Private housing RM&I

Commercial

Public housing RM&I

Industrial

Public non-housing

Infrastructure

Private housing

Public housing

-5%

150

SOURCE: OFFICE FOR NATIONAL STATISTICS

100

ONS construction output (£m change) (January 2019 to August 2019 vs a year ago)

Millions of bricks

1,500 1,000 500 0

News in numbers

£12.7m

The amount of money saved by contractors including Mace, Costain, BAM, Nuttall and Skanska in a lean construction pilot conducted by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB).

0

Total construction

Private housing RM&I

Commercial

Public housing RM&I

Industrial

Public non-housing

Infrastructure

Private housing

Public housing

-500

50

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

SOURCE: OFFICE FOR NATIONAL STATISTICS / GRAPHS REPRODUCED COURTESY OF NOBLE FRANCIS, CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS ASSOCIATION

£17m

The hit Pochin’s took on four problem residential contracts, all for the same client. The troubled contracts helped to precipitate the collapse of the contractor in August, according to a report by administrator Grant Thornton.

8%

The proportion by which housing starts have fallen year on year in the quarter to June 2019, according to the latest government figures. Annual new build starts to June 2019 were 160,640. During the same period completions rose 8% to 173,660.

£2.8bn

The amount of money the government has promised to fund the construction of six large new hospitals to be delivered by 2025.

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Our hard-working nation never stops, and neither does t h e N e w Tr a n s i t . O f f e r i n g u p t o 1 8 5 P S a n d a h e f t y p a y l o a d o f u p t o 2 . 2 t o n n e s* o n s e l e c t e d m o d e l s , i t ’s p a c k e d f u l l o f d r i v e r a s s i s t a n c e t e c h n o lo g y t o h e l p y o u w o r k s m a r t e r.

*Gross Payload = Gross vehicle mass, less kerb mass. GVM = Gross vehicle mass. The total permissible all-up weight of a rigid vehicle – i.e with body, payload, ancillaries, fuel, oil, water, driver and crew. Kerb mass = the weight of the complete vehicle and all equipment including fuel and water but without payload, driver or any crew. All kerb masses quoted are subject to manufacturing tolerances and are for models with minimum equipment unless stated otherwise. Higher specification models will have greater kerb masses and, therefore, lower payloads due to the increased amount of standard equipment.

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NEWS

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Government proposals will build on the recommendations of Dame Judith Hackitt’s report following the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire

Construction awaits new safety regime INDUSTRY RESPONDS TO QUEEN’S SPEECH INDICATIONS OF SYSTEM OVERHAUL, REPORTS NEIL GERRARD The construction industry is awaiting the introduction of a new building safety regime, after the government indicated it was pressing ahead with plans for an overhaul of the system in the Queen’s Speech on 14 October.

Addressing parliament, the Queen said: “My ministers will… bring forward laws to implement new building safety standards.”

T h e go v e r n m e n t l a u n c h e d a consultation on its proposals for what it called a “radically new building and fire safety system” under the then housing secretary James Brokenshire in June, in the wake of the Grenfell Tower disaster.

It published a 192-page document building on Dame Judith Hackitt’s independent review of Building Regulations and fire safety and proposed

“Designers, developers, product managers, manufacturers and building owners need to be given clear duties” Lord Porter, Local Government Association

a new regulatory framework for multioccupied buildings of 18m (six storeys) or more, including the creation of a new building safety regulator. A consultation on the document closed in July. The government's response is due by the end of the year.

Commenting on the consultation, Eddie Tuttle, CIOB director of policy, research and public affairs, said: “This… covers every aspect of the construction process, from design to occupation and resident engagement. It is effectively an attempt to embody the ‘golden thread’, as described by Dame Judith Hackitt in the post-Grenfell Building a Safer Future report published in May last year. It also aligns with the work carried out by our Quality Commission.”

The CIOB, which submitted a response to the consultation, has declared its support for recommendations in the Hackitt report and is represented on key working groups supporting the government implementation plan and the Building Regulations review.

Reacting to the announcement in the Queen’s Speech, RIBA president Alan Jones said: “Newly announced legislation for building standards is welcome but must contain robust new requirements, including for sprinklers in new and converted homes and better means of warning and escape.”

L o rd Po r te r, b u i l d i n g s a f e t y spokesman for the Local Government Association (LGA), said: “Reform of our broken building safety system cannot come soon enough so we are pleased that [the] Queen’s Speech includes a bill to enshrine a tough new system into law.

“Designers, developers, product manufacturers and building owners need to be given clear duties.”

The Queen’s Speech also signalled plans for a new National Infrastructure Strategy to set out a long-term vision to improve the nation’s digital, transport and energy infrastructure. ●

CIOB launches free online course on quality in construction The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) Academy has launched a free online course on quality in construction.

The massive open online course (MOOC) follows the success of the first two construction-focused MOOCs run by the CIOB, which attracted thousands of construction professionals.

The three-week interactive course, which opened on 21 October, follows two years of work by a CIOB Commission of Past Presidents into the issue of build quality and what practical steps can be taken to support delivery of quality construction projects.

This online course is free and open to anyone working in the built environment sector globally. It has been designed specifically for those working in the industry and for clients and end users who want to learn more about what can be done to achieve quality buildings.

The course will cover: l Defining quality in construction and its importance to those who build and interact with buildings and infrastructure l The social, economic and human costs associated with poor quality l A history of quality management in construction and other industries l The legal and regulatory environment for quality management l Putting quality into practice: methods, processes and systems l Changing an organisation to instil a culture of quality in construction.

More information about this course can be found online: www.ciobacademy.org/product/ quality-in-construction

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AT THE HEART OF A MANAGEMENT CAREER IN CONSTRUCTION

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We are the world’s largest and most influential professional body for construction management and leadership.

We have a Royal Charter that commits us to work in the public interest, from eradicating modern slavery from the industry, to improving the quality of the built environment and ensuring the right skills, talent and behaviours are nurtured in construction.

Become part of the CIOB today.

www.ciob.org

NEWS

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NEIL GERRARD

drone racing, exosuits, Lego building challenges and other attractions.

“It’s a celebration of the company’s ability to reinvent itself and adapt. When you walk through the exhibition, you see the contribution SRM has made to society, building major infrastructure and creating a legacy,” says Hamer, who is only the second non-family member to run the business.

Interview

‘QUALITY IS OUR SINGLE BIGGEST FOCUS’ AS SIR ROBERT MCALPINE MARKS ITS 150TH YEAR, CEO PAUL HAMER TELLS NEIL GERRARD WHY QUALITY AND A MORE DIVERSE, DIGITALLY ENABLED WORKFORCE ARE VITAL TO THE VENERABLE CONTRACTOR’S FUTURE

Robert McAlpine’s first job when he entered the construction business in 1869, aged 22, was to repair a mine chimney in Lanarkshire for the princely sum of £2.45. In the 150 years since then, the privately owned family business has grown to a predicted annual turnover of £1.5bn and can list the Dorchester Hotel, the 02 Arena, the Olympic Stadium among projects it has delivered.

Last month, near the contractor’s work on Battersea Power Station in south London, chief executive Paul Hamer hosted a three-day event celebrating Sir Robert McAlpine’s (SRM) heritage.

The event invited clients, employees and their families to discover the contractor’s history and try out virtual and augmented reality technologies,

Complex projects Key to SRM’s success has been its reputation for managing highly complex projects. One of these is just across the river, the Elizabeth Tower restoration at the Palace of Westminster. Another, the refurb of Oxford Street retail development The Plaza, won project manager Joseph McNeil this year’s Construction Manager of the Year award.

With so many technical challenges in his project portfolio, Hamer has placed greater emphasis on quality since he took up his role two years ago. “Safety is always superordinate, but when I arrived, time and money were always in there but there wasn’t enough emphasis on quality,” he says. “We had a very honest debate where people were saying well you can’t really finish a construction project because there are always snags and defects. And I reject that idea completely.

So we have upped our focus on quality.”

Making the well-worn comparison with the car industry, Hamer notes that it wouldn’t be acceptable to take delivery of a car with windows missing, or scratches in the paintwork, and that the same principles should apply to construction.

He says: “We have to understand how we are going to finish so we can plan backwards. We have recruited a central core of subject matter experts who sit in national positions – a head of facades, a head of MEP, a head of finishes, a roofing specialist – and their job is to make sure that we are thinking about the quality that our client is asking us to deliver.

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NEWS

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£1.5bn Hamer on… ...construction management This year, we will have a total turnover of £1.5bn and about a third of that will be construction management (CM). It takes away the hard risk of contracting. Clients who choose the CM route tend to be heavily invested in the end product. CM is usually used on projects that are large and complex, so tends to be London-centric. ...BIM When I arrived, I mandated that every project, no matter who we did it for and whether the client wanted it or not, would be done in a digital manner. We started off with a 40% BIM maturity for all our projects. This year we have set ourselves a target of 75% BIM maturity. The next step is how we use data.

“If we get quality right you will pretty much guarantee that we finish on time. If we finish on time and our quality is good then it is likely to be a very safe site and the commercials will probably take care of themselves.

So inside McAlpine right now, quality is our single largest focus.”

SRM has also introduced a programme called Build Sure, which measures all projects against five key pillars: safety, sustainability, quality, on time and profitability. And each project is delivered using a systematic, “gateway” approach.

“We have got nine gates that each project has to go through, four in preconstruction and five during construction,” says Hamer. “That allows us to monitor a project and to innovate and learn as we go.

“The key ingredient is getting it right in pre-construction. That is probably one of the reasons why we tend not to engage in single-stage contracting.

We don’t like the risk profile and it is too late for us to add value.”

While the 150th anniversar y celebrations revel in past glories, they also examine SRM’s future. “In construction, we have got significant problems in terms of talent and skills,” Hamer says. “We are trying to open the eyes of young people and people who aren’t in this industry to what construction can be. It is not all about hard hats. We have digital experts too.

“The pools that we would fish in for talent are drying up very quickly,” he continues. “We need anywhere between about 500 and 1,000 additional people and we can’t find those people in the places that we would normally look so it is business-critical for us to start appealing to different avenues.”

Encouraging diversity Hamer describes diversity as a “critical” issue. “We talked about ethnicity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) and we quickly realised that it didn’t articulate what we wanted to achieve. So we moved away from EDI and back to something much more simple which is a vision for SRM to be the best place to work,” he explains. In Hamer’s view, if that is achieved, then EDI will take care of itself.

The gender make-up of SRM’s board is starting to change, with Karen Brookes, director of people and infrastructure becoming the first female on the executive board, and Alison Cox, currently project director of Battersea Power Station Phase 3A, joining on 1 January 2020, as executive director of engineering and technical services.

Recruitment challenges aside, Hamer believes that SRM is currently “in a good place”. The business put a new five-year strategy together 12 months

ago, driven by quality, relationships with key clients and margin.

“It’s not driven by growth,” Hamer says.

“In my first year of tenure, our revenue dropped and that is because we started to exclude certain sectors and certain types of projects – single-stage contracting.

This year, without us looking for turnover, the business is probably going to grow about 30% and the key success there is the right type of turnover – great clients, repeat business, good margin, projects that we have got great competency in.”

Hamer declares himself uninterested in making the 1-1.5% margin often achieved by rival main contractors.

Instead, the company is targeting 5-7% over the next few years, from around 2-2.5% this year.

He adds: “Our front-end filter is very stringent. Is it the right client? Is it the right type of project? Do we possess the competencies? Can we do it successfully, drive value for the client and generate margin for ourselves? If the answer to all of those are yes, we are very interested.

If the answer to any of those is no, we don’t touch it. We have got a shareholder who has got a 150-year view.” ●

In 2019, SRM is expected to have a turnover of £1.5bn, around a third of which is from CM

Paul Hamer CV l CEO, Sir Robert

McAlpine, since July 2017 Past roles:

l CEO, WYG, March

2009 to July 2017

l Managing director,

VT Nuclear Services

l Director of

projects, BNFL Environmental Services (responsible for decommissioning of the UK’s civil nuclear sites)

l Director of

projects (UK & Europe), Costain

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OPINION

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Social Value Act is changing housebuilding

Opinion Caroline Gumble CIOB

A community where practicality meets purpose THE CULTURE CHANGE NEEDED IN CONSTRUCTION TO DELIVER QUALITY BUILDINGS, FIRST TIME, EVERY TIME, NEEDS ALL PROFESSIONALS TO WORK TOGETHER, WRITES CAROLINE GUMBLE

Those who read my column last month will know that I have been out and about a great deal since my start with the CIOB. One of the main things I’ve been struck by is the sense of community among members – the hub networks, the trustees, in fact the whole of the CIOB family, including our extended family overseas.

The built environment matters. Its contribution to the economy cannot be disputed; it’s a multi-billion-pound industry.

More importantly, construction matters to people. Buildings keep us safe and healthy, allowing us to work, do business, play and create. They bring people together.

I n t u r n , t h e C I O B b r i n gs to ge t h e r and represents the most diverse set of professionals in construction. Our members have helped create many of today’s most iconic buildings – the Shard, the Petronas Towers, the Sydney Opera House. Our members have left a mark on the world and all of them are part of a community. We are a global network of like-minded professionals who share common challenges and aspirations. Our members foster teamwork, collaboration and a better way of doing things.

It’s my belief that now, almost more than ever, the community needs to come together,

to collaborate, to share what we know and to reach out to fellow professionals, encouraging and supporting them. The culture change that’s needed in the industry to deliver quality buildings and infrastructure, first time, every time, needs all of us.

I am hugely optimistic about the future, for our membership and for the industry. One thing I do know is that there is huge interest and pride out there for the built environment in all its many guises – just look at the Art of Building book produced to celebrate 10 years of the competition and the thousands of entries we get every year.

The Novus network is a vibrant community where new professionals develop and flourish. The hub committees and their local networks make an important contribution to their communities, the local and regional sector and to the CIOB. In fact, meetings with hub members have been among the most interesting parts of my induction – so I’m taking this opportunity to say thank you to everyone who’s made time for me and thanks in advance to the hubs who’ve extended invitations that I will take up. I’m now part of this community and very proud to be so. ● Caroline Gumble is CEO of the CIOB.

There can be social and financial gains if new housing developments focus on residents’ health and wellbeing, writes Ashley Wheaton Who wouldn’t want to live in a community with high “social value”? Somewhere that positively impacts on health and wellbeing, sources local building materials, delivers employment opportunities, has good air quality and provides a platform for local businesses to thrive.

Sustainable development is not a new idea, but climate and human geography issues have brought it sharply into focus.

In 2012, the Social Value Act placed a formal requirement on public sector organisations to consider the economic, social and environmental benefits for communities, as well as overall cost, when awarding contracts. This is only going to become more important in choosing development partners.

Research shows that sustainable development does not have to affect profit.

In fact, the developments with higher social capital are the ones retaining their value and proving more resilient to the local market, compared to neighbouring developments.

As well as making higher than average profit, they also provide residents with a strong sense of community spirit – encouraging communities and local businesses to thrive.

University College of Estate Management recently launched The Value of Community report in partnership with the Prince’s Foundation. Savills produced a financial study for the report that revealed the long-term economic benefits of a sustainable approach to housebuilding. This report provides yet more concrete evidence that this approach results in long-term social and financial gains.

At the event were 80 influential landowners, there to discuss development projects across the UK. These landowners are choosing partners with a focus on sustainability.

I have seen some brilliant examples of sustainable developments, such as BedZED, an eco-village in South London that boasts major energy savings and lower bills, abundant green space and continued above-market sale prices.

If we put residents’ health and wellbeing at the heart of our developments then we can not only make a sustainable long-term profit, we can build communities to be proud of.

Ashley Wheaton is principal of the University College of Estate Management.

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OPINION

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Structural Steel Design Awards 2019: this year’s winning projects, p27

Feedback How much is worker fatigue caused because of the reduction in the workforce?

A selection of readers’ comments about news and issues in the industry from www.constructionmanagermagazine.com CM 17/10 Willmott Dixon’s plastic roads Jo Charles, head of sustainability, Willmott Dixon [Asked if microplastics from roads using recycled plastic will wash into the watercourse] Plastic has been used in road construction since the 1960s. These plastics are added into asphalt to create what is known as PMB (polymer modified bitumen) and we are doing exactly the same thing.

We take plastic waste, out of green bins (less than 30% of UK plastic waste is recycled) and instead of burning or burying this valuable material, we mix it with our activator. This activator bonds at one end with plastic and the other with bitumen, this creates a WPMB (waste polymer modified bitumen).

In one move we reduce the amount of oil-derived bitumen used, we reduce the amount of CO2 being released and we give value to plastic waste. Asphalt roads can

continuously be recycled, meaning we have created a closed loop whereby this material is locked in our roads indefinitely.

We have had to make sure that this assumption rings true and have had to do a lot of testing in the background with universities, to make sure that as cars, buses and HGVs roll over the surface we have not got plastic leaching out into the soil and watercourses. We have categorical evidence that this is not the case.

[Asked if recycled plastic roads can be used on motorways, runways and taxiways] This waste plastic material has been used on 800+ roads in the UK mainly in the north-east of England.

Starting in 2016 in Cumbria on small schemes, repairing damage of Storm Desmond, and now in 2019 on the A689 dual carriageway.

This will be rolled out as we gain more credibility and have our materials used on the Highways England Strategic Road scheme. In 2017 Carlisle airport had its taxiway and runway paved with this material.

CM 26/09 Worker fatigue W Davey It is very refreshing to see that finally this issue is being taken seriously.

I have seen first hand the effect that fatigue has on construction workers, the projects they are involved in and also the effect this has on the wellbeing of the workers themselves and their families.

I am unfortunately of the opinion that, left unchecked, the consequences of this problem will affect the health and wellbeing of the workforce, productivity, quality and additional long-term problems.

Despite all the good work that has been done within the industry, unless workers’ health is put before programme schedules, we will still see this issue.

Ian Robertson Most of the workforce are made up from subcontractors. More often than not they are working to a really tight schedule.

Management often ask

these contractors to reduce their costs and the way this is normally achieved is to reduce labour.

Fatigue will set in because of the reduction in the workforce.

Better planning, and communication might reduce this but the common consensus is “just get on with it”. Maybe in time attitudes will change and a balance will be found.

CM 01/10 Scientists capture carbon for building material Kevin Simpson Should the buildings which potentially are to be built using this MgCO3 [magnesium carbonate] need to be demolished or face earthquakes in the future, then would the original CO2 be released into the environment?

Grant Gover

resistance, together with capturing CO2. In a way, rather a simple answer, as quite often the best scientific solutions are, such as with graphite and graphene.

Surely the investment will transpire and we will hear a lot about this venture. Best of luck!

CM 04/10 MP calls for focus on quality John Baker For quality, read education, training and experience: an old chestnut.

Once properly trained and educated – and I don’t necessarily mean academically qualified – then and only then can projects be adequately supervised to produce the quality of an output specification.

“Snagging” should be a thing of the past and return visits non-existent.

This is an exciting leap forward for greener concrete and other material possibilities, plus possible other uses such as fire

Provide your own feedback on latest industry issues by posting comments online at www.constructionmanagermagazine.com or by emailing the editor at construction-manager@atompublishing.co.uk

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Technical

LASER PRECISION ON LINCOLN CATHEDRAL CONSERVATION DIGITAL SCANS, LASER GUNS AND CNC MACHINES ARE AMONG THE TECHNOLOGY BEING USED ON A MAJOR CONSERVATION WORKS PROGRAMME AT LINCOLN CATHEDRAL. WILL MANN REPORTS

Twenty metres above ground, on a giant temporary scaffold structure on the west front of Lincoln Cathedral, Alex Blades is pointing a laser gun at the masonry. A stone conservator, she is clad from head to toe in PPE and her work zone is completely contained within black sheeting. Blades squeezes the trigger, a beam of light emits from the gun, then there is a crackling sound and a smell like burning hair.

“That’s hundreds of years of industrial pollution – a build-up of general grime – being burnt away by the laser,” explains Jane Cowan, the cathedral’s head of conservation.

As if by magic, the sooty covering on the masonry disappears, revealing the rich, golden hue of the limestone underneath. “It’s a very efficient way of cleaning the stonework,” says Cowan.

“No other technique cleans better – the finish is superb.”

The laser cleaning is part of a major programme of conservation works currently underway at Lincoln Cathedral. The National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) agreed in 2017 to provide £16m to finance the programme, called

Temporary scaffolding has been erected on the cathedral’s west front to enable stonework conservation

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Lincoln Cathedral timeline 1072: Construction begins, completed in 1092 1185: Mostly destroyed by earthquake

1192: Rebuild begins, includes choir and eastern transepts 1237: Central tower collapses

Cathedral Connected. It includes conservation work to masonry and decorative sculptures, structural repairs, a newbuild visitor centre and landscaping.

Leading the west front work is Michael Sheppard, who joined the Cathedral’s property team in July as “clericus fabricae”. “Essentially it means clerk of works,” he explains, “though my official job title is director of works and property. My line manager is the subdean, one of our residential canons.”

West front works Prior to Sheppard’s arrival, the project was led by Rebecca Thompson, past president of the CIOB. who runs her own heritage consultancy. She also helped recruit Sheppard.

“Cathedrals are complex places to work, with the primary purpose being the welcome of people of all faiths and none to worship, visit and enjoy the cathedral,” she says. “The role of the works department is to enable this function by providing a safe and wellmaintained building.

“One of my main tasks was to ensure the works to the west end of the cathedral were on programme for the Connected project. The restoration and conservation of the west end includes the very special southern frieze that has been covered over for 30 years.”

The west front works required assembly of an enormous temporary works structure (see box, p24), which extends to the top of the gable, a height of some 25m.

This elevation includes the famous 12th century Romanesque frieze. The 21 panels, each one about 1m square and weighing 0.5 tonnes, are split into two sections: the northern run, the New Testament sculptures, were removed from the building and replaced with “copy carvings” between 1989 and 2001; the southern run, the Old Testament, is being worked on currently.

1311: New central tower and spire built, making the cathedral the tallest building in the world

1420: Western towers raised by 60m

1644: Damage during English civil war

1548: Central tower spire blown down

1834: Great Tom bell lifted into central tower

“There are nine Old Testament panels and we are currently assessing their condition,” says Cowan. “Our policy was developed on the northern run, where the approach was to leave every panel in situ unless in very poor condition. We have the same presumption for the southern run.”

In the event, all the northern run panels were taken out, some in over 60 pieces.

After a full condition assessment of the southern run panels, it was decided to remove only one, which was in poor condition – a delicate operation.

“Initially, we protect the face with a build-up of latex, clays, release materials and paper, all applied in situ – about six weeks’ work,” explains Sheppard.

1914: Ringers’ Chapel restored, followed by Seamen’s Chapel in 1923

2012: Reconstruction work on the northwest turret 2017: NLHF funding agreed for Cathedral Connected project

“Compared to programming on a conventional construction project, you have to build in a huge contingency on conservation work” Michael Sheppard, Lincoln Cathedral

Project: Lincoln Cathedral Connected Value: £16m Programme: 2017 to 2022 Cathedral works: Lincoln Cathedral works and property team Contractor (work outside cathedral fabric): William Birch Architect (cathedral): Buttress Engineer (cathedral): Ramboll Engineer (Connected): Elliott Wood Temporary works scaffolding: PMC

Above left: A laser burns through the soot on the masonry Left: Part cleaned stone shows the effect of the laser

“Then we put sliding straps around the panel, release it from its mortars, and slowly remove it from its bed, manually.

It’s a very slow process – three to four weeks – and it came out in dozens of pieces.” Propping was fitted into the void left behind.

Sheppard explains that the condition of the stone is partly down to the quarry it comes from. Lincoln Cathedral, unusually, is built from the limestone rock it stands on, and it owns a quarry a mile away where it sources stone for maintenance and repairs.

“When you extract stone from the ground, the bed height determines the height of the stones you can work with,” Sheppard says. “With limestone, these restrictions are especially tight. And where the stone was not cut completely within the bed, you can see the impact on the relief carvings, where they have been delaminated by weathering, freeze-thaw and water ingress.”

The removed panel has been taken to the workshop behind the cathedral.

“A variety of techniques will be used, including doweling, grouting and mortar repairs, but they all have to be reversible,” explains Sheppard. “We can’t make permanent changes, and everything we do will be recorded in detail.”

Eventually the panel may be returned to the frieze, but Sheppard says it’s diff icult to say when.

“Compared to programming on a conventional construction project, you have to build in a huge contingency on conservation work,” he says.

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£25,000 Cathedral head of conservation Jane Cowan and clericus fabricae Michael Sheppard

“The laser is mainly used for our finest carvings, because the width of the beam is small, and it is not practical to use on a large scale. In some areas the build-up of crust can be two inches thick” Jane Cowan, Lincoln Cathedral

Another issue with the frieze is structural. “Some of the panels are loadbearing, which has meant compression and further damage to the face of the panels,” explains Sheppard. “Because we have decided on minimal intervention with our work on the southern run panels, we will have to keep a careful eye on the impact of the compression.”

He adds that a structural engineering assessment currently underway will report on the compression’s likely impact.

Copy carvings are being made of all the panels, some of which may be used on the building, depending on the outcome of the survey work. The sculptures include depictions of Noah and the ark and Daniel in the lion’s den.

“Four of the country’s leading copy carvers were chosen for this work and each panel will be an exact copy of the original but with weathered or missing elements intact,” explains Cowan. “CNC copies were made out of foam as an aid for our carvers, who were based off site, along with regular site visits and 1:1 photography.

“The copies not used on the building will go into an exhibition area in the new building, along with the frieze panels removed during the northern run work.

“Some of the panels have had repairs carried out during the 19th century, using Roman cement, and in the 20th century, with Portland cement. If not detrimental to the performance of the panel we leave them as they are,” she adds.

“It’s important to note the difference between ‘conservation’ and ‘restoration’.

We only ‘restore’ the masonry if it’s past the point of conservation, though it’s a different consideration if it has a structural or functional role.”

The main issue with the west front conservation is cleaning, Cowan says.

This is where the laser comes in. It’s currently being used on another of the

Lincoln was the first cathedral to use lasers on site in 1998 and has its own unit. They typically cost £25,000

sculptures on the elevation, the 14th century Gallery of Kings.

Lincoln was the first cathedral to use lasers on site in 1998 and has its own unit. They typically cost £25,000. The portable laser units are about 1m across and 0.5m high.

The operative connects the gun to the unit and fires the beam on to the blackened surface.

“The laser is only attracted to dark areas and because the sulphation carbonation is black, it means we don’t overclean,” says Cowan. “There is also less room for human error as they are ‘self-limiting’. Lasers are a very controlled and measured way of cleaning the dirt.

“The laser is mainly used for our finest carvings, because the width of the beam is small, and it is not practical to use on a large scale.

“In some areas the build-up of crust can be two inches thick – a legacy of the Trent Valley industry.”

Safety protocols are strict. “Laser beams can cause blindness up to a mile away,” says Cowan. Operatives are contained in the black sheeted

Lincoln’s 14th century Gallery of Kings, on the west front, is currently being conserved

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unit, wearing body suit, face mask, eye protection, with an extraction unit running throughout.

Other cleaning techniques are not as controlled and can be subject to human error. These usually involve mixing water, sometimes superheated, with aggregate or solvent and spraying it at the masonry. Nebulous systems create a fine mist which dissolves the dirt and pollutants.

“All work is done by hand and only occasionally would we use a pneumatic tool, such as a chisel, to work at the face,” adds Sheppard.

The masonry conservation works are being executed by the cathedral’s team of nine: three apprentice bursary stonemasons, three fixers (based on site) and three bankers (based in the workshop), with eight stone conservators. The cathedral, along with Lincoln Castle, is running training and apprenticeships with Historic Environment Skills (HES), funded by NLHF, which aims to encourage young people into the built heritage sector.

Deputy head glazier Dan Beal at work

“Our ongoing programme of recording works informs our disaster management, which has been brought into sharp focus since the Notre Dame fire” Michael Sheppard, Lincoln Cathedral

Other conservation work in the Connected programme will include the stunning stained-glass windows in the south and north-east transepts, some of which date from the 13th century, plus masonry repairs to the East Gate and North Cloister. The work will run alongside the cathedral’s ongoing programme of works and reactive maintenance, which has a budget of up to £2m a year.

Re-roofing and repointing While Sheppard’s team manages any work involving the fabric of the cathedral, some of the Connected project will be delivered by heritage specialist William Birch. The contractor is carrying out re-roofing, repointing and structural repairs to the 14th century Exchequergate Arch, which frames the walkway leading to the cathedral’s west front, and is currently encased in a temporary works structure. William Birch will also renovate the Old Deanery, landscape external areas and build the new visitor centre which will house the cathedral’s store of medieval stone and sculpture, as well as the new copy carvings of the Romanesque frieze.

As part of the Connected project, the whole west front will be laser scanned.

“We would like to do 360-degree scans of the Gallery of Kings as well,” says Sheppard. “This is part of our ongoing programme of recording works carried out on the cathedral. This informs our disaster management, which obviously has been brought into sharp focus since the Notre Dame fire.”

The 83m-high tower has already been laser scanned, commissioned

by Buttress, the cathedral’s architect, and Sheppard says the aspiration is a complete digital asset model of the whole cathedral and the 87 other buildings in its estate portfolio.

The Lincoln Cathedral Connected project is to complete in March 2022. ●

Temporary works A ‘workshop in the sky’ enables conservation to continue in a very sensitive location After the NLHF grant for the Lincoln Cathedral Connect project was confirmed, much of 2017 was spent designing the west front’s temporary works structure.

This “workshop in the sky” was engineered by Elliott Wood and erection of the structure, by scaffolding contractor PMC, began at the start of 2018.

The self-supported steel gantry is raised roughly 3m off the ground, which keeps access open for visitors into the cathedral. It occupies around one third of the west front, extending as high as the gable.

“It’s a very sensitive location as we are right next to the main entrance and have to coordinate around cathedral operations and public tours,” says Sheppard.

The structure is not “actively” tied into the cathedral, but instead is

counterbalanced internally.

Four penetrations were made by removing glazing panels from the vast, arched Norman window in the west front.

Sturdy 203mm-thick steel beams, to a bespoke design, were then threaded through and fixed to the counterbalance.

The structure is also braced off the 3.5m-deep Norman niche.

Above, the gantry supports 11 scaffold lifts, which are being used to execute the NHLF programme of works.

The cathedral has decided to carry out further renovation work above the niche in house, as part of its ongoing works programme, so has added a further five lifts, taking the structure to the top of the gable. A single hoist serves the structure.

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STRUCTURAL STEEL DESIGN AWARDS 2019

PRODUCED BY THE BCSA AND STEEL FOR LIFE IN ASSOCIATION WITH CONSTRUCTION MANAGER

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STRUCTURAL STEEL DESIGN AWARDS

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TOTTENHAM STADIUM PHOTOS: HUFTON + CROW

Introduction The Structural Steel Design Awards (SSDA) have recognised and rewarded many of the best examples of ambition and innovation in our built environment. Now celebrating their 51st year, the 2019 Awards, jointly sponsored by the British Constructional Steelwork Association and Trimble Solutions (UK) Ltd, continue that great tradition. This year’s collection of entries once again demonstrates UK excellence in steel fabrication, design and construction.

Again, there has been a high number of quality entries and this year has seen a greater variety in the types of projects entered.

Scales of entry ranged from the largest sports building projects, through prestige city and regional office buildings, to smaller educational and leisure projects and footbridges.

Twenty projects made the shortlist, from which judges presented five awards, six commendations and four merits at a gala ceremony held in London on 1 October, where it was announced that Tottenham Hotspur Football Club’s new stadium was the 2019 SSDA Project of the Year.

The SSDA’s cross-industry judging panel includes: chairman Chris Nash, Bill Taylor and Oliver Tyler representing the Royal Institute of British Architects; Richard Barrett representing the steelwork contracting industry; Paul Hulme representing the Institution of Civil Engineers; and Sarah Pellereau, Professor Roger Plank and Julia Ratcliffe representing the Institution of Structural Engineers.

PROJECT OF THE YEAR

STEEL EARNS ITS SPURS THE PREMIER LEAGUE’S NEWEST STADIUM HAS A 62,000 ALL-SEATER CAPACITY, WITH A SLIDING PITCH, AND STEEL WAS CENTRAL TO ITS STRUCTURAL DESIGN

Constructed on a site that overlaps much of the old – now demolished – White Hart Lane ground’s footprint, Tottenham Hotspur’s new home has been designed as an iconic structure and a benchmark for future stadium design.

It is a tight atmospheric bowl, which feels and looks like a traditional, albeit very modern, football stadium with its single-tier home end.

Maximising its use, the stadium features a sliding pitch that will allow other events, such as concerts and American football matches to be held on a regular basis, without damaging the important football turf surface.

The project team used structural steelwork to form the majority of the stadium and this included the erection of five key steel features: the East Stand

Two steel tree columns support the 17,000-seat South Stand

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STRUCTURAL STEEL DESIGN AWARDS

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Produced by the BCSA and Steel for Life in association with Construction Manager

What the judges said: “The new stadium is not just for football but provides a multifunction entertainment facility.

The steelwork, which has been finished to a very high standard, plays an integral part in the form and architectural expression of the building.”

Y-columns and transfer structure; the South Stand tree columns; the South Stand transfer structures; the North Stand cantilever structure; and the West Stand atrium structure.

“The long span nature of many areas in the new stadium are virtually unachievable in any other common construction material and the shapes and forms created using steel are both elegant and robust,” says BuroHappold engineer Chris Shrubshall.

“Also, the construction programme was such that steel provided a significantly reduced erection period, to the point where some areas were changed from concrete to steel construction at a late stage.”

Structural steel was used for its ability to create elegant and robust forms

Supporting level three of the East Stand, the Y-columns were among the first major pieces of structural steelwork to be erected at the new stadium.

They provide an atrium at the entrance to the stand and reduce the number of columns coming to ground level by collecting a column on each branch. They also allow the facade to be cut back into the building, producing a dramatic overhang.

The South Stand tree structures were created to provide an elegant method of transferring the 17,000seat South Stand over the sliding pitch below. The culmination of elegant architectural design, robust structural engineering and careful fabrication, the trees are the main feature of the South Stand.

Beneath the South Stand there is a series of mega transfer trusses, spanning in three sections across the sliding pitch. These trusses have been coordinated and integrated with the architecture, so that the concourses, toilets and concessions are all as uninterrupted as possible.

The North Stand cantilevers 10m over the tier below. This is formed using box-section rakers. The load is delivered into the reinforced concrete cores, using pre-stressed high strength bars.

Significant dynamic analysis has been carried out to justify the performance of the stand. There are significant service penetrations with the North Stand, which allow the distribution of services around the space below.

Meanwhile, the West Stand is supported on a series of slender steel box-section columns, which are 21m tall. These columns create a spectacular atrium space below. ● Award and Project of the Year: Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, New Stadium Architect: Populous Structural engineers: BuroHappold Engineering, schlaich bergermann partner Steelwork contractor: Severfield Main contractor: Mace Client: Tottenham Hotspur Football Club

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PHOTOS THIS PAGE ©JOHN STURROCK; PAUL CARSTAIRS/ARUP; OPPOSITE: ©HUFTON + CROW; ROYAL ACADEMY ©IAN RITCHIE

What the judges said: “The new exposed steel is extremely well integrated and carefully detailed to be in keeping with the original structure, strengthening and extending it to suit its new purpose” The King’s Cross redevelopment programme, one of Europe’s largest regeneration schemes, has converted a run-down industrial site in north London into a vibrant neighbourhood.

One of the centrepieces is Coal Drops Yard, a recently opened high-end retail outlet housed in two Victorian buildings, built in the 1850s for receiving and sorting coal as it arrived in London by train.

The buildings, approximately 150m long and 120m long respectively, sit side-by-side while splaying outwards in a southerly direction. A new steelframed roof straddles the area between the two structures, which is 30m wide at the northern end, creating an impressive piece de resistance.

The roof structure is approximately 75m long on one side and 65m long on the other. It curves inwards, from the south and north ends, and then rises up in the middle to a maximum height of 25m.

Two “ribbon” trusses, sat atop each building, help form the undulating

RETAIL CENTRE BUYS INTO STEEL DESIGN

Exposed steelwork emphasises the complex geometry of the roof structure

A CURVING STEEL STRUCTURE, SPANNING BETWEEN TWO RESTORED VICTORIAN BUILDINGS, FORMS THE ROOF OF LONDON’S LATEST WORLD-CLASS RETAIL DESTINATION

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STRUCTURAL STEEL DESIGN AWARDS

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Produced by the BCSA and Steel for Life in association with Construction Manager

Royal Academy of Music Several innovative structural steelwork solutions were used in the redevelopment of the Royal Academy of Music’s Grade II-listed buildings

Award: Coal Drops Yard, London Architect: Heatherwick Studio Structural engineer: Arup Steelwork contractor: Severfield Main contractor: BAM Construction Client: King’s Cross Central Limited Partnership

shape of the roof structure. The trusses are fabricated from 610mm circular hollow sections (CHS) with 508mm CHS verticals and 219mm CHS bracings.

“To create the complex geometry of the sweeping roof structure, steel was the only choice and CHS sections were used as they could be bent to form the curved ribbon trusses,” says Arup senior engineer Simon Bateman.

The trusses are each created from four individual segments (eight in total), each one bespoke, due to the curvature of the roof and the splay of the buildings.

Above the trusses the new roof is primarily supported by a

compression-tension system, spanning the distance between the buildings.

This is supported on new steelwork at each end within the two Coal Drops buildings. The compression aspect of the system is made up of four fabricated box “giraffe” girders – so-called as they look like giraffe necks in 2D elevation.

The “giraffe” girders, which span 50m from building to building, are 1,000mm deep x 600mm wide, with 40mm flanges.

The tension is taken through a single tie, made from a series of plated steel elements, that is connected to the bases of the “giraffe” girders.

At the middle point of the roof, there is a large kink where the two sides nearly meet: the “kissing point”.

As there are huge bending moments generated in the steelwork in this area, a large 100 tonne steel node is positioned at this point.

Meanwhile, the roof steelwork is doing two jobs, as well as spanning the void between the existing buildings, it also supports a new column-free upper level of the development. ●

Two ribbon trusses help create the undulating form of the roof system

Commendation: Royal Academy of Music, London Architect: Ian Ritchie Architects Structural engineer: WSP Main contractor: Geoffrey Osborne Client: Royal Academy of Music The works, carried out on a site surrounded by operational buildings, included the replacement of the existing theatre superstructure, the addition of new cantilevered balcony seating, the introduction of a flytower, with main plant room above, an enlarged orchestra pit, insertion of new vertical circulation routes, and a box-in-box rooftop recital hall with its own glazed foyer.

A feature auditorium ceiling was introduced to provide a visual focus and to maximise the acoustic volume of the theatre. This ceiling is created with a system of downstand secondary, tertiary and quaternary beams faceted on plan and clad in curved timber.

Above the redeveloped theatre, the opportunity was taken to add a new, partially exposed, steel-framed 100-seat flexible recital hall, entirely isolated acoustically – slab and walls – from the surrounding structure.

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A SLENDER STEEL THAMES CROSSING STEELWORK PROVIDED THE SOLUTION FOR THE LATEST RIVER THAMES BRIDGE, WHICH HAD TO BE CONSTRUCTED OFFSITE AND ERECTED FROM A BARGE DUE TO LIMITED ACCESS

A new footbridge at Taplow in Buckinghamshire is the latest crossing of England’s second longest river, providing a pedestrian link in the Thames Path and connecting a riverside development with nearby Maidenhead.

Spanning 40m over the River Thames, the shallow arch form of the design is inspired by Brunel’s nearby Maidenhead Bridge and is echoed in the slender steel box structure.

Fabricated triangular-section box girders form the twin structural arches that support the deck, while slender steel hangers complete the composition and ensure the structure is lightweight and transparent in river views.

“The site for the bridge presented numerous access challenges,” explains

Clare Taylor, project manager with engineer COWI. “The only viable access route for construction was the river and so it was important to design a bridge that could be constructed easily and safely from the water without compromising the bridge aesthetics within this picturesque setting.”

This challenge was solved by using steel as the primary material, which allowed the bridge to be fabricated offsite in one piece.

Another important consideration was steelwork’s high structural strength and stiffness. It provided the only possible material to realise the architect’s vision of a very slender bridge for this site.

The steel structure was designed with structural efficiency in mind but

TAPLOW PHOTOS: ©ANTHONY PREVOST; CHISWICK PARK: ©JILL TATE

Steelwork’s structural strength made it the only option for a very slender bridge

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Produced by the BCSA and Steel for Life in association with Construction Manager

Chiswick Park Footbridge Numerous challenges were overcome during the design stage for the Chiswick Park Footbridge – a new three-span arched structure that connects a business park with Chiswick Park Underground Station

What the judges said: “The steelwork is beautifully detailed, and trial assembly helped ensure trouble-free installation” allowing a clear architectural identity.

It consists of three key features: the arch, deck and flat plate hangers.

The arches are triangular in cross section and lean outwards to produce a dramatic visual effect, opening up views of the river and landscape.

“The arches support a remarkably slender composite steel-concrete deck formed by a steel tray comprising the edge beams and bottom plate, which was filled with in-situ concrete after the bridge was installed,” says Taylor.

“Transverse stiffeners are revealed below and extend outwards to form the hangers. This composite construction results in improved structural behaviour, particularly from the point of view of dynamic response and acoustics, and it also facilitated easy construction.”

Offsite fabrication by S H Structures was a key factor. It enabled a highquality finish to be achieved and allowed for a trial assembly, ensuring a more efficient onsite build.

“Installation was the most significant challenge with limited access to the site. This meant a conventional crane could not be used and so the bridge had to be delivered by river,” says S H Structures director Tim Burton.

The structure was transported in three parts by road to a laydown and assembly yard a short distance downstream of the site. The bridge was assembled on temporary works, before the entire steel structure was lifted onto a pontoon, floated upriver and installed using hydraulic jacks in a one-day operation. ● Award: Taplow Riverside Footbridge Architect: Knight Architects Structural engineer: COWI Steelwork contractor: S H Structures Main contractor: Land & Water Client: Berkeley Group

Outward-leaning arches support a composite steelconcrete deck

Commendation: Chiswick Park Footbridge Architect: Useful Studio Structural engineer: Expedition Engineering Steelwork contractor: Severfield Main contractor: Lendlease Client: Blackstone The designers had to incorporate a dominant 45m-long span over Network Rail Overground lines with the necessary constraints, as well as allowing for a restricted landing site at one end that includes a 4.5m drop in level. A minimum road height clearance for double-decker buses had to be included in the central span.

Added to the above, the bridge had to curve along its entire length.

A lightweight solution was needed to ensure that the 45m-long Network Rail span could be lifted into place from nearby Chiswick Park.

The arch was designed as a network arch (close-centred crossed cables), producing a highly efficient structure that acts as a stiff mesh to control pedestrian dynamic effects and enables the bridge to be slender.

This is only the second network arch footbridge constructed in Europe.

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What the judges said “Through simple yet sophisticated design, plus rigorous attention to detail, this headquarters building exhibits exceptional quality and value”

STEEL AIDS STAFF RETENTION EXPOSED STEELWORK AND AESTHETICALLY DETAILED CONNECTIONS ARE THE ORDER OF THE DAY FOR AN IT COMPANY’S MULTI-MILLION-POUND HEADQUARTERS

Accommodating nearly 500 employees, the new Tombola headquarters in Sunderland offers 2,300 sq m of floor space and features an exposed steel frame, along with an integrated heating and cooling system that has been cast into the exposed concrete floor slabs.

Marc Horn, managing director of structural engineer s h e d, says the exposed steelwork has been aesthetically detailed to a standard rarely seen on commercial projects.

“Most commercial schemes have all their steelwork connections hidden in ceilings or floor zones. The majority of the steelwork at Tombola is visible and had to enhance all the other parts of the design,” he explains.

“By creating this superb new building, the company will be better placed to retain its talent, as the impact of this is often underestimated. By keeping jobs and therefore associated spending power within our local economy, the effects go far beyond just Tombola employees.”

The IT company ’s new glazed headquarters boasts modern openplan offices throughout its uppermost first and second f loors, while a full‑height centrally-positioned atrium will flood the inner parts of the structure with natural light.

The ground floor has a reception area, bistro and gym for employees, with bleacher-style stairs leading to the open-plan upper floors.

The building also boasts a diverse range of informal training and

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Produced by the BCSA and Steel for Life in association with Construction Manager

presentation suites with the latest AV/video conferencing technology.

The three-storey structure’s steel frame is braced for stability, but also incorporates moment frames, which create the building’s dramatic overhang and cantilevers along its eastern facade.

The office floorplates are long-span areas with exposed concrete soffits providing radiant heating and cooling.

In order to allow the floors to appear to float and the fenestration to span fully to the soffits, all supporting columns are detailed as box sections with plates supporting the slabs above.

The building’s main columns are also box sections. Horn says this is to keep their size to a minimum and create the sleek lines of the building that continue from the horizontal to the vertical.

A series of rectangular hollow section (RHS) edge floor beams are arranged to support the brickwork facade, providing a solution that is efficient in terms of minimising the overall number of steel members.

The building’s audio/visual and fire alarm systems are hidden within the hollow section structure, which is used as a containment system to keep the sleek and uninterrupted finish.

Topping the structure, the roof appears to float, which is made possible by using another moment frame. All the steel roof structure is within a shallow construction zone, with purlins placed inside the depth of the column section rafters.

“The building could not have been delivered in its amazing form without using a steel-framed superstructure, as the material allowed us to achieve the required long spans and open spaces,” says Brims Construction director Richard Wood. ●

Fen Court Offering 39,000 sq m of floorspace, the 15-storey Fen Court is one of the latest additions to the City of London’s skyline

Commendation: Fen Court, London Architect: Eric Parry Architects Structural engineer: Arup Steelwork contractor: William Hare Main contractor: Sir Robert McAlpine Client: Generali Real Estate

Award: Tombola HQ, Sunderland Architect: Ryder Architecture Structural engineer: s h e d Main contractor: Brims Construction Client: Tombola The steel frame is braced for stability and incorporates moment frames

Featuring a distinctive crown-shaped design, Fen Court offers office space, a rooftop restaurant and London’s first publicly accessible roof garden.

The basement was designed to keep a high-street bank, occupying part of the site, in operation without disrupting services to customers.

The challenging build of the bank involved a top-down construction sequence for a small portion of the site, with plunge columns driven into the ground and a small area of the basement slab cast. This allowed construction of this smaller steel frame at the same time as the excavation of the three-level basement was taking place.

With excavation complete, and the two cores constructed, William Hare began a traditional bottom-up erection process of the main steel frame.

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STEEL SERVES UP MOVABLE ROOF

The new roof is based on a concertina design with two main sections that meet in the middle. The structure covers an area of about 5,500 sq m and can be deployed or retracted in around eight minutes.

It consists of 11 steel trusses, each spanning 75m across the top of the court and with an overall height of 6.5m.

Ten of the trusses are identical prismatic sections, but the most southerly is rectangular and slightly heavier, at 65 instead of 60 tonnes.

“Ordinarily five trusses are parked at the north end and six at the south, and when deployed they all move inwards to cover the court,” explains Th o r n to n To m a s e t t i a s s o c i a te director Michael Roberts.

THIS YEAR, THE HOME OF LAWN TENNIS UNVEILED A NEW RETRACTABLE STEEL ROOF, ALLOWING UNINTERRUPTED PLAY IRRESPECTIVE OF THE WEATHER, ON ITS SECOND MOST IMPORTANT COURT

could get in the way of the all-important annual Wimbledon fortnight.

Consequently, the project was completed over three phases, with two breaks to allow The Championships in 2017 and 2018 to take place. The final steel roof elements were installed last spring, allowing the programme to be completed a month before the 2019 Championship.

The concertina design of the roof incorporates 11 steel trusses

PHOTO THIS PAGE: ©AELTC/JOE TOTH; OPPOSITE ©AELTC/SIMON BRUTY; INGENUITY HOUSE: ©JACK HOBHOUSE

The centrepiece of the Wimbledon No.1 Court redevelopment scheme, which has increased the capacity of the arena, is a new retractable roof similar in design to the one spanning Centre Court, an SSDA winner in 2009.

The project, adapting the original arena which opened in 1997, presented unique logistical challenges, as nothing

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Produced by the BCSA and Steel for Life in association with Construction Manager

Ingenuity House Topping out at five storeys, Ingenuity House is the new regional headquarters for Interserve Commendation: Ingenuity House, Birmingham Architect: Sheppard Robson Structural engineer: Arup Steelwork contractor: Billington Structures Main contractor: Interserve Construction Client: Interserve Construction

What the judges said: “This extraordinarily complex work was carried out over three seasons with minimum public awareness.

Large movable steel trusses installed to exacting tolerances over the existing building provide a roof that can shelter a match from rain within minutes.”

“However, to maximise the amount of sunlight on the grass, all of the trusses can be moved to the north end with the 11th rectangular truss being the last in line. Having no fixed restraining arms attached to the surrounding fixed roof, this truss needed to be a different shape.”

Allowing the roof to move, the ends of each truss are supported on a wheeled bogie, which moves along rails fixed to the new superstructure of No.1 Court.

This superstructure includes five more trusses that surround the arena, with two of them, east and west, primarily supporting the retractable roof.

The east and west trusses are both 80m long and weigh 490 and 555 tonnes respectively.

Stability and support for the trusses is provided by eight existing concrete cores and three jumbo 1,083mm-diameter CHS columns, which were threaded through the stands and founded on the concrete substructure.

Two of these large columns are positioned at either end of the east truss, with the third supporting one end of the west truss. A fourth jumbo column could not be installed as there are ground level water tanks in the area where this section would have been founded. Instead a 40m-long x 11.5m-deep north-west truss had to be installed, acting as a bridge over the obstructions and helping to support the other end of the west truss. ●

The retractable roof moves on rails fixed to the court’s new superstructure

Located next to Birmingham International Airport, the 12,000 sq m, energy-efficient building will bring together approximately 1,200 staff, who are now spread across five offices.

The architectural form presented challenges, each requiring creative solutions. These include the stepped floorplates, the column-free entrance and the 38m-span atrium roof.

A series of raking columns with external cantilevers and internal transfer beams, supporting stepped vertical columns, were found to provide the optimal balance of structural efficiency and spatial planning. While being primarily a bespoke building for Interserve, the flexible design does allow for future subdivision.

A total of 1,710 tonnes of structural steel were supplied and erected by steelwork contractor Billington Structures, including a 30 tonne roof level truss, supporting the roof and fourth floor above the feature recessed entrance area.

Award: Wimbledon No.1 Court Architect: KSS Structural engineer: Thornton Tomasetti Steelwork contractor: Severfield Main contractor: Sir Robert McAlpine Client: The All England Lawn Tennis Club

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Battersea Arts Centre A 12-year programme to extend and refurbish the Battersea Arts Centre includes a new steel-framed roof spanning the facility’s Grand Hall and replacing a structure that was destroyed in a fire four years ago

Commendation: Battersea Arts Centre Architect: Haworth Tompkins Structural engineer: Heyne Tillett Steel Main contractor: 8Build Client: Battersea Arts Centre

Neuron Pod

NEURON POD PHOTO: ©JONATHAN COLE

Known as the Neuron Pod, this steel-framed structure was designed for the client as a multi-functional space for events and an education zone

Commendation: Neuron Pod, London Architect: aLL Design Structural engineer: AKT ll Main contractor: Total Construction Client: Queen Mary University of London

constructionmanagermagazine.com

A steel solution was adopted as the material has a high strength, which allows for smaller lightweight sections to be used, making it a versatile material choice, especially for long span structures such as roofs.

For this project, a series of slender members were used to form roof trusses, creating a clear 17.5m span across the hall.

The trusses are 10.5m high and 900mm wide and were installed through removable sections in the temporary scaffold roof.

The project also includes other steelwork elements such as demountable side galleries, which required slender steel beams hidden within a new acoustic floor build-up, modifications to the balcony to support an organ, rebuilt dressing rooms and a new stage roof.

Accessed via bridge from an existing building on the Queen Mary University of London campus, this standalone structure has been described as an art installation.

Created from weathering steel, the Pod consists of an external structural skin, stiffened by internal steel ribs. These internal ribs run in both directions to provide stiffness and rigidity to the structural skin. Inspired by a zeppelin shape, both in plan and elevations, it is supported by three legs.

Constructed using a process similar to the construction of a ship’s hull, the structure has been designed and engineered by AKT II as an 8mm developable external plate, welded on an internal series of vertical and longitudinal steel ribs. The materials used provide a lasting durability, while retaining the aesthetic quality of the architectural vision.

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Produced by the BCSA and Steel for Life in association with Construction Manager

GREATHAM CREEK PHOTO: ©VICKY MATTHERS

G W Annenberg Performing Arts Centre

Telford Central Footbridges

Merit: G W Annenberg Performing Arts Centre Architect: Studio Seilern Architects Structural engineer: PBA, now part of Stantec Steelwork contractor: Advanced Fabrications Poyle Main contractor: Beard Construction Client: Wellington College

Merit: Telford Central Footbridges Architect: Nicoll Russell Studios Structural engineer: Jacobs Steelwork contractor: S H Structures Main contractor: Balfour Beatty Client: Telford & Wrekin Council

The G W Annenberg Performing Arts Centre is a new theatre at Wellington College, one of the UK’s leading independent schools. With a total capacity for 1,200 people, it is an unusual circular theatre, built into a gently sloping site.

Inside, the 33m-diameter roof spans over the auditorium, where the curved plan of the building complements the internal arrangement of seating and structure around the focus of the stage.

High-level walkways within the roof not only give access to the lighting galleries but also form the backbone of the roof support structure, formed by a rectilinear arrangement of cambered Warren/Vierendeel hybrid trusses.

Innovative and extensive structural transfer systems were developed throughout to enable the architect’s vision for this complex building.

However, the overall complexity did not translate into complex steel fabrication details, as the building was designed to be a collection of simpler structures. This was achieved in part by keeping the perimeter column spacing and internal floor spans to a minimum, thereby reducing the overall load applied to each transfer beam.

Two steel-arched structures, with an underslung suspended deck connected by a central hub, provide a new and improved link between Telford railway station and the town centre.

Steel was identified as the structural material early in the design stage, due to its efficient spanto-weight ratio and other benefits including safer, cost-effective offsite construction techniques.

The selected cranked alignment, parallel to the existing link, enabled the new bridge to be built while maintaining the use of the existing structure, thereby causing the minimum amount of disruption to its users.

The new structures are both based on a single-span lenticular space truss roof, fabricated from steel circular hollow sections. The over-railway structure is 27m long and the larger structure spanning the highway is 90m long.

The steel decks are supported from the truss system on hangers.

For the larger bridge, the deck also acts together with the roof truss and raking end members to create a tied arch supported on piled concrete abutments, faced with blockwork.

A brickwork-clad steel structure connects the two bridges.

The Macallan Distillery

Merit: The Macallan Distillery Architect: Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners Structural engineer: Arup Steelwork contractor: S H Structures Main contractor: Robertson Construction Client: The Macallan The Macallan Distillery and Visitor Experience was designed to be a unique structure that would reveal the production processes of the single malt Scotch whisky distillery as well as welcome visitors, while remaining sensitive to the rural setting in Speyside.

Structural steelwork is an integral part of the building, as ring beams and columns support the timber green roof, while curved steel process tables hold up the copper stills that are used in the whisky distilling process.

The roof design is based around a repetitive use of a dome form.

The primary geometry is formed from a timber grillage of downstand beams at 3m centres.

This undulating grillage is supported by steel portal frames.

Each timber dome, spanning a clear distance of 27m, lands on to a steel ring beam, which in turn is supported on inclined V-columns that spring from concrete buttresses.

The initial design for the roof would have seen the erection team bolting the relevant sections together on site. However, at the suggestion of S H Structures, this was changed to site welding the nodes, as this was the best way of meeting the tight tolerance requirements.

Greatham Creek Seal Hide

Merit: Greatham Creek Seal Hide, Middlesbrough Architect: Abstract Machine (Leeds Beckett University) Structural engineer: BMMJV (Bam Nuttall/Mott MacDonald Joint Venture) Steelwork contractor: S H Structures Main contractor: BMMJV (Bam Nuttall/Mott MacDonald Joint Venture) Client: Environment Agency In an area of Teesside renowned for its wildlife, a popular destination for birdwatchers and people wishing to photograph seals, an observation hide has been constructed during the building of new flood embankments.

Overlooking the sea at Greatham Creek, the steel-framed hide replaces an old timber structure and is a legacy structure for those visiting the area for years to come.

To satisfy the need for a lightweight material and to achieve the required durability, corrosionresistant weathering steel was used as it resolved the need for repainting and provided a suitable colour.

Funding was secured through engagement with Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and Teesside Environmental Trust, with a contribution from the Landfill Communities Fund.

Other finalists: l 160 Old Street, London l Project Mint at The O2 l Aga Khan Centre, London l Ely Southern Bypass l Kettner’s Townhouse & Soho House, Greek Street, London

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BIM & DIGITAL

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BIM & Digital

TOP CONTRACTORS TRIAL IOT CONCRETE MONITOR

TOBIAS EJERSBO; UFUK SAHIN

SKANSKA AND VOLKERWESSELS ARE AMONG THE COMPANIES HARNESSING INTERNET OF THINGS TECHNOLOGY TO CHECK CONCRETE STRENGTH. BY STEPHEN COUSINS

More than 30 European contractors are deploying a Danish concrete strength monitoring system that harnesses the internet of things (IoT) and cloud technology to provide real-time data.

Projects run by Skanska, VolkerWessels, Swedish construction company NCC and Norway’s Kruse Smith have rolled out the Maturix system, by Sensohive, which uses thermal sensors, long-range wireless transmitters and a custom cloud platform to provide contractors and engineers with insights into the curing process on a mobile device.

The system is designed to expedite construction schedules, improve safety and replace the industry-standard “cube test” that involves casting test specimens during concrete pouring.

Rasmus Uhre, product manager at Sensohive, explains: “[Cube test] specimens are typically left on site in the same conditions as the structure, but as seen in several trials, there is a substantial difference when it comes to strength development, which cannot be reflected or replicated in the specimens.

Maturix monitors strength in real-time

Above left: Contractors and engineers can receive insights into the curing process on a mobile device Above right: Data is collected by thermocouples embedded in concrete and sent using the wireless transmitters

– at multiple positions in the structure – and measurements provide an exact insight, not a ‘well-calculated guess’.”

The transmission of data over the long-range and low-power demand Sigfox 0G IoT network offers benefits over systems that exploit Bluetooth near field communications (NFC) to transmit curing data to mobile devices via a wireless gateway.

NFC systems require the individual to be physically present on the site and hold a phone close to the sensor to take readings.

Maturix temperature data is collected by industry-standard type K thermocouples embedded in concrete and sent using the wireless transmitters to radio towers in the surrounding area.

In locations with limited or no connectivity, data is sent to a local base station.

“The Sigfox network has very good range and penetration capabilities, making it ideal for use on construction sites and in precast plants,” says Uhre.

“Our wireless transmitters can run for several months or years depending on use. If used all the time, they can last around eight months, and we usually

swap-and-service them free of charge as part of their yearly subscription to the system.” Sensor batteries can last for up to 10 years, says the firm.

Temperature data is sent automatically to the cloud every 10 minutes and is accessible in various report formats. A dedicated application progamming interface means the data can be integrated with any cloud platform, including BIM software.

Sensohive competes with other IoT platforms designed to harvest and communicate real-time concrete curing data from sensors. One product by a UK startup uses transmitter nodes to send data over a mesh network. Data analytics software interprets the results to give an accurate real-time picture of the curing process.

According to Uhre, Maturix offers several advantages over that system.

“Our type K thermocouples are inexpensive, accurate, reliable, and industry-standard temperature sensors [where the rival system uses its own embedded sensor cables]. Our concrete temperature is sent using wireless transmitters to either radio towers in the surrounding area – or in case of limited/no connectivity to a local base station – removing the need for setting up several repeaters as with the rival system.”

Sensohive will be bolstered by a new partnership with concrete waterproofing provider, Kryton International. The Canadian firm has taken a 30% stake in Sensohive, making it the largest shareholder, and will become the exclusive North American distributor of Maturix.

The real-time monitoring of structures is an emerging field in construction, made possible by the proliferation of the IoT, an interconnected digital network that enables everyday objects to be embedded with electronics that collect and share data. ●

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BIM & DIGITAL

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Is AI construction’s next big thing?

Artificial intelligence is no longer the preserve of science fiction, writes Tom Oulton

Donatella Fiorella ISG

TACKLE TWO-TIER SYSTEM OF BIM ADOPTION ONLY CONSTRUCTION’S ELITE ARE FULLY ENGAGED WITH BIM, ARGUES ISG’S DONATELLA FIORELLA

“We’ve had to bring more seats in for your session,” was the response from the organisers when I queried the room reconfiguration happening around me. I was about to present about ISG’s educational journey implementing BIM throughout our business, at a BSI digital conference, and these were encouraging, if nerve-racking, signs.

This thirst for knowledge is perhaps symptomatic of the BIM situation construction now finds itself in. There is an ever-widening gulf between those organisations that are fully signed up members of the BIM club, and those that haven’t begun their journey – or simply can’t get out of the starting blocks.

Since 2016, when BIM was mandated by government on centrally procured

“We suspect only around 15% of the UK supply chain has a clear understanding and the ability to deliver BIM outcomes”

public works, those tier 1 contractors and suppliers that recognised the importance of the BIM agenda have been investing heavily in technology, training and people. Many also realised that if they don’t invest in training for their supply chain partners, then they cannot deliver BIM outcomes to clients.

However, the effect of this piecemeal implementation has created a two-tier system, with elite supply chain partners benefiting, and the remainder left without the resource, time and investment to embark on this journey.

That became apparent at the conference, with an audience of digital specialists from contractors, supply chain, private practices and government agencies. These individuals recognised the importance of BIM. But I heard about culture clashes within organisations.

Anecdotally, we suspect only around 15% of the UK supply chain has a clear understanding and ability to deliver BIM outcomes. That’s a huge mountain to climb for everyone driving digitalisation and smart outcomes.

The fragmentation of our supply chains means we can no longer rely on a small cohort of partners that “get” BIM. We must engage and educate across the entire supplier spectrum.

The benefits are clear: skilled project partners, enhanced collaboration and better customer outcomes.

The wider industry has the capability to help those 85% progress digital implementation. An immediate consequence from the conference was the instigation of a workshops series that we are hosting to help organisations fast-track their BIM journeys.

The appetite to join construction’s digital revolution is there – but do we have the commitment and ambition to add those extra chairs when our suppliers are reaching out to us? ● Donatella Fiorella is a BIM manager at ISG.

Every year or so, the construction industry is dominated by talk of a next “big thing” that promises to transform the industry.

Almost inevitably this is accompanied by a bandwagon of hype, underwhelming incremental improvements or outright deception – greenwash, BIMwash – but once this passes we can separate the wheat from the chaff. BIM works well when properly executed across the whole life cycle. Sustainability is a now a central consideration for all construction projects.

The hype machine is in full force again, but is artificial intelligence and related technologies such as machine learning any different?

Though associated with science fiction, there are plenty of real-world examples of artificial intelligence being deployed in construction. Machines can execute tasks previously carried out by humans, which will produce modest efficiency and productivity gains. But what opportunities are there for artificial intelligence to go beyond what humans can do on their own, and transform the way we build?

There are current real-world examples across the construction life cycle. During the design phase, parametric BIM tools such as the Grasshopper-Tekla live link allow structural engineers to quickly create complex shapes and solve difficult architectural problems.

During the delivery phase, nPlan is using machine learning to look at millions of data points from historic projects to predict outcomes and anticipate risk. And during the operational phase, IBM uses machine learning in its predictive maintenance software modelling so that repairs can be identified early and any downtime minimised.

Artificial intelligence can transform construction. The best way to realise its potential is though collaborative working among clients, industry and users.

Tom Oulton is principal consultant at Turner & Townsend and chair of the Constructing Excellence digital group.

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“We need to change the way the construction industry thinks about technology”

SCOTT BLAKE + UNSPLASH

Karl Glennon, Roomex

WHY PROCUREMENT IS KEY TO CONSTRUCTION’S TECHNOLOGY REVOLUTION CONSTRUCTION LAGS OTHER INDUSTRIES ON INNOVATION. TECHNOLOGY HOLDS THE KEY BUT FIRST PROCUREMENT PRACTICES NEED TO CHANGE The construction industry has always had a reputation for being slow to adopt technological advancements.

The issue is that it has failed to fully utilise technology to help run its businesses. The shift needs to come from within, with the focus on procurement managers rethinking the way a construction company can operate, using technology as its main vehicle.

Of course, there are many major issues affecting the construction industry and procurement innovation through technology may not provide a single solution. But by utilising it properly, construction managers can both weather potential storms and find opportunities to grow their business.

Construction has always operated with the goal of short-term gains: How can we

get this done faster? How can I do this job with fewer workers? The path of least resistance has always been chosen, not because the industry wanted to choose it, but because it was often all that could be done under the circumstances. With extremely tight margins and deadlines, it’s hard to forecast, innovate, or disrupt current practices when there’s no room or time for error.

The first wave of this disruption was in design – we see this every day in our city skylines. The next is procurement, and this will be led by technology. We have seen positive outcomes from procurement innovation in other industries. For example, according to Mace’s Moving to Industry 4.0 report, the service sector has improved its output by over 30% and manufacturing has increased its output by more than 50%. Construction?

It has remained flat. If other industries can change to be more efficient and innovative, why can’t construction?

Setting the baseline The sort of processes and efficiencies that make a difference include everything from improving production methods to managing forgotten or unmanaged spend. To be more innovative, you must set the baseline and provide the technological tools to teams necessary for change. Karl Glennon, chief technology officer (CTO) and co-founder of workforce travel platform Roomex, knows all too well about the importance and perceived difficulty of incorporating technology into practices.

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Roomex provides a free workforce travel booking platform that lends itself to the construction industry

The obvious issues facing the construction industry today come in the form of climate change and future hiring capabilities. And while carbon emissions need to be cut back to pre-industrial levels in order to reverse catastrophic climate change and Brexit is highlighting future hiring issues across the country, rethinking procurement teams and integrating them with helpful technologies might be the most beneficial change any construction business could make.

This starts with looking for outside help. There needs to be a call on the thriving ecosystem of tech startups to come forward with fresh new ideas.

The sector needs to invest in technology to provide opportunities to test new products, identify the systems that are already out there and try to help drive it forward to make a real change.

There is no hiding the fact that construction in the UK has taken a hit – October is looking like the fifth straight month where output is on the slide, according to the Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index, run by IHS Markit/CIPS UK – and there is a chance that this

“Most companies will almost instantly see the benefit of these technologies in the saving of time and money” Karl Glennon, Roomex

STEVEN ERIXON + UNSPLASH

“We need to change the way the construction industry thinks about technology. At the moment some of the products that are perfect for the industry are seen as a hindrance rather than a help, which is understandable if you’ve developed a career not using these technologies. But in reality, there is a need to streamline and improve processes across the board,” he says.

Glennon’s company Roomex provides a free workforce travel platform. It offers a single portal where businesses can compare, book and manage hotel bookings, which lends itself to the construction industry, where employees travel regularly throughout the year to fulfil contract work. And although recognition of the importance of technology in the industry is improving, there does seem to still be a long way to go.

“It’s always interesting hearing some of the reasons why people don’t want to integrate a new piece of tech into their company. The perceived time and effort is often a cause for hesitation but in actual fact most companies will almost instantly see the benefit of these technologies in the saving of time and money,” says Glennon.

stagnation will continue, with a weakening economy on the horizon.

The benefit of procurement rolling with the punches and working to improve company visibility in all aspects of the business has never been more important. Controlling spending and streamlining processes might not be the answer to a slowing economy, but certainly can help an industry that is facing many challenges.

So where to start for a procurement team looking to make positive changes in the way they do business? Start from square one – re-evaluating value. Rather than only finding value in profits or time to completion, there is value to be found in streamlining processes to become more efficient long term.

Understand the entire process and how it impacts or could be impacted by the main forces striking the industry: climate change, hiring and retention, and operations. What small changes in procurement led by technology can be implemented to not only better your business, but the business of those you work with, and the built environment? ●

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When you carry out more than a million inspections every year

You know build quality when you see it

Leading the way since 1936 www.nhbc.co.uk NHBC is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. NHBC is registered in England & Wales under company number 00320784. NHBC’s registered address is NHBC House, Davy Avenue, Knowlhill, Milton Keynes, Bucks MK5 8FP.

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To see past CPD articles visit www.constructionmanagermagazine. com/cpd-articles

CPD

Arup Australia goes digital for design review Bluebeam Revu and Studio cut time spent by up to 60%

WORKING WITH NATIONAL BIM STANDARDS DIGITAL DESIGN AND BIM ARE CHANGING THE UK CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY FUNDAMENTALLY, AND WHILE THERE ARE NO NATIONAL STANDARDS IN PLACE, THERE IS STRONG INTEREST IN CREATING THEM. IN THIS CPD IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BLUEBEAM, ROB DUNN EXPLAINS WHY

Digital design platforms and BIM are fundamentally changing the design and construction industries. PDF design platforms are the staple digital toolboxes of designers, engineers and contractors, and BIM technology has allowed technology to be integrated into project delivery and has advanced to a point where stakeholders can make informed decisions in the design

process that can substantially reduce costs over a building’s lifetime.

Despite the established use of these technologies across the design and construction industries, there are no national BIM or design standards in the UK except for national projects.

Bluebeam Revu is the dominant PDF design platform for the industry, and so Bluebeam has a strong interest in common standards for design and also for BIM, and has been helping to drive standardised approaches to design and construction technology in the US, Sweden and the UK in recent years (see box p46).

The transition to PDF design platforms and BIM affects every design and construction professional and business. In the UK, however, the manner and method of incorporating these changes has remained specific to individual contractors. Currently, only government contracts have national standards for BIM, and those standards simply require BIM Level 2, for which certification from BSI Group is available. The requirements

Arup Group has a diverse team of CAD technicians and modellers who serve projects all around Australia and New Zealand, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia from 12 offices. In seeking to ensure quality deliverables to its clients, Arup found issues in the quality and accuracy of as-built drawings and the consistency of manual document markups for design review.

Being frustrated by the lack of quality and consistency in both the markups and drawings themselves was enough to push Arup to implement Bluebeam Revu, the project efficiency and collaboration solution trusted by more than 1.6 million architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) professionals worldwide, delivering enhanced PDFbased takeoff and workflow automation tools that span the project lifecycle.

“Revu has significantly reduced the amount of time I spend checking and manually reviewing each page,” says senior technician Ben Taylor.

“Revu paid for itself in a couple of months; it also made my life incredibly easy in terms of how I produce and edit the PDFs that I need to work with.”

The industry-specific tools within Bluebeam Revu and Studio have allowed Arup to cut design review times by as much as 60%.

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for BIM Level 2 certification are the proven ability to provide a digital environment in which information and 3D models are shared through a common file format. BSI offers training and development resources to BIM companies and contractors to reach Level 2 to make government contract bids as competitive as possible.

The processes to d e f in e an d communicate standards on every project are time consuming and expensive, particularly when every large contractor tends to have reached similar standards independently. Companies tend to keep their standards and methods for steps such as design review, QA/QC or data requirements as privileged company assets, but the reality is that everyone is taking similar steps to handle challenges that are universal to the industry.

constructionmanagermagazine.com

Standards you can create There are steps and goals that every contractor should consider in the discussion of standards for PDF files, whether they do so independently or in collaboration with industry partners. Here are 10 steps towards standardising your data, design and build processes around PDFs 5. Consistent placement of design and labels on the PDF. Designs should be placed at the same point with the same margins, and labels at the same point on every design.

“When standards are shared across nations, BIM deliverables become even more efficient and cost effective”

The push for UK standards There is a growing interest in the UK design and construction fields for national standards that every contractor and subcontractor can understand and abide by. The B1M, a worldwide construction video channel on YouTube, has a goal of inspiring and educating design and construction professionals and changing the perception of construction generally.

The B1M has created a working group of six top UK contractors (Interserve, Mace Group, Multiplex, Osborne, Sir Robert McAlpine and Willmott Dixon) to collaborate on new UK PDF Guidelines for BIM professionals. This is an ongoing process with a goal of accreditation with buildingSMART international and ISO standards.

Standardisation is an important area of interest for Bluebeam, because we believe when standards are shared across nations and even international lines, BIM deliverables become even more efficient and cost effective as redundancies in communication

Consistent placement and labelling of designs allows easy recall of information 1. Choose a data and/or digital manager.

Ultimately, every step comes down to human initiative and instruction.

Choose someone that understands and values standardisation in the design and build processes, and empower them to track compliance both internally and externally.

6. Design data minimums and maximums. When contractors and subcontractors are in the field they need their design immediately. That means if they’re retrieving data from the cloud, they need the smallest amount of data possible. Design standards for data-hog design tools such as hatch fill can reduce document size.

7. Machine-readable PDFs. Make your PDFs machine readable, always, to ensure that you can share and collaborate over working documents instead of simply images. This calls back to using TrueType fonts.

3. Consistent line style. Use the same type of line for every feature of design.

Windows are always dashed lines, walls are always 12-point solid lines, and so forth.

8. Create and use custom markups.

There are many custom markups available in Revu, but a standardised toolset for markups has numerous advantages. First, team members always know a cloud means something different from a callout or a check.

Second, standard markups allow for clean data captured in a PDF to be outputted and leveraged by project team members down or up stream.

4. Consistent naming and labelling.

Every PDF design should be named or labelled according to a consistent standard, and have a name or label in the same place of the PDF itself that indicates exactly what design it is, with project numbers or IDs so anyone looking for that PDF can find it quickly. Sheet naming detail and labelling keeps documents organised so team members can quickly find the information they need instead of hunting for one drawing in a file of hundreds.

10. Standards in the contracts. To ensure compliance with the standards you’ve created, make following the standards for subcontractors and partners part of their contractual obligations.

2. Use a TrueType font. By using a TrueType font, you’ll be able to read any material on any platform or OS.

9. Standardised workflow. Make and keep smart document traffic standards.

Anytime a document is marked up, changed or updated, there should be a record. This is particularly important for QA/QC, where documents can face hundreds of hours of review and a single error of accounting can require a costly correction in the future.

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In association with

and training are eliminated. Standards optimise processes and create new efficiencies by increasing cooperation and accelerating workflow. When everyone uses the same standards for any measurements or tools, including PDF files, everyone is already fluent in the same language. This is particularly important for subcontractors

operating in the field, but there are other benefits to standardising PDF usage for contractors and other design and construction professionals (see box below). ● For more information on the power of standards, visit www.bluebeam.com/uk/ landing/granskning.

Individual and industrywide benefits “Standards are a rising tide that raises all ships,” says Rennie Chadwick, consultant and former COO of Osborne.

While individual contractors can benefit from standards, it is when an entire nation or industry shares standards that the benefits become systemic and increase for everyone.

However, there are benefits for individual UK contractors to pursue standards now. Here’s seven benefits to consider and goals to aim for.

1. Fewer redundancies in mundane tasks.

How many hours are taken by having to search documents for information?

How many jobs are done twice by team members who were not on the same page? Streamlined and standardised data management means reducing mundane tasks in sorting through information such as notes and purchase orders.

2. The pertinent data is available and findable. You need the right info at the right time, but if everything is simply in the cloud and isn’t well tagged and searchable, then valuable time can be wasted just looking for that one file. Use standards to make data management your asset, not your problem.

3. Uniform quality. Standards raise the quality of work, partially by streamlining team members’ and managers’ efforts, but also by pushing a uniformity of digital material. Team members tend to raise quality to meet standards, and understanding the rules and limits of design or BIM frees team members to make the important decisions instead of worrying over presentation or style.

A simple standard often creates a ripple effect of adoption and repeated steps.

4. Better planning. Standards make planning simpler. When you know that every document is created the same way, when every design has project numbers and ISO codes in the same place, when you can trust that your documents are properly managed, there’s more time to spend working on contracts or better purchasing deals. And, once subcontractors are in the field, you can trust that complex issues have been simulated ahead of time and predicted in the plan.

Bluebeam Revu is the dominant PDF design platform for the industry

“Standards optimise processes and create new efficiencies by increasing cooperation and accelerating workflow”

5. Better design management. Designs change. Plans have to be altered, sometimes quickly. A strong and cohesive set of standards make the lastminute changes much more manageable.

Any changes that are made are in the context of the complete build, so there won’t be any unforeseen consequences.

6. Digital skills. The future of building design, review and communication is increasingly digital. If you’re not already investing in those skills now, it’s time to start. By creating and refining standards, you’re keeping your digital toolbox and skills up-to-date and competitive. It’s no accident that government contracts require BIM Level 2. Large private contracts are won on virtual models that demonstrate the design, predict the build and the performance of the building.

7. Mine your metadata. If you are consistently using labels and titles according to well-crafted standards, you can export all kinds of data into different file formats such as CSV or XML and gain insights into your processes. For example, if you aggregate changes to documents over QC using custom markups, you can audit your work for compliance to QC standards in moments, not hours or days.

To test yourself on the questions on the right and to see past CPD articles visit www. constructionmanager magazine.com/ cpd-articles

CPD questions 1. Which industry professionals does standardisation affect? a) Architects b) Construction c) Contractors d) Engineers e) Everyone in the AEC industry

2. True or false: The UK industry already has national standards and is currently practising with these? a) True b) False 3. Why should standard PDF files use a TrueType font? a) You’ll be able to read any material on any platform or OS b) Documents using TrueType fonts look more presentable c) Clients generally prefer it

4. The biggest advantages to standardisation for the industry include: a) To optimise processes and efficiencies

b) To minimise risks throughout the construction process c) To facilitate communication with project stakeholders d) Data is available and findable e) Cost-savings on all aspects of a project from design to build f) All of the above

5. What are the main practices you can employ to maintain good standardisation for your business? Tick three that apply. a) Employing a digital manager to implement good digital processes b) Consistent naming and labelling of all digital documents c) Printing paper copies of plans and taking them to jobsites d) Emailing changes to stakeholders about design, build e) Creating standard processes in contracts with stakeholders

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LEGAL

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Legal There has been a surged in claddingrelated claims since the tragic Grenfell Tower fire of June 2017, with many of these ending up in court.

One recent case, Lessees and Management Company of Herons Court v NHBC Building Control Services, considered the liability of those exercising building control functions under the Defective Premises Act 1972 (DPA), specifically in the context of an approved inspector (AI).

Section one of the DPA imposes a duty on those “taking on work for or in connection with the provision of a dwelling” to ensure that the work carried out is done in a workmanlike, or professional manner, so that the dwelling is fit for habitation when completed.

Certified as compliant The central issue in Herons Court, a residential development in Radlett, Hertfordshire, was whether the respondent AI had incorrectly certified a block of flats as compliant with the Building Regulations, in breach of the DPA. This was in circumstances where the lessees had raised various compliance issues, including fire safety breaches.

The court of appeal held that section one of the DPA does not apply to AIs, and that it applies only to those who positively contribute towards the creation of a dwelling, that is contractors, architects and engineers.

In contrast, building control ensures that the dwelling is legal and properly certified, but does not positively contribute to the provision of a dwelling.

The court further clarified that, firstly, an AI has no statutory power to order changes to be made to plans for works, and secondly, an AI’s role is limited to the negative regulatory role of checking the compliance of an existing building against set criteria.

Jonathan Spencer Simmons & Simmons

Eve Emery Simmons & Simmons

Approved inspectors’ duty of care: Herons Court v NHBC A RECENT COURT OF APPEAL DECISION CLARIFIED WHETHER APPROVED INSPECTORS OWE A DUTY OF CARE UNDER THE DEFECTIVE PREMISES ACT.

BY JONATHAN SPENCER AND EVE EMERY

“The court of appeal held that section one of the Defective Premises Act does not apply to approved inspectors, and that it only applies to those who positively contribute to the creation of a dwelling”

It was therefore concluded that an AI’s function is far removed from the “provision of a dwelling”, as detailed in section one of the DPA. The court confirmed that the landmark case of Murphy v Brentwood is a highly persuasive authority in support of the position that a local authority does not owe a duty under section one of the DPA 1972 in the exercise of its building control functions.

Notwithstanding the differences between AIs and their local authority counterparts, it was concluded that in the context of liability under section one of the DPA, and the application of Murphy v Brentwood, no distinction can be drawn between the position of a local authority or an AI performing building control functions.

AIs and insurers will welcome this decision as authority on the scope of duty owed under the DPA. It has reaffirmed the position in Murphy v Brentwood and, therefore, leaves significant hurdles for claims against AIs under the DPA. That said, there is a key difference between AIs and local authority building control: AIs are engaged under a professional appointment.

Therefore, while Herons Court limits the scope for claims under the DPA, a party with a direct contractual relationship with an AI still has the ability to bring an action for losses it may have suffered.

It has been reported that, since Grenfell, AIs have struggled to find insurance cover and, as a result, a number have been forced to stop work.

It remains to be seen whether or not this decision will change insurers’ appetite, or willingness, to provide cover for them. ● Jonathan Spencer is a partner and Eve Emery is an associate at Simmons & Simmons.

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COMMUNITY

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Community

Training

CIOB launches two new webinars on R&D tax relief and digital skills LIVE PANEL EVENTS WILL HELP MEMBERS AND THEIR COMPANIES TO INNOVATE The CIOB is running two new webinars designed to boost members’ business skills in the next two months.

The first event, which will take place on 6 November, will explore research and development (R&D) tax credits, while the second webinar, on 3 December, will cover the subject of digitally upskilling the team.

Charity

CRASH launches Christmas appeal CONSTRUCTION SKILLS AID HOMELESS AND HOSPICES

The R&D Tax Credits webinar, which is hosted with RIFT R&D, will help professionals to understand how their companies can benefit financially through HMRC’s R&D tax relief scheme.

This can help to reduce the cost of researching new methods of working, from the design stages of a project through to work on site.

A charity that helps homeless and hospices premises has launched a fundraising campaign.

CRASH – which donates construction skills to help organisations with their building projects – has launched its Christmas Appeal 2019.

Last year the charity helped 50 other charities with their vital

“The webinar will help professionals understand how their company can benefit financially”

Chaired by CIOB CEO Caroline Gumble, panellists will include: Julie Barry, new business manager at RIFT R&D; Malcolm Clarke, managing director at Baxall Construction; Peter Searle, construction sector business advisor; and Martin Buckthorpe, managing director at Westridge Construction.

The event will give an overview of the process and how to get started, plus a live Q&A session. The panel will explain what kind of work qualifies for R&D tax relief, with examples of companies that have successfully claimed.

The second webinar – Digital Construction: How to Upskill your Team – will be hosted with Autodesk. The third in the Digital Construction series, it aims to support companies to help the workforce along their digital journey.

A panel discussion, with case studies, will illustrate the skills needed to achieve a balanced training plan to understand digital tools, data and technical knowledge – along with developing softer skills, flexible mindset and problem-solving for the core team and wider organisation. The panellists are yet to be confirmed.

The webinar will explore the training and funding available, with recommendations from companies which have started upskilling their workforce. ● To find our more about both events go to events.ciob.org/RIFT2019 and events.ciob.org/upskilldigital.

building projects thanks to the support and generosity of the construction industry.

From its beginnings in the 1990s, CRASH now has a team of five full-time staff and the support of 29 patron companies whose annual donations underpin the charity and every project it undertakes.

With approximately 20 “active” projects at any one time, CRASH continues to channel the expertise, products and generosity of the industry to create places that care for people.

The Christmas Appeal is the charity’s largest fundraising event.

To see the work CRASH does and to donate, visit: www.crash.org.uk.

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Story for Community? Email Nicky Roger nicky@atompublishing.co.uk

Award

CIOB

Get involved with your local hub

Business school wins building of the year ALLIANCE MANCHESTER BUSINESS SCHOOL TAKES 2019 GREATER MANCHESTER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AWARD Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce has announced the winner of its Building of the Year Award 2019, which is sponsored by the CIOB. Alliance Manchester Business School – part of the University of Manchester’s £1bn campus masterplan – has undergone a complete refurbishment with new glazed extensions and a cantilevering structure. Contractor Mace worked with architect BDP to deliver the project for developer Bruntwood and the university.

The winner was revealed at the chamber’s Property and Construction Annual Dinner and Awards, sponsored

by AEW Architects, on 3 October at Imperial War Museum North. CIOB vicepresident Mike Foy presented the award.

Three hundred businesses attended the event, which saw the business school

beat off stiff competition from four other finalists: Windmill Green, Tameside One, The Pavilion and The Roof Gardens.

The winner was chosen by the chamber’s property and construction committee: 20 professionals from businesses in property and construction.

BDP director Gary Wilde said: “The overall site, a whole city block, gave us the opportunity to reconnect the development to the wider context of Oxford Road and the surrounding area, and the reuse of existing structures from the 1970s exemplifies best practice in sustainability.

“The transformation of the building not only rejuvenates the Oxford Road Corridor but provides the university with facilities to match its international reputation.”●

A COMMITTEE ROLE CAN BOOST YOUR CAREER

CBC WINS INSURER AWARD Chartered Building Company Dunham Building won the Regional and National Contractor of the Year award in September at loss adjuster Crawford’s annual conference.

The firm, which specialises as a contractor to the insurance industry, said it is delighted to get recognition from the global insurance brand.

Glazed extensions transform Alliance Manchester Business School

Are you a member or fellow with a strong sense of the issues the industry faces and want to help members in your area.

Becoming a representative of a local CIOB hub is a rewarding experience and can help build leadership skills, raise profile as well as help the professional community. Members across the globe volunteer their time to help organise events, attract new members and share knowledge.

Paul Brown (pictured) has carried out various roles throughout the 10 years he has been involved with the CIOB including chair of the first Novus group in Scotland and chair of the hub committee in Glasgow.

He says being on the committee has helped him professionally.

“Being part of the hub committee has allowed me to network with likeminded professionals around the globe.

It can provide a platform for exciting career opportunities.”

He explains: “Existing hub committee members across the globe come from a range of specialisms in the built environment and wider field. This allows easy access for existing hub committee members to make contact with someone for advice, support or to discuss employment opportunities.

“It has exposed me to a new network of people. It has helped with my career progression and enhanced my communication and presentation skills, as well as social skills.”

To find out more about how you can get involved in your local hub committee, and to read others’ experiences and FAQs on what’s involved in the role, go to www.ciob. org/represent-your-profession-locally.

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Left and below right: Roofing works at Wentworth Woodhouse

Site visits

From the Old Gaol Block to the new west stand MIDLANDS MEMBERS ENJOY TOP QUALITY SITE VISITS

During September members from the Midland hubs were invited to look around a variety of interesting construction sites.

Northampton Borough Council has been working with GSS Architecture and Wildgoose Construction to undertake the transformation of

Northampton Museum and Art Gallery. Members were taken on a tour of the remodelled modern extension, connecting the existing museum and Old Gaol Block.

The extension will soon house a cafe and link space, along with a new shoe gallery, showcasing the museum’s

“The Woodhead Group invited members on a rooftop tour of the Wentworth Woodhouse stately home restoration and conservation project”

Members were taken on a tour of Northampton Museum’s remodelled modern extension

Vacancy

Vice-chair role for education and standards board CIOB SEEKS ACADEMIC PROFESSIONAL

The CIOB is seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified members/fellows for the role of vice-chair of the Education, Qualifications, Standards and Practice Board.

To apply for the position you will need to be an academic professional and a current member or fellow of the CIOB. You should have a strong

world-renowned collection. The Old Gaol Block development will include a new temporary exhibition gallery and events space.

The Woodhead Group invited members on a rooftop tour of the Wentworth Woodhouse stately home restoration and conservation project in South Yorkshire. A few members were able to observe at close quarters the extensive roofing work taking place.

Birmingham members were treated to a fascinating visit, hosted by Mace, to see the Alexander Stadium Redevelopment in preparation for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Th e p ro j e c t w i l l re q u i re t h e demolition of three of the current four stands, construction of a new home straight stand and further seating at both the north and south ends of the stadium’s current orientation.

The new west (main) stand will generate a focal point for the whole site and create a wider community and fitness legacy for its present and hopefully future users. Further visits are planned to watch the work progress. ●

interest in education and vocational training and the ideal candidate will have a solid knowledge of CIOB standards such as the education framework, accreditation and the professional review.

The board meets four times a year at the CIOB’s London office and is responsible for the oversight of CIOB qualifications and for setting

and maintaining the standards and quality assurance procedures for all levels of membership.

This is a volunteer position but all travel expenses will be reimbursed.

To apply for the role, please email an up-to-date copy of your CV to Lyndsey Montgomery at lmontgomery@ciob.org.uk.

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Education

Conference

CIOB CEO speaks to Yorkshire mental health event

Industry sponsors scholarship at The Manchester College CONTRACTORS TO FUND TWO-YEAR PROGRAMME

GUMBLE TALKS TO HUBS Leading construction firms including Chartered Building Companies Bardsley Construction and Conlon Construction are supporting a new Architectural and Construction Engineering (ACE) Scholarship in Construction and The Built Environment for 16-18 year olds at The Manchester College.

The two CBCs were joined by Kier Regional Building North West, Lovells and Vinci Construction UK as the first to sign up to the Level 3 Architectural and Construction Engineering Scholarship. They will sponsor students aged 16 to 18 throughout the two-year programme. The first intake started in September 2019.

The programme is designed to provide the necessary skills and real-life experience for a career in the architectural and construction engineering sector. It will include the co-delivery of industry-designed bespoke modules, masterclass sessions from industry experts, and an extended 45-day industry placement programme to convert theory into practice.

Theory is complemented by a full range of related field trips, covering areas of the sector such as transportation, infrastructure, civil engineering, sustainable energy and urban regeneration.

Chris Wright, assistant principal for automotive construction engineering and logistics at the college, said: “A range of co-designed bespoke modules, such as Digital and BIM Modelling, Modern Methods of Construction,

Lara Da Rocha-Faria: “We are very excited”

Pre Construction, Social Value and Sustainability, enhance the Level 3 BTEC Extended National Diploma and really bring the scholarship to life.”

Successful applicants will receive a £300 bursary each year and a free tablet console to support and develop independent learning. Students will also benefit from an international student exchange in the second year.

Lara Da Rocha-Faria, corporate social responsibility manager at Kier Regional Building North West, speaking on behalf of Kier, Bardsley Construction, Conlon Construction, Lovells and Vinci Construction UK, said: “As a group of constructors we are very excited to help shape the future curriculum for our industry. The 45-day placements help us to influence the skills and attributes our industry needs in its future employees and upskill Greater Manchester’s residents.

“Working with the tutors at the college to co-design and co-deliver bespoke modules allows us to better align and connect the real world of work with further education.” ●

“The 45-day placements help us to influence the skills and attributes our industry needs in its future employees”

Lara Da RochaFaria, Kier Regional Building North West

The CIOB Yorkshire Hubs presented a morning conference on preventing, spotting and treating mental health issues. With specialists and personal stories, it provided tools to tackle this unseen epidemic.

CIOB CEO Caroline Gumble (pictured below) spoke on the importance of remembering the people behind the statistics and ensuring this is kept at the centre of workplace practice.

Emily Pearson of Our Mind’s Work looked into the continuum of mental health we all share and how this parallels to physical health. Successful interventions at Laing O’Rourke and Galliford Try were shared by Laura Burke of Laing O’Rourke and Joscelyne Shaw of Mates in Mind, while Euan Lawrence of law firm Blacks spoke on the legal responsibilities of companies and managers and Turner & Townsend director Peter Foy addressed the role of mental health first aiders.

The standout speaker was Martin Warley of Network Rail who shared his story of battling depression and his suicide attempt. This moving story brought home to all the importance of this topic and the positive message that there are ways to recover.

One attendee stated: “It was honestly one of the best events I’ve attended in this industry.”

The event will be available on the CIOB Academy website as a webinar.

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COMMUNITY

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Event

Key construction leaders enjoy Maidstone annual dinner GUESTS FROM KENT AND THE SOUTH-EAST RAISE £2,000

Project

CBC flying high at Bournemouth Airport refurb GREENDALE CONSTRUCTION TRANSFORMS CLUBHOUSE

The XLR Lounge project took 15 weeks

Training

Conservation course in demand CIOB ACADEMY LAYS ON EXTRA STUDY DATES

GAVIN SAWYER

Construction professionals across a wide range of disciplines, from Kent and throughout the south-east, gathered at the Tudor Park Hotel and Country Club, Maidstone, at the end of September for this year’s annual CIOB Maidstone Construction Professionals’ Dinner.

Peter Smith, chair of the Maidstone Hub, welcomed guests including the CIOB’s CEO Caroline Gumble and senior vice-president Mark Beard.

Snooker legend Steve Davis was the principal after-dinner speaker, entertaining everyone with his dry wit and self-effacing humour, while magician Chris Young enthralled guests with mind-blowing illusions.

A raffle, with prizes donated by local companies, raised £2,000 during the evening. The nominated charity was

Ellenor Hospice in Kent, which cares for all ages. Hospice representatives Linda Trew, its director of income generation, and Andrew Turnbull provided a thought-provoking insight into the work of the charity.

Thanks were given to the sponsors for the event: Bam Construction, Quigg Golden and Walker Construction. ● A Dorset-based Chartered Building Company (CBC) has successfully completed a substantial refurbishment at Bournemouth Airport.

Greendale Construction’s small works division transformed the former Bournemouth Flying Club bar and cafe into an XLR Executive Jet Terminal for Regional City Airports, a subsidiary of The Rigby Group.

Previously vacant for three years, the ex-flying clubhouse dates back from the second world war and is situated within the airport boundary.

During the 15-week project, Greendale carried out a complete internal refurbishment, minor mechanical and electrical works and external repairs/works.

CIOB Maidstone Hub chair Peter Smith welcomed guests including speaker Steve Davis at the event

External works included brickwork repairs, new lintels and rendering, as well as new front doors, portal and cladding.

Internal works included a full strip-out and a full new electrical and mechanical installation.

The team also installed new walls, ceiling, doors, shower room and bathrooms, as well as a kitchen, refreshment station and bespoke reception desk.

A full groundworks package was delivered to provide a more visually pleasing landscaped area along with new car park and external lighting.

The XLR Lounge will now process all private jet customers and provide pilots and aircrew with refreshment and conference room facilities.

The CIOB Academy Understanding Building Conservation course has added extra dates in November due to high demand.

The two-day course introduces the philosophy behind conservation before going into detail regarding the technical analysis of buildings, ensembles and sites, diagnosing issues, identifying the best building conservation solutions, working with the various stakeholders, and ultimately providing advice regarding best practice.

At the end of the two days, participants will be confident in the ability to apply practical skills towards building conservation and will feel much better informed in this field of practice.

They will also receive a certificate of attainment from the CIOB if they pass the end-of-course test.

Those who pass the course will be eligible for further recognition under the new CIOB Building Conservation Certification Scheme.

The course takes place in Belfast from 5-6 November and in London from 4-5 December. For full details and to book see ciobacademy.org/ product/understanding-buildingconservation.

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constructionmanagermagazine.com Michael Brearey

Meet a member MICHAEL BREAREY, CONSTRUCTION DIRECTOR, CARDINAL Events

Diary dates HIGHLIGHTS OF THE CIOB CALENDAR FOR THE COMING MONTH. FOR MORE EVENTS VISIT CIOB.ORG Health and Wellbeing 12 November, 6-8 pm, Gateshead 2Macs will deliver this highly interactive drama-based CPD event, which is aimed at all levels of the workforce who may have to manage stress and mental wellbeing in themselves or others.

By the end of the programme participants will: l Recognise the signs and impact of stress; l Understand the difference between acute and chronic stress; l Explore the stress response chain and how to break it; l Identify support mechanisms to cope with chronic stress; l Through the use of drama techniques develop skills to deal effectively with difficult wellbeing conversations; and l Using HSE key indicators of workplace stress as a framework, produce a unique organisational stress profile and formulate a plan of action for reducing stress in themselves/others and their environment.

Contact: dmoore@ciob.org.uk Bid Management 20 November, 6-8pm Ipswich, Suffolk Consultant Andy Davies will deliver a presentation on bid management, covering all parts of the process: l Client opportunity identification through pre-qualification; l Bid leadership; and l The activities necessary to ensure a successful bid through to the post bid stage and pre-construction.

The event is free for CIOB members and students, and costs £5 for non-members.

Contact: hhosking@ciob.org.uk Tom Flatau Teamworking International – Neuroscience of Leadership 21 November, 5.30 pm-8.45pm, Shedfield, Fareham, Hampshire The CIOB and Constructing Excellence are hosting a joint event with speaker Tom Flatau from Teamworking International, who will offer an insight into the neuroscience of

leadership at this CPD workshop at the New Place Hotel, Shedfield, Hampshire.

The latest neuroscience and positive psychology research shows that success and outstanding performance are within everyone’s grasp because talent and leadership ability can actually grow.

This seminar will challenge you to unlock barriers and bring success, happiness and fulfilment throughout your workplace.

Contact: cbenjamin@ciob.org.uk Isle of Man Autumn Knowledge Day 2019 November 22, 9am-3.30pm Isle of Man A joint collaboration with RICS, this event is an informative selection of CPD presentations open to all professionals and students.

As well as catching up on CPD, it provides a great networking opportunity.

Presentations include Building a Diverse and Inclusive Profession from Barry Cullen, diversity and inclusion director, RICS; Management Systems to Support your Business from David Inman of DIEM; and NEC and JCT Compared and Contrasted from Geraldine Fleming of Driver Trett and Nick Sunderland of Russells Construction.

Contact: hyorke@ciob.org.uk Forging a Professional Career – The Psychology of Success 26 November 6.30-9pm Maidstone Are there personal characteristics that predict success? In this talk, based on his experience as an occupational psychologist, Dr James Barr, chair of the British Psychological Society London and Home Counties Branch, covers the topic of career management from personal and organisational perspectives and gives some advice for aspiring professionals.

Contact: blawrence@ciob.org.uk Achieving the Three Stages of Small Business Success CPD 3 December, 6.30-8.30pm Horley, Surrey Turning over around £185bn a year, small construction firms play a huge role in society and their success is essential to the health of our economy.

This CPD comprises an overview from business expert Peter Searle of the three stages small businesses must face in order to be successful. A former construction director with Kier, Searle has been a consultant since 2015. He is also vice-chair of the CIOB Professional Review Members Panel and a judge for the Construction Manager of the Year Awards.

Contact: bmilton@ciob.org.uk

Tell us a little about your career. Why did you choose this industry and what other path might you have taken?

My career path was not a typical one and involved retraining. After several years training as a paint sprayer and not being able to find employment, I started on sites at the age of 21 and managed to gain experience completing different trades. I moved on to running sites of various sizes and complexities which led to a new opportunity in the office controlling procurement and logistics.

I progressed into project management and started a Quantity Surveying degree.

On completing my degree, and subsequent professional review, I was able to become a Chartered Member of the CIOB – all while in full-time employment with a young family. I also became a member of the Chartered Management Institute (CMI).

At work I grew to be contracts manager, then divisional contracts manager and on to operations manager.

I continued my professional development by transferring my CIOB membership to the Fellow grade while doing the same with the CMI. I became a Chartered Manager of the CMI and then a Chartered Building Engineer with the Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE).

I undertook an NVQ level 5 (now equivalent to a level 7) in Construction Management

and then a Business degree part time in the evenings. I was made operations director, from which I was able to advance to managing director.

I then moved to a new role as construction director at a larger company, Cardinal, where I have been able to assist in the development of the company at a strategic level to enter new sectors.

I also wanted to give something back so became involved with the CIOB committee and was voted in vice-chair for the Leeds Hub. You were instrumental in creating a mentoring and training programme – helping colleagues through the MCIOB route. Why? I am always trying to help others and want people to progress. One of the ways was to mentor others through to Chartered Membership by sharing my experience so they could gain the sense of pride I felt when I became a part of the CIOB. What would you like to change about the industry?

I would like to raise awareness of the many varied roles in our great industry so that more women and the next generation see it as a viable option. I have completed talks at universities, colleges and schools as well as taking part in events such as Give Construction A Try to ensure that the upcoming generations know of the diverse roles available to them.

How do you spend your spare time?

I enjoy spending time with my family, downhill mountain biking and photography.

I enjoy walking and will be completing the Inca Trail in July 2020 to raise awareness and funding for Men’s Mental Health.

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BUILDING CAREERS Risk Management Surveyor required [Salary dependant on experience]

As a leading structural warranty provider, Premier Guarantee holds one of the largest surveyor networks in the UK. We are looking to recruit a range of experienced surveyors to join our ever growing team.

If you are someone who is looking for a challenging, rewarding and lasting surveying career in construction, then Premier Guarantee could be for you. What is more, we will provide the training and funding required to achieve Chartered status. There is an on-going formal programme of technical, legislation, management and soft skills training provided to support business needs at all levels.

As a Risk Management Surveyor you will be required to provide site inspection and technical building and construction expertise relating to the risk management of registered construction sites.

AREAS: North London, Manchester, North West (Preston, Blackburn, Leyland)

IMPRESSIVE BENEFITS PACKAGE Roles are all home based so an attractive car allowance is provided, plus regional allowance for London and the South East if applicable, along with an impressive range of company benefits available following successful probationary sign off: • Income Protection and LifeWorks employee assistance • Bupa Healthcare • Death in service (3 x annual salary) • Annual performance related pay review and bonus • Enhanced Maternity and Paternity pay (conditions apply) • E mployee recruitment referral bonus scheme and length of service awards

HOW DO I APPLY? To express an interest in joining the Premier Guarantee team, please email your CV to recruitment@mdinsurance.co.uk.

MDIS are an equal opportunities employer.

ABOUT US Established for over 20 years, Premier Guarantee has 400 employees and has covered over £57 billion of commercial and residential properties across the UK, Ireland and Europe. It is part of the MDIS Group with over 30% market share, and multiple offices across England and in Europe. This includes a number of major projects shaping the London cityscape and other major cities.

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MD Insurance Services Ltd is the Scheme Administrator for the Premier Guarantee range of structural warranties.

MD Insurance Services Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

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The brass-clad extension uses traditional flint on the south-east facade

Me and my project

Original thinking THE FIVE-YEAR-LONG RESTORATION AND EXTENSION OF WELLS MALTINGS IN NORFOLK RESULTED IN A FIRST-RATE COMMUNITY FACILITY, SAYS ROBERT DALE

EXTERIOR PHOTOS: SARAH TOON PHOTOGRAPHY; PORTRAIT: LINDSAY WAKELIN

The new extension was stepped back from the original building to emphasise the difference between new and old

One of the joys of project management is the sheer diversity of the work, and community projects can be particularly satisfying. A recent highlight for me has been the successful regeneration and extension of the Grade II-listed Maltings in Wells-next-the-Sea. A striking industrial building of redbrick and traditional flint, Wells Maltings sits at the heart of the popular “The project north Norfolk tourist destination. aimed to retain, Constructed in the 19th century to integrate or malt the local barley crop, the building had subsequently seen use as a builders’ restore as much store before it was acquired by North as possible of the original Norfolk District Council and leased as an material in arts and community space to different the existing groups – a much-loved historic asset, building” but one that was becoming increasingly dilapidated and timeworn.

In 2010 the newly formed Wells Maltings Trust set about developing a plan which would preserve the historic fabric of the building and ensure that it remained relevant to the local community.

Fo l l o w i n g e x t e n s i v e p u b l i c consultation, the brief was agreed – to

protect, conserve and integrate the existing Maltings building with a modern extension to create a bigger and better facility, housing a firstclass community arts centre with an improved cinema and auditorium, gallery, office spaces and cafe.

In 2013, we got involved. Initially working on a pro-bono basis, we supported the trust with its Stage I Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) application and preliminary planning applications for this ambitious project.

Af ter HLF funding of £1.84m was successfully secured, we were appointed as quantity surveyor and, following receipt of planning permission, we were also appointed as project manager.

Inevitably we faced challenges. The protracted processes of fundraising and grant applications meant that the project was lengthy – three and a half years in the fundraising and planning stages, followed by an 18-month build.

Partly through the procurement process but also other circumstances, the project saw three successive

architectural practices employed to develop and realise the final scheme.

On top of that, it had to contend with the constraints of a busy town centre location, with narrow streets and very restricted access, and incorporate flexibility for multiple uses requiring specialist fit-outs, while respecting the historic features of the building.

The project aimed to retain, integrate or restore as much as possible of the original material in the existing building. Where that wasn’t possible, materials sympathetic to the originals were sourced, under the close eye of the council’s conservation officer.

Works included the replacement of the characteristic wind cowls, a distinctive and very visible feature which had long been absent from the Maltings in Wells.

Difference between new and old In contrast to the conservation and restoration of the original building, the extension was entirely modern in design, enveloped in brass cladding with a characteristic flint wall on the south-east facade. The building materials were chosen for their robustness and suitability in a coastal environment and to complement the local surroundings.

The extension was stepped back from the original building emphasising the difference between new and old, with a spectacular glass atrium creating a light-filled buffer between the two.

The new Wells Maltings was completed in 2018. This exciting and rewarding five-year-long project to provide a first-rate, year-round cultural and community facility for the local population and the town’s many visitors has secured the longterm prospects of Wells Maltings. It’s a source of great local pride – and is a project which I’m very proud of. ● Robert Dale is a senior partner at Daniel Connal Partnership.

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Partnership Double deal: two new online learning opportunities UPCOMING WEBINARS FROM THE CIOB WILL DELIVER ON R&D AND DIGITAL SKILLS

The CIOB is hosting two webinars in the coming weeks. The first is in collaboration with RIFT R&D and will explore R&D tax credits and how HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) rewards innovation in construction.

Facilitated by CIOB CEO Caroline Gumble, the panellists include: Julie Barry, new business manager at RIFT R&D; Malcolm Clarke, managing director at Baxall Construction; Peter Searle, construction sector business advisor; and Martin Buckthorpe, managing director at Westridge Construction.

Problem-solving is part of everyday work in construction. So often we find ourselves spending time and money working out how we can do something

differently by adapting products, processes and services, or creating new ones to meet a specific need or solve a specific problem.

For SMEs in particular, the cost of this kind of innovation can be a financial strain. HMRC’s R&D tax relief scheme is there to ease the cost of researching new methods of working and applies from the design and prototyping stages right through to projects being carried out on site.

Th e C I O B a n d R I F T R & D a re pleased to host this webinar, to help construction professionals understand how their company can benefit financially through the R&D tax relief scheme. These rewards are not just for scientific research carried

“HMRC’s R&D tax relief scheme is there to ease the cost of researching new ways of working”

out in a laboratory – the scope is much wider than that and very relevant to our industry.

Through this discussion we will: l Explain what kind of work qualifies for R&D tax relief; l Show real examples highlighting where companies have successfully claimed through this scheme; l Give an overview of the process involved and how you can get started; and l Answer your questions with a live Q&A. Digital skills discussion Digital Construction: How to Upskill your Team is the third webinar in the Digital Construction series from CIOB and Autodesk.

This webinar aims to support companies in upskilling their workforce to help them along their digital journey.

Through a panel discussion, and using real-life case studies, we will discuss what skills are needed to achieve a balanced training plan to understand digital tools, data and technical knowledge, along with developing softer skills, a flexible mindset and problemsolving with consideration to the needs of the core team, digital champions and the wider organisation.

We will explore what training and funding is available, and we will hear from companies which have started upskilling their workforce, benefiting from their learnings and recommendations for best practice.

Panellists will be confirmed nearer to the time. ● The RIFT R&D Tax Credits webinar takes place on 6 November from 12-1pm. For more details visit: events.ciob.org/RIFT2019. The date for the Autodesk webinar will be announced shortly at events.ciob.org/upskilldigital.

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TRAINING & RECRUITMENT

constructionmanagermagazine.com

Group hub

Training & Recruitment Job spotlight Mike Mapston Technical director, Project Etopia

DELIVERY DRIVER MIKE MAPSTON HAS BUILT A CAREER AS AN EXPERT IN SUSTAINABLE OFFSITE HOUSING AND HAS RECENTLY BEEN APPOINTED AS TECHNICAL DIRECTOR AT MODULAR HOME DEVELOPER PROJECT ETOPIA

Above left: Mike Mapston Above right Project Etopia’s 47-home modular housing development in Corby

What will your new role at Project Etopia involve?

My role will be to help the company get the most out of offsite design and delivery. This will involve integrating new and exciting smart technologies that lower energy consumption, increase functionality, improve year-round internal climate and ensure the building fabric requires minimal maintenance.

Offsite construction has long been cited as being a panacea for the housing crisis, capable of delivering higher quality, lower cost housing – but it is only now beginning to take large bites of market share.

It has taken people time to adapt their thinking. In the past, a rule known as “the eternal triangle” suggested neither time, cost and quality could be altered without

negatively affecting the other two. Yet offsite construction delivers on all three of these elements.

The groundswell of public demand for more affordable, sustainable and readily av a i l a b l e h o u s i n g i s p r o v i d i n g t h e momentum.

How did you become a pioneer in sustainable offsite housing?

I am now 63 and I built my first self-build timber-frame home when I was 23.

The methods were dramatically different to those used now, as it involved an open cell timber frame structure which I designed and built. It represented the cutting edge of housebuilding in the UK at that time – and it fuelled my interest and subsequently my career.

Over the years, I have worked all around the world – including Japan, America, Canada and Scandinavia – to help design building systems and new products to force change.

Sustainable offsite housing is a huge area of growth. What skills, experience and training do construction professionals need to make a move into this field?

Offsite can be varied and diverse in both its materials and the method of delivery, but the basic design and performance of the building envelopes is still based upon standard building physics.

The existing skill base of the architects, specifiers and inspectors only requires an incremental uplift of their already advanced skill sets, via continuing professional development, to embrace offsite. ●

Hundreds of the best jobs in construction.

Recruitment news and insight. www.constructionmanagerjobs.co.uk

Anna Evans on training for local people and why the industry needs to provide opportunities I’m hugely privileged to be able to lead work for Lendlease on an amazing project now taking shape in the north-west of Birmingham. We’re building 1,400 new homes for Birmingham City Council at Perry Barr on one of the largest construction sites in the region.

However, our role is about more than just construction. As the main contractor for this significant legacy project I am determined that our commitments will create social and economic benefits for the local communities in many different ways which includes creating hundreds of new opportunities for training and employment.

I am very proud that we are one of the first projects in the city to provide a construction skills hub on a major regeneration site. The hub enables local people from Birmingham and the wider region to access training – particularly those who are unemployed or seeking apprenticeships.

The training is funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority’s Construction Gateway and allows local people to access training in construction skills. The training has been designed by local training providers in response to the skills needs of employers on site and can range in duration.

The training will be delivered at the onsite construction skills training hub provided by Lendlease. Almost 20 people have already been trained on site in asbestos awareness, CSCS health and safety, manual handling and conflict management. Two of these people have already secured employment with our Infrastructure contractor Careys.

During the construction phase our site will provide 400 jobs for local people, including 100 apprenticeships. And at a time when the construction industry is undergoing a major skills shortage – as a result of an ageing workforce, Brexit and a continued lack of diversity within the industry – it is vital that we continue to invest in providing training opportunities.

This is a wonderful opportunity to encourage new people into our sector and to help our industry to embrace innovation and make the changes we need to be ready for the future.

Anna Evans is project director of the Perry Barr Residential Scheme for Lendlease Europe.

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