Specify Magazine Vol 4 2019

NORTHERN IRELAND’S No.1 CONSTRUCTION MAGAZINE SPECIFY is the official publication for the Construction Employers Federation

Vol 4 2019

£3.00

back to school for ganson Project underway at methodist college Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

The View From The Top ProNet Safety is the UK and Ireland’s only safety at height specialists offering safety netting, roof access, fall prevention and rope access solutions 68 Browndod Road, Larne Co.Antrim BT40 3DX T: 028 2826 7823 E: info@pronetsafety.com

www.pronetsafety.com

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

Comment | 03 Comment|03

O’HARE & MCGOVERN SCORE TWICE! CEF/Specify Finalists PAT BURNS BURNS PAT Editor Editor Shaun byrne PAUL BRADWELL SalesManager Manager Sales SUBSCRIPTIONS: SUBSCRIPTIONS: (UK£18.00 £18.00Outside OutsideUK UK£27.50) £27.50) (UK PUBLISHERS: PUBLISHERS: James&&Gladys GladysGreer Greer James

Specifyisispublished publishedby by Specify GreerPublications, Publications, Greer Unit34 34Crescent CrescentBusiness BusinessPark, Park, Unit Lisburn,BT28 BT282GN 2GN Lisburn, Tel:(028) (028)9278 92780108 0108 Tel: Email: Email: Sales Sales shaunbyrne@greerpublications.com paulbradwell@greerpublications.com

Editorial Editorial

patburns@greerpublications.com patburns@greerpublications.com

Subscriptions Subscriptions

info@greerpublications.com info@greerpublications.com

DESIGN DESIGN ShaunByrne, Byrne,Design DesignStics Stics Shaun Tel:(44) (44)7955745731 7955745731 Tel: PRINTEDBY BY PRINTED GPS Colour W &G Baird,Graphics Antrim Ltd Tel:(028) (0)289446 90703911 7747 Tel: www.specifymagazine.co.uk www.specifymagazine.co.uk Vol 4 2019

All rights reserved. This Magazine is Copyright © GREERS PUBLICATIONS 2019. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any All or rights reserved.

Magazine is Copyright © form, by any means,This electronic, mechanical, photcopying, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of GREERS PUBLICATIONS 2016.

No part of this publication Greer Publications. may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photcopying, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of Greer Publications.

Certified Circulation

Announced!

For the second year in a row, Newry-based construction company O’Hare & McGovern have taken the ‘Overall Award’ at the Specify CEF Construction Excellence Awards.

The Awards Gala Evening saw the firm win the award for its work on the IFA National Football Stadium at Windsor Park. The superb new 18,000 seater stadium received its official opening the day after the awards took place at the Culloden Hotel.

It was built within the confines of the existing Windsor Park which remained fully operational throughout the 98 week construction phase, facilitating over spectators at The200,000 20th anniversary 63 international andawards domestic Specify / CEF are gearing upinvolved and the fixtures.

The work in this edition we are demolition of the south and delighted to featureand east stands, refurbishment all the finalists. extension of the northThere are 58 entries for and thewest 15 stands. categories to be judged

this year and the gala

OHMG curved on steel event designed takes place

10th October at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Shaws Bridge, Belfast.

The lack of properties coming onto the housing market in Northern Ireland is holding back activity and pushing up prices, according to the latest data from the RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) and Ulster Bank Northern Ireland Residential Market Survey.

Indeed, the headline price balance in the latest survey was higher here than in other parts of the UK, and prices in NI are expected to rise again in the autumn.

However, the indicators for new buyer enquiries and newly agree sales are subdued, and the data suggests that fewer properties are now coming onto the market as well.

Be wise when you advertise

work at the interface of the North East and North West stands to form a Quadrant. This curved design helped to create a stadium to enhance the viewing experience of the speactators while at the same time mitigating the impact of noise on neighbouring houses outside the stadium.

Our congratulations go to the team at OHMG on their success.

There was also some cheer from the latest RICS report.

Building activity is still rising despite uncertainty in the economy, according to the latest RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) and Tughans Northern Ireland Construction Market Survey.

Workloads were still rising in the third quarter of the year, IThe Awards recognise the diverse according to Northern Ireland and excellent work carried out surveyors, with onlyindustry. a very Last by the construction modest slowdown in activity year, Heron Bros won the Overall relative to Q2.

Award for the hugely impressive new Foyle College in Derry pictured above.remained There area some Housebuilding key very impressive projects to be source of workload growth, with judged for this year’s overall award private housebuilding activity and the judges face a very difficult rising task. particularly strongly (a The fifteen categories in the Construction Excellence Awards recognise the industry’s With regard to the 12-month outlook, expectations regarding values remain relatively optimistic, with surveyors expecting sales activity and prices to be higher in a year’s time.

Surveyors are less optimistic about sales activity though, with the data flat, perhaps reflecting the challenges with supply.

Some respondents noted that whilst demand remains good in some areas, a shortage of properties for sale is a considerable issue.

Samuel Dickey, RICS Residential Property Spokesman in Northern

net balance of +48). Private Commercial activity was also rising relatively robustly (+23), according to the survey.

In contrast however, infrastructure workload growth remained weak (+5), and significantly below the UK average (+17).

Looking ahead, Northern Ireland surveyors are upbeat about the prospects for growth, with a net balance of +50% expecting workloads to be higher in a 12-month horizon.

Infrastructure spending is still relatively low in Northern Ireland and the latest developments in the ongoing York Road Interchange does not inspire confidence for the big contribution to society in government spending providing clean water, projects. new roads, Economist Simpson looks at new homes,John modern hospitals, the Programmeschools for Government fit-for-purpose and places Strategic Investment Boards to shop, work, worship and socialise. They also celebrate aspirations for next year and the preservation Northern beyond… seeofpages 36 andIreland’s 37. built heritage and the efforts of construction companies to protect Pat theirBurns workers, the environment Editor and jobs.

Good luck to everyone involved on the night…

Ireland, said: “Whilst, it appears that there continues to be variation in the market here across property types and in different locations, overall the data is more positive in Northern Ireland than in other parts of the UK. This is certainly the case regarding the price index.

Evidence of demand levels being above supply levels in some areas of Northern Ireland is clearly a factor in this.”

Look for the ABC stamp of trust. An ABC certificate provides accurate, independently verified circulation figures giving you confidence in your advertising investment. www.abc.org.uk Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

AUGUST 2019 Vol 4 6 DIGEST

contents...

A £10 million aquarium has been proposed for Titanic Quarter, as plans are announced for a state-of the-art visitor experience. The proposals have been announced by UK-based ReefLIVE Ltd which plans to open the attraction on the Queen’s Road opposite the Titanic Hotel, a short distance from Titanic Belfast.

7 DIGEST

Progress to create one of Northern Ireland’s newest and largest public leisure complexes took a leap forward recently as the final bolts to the roof of the new £35 million centre in Craigavon were finally moved into place. The ‘topping out’ ceremony kicks off a fresh workstream of internal and external work that will rapidly gather pace ahead of its grand opening launch next year.

8 CRANE NUMBERS SIGNAL SIGNS OF IMPROVEMENT

After a lengthy period of limited speculative development in the Belfast office market, signs of improvement are evident with the number of cranes for office developments at its highest for the past decade, according to Lambert Smith Hampton’s Ireland Office Market Report H1 2019. Healthy occupier demand for high quality office space has continued from a stellar 2018.

9 DIGEST

Gilbert-Ash marked its recent growth by unveiling a collaborative As One exhibition at an event at The MAC, Belfast. Employees, partners and industry stakeholders from across Northern Ireland joined Gilbert-Ash at the Belfast unveiling. The exhibition has been designed to represent how Gilbert-Ash has grown significantly as a result of its unique collaborative approach working with its team, partners and clients to create landmark buildings around the world.

10 ULSTER BUSINESS TOP 100

Northern Ireland’s biggest companies have seen sales rise by 9.4% in the last year, it has been revealed. The Ulster Business Top 100 Northern Ireland Companies 2019, sponsored by A&L Goodbody, showcases the successes of the biggest firms from right across Northern Ireland, ranked by turnover.Poultry giant Moy Park has retained the top spot on the list for the eighth year running, posting sales of more than £1.5bn. The top construction company was Graham, who moved up one place to fourth.

12 SMASH & GRAB ADJUDICATION

So-called ‘smash & grab’ adjudications have been the subject of much debate in the construction industry in the last 18 months. This follows the case of S&T (UK) Limited –v- Grove Developments Limited in the Technology and Construction Court and Court of Appeal in England and Wales. John Dugdale, Associate, A&L Goodbody reports for Specify.

18 JOHN SIMPSON

Running a business in the building industry is never easy but this autumn it is set to become more onerous. The Chancellor of the Exchequer claims that the Government imposed austerity agenda is finished and some taxpayers and beneficiaries may be grateful but that is only part of the story.

The business agenda is like an obstacle course and there are about to be both new and changing obstacles…

23 DIGEST

WITH the recent opening of the new €233 million Center Parcs forest resort in Co. Longford, the first of its kind in Ireland, one Northern Ireland company is seeing a resurgence of work in the Republic of Ireland. McCue Crafted Fit completed the fit-out of a number of food and beverage and retail stores at the new purpose-built holiday village.

25 TRIBECA BELFAST

Castlebrooke Investments recently revealed a series of positive amendments to the outline planning application for Tribeca Belfast. This is a £500m urban regeneration scheme on a 12-acre site located beside St Anne’s Cathedral bounded by Royal Avenue, Donegall Street, Lower Garfield Street and Rosemary Street. Sensitive refurbishment work is already underway to preserve the listed Garfield & North building on Lower Garfield Street.

29 CEF AWARDS 2019

The competition to win the highest accolade in the local construction industry will be revealed at a Gala Dinner on 10 October at the Crowne Plaza Belfast. The Awards recognise the very diverse and excellent work carried out by the industry. The fifteen categories recognise the industry’s contribution to society in providing clean water, new roads, new homes, modern hospitals, fit-for-purpose schools and places to shop, work, worship and socialise. They also celebrate the preservation of our built heritage and the efforts of construction companies to protect their workers, the environment and jobs.

74 SPECIFY TALKS TO MARK LOWRY

The managing director of the McAvoy Group looks back at some of the highlights in his career -there are many- but perhaps the one that he would single out was his role on the Belfast Cross Harbour Bridges – five bridges (four road and one rail) across the River Lagan in central Belfast…

• Tailored energy solution • Full design service • Technical support and guidance • 24-hour emergency call out We provide CPD courses. TO FIND OUT MORE Visit calorgas.ie • Email cpd@calorgas.ie • Contact: 028 9045 5588

calorgas.ie Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

Contents |05

08

Philip Corr, BSc (Hons), MCIOB remembered

CEF/Specify Awards page 29

17 DIGEST

Adverse possession: New law in landmark decision

74 Interview

Specify talks to… Mark Lowry, Managing Director, The McAvoy Group

• Tailored energy solution • Full design service • Technical support and guidance • 24-hour emergency call out We provide CPD courses. TO FIND OUT MORE Visit calorgas.ie • Email cpd@calorgas.ie • Contact: 028 9045 5588

calorgas.ie Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

06| 06

digest digest

£10 million Aquarium for 21st Harvey Group acquires Solmatix as the part of 5 year century for Titanic Quarter growth planplanned in UK and Ireland.

A £10 million aquarium has proposed for NIbeen M&E services Titanic Quarter, as plans Newtownabbey-based are announced for a M&E services company, state-of the-art visitor Harvey Group, has acquired experience.

Northern Ireland renewable The proposals have beenSolmatix announced energy specialists, byRenewables UK-based ReefLIVE Ltd which in a move the plans tocompanies open the attraction the Queen’s say willontransform Road the Titanic Hotel, a theopposite renewable energy sector short distance from Titanic Belfast. in Northern Ireland and act ReefLIVE’s decision to open an as a springboard further Aquarium in Northernfor Ireland stems expansion into the multifrom the rising tide of public interest pound UKenvironmental and Ireland in million marine life, and the issues facing species and markets. habitats off renewable energy the shores of Britain and Ireland, and The acquisition, for an around the world. spokesperson undisclosed sum,Awill bring to 110for ReefLIVE Ltd explained: the number of people employed “ReefLIVE’s Belfast Aquarium has directly by the Harvey Group in been designed as an aquarium for Ireland theNorthern 21st century andand willGreat place Britain. the a turnover of £30 million visitorWith at the heart of the marine and over 80tostaff, environment giveHarvey them a Group unique has over experience insight into 30 theyears’ amazing stories of life beneath the waves.

As part and of our in the design, installation work, establishing partnerships maintenance of solid building services with educational institutionskind will of within every conceivable be of utmost importance to us at building type throughout NI, GB and RoI, including Pharmaceutical/ Cleanrooms, Laboratories, Education, Government and Healthcare . Richard and NorahAnne Bell founded Solmatix Renewables in 2008, and since then

all phases of the facility’s programme development.” the company has grown to achieve a Once open the turnover ofwill £6be million, Aquarium the with 30 staff largest Ocean operating fromvisitor its Nutt’s Corner attraction premises. on the island Ireland. is deal, Solmatix As of a result ofItthe expected to attract will continue to operate as an more than 300,000 autonomous and independent people each year and company within help to boost theHarvey Group Brian managing director length of Harvey, each tourist of Harvey visit to the Group, city. said there was a perfect fit between the two They continued: organisations.

“Belfast has become “We have been planning to one of the UK’s leadinginvolvement grow our renewables hubs for such family for some time, either organically friendly experiences or through of an and we see the the acquisition city established player.

Having worked as a thriving tourism with Solmatix onin our destination.

WeRenewables are confident a numbertoofchoose contracts, we’d decision Belfast over other top UKbeen citiesimpressed for our firstwith investment always of thisengineering kind.” their rigour and The aquarium building beseemed professionalism.

In fact, will there designed by Ethos Architects, and to be a natural synergy between subject to planning approval will open ourthe two companies termsKelly, of a in spring of 2021.inBrian what we do and how we do it. I approached Richard Bell about a year ago to float the idea of our companies coming together, but only if there was a good fit. After careful consideration we both agreed that this would indeed be mutually

company acquires renewable energy specialists

Celebrating the acquisition (from left) Norah-Anne Bell, Richard Bell, Brian Harvey, Gareth Booth (Financial Controller, Harvey Group).

beneficial. From my perspective, having Solmatix as part of Harvey director at the Group gives usproject’s a level ofplanning expertise consultants, also commented: that would Turley have taken us years to “Turley very excited to be part acquire isotherwise. of this innovative project and we “Harvey Group and Solmatix look forward to seeing the ReefLIVE share similar values,inbythe which Aquarium situated greatI mean our commitment to professionalism, company of neighbouring attractions oura desire to deliver our services to as best-in-class education landmark. the very highest standards, and the importance we place on treating our customers, our suppliers and our staff with courtesy and consideration.”

Richard Bell, the founder and managing director of Solmatix Renewables described the acquisition

as great news for Solmatix, its customers, suppliers and staff. many respects, it’s a will case This“In substantial investment support the as ongoing of ‘business usual’. development However, in of the as being a distinguished tourism realarea terms, part of this larger destination.“ organisation will give us access to technical financial Itenhanced is expected that a skills, planning resources and purchasing power. application will be submitted to Belfast Ultimately will lead City CouncilI believe in earlythis October 2019. to greater growth and investment within our operations, as well as more jobs and job security. It’s a win-win relationship that’s good for our whole organisation, as well as the economy of Northern Ireland. “

Architecture competition delivers landmark new space in East Belfast The Royal Society of Ulster Architects (RSUA), JP Corry, and the Department for Communities (DfC) have joined forces with EastSide Partnership to launch a temporary pavilion at C.S. Lewis Square called “Built:East”.

Lisburn firm TAL awarded the first major construction contract at Randox Science Park production of Randox’s pioneering this contract with Randox, one of medical diagnostic products and will Northern Ireland’s most dynamic also include associated administrative and exciting businesses on a local functions. The works are the first and global level. Through the quality phase of a major capital expenditure of our work and the dedication and project by Randox to develop the professionalism of our team TAL has former Massereene Army Barracks steadily grown over the last 34 years The structure – which takes into ‘Randox Science Park’ – a and this contract award reinforces inspiration from the Belfast futuristic R&D and manufacturing the strength of our expertise in the Truss roof – celebrates the WItH a reputation for facility.

The award-winning, healthcare sector.” city’s industrial legacy and will excellence in constructing high international biotechnology firm, The project will be delivered provide a year-round public quality tAL Limited space forprojects, outdoor leisure and unveiled its plans for an innovative to BIM level 2 in partnership recreation. has been awarded a significant L-R: Harry hub on the 43 acreJames site earlier with the designGary team Ostick and Moore, DfC; Brown,this Chair EastSide Property; contract (£3.1m) by global year.

WilliamsRSUA) Architects, Rainey & Best, Hunter, Regional Director JP Corry; Ciarán Fox, Director Agenda items included the medical diagnostics company Welcoming the announcement, Doran Consulting, Delap & Waller Institute’s AGM/EGM as well Randox.

Damien Hughes, Director of TAL Consulting Engineers and Charles as meetings and workshops the construction industry. The event in downtown Toronto, which focused This initial contract is for the Limited commented: “We are Hutchison Consulting. ranging from corporate planning to concluded with the CIOB President’s on climate change and collaboration. construction a new facility for of delighted to have been awarded Dr local Petermembers FitzGerald, Managing debating the of future sustainability Inaugural Dinner at the Liberty Grand Four attended

CONCRETE FUTURES NI-9402 Specify Strip Ads.indd 1

Director at Randox commented: “The development of Randox Science Park is core to our plans to create innovative diagnostics, to improve manufacturing efficiency to export high-value healthcare capabilities to world markets. This state-of-the-art premises will become a centre of cutting-edge research, development and diagnostic manufacture, covering conditions such as cancer, stroke and heart disease. We will also provide a significant boost to the local economy through new job creation. We very much look forward to working with TAL on this initial contract to deliver Members’ Forum including Gerard the high quality infrastructure we Graham, Michael Gallagher, Noreen require.” and Noel McKee. Holywood

The right job can transform a person’s life and the right person can transform an organisation, we’re experts at matching both in construction management.

Find out more at hays.co.uk/ni Check us out on social media 20/08/2014 16:45 www.specifymagazine.co.uk

digest digest

06|

|07

New Craigavon Harvey£35m Group acquires Solmatix asleisure part of 5 year growth plan in‘tops UK andout’ Ireland. complex Progress to create one NI M&E services of Northern Ireland’s Newtownabbey-based newest and largest M&E services company, public leisure complexes Harvey Group, has acquired took a leap forward recently the renewable final bolts Northernas Ireland toenergy the roof of theSolmatix new specialists, £35 millionincentre Renewables a movein the Craigavon were finally companies say will transform moved into place the renewable energy sector in‘topping Northern act The out’ Ireland ceremonyand – which as aaspringboard for further marks key stage in construction expansion intoreaches the multiwhere the building its highest million pound UK workstream and Ireland point – kicks off a fresh of renewable internal and external that will energy work markets. rapidly gather pace ahead The acquisition, for anof its grand opening launchsum, nextwill year. undisclosed bring to 110 When completed, the new world the number of people employed class South Lake Leisure Centre will the Harvey Group in bedirectly among by Northern Ireland’s most Northern Ireland and Great Britain. modern, state of the art leisure centre With a turnover with picturesque views.ofFit£30 for million modern and and overconstructed 80 staff, Harvey Group needs against exacting new requirements, it has over 30building years’ experience willintransform provision the design,leisure installation and in the area for generations. maintenance of building services Due to open autumn 2020, theof within everyinconceivable kind stunning facility will incorporate building type throughout NI, GB an impressive eight-lane,50-metre and RoI, pool, including Pharmaceutical/ swimming a 1,000m2 gym – the Cleanrooms, Laboratories, largest anywhere on the island of Education, Ireland – andGovernment an extensive and outdoor water sports provision.

Healthcare . Richard and NorahAnne Bell founded Solmatix Renewables in 2008, and since then

company acquires renewable energy specialists

Also featuring an 8-court sports hall, studios, the company activity rooms,has softgrown play to achieve a area, health beauty with 30 staff turnover of and £6 million, suite and afrom café,its all Nutt’s in operating Corner apremises. cutting-edge building carefully designed to be As a result of the deal, Solmatix accessible to all, it is the will continue to operate as an largest capital investment autonomous and by independent ever undertaken company within Harvey Armagh City, Banbridge Group Harvey, managing director andBrian Craigavon Borough of Harvey Group, said there was Council. a perfect fit between the two Construction organisations. of the new complex has created “We have been planning to Celebrating the acquisition (from left) Norah-Anne Bell, Richard Bell, Brian Harvey, Gareth hundreds jobs, with involvement grow our of renewables Booth (Financial Controller, Harvey Group). around 500 fulltime for some time, either organically workers signed up to as great news for Solmatix, its beneficial. From my perspective, or throughthe thebuild. acquisition of an complete customers, suppliers and staff. having Solmatix as part of Harvey Lord Mayor of Armagh Mealla Campbell and Warren Wright, established player.

Having worked Warren Wright, Regional “In many respects, it’s a case Group gives us a level of expertise with Solmatix Renewables on Regional Director at Farrans Construction Director at Farrans of ‘business as usual’. However, in that would have taken us years to Construction, said: a number of contracts, we’d real terms, being part of this larger acquire otherwise.

“As onebeen of the UK always impressed with track record and I’m pleased to report leisure centre. organisation will give us access to and mostrigour experienced theirIreland’s engineering and Scape’s collaborative ethos involves that“Harvey we are Group well onand trackSolmatix to open construction leaders, we’re delighted enhancedwith technical skills,local financial share similar values, by which I mean engaging approved next year.” professionalism. In fact, there seemed to be celebrating this pivotal build resources and purchasing power. our commitment to professionalism, businesses, sub-contractors and to be a natural synergy between milestone. From design through to Ultimately I believe this will lead suppliers, ensuring that the project As part of the council’s commitment our desire to deliver our services to our two companies in terms of development, we’re also incredibly provides employment to high levels ofand spend to greatersignificant growth and investment themaintaining very highest standards, the what we do and how we do it.

I proud to be involved in the creation opportunities for residents andas within the local amongour within our operations, as well importance we market place onand treating approached Bell about a of one of theRichard best health and sporting businesses in the area.

Local small to medium sized enterprises, it more jobs and job security. It’s a customers, our suppliers and our staff year agoanywhere to float the idea ofislands our facilities in these employers already involved in the commissioned Farrans through the win-win include relationship good with courtesy consideration. ” which whencoming complete will bebut available companies together, only scheme Callanthat’s Construction, Scape Procure and National Construction to all. for our whole organisation, Richard Bell, the founder and if there was a good fit. After careful D&K Systems, Taranto Piling,as GM Wall – Major Works England and Northern “We have an excellent well as the of Northern managing director of consideration we both construction agreed Tracking andeconomy J&C Agencies.

Ireland framework to Solmatix build the new Ireland. “ Renewables described the acquisition that this would indeed be mutually

SAM ON COURSE TO COMPLETE SIGNIFICANT

Lisburn firm TAL awarded the first major construction £5M INVESTMENT PROGRAMME BY 2020 contract at Randox Science Park Manufacturing company, Springfarm Architectural Mouldings Ltd. (SAM), recently announced that it is on course to complete a £5m investment programme as part of an ambitious 2020 growth strategy which has drivena reputation improvements in WItH for lead times, its product excellence in constructing high offering and capacity quality levels.projects, tAL Limited has been awarded a significant TFounded (£3.1m) in 1990 and contract byemploying global 200 people, SAM boastscompany one of the medical diagnostics most advanced production facilities Randox. in Europe. With an ever-expanding This initial contract is for the range of products, SAM is the UK’s construction of a new facility for

production of Randox’s pioneering this contract with Randox, one of medical diagnostic products and will Northern Ireland’s most dynamic also include associated administrative and exciting businesses on a local functions. The works are the first and global level. Through the quality phase of a major capital expenditure of our work and the dedication and project by Randox to develop the professionalism of our team TAL has former Massereene Army Barracks steadily grown over the last 34 years into ‘Randox Science Park’ – a and this contract award reinforces futuristic R&D and manufacturing the strength of our expertise in the facility.

The award-winning, sector. ” Pictured (L-R) at SAM in Antrim are Samhealthcare McCrea MBE, chief international biotechnology firm, The project will delivered executive officer of SAM, and Gerard Wilson, sales director be of SAM. unveiled its plans for an innovative to BIM level 2 in partnership hub on manufacturer the 43 acre site earlier this with the design team Ostick to achieve an ambitious set ofand growth leading of interior year. mouldings including skirting Williams Rainey by & Best, targets toArchitects, double turnover 2020.

MDF Improvements to date have included andWelcoming architrave, the as well as façade and announcement, Doran Consulting, Delap & Waller an integration of technology and roofline Damien products.

Hughes, Director of TAL Consulting Engineers and Charles production systems, upgrading The family run business, which Limited commented: “We are has Hutchison Consulting. machinery, increasing the SAM stock sites in Antrim and Lincolnshire, is set delighted to have been awarded Dr Peter FitzGerald, Managing

CONCRETE FUTURES NI-9402 Specify Strip Check Ads.indd us 1 out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

offer, expanding the external sales Director at Randox commented: “The team by another two employees and development Randox Science offering sectorofleading marketing Park is core to our plans create support across both digitaltoand innovative platforms, diagnostics, to improve traditional tailored to individual account needs to andexport market manufacturing efficiency demands. high-value healthcare capabilities to world markets. This state-of-the-art Sam McCrea MBE, chief executive premises will become a centre of officer of SAM, said: cutting-edge research, development “We have made substantial and diagnostic manufacture, covering investments across several key areas conditions such as cancer, stroke and including people, equipment and the service we offerWe to our heart disease. will customers also provide a to prepareboost for future growth and the significant to the local economy long-term success of the company.

We through new job creation. We very have successfully integrated two sites much look forward to working with and improved our customer offering TALwe on believe this initial deliver and thiscontract has set atogood the high quality infrastructure we foundation for the business for the future. ”” require.

The right job can transform a person’s life and the right person can transform an organisation, we’re experts at matching both in construction management.

Find out more at hays.co.uk/ni

20/08/2014 16:45

06| 08

digest digest

CRANE NUMBERS SIGNAL SIGNS OFof 5 year Harvey Group acquires Solmatix as part IMPROVEMENT BELFAST OFFICE growth plan in UKFOR and Ireland.

NI M&E services company acquires renewable energy specialists MARKET DEVELOPMENT Newtownabbey-based M&E services company, Harvey Group, has acquired Northern Ireland renewable energy specialists, Solmatix Renewables in a move the companies say will transform the renewable energy sector in Northern Ireland and act as a springboard for further expansion into the multimillion pound UK and Ireland renewable energy markets.

The acquisition, for an undisclosed sum, will bring to 110 the number of people employed directly by the Harvey Group in Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

With a turnover of £30 million and over 80 staff, Harvey Group has over 30 years’ experience in the design, installation and maintenance of building services within every conceivable kind of building type throughout NI, GB and RoI, including Pharmaceutical/ Cleanrooms, Laboratories, Education, Government and Healthcare . Richard and NorahAnne Bell founded Solmatix Renewables in 2008, and since then The Mercantile in Belfast

the company has grown to achieve a turnover of £6 million, with 30 staff operating from its Nutt’s Corner premises.

As a result of the deal, Solmatix will continue to operate as an autonomous and independent company within Harvey Group Brian Harvey, managing director of Harvey Group, said there was a perfect fit between the two organisations.

“We have been planning to grow our renewables involvement for some time, either organically or through the acquisition of an established player. Having worked with Solmatix Renewables on a number of contracts, we’d always been impressed with their engineering rigour and professionalism. In fact, there seemed to be a natural synergy between our two companies in terms of what we do and how we do it. I approached Richard Bell about a year ago to float the idea of our companies coming together, but only if there was a good fit. After careful consideration we both agreed that this would indeed be mutually

Celebrating the acquisition (from left) Norah-Anne Bell, Richard Bell, Brian Harvey, Gareth Booth (Financial Controller, Harvey Group).

beneficial. From my perspective, having Solmatix as part of Harvey Group gives us a level of expertise that would have taken us years to acquire otherwise.

“Harvey Group and Solmatix share similar values, by which I mean our commitment to professionalism, our desire to deliver our services to the very highest standards, and the importance we place on treating our customers, our suppliers and our staff with courtesy and consideration.”

Richard Bell, the founder and managing director of Solmatix Renewables described the acquisition

as great news for Solmatix, its customers, suppliers and staff.

“In many respects, it’s a case of ‘business as usual’. However, in real terms, being part of this larger organisation will give us access to enhanced technical skills, financial resources and purchasing power.

Ultimately I believe this will lead to greater growth and investment within our operations, as well as more jobs and job security. It’s a win-win relationship that’s good for our whole organisation, as well as the economy of Northern Ireland. “

to promote steady rental growth. The is speculative. has been signed and counted, take-up is forecast Lisburn awarded the firstSupplymajor construction After a lengthy firm period TAL prime rent is forecast to reach £24.00 boosted by the commencement of to be boosted in the latter half of this of limited speculative by the end of 2019. the currently under construction year. development in the contract at Randox Park Prime yields are holding steady at Mercantile (73,000 sq ft) on Donegall The three largestScience deals in H1 were Belfast office market,

signs of improvement are evident with the number of cranes for office developments at its highest for the past decade, according to Lambert Smith Hampton’s Ireland Office Market Report H1 2019.

Healthy occupier demand for high WItH a reputation for quality office space has continued from excellence constructing high a stellar 2018.inHowever, in comparison quality tALwas Limited to 2018 projects, office take-up subdued has been significant in the first awarded half of this ayear.

Standing at 181,970 sq(£3.1m) ft take-upbywas 66 percent contract global below thediagnostics same periodcompany last year and medical 34 percent below the five-year H1 Randox. average.

This initial contract is for the With the previously announced construction a newdeals facility Deloitte and of Kainos stillfor to be

at buildings undergoing major production of Randox’s pioneering refurbishment. PwC leased a further medical diagnostic products and will 46,000 sq ft at Merchant Square, also include associated administrative taking the remainder of the available functions.

The new works are the first(a space at their headquarters total 201,000 sq ft), an undisclosed phase of a major capital expenditure servicedbyoffice/co-working business project Randox to develop the pre-let 31,969 sq ft at Eagle Star former Massereene Army Barracks House and Neueda leased the West into ‘Randox Science Park’ – a Tower at Lanyon Plaza (29,220 sq ft). futuristic R&D and manufacturing Availability increased by 15 percent facility.

Theend award-winning, since the of 2018, although a international biotechnology firm,is not significant amount of this space ready foritsimmediate occupation. unveiled plans for an innovativeAt 752,757 sq 43 ft, current is hub on the acre siteavailability earlier this tight, equivalent to 1.5 years of supply year. based on average take-up.

Welcoming the announcement, Greg Henry, associate director of Damien Director of TAL agency atHughes, Lambert Smith Hampton, Limited commented: “We areof new said: “Current construction and refurbished peaked delighted to haveoffices been has awarded at 1.3m sq ft, of which two-thirds

Square South and the high quality this contract with Randox, one of refurbishment of the 37,000 sq ft The Northern Ireland’s mostondynamic Kelvin (Stokes House) College and exciting businesses oncompletion a local Square East, both due for and global level. Through the quality in mid-2020.

“The Bedford Square and of ourEwart work at and the dedication (215,000 sq ft) scheduled toTAL complete professionalism of our team has in 2021 is partially (100,000 sq presteadily grown over the last 34 ft) years let to Deloitte. and this contract award reinforces the of ourbetween expertiseTitanic in the “In astrength joint venture healthcare sector.

Quarter Ltd and ”Belfast Harbour, enabling workswill commenced on The project be delivered Olympic House sq ft) in to BIM level 2 in (150,000 partnership June the 2019.

Belfast Harbour with design team Ostickalso and commenced City Quays 3 (180,000 Williams Architects, Rainey & Best, sq ft) in May 2019. Both buildings are Doran Consulting, Delapin&2021.

Waller scheduled to complete ” Consulting Engineers andrent Charles Belfast’s prime headline currently Hutchison Consulting. stands at £23.00 per sq ft. The delivery of new build and high quality Dr Peter FitzGerald, Managing refurbished space is set to continue

CONCRETE FUTURES NI-9402 Specify Strip Ads.indd 1

6.00%. Citibank’s purchase of their Director at Randox commented: “The Belfast HQ, the Gateway Office in development of Randox Science(NIY the Titanic Quarter, for c.£34m Park is core to our plans to create 5.48%) was the largest single deal innovative diagnostics, to improve since Q3 2017.

Elsewhere, Timber Quay in Londonderry manufacturing efficiencywas to purchased export by a local investor for capabilities £5.3m (NIYto high-value healthcare 11.50%) and 15-17 Street world markets.

ThisChichester state-of-the-art in Belfast was also purchased by a premises will become of local investor for £1.4ma centre (NIY 6.71%). cutting-edge research, development Mr Henry added: “A raft of both new and manufacture, covering builddiagnostic and refurbishment developments are set to deliver quality conditions such asgood cancer, stroke and schemes to further replenish the a heart disease.

We will also provide market and drivetothe significant boost theprime local headline economy rent to a new high. However, with through new job creation. We very much of this stock scheduled to be much lookfrom forward workingforwith delivered 2020,totake-up 2019 TAL on this to initial to deliver is expected be contract more in keeping the withhigh the quality five- infrastructure Susan Masonwe RICS year average require. ” trend.”

The right job can transform a person’s life and the right person can transform an organisation, we’re experts at matching both in construction management.

Find out more at hays.co.uk/ni

Check us out on social media 20/08/2014 16:45 www.specifymagazine.co.uk

digest digest

06|

|09

Gilbert-Ash Unveils Unique ‘As of One’ Harvey Group acquires Solmatix as part 5 year Exhibition growth plan inCelebrating UK and Ireland.Collaboration NI M&E company acquires renewable energy specialists in theservices Making of Landmark Buildings Newtownabbey-based

the company has grown to achieve a turnover of £6 million, with 30 staff operating from its Nutt’s Corner premises.

As a result of the deal, Solmatix will continue to operate as an Renewables in aitsmove the Gilbert-Ash marked autonomous and independent companies say will transform recent growth by unveiling company within Harvey Group the renewable energy sector a collaborative As One Brian Harvey, managing director in Northern Ireland exhibition at an event at and act The Belfast. of Harvey Group, said there was asMAC, a springboard for further a perfect fit between the two expansion into the multiAttended over 150 organisations. millionby pound UK and Ireland high profile guests from “We have been planning to renewable energy markets. the across the design and grow our renewables involvement The acquisition, for an construction industry, for some time, either organically will bring to 110 theundisclosed consideredsum, collection or through the acquisition of an the number of people employed celebrates twenty established player. Having worked directly byprojects. the Harvey Group in three iconic Employees, and Great Britain. with Solmatix Renewables on Northernpartners Ireland and industry stakeholders a number of contracts, we’d With a turnover from of £30 million across Northern Ireland always been impressed with and over 80 staff, Harvey Group joined Gilbert-Ash the their engineering rigour and has over 30 years’atexperience Belfast unveiling.

Anne McReynolds, Chief Excutive of the MAC professionalism. In fact, there seemed in the design, installation and with Ray Hutchinson, MD Gilbert-Ash to be a natural synergy between maintenance of building services The exhibition has been our two companies in terms of within every conceivable designed to represent how kind of what we do and how we do it. I building type NI, GB Gilbert-Ash hasthroughout grown Selected andRichard interpreted

by Hugh significantly in this time as a result approached Bell about a and RoI, including Pharmaceutical/ Mulholland, one of the UK and of Cleanrooms, its unique collaborative approach year ago to float the idea of our Laboratories, Ireland’s leading visual art curators and working with Government its team, partners companies coming together, butMAC only Education, and and currently Senior Curator of The clients to create landmark buildings if(Metropolitan there was a Arts goodCentre) fit. Afterincareful Healthcare . Richard and NorahBelfast, around the world. consideration we both agreed Anne Bell founded Solmatix the imagery includes recent, highthat this would indeed be mutually Renewables in 2008, and since then

Theatre Arts.

Also M&EAnnounces services company, £5m investment Harvey Group, has acquired inNorthern new Belfast Ireland renewable Headquarters energy specialists, Solmatix

Speaking at the event, Managing Director, Ray Hutchinson also revealed plans to invest in new £5m headquarters in Belfast with work already underway on the prestigious new facilities close to its current offices in Boucher Road in the city.

Gilbert-Ash’s latest financial results reveal significant year-on-year growth with an increase in overall Celebrating the acquisition (from left) Norah-Anne Bell, Richard Bell, Brian Harvey, Gareth turnover to £179.4m in 2018, up Booth (Financial Controller, Harvey Group). from £165.5m in the previous as great news for Solmatix, its beneficial. From my perspective, year. The company also confirmed customers, suppliers and staff. having Solmatix as part of Harvey a more than three-fold increase “In many respects, a casein Group gives us a level of expertise in pre-tax profits toit’s£7.6m of ‘business usual’. from However, 2018, an as increase £2minin that would have taken us years to attributes its real2017. terms,Gilbert-Ash being part of this larger acquire otherwise. continued strong performance organisation will give us access to “Harvey Group and Solmatix to its ‘As One’ approach and its enhanced technical skills, financial share similar values, by which I mean unique working culture and family resources and purchasing power. our commitment to professionalism, environment as an employeeUltimately I believe this will lead our desire to deliver our services to owned company. to greater growth and investment profile projects. include the very highest These standards, and the the Cambridge Royal Itwithin also highlighted the completion our operations, as well as this importanceMosque, we placestand-out on treating our College of Pathologists headquarters, year a broad portfolio of successful moreofjobs and job security.

It’s a customers, our suppliers and our staff the award-winning City of London construction projects across sectors win-win relationship that’s good with courtesy and consideration.”

Freemen’s School swimming pool including arts and culture, workplace, for our whole organisation, as Bell, the andRichard the stunning newfounder build ofand the hotels and leisure, science and well as the retail economy of Northern managing director of Solmatix renowned Mountview Academy of technology, and residential.

Ireland. “ Renewables described the acquisition

Obituary Philip BSc Lisburn firm TALfor awarded the firstCorr, major construction contract at Randox Science Park (Hons), MCIOB On 6th April 2019 Philip Corr (41), Vice-Chair and Events Champion for the CIOB Belfast, sadly passed away as a result of a heart condition.

Philip, a native of Cookstown, was married with afour children.

WItH reputation for He was the founder high excellence in constructing member of the Titanic quality projects, tAL Limited Quarter Cycling Club, has been awardedas a significant and worked a Project contract (£3.1m) by global Manager for Titanic medical diagnostics Quarter Ltd. company Randox.

Gary of the CIOB This Blair, initialChair contract is for theBelfast Hub commented, construction of a new facility for

production of Randox’s pioneering medical diagnostic products and will “Philip was highly regarded also include associated administrative in the construction industry functions.

The works as area very the first and was recognised phase of professional. a major capital expenditure capable Since project to develop the joining by theRandox committee, he demonstrated leadership former Massereene Army Barracks skills‘Randox from the outset,Park’ and – a into Science was dulyR&D elected futuristic andVice-Chair manufacturing of the Belfast Hub in January. facility. The award-winning, Philip epitomised membership international of the CIOB,biotechnology he promoted firm, unveiled its plans for an innovative the science and practice of hub on the acre site earlier building and43construction for this the benefit of society, always year. with a positivethe attitude and Welcoming announcement, a smile on his face.

Philip of TAL Damien Hughes, Director continues to be sorely missed Limited by all.” commented: “We are delighted to have been awarded

this contract with Randox, one of Northern Ireland’s most dynamic and exciting businesses on a local and global level. Through the quality of our work and the dedication and professionalism of our team TAL has steadily grown over the last 34 years and this contract award reinforces the strength of our expertise in the healthcare sector.”

The project will be delivered to BIM level 2 in partnership with the design team Ostick and Williams Architects, Rainey & Best, Doran Consulting, Delap & Waller Consulting Engineers and Charles Hutchison Consulting.

Dr Peter FitzGerald, Managing

CONCRETE FUTURES NI-9402 Specify StripCheck Ads.indd us 1 out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

Director at Randox commented: “The development of Randox Science Park is core to our plans to create innovative diagnostics, to improve manufacturing efficiency to export high-value healthcare capabilities to world markets. This state-of-the-art premises will become a centre of cutting-edge research, development and diagnostic manufacture, covering conditions such as cancer, stroke and heart disease. We will also provide a significant boost to the local economy through new job creation. We very much look forward to working with TAL on this initial contract to deliver the high quality infrastructure we require.”

The right job can transform a person’s life and the right person can transform an organisation, we’re experts at matching both in construction management.

Find out more at hays.co.uk/ni

20/08/2014 16:45

digest

06| Top 100 10|

Ulster Business Top 100Solmatix Companies 2019 Harvey Group acquires as part of 5 sales year soar by plan moreinthan 9% Ireland. despite Brexit uncertainty growth UK and NI M&E services companies. company PICacquires CREDIT: Elaine Hill renewable energy specialists This year

Northern Ireland’s biggest companies have seen sales rise by 9.4% in the Newtownabbey-based last year, it has been M&E services company, revealed.

The has Ulster Harvey Group, acquired Business 100renewable Northern NorthernTop Ireland Ireland Companies energy specialists, Solmatix 2019, sponsored by A&L Renewablesshowcases in a move thethe Goodbody, companies say willbiggest transform successes of the the renewable energy sector firms from right across in Northern Irelandranked and act Northern Ireland, byasturnover. a springboard for further expansion into the multi-

Poultry giant Moy UK Parkand has Ireland retained million pound therenewable top spot on the listmarkets. for the energy eighth year running, for posting The acquisition, an sales willThe bringtop to 110 of undisclosed more than sum, £1.5bn. the numbercompany of peoplewas employed construction Graham, directly by the Harvey Group in who moved up one place to fourth.

Northernacross Irelandthe andlistGreat Britain.

However, – which is turnover £30 million now With in its a31st year –ofpre-tax profits over dropping 80 staff, Harvey Group felland overall, from £1.05bn has over 30 years’ experience to £894.7m, when comparing the in the design, andthe previous year’s installation accounts for maintenance of building Top 100. That was in partservices due to within kind of large flipsevery fromconceivable some of the bigger

the company has grown to achieve a marks another turnover of £6 million, with 30 staff significant operating from its Nutt’s Corner uplift in the premises. performance As aTop result of the 100of the deal, Solmatix will continue businesses to operate as an autonomous and independent across Northern companywith within Ireland, theHarvey Group Brian Harvey, managing director sales barrier of Harvey to entry upGroup, by said there was aaround perfect£12m. fit between the two organisations.

Ulster Business “WeJohn have been planning to Neill, head of office, A&L Goodbody Belfast, sponsor of the Top 100, Flavio Malnarcic, Michael editor, Celebrating the acquisition (from left) Norah-Anne Bell, Richard Bell, Brian Harvey, Gareth grow our renewables involvement Booth (Financial Controller, Group). chief financial officer, Moy Park and UlsterHarvey Business editor John Mulgrew Mulgrew, said: for some time, “This year’s list,either organically as great news for Solmatix, its beneficial. From my perspective, or through the acquisition of an growth mode –asthe raftofofHarvey firms Top 100 rankings, with more so than customers, suppliers andcollective staff. having Solmatix part established player. Having worked within life sciences, technology turnover increasing by in the any list before, is a reflection of the “In many respects, it’s9.4% a case Group gives us a level of expertise with Solmatix Renewables on 12 months to £24.8bn. other emerging industries are performance of firms in the wake of and of ‘business as usual’.

However, in that would have taken us years to a number of contracts, we’d beginning to rise up the list with “While many companies arelarger post-referendum uncertainty. real terms, being part of this acquire otherwise. always been impressed with burgeoning turnover.” long-standing players remain “It paints another extremely organisation will give usand access to “Harvey Group and Solmatix their engineering rigour and Michael Neill, head of office, A&L unchallenged at the top end of interesting picture of Northern enhanced technical skills, financial share similar values, by which I mean professionalism. In fact, there seemed Goodbody Belfast, said: “The results the rankings, is positive power. to see Ireland’s diverse and evolving resources anditpurchasing our commitment to professionalism, to be a natural synergy between of this resilience and determination businesses continue to rise up the business landscape and – while Ultimately I believe this will lead our desire to deliver our services to our two companies in terms of ranks, year-on-year. ” speak for themselves in this year’s stalwarts of industry remain in to greater growth and investment

the very highest standards, and the what we do and how we do it. I building type throughout NI, GB importance we place on treating our approached Richard Bell about a and RoI, including Pharmaceutical/ customers, our suppliers and our staff year ago to float the idea of our Cleanrooms, Laboratories, with courtesy and consideration. ” companies coming together,Turnover but only £000s Education,Rank Government and Rank Company Year Ending Profit/Loss Richard Bell, the founder and if there was a good fit. After careful Healthcare . Richard and Norah2018 2017 Latest Sales Previous Sales £000s managing director of Solmatix consideration we both agreed Anne Bell founded Solmatix 4Renewables 5 in 2008, Graham Construction 31/03/18 767,636 565,921 13,117 Renewables described the acquisition that this would indeed be mutually and since then 13 13 McLaughlin & Harvey 31/12/17 465,789 427,095 11,068

Construction Companies in the Ulster BusinessmoreTop 100 jobs and job security. It’s a

16

16

NI Water

31/03/18

431,772

422,412

94,478

within our operations, as well as

win-win that’s good Prev relationship Profit Net Worth for our whole organisation, as £000s £000s well as the economy of Northern 16,056 56,224 Ireland. “

5,537

46,771

102,912

1,339,558

Lisburn firm TAL awarded 18 22 McAleer & Rushe 31/12/18 395,167 the first 334,072 major 16,777 construction 13,386 44,828 19 19 Northstone NI 31/12/17 375,226 374,983 -231 4,342 85,926 contract at Randox Science Park 24 17 Terex GB Ltd 31/12/17 320,072 394,982 45,897 28,272 N/A production of Randox’s pioneering 31/12/18 255,026 medical diagnostic products and will 42 Trench Holdings 31/12/17 189,937 also include associated administrative 50 54 Gilbert Ash functions.31/12/17 The works are the165,547 first phase of 31/12/17 a major capital expenditure 51 51 Brett Martin 155,536 project by30/09/18 Randox to develop the 66 McCloskey Intl 111,847 former Massereene Army Barracks 67 74 Haldane Shiells 31/12/17 into ‘Randox Science Park’ –111,743 a futuristic 31/12/17 R&D and manufacturing 72 68 Kingspan 100,488 WItH a reputation for facility. The award-winning, 95,809 75 OHMG 31/12/17 excellence in constructing high international biotechnology firm, 78 72 MacLimited Interiors 31/12/17 94,724 quality projects, tAL unveiled its plans for an innovative has been awarded a significant hub on the 43 acre site earlier this 82 87 Severfield 31/03/18 89,849 contract (£3.1m) by global year.

83 Henry Group 31/03/19 88,560 medical diagnostics company Welcoming the announcement, 84 79 Macnaughton Blair Damien Hughes, 31/12/17Director of88,219 Randox.

TAL This initial89 contractBalcas is for the Limited commented: 89 Timber 31/12/17 “We are 84,738 construction of a new facility for delighted28/02/18 to have been awarded 70 Heron Bros 74,586 100 32

36

FP McCann

this contract with Randox, one of 215,798 17,898 Northern Ireland’s most dynamic 179,871 6,944 and exciting businesses on a local 148,003 2,079 and global level. Through the quality of our 152,409 work and the dedication and 7,198 professionalism of our team TAL 69,109 8,860has steadily grown over the last 34 years 4,437 and this93,442 contract award reinforces the strength in the 98,081of our expertise4,435 healthcare sector. ” 23,982 1,463 The project will be delivered to BIM56,552 level 2 in partnership6,098 with the design team Ostick14,811 and 77,540 Williams Architects, Rainey &2,540 Best, 81,830 Doran Consulting, Delap & Waller 83,876 4,730 Consulting Engineers and Charles Hutchison Consulting.

76,290 2,295 Dr Peter FitzGerald, Managing 94,819 8,552

CONCRETE FUTURES NI-9402 Specify Strip Ads.indd 1

Director commented: “The 19,470at Randox158,187 development of Randox 2,878 20,436Science Park is core to our plans to create 1,401 diagnostics, 11,220 innovative to improve manufacturing efficiency 7,349 46,073to export high-value capabilities to 2,681 healthcare 26,253 world markets. This state-of-the-art 4,034 will become 31,651 premises a centre of cutting-edge research, development 6,141 40,850 and-2,428 diagnostic manufacture, covering 7,924 conditions such as cancer, stroke and 3,387 heart disease. We12,603 will also provide a significant the local economy 11,032 boost to25,954 through 1,675new job creation.

19,916 We very much look forward to working with 16,583 to deliver TAL3,524 on this initial contract the-924 high quality infrastructure we 8,371 require. ” 12,797 77,196

The right job can transform a person’s life and the right person can transform an organisation, we’re experts at matching both in construction management.

Find out more at hays.co.uk/ni

Check us out on social media 20/08/2014 16:45 www.specifymagazine.co.uk

|11

digest

Conway Group Announce MultiMillion Pound Development Strategy Des Taggart, Property Director at Magherafelt based Conway Group, has revealed that the opening of the new £8 Million Premier Inn Hotel in Bangor is the latest scheme in the company’s multimillion-pound development strategy, which shall further expand its existing property portfolio.

Explaining how the Premier Inn was developed and how the premises marks the latest stage of Conway Group’s development strategy, Des Taggart says: “Through the recent acquisition of Ailsa Lodge Care Home in Bangor, Conway Group have forged strong links within the local area. When the disused Leisure Centre site on Castle Park Avenue was put up for

sale, we recognised that it was the perfect site to meet the need for new hotel accommodation”.

“By working collaboratively with Ards & North Down Borough Council and Whitbread, we came up with a quality design solution for the site that would sit sympathetically within the sensitive landscape area that forms part of Bangor Castle Historic Demesne.”

Councillor Stephen Dunne, Ards and North Down Borough Council; Chief Executive of

Ards and North Down Borough Council, Mr Stephen Reid;The Mayor of Ards and North Kevin McGurgan, Down, Alderman Bill Keery; Des Taggart, Property Director, Conway Group; Kevin McGurConstruction Director for gan, Construction Director, Conway Group and Gordon Dunne MLA. Conway Group, explains: “We have a number of mixed-use scheme which includes will deliver high quality apartment significant multi-million-pound Grade A offices, a new Hotel and schemes, and we will continue projects in the pipeline. Within the to support Whitbread’s ongoing luxury residential apartments. We Cathedral Quarter area of Belfast expansion plans with further are also working on three other we plan to develop a landmark major city centre sites in Belfast that Premier Inn hotel developments.”

Dowds Group to create 68 new jobs in construction sector Ballymoney company, Dowds Group, a mechanical, electrical, facilities management and build contractor, has announced that it will create 68 new jobs by 2021 to support planned export growth.

The Invest Northern Ireland-backed investment will further strengthen the company’s design and engineering capability, enabling it to target higher value ‘design and build’ contracts, particularly in the Great Britain and ROI markets.

Recruitment has already begun for the new jobs, which will include a number of managerial posts as well as operatives and engineers. Once in place the jobs will contribute over £2.2 million annually to the local economy. The company is also creating 40 apprenticeship posts.

James Dowds, Managing Director of Dowds Group, said: “Over the last 40 years our company has earned a reputation for providing high installations in the health, education, commercial, industrial

and public sectors. We can offer clients a one stop service for build, fit-out, facilities and planned preventative maintenance whilst combining mechanical, electrical and design provisions. Our Build service contains experienced engineers who have the technical expertise to understand client’s requirements and deliver engineering and refurbishment solutions that add value and enhance working environments.

“Over the next three years our objectives are to increase turnover by 25% and drive up sales outside Northern Ireland. In the current economic climate this £4.5 million investment is not without its risks but with Invest NI’s financial support we feel we are well positioned to pro-actively target larger scale contracts and take advantage of market opportunities in Great Britain and Ireland.”

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

Introducing the

Nexus Style ®

A premium recycling container available in a range of sizes and styles to match your décor.

To view the full range of high quality, durable and sustainable products, visit: www.glasdon.com

GV351 Nexus Style Advert 8.19.indd 4

15/08/2019 10:13:29

12| A&L Goodbody

NI construction sector shows its resilience with A&L Goodbody support

The Construction team at A&L Goodbody’s Belfast office. (L-R): John Dugdale (Associate); Nuala Maguire (Associate); Brendan Fox (Partner & Head of Construction); Claire McGoldrick (Solicitor) and Iain Taylor (Solicitor)

To say Northern Ireland’s construction sector is making a big impression on the world doesn’t do justice to the reach of one of the region’s most established industries.

The region has also developed university-led innovation in construction services and solutions that are helping designers create fresh concepts, and developers and contractors reduce costs and save lives.

Our builders, engineers and tradespeople have delivered a host of major projects within these shores while also bringing their skills to every corner of the globe.

Also working alongside the sector are world-class professional advisory firms, able to deliver expert advice across areas including legal, financial and planning.

From new airport runways in Hong Kong and the Caribbean and refurbishment works on the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem to building new theme parks in Paris and Dubai, Northern Ireland’s construction companies have been able to compete with the best in the world.

One of the leaders in professional services here in Northern Ireland is corporate law firm A&L Goodbody (ALG), whose construction team in NI is larger than that of an average international law firm. The team is senior-heavy with a partner, two senior associates and two assistant solicitors all specialising in litigation and dispute resolution across the UK and Ireland construction and real estate sectors.

Closer to home, the evidence of the construction sector’s labours are easier to see, with a suite of new hotels, offices and homes resulting from a more confident economy and pent up demand.

The construction team at the firm’s Belfast office is ranked Band 1 in Chambers UK and The Legal 500, two leading sources of legal market

intelligence and analysis across the UK and globally. Three of the team’s lawyers, Brendan Fox, John Dugdale and Nuala Maguire are ranked individually in Chambers and Partners in their own right.

Brendan Fox, Head of Construction at ALG in Northern Ireland, said that recruitment is crucial in maintaining the capacity to continuously meet the ever-growing demands of the local market.

“Our senior-level appointments in recent years come in response to the firm’s ongoing growth and success in Northern Ireland and reflect our confidence that this will continue in the future,” he said.

“We recently appointed Nuala Maguire as an associate in the construction team, who brings with her over seven years’ experience and expertise, which has added even more strength, depth and versatility to our offering.

“As well as technical expertise, our Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

A&L Goodbody |13 clients demand energy, fresh thinking and innovative ideas from our solicitors, and the addition of Nuala certainly backs this up.”

ALG has recently been instructed on a number of high-profile developments in Northern Ireland, including the 200,000 sq ft Merchant Square in Belfast city centre, which represents a £70m investment by local developer Oakland Holdings.

The Grade A office development, which is spread across nine floors and will accommodate 3,000 staff, will be the new Northern Ireland head office for global business advisory firm PwC. In 2017, the Department of Finance launched the £100m Northern Ireland Investment Fund, a debt funding platform for real estate, low carbon and infrastructure projects in Northern Ireland. The first loan that the Fund made was a £22.5m senior debt facility towards the Merchant Square development.

John Dugdale, Associate at ALG, commented: “PwC’s move to Merchant Square represents the

largest ever private sector office deal on record in Northern Ireland, and this showcases the high calibre of clients that we are working with at A&L Goodbody.

“It is also clear to see that initiatives such as the Northern Ireland Investment Fund are proving to be beneficial to the real estate and construction sectors in Northern Ireland, and Merchant Square serves to highlight this.

“Another major milestone for Northern Ireland is the Belfast Region City Deal, which has been backed by the UK Government and is set to see £350m invested into the Belfast Region over the next 15 years, in a bid to bolster economic development and prosperity.”

A further high-profile example of ALG’s client portfolio is Olympic House in Belfast’s Titanic Quarter, which upon completion will have a prominent position beside the award-winning Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) building and the Belfast Metropolitan College campus.

Merchant Square in Belfast city centre

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

However, whilst the firm has experienced great success in the local office sector, which achieved record levels of take-up in 2018, it has also worked extensively in other key areas of the market including student accommodation and social housing.

These include bringing 1,124-unit student accommodation schemes to York Street and advising the Northern Ireland Housing Executive on contentious contract matters.

Despite the quality of the projects being undertaken and the undoubted talent in Northern Ireland’s construction sector, it remains a challenging market. The lack of a devolved government locally has impacted on the pipeline of construction, infrastructure and maintenance procurements, and 2019 has seen the high-profile insolvencies of a number of established businesses.

Mr. Dugdale added: “We understand that cash flow is king, and disputes can be a drain on staff and management time that could be better utilised elsewhere. We help clients resolve disputes successfully by early advice.

“Our knowledge and experience of mediation, adjudication, arbitration and litigation enables us to tailor dispute resolution strategies that meet a client’s particular needs.”

Brendan Fox also highlighted that while the firm prides itself on being local experts on the market, it also benefits from having a head office in Dublin.

He said: “Having access to the expert research facility at our head office in Dublin gives us an all-island perspective and a unique approach when it comes to advising clients.

“Operating across two jurisdictions equips us with a good knowledge and understanding of the economy, market trends and inward investment across the island of Ireland.”

For further information, please contact Brendan Fox, Partner, A&L Goodbody by calling 028 9031 4466 or emailing bfox@algoodbody.com or John Dugdale, Associate, A&L Goodbody on 028 9031 4466 or jdugdale@algoodbody.com.

14| GANSON UK

Ganson Geared up for Methodist College Project

Castlewellan based construction company Ganson UK is well underway with the 65 week design and build project at the Methodist College in Belfast.

Methodist College is a Grade B1 Listed Building built in 1865 with a gross internal floor area of 4400m2 and will be refurbished with an 800m2 gross floor area two-storey new build extension constructed to the rear.

A portion of the rear of the existing building will be demolished to allow construction of the rear extension.

The facilities will comprise: classroom teaching spaces for various subjects including but not limited to English, maths, RE, drama, IT and psychology.

Additional accommodation will provide resource space, multi-purpose space, pupils cloaks/ Lockers/ WCS, administration, medical inspection, learning support, staff accommodation and staff WCs. Circulation, plant space and ancillary accommodation will also be provided.

As befitting a building of this age, care of the existing fixtures and fittings is paramount. For example, the intricate

entrance leads into an ornate oak lined reception area featuring an original central staircase with a heavy timber balustrade. These features must be protected and preserved.

Many other elements of the building such as the original panelling and staircases must also be returned to their original glory.

Other facets of the project include the Heritage Centre being redesigned into a multipurpose hall, along with the installation of a new staircase, while the Drama Room will be reinstated with its original high ceiling and beams after the removal of the old dormitories.

The works are due for completion in September 2020 and will bring the 150 year old building up to date while still retaining its original splendour.

Ganson Uk Ltd Team Ganson UK Ltd Director - Gerard McClelland Site Agent - Mark Quinn and David Coulter Health and safety - Lyndsey Thompson Site Engineer - Paul Gribben Contracts Manager - Enda Brady

Ganson Design Team: Architect – RPP Architects Structural & Civil Engineer – Taylor & Boyd Mechanical & Electrical – Troup Bywaters & Anders Sub-Contractors appointed to date Mechanical Services - Anderson Mechanical Services Electrical Services - JD McGeown Stonework - S McConnell & Sons Steel Staircase - AQ Engineering Joinery - JN Joinery Services Fire Engineering Consultant JGA Scaffolding - GBS Scaffolding

Externally, the brickwork walls and stonework will be refurbished as necessary on all facades as well as refurbishment and restoration of the original sliding sash windows.

The complexities that Ganson face includes working in close proximity to a very busy university area and within the grounds of a ‘live’ school. The team from Ganson has developed a well designed traffic management plan from the offset to avoid any large vehicles ensuring the lowest possible levels of disruption and safest systems.

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

GANSON UK |15

Ganson constructs new Lisburn store for Home Bargains GansonUK constructed a brand-new megastore for the Home Bargains retail chain. The new outlet, situated on Ballinderry/ Knockmore Roads in Lisburn was a new build shell only retail unit and associated site work.

Ganson had to build a retaining wall directly below it.

GansonUK was aware that excellent communication was a critical component, optimising Client/End User engagement and mutual trust, as we worked to collaboratively providing a more pleasing experienced and satisfied project, e.g. this project even with complexities had a deadline which could not be altered. GansonUK provided their significant resources for onsite meetings engaging with a multidisciplinary team to determine the detailed intricate engineering solutions, overcoming complexities, managing the sub-contractors, which

• Ethical and/or local procurement of labour and materials; • Site Waste Management Plan; • Targets set for water/ energy, metered, actual use measured against targets;

Ganson utilised sheet piling and monitored the movement with vibration/noise monitors and telltales on the slabs advising of any movement.

Ganson adhered to industry best practice in regard to Environmental, Economic, Social Sustainability appropriate to this project and included:

included external utility companies and the cooperation with the new road layouts This project was particularly complicated due to the fact that there

is a 12m high telephone mast on site which needed to be maintained and operational throughout the duration of the construction. This proved complex as the mast sat on small mound on the site and the team from

Queens University Elmwood Building This project consisted of the renovation of the Elmwood building (ELTC) located to the rear of the existing Student’s Union into a temporary vibrant student facility thereby allowing the construction of the new £25M future Students Union.

Ganson had an extremely tight programme to adhere to on this project turning it over within a 12week construction period which proved very challenging and took great commitment and effort from the whole Ganson team as there was a lot of out of hour’s work required to meet the deadline which was duly delivered.

The works was carried out over four floors and a basement consisting of offices, enhanced study and recreational areas along with the relocation of the Student’s Union shop.

The project involved the creation of modern student support centre and relocation of the student bank and create vibrant area for individual student clubs and societies.

The kitchen and lounge area was kitted out with the latest hammock “Lazy Boys” along with trendy sofas and tables supplied by specialist furniture contractors Workshop N.I. Working closely with the Student’s Union shop management was crucial for the successful execution of this project as they had a tight deadline to close their shop down and move across to this new facility so they experienced minimum down time, “we had to be ready for them!”

In closing this has been another successful QUB project for Ganson and they look forward to building on the current relationship they have established with QUB over the past few years.

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

Management of Public Impact Traffic Management Plan with our Community Liaison Officer consulting with Client Representative, local residents and businesses to minimise adverse public impact, along site entrance was also a popular cyclist’s route. Ganson also created a new pedestrian/ cycle route alongside the store.

Introducing Blackfire® from Valsir®.

The next generation drainage system.

Fire-resistant, acoustic, push-fit and UV resistant.

Blackfire® is the next generation polypropylene (PP) drainage system, for both inside and outside buildings. It redefines what you should expect from a drainage system. Featuring an attractive matt black finish, it’s perfect for high and low temperature drainage applications, ventilation applications and rainwater harvesting systems.

• Superior, Class B1 fire resistance in accordance with DIN 4102

• UV stabilised… making Blackfire® ideal for installation inside and out

• An acoustic rating of just 15 dB(A) as per EN 14366… that’s quieter than a whisper

• Smooth, white, camera-ready, internal finish, ease of inspection

To find out more about Blackfire®, call Kernohan Distribution today on 028 9127 0233 (NI), 048 9127 0233 (ROI), e-mail info@iakonline.com.

Alternatively, click or tap www.iakonline.com/blackfire

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

|17

digest

Adverse possession: New law in landmark decision Stuart Nevin of A&L Goodbody

The long standing test concerning the legal possession of land has been challenged in the landmark case of Thorpe v Frank [2019] EWCA Civ 150. The Court of Appeal found that repaving a forecourt was enough to obtain possession in a claim for ‘adverse possession’.

This decision widens the grounds required to establish factual possession.

While the enclosure of a piece of land is an obvious way to take possession, it is not an absolute requirement. The Court held that a sufficient degree of control depends upon the nature of the land and the manner in which the land is used and enjoyed.

What is adverse possession?

Acquiring land by adverse possession

is the process by which a person who is not the legal owner of the land can become the legal owner by possessing the land for a specified period of time.

Background No. 8 and No. 9 were neighbouring semi-detached bungalow properties with open forecourts. Mrs Thorpe acquired No. 9 in 1984. In 1986, she arranged for the repaving of an area of the forecourt forming part of No. 8. Mrs Thorpe’s son carried out the repaving works.

Mr and Mrs Frank became the registered owners of No. 8 in 2012.

In 2013, Mrs Thorpe fenced off the paved area in question and later applied to be registered owner of the paved area on the basis that it had been acquired by adverse possession.

The Land Registry referred her application to the courts.

Mrs Thorpe succeeded in the First-tier Tribunal. However, that decision was overturned by the Upper Tribunal

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

who ordered the removal of the lands in dispute from Mrs Thorpe’s registered title and transfer to Mr and Mrs Frank. Mrs Thorpe appealed to the Court of Appeal.

Findings of the Court Mr and Mrs Frank did not challenge that Mrs Thorpe intended to possess the disputed land. However, they argued that the repaving was a mere temporary trespass by Mrs Thorpe, and that she herself had given evidence suggesting that she did not have control over the land until erection of the fence in 2013.

The Court however recognised that making physical changes to the surface of land has been held to be material in determining whether adverse possession had taken place. While enclosure of land is an obvious way to take possession it is not an absolute requirement.

The Court noted that the land in question had always been open plan. It

found that the repaving of the relevant area with a permanent surface was a clear assertion of possession by Mrs Thorpe and not merely a temporary control over the land’s surface – even if after the repaving the residents of No. 8 continued to pass over the area as before.

Conclusion This case highlights that exclusion is not necessary for a successful claim of adverse possession. What appears on its face to be a temporary trespass may in fact constitute sufficient taking of possession for the purposes of adverse possession, depending on the nature of land in question and the manner in which land of that nature is commonly used and enjoyed.

Stuart Nevin is an associate at A&L Goodbody and specialises in commercial and property litigation.

He has extensive experience in High Court litigation and alternative dispute resolution concerning complex property disputes.

18| John Simpson

Beware new business obligations

by John Simpson

A new 7km stretch of the A6 dualling scheme opened between Randalstown and Toome on 5th August 2019. New VAT legislation may affect large infrastructure schemes like this when they come into force on 31st October 2019.

Running a business in the building industry is never easy but this autumn it is set to become more onerous.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer claims that the Governmentimposed austerity agenda is finished and some taxpayers and beneficiaries may be grateful, but that is only part of the story. The

business agenda is like an obstacle course and there are about to be both new and changing obstacles..

There is the prospect of an autumn budget and an increase in government spending. That offers some hope of new and larger government contracts although, inevitably, with a time lag as decisions are implemented. In Northern Ireland, the public sector faces a double problem: the NI

budget allocation is very tight and any supplementary allocation through the Barnett formula would be welcome and, in a critical conjunction, Ministerial decisions would be needed. The case for a restoration of the Assembly with local Ministers grows stronger week by week.

More immediately, even if the Assembly is not restored and Direct Rule is not implemented, there are two other big questions relevant to the construction industry.

First, how will Brexit, at the end of October, be implemented and how will these decisions impact on local businesses taking account of the expected ‘no deal’ agreement with specific implications for this island, north and south?

Second, how significant will be the effects of the reverse charge rules for VAT as they apply from 1 October.

This new set of VAT rules will apply only to key parts of the construction industry.

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

John Simpson| 19 The actions to implement Brexit will be wide ranging, initially uncertain for some issues, and although they may begin in the weeks ahead they are likely to involve a series of legislative or statutory decisions that will evolve over many months.

What should be some of the easiest Brexit implementation decisions

would have continued ‘as was’ to allow for negotiations on a longerterm operational agreement where, to some degree, a UK-EU trade agreement might have been agreed.

Since that withdrawal agreement was not accepted, Brexit is set to be an immediate break (unless even yet there is some last minute adjustment,

authorities have said that goods crossing the Irish border, from south to north, will temporarily (for a limited period) be admitted with no duties payable. Construction supplies coming from south to north would, therefore, apparently continue to trade as at present.

This gesture, though well intentioned,

subject to EU duties because Ireland has accepted that it should maintain the external frontier of the EU (of 27).

The UK authorities, having left the EU, will be free to discriminate (positively) at the customs frontier of the UK. The Irish authorities will not have that discretion.

Another major feature of Brexit would be the administration, if possible, of the ‘back stop.’ In a ‘no deal’ crash out of the EU, the back stop is expected to be irrelevant.

The protection it might afford to trade across the border would not be available. The clever thinking from which the backstop emerged, allowing all-Ireland arrangements for the mutual recognition of trading standards, will not be available. The absence of acceptable all-Ireland trading arrangements may push the Irish authorities into the answer that no-one wants: an operational customs frontier around the RoI. The construction industry will be asked to cope with these still unclear trading rules. There will be other cross-border trading issues with serious implications for farming and food processors. Business rules and practices relevant after 31st October still await clarification.

In a parallel development, the construction sector must get ready to operate changed UK procedures and payments rules for VAT on many building and civil engineering contracts.

Within the construction sector, business relationships and VAT responsibility will, from 1st October, be framed by whether relationships are between suppliers or subcontractors. That distinction will be important (and decisions on which transactions fall in each category) since for sub-contractors liability for VAT payments will fall to the recipient, or business letting the contract.

illustrate the difficulties. If (and even now as this is written it still carries some uncertainty) Brexit takes place, formally and legally, at 31 October, the functioning and administration of the border on this island has not been adequately settled.

If the UK-EU withdrawal agreement, as negotiated by Mrs. May, had been endorsed by parliament, the legal exit would have been followed by a transition period of about two years in which UK-EU relations

as would be desirable). An immediate break, with incomplete preparations by both the UK and EU authorities, is the nightmare outcome. On the day following Brexit, in the new situation where the working agreements for the UK within the EU no longer applied, WTO (world trade organisation) rules could apply, unless alternative arrangements had been made.

For Northern Ireland, rather than introducing customs tariffs on all goods coming from the EU, the UK

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

is not universally popular with businesses in Northern Ireland. If not reciprocated on a north-south basis, there will be commercial disadvantage to some exporters from north to south.

As yet there is no certainty for traders selling goods from Northern Ireland into the Republic of Ireland. In the absence of a UK-EU withdrawal agreement, the Irish authorities intend to observe the continuing EU regime.

Goods exported to Ireland will be

Construction businesses should now be preparing for ‘domestic reverse charges’. This procedure, on similar lines to arrangements for the sale of computer chips and mobile phones, is designed to combat or eliminate what has become known as ‘missing trader fraud.’ This is businesses which collect VAT from clients and then disappear and fail to pay the proceeds to HMRC. The new regime will apply to ‘specified services’ which covers a range of what would normally be considered subcontracts in the construction sector but excluding contracts for the supply of goods. Accounting using domestic reverse charges will be enforced from 1 October. No transitional period for the changeover is allowed.

Putting up new buildings or completing an infrastructure project has just got more complicated for the ‘bean counters’ compared to the builders.

ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS IN IRELAND

BRING BRICK TO LIFE

At Kingscourt Country Manor Brick we see not only the beauty in every brick, but the possibilities. We have over 30 years’ experience supplying high quality natural building materials.

Belfast: 028 90 777 321 | Dublin: 01 842 1277 www.kcmb.co.uk | info@kcmb.co.uk

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

An outHaus Group and Lagan Brick Partnership

Kingscourt Country Manor Bricks| 21

Just what the doctor ordered Henry J Lyons and Bennett Construction have created an innovative, technologically advanced facility for the RCSI in the heart of Dublin city

sports facility below ground and a new library above. Carefully chosen materials, like the exposed concrete and bricks, have helped create an inviting, welcoming environment for students to develop expert skills on a world-class level.

For more information on Casa Lena bricks contact distributor Kingscourt Country Manor Bricks on 028 9077 7321, e-mail info@kcmb.co.uk or visit kcmb.co.uk. Alternatively, visit our showroom at 12 Herdman Channel Road, Belfast, BT3 9LG. Project Details: Client: Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Location: York Street, Dublin 2 Architect: Henry J Lyons Architects Contractor: Bennett Construction Brick Used: Casa Lena Year built: 2017 Awards: RIAI Public Choice Award 2018

When the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland approached Henry J Lyons Architects to discuss the design of its new home on York Street, little could the College have known what the end result would be.

Together with Bennett Construction, Henry J Lyons has created a 12,000sq m, 10-storey building that cleverly bypasses stringent planning height constraints through the incorporation of four basement levels. The stateof-the-art facility provides medical students, surgical trainees and staff with modern cutting-edge facilities that will promote the development of the RCSI community at the heart of the city.

Aimed at bringing medical education to a new level at the existing campus in Dublin 2, all facilities at the new RCSI building are of the highest standard. The new building facilitates the development of core technical and non-technical skills in a safe, simulated environment and allows early clinical education to be delivered away from the patient’s bedside. The new facility also offers trainees the opportunity to learn safe surgical practice and develop operative skills in a new surgical training suite with a mock operating theatre and clinical training wards.

Integral to the building’s overall aesthetic is the use of brick which complements the surrounding buildings on York Street while also

evoking the memory of the original Georgian terraces in the area. Casa Lena bricks from Kingscourt Country Manor Bricks were specified for the project and were chosen for the tumbled and imprecise nature of their edges which contrasts with the ‘surgical’ precision of the non-brick materials. The architects also felt that the Casa Lena bricks help the building blend harmoniously with the existing RCSI granite buildings that flank the entrance to York Street from St Stephen’s Green.

Materials on the project, along with the specified bricks, were chosen for their robustness and for their visual integration with the rest of the street. Exposed concrete in various finishes has been used to reveal the structure of the building while colour and texture cleverly differentiates between key functions of the building.

The new facility also projects an air of welcomeness and openness thanks to the glazed frontage on the ground floor. As well as being the home of the new National Surgical & Clinical Centre, No.26 York Street also includes a library spanning three floors with 500 study spaces, a 540seat auditorium and a sports hall and fitness suite. The building has also been designed to be both energy efficient and environmentally responsible.

Completed in just 30 months and delivered to budget, No.26 York Street is a triumph in terms of both design and construction. The challenging brief called for a series of complex spaces on a tight urban site which included state-of-the-art simulated environments for clinical and surgical training as well as an auditorium and

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

|23

digest

Hagan Homes Football Blitz

Hagan Homes and the Greater Village Regeneration Trust (GVRT), an urban regeneration charity based in the Village area of South Belfast, recently teamed up to deliver a week-long “Football Blitz” programme for 30 local young people.

The Greater Village Regeneration Trust delivers programmes to improve the quality of Jim Burke, Director of Sales and Acquisitions for Hagan Homes and life for local residents. It seeks to build community Angela Johnston from Greater Village Regeneration Trust are pictured cohesion by addressing with Robert Donnelly and Junior Bingham. housing issues, educational under-achievement, and dedication. Their enthusiasm and to improve housing provision in the unemployment, health and well-being drive made the programme a huge Village area, Jim Burke, Director of concerns and by increasing cultural success. Congratulations to everyone Sales and Acquisitions for Hagan understanding. involved.

Homes, said: “The 30 young people Congratulating the 30 young people “Hagan Homes is committed to who took part in the football and explaining Hagan Homes’ desire assisting community development programme showed real commitment

in the Village area of South Belfast. In October 2016 we purchased land at Kitchener Drive/ Frenchpark Street which had previously been owned by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

We recognised the potential to expand the housing provision in the local area and subsequently secured planning permission to build a £10.5m development of 76 three-bedroom semidetached homes, called Seventy Six South.

“Conscious of local community groups’ views that the new homes in the development should be an affordable option for first time buyers Hagan Homes offered buying schemes such as Fair Share to assist first time homeowners purchase within the development.”

McCue is the Perfect Fit for Center Parcs Ireland

WITH the recent opening of the new €233 million Center Parcs forest resort in Co. Longford, the first of its kind in Ireland, one Northern Ireland company is seeing a resurgence of work in the Republic of Ireland.

McCue Crafted Fit completed the fitout of a number of food and beverage and retail stores at the new purposebuilt holiday village.

The fit-out works comprised the total shell fit-out of six units to form two food and beverage outlets; Bella Italia and The Coffee House.

McCue also completed the fit-out of retail units; Spirit, Time for Shade, The Store Room, Aquatique and Just Kids. Over the course of the threemonth contract, McCue completed mechanical and electrical work, as well as specialist tiling, metal work, bespoke joinery and decorating.

Speaking about the company’s involvement in establishing Center Parcs in Ireland, McCue Managing

Director, Les McCracken said, “Being involved in the Center Parcs Ireland project was a great opportunity for our team. Center Parcs is renowned for their popularity across the UK and utilising our many years of experience, we are delighted to have left our mark on what’s sure to be one of Ireland’s most popular tourist destinations.”

McCue Crafted Fit, based in Carrickfergus, has extensive experience in the Republic of Ireland however the onset of the recession required the company to rethink their strategy in 2009. The fallout of the recession was felt hardest in Dublin where most of McCue’s work was centred, so the company shifted the majority of their business to Great Britain and made the move into the hospitality and leisure sectors.

This move ensured McCue weathered the recession well and as a result, the company has gone from strength to strength in recent years, completing projects for clients including The Berkeley Hotel, Ten Trinity Square, The Shangri-La at The Shard, Lime Wood Lodges, H&M and Santander.

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

Your Local Hire Specialists

LIGHTING

Stop when it’s done, not when it’s dark.

For a brighter, safer and more efficient site.

BRAND NEW LIGHTING SETS IN STOCK

POWERED ACCESS LOW LEVEL ACCESS

CONTACT US TODAY FOR A COMPETITIVE QUOTE

Safe, stable access for maintenance or construction jobs that require that extra bit of reach.

Belfast | Newry | Bangor | Ballymena | Portadown Coleraine | Derry | Omagh | 03457 28 28 28 | hss.com

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

digest

|25

NORTH STREET ARCADE TO RETURN IN TRIBECA DEVELOPMENT world to deliver revised plans which will work for Belfast. Our aim is still to put Belfast at the forefront of British and European cities with a new urban realm which blends the area’s history with state-of-the-art design. We believe that Squire & Partners are the best architects to help us bring this to life.”

Castlebrooke Investments has already invested £50m in site assembly, planning and professional fees, with further major investment planned.

Murray Levinson, partner at Squire & Partners, said: “The mix of uses across the site – designed to attract a variety of retail, restaurant, cultural and workplace tenants – and the creation of new public realm, will ensure this part of Belfast will be active throughout the day and into the evening. Providing a large number of residential apartments with shared gardens, as well as a hotel, will create a new opportunity for people to live in the city centre.

“A new focus for arts, culture and

Castlebrooke Investments recently revealed a series of positive amendments to the outline planning application for Tribeca Belfast and launched a voluntary ten week public consultation process ahead of the submission of the proposal in Autumn 2019.

It has also been announced that a new world-class architectural design firm has been appointed to work on the amended proposals. Award-winning Squire & Partners has extensive global experience of successful mixed-use, regeneration projects which have included Southbank Place, Chelsea Barracks, The Broadway and the Warwick Road masterplan. The team from Squire & Partners will work alongside conservation architects from Belfast-based Consarc Design Group.

Tribeca Belfast is a £500m urban regeneration scheme on a 12acre site located beside St Anne’s Cathedral bounded by Royal Avenue, Donegall Street, Lower Garfield Street and Rosemary Street. Sensitive refurbishment work is already underway to preserve the listed Garfield & North building on Lower Garfield Street.

In the plans revealed over the summer, Castlebrooke Investments has committed to bringing North Street Arcade back into use in a new format, with space designed for independent retailers.

The height of the Grade A office block on the corner of Rosemary Street

and North Street, which was initially intended to be 27 storeys, has now been reduced to 10 storeys. There is also an increased allowance for green spaces, courtyards and residential space in line with the Belfast Agenda.

After careful review it has been determined that a greater number of historic streetscape on original buildings in the area can also be retained.

Neil Young, chief executive of Castlebrooke Investments, said: “We are very pleased to be able to reveal our proposed amendments to our outline planning application for Tribeca Belfast, changes which we feel demonstrate that we have listened to feedback from the city. We will continue to listen and today we have launched a voluntary public consultation process into

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

these planned changes ahead of the submission of our application. Our community exhibition will provide an opportunity for anyone interested to see the new plans and we will be revealing more information about this in the coming weeks.

“We believe that the plans address many of the areas of concern which have been raised to date, including the revision of the height of the Grade A office block on the corner of Rosemary Street and North Street, more green spaces and further retention of the historic streetscape of North Street and Donegall Street.

Most importantly we have committed to returning North Street Arcade to use in a new format which will encourage a vibrant population of independent retailers.”

He added: “We are working alongside some of the best architects in the

retail is provided within a colonnade of small units following the historic curve of the former North Street Arcade – with larger retail units and restaurants animating Writer’s Square and a newly created Assembly Square, adjacent to the listed Four Corners building.”

Graeme Moore, specialist conservation architect at Consarc Design Group, said: “Consarc is delighted that we continue to be involved with the proposals for Tribeca Belfast to offer our expertise in building conservation. As with the previous proposals, all of the listed buildings within this phase are to be retained, restored and adapted for a sustainable ongoing use within the masterplan, rooting the new development in the unique historical character of this part of the city centre.”

Kingspan Klargester CPD Understanding Wastewater Treatment Solutions Recent media reports have highlighted the need for urgent action to be taken to protect Ireland’s rivers, streams and lakes, which are at serious risk of pollution from waste water flowing, untreated, into the country’s water courses.

The cause is largely down to badly designed – or poorly maintained – septic tanks. It is a ticking ecological time-bomb as well as a potential threat to public health.

Four CPD sessions will be delivered at: September 13th The Kingspan IKON ‘Innovation Centre’ Kingscourt, Co. Cavan September 20th The Kingspan Stadium, Belfast

Environmental Ticking Time Bomb

Traditionally, Irish householders and businesses have managed private waste water on-site using septic tanks. But a septic tank removes only around 30 per cent of the active pollutants in the effluent.

Sewage treatment plants, by contrast, are highly efficient, treating around 95 per cent of the pollutants within the waste matter. They should be considered the solution of choice near to surface water and for any sensitive sites.

Each CPD is free to attend and worth one hour of CPD credit.

A free tour of both venues is offered for delegates along with complimentary lunch and refreshments on arrival.

CPD: A Guide to Sewage Treatment Plants

A team of experts at Kingspan Klargester, the world-leading waste water management range, in association with Engineers Ireland and CIBSE, is offering a CPD session to key professions involved in the management of waste water, including architects and specifiers entitled: ‘A Guide to Sewage Treatment Plants’.

Topics include: • Understanding waste water treatment • An introduction to sewage treatment systems • Site assessments • Sizing commercial systems and seasonal applications • Typical installation process • Dos and don’ts

CPD Trainer: David Best, Commercial Specification Manager, Ireland David has more than 30 years of experience with the Klargester product range.

To find out more or to book your free place, contact us W: www.bit.ly/klargesterCPD | E: water-IE@kingspan.com T: 028 3026 6799 (NI) | T: 048 3026 6799 (ROI)

Klargester Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

Sign up to CIS FREE to get 3 day's full access to our premium system. Contact us on:

Construction Information Services (CIS) is the market leader in supplying All-Ireland construction opportunities. We provide fully researched real-time information on construction projects from pre-planning to on-site stages. *This project listing was generated on 10th August 2018.

Phone:

Banbridge Office: 028 4064 8110 Dublin Office: 00353 (0)1 2999 200

Website:

www.cisireland.com

Email:

sales@cisireland.com

CIVIL AND UTILITIES ProjectID Title

Stage

Category

Value

County

On Site On Site

Civil and Utilities Civil and Utilities

€23,700,000 £4,000,000

Co. Dublin Co. Antrim

Stage

Category

Value

County

On Site Contract Awarded

Commercial Commercial

£5,000,000 £45,000,000

Co. Antrim Co. Antrim

Stage

Category

Value

County

Tender

Community and Sport

£9,435,400

Co. Londonderry

Tender On Site

Community and Sport Community and Sport

£7,000,000 £35,000,000

Co. Antrim Co. Armagh

Stage

Category

Value

County

On Site Contract Awarded

Education Education

€70,000,000 €15,000,000

Co. Dublin Co. Limerick

On Site Contract Awarded

Education Education

€110,000,000 £7,000,000

Co. Dublin Co. Tyrone

On Site

Education

£21,500,000

Co. Tyrone

Stage

Category

Value

County

Contract Awarded

Industrial

£20,000,000

Co. Antrim

Stage

Category

Value

County

Tender

Medical

£3,500,000

Co. Antrim

Stage

Category

Value

County

On Site On Site

Residential Residential

€9,964,000 €51,079,000

Co. Carlow Co. Dublin

Contract Awarded On Site

Residential Residential

€43,394,400 €13,555,740

Co. Dublin Co. Meath

948648 €125m - Residential Development 1002855 £8m - MTC for Servicing & Response Maintenance to Heating Systems 1003089 £6m - Housing Design and Build Contract 1002493 £45m - Housing Design & Build Contract 1002495 £4.6m - Housing Design & Build Contract

On Site Tender

Residential Residential

€125,500,000 £8,000,000

Co. Dublin Co. Antrim

Tender

Residential

£6,000,000

Co. Tyrone

Tender Tender

Residential Residential

£45,000,000 £4,600,000

Co. Down Co. Fermanagh

1003088 £26m - Housing Design and Build Contract, Phase 4 Check us out on social media 897652 £10m - Residential Development

Tender Tender

Residential Residential

£26,000,000 £10,753,650

Co. Londonderry Co. Antrim

971019 €23.7m - Reservoir Works 897405 £4m - Bus Lanes

COMMERCIAL ProjectID Title 935413 £5m - New Supermarket 902365 £45m - Office Development

COMMUNITY AND SPORT ProjectID Title 819552 £9.4m - Community Centre/Residential Development 1003102 £7m - Multi Use Community Hub 895647 £35m - Leisure Centre

EDUCATION ProjectID Title 828614 €70m - East Quad - Grangegorman 862045 €15m - School Development 828604 €110m - Central Quad - Grangegorman 796641 £7m Shared Educational Campus Phase 2 - Integrated Consultant Team 840151 £21.5m - School Development

INDUSTRIAL ProjectID Title 979716 £20m - Storage and Warehousing Facility

MEDICAL ProjectID Title 1002483 £3.5m - Demolition Works

RESIDENTIAL ProjectID Title 871134 €9.9m - Residential Development 822024 €51m - Residential Development 856020 €43m - Mixed Use Development 756686 €13.5m - Housing Development

www.specifymagazine.co.uk

Off-site flooring in minutes not days.

Rapid build off-site housing requires the latest innovative off-site ground floor system to fully maximize its efficiency.

Spantherm is a high performance off-site concrete flooring system. A typical plot can be installed in just 90 minutes, cutting up to a week off the schedule.

With exceptional Psi and U values, Spantherm reduces cold-bridging at the wall/ floor junctions providing a cost effective route to Part L compliance within SAP for all build types including timber frame.

CREAGH CONCRETE PRODUCTS LTD Email: spantherm@creaghconcrete.com 13/4974

www.Creaghconcrete.co.uk/spantherm.html

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

Construction Finalists announced in the 2019 Construction Celebrates Excellence Awards This year’s Showcase taking place at Foyle Col 20th Year of Londonderry on Wednesday 11th September g the opportunity to demonstrate the excellence project to customers, suppliers and industry pro Excellence The winners will be announced at a Gala Even

T

he competition to the highest accolade in Plaza the local construction October atwinthe Crowne Hotel, Shaws Br industry will take a step forward in mid-September as the Showcase of

General Construction

Commercial Construction Award Glasgiven Contracts Artola House, Belfast

GRAHAM

Grand Central Hotel, Belfast

Lowry Building & Civil Engineering

NIFRS Service Support Centre, Belfast

McAleer & Rushe

Belfast City Maldron Hotel

Restoration Award

Shortlisted Finalists for the Construction Excellence Awards 2019, the 20th edition of the event, will take place at Foyle College, Derry on 11 September.

Social Housing GB & Republic of Award Ireland Construction Afforda Abbeyville, Newtow Award Above £5m John Armstrong, CEF Managing Director commented, “The Awards recognise the The Awards, which are run by the Construction Employers Federation (CEF) in partnership with SPECIFY magazine celebrate the best construction projects delivered by Northern Irish companies in the past year.

BW Social

very diverse and excellentConstruction work carried, out by the industry that we EHA represent.

Group Corramore Last year, Heron Bros won the Overall Award for the hugely impressive new St Brecan’s Park, Machrie Hotel & Golf Links Foyle College in Derry and we are delighted to be returning there for this year’s Showcase of Finalists Construction event.

Londonderry Farrans

Chichester Free School

De

GEDA Constructio

“The Showcase is an uplifting opportunity to discover more about some of the Street, Bel Gilbert-Ash best projects and initiatives that the local industry has delivered over Durham the last year. The fifteen categories in the Construction Excellence Awards recognise theConstructio Lowry Sevenoaks School industry’s contribution to society in providing clean water, new roads, new homes, Graham modern hospitals, fit-for-purpose schools and places to shop, work, worship and Gardens, L socialise. They also celebrate the preservation of our built heritage and the efforts of construction companies to protect their workers, the environment and jobs.

GB & Republic of Infrastructu Ireland Construction “I warmly congratulate all of those companies who have been shortlisted for an Health Infrastr award. Over the summerBelow our distinguished judging panel has been visiting each of Award £5m Award the shortlisted projects to identify the 15 category winners and the overall winner.

AGhave Wilson Civil They now some very difficultEngineering decisions to make.”

GRAHAM Bam

Improving Resilience Supply (IRS) Healthcare Partne The winners of the Construction Excellence Awards 2019 will be revealed at a Howden Connolly & Fee Gala Dinner on 10 October at the Crowne Plaza Belfast.

Acute Mental Healt GEDA Construction Coleraine Library Inpatient Centre Strelley Court & Strelley Road FP McCann Henry Brothers Library, Nottingham Ballynameen Bridge Repairs, NIFRS Learning & Gilbert-Ash Claudy Development Centr Mayhew Theatre Learning Facility, GEDA Construction P&K McKaigue London The Mourne Wall Rathview Mental Piperhill Construction Restoration project Healthcare Facility ‘Future’ OnSide Youth Zone, London Killowen Contracts Lanyon Conservation & Restoration Education Infra Project, Queen’s University Belfast Principal Sponsor Award Sponsors

Social/Community Construction Award Cleary Contracting

Raidió Fáilte / Líonra Uladh, Belfast

Felix O’Hare

Downpatrick Leisure Centre

Ganson UK

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

St Bronagh’s Youth Centre, Rostrevor

Housing

Private Housing Award

Connolly & Fee

Porter Green, Larne

H&J Martin Const

Antrim Construction Company DB Building Contracts Oakwood, Antrim

EHA Group

Huntingdon Hill, Derriaghy

Lotus Homes

Chantry Gardens, Greenisland

Coleraine Library

Strandtown Primar Belfast

OHMG

Queen’s University School of Biologica

Tracey Brothers

St Patrick’s Academ

30| sponsors

JLT Benefit Solutions provides advice and services designed to meet all the requirements of UK pension scheme trustees and Employers.

With over 3000 clients, we are one of the major pension consultancies and a leading administration services provider in the UK.

CEF/Specify awards •Pensions administration •Trustee governance services •Trustee training •Member communications •Documentation and technical support •Windup and discontinuance advice •Life insurance •Permanent Health Insurance •Medical Insurance •Flexible benefits •Online benefit solutions

We have considerable experience and a proven record in designing, implementing and reviewing pension scheme and benefit arrangements. Our services include:

We are part of a large multi-national organisation but face our clients through small client-centric teams. This improves communication with, and about, our clients and facilitates the building of long–standing relationships.

•Pension Consulting including Auto Enrolment •Trustee consulting •Actuarial consulting

We have more than 80 Actuaries, 160 actuarial students and 45 pension consultants, as well as over 1000 administration and support staff,

providing local service to our clients from over 10 locations in all parts of the UK. Our people are experienced, knowledgeable and highly competent.

We are a people business specialising in execution of complex strategic projects. We combine the delivery of practical advice with all the training that trustees require to empower them to address any of the issues that their schemes are facing. Our delivery model makes it easy to do business with us.

Our job is to deliver solutions for pension scheme management and employer’s benefit arrangements that are cost effective and efficient and we can design programmes to suit any size and any kind of scheme. From extensive projects to schemes where all that is required is advice on legislative issues. You can be confident that your pension scheme is in safe hands.

Crescent Specialist Recruitment

Crescent Specialist Recruitment (CSR) Ltd is a specialist Recruitment Consultancy that works within the Construction & Technical markets in Northern Ireland, mainland UK, and ROI. With over 15 years’ experience in the industry, CSR is made up of a team of specialist recruiters with dedicated Consultants for the industry.

CSR put a high value on both our clients and candidates that work with us. Through our high level of service, working in partnership and finding the right jobs for the right people, our business has continued to grow from strength to strength.

As a specialist Construction and Technical Recruitment Agency with offices in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland we operate on behalf of both our Clients and Candidates throughout the region as well as on an International basis as required. We offer both permanent and contract roles in the following areas: o o o o o o o o

Construction & Technical Appointments Site, Project & Contracts Management Site Engineering Quantity Surveying & Commercial Management Professional Quantity Surveyors/ Cost Managers Project Managers – Consultancy Estimating Buying

o o o o o o o o

Health, Safety, Environmental & Quality Bid Management & Bid / PQQ Writing Mechanical & Electrical Contracts Management / Coordination Mechanical & Electrical Design Engineers/ CAD Technicians Resident Engineers Trades & Labour International Opportunities Security Services

Our aim is to offer a tailored service every time we recruit for a client. We understand every company and role is vastly different to the next and therefore requires the attention to detail that has become synonymous with CSR.

CPD/DFP

CPD provides a range of professional services to clients across the NI public sector, including professional procurement services and project delivery for construction projects.

The construction and infrastructure projects led by CPD range from major new hospitals to primary care centres; shared education campuses to primary school extensions; and from new headquarters office buildings to strategic pedestrian and cycle bridges. The portfolio includes projects at all stages from feasibility right through design and construction with a value totalling almost £3bn.

CPD plays a pivotal role in the delivery of multiple flagship projects on behalf of the Northern Ireland Executive, promoting best practice in construction procurement and encouraging the adoption of the latest construction procurement techniques.

With a proven track record in construction delivery, CPD is the recipient of multiple national awards in recognition of its approach to innovation in construction procurement and the quality of infrastructure projects it delivers – projects which enshrine design excellence, build quality, sustainability, collaboration and most importantly, value for money.

In addition, CPD provides a comprehensive property management service to the Northern Ireland Civil Service and wider public sector. This includes the provision of general property maintenance, surveys and advice on a complex and diverse estate.

From a policy perspective, CPD is responsible for the development and promulgation of NI Public Procurement Policy, including construction procurement policy; on behalf of the Procurement Board.

CPD also carries out procurements for supplies and services required by NI departments and arm’s length bodies; and provides a Centre of Excellence for Programme and Project Management in the public sector.

Department for Infrastructure

The Department has a broad remit, including responsibility for strategic planning and oversight of the planning system, and maintenance and development of the regional road network. These responsibilities connect people and opportunities, and contribute to a strong, regionally balanced economy. Along with investment in the road infrastructure, the Department also seeks to improve the safety of road users through policy and engineering solutions, and through the work of the DVA. DfI protects the environment and enhances wellbeing through support for public transport and cycling, and through its role in flood risk management. DfI is responsible for three arm’s length bodies: NI Water, Translink, and the Drainage Council for NI, as well as one North South Body, Waterways Ireland.

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

CEF/Specify awards

sponsors |31

Strategic Investment Board Strategic Investment Board Limited (SIB) helps government to plan infrastructure, deliver major projects and manage assets. We have four key responsibilities we help the public sector develop and deliver major programmes and projects, we operate the Asset Management Unit, we help champion reform and we prepare the Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland on behalf of NI Executive (ISNI).

Government departments publish comprehensive up-to date information on all planned capital works funded under the Investment Strategy so that everyone can stay informed about the latest plans, timescales and can track on progress. This information is available on the Executive’s Investment Strategy website, www.isni.gov.uk. For further information on SIB programmes and projects go to www. sibni.org.

NHBC

NHBC is the UK’s leading independent standard-setter and provider of warranty and insurance for new homes. Our purpose is to work with the house-building industry to raise the standards of new homes and to provide protection for homebuyers in the form of Buildmark warranty and insurance.

With no shareholders, NHBC is able to invest in its purpose of raising standards and activities to improve the quality of UK housebuilding.

As an expert authority on the housing industry, active in research and development, we work with government and stakeholders to help shape housing policy.

As a regulated insurance company with substantial reserves, homeowners have the reassurance of knowing that they can rely on our financial strength and the protection afforded by our new home warranties, whatever economic conditions prevail.

NHBC is authorized by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.

NHBC’s real strength is in the expertise, commitment and passion of its people. It is this that makes a difference for homeowners and builder customers, and this that drives our success as a business.

Over 10,000 registered builders and developers throughout the UK use our products and services to help them with the challenges they face. NHBC provides technical support and assistance to help at every stage of development, from land buying, design and build through to customer handover.

Established in 1936, NHBC is the home warranty provider of choice, with a market share of approximately 80%.

Over the course of its history, NHBC has provided warranty for around 30 percent of the total existing housing stock in the UK, which equates to over seven million homes.

Department for Communities

The Department for Communities is the largest of the nine Northern Ireland Government Departments, with approximately 8,500 staff, an annual budget of almost £7 billion, and responsibility for a diverse range of business. The Department’s main functions include: •The promotion of healthy housing and the provision of decent, affordable, sustainable homes and housing support services •A social welfare system including focused support to the most disadvantaged areas •Providing training and support to jobseekers and employers bringing divided communities together by creating urban centres which are sustainable, welcoming and accessible to live, work and relax in peace •Supporting local Government to deliver effective public services •Maximising public benefits from the culture, arts and leisure sectors •Tackling disadvantage and promoting equality of opportunity by reducing poverty, promoting and protecting the interests of children, older people, people with disabilities, and other socially.

A key area of DfC business, through Housing Division, is the delivery of new social and affordable homes, reflected in our Programme for Government commitment.

We work closely with the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and Registered Housing Associations to achieve this.

CITB Northern Ireland

CITB NI is the Industry Training body for the construction sector in NI. Our aim is to work in partnership with employers and industry bodies to improve the skills of those employed or intending to be employed in the sector.

Our vision is to have a construction industry where skills and competence are at the core the business plans of every employer and a training culture where skills are at the heart of each construction company to help improve their productivity.

We continue to work closely with industry partners, stakeholders and Government to ensure a qualified and competent industry to ensure growth is sustained over the long term.

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

32| CEF/Specify awards

Meet the Judges...

Housing Awards

Aileen Nelson

Member of Planning Guidance Team, Planning Policy Division, Department for Infrastructure

Dann Corr

Past Chair of Chartered Institute of Housing Northern Ireland.

Neil Dunlop

Past Chair Royal Town Planning Institute Northern Ireland

General Construction Awards

David Little

Past Chair, Chartered Institute of Building in Ireland

Joan McCoy

President Royal Society of Ulster Architects

Robert Colvin

Former Chair Building Control NI

Donal MacRandal

President Elect of the Royal Society of Ulster Architects

Health/Safety & Training Awards

Barry Neilson

Chief Executive of CITB Northern Ireland

Richard McIvor

Past chair of the Institution of Occupational Safety & Health Northern Ireland

Derek Martin

Chairman, Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

CEF/Specify awards |33 Buy Social Award

Health & Education Infrastructure Awards

Gerard Graham

Immediate past Chair CIOB Belfast Hub, CIOB in Ireland – Northern Centre

Gary Blair

Chair, CIOB in Ireland – Northern Centre

Mary McKee

Head of Buy Social Unit Strategic Investment Board

Sinead O’Regan Belfast City Council

Transport and Utilities Infrastructure Award

Alan Skates

Past chair of the Institution of Civil Engineers Northern Ireland

Ronan Boyle

Environmental Sustainability Award

Ashley Hurst

Environmental Management Consultant AH Environmental

Karen McShane

Past chair of the Engineers Ireland Northern Region

Patricia Smyth

Client Manager at Invest NI

Past Chair NI Branch of the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation

Building in Use Award

Gerard Graham

Immediate past Chair CIOB Belfast Hub, CIOB in Ireland – Northern Centre

GB & ROI Construction Awards

Karen McShane

Past Chair NI Branch of the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

David Little

Former Regional Director NHBC

Neil Dunlop

Past Chair of the Royal Town Planning Institute Northern Ireland

Gary Blair

Chair, CIOB in Ireland – Northern Centre

Finalists announced in the 2019 Construction Excellence Awards This year’s Showcase taking place at Foyle College, Derry/ Londonderry on Wednesday 11th September gives finalists the opportunity to demonstrate the excellence of their project to customers, suppliers and industry professionals.

The winners will be announced at a Gala Evening on 10 October at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Shaws Bridge, Belfast

General Construction

Commercial Construction Award Glasgiven Contracts Artola House, Belfast

GRAHAM

Grand Central Hotel, Belfast

Lowry Building & Civil Engineering

NIFRS Service Support Centre, Belfast

McAleer & Rushe

Belfast City Maldron Hotel

Restoration Award Connolly & Fee

Coleraine Library

FP McCann

Ballynameen Bridge Repairs, Claudy

GEDA Construction The Mourne Wall Restoration project

Killowen Contracts

Lanyon Conservation & Restoration Project, Queen’s University Belfast

Social/Community Construction Award Cleary Contracting

Raidió Fáilte / Líonra Uladh, Belfast

Felix O’Hare

Downpatrick Leisure Centre

Ganson UK

St Bronagh’s Youth Centre, Rostrevor

GB & Republic of Ireland Construction Award Above £5m

Social Housing Award

Abbeyville, Newtownabbey

Altnagelvin Hospital South Wing, Derry

Machrie Hotel & Golf Links

Farrans Construction

St Brecan’s Park, Derry/ Londonderry

Cancer Fund for Children Daisy Lodge, Newcastle

Gilbert-Ash

Durham Street, Belfast

Corramore Construction Chichester Free School Sevenoaks School

GB & Republic of Ireland Construction Award Below £5m

Building in Use Award

BW Social Affordable Housing EHA Group

Farrans Construction Heron Bros

GEDA Construction

Woodvale Construction Company

Lowry Construction

Áras Colmcille Heritage Centre, Derry

Infrastructure

Quality Performance

Graham Gardens, Lisburn

AG Wilson Civil Engineering

Health Infrastructure Award

GEDA Construction

Acute Mental Health Inpatient Centre

Adman Civil Projects Ballymore Services Combined Facilities Management McAleer & Rushe

NIFRS Learning & Development Centre

Training Award

Improving Resilience Supply (IRS) Howden Strelley Court & Strelley Road Library, Nottingham

Gilbert-Ash

Mayhew Theatre Learning Facility, London

Health & Safety Award

GRAHAM Bam Healthcare Partnership Henry Brothers P&K McKaigue

Piperhill Construction

Rathview Mental Healthcare Facility

Housing

Education Infrastructure Award

‘Future’ OnSide Youth Zone, London

Private Housing Award

Antrim Construction Company Porter Green, Larne

DB Building Contracts Oakwood, Antrim

EHA Group

Huntingdon Hill, Derriaghy

Lotus Homes

Chantry Gardens, Greenisland

Heron Bros

Ards Blair Mayne Wellbeing & Leisure Complex

Connolly & Fee

Coleraine Library

Combined Facilities Management Farrans Construction Henry Brothers Lagan Specialist Contracting Group

Environmental Sustainability Award

Queen’s University Belfast, School of Biological Sciences

Adman Civil Projects Henry Brothers Lowry Building & Civil Engineering McAleer & Rushe W&H Alexander Civil Engineering

St Patrick’s Academy, Dungannon

Buy Social Award

H&J Martin Construction

Strandtown Primary School, Belfast

OHMG

Tracey Brothers

Farrans Construction

Altnagelvin North Wing Redevelopment Phase 1

Transport & Utilities Infrastructure Award

Fox Building & Engineering

Camlough Dam Refurbishment

Strule Shared Education Campus Site Preparation

Castle Park Wastewater Pumping Station

Belfast Construction Employment Academy

Portrush Railway Station

Coláiste Feirste, Irish Language School

BSG Civil Engineering Dawson-WAM

Heron Bros

GRAHAM

Woodvale Construction Co

Henry Brothers

Translink Milewater Service Centre

Principal Sponsor:

Sponsors: Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

CEF/Specify awards |35 General Construction: Commercial Construction Award

General Construction: Restoration Award The Finalists: • Killowen Contracts • FP McCann

• GEDA Construction • Connolly & Fee

KILLOWEN CONTRACTS – LANYON CONSERVATION & RESTORATION PROJECT, QUEENS UNIVERSITY BELFAST

T

he Lanyon Project involved the £5.5million restoration of the Grade A listed Lanyon Building at Queens University, Belfast, to the original vision of its Architect - the presiding genius of early Victorian Belfast, Sir Charles Lanyon.

The aim was to restore the 19th Century building to its former splendour following deterioration of the fabric. This required replacement decorative stonework to reinstate significant details; replacement brickwork and repointing; window refurbishment and replacement of inadequate rainwater goods while retaining the patina of age and as much original fabric as possible, ensuring structural stability of the building and protecting against further deterioration.

Technical challenges included sourcing salvaged brick to match existing 170 years old, repointing using bespoke hydraulic lime mortar and careful insertion of replacement stone while highly creative solutions were implemented relating to new rectangular zinc lattice windows and the restoration of corroded windows.

Such windows have not been manufactured for over 100 years but detailed research and experimentation led to discovery of the original construction formula enabling reconstruction and replacement. Indeed, the discovery was quite a story and provided traditional building skills in the truest form as research led us to an 85-year old former foundry worker located in a care home, who, although his memory was failing him, recollected from his teenage apprentice years the exact formula of zinc, tin and lead required for the window heads, unlocking a seemingly insuperable technical problem.

Killowen Contracts Ltd Building and Civil Engineering Contractors

www.killowencontracts.co.uk Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

Lanyon Conservation & Restoration Project

Shortlisted Finalist CEF/Specify Construction Excellence Awards

36| CEF/Specify awards General Construction: Restoration Award

THE MOURNE WALL RESTORATION PROJECT GEDA CONSTRUCTION

T

he Mourne Wall Restoration Project involved over 600 repairs by hand along 22miles of drystone granite wall across 15 mountain peaks. Traditional skills and craftsmanship were integrated with modern surveying techniques to return the 100-year-old wall to its original condition. A listed building since 1996, the Mourne Wall is in a Special Area of Conservation, Area of Special Scientific Interest and an Area of Outstanding Beauty. It is an iconic feature and an important navigational aid for the 100,000 hillwalkers who visit the Mournes every year.

The wall was repaired using neighbouring indigenous stone. Missing capping stones were sourced at no cost from abandoned local quarries with permission from Landowners/Trustees/National Trust/NIEA. A helicopter was used to transport stones to the required location.

Co-ordination with other long-line aerial lifting works in Ireland helped to significantly reduce mobilisation costs.

This project included the re-establishment of traditional methods i.e. plug-and-feather splitting of granite stones; environmentally-sympathetic method of installing capping stones (weighing up to 120kg each) using age-old means of rolling them up a plank.

Details of bulges/collapses/tilts/missing capping stones were geotagged and uploaded to Google Earth. This novel and strategic approach allowed the sub-contractor to view repairs and track their route daily.

General Construction: Restoration Award

BALLYNAMEEN BRIDGE REPAIRS, CLAUDY FP MCCANN

T

hese works included repairs to the historic 5 span masonry Ballynameen Bridge located on Church St Claudy, over the River Faughan.

The masonry bridge erected in the early 19th Century was damaged by flash flooding in August 2017. Works included repairs to the existing structure, reconstruction and widening the downstream side by 3m.

The main aim was to return the bridge structure to its original carriageway loading and hydraulic capacities, while preserving the historical aesthetic appearance. Works included: •Investigation – Of the condition of existing bridge foundations •Permanent Works Design – Arch units, abutments, piers, foundations, spandrel walls etc.

•Temporary Works Design – Sheet piling for cofferdam/river channel dewatering, temporary propping of existing structure etc.

•Demolition – Partially collapsed spans, piers and foundations •Construction - Foundations, piers, sills, arch units & spandrel walls • Repointing & repairs - To masonry structure Materials – unstable sections of the masonry bridge carefully removed and recovered by position, sorted and labelled in pallets to maximise re-use as close as possible to original location. Masonry stone imported was locally sourced to match existing. An existing stone arch at Span 4 & Pier 3 were saved by further investigation and subsequent underpinning.

General Construction: Restoration Award

COLERAINE LIBRARY CONNOLLY & FEE

A

lbert Einstein said: ‘The only thing that you absolutely have to know, is the location of the library’. For Coleraine residents this rings most true since the reopening of their beautifully restored, Grade B1 listed library building. The facility provides a fantastic space for the modern library user, whilst retaining the essence of its original, edgy Brutalist design.

Retention/reuse of original fabric was central to maintaining the late 1960’s feel. Connolly & Fee retained/repaired the original terrazzo staircase, restored mahogany banisters/balcony, reused bookcases, sympathetically cleaned and restored facade, repaired/replaced soffits and concrete to front entrance; existing rebar treated.

Sourcing appropriate materials allowed Connolly & Fee to retain the integrity and aesthetic of the original building. The fanned/new window system was provided by Crittal, replica bookcases and woodwork in matching mahogany, produced by Spincraft – Sto rainscreen cladding fitted to the extension to marry old and new.

Works saw passenger lift and toilet-facilities to each level, making the library fully accessible. The old children’s area is reimagined as a ‘family space’. There are multiuse rooms, group areas, exhibition and study facilities and a dedicated heritage collection room.

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

CEF/Specify awards |37 General Construction: Commercial Construction Award

General Construction:

Commerical Construction Award The Finalists: • Glasgiven Contracts • Graham

• Lowry Building & Civil Engineering •McAleer & Rushe

ARTOLA HOUSE, BELFAST GLASGIVEN CONTRACTS

A

rtola House is an original 1870s Linen Storage Warehouse which has been substantially refurbished into high quality ‘Grade A’ Offices in the heart of Belfast. An eclectic mix of old and new, Artola House incorporates many features of an original Victorian building into a state of the art modern new-build office development.

Artola House spans five-storeys, each floor offering c.4,000ft² of flexible open-plan layout. This building can accommodate varying occupier/end-user needs.

In addition to providing modern contemporary office space, Artola House was designed to promote a superior quality of office accommodation with generous ceiling heights, full 150mm raised access floors, VRF air-conditioning, PIR Lighting, New double-glazed wooden sash windows,10-person lift and exceptionally well-appointed bathrooms, reception and common-areas.

The refurbishment of Artola House has transformed a derelict space into a vibrant space in the centre of Belfast. The high quality of design, construction and carefully selected fittings and finishes is evident from the Victoria Street façade & entrance area. Original features are enhanced through the choice of floor/wall finishes and large windows which creates a bright airy interior perfect for office use.

General Construction: Commercial Construction Award

BELFAST CITY MALDRON HOTEL McALEER & RUSHE

T

his project had a series of challenges to overcome but was ultimately a great success for McAleer & Rushe. Forming part of a mixed-use development comprising of a 237-bedroom Maldron hotel, and a 476-bed student accommodation block for Queen’s University. The four-star hotel is located in the heart of Belfast’s Linen Quarter and includes a restaurant, bar, five meeting rooms and conference facilities.

As this was the first Maldron new-build hotel to be built in over 10 years, the client, Dalata Hotel Group placed large emphasis on the design both aesthetically and commercially to reduce their running costs.

Before work on the 13-storey building could commence, McAleer & Rushe ensured the works would not affect the neighbouring historical Blackstaff Chambers.

Following a pre-condition survey, tilt and vibration monitors were installed alerting the team to any excessive movement. This led to a new underpinning system which utilised the existing piles by replacing their rotten pile heads.

The construction of the building structure was probably the biggest challenge, as with any contract in Belfast, it can be difficult to predict the ground conditions until the works are underway. The team had to redesign their original plans which led to early delays, however due to their extensive experience with concrete frame, they quickly regained the programme back, putting up a floor every two weeks.

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

38| CEF/Specify awards General Construction: Commercial Construction Award

NIFRS SERVICE SUPPORT CENTRE LOWRY BUILDING & CIVIL

T

ENGINEERING

his £8.2 million project by NIFRS and largest capital investment in recent years, has created a true and lasting landmark on the landscape of Boucher Road, Belfast. Over recent years the remit of NIFRS has expanded and this Service Support Hub has brought a number of functions under one roof allowing support service delivery in a more effective & efficient way. Lowry Building & Civil Engineering (LBCE) delivered a facility NIFRS are ‘extremely proud of, not only visually impressive but more importantly its functionality has been designed to meet the specific needs of the dedicated support teams’ Michael Graham, Interim Chief Fire & Rescue Officer.

LBCE worked closely with HLM Architects, the wider design team & NIFRS to guarantee the end product was exactly to specification, providing a bespoke facility for key services such as; Fleet & Engineering Workshop Technical & Hose Workshop Research & Development The site is now the true hub for maintenance, servicing & repair of fire appliances & operational equipment.

General Construction: Commercial Construction Award

GRAND CENTRAL HOTEL, BELFAST GRAHAM

T

he new Grand Central Hotel’s design, construction and finish had to reflect the dynamism and prestige of the Group’s existing portfolio. The £53m project has transformed a dormant 1970s era office block into an iconic four star hotel. Featuring 300 luxurious bedrooms (including accessible guest rooms), three restaurants, conference and meeting room facilities and an observatory bar on the 23rd floor, all designed and built to ensure comfort and relaxation for every guest.

The single biggest investment in Hasting’s history, its MD described Graham’s work as “remarkable” while its GM believes the hotel is “the jewel of Northern Ireland”.

Graham reengineered Hastings’ original design solution and presented a revised technical/ commercial proposal capable of meeting the pre-existing programme timeline.

Graham reinvented the 122,000sqft concrete framed building through an innovative design and build strategy that demanded simultaenous part demolition/rebuild/extension processes within a confined city centre space. The sheer pace this project proceeded at and the technical expertise of the construction team translated the design into what can be seen today. 6,500 individual sections of cladding, carefully selected from a three-grey palette, ensure the external appearance of the building is subtly different depending on the angle

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

CEF/Specify awards |39 General Construction: Commercial Construction Award

General Construction:

Social/Community Construction Award The Finalists: • Felix O’Hare & Co Ltd • Cleary Contracting

• Ganson UK • Heron Bros

Down Leisure Centre Felix O’Hare & Co Ltd

T

he construction of Down Leisure Centre took place over 5 phases and the completion of this gateway building to Downpatrick comprised of dry and wet sports facilities - 25m main swimming pool, 13m minor pool (with moveable floor to cater for all ages and abilities), 4 court sports hall, dance studios, squash / GAA handball court, a 85 station fitness suite and a vitality suite. Within the first six months of opening Newry, Mourne and Down Council had secured 3,900 members, 2.5 times more than what was targeted for the first twelve months.

The construction of the new Down Leisure Centre overcame many significant obstacles throughout the build which required ingenuity, innovation and resilience to successfully deliver this state of the art facility for Newry Mourne and Down District Council. The initial ingenuity to obtain planning permission for creation of a temporary road and walkways was a key move to ensure that the client maintained full uninterruped use of the existing leisure centre throughout the new build; this move was also key in maximising our Health and Safety approach by segregation of the public from the building works. Felix O’Hare & Co Ltd utilized BIM on this project even though it was not required, which proved invaluable given the high levels of precision engineering and overall complexity of the building. We handed over our federated BIM model to our client, Newry, Mourne and Down Council which will greatly assist the future maintenance of this facility.”

The new building is within the river Quoile flood plain, which resulted in the need for the building to be suitably elevated above the 100 year flood plain. Felix O’Hare & Co had to implement ground improvement works (the first of this type of stabilisation in Ireland) as a means of providing a stable, temporary worksite in order to accommodate the construction of the building’s sub-structures, basement structures and drainage installation. The site is adjacent to the location of a historic coal / gas refinery, which resulted in the need to remove significant ground contamination and monitor same throughout the build; specialist gas membranes were detailed to protect the building from any toxic gases released from the ground.

Proud to be nominated for the CEF Specify construction excellence awards 2019 for the

Social/Community Construction Award 88 Chancellors Rd, Cloughoge, Newry, BT35 8NG Email: admin@felixohare co.uk | Phone: +44 28 3026 1134 | www.felixohare.co.uk Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

40| CEF/Specify awards 40| CEF/Specify awards General Construction: Social/Community Construction Award

ST BRONAGH’S YOUTH CENTRE, ROSTREVOR GANSON UK

G

anson constructed a brand-new youth club AND this was part of a larger development within the beautiful setting of Rostrevor. The scheme includes facilities for a varied number of sports including basketball, boxing and netball, all within the main hall, multi-purpose room/social areas. The youth club has been recognised for its contribution to the surrounding areas.

Ganson were aware that excellent communication was a critical component to the successful delivery of this project, optimising Client/End User engagement and mutual trust, as we worked collaboratively to provide a more pleasing experienced and satisfied project, e.g. the children from the St Bronaghs Primary school had a few trips to site.

A Client contractor relationship was established and was a professional, open and trusting relationship with the St Bronaghs Trustees, the open-door policy, continual daily contact was shown with the site Foreman and staff being invited to the official opening and personally thanked by the St Bronaghs Trustees for professional contribution to the much-awaited scheme. The affection and appreciation from the client were very apparent when site foreman was invited for his Christmas Dinner with the children at the school.

General Construction: Social/Community Construction Award

ARDS BLAIR MAYNE WELLBEING & LEISURE COMPLEX- HERON BROS Ards and North Down Borough Council’s (ANDBC) £30m leisure destination was constructed with community at its heart. Ards Blair Mayne Wellbeing and Leisure Complex (ABMWLC) contributes to enhancing socio-economic, health and wellbeing throughout the borough.

Facilities include main and minor pools, splash play area, soft play area, gym with three studios, spa and Blacklight Adventure Zone (BLAZ) which includes golf, climbing walls and high ropes. There is a fully fitted gymnasium, all-weather playing field and café. Outside, there is a diversity zone, pump-track and wheel-park.

Inclusivity is integral to ABMWLC, catering to fitness fanatics, families and spa enthusiasts. End users were given site tours and consulted on design elements including the spa facilities, feature staircase and acoustic ceilings.

People with disabilities can use the first wheelchair swing in the area. End users have posted 332 Google Reviews with a 4.3 average star rating.

Early client engagement revealed that opening in January 2019 was important for ANDBC to capitalize on new-year memberships. Fortnightly meetings enabled clear communication channels. ANDBC site visits were facilitated to monitor progress, make requests and discuss details while organizing their own suppliers. HB granted access for early gym inductions which made ABMWLC more efficient when it opened.

“We found the team to be highly competent, dedicated, professional, flexible and enjoyable to work with.” Andrew Scott - Head of Performance and Projects - ANDBC. HB implemented buildability solutions without compromising on functionality, aesthetics or quality offering savings on roofing, cladding and concrete freeing up further capital for enhancing the user experience internally. The spa features 5-star amenities including vitality and chill pools, aroma steam room and salt grotto.

The 110-station gym features Technogym equipment. The versatile fitness studios feature a retractable wall. Pools have moveable floors to adjust height dependent on activity.

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

CEF/Specify awards | 41 CEF/Specify awards |41 Daisy Lodge, Newcastle

Ards Blair Mayne Wellbeing and Leisure Complex, Newtownards

heronbros.com General Construction: Social/Community Construction Award

RADIO FAILTE / LIONRA ULADH, BELFAST CLEARY CONTRACTING

C

leary Contracting Ltd. (CCL) successfully delivered the new Raidió Fáilte building on the junction of the Falls Road and the Westlink motorway, Belfast. The facility provides an inclusive Irish language community radio service, on a public service/nonprofit-distributing basis, 24hrs per day, seven days per week. The station works with volunteers of all ages and backgrounds, providing a platform for crosscommunity groups to showcase their activities.

High levels of collaboration enabled contribution of construction expertise to buildability. Where appropriate, the supply chain was engaged to inform the design of specialist aspects such as the architectural slotted timber ceiling through the ground floor and up through the lobby area. To ensure client satisfaction and support decision-making, sample panels were built to show brick types and options for hit & miss brick panels. This integrated approach ensured a consistently high standard of finish throughout.

Transport NI cables were discovered within the site and had to be diverted, causing a delay of 12 weeks. As the client was renting premises, the programme was recovered through increased allocation of resources and deployment of multiple trades on site.

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

Infrastructure: Education Infrastructure Award

Infrastructure:

Education Infrastructure Award The Finalists: • Connolly & Fee • H&J Martin Construction

• OHMG • Tracey Bros

COLERAINE LIBRARY CONNOLLY & FEE

T

his facility, in the heart of the town, provides a fantastic space for the modern library user, whilst retaining the essence of its original, edgy Brutalist design. This project saw restoration of the existing Grade B1 Listed building and construction of a new 3-storey extension.

Client Engagement & Project Management were integral to success – Connolly & Fee appointed a Management Team and Supply Chain with extensive restoration/NEC experience – they collectively ensured effective programme, cost and risk control - they worked with LibrariesNI to understand their vision and realise same – collaborating on change management, value engineering and quality attainment to ensure a successful project, on-time & budget.

Affirming Client Satisfaction, Jean Fitzpatrick, Area Manager Coleraine Library said: “I am delighted to reopen the doors to Coleraine Library... The transformation…provides a modern, attractive and fit for purpose community space to meet the needs of modern library users...”

42| CEF/Specify awards Infrastructure: Education Infrastructure Award

Infrastructure: Education Infrastructure Award

STRANDTOWN PRIMARY SCHOOL, BELFAST

QUEENS UNIVERSITY BELFAST, SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

H&J MARTIN CONSTRUCTION

O

OHMG

riginally built by H&J Martin in the 1930’s, it was a fitting legacy to be back at Strandtown to complete the 1,565 m2 extension over 2 teaching blocks adding an additional 12 classrooms. Working within a live school site that comprised over 1,000 pupils, three separate access/egress points, ongoing daily deliveries, a canteen that also serviced other schools and external asbestos contractors working through the summer of 2018, H&J Martin’s stringent logistics and sequencing ensured they met the needs of the school.

Meeting weekly with the school Principal, H&J Martin set a 2-week forward plan that considered all events from construction activity and events at the school to delivery times and traffic management. Noisy works took place outside school hours with changes to the road layout completed during school holidays.

H&J Martin worked with the school and their consultants to ensure the design of the new blocks integrated as close as possible with the existing 1930’s building by R.S. Wilshere and were not just bolt-ons.

Just prior to the works commencing in April 2018 the client altered the project brief to include additional toilet blocks, hardstandings and temporary paths.

H&J Martin reprogrammed their works for the summer of 2018 to facilitate the additional work. Closely collaboration between client, contactor, designer and supply chain allowed them to close out each work package as it was completed through joint team inspections. The project was a success to both time and budget.

Q

UB’s vision for the School of Biological Sciences Building (SOBS) was to achieve the following end-user needs which OHMG successfully delivered: • Deliver a world-class facility promoting the growth of Life-Sciences (especially in agriculture/food-science/ food-safety/ disease/ infection biology/ diagnostics/ waste-management, ecosystems and the environment) ensuring these sectors remain competitive in NI and globally.

• To expand QUB’s World-Leading Research for Global Food-Security providing the world’s population with sustainable & safe supplies of high-quality food • Provide state-of-the-art teaching and research facilities for 920 staff and students (studying – agriculture/ pharmaceuticals/ food-science/ infectiousdiseases/ marine-sustainability and environmental management) tackling globally pressing issues • House a CAT III specialised-laboratory with unique instruments including 17No. mass spectrometers • Handover of BIM Level 2 Asset-Information Model • Turnkey Project • 100% defect-free at Handover • Glazed atrium allowing daylight to penetrate all levels of the building • Fully federated IFC/Revit compatible Level 2 BIM Model of building & sitewide elements • Spatial co-ordination & clash-detection with 3D-modelling for visualisation • Secant-piled walls with temporary steel-props carrying two-storey basement construction • Natural red sandstone cladding used to blend SOBS with historical surrounding buildings • Laboratory Containment-Autoclave Facility & Microbiological Safety-Cabinets • M&E plant located in basement provided aesthetically pleasing effect for the community • Innovation: Off-site Manufacturing technique implemented to plant-areas including planning, design, fabrication and assembly

Infrastructure: Education Infrastructure Award

ST PATRICK’S ACADEMY, DUNGANNON TRACEY BROTHERS

S

t Patrick’s Academy is a co-educational school for 1320 pupils with 17,625m2 of accommodation completed as the final phase of shared campus redevelopment with St Patrick’s College. The Department of Education consider it an exemplar project.

Aspects of the project included: • Scheme integrates several school requested enhancements e.g. larger sports hall, enhanced dining hall & stand-alone Oratory.

• Daylight, acoustics & ventilation were identified by School as significant factors in learning experience & were exemplified in completed project.

• Corridor widths are at least 20% larger than DE guidelines and have enhanced class change times and pupil behaviour below budget.

• Principal (Mr Donnelly) commented “The school is delighted with the design & finish of the new school. We have been impressed by the quality of workmanship & attention to detail. It certainly is a school fit for the 21st century”.

• Direct engagement & regular review and planning workshops with adjacent schools & Project Sponsor mitigated issues with noise, security, dust, vibration & eased decant & new building familiarisation processes.

• TBL discovered piling was bearing on boulders which would have caused future structural failure. TBL brought forward an innovative solution in Overburden Drilling EXcentric piling, enhancing buildability.

• TBL reviewed retaining walls at sports hall and re-detailed to enhance details to eliminate future damp issues.

• Airtightness Interfaces were contractor detailed. Permeability Rate 4.94m3/(hr.m2)@50Pa was achieved on first air test, exceeding standard specified.

• Working with their supply chain Tracey Brothers provided enhanced specifications. Examples include pitch floodlighting, ironmongery and thermal insulation.

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

CEF/Specify awards |43

Infrastructure:

Building in Use Award The Finalists: • Farrans • Heron Bros

• Woodvale CC

ALTNAGELVIN HOSPITAL SOUTH WING, DERRY FARRANS CONSTRUCTION

A

ltnagelvin Hospital South Wing opened in 2009 as a state-of-the-art healthcare facility that serves the people living in the west of Northern Ireland.

An extension of the main hospital, the south wing was built at the rear of the site and was designed to raise the bar in terms of patient care and experience.

Operated by Western Health & Social Care Trust, it is an acute hospital that delivers a range of services, within the South Wing these include: adult acute services, adult medical unit inpatient accommodation, rehabilitation, maternity and neo-natal services, cardiology, and care of the elderly.

However, when the south wing was developed it was designed and built to be more than a healthcare facility. It remains a high-end centre of excellence where extra wide corridors, an abundance of light and spacious wards create a relaxed, airy ambience that aids in the recovery of patients.

It was designed and built to be flexible and durable and remains a template for other hospitals to follow. The aim of the design was to minimise stress and make both patients and their families feel at ease and comfortable.

The 22,000m2 generous accommodation is configured around a series of landscaped courtyards to complement and enhance the modernist aesthetic of the original buildings, while maintaining and maximising views from the wards.

Infrastructure: Building in Use Award

CANCER FUND FOR CHILDREN DAISY LODGE, NEWCASTLE - HERON BROS

C

ancer Fund for Children’s (CFFC) Daisy Lodge (DL) is a therapeutic centre located in Newcastle, Co. Down which provides essential respite for families affected by cancer. It is an invaluable resource for Northern Ireland which has had immeasurable social impact since opening in Spring 2014. DL has welcomed over 2000 families for a free short break. Over 7,000 individuals have benefited from therapeutic support in an environment far removed from hospital wards.

Heron Bros delivered a project that end users have described as their ‘haven’, ‘sanctuary’ ,and ‘slice of heaven when going through hell’.

The non-clinical internal finish resembles a boutique hotel. The 16,000sqft facility features six family suites, a well-being suite with a gym and relaxation area, games room, playroom and two lounge areas. The centre incorporates a restaurant and cinema along with a shared reception area, office and learning space, meeting rooms and crèche/sensory facilities which are designed to facilitate full disabled/medical access.

“It is the best project I have worked on in terms of the relationship with the CFFC and the construction team. The input from the Charity’s board was invaluable and, in Heron Bros, I found a Contractor that was simply first class, I could not fault them.

The whole ethos of the project was superb.” Michael McDowell Architect

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

44| CEF/Specify awards Building in Use Award

ARAS COLMCILLE HERITAGE CENTRE, DERRY WOODVALE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY

A

ras Colmcille is a grade B2 listed building, used previously as an infants’ school until its transformation into a Heritage Centre. It is one of the oldest surviving school buildings in Derry.

From the outset, there were huge challenges. Aras Colmcille was on the buildings at risk register therefore no-one could enter until a stabilizing steel façade cage had been erected around the perimeter. The site was split level, restricted and difficult to access.

Woodvale’s compound was accessed by a steep, narrow road and they constructed a scaffolding walkway through the adjacent graveyard; materials had to be carried via the walkway or craned onto site.

As befitting a listed building, Woodvale ensured that: • The entire external stone envelope was retained • Windows, roof and floor timbers retained where possible • Replacment/repointing of brick/stone • Spot repairs to match existing • Wrought/cast-iron restored to match original Roof slates were matched with a Penryth Heather Blue slate from Wales. All materials were appropriate to the listed status of the building.

The building was designed to take users on a tour of the story of St Columba over two floors. The original stepped gallery was retained and the lower ground floor was transformed into a multi-purpose area with catering facilities.

Infrastructure:

Health Infrastructure Award The Finalists:

• Henry Brothers

• Graham-BAM Healthcare Partnership

• P&K McKaigue

ACUTE MENTAL HEALTH INPATIENT CENTRE Graham-BAM Healthcare Partnership

T

he Acute Mental Health Inpatient Centre will deliver a 21st century environment to support the treatment/care of severely mentally ill patients. Providing 74 acute Mental Health Beds and six Psychiatric Intensive Care Beds, it is the first purpose-built unit for acutely mentally ill adults within the Belfast area and has been designed to ensure that the environment supports and improves every future inpatient’s experience/recovery. All aspects of the facility have been carefully considered, including colours, lighting, materials, furniture, fixtures and fittings, to ensure that the surrounding environment helps improve the overall inpatient experience. From first arrival, patients/staff/ visitors experience the hospital as a journey between gardens rather than through dull corridors. Everything within the building is designed as anti-ligature, with patient/staff safety prioritised above all.

Contracts Director Bert McCulloch and PM Will Gott, regularly attended both formal/informal client meetings to ensure the Trust was central to all decision-making. “GRAHAM Bam have sought to understand the Trust’s requirements and have fully engaged with us to ensure that we were working towards a common goal of minimising risk to our clients. Throughout the construction period, the focus remained firmly on meeting the needs of the client. We look forward to continuing to work with GRAHAM Bam,” Karen Brookes, Trust Director of Capital Projects.

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

CEF/Specify awards |45 Infrastructure: Health Infrastructure Award

NIFRS LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT CENTRE HENRY BROTHERS

P

reviously the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) did not have a training facility for replicating real-life scenarios. With the extremely specialist nature of this project it was critical that Henry Brothers understood the training needs to be met by the facility. They visited existing training complexes across the UK to capture lessons learned and best practice.

In a spirit of partnership, they closely engaged with senior NIFRS training personnel to understand how training could be improved by the new facility. Fire Engineers provided confidence in the performance of the building during search and rescue exercises in live fires. End users were involved at every stage to ensure ongoing satisfaction.

A stakeholder engagement event updated all interested parties including Northern Ireland Prison, Police Service and Ambulance Services.

Based on Henry Brothers construction knowledge, elements of the original American design were changed to align with UK best practice building techniques. On Henry Brother’s advice, installation of thermocouple temperature sensors was completed inside the building instead of the original external design which would have required erection of scaffolding for yearly maintenance/testing.

The replacement of the specified lining board with an alternative gave a higher standard of finish with a longer lifespan under repeated and sustained burn events leading to reduced lifecycle costs.

Project management of design, procurement and programming ensured on time delivery by progressing design in tandem with on-site activities. Pre and post contract Value Engineering was carried out to match the Client’s budget. Henry’s hosted a ‘Meet the Buyer’ event to provide opportunities for prospective supply chain members (SCM). Specialist SCM were appointed early for key packages e.g. lining board, smoke extract system and thermocouples.

Infrastructure: Health Infrastructure Award

RATHVIEW MENTAL HEALTHCARE FACILITY P&K McKAIGUE

R

athview takes its name from a nearby Iron Age “Rath”. The project consisted of 12 bed discharge units, 6 bed recovery units, 2 central courtyards, alongside communal and rest areas.

The “homely” project is aimed to break down the preconceived ideas of a mental health care facility and in turn promote a safe place for those to seek help and have a positive impact on the recovery process.

The end user was considered at all stages to ensure the success of the project. Designed to provide support to people who have difficulty living independently due to severe and enduring mental illness and related difficulties.

The “domestic” and “calm” elements were crucial to achieve this, this was done through the design and high specification.

P&K McKaigue (P&K) liaised and corresponded closely with the client Western Health & Social Care Trust to ensure all requirements were satisfied, especially considering the level of dependency and vulnerability of the end user. Careful consideration was given to all finishes and specifications within the units and the outdoor space to keep the design as homely and peaceful to aid recovery.

The high standard of finish is evident. The roof was pitched off the habitable areas to give the feeling of “home” alongside corridors constructed with flat roofs and glazing to break down the sheer size of the building. The Glazed corridors allowed as much natural light as possible in, which alongside the cedar wood cladding created a warm feel to the building.

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

Altogether Stronger

WE ARE

DELIGHTED CATEGORIES

TO HAVE BEEN

SHORTLISTED FOR THE FOLLOWING

OF THE

Construction Excellence Awards 2019

Infrastructure Health Award

Quality Performance Award

NIFRS Learning and Development Environmental Centre, Sustainability Desertcreat

Quality Performance Award

Infrastructure Transport & Utilities Award

Training

Translink Milewater Service Centre

46| CEF/Specify awards Transport and Utilities Infrastructure Award

Infrastructure:

in 100-year return period for the catchment and risked overtopping.

Transport Utilities Award The Finalists: • BSG Camlough • Dawson - WAM

• Graham • Henry Brothers

CAMLOUGH DAM REFURBISHMENT BSG CIVIL ENGINEERING

Refurbishment of Camlough Dam was carried out to improve the long-term integrity of the structure and to improve the safety of the population, environment and infrastructure downstream with consideration to the community as the end user.

Through the visionary and considered redevelopment of the dam embankment and surrounding areas Camlough Lake transferred into a multi-use facility that today provides an enhanced recreational resource for the local community.

The reservoir hosts internationally recognised activity tourism events e.g. openwater swimming, fishing and triathlons. The local area has benefitted from the economic-impact and civic-pride that has been generated by the increased tourism interest in the region.

T

his Project was a £3M investment developed to secure an earth embankment dam forming part of the, recently abandoned, NI Water reservoir/ raw water source at Camlough Lake. The potential failure of the dam presented significant impact and danger to the public of Newry and South Armagh due to catastrophic flood risk.

A condition assessment in 2013 identified serious deficiencies within the existing dam structure. It was further put at risk after a high-water event which occurred during October/November 2014. This event was in the order of a 1

Transport and Utilities Infrastructure Award

CASTLE PARK WASTEWATER PUMPING STATION DAWSON – WAM

T

his £2.8m design and build project to reduce spills to Belfast Lough represents one of the largest WwPS upgrades undertaken for NI Water within an historic area. Located on the outskirts of Bangor within the grounds of Bangor Abbey/Castle Park, works close to the remains of the 12th century St Malachy’s wall and a large portion of works within an area of Scheduled Historic Monument. The project presented Dawson WAM with numerous civil engineering, environmental and aesthetic challenges; all of which were overcome on a highly successful project fully embraced by client and community alike.

This was an archaeologically sensitive project; early involvement of archaeologists and implementation of a HED licence enabled initial excavations, recording and removal of archaeological deposits including skeletal remains prior to on site construction.

Site Investigation Boreholes indicated firm clay to formation level of the proposed 25m dia x 16m deep structure, suited for top down cassion construction. Rock was encountered 4m deep into shaft construction, Dawson WAM prompted change of construction technique to underpinning which enabled the construction to be completed and minimise delays and costs to the client.

The existing Pumping Station was kept operational during construction, permanent access to the new PS and crane platform was integrated into the existing path routes.

Transport and Utilities Infrastructure Award

TRANSLINK MILEWATER SERVICE CENTRE HENRY BROTHERS

T

he site is in a busy industrial area with construction period access via the Harbour Commissioners owned Northern Road and from Duncrue Street which accommodates heavy vehicle/cycle/pedestrian traffic. Henry Brothers Traffic Management Plan included procedures for minimisation of site generated traffic (especially at peak times), on/off-site interface management including traffic controls during utility connections and pedestrian interfaces.

As the original piled design for the external hardstanding/parking areas was over budget, Henry Brothers proposed an alternative ground reinforcement strategy using Controlled Modulus Columns. This produced significant cost and programme savings.

With a strong ethos of partnering, the project was completed with phased/ sectional handovers to facilitate client fitouts, ground personnel training for the new Glider fleet, fleet storage and driver training. Henry Brothers collaborated closely with the client to facilitate decanting from existing offices.

Client engagement was on a daily basis, facilitating collaboration and allocating the required time and planning resource to ensure that the highly complex infrastructure was accommodated in the buildings. We arranged demonstrations and training for Translink personnel. John Glass Head of Project Delivery Translink said: “Translink are impressed with Henry Brothers performance to date in delivering this strategically important public transport project……Henry Brothers and Translink have developed a positive, collaborative working environment. The Contractor and Design Team have brought considerable innovation and benefits to the overall project” Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

CEF/Specify awards |47 Transport and Utilities Infrastructure Award

PORTRUSH RAILWAY STATION Graham

A

phased construction programme, supplemented by a temporary station building, ensured that the passenger/rail service remained fully operational and functional throughout the duration of the project. Major works, with the potential to cause disruption, were planned and performed off peak.

Graham’s programme involved upgrading three platforms and the extension of the permanent way for Platforms 1+2 at the existing station. Importantly, the scheme means that the station can now accommodate six-car train sets to provide increased capacity. For the first time on a Translink project, “High Street Environment and Conditions” were adhered to. As a consequence, Personal Track Safety Training was not required, which substantially reduced training costs while significantly opening up and widening opportunities for our supply chain.

Portrush Train Station was a core element of the wider £17m Portrush Regeneration Programme.

Critically, Graham were tasked with completing the station ahead of the 148th Open Golf Major and an estimated 200,000 visitors flocked to the town to take in golf ’s oldest championship. The new station facilitated this once-in-a-generation surge in passenger numbers and provided a contemporary gateway to Portrush.

Richard Knox, Head of Rail Service Operations, expressed how “proud” Translink was of the new station and predicted that “those passing through this summer” will be “impressed by what they encounter”.

GB & RoI Construction Award Above £5m The Finalists: • Corramore Construction • Farrans

• Gilbert-Ash

MACHRIE HOTEL & GOLF LINKS CORRAMORE CONSTRUCTION

T

he Machrie was a much-loved local landmark which had fallen into disrepair.

The project was a partial demolition of the existing hotel, with the main entrance block retained; transforming it into a 47-bedroom boutique, golf hotel with facilities that included; an elevated bar/restaurant with exquisite views of the 18th hole and the Atlantic Ocean beyond. Also adding a private cinema, spa, gym, private dining area, driving range, courtyard and marquee for events and private lodges set within the grounds of the golf course.

The front elevation of the existing hotel was refurbished to retain the original features which contrast against the new contemporary wings facing the golf course and additional separate self-contained guest lodges built.

Building such a significant project on a remote island of the West Coast of Scotland provided its own complexities; such as access to a specialised labour pool, build materials and labour accommodation provision.

These issues were overcome by bringing labour onto the Island mainly from Northern Ireland; however, this in itself presented significant challenges with no direct flights to the island and the indirect flights, infrequent and inadequate to serve our needs. Travel was resolved by chartering high speed ribs/boats, with the ability to reach the island and when weather conditions hindered this, a helicopter was used to transport the labour force.

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

48| CEF/Specify awards

is pleased to be nominated for CEF / Specify GB & ROI Above £5m Award

Unit A1, Workspace Tobermore Road Draperstown, BT45 7AG

www.corramore.com GB & Republic of Ireland Construction Award Above £5m

SEVENOAKS SCHOOL GILBERT-ASH

R

ated the Sunday Times Independent Secondary School of the Year 2018, Sevenoaks School in Kent is the second oldest non-denominational school in the UK, dating back to 1432.

It has a level of facilities available to pupils as high as you would expect from such a prestigious school and it is the constant improvement of these, replacing older buildings with newer better-equipped ones, central to the Foundation’s vision.

Sevenoaks School builds on Gilbert-Ash’s already extensive portfolio in the education sector.

The £22m project included the demolition of two buildings to facilitate the development of a new state-of-the-art Science and Technology Centre, and a Sixth Form Centre with a multi-purpose space to accommodate exams, exhibitions and social gatherings.

A high-end, quality finish was required throughout incorporating exposed in situ and precast concrete, timber and metal acoustic baffles. Sustainability was key to the brief and the project delivered to a BREEAM Excellent rating Architecturally there is a generosity of space and natural light.

Rainwater downpipes and soil stacks are paired as facade-organising devices, celebrated rather than hidden away. The building is clad in handmade Coleford brick. The layout is logical, the science labs and tech spaces all on display behind glass walls. Particular care was invested in the laboratories, from their flexible desking arrangements to the integration of ventilation cabinets with windows and multiple blind systems. The building is conceived as a science workshop; a place for experimentation and discovery.

T: 028 7962 8882

GB & Republic of Ireland Construction Award Above £5m

CHICHESTER FREE SCHOOL FARRANS CONSTRUCTION

C

hichester Free School is a new primary, secondary and sixth form school catering for 1,250 pupils and 200 staff members staff.

Farrans was appointed to build a new school building with the original 19th century Carmelite Convent building at its centre. Whilst not listed this was of Historical Interest.

The newly converted Convent forms the heart of the new school, accommodating the dining hall, administration offices, SEN, library and sixth form, with 6897m2 of new build providing classrooms and other facilities.

Designing and building the new school around the convent, with its thick walls, archways and corridors, resulted in a number of challenges during the 18-month project, but the expertise, determination and experience of the team resulted in the school opening on time and within budget.

The project team worked extremely closely with the client to ensure issues were ironed out early, communication was free-flowing, and their needs were considered throughout.

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

Finalist GB & Republic of Ireland Award above ÂŁ5 million

Finalist GB & Republic of Ireland Award below ÂŁ5 million

Sevenoaks School

The Mayhew Theatre, Foreign & Commonwealth Office

A fresh perspective on building www.gilbert-ash.com

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

50| CEF/Specify awards

GB & RoI Construction Award Above £5m The Finalists: • AG Wilson • GEDA

• Gilbert-Ash • Piperhill Construction

IMPROVING RESILIENCE SUPPLY, HOWDEN AG WILSON

T

he project involved the installation of approximately 7km of 250mm HPPE supply main between the mains network south of the River Tweed near Newstead, and the Earlston Pumping Station, with the aim to deliver an improved treatment processes and a more resilient supply to over 20,000 households and businesses across several towns and villages, in the Scottish borders.

The project was designed around development of a new pipeline, comprising of approx. 7000m of 250mm PE pipe with vital connections to water mains at both ends of the pipe with cross-connections to the existing line to improve resilience. This project had several unique elements encompassed within it, including; a directional drill of 200m, directional drill crossing 1 minor and 1 major road in rock, an isolated open cut across river tweed and a Slip-lining crossing existing duct under tweed road bridge. The project was programmed and specific sections thoroughly planned in close partnership with the client in order to ensure that the project was completed safely, to a high standard, on time and within budget.

Ground investigation by AG Wilson led to the discovery of unsuitable ground conditions, working closely with the client we determined a safe system of work allowed us to install the pipe successfully by pre planning and continual review of works. Despite the conditions and terrain we developed various methods of installation inc directional drilling, as the safest most efficient way to install pipe in certain locations, a method that has a minimal impact compared to open cut methods.

The river crossing provided its own set of unique challenges, due to the environmental importance of the river as it is home to one of largest populations of Salmon, in Scotland. Potential works on the river created interest from local Fisheries and SEPA – since similar operations by another contractor earlier were a failure leaving a 20km silt trail in the River.

GB & Republic of Ireland Construction Award Below £5m

STRELLEY COURT & STRELLEY ROAD LIBRARY, NOTTINGHAM- GEDA CONSTRUCTION

T

he Strelley Court complex enables locals true independent living by raising the bar regarding supportive independent living accommodation and providing the community with a modern educational facility. Through exemplary design and build quality these 37 state of the art, 1bedroom apartments and library, provides much needed regeneration to the Nottingham community.

Independence of residents was key, and this was considered from inception, resulting in bespoke front doors, incorporation of open protocol lifts and mobility scooter charging points. Internal colour coding was intentionally selected enabling residents to easily identify locations within the building.

The creation of spacious communal social rooms and gardens promotes social interaction between residents.

Nick Murphy, Chief Executive of Nottingham City Homes (NCH) said: ‘Geda have delivered exactly what we wanted; more importantly they have been good partners. It doesn’t matter how well you specify and detail through preliminary works, things always crop up and Geda have worked with us to deliver this fantastic building.’

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

CEF/Specify awards |51 GB & Republic of Ireland Construction Award Below £5m

GB & Republic of Ireland Construction Award Below £5m

MAYHEW THEATRE LEARNING FACILITY, LONDON

‘FUTURE’ ONSIDE YOUTH ZONE, LONDON

T

T

GILBERT-ASH

he Duke of Cambridge officially opened The Mayhew Theatre. Named after Lady Cicely Mayhew, one of the first women to be appointed to the British Diplomatic Service, the Theatre will allow staff to join sessions virtually from across the world and support the delivery of the Diplomatic Academy curriculums.

The project brief was to develop an unused space, large lightwell, within the FCO building on King Charles Street, London, by creating a “state-of-the-art learning facility”. A secure and sensitive central London location, Grade 1 Listed building with substantial Heritage and historical significance. With an ambitious and innovative “freestanding” hyperbolic paraboloid roof structure, for the provision of a flexible teaching and presentation space with integrated M&E, surrounded by thermal glazed oval walling system, to enable comfortable seating for 100 diplomatic students, as well as flexibility for usage of the space in a range of different functions.

Gilbert-Ash used digital construction methods early in the project to investigate the works. The new structure would sit on a steel grillage that would span from the existing column heads located within the post tensioned slab at terrace level with 24/7 operational office environment & MEP plants below.

Point Cloud surveying, Ground Penetrating Radar and advanced detection systems were used to accurately pinpoint the location of existing structural columns with accurate validation of the terrace dimensions, post-tensioned slab thickness and location of reinforcement.

The Steel Structural frame consisted of a cantilevered hyperbolic paraboloid top ring beam and zinc roof, a non-true oval base ring beam supporting the loading from the glazed walls, Elliptic Paraboloid cedar slat ceiling and MEP equipment.

Piperhill Construction his £4.9M Social/ Community Construction project was officially opened by HRH Duke of Sussex on 11th April 2019.

London’s first OnSide Youth Zone was built in Parsloes Park, a green field site in the heart of Barking & Dagenham.

The Youth Zone is a purpose-built facility for the borough’s young people aged 8–19,&up to 25 for those with disabilities. The infrastructure of facilities is based upon OnSide’s 21st Century Youth Facility Mode for deprived areas across the UK. Barking & Dagenham is ranked as the 3rd most deprived local authority in England (out of 326) in relation to the IMD 2015. 37% of children live in poverty and1 in 10 adults are out of work. The annual membership is only £5 and 50p per visit, making it affordable for low-income families.

Open 7 days a week, the Youth Zone will provide a safe environment where young people have somewhere to go, something to do and someone to talk to in order to raise their aspirations and confidence to create a happier and healthier generation.

Named by the borough’s young people, ‘Future’, the 3930m2 facility provides an array of world class facilities, including a four court sports hall, martial arts studio, state-of-the-art climbing wall, fitness suite, arts, crafts, fashion studio, cookery classes, multi-media studio, 3G Kick pitch & Skate park.

Housing:

Social Housing Award The Finalists: • Braidwater Social Affordable Housing

• EHA Group • GEDA Construction • Lowry Construction

ABBEYVILLE, NEWTOWNABBEY

BRAIDWATER SOCIAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING

A

bbeyville Place is a new development in Newtownabbey consisting of 35 homes comprising of detached, semi-detached and apartments.

Designed to extremely high energy efficiency and sustainability standards, the scheme was developed by BW Social Affordable Housing (BW) for Connswater Homes (CH). Built on a derelict site, the project has been instrumental in regenerating the area.

At the core of CH’s development strategy is the belief that well designed housing creates settled and sustainable communities. Careful consideration was attributed to provision of quality private and public amenity with large open space facilitating family fun days and serving the needs of the wider community. The design brief was very specific to ensure all homes had the appearance of a welldesigned residential housing development.

Further design criteria included accommodation to meet the requirements of various needs groups including singles, small and large families. Adaptability to meet future needs was considered with provision for installation of level access showers and stair-lifts.

With fuel poverty on the increase, efficient gas heating systems were installed. Triple-glazed windows and concrete brick maximise heat retention and minimise energy consumption whilst Positive Input Ventilation systems ensure a healthy living environment. Feedback from tenants on the quality of their living environment has been extremely positive.

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

52|CEF/Specify awards Housing: Social Housing Award

ST BRECAN’S PARK, DERRY/ LONDONDERRY EHA Group

S

t. Brecan’s Park consists of 78 units; apartments, bungalows & 2 and 3 bed homes. The team at EHA worked very closely with Apex Housing Association and Hamilton Architects to ensure they handed over an exceptional scheme, designed to accommodate individual tenant requirements.

The contract was to provide one handover however, Apex requested that EHA complete in phases. Any changes of work such as this, even when days before handover, were dealt with swiftly to client satisfaction.

Initially the site had issues with demolition rubble, buried by the demolition contractor. Also, an existing trunk watermain crossed the site which EHA had to remove prior to works.

This required detailed project management, accelerating the programme to meet new handover dates.

A new layby and parking space, with pedestrian access were created at the start of the project. This ensured safe access to The Community Hub and Jack & Jill Nursery nearby. EHA conducted regular litter picks of the area and made visits such as delivering Easter Eggs. Furthermore, EHA conducted a fire risk assessment on behalf of The Hub, installing signage and devising evacuation routes for users.

The site team liaised frequently with the community; one local resident objected to paladin fencing being removed and railings installed. We met with the tenant and fitted additional, close boarded fencing to his property.

Housing: Social Housing Award

DURHAM STREET, BELFAST

Housing: Social Housing Award

GRAHAM GARDENS, LISBURN

GEDA CONSTRUCTION

LOWRY CONSTRUCTION

he Durham Street Regeneration Project was challenging from the outset and required the entire project team to excel in their disciplines and strive together to achieve Clanmil’s goals of delivering 23 high quality inner-city homes whilst sensitively restoring a Grade B2 listed building.

Located in a densely populated residential inner-city area in Belfast as well as a historical interface point, the regeneration of this former Central Tuberculosis Institute site provides a mix of apartments for the elderly along with 11 family houses addressing the reflective housing demand.

his £4.9M Social/ Community Construction project was officially opened by HRH Duke of Sussex on 11th April 2019.

London’s first OnSide Youth Zone was built in Parsloes Park, a green field site in the heart of Barking & Dagenham.

T

Due to the complexity of the project and associated challenges, true collaboration was required with Clanmil, NIEA Historical Buildings design team, community and indeed supply chain so that solutions could be presented for key decisions to be made.

By responding sensitively to the existing building characteristics combined with attention to detail and quality of workmanship this project not only works in harmony with its surrounding community but acts as a prominent key element in regenerating the area resulting all concerned feeling a strong sense of pride and achievement.

Involvement and detailed planning with project team members was encouraged to share knowledge and to advise on buildability of the design and the on-going construction. Aspects that had to be considered constantly throughout was proximity to listed building, protecting existing features, compliance with heritage requirements, restrictive site, closeness to commuter road and bounding residents.

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

T

The Youth Zone is a purpose-built facility for the borough’s young people aged 8–19,&up to 25 for those with disabilities. The infrastructure of facilities is based upon OnSide’s 21st Century Youth Facility Mode for deprived areas across the UK. Barking & Dagenham is ranked as the 3rd most deprived local authority in England (out of 326) in relation to the IMD 2015. 37% of children live in poverty and1 in 10 adults are out of work. The annual membership is only £5 and 50p per visit, making it affordable for low-income families.

Open 7 days a week, the Youth Zone will provide a safe environment where young people have somewhere to go, something to do and someone to talk to in order to raise their aspirations and confidence to create a happier and healthier generation.

Named by the borough’s young people, ‘Future’, the 3930m2 facility provides an array of world class facilities, including a four court sports hall, martial arts studio, state-of-the-art climbing wall, fitness suite, arts, crafts, fashion studio, cookery classes, multi-media studio, 3G Kick pitch & Skate park.

CEF/Specify awards |53

Housing:

Private Housing Award The Finalists: • DB Building Contracts • Antrim Construction Company

• EHA Group • Lotus Homes

OAKWOOD ANTRIM DB Building Contracts

D

B Building Contracts were appointed by Hillmark Homes for the construction of Phase 1 of this project which consists of the construction of 35 dwellings across ten different designs.

The development is situated on the west boundary of Antrim town, providing swift access to the M2 motorway and all local amenities, including the Junction One complex and Antrim International Airport, making it a prime location for those home owners seeking the ideal opportunity for a balance between work, family life and recreation.

Much time and effort went into the designing of these outstanding houses, which are both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

These homes have been designed to a high standard providing generous living spaces which meet the needs of modern living. The integration of large windows takes full advantage of the natural light whilst making the most of the views available of the surrounding landscape.

DB Building Contracts were tasked with delivering the vision of the designers, ensuring a high quality of workmanship was provided to bring these houses to the desired standard. Like any construction project challenges have been encountered, but through hardwork and resilience the team have persevered and overcome each hurdle.

Housing: Private Housing Award

PORTER GREEN, LARNE Antrim Construction Company

P

orter Green is a private residential development located just off the Ballyhampton Road in Larne. Comprising 55 properties, it has a mix of detached, semi-detached and townhouse style homes.

Porter Green hugs the side of a hill on land bordered along three sides by existing private residential and commercial premises. It is locked on the fourth by a green belt / limit of permitted development. This posed several challenges not least of which was an almost vertical incline adjacent to existing housing. The movement of plant and materials through a network of established residential areas required careful consideration and maintaining the ACC Limited style of home was paramount.

ACCs policy of retaining existing trees and hedge lines where possible enabled the development to sympathetically blend the old with Porter Green new. Also, instead of cutting into the ground and excavating clay from the site with all the associated traffic and costs that would entail, ACC were able to reuse it to form a reinforced soil wall.

Consideration of the gradient on site led to the introduction of two relatively level areas with landscaped embankments that accommodated the remaining fill and created a play area facility that can be naturally supervised by surrounding properties. Homes also benefit from Openreach cabling and a 10 year NHBC Warranty.

Housing: Private Housing Award

HUNTINGDON HILL, DERRIAGHY

EHA GROUP

E

HA Group recently completed ‘Huntingdon Hill’; 46 new luxury homes, conveniently located just 15 minutes between both Lisburn and Belfast. This was a green field site on the Barnfield Road, Derriaghy, backing onto the wider countryside, requiring full infrastructure works.

Huntingdon Hill, now fully occupied, is a collection of classically designed homes bringing practical living, designed around clients’ needs. Home owners benefited from numerous options to personalise their new home with turn-key choices.

Each of the homes are characterised by spacious, modern interiors with high quality finishes internally and externally, benefiting from a private garden and parking space.

Situated comfortably between the cities of Belfast and Lisburn it is the perfect home for commuters, families wanting more space and down-sizers, wanting to settle into a nearby, local community.

The construction of these stylish two storey homes began in late 2016, designed by Belfast based CALICO architects, who provided all architectural services.

Located on a steeply sloping site, surrounded by mature landscape, the development nestles into the hill giving it an almost rural feel, yet it is only a short distance from main arterial routes. CALICO architects rationalised the site layout and levels to ensure full accessibility for all the residents. The homes, which are constructed from bespoke timber frames and finished throughout to the highest standard of workmanship offer energy efficient, contemporary homes to their owners.

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

54| CEF/Specify awards Housing: Private Housing Award

CHANTRY GARDENS, GREENISLAND Lotus Homes

C

hantry Gardens is a superb development that offers strong transport and physical links with easy access to the Shore Road and Carrickfergus town centre. Located just off Station Road, Greenisland, the residential grouping is nestled into the landscape, with the dwellings interspersed by the open access areas.

The new dwellings have been sensitively arranged to back on to the existing developments to maximise the privacy for existing gardens and the new gardens along these boundaries. The site benefits from an historical laneway that has been retained and enhanced which transverses from the northwest creating a pedestrian / cycle connection between the Village Green and the northern part of the new development.

Chantry Gardens offers a mix of 3 and 4 bedroom detached and semi-detached homes built in a traditional design, drawing on the best of local traditions of form, materials, proportion and detailing with a modern twist. The houses use a mix of brick, stone and render along with a dark grey concrete tiled roof and bay windows, all of which are common to the local area.

The dwellings have a generous private amenity rear gardens in accordance with Creating Places standards.

The new development has been limited to 2 storeys to avoid overlooking and remain in keeping with the surrounding area.

WHERE FAMILIES CREATE MEMORIES. NEW HOMES AVAILABLE AT:

Ferrard Green, Antrim Hillcrest Village, Newry Killuney Gardens, Armagh Killuney Meadows, Armagh Pirrie Manor, Comber Oakfield Park, Jordanstown

Designed For You! FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

TEL: 028 4062 8009 | www.lotushomes.com

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

WINNER OF BELFAST TELEGRAPH PROPERTY AWARDS RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE YEAR 4 YEARS RUNNING 2015 - 2018

CEF/Specify awards |55

Quality Performance Training Award The Finalists: • CFM • Farrans

• Henry Brothers • Lagan Specialist Contracting Group

COMBINED FACILITIES MANAGEMENT

S

taff training and development has been at the heart of CFMs operations for 40+ years, aiming to deliver training excellence, ensuring succession of CFMs employee pipeline. Training commitment at all levels ensures staff and sub-contractors possess the skills, competence and confidence to deliver best in class integrated building services on behalf of CFMs clients.

CFMs Training Academy ensures proactive approach to training, apprentices (trade & higher level), operatives, graduates, professional industry chartership level, supporting overall strategy of attracting talent, developing and retaining employees.

CFM have a Skills Growth & Training Needs Analysis (TNA) as part of their strategy to progress individual Training Needs with business strategic outputs, integrating with their 2022 vision, allowing CFM to identify gaps, implementing strategic tangible outputs - training plans, KPIs, 1-1 mentoring/peer coaching.

CFM recruit/train/develop staff to be the best in chosen trade/profession. Implementation of their Training Academy in 2017 was in line with CFMs 5-year Business Plan/2022 Vision, underpinning their commitment to staff development. Goal 4 focuses on CFMs most trusted asset ‘Our People’: “Conduct in-depth skills analysis, implementing a plan ensuring our people have the tools to deliver our 2022 vision”. CFM have invested significantly in their training academy, ensuring all employees are engaged on a personal development plan.

Training academy objectives: Tackle construction industry skills shortages To upskill/cross train existing staff/sub-contractors to learn new skills/trades Develop & Train the next generation of Operations Management team Improved Performance Commitment

Quality Performance: Training Award

Farrans Construction

S

ince 2016 Farrans people strategy has been developed as a core apsect of driving sustainable business growth for the company.

November 2018 saw their revised strategic building blocks being communicated to every Farrans employee over a 6 week period to ensure that everyone understood the priorites and what they would deliver for the future at Farrans.

Farrans T&D plan is critical to the delivery of the strategy, as the company is 3 years into their Performance Management process and have completed a robust review which has shaped their 2018/2019 initiatives.

Management Development: The recruitment of a learning & development facilitator to lead our T&D team. With 13 years’ experience of delivering Leadership & Management bespoke training into blue chip organisations Farrans T&D Manager brings a wealth of knowledge to developing staff. This has led to the design and delivery of in-house bespoke training solutions from Tender Panel Presentation Skills to Chairing a Meeting.

Farrans has continued to engage in Management Development with 175 employees trained, and in order to consolidate learning Farrans has introduced Actor Clinics throughout their business to continue employee learning in “real life, real time” situations.

Having completed the first Farrans Foundation Graduate programme they have carried out a full review and have re-designed the programme content. Introducing a stronger “technical” curriculum and developing the content internally using in house expertise while also training Managers to deliver. Farrans introduced a Mentoring Programme for all Farrans Foundation Graduates and later this year will announce their first ever Farrans Foundation “Graduate of the Year”.

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

56|CEF/Specify awards Quality Performance: Training Award

Henry Brothers

H

enry Brothers is committed to ongoing Training Excellence, focusing on equipping the workforce of the future in terms of leadership and management skills, succession planning both within the company and externally to draw new talent into the company and the construction industry.

Expanding upon their holistic strategy that commenced with senior management, Henry Brothers rolled out additional leadership and management training with a bespoke Frontline Leader course that developed leadership ability and empowered 37 Middle and Low level Managers, enabling them to encourage and motivate their teams while meeting company objectives safely and profitably.

Cost of training across the company totalled over ÂŁ125k during 2018/19 with Health & Safety training majoring as 54% of total training hours, delivered both by external providers and internal specialists to personnel across all sites, including labour only, subcontractors and apprentices.

There has been an enhanced strategic focus on training across the company with Directors and Managers developing a greater appreciation of the connection between talent development and business goals, and the Training Manager developing individual training plans and budget.

Succession planning plays a part within these discussions, identifying talent and potential future leaders. Eg: developing General Operatives into Supervisors; and Managers through Chartership training, recognising ability and commitment through upskilling and career progression.

Developing relationships has been a key aspect of their success this year and this includes linking potential training need with new construction project bids.

Quality Performance: Training Award

LAGAN SPECIALIST CONTRACTING GROUP At Lagan SCG training is aligned to our 3-year Business Plan with 3 key goals: -Ensure a safe environment to work -Be a great place to work -Increase profitability & cash Through quarterly CEO/Director led briefings we share the business plan with employees and discuss how we support individuals to deliver the plan.

Prior to projects commencing we review our training matrix and identify training needs based on the requirements of the works.

Our training plan includes: a) New Joiner Onboarding b) Line Manager Development c) Emerging Leaders Development d) New LSCG Career Development Framework e) Further & Higher education f) HSEQ Training g) Wellbeing h) Early career development Impact during 12 months:

| Significant improvement in business financial results (including EBIT, Net Assets and Cash) | 21% reduction in injuries | 35% reduction in employee voluntary turnover | 42% increase in average training days per employee | 19% increase in number of employees in early career programmes

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

| 37 People promoted/change of role during 18/19 | 85% of staff agree that Lagan SCG is a great place to work | 88% of staff feel encouraged to perform to the best of their abilities | 85% of staff agree they have the opportunity to learn at work

CEF/Specify awards |57

Quality Performance:

Health & Safety Award The Finalists: •Adman Civil Projects •Ballymore Services

• Combined Facilities Management • McAleer & Rushe

Adman Civil Projects Adman Civil Projects ongoing commitment to Health and Safety is demonstrated by: Using proactive awareness systems communicating Total Recordable Incident Rate statistics on prominent boards at every site ensuring continual awareness for all staff and influencing behaviour.

Implementation of a constantly evolving comprehensive 3rd party accredited risk management system based on learning from completed projects, enabling Adman to plan ahead for new works & more effectively identify risk at the earliest stages.

Encourage active participation of operatives in the process through completion of daily ‘task based’ risk assessments at site level ensuring innate understanding of the risks involved on an ongoing basis.

Operating an internal incentivised good catch/near miss reporting scheme and using external employee safety awards e.g. John Gordon Safety Person award to recognise and encourage involvement, helping promote a H&S culture and reduce accidents on site.

Adman consider the H&S impacts on the community by: Undertaking community-based risk assessments which consider the wider impacts for every project.

Actively engage with local community ensuring awareness of all impacts & address these e.g. enable activities to take place within a site location which controlled and delivered on safety of spectators and runners via traffic & pedestrian management during a televised international cross-country track and field event.

Integrate H&S within Business management by: Creating a structured approach with input at all levels i.e. Adman operate a SHEQ team with a manager supported by advisors with different specialisms e.g.

High Lifts.

Quality Performance: Health & Safety Award

BALLYMORE SERVICES

B

allymore Services go the extra mile for their employees to ensure a perfect balance between work and home life. They put a significant emphasis on health, as well as safety. Ballymore Services employee’s health is of paramount importance and through working in conjunction with Health @ Work NI, they developed a 3-year action plan based on their employees’ requests and needs using an anonymous survey. Ballymore Services took their employees suggestions on board carrying out health checks, Mindfulness sessions, workstation assessments and upgrades, creating a health and wellbeing notice board, purchasing healthy snacks and freshwater and a visit from the Action Cancer Bus. Ballymore Services management maintain open communication lines and operate flexible working hours to help staff best balance their work and home life.

This has positively affected their workforce and the low turnover of staff and zero absence from work is proof of this. Ballymore Services run various charity events every year to help raise money for charities close to the hearts of management and staff. Recent events include organising a cycle for Aware NI, the annual ‘The Biggest Loser’ competition in aid of the Alzheimer’s Society, an annual Christmas Jumper Day in aid of The British Red Cross and participating and fundraising annually for Pieta House in Darkness into Light. Ballymore Services believe this charity work has benefitted the health and wellbeing of their staff.

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

58|CEF/Specify awards Quality Performance: Health & Safety Award

COMBINED FACILITIES MANAGEMENT

C

FM ensures the health and safety of employees,

subcontractors and general public is achieved by continuously developing and maintaining a proactive safety culture. To build upon their strengths, CFM conducted a Strategic review of their H&S culture in 2017 implementing a 3-year Strategic plan to become ‘The Leader in Health and Safety in our industry’. This plan, alongside their ‘Restore Health & Wellbeing Strategy’ falls in line with an overarching 5-year business plan “2022 Vision: Aim for the stars”.

CFM ensure sub-contractors performance and behaviours mirror their direct staff as they receive continuous communications on H&S procedures, back-to-back training targeted at systematically improving H&S performance/culture.

With majority of core works undertaken in social-housing & education sectors, H&S engagement within these communities is embedded in CFM’s culture and procedures.

Within “Restore”, CFMs ‘Community’ pillar ensures health initiatives KƵƌ ďĞƐƉŽŬĞ ĂƉƉ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ĚĞƐŝŐŶĞĚ ŝŶ ĐŽŶŶĞĐƚŝŽŶ ǁŝƚŚ ŽƵƌ ZĞƐƚŽƌĞ ƐƚƌĂƚĞŐLJ͕ ĚƌŝǀŝŶŐ ĐŽŵƉĂŶLJǁŝĚĞ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝĐĂƚŝŽŶ͕ extend to include their supply chain and local communities. CFM ĞŶŐĂŐĞŵĞŶƚ ĂŶĚ ĞĚƵĐĂƚŝŽŶ ŽŶ ŬĞLJ ŚĞĂůƚŚ ŝƐƐƵĞƐ͘ /ƚ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞƐ ƚŚĞ ƚŽŽů ŬŝƚƐ ĨŽƌ ĚĞĂůŝŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ ŝƐƐƵĞƐ ƐƵĐŚ ĂƐ ŵĞŶƚĂů ŚĞĂůƚŚ͕ actively give back to local communities, providing training such as ƐƚƌĞƐƐ͕ ŚĞĂůƚŚLJ ĞĂƚŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ĨŝŶĂŶĐŝĂů ǁĞůůďĞŝŶŐ ĂůŽŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ ƉƌŽǀŝŶŐ ŶƵŵďĞƌƐ ĨŽƌ ŬĞLJ ŚĞůƉůŝŶĞƐ͘ First Aid & De-fibrillator to 150 people in 2018. /ƚ ĂůƐŽ ĂĐƚƐ ĂƐ ĂŶ ĞŶŐĂŐĞŵĞŶƚ ĨŽƌƵŵ ĨŽƌ ĐŽŵƉĂŶLJǁŝĚĞ ĞǀĞŶƚƐ ĂŶĚ ŶĞǁƐ ĂŶĚ ĂůůŽǁƐ ŽƵƌ ƐƚĂĨĨ ƚŽ ƉŽƐƚ ŝŵĂŐĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƵƉĚĂƚĞƐ͘ As considerate constructors completing 2,000+ workorders weekly, many in live/sensitive environments, CFM ensure best practice by respecting, protecting and developing the communities they work with.

CFM’s 3-year SHEQ-plan, derived from overarching 5-year business plan, ensures we align this safety model with the strengths, aspirations and culture of the company.

This new approach to safety has led to a change in culture within our entire organisation and is ultimately driven from top-down, cascaded throughout all layers of the organisation. H&S is not a standalone department, rather an integral part of all operations/decision making throughout CFM. Companywide education ensures staff awareness of obligations/their contributions to our 3-year plan.

CFM ensures continued growth and improvement by embracing Digital-technology. We recognise the use of digital technology to improve productivity, increase efficiency and develop new skills/competencies.

Quality Performance: Health & Safety Award

McALEER & RUSHE

M

cAleer and Rushe Contracts UK Limited was one of the first companies in the world to gain ISO 45001 accreditation, doing so in July 2018. This accreditation clearly vindicated the company’s ethos on inclusion, collaboration and working safely together both on and off site.

Health and safety in McAleer and Rushe is led from the very top with Chairman, CEO and MD having a huge input into how to operate as a company.

The company has always worked diligently to reduce accidents and incidents and as it stands in 2019, their health and safety culture provides workplaces where staff, visitors and third parties can be confident of engaging with McAleer & Rushe safely and without fear of harm.

The Health and Safety Management System, “Think SM&RT” (Think Safety @ McAleer and Rushe Today”, provides the bedrock on which all the staff work.

Health and safety is at the forefront of their minds before they carry out any task or before they send an operative out to carry out a task.

Their Daily Hazard Spotting, carried out through “Effective Software” has been a tremendous success, which has greatly contributed to the continual decrease of accidents and incidents on their sites.

In 2018, over 30,000 hazards were reported on site, across 25 sites in the UK and Ireland. The correlation between the number of hazards spotted and the decrease in accidents cannot be denied and this trend continues on an exponential level.

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

A privately owned multi award winning business, McAleer & Rushe is one of the UK’s leading design and build construction companies with over 50 years of experience.

Based in Cookstown with offices in London, Dublin and Belfast the company employs over 360 people with a proven track record in delivering high quality standalone and large scale projects across the UK & Ireland.

www.mcaleer-rushe.co.uk Find us on

London Office 100 George Street, London, England, W1U 8NU Tel: +44 (0) 20 7224 4900

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

Cookstown Office 17-19 Dungannon Road, Cookstown, N. Ireland, BT80 8TL Tel: +44 (0) 28 8676 3741

60 |CEF/Specify awards

Quality Performance:

Environmental Sustainability The Finalists: • Adman Civil Projects • Henry Brothers

• Lowry BCE • McAleer & Rushe

• W&H Alexander

Adman Civil Projects A Site Environmental Plan (SEP) is produced for every project and is continuously updated/reviewed during the project. The SEP contains site-based systems for the effective management of environmental matters during the construction phase including waste management and measures include: just in time ordering, working with supply chain to reduce unnecessary packaging, segregation of all waste and recycling e.g. Adman maintain designated washout areas for concrete wagon shoots and mortar bins on sites to collect concrete waste.

Benchmarked against Northern Irelands most sustainable organisations to improve their environmental impact year on year on and better manage resources, Adman Civil Projects won the most improved company award from Silver to Gold award 2018.

All Adman sites are issued with spill kits.

Adman operate an energy efficient plant fleet where equipment is regularly serviced/maintained & fitted accordingly e.g. fully bunded fuel tanks & plant nappies.

Adman use innovative design and minimise the risk of water pollution by undertaking Environmental Impact Assessments identifying how to reduce surface water run off & silty waters. Where dewatering has to be carried out, the assessment identifies the most appropriate method of disposal for the local habitat e.g. via discharge to land via settlement ponds, cut-off trenches or even transporting away from site directly via Tanker.

Adman implement peat management plans identifying temporary storage locations appropriately located and designed to minimise impact to sensitive habitats/ species and prevent risks from material instability (landslides) and contaminated runoff, peatlands are restored back to their natural state.

Quality Performance: Environmental Sustainability Award

HENRY BROTHERS

H

enry Brothers have a robust governance structure with clear board-level direction on the company Sustainable Business Strategy, embedding sustainability at the heart of business. Their Strategy has gained momentum with 20+ accolades for sustainability presented locally, nationally and internationally.

Henry Brothers are one of only 11 companies to enter the NI EnvironmentalBenchmarking Survey for 20 consecutive years demonstrating long-term commitment to an environmental agenda. Henry Brothers presented at the event highlighting their successes in becoming a green leader. They received a platinum award, having demonstrated a reduction of -3% in carbon, -48% in waste, and an increase of Environmental Initiatives by 58% (Fig1).

Henry Brothers founded the Sustainability Professionals Forum (2017) to progress the environmental agenda for the industry, learn from best-practice and to agree a strategy to ‘improve together’ in line with company ethos ‘Altogether Stronger’. The Forum consists of other contractors from NI and Henry Brothers are proud to be driving this.

They use the company nature park to educate schoolchildren on Biodiversity, 600+ schoolchildren have visited to date. St Pius’ Claire Hasson commented “It’s a brilliant resource, the class were pleased to have spotted Ladybirds, Centipedes and Bumble Bees along the way!”

A classroom was constructed in the park, from reclaimed materials and constructed by a joinery placement student, providing a viewing area to observe birds and wildlife. The park is one of various initiatives conducted; over the last 5 years Henrys have reached over 5000 schoolchildren/young adults through Environmental Initiatives including educational workshops, donation of bird tables and minibeast hotels and lectures on Environmental careers.

Quality Performance: Environmental Sustainability Award

LOWRY BUILDING & CIVIL ENGINEERING

L

owry Building & Civil Engineering (LBCE) maintain a strict 95% diversion from landfill target, regularly crushing material onsite with their own crushing plant and equipment, on NIFRS Service Support Centre reusing 3125 tonnes of concrete and 2000 tonnes of soil onsite.

LBCE specialize in highly environmentally sensitive sites such as the Dungonnell CABB project, situated in a Special Area of Conservation, Special Protected Area & Area of Scientific Interest & Ramsar Site, home to rare and endangered species Hen Harrier, Merlin & Marsh saxifrage. Found to be in unfavourable hydrological condition due to overgrazing and artificial drains cut through the bog, by installing an extensive dam system throughout the blanket bog area LBCE have restored the vital wet conditions and allowed the reinstatement of the peat land, restoring the blanket bog site to its original glory and counteracting global warming.

Pollution prevention methods are identified in a bespoke Environmental Management Plan (EMP) created for each project.

An extensive EMP was developed for Davagh Forest Visitor Hub by LBCE meeting Planning Conditions. LBCE employed a dedicated Ecologist within a confined area containing protected blanket bog & bounded by Owenkillen River SAC/ ASSI. LBCE understand the importance of protecting the environment for this and future generations to come operating under an ISO 14001:2015 standard.

To deliver the sustainable builds we proactively use the latest fuel efficient, low emission plant & equipment, reducing water usage & only procuring materials with lower environmental impacts.

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

CEF/Specify awards |61 Quality Performance: Environmental Sustainability Award

McALEER & RUSHE

M

cAleer & Rushe have an established Environmental Management System, certified to ISO 14001. They have a dedicated Environmental team and continuously strive for Environmental excellence. An area of focus has been their Resource Efficiency programme, in the past 12 months they have saved over £50,000. McAleer & Rushe have introduced ‘Designing out Waste’ workshops, utilised more off-site manufacturing which includes bathroom POD’s, implemented pre-cut plasterboard, on site shredding of plasterboard and green cutting rooms.

Demolition material has been crushed on multiple sites and the material recycled for a piling mat.

In addition, they segregate waste on sites where space permits and have partnered with Community Wood schemes throughout the UK. This has increased recycling rates and the scheme is a social enterprise initiative which provides unemployment for disadvantaged groups.

The company has also purchased cardboard and plastic balers on their sites to maximise the recycling of packaging waste. Supplier takeback schemes have been set up through their supplychain, resulting in closed loop recycling. McAleer & Rushe are committed to pollution prevention and maximising biodiversity on their sites. This can be demonstrated by the project team at Wembley who installed a blue roof to meet Sustainable drainage requirements.

The blue roof attenuates water and releases the water slowly into the sewage system, relieving pressure on the system during storm conditions. The blue roof was combined with a green roof. The green roof is made from recycled plastic pallets, allevating it from the attenuation area for the blue roof, so that the water can be collected, and overflows installed to prevent any flooding on the roof.

Quality Performance: Environmental Sustainability Award

W & H ALEXANDER CIVIL ENGINEERING

W

illiam & Henry Alexander (Civil Engineering) Limited are committed to reducing the environmental impact that the company has both during construction of projects and general operation of the business. The Company’s experience in the Renewable Energy sector demonstrates its’ commitment to environmental sustainability and “green” engineering through the design and build processes used on site.

The company is accredited by NQA to ISO 14001:2015 and is committed to continually developing their management system to prevent pollution during construction, reduce waste, reduce energy usage, use sustainable products and use construction techniques to reduce the carbon footprint of the work they complete both on site and at Head Office.

To offset the carbon footprint of the business W&H Alexander have installed a Solar PV system at their Head office. Due to the elevated location of the office the panels generate approximately 4,000kWh of energy annually which is sold to the Electricity network. To reduce the carbon footprint further the company has invested heavily in a fleet of high specification excavators. The fleet is maintained to high standards therefore reducing the likelihood of pollution on site. As the plant utilised are new they omit low levels of emissions and are more fuel efficient therefore reducing the energy used on site. The provision of mini-buses rather than vans has also led to a reduction in fuel consumption as less vehicles are required.

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

62 | CEF/Specify awards

Buy Social Award The Finalists: • Farrans • Fox BCE

• Heron Bros • Woodvale Construction

ALTNAGELVIN HOSPITAL SOUTH WING, DERRY FARRANS CONSTRUCTION

Completed in January 2019, the redevelopment of Altnagelvin Hospital’s North Wing has led to: • New three-storey ward block providing 120 beds • Basement plantroom with tunnel links into hospital • Reorganisation of existing ward wing & transfer of treatment wing within the 11-storey tower Delivering social value within Farrans is at the heart of their mission, to make a genuine difference to their customers, end-users and society.

Company-wide buy-in towards this is cascaded down from the company’s senior leaders, to their supply chain. Farrans MD has endorsed the formation of a dedicated resource, the award-winning Stakeholder Engagement team. Sharing best practice and their diverse knowledge across 21 projects this team maximises social value within communities in which the company works. This team has expanded from 3 to 14 within the past 3 years.

Adding social value to the Altnagelvin project was a key element for Farrans, which they were able to explore and then deliver through a shared vision with the client Western Health and Social Care Trust, stakeholders and the local community.

To-date, the project has exceeded Buy Social targets by 13% and delivered £225,000 Social Value Return on Investment.

Buy Social Award

STRULE SHARED EDUCATION CAMPUS SITE PREPARATION FOX BUILDING & CIVIL ENGINEERING

F

ox Building & Civil Enineering’s current project - Strule Shared Education Campus - Site Preparation is being delivered with in-built Buy Social targets to deliver demonstrable social value.

Collaborative working and partnering with a diverse range of stakeholders has been instrumental in ensuring their approach to engagement with people not working within the construction industry is aligned to maximise employment opportunities for people who are unemployed or facing disadvantage. The team at Fox’s have established a clear and consistent joined up programme of engagement with Job Centre Plus, NIACRO, Network Personnel, Disability Action and all the schools and colleges in Omagh.

To this end, they have provided 6 employment opportunities for people who were unemployed or disadvantaged through providing additional support in terms of training and development. Fox’s are extremely proud of their success working with Disability Action and NIACRO, securing 2 paid employment opportunities. Fox Building & Engineering Ltd believes in rehabilitation and people’s ability to move forward from offending to building a positive future.

“The company has been flexible and listened to their client’s needs therefore making their adjustment and transition journey back in to employment a very positive experience,” said Deborah Burgess, Employment & Training Link Officer, Working Well, NIACRO. Whilst there was a realisation that the Buy Social approach should be implemented, in reality such initiatives fell to the bottom of a very long list of other day to day activities. This prompted the need for the company to review resources which subsequently led to the appointment of a Social Impact Manager.

After a few very informative training sessions delivered by our Social Impact Manager, a Buy Social Charter was developed for the company.

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

CEF/Specify awards | 63 Buy Social Award

BELFAST CONSTRUCTION EMPLOYMENT ACADEMY HERON BROS

H

eron Bros (HB) is delivering three leisure facilities for Belfast City Council (BCC) as part of the Belfast Leisure Transformation Programme (BLTP). The £60m scheme has significant social clause targets to deliver demonstrable social value.

HB’s Construction Academy (CA) is a targeted pre-recruitment and training model.

CA provides a holistic approach to supported training and employment for those furthest from the labour market. 92% of candidates gained employment, 57% with HB. The success of the model has resulted in BCC replicating it across other industries.

HB’s Social Incentive Fund provided assistance to social enterprises with employment and business development along with a boost local trade and employment. HB supported BCC’s Careers Academy and Inspire Wellbeing to improve employment prospects for disadvantaged and mentally ill students.

Meaningful employment was the goal of CA. At induction, skills profiles were collated which informed employee training matrixes. A 12-month CPD plan was formed including: internal webinars and external e-learning, workshops and qualifications.

HB ensures all opportunities are meaningful through: • ‘Train the trainer’ sessions – expectations of HB and training organisations met to maximise outcomes • Presentation to potential candidates on safety & work ethics • Pre-induction informal site visit to meet project team • Onsite training for HB and supply chain on Social Value • Feedback Questionnaires Pre-employment, it was essential that furthest from the labour market had the skills and qualifications required. This was surmounted through the inclusive growth model of CA.

Buy Social Award

COLAISTE FEIRSTE IRISH LANGUAGE SCHOOL WOODVALE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY

W

oodvale Construction Company (WCC) was appointed main contractor on the refurbishment and extension works to Coláiste Feirste (CF) Irish Language School in Belfast. In compliance with the legislation passed in 2016, whereby all public procurement projects should apply a “Buy Social” approach to social clauses, WCC actively engaged with the Strategic Investment Board (SIB) to review the Social Sustainability Criteria, and agreed that CF be included in a pilot scheme to case study this approach.

The Buy Social clause is a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) of 462 person-weeks of employment over the project duration of 110 weeks. WCC exceeded this target, delivering 841 person-weeks. This included long-term unemployed (over 26 weeks unemployment) third level placements, apprenticeship and new entrant opportunities.

WCCs Social Impact Manager (SIM) worked collaboratively with the SIB to pilot group workshop testing of a web reporting tool. The SIM met with local brokerages in the BT12 postcode area to discuss recruitment requirements and suitable candidates were identified.

Measurable social/community benefits were imperative. The area was one of high unemployment and a minority Irish language area; therefore, a targeted recruitment process was undertaken to identify candidates who met these criteria.

The practical application of fairwork practices provided employment opportunities to long-term unemployed mothers returning to the workplace. This supported employment and accommodated working flexible hours for parents of pre-school children.

Literacy and numeracy skills support was provided in conjunction with the South West Regional College (SWRC). Candidates were also offered the opportunity to gain skills under the existing workforce NVQ scheme under the guidance of a mentor to facilitate transition into the workplace.

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

CEF/SpecifyCEF awards |29

THE VOICE OF THE INDUSTRY IN NORTHERN IRELAND

News in Brief...

Federation welcomes Education Authority presentation on forthcoming works The Federation was delighted to welcome representatives from the Education Authority during late July as they highlighted to the industry their forthcoming work programme.

The presentation (available here: http://www.cefni.co.uk/ downloads/EA_-_Market_ Engagement_Presentation_25_ Jul_19.pptx) covered: • Minor Works • Major Works • Response and Reactive Maintenance A follow up session on proposals relating to future Minor Works procurement was held at the end of August.

Requirement for NEC Accredited Project Managers to administer CPD construction works contracts

A

key recommendation arising from 2017 CIFNI Task Groups was that Government’s NEC construction works contracts should be administered by competent Project Managers who fully understand their duties and those of the Contractor under the NEC Contract.

In accordance with that, CPD, from 1 June 2019, has introduced a requirement that all construction works contracts awarded by it must be managed by an NEC Accredited Project Manager. The NEC Accredited Project Manager course involves 4 days of classroom-based training coupled with online exams.

While the requirement was introduced from 1 June in consultancy procurements, consultants will not be required to have the qualification in order to bid.

Instead they will to obtain it within a definitive timescale following contract award.

Institution of Civil Engineers which has confirmed that Module 2 of the ICE Law and Contract Management Examination and the NEC Project Manager Accreditation assess broadly similar areas of competency. As an alternative to attaining the NEC ECC Project Manager Accreditation, CPD will accept Project Managers that have successfully passed the above ICE exam.

CPD will also accept an alternative to the NEC Project Manager Accreditation and has consulted with the

Further details are available here: http://www.cefni. co.uk/downloads/NEC_Accredited_PM_Notification.pdf

New Patronage partnership with PKF-FPM Accountants launched

T

he Federation is delighted to announce that PKF-FPM Accountants have agreed to become our newest Patron.

They are a multi-award-winning accounting, tax & business advisory practice, supporting businesses across Northern Ireland & Ireland.

With considerable construction sector expertise and global outreach through the PKF International - 400+ offices in over 150+ countries - PKF-FPM have developed a reputation for establishing itself as their client’s Most Trusted Advisor.

To kick-start our partnership, you will find links below to their latest client updates: • Client Matters, June 2019: http://www.cefni.co.uk/downloads/ Client_Matters_47_PRINT.pdf • Tax Matters, June 2019: http:// www.cefni.co.uk/downloads/ Tax_Matters_47_print.pdf • Brexit Briefing, June 2019: http://www.cefni.co.uk/downloads/ BREXIT_briefing_08_PRINT.pdf Further information on our partnership, and how this will benefit members, will flow in the coming weeks and months.

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

Political representatives must redouble efforts to restore Assembly and Executive – Joint statement

T

he Federation at the end of July, along with 20 other local business representative bodies, signed a statement to the new Secretary of State, Julian Smith, and the leaders of our main political parties calling for political representatives to redouble efforts to restore The Assembly and The Executive.

“Two and a half years on from the collapse of the Executive, and now approaching the likely conclusion of the Brexit process, the Northern Ireland business community is deeply concerned at the continued absence of a functioning administration and is calling on political representatives to redouble their efforts to reach agreement to get the Assembly and Executive working again.

“There has seldom been a time when strong and effective leadership has been more necessary, both to deliver on the domestic agenda and also to speak up for Northern Ireland in the Brexit process.

“We need a fully functioning administration to agree and deliver a Programme for Government that will build infrastructure, reform our health service and education system, ensure we have a strong economy, and create opportunities for our young people. We also need effective representation in the Brexit discussions, even at this late stage in the process, to ensure that the economy is protected through whatever changes arise and that all necessary mitigations are sought and secured.

“The business community will give encouragement and support to those politicians who stretch themselves to reach a compromise. Without such a commitment and associated action from our elected representatives, we

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

risk irreparable damage to our economy and our society for which future generations will judge us harshly.”

Signatories: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Belfast Chamber Causeway Chamber of Commerce CBI NI Centre for Competitiveness Construction Employers Federation Federation of Small Businesses Northern Ireland Freight Transport Association Hospitality Ulster IoD NI Londonderry Chamber of Commerce Manufacturing NI Mineral Products Association NI Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade NI Grain Trade Association NI Hotels Federation NI Tourism Alliance Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association Northern Ireland Retail Consortium Retail NI Women in Business NI

DIRECTORY Automatic doors

PRL Recruitment Ad 47.75mmx92.5mm (NIROI).pdf 1 09/05/2018 08:45:56 recruitment

DIRECTORY TO ADVERTISE HERE, CONTACT SHAUN BYRNE, MANAGER

Ashbourne Unit 1 & 2 Greene Park Ratoath Road Belfast: Co. Meath 103 Airport Road West A84 XD98 Co. Down Tel: +353 (01) 802 7173 BT3 9ED Tel: +44 (0) 28 90454599 Fax: +44 (0) 28 90464696 Email: info@ridgeway-online.com Web: www.ridgeway-online.com

T: 028 9278 0108

C

Total Recruitment Solutions

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

At PRL Recruitment we have been identifying

and introducing exceptional talent since

1973 Belfast Office: +44 28 9077 0999 Dublin Office: +353 1 668 5144

www.prlrecruitment.com

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

ure

ons for truction

in ry ure d Edgings

oned Tanks

ts

ete.com niture e.com

ng, e t& with a ist." s leading

• CCTV • Access Control • Remote Monitoring • Emergency Communications Systems

ConCrEtE ConCrEtE Quality Precast Solutions

Civil Infrastructure, Building & Agriculture

Quality Precast Solutions for Building and Civil Construction • Asset BEBO Bridge Arches • Redi-Rock Wall Systems • Box Culverts • Bridge Parapets • Manhole Rings & Slabs • Heads & Sills, Copings and Edgings • Above Ground Post-Tensioned Tanks Moore Concrete Products Caherty House, 41 Woodside Road, Ballymena BT42 2QH Tel: 028 2565 2566 Fax: 028 2565 8480 Email: info@moore-concrete.com Web: www.moore-concrete.com

PaVing FACADES

e, 0UZ ation

s 41 on: uk 89

e.co.uk

FACADES

Swiss Facades “Northern Ireland’s Leading FamilyOwned Fire & Security Specialists” Diamond Systems have been providing innovative fire and security solutions for a range of clients, throughout Northern Ireland for over 27 years, from commercial and industrial premises to public sector and residential.

Transforming Exterior Facades Premium Swiss Quality Panel Systems for High End Architecture

• Fire Detection & Alarm • Fire Suppression Systems • Integration • Intruder Detection & Alarm • CCTV • Access Control • Remote Monitoring Swiss Facades • Emergency Communications Systems Contact Anne Hurl.

Tel: +44 (0)7554 056930 Office Tel: +44 (0)28 79632026 DESIgN INSTALLATION Email us info@swissfacades.com www.swissfacades.com

Gas

FACADES PAVInG

Swiss Facades Swiss Facades Supplying Northern Ireland's leading architect andSolutions builders for Quality Precast

Building and Civil Construction

Transforming Exterior Facades

• Asset BEBO Bridge Arches • Redi-Rock Wall Systems • Box Culverts • Bridge Parapets Premium Swiss • Manhole Rings & Slabs Quality • Heads & Sills, Copings and Edgings Panel Systems for High • Above Ground Post-Tensioned Tanks

End Architecture

Moore Concrete Products Caherty House, 41 Woodside Road, RTU LTd Ballymena BT42 2QH Cloughfern Avenue,

Newtownabbey, Tel: 028 2565 2566 BT37 0UZ Swiss Facades Fax: 028 2565 8480 Contact Anne Hurl. 9085 1441 T: +44 (0)28 Email: info@moore-concrete.com Tel: +44www.moore-concrete.com (0)7554 056930 E: info@rtu.co.uk Web: Office Tel: +44 (0)28 79632026 www.rtu.co.uk Email us info@swissfacades.com www.swissfacades.com

Plastic sheets/ shaPes PAVInG

Supplying Northern Ireland's leading architect and builders

ers

gned ing ucts es.

ConCrEtE INTERIOR FIT-OUT FIrE & SECUrItY

Acheson & Glover has been in business for more than 50 years. As well as in-depth experience we offer the widest range of concrete products in the UK and Ireland - from manhole covers to decorative walling and service paving.

Then there’s our unique range of problem solvers:

• • • • • •

support

SEGMENTAL RETAINING WALLS ACOUSTIC BLOCKS THERMAL BLOCKS PERMEABLE PAVING range PRESTRESSED FLOORING BESPOKE (contact us to discuss RTU LTd your needs) Cloughfern Avenue, • Perspex BT37 0UZ & polycarbonate glover Ltd. •Acheson LexanNewtownabbey, solid

Old Moy Road •64Marlon multi wall polycarbonate T: +44plastics (0)28 9085 1441 •Dungannon Engineering TyroneE:Parts info@rtu.co.uk •Co. Machined BT71 6PU www.rtu.co.uk Tel: 028 8778 4208 24 Stockmans Fax: 028 8778Way, 4805 Musgrave Park Industrial Estate, Email: solutions@acheson-glover.com Belfast BT9 7ET Web: www.acheson-glover.com Tel: 028 9066 8358 Fax: 028 9066 0623 Email: plastics@comcoplastics.co.uk Web: www.comcoplastics.co.uk

Energy Tailored to You - Whoever it’s for, MAINTENANCE COMMISSIONINg

whatever solution is required, Acheson & Glover has been in businesswherever for Diamond Electronic Systems Ltd it’s located, we are theasenergy more than 50 years.

AsCourt, well in-depthcompany Unit 1a Harbour experience we offer the widest range of can deliver for your project.

5that Heron Road, inBelfast concrete products the UK and Ireland - from BT3 9HB Whether it’stoa decorative large development manhole covers walling and or a Tel: 9020 7207 paving. small028 residential unit, in a busy urban Then there’s our unique range of Email: info@diamondsystems.co.uk environment or a remote rural location, problem solvers: www.diamondsystems.co.uk

Transforming Exterior Facades

Premium Swiss Quality Panel for for High Flogas has Systems the right solution you • and SEGMENTAL RETAINING WALLS your clients.

Our experience, End Architecture • ACOUSTIC BLOCKS

expertise and flexible energy products

GAS

• THERMAL BLOCKS to meet the most demanding of • combine PERMEABLE PAVING believe in utmost safety • requirements.

PRESTRESSEDWe FLOORING • and BESPOKE (contact usan toeconomical discuss attentive service, your needs) product delivered by a team you can trust.

Discover & how we canLtd. transform your Acheson glover 64project OldFacades Moy Road us about our CPD or contact Swiss Dungannon courses.

Contact Anne Hurl.

Co. +44 Tyrone Tel: (0)7554 056930 BT71 6PU Office Tel: +44Airport (0)28 79632026 Address: Road West Belfast Tel: 028 8778far4208 Flogas beyond simply Email us goes info@swissfacades.com Harbour Estate4805 Belfast BT3 9ED, Fax: 028 8778 managing and supplying bulk and www.swissfacades.com Northern Ireland Email: solutions@acheson-glover.com cylinder LP Gas requirements.

Web: www.acheson-glover.com Choosing LP Gas from Flogas not only Tel: opens028 the9073 door2611 to a versatile, highly

efficient energy source with affordable PAVInG Web: www.flogasni.com

installation and running costs – we create and implement tailored energy solutions specific to client applications.

Our experience covers a comprehensive range ofbusiness markets Acheson & Glover has been in for more than 50domestic years. As well as in-depth including (both single experience we offer the widest range of dwelling and metered estates), concrete products in the UK and Ireland - from catering, commercial, industrial, manhole covers to decorative walling and paving. agricultural and automotive.

Then there’s our unique range of problem solvers:

CPD Learning sessionsRETAINING are now available •CPD SEGMENTAL WALLS from •Flogas ACOUSTIC BLOCKS to assist architects, planning •consultants THERMAL BLOCKS and other specifiers in •updating PERMEABLE theirPAVING core learning and • PRESTRESSED FLOORING knowledge. For more information visit • BESPOKE (contact us to discuss www.flogasni.com/cpd. your needs) Flogas & glover Ltd. Acheson Airport Road West 64 Old Moy Road Belfast Harbour Estate Dungannon Co. Tyrone BT3 9ED BELFAST BT71 6PU 9073 2611 Tel: 028 Tel: 028 info@flogasni.com 8778 4208 Email: Fax: 028www.flogasni.com 8778 4805 Web: Email: solutions@acheson-glover.com Web: www.acheson-glover.com

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

PuMPing

RECRUitmEnt FIrE GAS& SECUrItY DESIgN INSTALLATION

All Ireland Sales and Marketing MAINTENANCE COMMISSIONINg Recruitment “Northern Ireland’s Systems Leading FamilyDiamond Electronic Ltd Specialists Owned Fire &Court, Security Specialists” Unit 1a Harbour

Diamond Systems 5 Heron Road, Belfasthave been providing innovative BT3 9HB fire and security solutions for a range of clients, Tel: 028 9020 7207 throughout Northern Ireland for over 27 years, from commercial • info@diamondsystems.co.uk Advertising/Media Email: and industrial premises to public sector www.diamondsystems.co.uk and residential.

• Building & Construction

Calor gas Northern Ireland Limited

• Chemicals • FMCG/Foodservice Sydenham, • Integration • Intruder Detection • IT Belfast, BT3 9EE.& Alarm • CCTV •• Access Marketing Control Tel: 028 9045 5588 • Remote Monitoring • Retail info@calorgas.ie •E-mail: Emergency Communications Systems • Telecoms Website: www.calorgas.ie DESIgN INSTALLATION Flogas goes far beyond simply • supplying Technical/ managing and bulk and cylinder LPConstruction Gas requirements.

CalorLPisGas a leading Choosing from Flogassupplier not only

• Fire Detection & Alarm Airport Road West, GAS • Fire Suppression Systems

opens the door to a versatile, highly of cleaner, efficient LPG efficient energy source with affordable Unit 2, 1 Edgewater installation and running Road, costs energy solutions in– we Belfast Harbour, create and implement tailored energy Belfast, BT3 9JQ Northern Ireland with solutions specific to client applications.

Tel: +44 28 9077 0999 MAINTENANCE COMMISSIONINg Our experience covers a specialist knowledge E: glenn.mccormick@salesplacement.com comprehensive range of markets Diamond Electronic Systems Ltd Web: www.salesplacement.com covering all sectors including domestic (both single Unit 1a Harbour Court, dwelling and metered estates), 5 Including Heron Road, Belfast Industrial, catering, BT3 9HB commercial, industrial, Commercial, Hospitality, agricultural and automotive.

Tel: 028 9020 7207 Email: info@diamondsystems.co.uk Agriculture, and www.diamondsystems.co.uk CPD Learning CPD sessions are now available from Domestic.

Flogas to assist architects, planning We offer consultants and our other customers: specifiers in updating their core learning and knowledge. For more information visit www.flogasni.com/cpd.

Retain provides a design supply &

REtaining walls GAS

• Tailored installation serviceenergy for a range of earth Flogas retention systems.

All of the systems solution Airport Road West are class leaders. This ensures clients Belfast Harbour Estate that theservice most suitable •confidence FullBT3 design BELFAST system is used 9ED in each given application.

Tel: 9073 2611 support and • 028 Technical info@flogasni.com Flogas goes beyond simply • Email: Greenface •far Andacrib • Modular Block guidance Web: www.flogasni.com • Gabions • Installation • Permacrib managing and supplying bulk and cylinder LP Gas requirements.

• 24-hour emergency Choosing LP Gas from Flogas not only out to a versatile, highly openscall the door efficient energy source with affordable installation and running costs – we create and implement tailored energy Calorspecific Accredited CPD solutions to client applications.

Our experience covers a programme available. comprehensive range of markets including domestic (both single LPg Content includes dwelling and metered estates), Product Knowledge, catering, commercial, industrial, agricultural and automotive. gas Regulations and

CPD Learning Standards.

Courses CPD sessions are now available from are to FREE of charge and Flogas assist architects, planning consultants and other specifiers in available by arrangement updating their core learning and Retain Solutions Ltd knowledge.

ForBelfast more information one of our Calorvisit 56with York Street, www.flogasni.com/cpd.

BT15 1AS

Business Development Tel: 028 9031 3881 Flogas Email: retain@retain.co.uk Airport Road West Engineers.

Contact www.retain.co.uk Belfast Harbour Estate cpd@calorgas.ie BELFAST BT3 9ED Tel: 028 9073 2611 Email: info@flogasni.com Web: www.flogasni.com

Tel: 028 9045 5588 E-mail: info@calorgas.ie safEty Website: www.calorgas.ie

GAS recruitment

Calor is a leading supplier of cleaner, efficient LPG energy solutions in Northern Ireland with Technical Construction and Property Recruitment Consultancy specialist knowledge covering all sectors Recruitment Partners for Small, Including Industrial, Medium & Large businesses in Calor gas Northern Commercial, Hospitality, Northern Ireland.

Providing on-site Ireland Limited Agriculture, andsafety for: • Construction Domestic.

Executive Search for discreet key • Maintenance growth positions.

We• Engineering offer our customers: Airport Road West, Sydenham, We're experienced recruiters in Lifeline Air Bags Construction •Belfast, Tailored energy Mobile:BT3 07748 786 076 9EE. Fit-Out Fax: 028 8772 9262 solution Tel: 028malachymckee@me.com 9045Architecture 5588 E-mail: M&E Contractors Web:design www.lifelineairbags.co.uk •E-mail: Full service info@calorgas.ie Building Services Health & Safety •Website: Technicalwww.calorgas.ie support and Design Consultancies PQS & Project Management Consultancies guidance PlastER & • PlastERBOaRD 24-hour emergency Calor is a we leading supplier Jobs have filled recently call out of cleaner, efficient LPG Quantity Surveyors Facilities Manger energy Commercial solutions in Managers/Directors Calor Accredited CPD Project Managers Northern Ireland with Contracts Managers programme available. specialist knowledge Site Managers Civil Engineers covering all sectors Content includes LPg Gyproc is the market leader in plaster, Structural Engineers plasterboardIndustrial, and drylining systems, Architects Including Product Knowledge, manufacturing in Ireland since 1936, with a Architectural Technicians Commercial, Hospitality, long Regulations historyBuilding of providing innovative, gas and costServices Engineers effective andBusiness reliableDevelopment products thatprofessionals meet Specialist Agriculture, and Standards.

Courses the demands ofValuation the construction Surveyor industry.

Looking to the future Gyproc is determined Domestic. are offorefront, charge and leader, to FREE remain at the as market We offer customers: continuing toour provide innovative, sustainable available by arrangement design solutions for the buildings of the future.

Contact us with one ofTel: our Calor 028 9091 85 29 hello@corvus.jobs Business Development • Gyproc, Tailored energy www.corvus.jobs Ireland Engineers.

Contact Unit 4, Kilcarbery Business Park, solution Rd, Dublin 22, Ireland cpd@calorgas.ie • Nangor Full design service Independent based on Direct Line Rating 01-6298400 18 verified reviews • www.gyproc.ie Technical support and Email: enquiries@gyproc.ie guidance • 24-hour emergency PVC call outBUilDing

PRODUCts

Calor Accredited CPD programme available.

Content includes LPg Specialists in uPVC Building Product Knowledge, Products. gas Regulations and • FASCIA & SOFFITS Standards. Courses • HYGEINIC WALL CLADDING are FREE of charge and • WINDOW TRIMS available by arrangement • RAINWATER SYSTEMS with one of our Calor Business Development Head Office: Unit 2 Musgrave Park Industrial Estate, Engineers.

Contact 26 Stockmans Way, Belfast, cpd@calorgas.ie BT9 7ET TEL: 02890381990 www.wilplas.com E-mail Sales@wilplas.com

Branches at: Ballymena 028 25645380 Cookstown 028 86764422 Newry 028 30252499

safE

P

Products The follow of what w you have a that isn’t f

• Horizon Overhea • Mobile A • Eyebolts • Demarca • Annual s • Risk Ass • Maintena • Training

Pronet S Tel: 028 93 Fax: 028 9 Email: info@ Web: www Web: www

Plas Plas

Nationa Council Holyrood Belfast BT Tel: 028 Fax: 028

tREE sERV

Professi

Crown lift Sele Dead Storm Rem

Sectio

Stump

High Y Shrub P W

Co

Fully e A

Cl Tre

69

TEL: 028 Email: Websit

web directory www.mclarke.co.uk www.wilplas.com www.wilplas.com

www.swissfacades.com www.heyn.co.uk www.spanwall.com

www.pronetsafetyservices.com www.kdmhire.com www.1080.co.uk

Shaun Byrne Siobhan Kissward to advertiseweb directory |55 Sales Manager 028 9078 3218 ContaCt...

Tel: 028 9278 0108

siobhankissward@greerpublications.com shaunbyrne@greerpublications.com

www.balloohire.com www.diamondsystems.co.uk

www.treemaintenance.com www.calorgas.ie

www.swissfacades.com www.flogasni.com

54| web directory www.gyproc.ie www.matrexmatsandmatting.co.uk www.gqaqualifications.com

www.heynwaste.co.uk

www.yeomanshield.com www.tinnelly.com www.jncfence.com

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

www.cphire.com

www.swissfacades.com www.nkfencing.com www.contractceilings.com

www.treemaintenance.com www.envision-is.co.uk www.bestvaluegabions.com

www.pronetsafetyservices.com

www.swissfacades.com www.pronetsafetyservices.com www.ridgefence.com

www.whitemountain.breedongroup.com www.whitemountain.co.uk

Civil Engineering

Aggregates

Highway Maintenance

__

Bitumen

Airfields

Inert Landfill

www.whitemountain.co.uk Whitemountain Quarries Ltd, 11 Sheepwalk Road, Lisburn, Co. Antrim. BT28 3RD E: info@whitemountain.co.uk T: +44 (0)Telephone: 28 9250 1000 028 9250 1000 • Fax: 028 9250 1100

www.gyproc.ie www.ridgeway-online.com www.willisinsurance.co.uk

COST EFFECTIVE

VIDEO CLIPS

www.yeomanshield.com www.nextmovepropertysales.co.uk www.oplanofficefurniture.co.uk

CALL US TODAY ON: 079 5574 5731 E: info@greerpublications.com

FROM £299 For all your social media & website needs

CHECK OUT EXAMPLES AT DESIGNSTICS.COM/PORTFOLIO in partnership with

Unit 34 Crescent Business Park | Lisburn | Co Antrim | BT28 2GN | T: 028 9278 0108 Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

70| Envision

Envision – safeguarding and security for the construction industry Security around construction sites has improved massively over the last five years and few companies can match the range of construction security solutions offered by Envision.

Envision Intelligent Solutions offer the construction trade a range of site security products and services to protect sites from arson, vandalism and theft. Some of the security products and services they offer are wireless security systems, time lapse cameras, security turnstiles, access control, logistics software, wireless fire alarms, monitoring and help desk services.

Envision help secure the nations construction sites and projects with industry-leading technology and services, including providing HS2 with innovative security, CCTV Reponse vehicles, CCTV Towers, Reconeyez and other products and services, highlighting Envisions expertise and experience.

They are BS EN50518 Quality Approved and also have two Envision designed and modified mobile command units that come equipped with CCTV, Comms, Response and Medical networked vehicles which are about to be deployed on one of the UK’s largest infrastructure projects.

Envision offer complete security solution to safe guard all premises and protection of assets.

The complete range of security solution Envision offers includes: • Hard wired CCTV • Wireless cameras – ReconEyez • Security fencing and hoarding fencing • Concrete Bollards • Mobile lighting towers • Temporary Fire Alarm • Temporary Intruder Alarm • Solar and Electric Gates • Alarm response and key holding • Canines/guarding patrols • Turnstiles

DETECT, REACT, PROTECT.

Envision: Turnstile Security The Turnstile system offers a complete access control to monitor: • Delivery Management • Time and Attendance • Fire Roll Call • Logs Personnel Training Records • Logs Designated Health and Safety/ First Aiders on Site • Pre Site Induction Offering • CSR/CSCS Card Register • Bespoke Reporting Access Control Systems Includes:

• Full height turnstile with finger recognition • Computer Server • Control Equipment – Mini-tower Computer 1.0 • Peripherals – Peripherals Kit • Local Software • 500 User Capacity • Software – Online Porta Envision help secure the nations construction sites and projects with industry-leading technology and services.

envision-is.co.uk Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

Hays |71

CONSTRUCTION SECTOR NEEDS NEW MINDSET TO MAKE THE MOST OF AUTOMATION AND NEW TECHNOLOGY

by Mark Wade, Hays NI

It is unlikely to have escaped your attention that we are living in an increasingly automated world and that technology is leading to rapid change in both our professional and personal lives.

While automation might not seem like an obvious priority or concern for the construction and property sector, technological advances being made in areas like design and project management mean that employers need to keep up with the competition and make sure they have the right skills.

In Hays’ annual 2019 What Workers Want survey – which surveyed 14,500 employers and employees across the UK - we have chosen to look at how digital transformation and the proliferation of automation in the workplace is impacting on jobs, tasks and skills.

Three quarters (75%) of all respondents told us that investment in digital transformation is either the primary or secondary focus for their organisation, with most at an early stage in the process.

Respondents were positive about embracing automation in the workplace, with 86% in favour of technology replacing some manual processing and more than half optimistic it would help get more “human value” out of the workforce.

But more than a quarter (28%) of employees also said they weren’t aware of the benefits automation would offer their workplace and 73% of organisations don’t think they are yet equipped for the change.

When we drill down into the construction and property sector, the respondents to our survey were also cautious about adopting technology to automate certain tasks but agreed that some professions in the sector could benefit from investment in technology.

The top job areas where construction and property employers are currently investing in automation include design (24%), estimating (24%), construction (21%) and project management (21%).

But they think project management (46%), estimating (42%) and facilities management (38%) are the job areas that could benefit most from investment. This is significant for project management, where more than twice as many employers say it would benefit from investment than are currently investing in it.

Other key construction sector findings include: • 68% said digital transformation is a primary or secondary focus for their organisation.

• 63% say they have an open mindset towards digital transformation in the workplace.

• 40% think automation will allow people to add greater human value to an organisation in the future.

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

• 47% of employers lack the skills to enable them to make the best use of automation technology.

• 59% of employers expect a lack of skills from current staff to be their top barrier to automation implementation.

• 31% of employers promote their investment in digital transformation during interviews.

• 41% of employees would be attracted to an organisation investing in automation or with plans to do so.

It’s clear that many in the industry see potential benefits in technology, but there is also understanding that it can’t be automation for the sake of it. They see value in automating well understood tasks but want to keep plenty of space for fresh ideas, innovation and creative thinking.

People in construction feel the biggest potential benefits of more automation will be improved productivity, cost savings and process efficiencies.

Around a third of people felt automation would change the types of task they do in future rather than decrease the volume of work.

But while a majority of construction and property respondents say automation should be embraced in the workplace, 21% still said they fear it.

This caution is compounded by the fact that 28% of people said the

pace of technological change at their organisation is slow.

So, it’s clear that construction employers must build on the positive sentiment that workers have towards technological change by showing them how it will benefit them in terms of simplifying tasks or allowing more time to add creativity.

Half of the construction workers surveyed said training was the most important factor to focus on if their companies want automation to be a success. Employers recognise this skills gap, with almost half those who replied saying they don’t have the skills to make the best use of new technology.

In particular they are facing a shortage of soft skills, such as communication (54%), critical thinking (51%), and problem-solving (51%) and lack technical skills in project management (50%), robotics (48%) and data science (45%).

It’s worrying then that 4 out of 5 construction employers say they have not made changes to their recruitment strategy as part of their investment in technology.

To rectify skills shortages, employers need to demonstrate in the recruitment process that they are promoting and investing in automation.

While the change is undoubtedly a big one for many construction firms, embracing new technology can also be a big selling point







Proven Quality

Expert Consultation

Customer Service

The first choice building products supplier for leading architects, construction companies, builders and the self-build sector.

cement liquid screed

Our Award Winning

New Generation

The Ultimate Partner for

Decorative Concrete

Cement Liquid Screed

Underfloor Heating

High performance with

A diverse and agile product that is compatible with all standard floor coverings.

Improved energy efficiency and lower runnings costs with underfloor heating.

outstanding visual appeal across a range of colours.

Speak to our expert team 028 9085 1441 sales@rtu.co.uk

www.rtu.co.uk Check us out on social media  www.specifymagazine.co.uk

RTU|73

Golfing Greats on RTU’s Exposa® Decorative Concrete

Exposa® at Royal Portrush

RTU has seen the spotlight shine upon several high-profile projects, for which we were delighted to have provided our concrete, mortar, plaster and screed products. The completion of Queen’s University’s Biological Sciences Building was quickly followed by the launch of Translink’s Milewater House Depot earlier this year. As Spring arrived, the five-year extensive refurbishment of Hillsborough Castle was completed and opened to the public by HRH The Prince of Wales.

Then, just when we thought it couldn’t get any bigger, the oldest golf major in the world arrived at Royal Portrush Golf Course. The highest profile names in the sport, including Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and winner Shane Lowry, walked the course’s extensive Exposa® pathways supplied by RTU. As Managing Director, David McIlory, confirms “there’s no better test of your product’s quality than a record-

breaking crowd at one of the world’s largest sporting events.”

RTU is an innovative company, always looking to the future and researching new products that will meet the evolving needs of our customers throughout Ireland. The quality of RTU lies in an expert team that understands construction, and a range which delivers diverse, agile and efficient products.

We counter the challenges our customers face by offering projectspecific solutions, seamless logistics and excellent service that ensures hasslefree delivery and peace-of-mind.

Let RTU Products Make the Difference EXPOSA® Exposa® is a beautiful decorative concrete, which is the first choice for any hard landscaping project and the ultimate alternative to traditional paving, asphalt, tarmac and loose gravel. Exposa® is highly durable, low maintenance, practical, safe and flexible, with a slip-resistant finish that makes it the ideal choice for residential driveways, patios and footpaths as well

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

The Open Winner, Shane Lowry as commercial applications in large pedestrianised zones. What makes Exposa® stand out from the crowd is the variety of colours on offer that allows designers and architects to be as bold or subtle in their design work.

ULTRAFLO® Ultraflo® is Ireland’s only ready mixed hemihydrate liquid floor screed with unique qualities that make it an ideal solution for domestic and commercial projects. With very low shrinkage, the risk of cracking and movement joint requirements are greatly reduced.

Also, it offers improved energy efficiency and lower runnings costs with underfloor heating, and being a hemihydrate screed means it requires no buffing/grinding to the floor surface.

Ultraflo® is produced in RTU’s state-

of-the-art manufacturing facilities and with a ten-year proven track record, it ensures a perfect screed every time.

ULTRACEM® Ultracem® is a Portland cementbased, pump applied liquid floor screed that excels due to its fasttrack qualities as well as the speed and ease of install over traditional sand:cement screeds. The sheer diversity of Ultracem® is highlighted by its compatibility with all standard floor coverings including tiles, wood, vinyl, carpet and wet areas. When compared to traditional sand:cement screeds, the significantly reduced thickness and weight of the product deliver an agile and efficient solution for commercial, residential and selfbuild projects.

74| INTERVIEW

Specify talks to… Mark Lowry, Managing Director, The McAvoy Group Q: Did you plan to get involved in the Construction Industry?

It wasn’t my initial intention to enter this industry. At school I had no idea what I wanted to do. My strengths were in maths and physics and so my careers master suggested applying for civil engineering. And the rest, as they say, is history!

This turned out to be an inspired decision as I can honestly say that it opened up a fantastic profession and career that suited my skills and attributes very well. Contracting is a tough career path, but the sense of achievement and the enjoyment of teamworking are, for me, second to none in terms of personal reward.

Q: How did you start off?

I married and worked in South Africa for four years for a consulting engineering firm on highway and transportation design.

Q: What have been the highlights of your career so far?

There are many but perhaps the one that I would single out was my role on the Belfast Cross Harbour Bridges – five bridges (four road and one rail) across the River Lagan in central Belfast.

I was the Project Manager for the river crossing element of the project, working for the Graham-Farrans JV. At the time it was the largest infrastructure project in Ireland and a really innovative solution to many technical and logistical challenges. It involved building a 1.7km long viaduct across the streets of central Belfast, constructing foundations 40m deep in the river, and erecting bridge deck units weighing up to 110 tonnes using floating plant as the bridge deck cantilevered out across the 200m wide river. I am proud that the project finished seven weeks early and within budget.

Other career highlights include being MD of Northstone and Farrans, part of CRH plc, where I worked in both civil engineering and building, and in the manufacture of building products.

I spent four years working overseas with CRH, three years in Poland as CRH Country MD - at the time this was CRH’s biggest business in Europe, and a year in Amsterdam, where I worked as CRH Group CSR and Sustainability Director. The experience of living and working in different countries and cultures was wonderful.

The sustainability role really opened my eyes to the importance of having a long-term business strategy that values

its people, the environment, safety, and provides strong governance, integrity and innovation – the very essence of a sustainable business.

Q: What was the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

Without doubt it was from Clifford Spence, my first boss at Farrans, who told me, “In this business, Mark, you assume nothing!”. That is as true today as it was then!

Q: What would you say to any students considering a career in construction?

This industry offers a terrific career with so many strands and areas of interest that make it multi-faceted. There is a perception that it can be rough, tough and dirty, and maybe in the past it was. But the industry has changed incredibly in my time, and I think it’s a wonderful profession, both for men and women.

And then there is the offsite sector which I am hugely excited about.

The potential for growth is just vast and in such a diverse range of sectors.

There is a tremendous need for innovation in construction which offsite can help to address – and for that we need different skillsets. There are great opportunities for talented young people to work in offsite manufacturing, looking at areas such as robotics and digital construction to further develop the synergy between offsite manufacture and digital technologies.

Q: Do you think the Construction Sector needs more support from Stormont?

The construction sector needs a hardworking Stormont Executive to get up and running again to free up the approvals and validation processes to allow the much-needed infrastructure to be delivered.

Q: What needs to be done to help the Construction Sector?

We need leaders in Government to learn from the mistakes of the

past. Governments and NGOs are very critical of the historic low productivity levels in construction but there are multiple reasons for this.

Yes, the industry has to take some responsibility, but in my view it is a result of the preferred forms of procurement.

To encourage designers, contractors and offsite manufacturers such as The McAvoy Group to invest heavily in R&D and innovative new techniques requires long-term commitments for a pipeline of work to make the significant investments in factories, people, plant and technology viable.

There is a clear lack of understanding of this issue, and the culture in many public sector departments continues to contract projects in one-off bespoke competitions, awarded on lowest price rather than best value.

This is a key factor in limiting progress.

We also need wider acceptance of offsite construction as another way of increasing productivity. These solutions

can really help to address issues such as the shortage of school places and the urgent need for more housing to meet demographic changes.

Perceptions are changing and awareness is increasing that we can manufacture stunning buildings with high levels of energy efficiency and less waste, making this approach to construction highly sustainable and with no compromise on quality.

Q: Tell us something surprising about yourself…

I have two adult children and am the proud grandfather of five-month old Clara! I enjoy travel. In my role at CRH I took more than 100 flights a year around many of the 31 countries in which they operated. I enjoy gardening and have been a season ticket holder at Ulster Rugby for 18 years, even when I didn’t live here. I have loved coming back to live in Fermanagh where I am rebuilding the family home – if only I can get a builder who is interested in the job!

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

Insulated Panels UK & Ireland

AWP QuadCore™ Architectural Wall Panel System QuadCore™ protects against fire spread and offers an insulated wall panel system that achieves 4 hours fire integrity. #MoreWithQuadCore

Kingspan is committed to fire safety, and dedicated to delivering high-performance, innovative building solutions that are underpinned by extensive fire testing, including large-scale system testing.

Register your interest in booking our new Fire Performance of Insulated Panels CPD, coming soon: Longest Performance Guarantee

Kingspan Insulated Panels Carrickmacross Road, Kingscourt, Co. Cavan, Ireland Tel: +353 (0) 42 96 98500 Email: fireinfo@kingspan.com www.kingspanpanels.ie

Unrivalled Thermal Performance

Superior Fire Protection

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

Enhanced Environmental Credentials

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk