Construction National

Gloucester Gateway by SkyGarden Green Solutions

The image for Gloucester Gateway was to build a building, that didn’t look like a building. The new service station on the northbound side of the M5 between J11 and J12 was a leap forward in service station design and engineering The clients, Westmorland Limited, aimed to do something different from the average motorway services. No franchises, no big brands, but instead a sense of where you are - a sense of place; homemade food and farm shops, that work hand in glove with small, artisan producers from the local area and beyond. The idea that has been successfully used at the Tebay services in Cumbria for 40 years. 

Read more: Gloucester Gateway by SkyGarden Green Solutions

Primary school goes back to nature thanks to Redrow

Ann Edwards C of E Primary School in South Cerney got a real treat this week after a team of Redrow apprentices built them an outdoor classroom in just seven days. 

The classroom, which has been designed to help the school’s pupils learn more about natural habitats, will be opened by the school in September to celebrate its 25th anniversary. 

Read more: Primary school goes back to nature thanks to Redrow

Hope supplying concrete for the build of 11 wind turbines

Hope Construction Materials, the UK’s largest independent supplier of construction materials, is supplying 4500m3 of concrete to specialist civil engineering contractor I&H Brown to build 11 wind turbine bases at Crook Hill Wind Farm on the Lancashire Pennine Moors.

The project, which launched in October 2014 and should be complete by the end of July 2015, will secure renewable energy for 25,000 homes near Rochdale in East Lancashire with up to 36MW of electricity in total being generated from the wind farm.

Read more: Hope supplying concrete for the build of 11 wind turbines

Roan uses 3D digital model to solve pupil places shortage

Roan Building Solutions has invested in BIM (building information modelling) to deliver a £1.9m classroom complex to a primary school in the heart of London as the capital looks to accommodate its increasing number of pupils. 

The new facility at Granard Primary School is Roan’s first BIM project – a process covering the entire life cycle of a building from conception to demolition in a 3D digital model of its physical and functional characteristics. Designed to meet BIM level two requirements, Roan is designing and delivering a sustainable, two-storey, standalone, classroom complex comprising of seven classrooms, open learning studios, cloakrooms, WCs, kitchen facilities and staffrooms. 

Read more: Roan uses 3D digital model to solve pupil places shortage

End-of-year accounts show 32.8% annual growth at Metrotile UK

Year-end accounts show 32.8 per cent year-on-year growth at leading lightweight steel roofing tile firm Metrotile UK.

The Chippenham-based company enjoyed sales of just over £7.1 million in its year 2014/15 which came to a close at the end of January.

Read more: End-of-year accounts show 32.8% annual growth at Metrotile UK

The BEST way to operate and maintain your built asset

It is no secret that BIM can help create and maintain facilities that provide a host of benefits ranging from improved efficiency, lower carbon emissions and reduced cost. However, these perks are not possible without an integrated supply chain; reaching right from design phase through to operation. 

Read more: The BEST way to operate and maintain your built asset

South West half price energy scheme wins award-recognition

Cornish manufacturer Kensa Heat Pumps and Westward Housing Group have won South West Regional Project of the Year for their innovative heating upgrade scheme in Holsworthy, Devon. 

Read more: South West half price energy scheme wins award-recognition

NASC member company wins Access & Scaffolding category award

NASC Member Company wins Access & Scaffolding category award at 2015 Construction News Specialist Awards event at Hilton Park Lane, London

NASC member companies were widely represented at the 11th annual Construction News Specialist Awards held at the London Hilton in Park Lane on Wednesday 18 March, with five companies shortlisted and an outright winner in the Access & Scaffolding category - Chris Sedgeman Scaffolding Ltd - for scaffolding at the Dawlish Railway repair project, following the infamous storm damage in 2013.

Read more: NASC member company wins Access & Scaffolding category award

Construction apprentices encourage other young people to 'earn while you learn'

Twenty-year-old Alex O’Brien had set his sights on becoming an accountant – and had the exam marks to match his goal – but at the last minute decided to become a construction apprentice instead after finding out about the benefits of work based learning.

Read more: Construction apprentices encourage other young people to 'earn while you learn'

Barker and Stonehouse brings first living wall to Teesside

The new flagship Barker and Stonehouse store on Teesside Retail Park is literally being brought to life, thanks to the creation of the first ‘living’ wall and roof on Teesside.

Thousands of colourful plants will soon transform a south-facing wall and the roof into a bright display and wildlife habitat in time for the store’s opening on March 28.

Read more: Barker and Stonehouse brings first living wall to Teesside