Award-winning building features Kawneer curtain walling and debuts a new door.

Two types of curtain walling, and entrance doors, by leading UK manufacturer Kawneer, including the first use in the UK of a new severe duty welded door, feature on an award-winning building at the heart of the dynamic redevelopment of Cardiff’s Central Square.

Kawneer’s AA®100 capped and zone-drained aluminium curtain wall, complemented by its SSG (Structurally Silicone Glazed) and mullion-drained sister product, have been used throughout the glittering façade of the striking new headquarters building for BBC Cymru at Three Central Square.

They in turn are complemented by thermally-superior AA®720 doors and the new dual colour AA®190 TB severe duty welded doors with class-leading thermal performance that is so robust they are offered with a lifetime guarantee.

The project, designed by Foster + Partners and built by main contractor ISG Construction for developer Rightacres Property, won a 2019 RICS Wales award for Design Through Innovation, and it is easy to see why.

Set over four floors, the building is the new home for 1,200 BBC Cymru staff and includes 16,292m² of curtain walling and 3,572m² of precast stone panels over 150,000ft² of office, studio and production space.

The 2,000-tonne steel frame is an essential design feature, as part of the design’s focus on the building’s visibility. It is left exposed underneath a glass roof garden canopy supported by 10 28m-high supporting steel columns, with the frame’s connections forming a diamond shape in the centre.

The building is designed to be open and welcoming – visitors can access the ground floor and look up through a full-height atrium into the working spaces above, as well as into a new café facing the square. The design also establishes a sense of openness and transparency between different departments to create new opportunities for collaboration and interaction.

The heart of the headquarters is a 4,000m² ‘hub’ which extends across three linked levels and incorporates studios, offices and production facilities. The scheme includes a sheltered garden on the hub’s roof which is connected to a restaurant and provides a unique venue for filming as well as a valuable social amenity for staff.

The project targeted BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ environmental accreditation with strategies such as chilled beams, locally-sourced and recycled materials, and an efficient envelope. Mechanical systems have been carefully integrated to create a highly flexible interior which can anticipate and respond to changing technologies.

Adam Newburn, partner at Foster + Partners, said: “The Kawneer system was proposed by the façade contractor, Dudley’s Aluminium. We looked at the product closely and found that it met the performance requirements of the design.”

The glazed elements are fundamental to Foster’s design which was to have large-format curtain glazing so the Kawneer products were instrumental in allowing that to happen. They met the aesthetic and performance intent of the design, enabling the design intent to shine through and integrating seamlessly with the rest of the façade.

Located opposite Cardiff Central railway station, the project is situated on the site of the former bus station. Works on Plots 1, 2, 3 and 6 have completed, or are near completion, and works on Plot 4 are to start soon, and this will create a dynamic area known as Central Square.

The innovative spirit of the project was defined by the BBC’s vision to be the most creative organisation in the world, its commitment to create genuine public engagement and the idea to create an open and attractive workplace. Broadcasting studios usually require a controlled environment for operations, yet the building manages to achieve the contrasting aims of the project to open up to the public as well as be a world-class broadcasting hub for BBC Cymru.

RICS judges said the project created a dynamic principal building for the Central Square redevelopment and that the team behind it had created a “spectacular” commercial, pre-let building.

Historically, Central Square was the site of the planned settlement of Temperance Town, a 19^th Century inner-city suburb, which was demolished to make way for Cardiff bus station which opened in 1954, and office buildings.

For many years the area suffered from a lack of sustained investment. Despite its significant public transport attributes, it failed to deliver high levels of economic activity and provided an underwhelming and unwelcoming arrival for many visitors. The case for regeneration of the site was made because the existing under-development was hindering Cardiff’s potential.

Cardiff’s rapidly changing skyline reflects the capital’s huge economic growth over the past 10 years. Central Square is within the Central Cardiff Enterprise Zone which is already home to several financial and professional service businesses.

One of the primary aims of the project was to give back to the city and the relocation of BBC Cymru from Broadcasting House in Llandaff acted as a catalyst for change, creating the opportunity to regenerate the historic site and unlock the heart to the city.

www.kawneer.co.uk

Structura UK, the fabricator and installer of glass curtain walling and specialist refinishing expert, has completed a massive project renewing and refreshing this London landmark.

Delta Point, the 28,500sqm former BT office building in Croydon, has been completely overhauled as part of its transformation into 404 apartments and commercial units. Work started on complete glazing refurbishment coupled with refurbishing and refinishing the entire cladding façade.

Due to the scale of this project, Structura was on site for over a year with a full-time crew and set up a specialist preparation/spraying booth in order to facilitate refurbishment with minimum disruption. This innovative booth, complete with extraction venting, was complemented with a curing booth set up in the basement. Work on other panels was also carried out in situ from cradles suspended around the building.

An added complication was the fact that, with the building changing use from Commercial to Residential, the paint needed to achieve class 0 on spread of flame in accordance with BS 476. In order to ensure conformity and correct certification, Structura’s bespoke colour formulation was tested at Exova Warrington Fire to make sure it was fully compliant.

This substantial project is a perfect example of how Structura’s various divisions can collaborate to provide a one-stop-shop for the complete renewal of facades. The ability to design, fabricate and install replacement glazing, along with cladding refurbishment and refinishing, creates a seamless project management workflow and reduces costs and time spent on site. Importantly, it negates the need to use several different contractors with the associated problems that can entail.

Case studies and technical information are available from Structura UK Ltd on tel: 01233 501 504 or by visiting www.structura-uk.com

UK Construction Week (UKCW), now in its fifth year, is back with a bang and taking on all the big issues for the construction industry.

From diversity and skills, to modern methods of construction (MMC), from mental health advice to sustainability, UKCW is tackling it all.

Held at the NEC on 8-10 October, this year’s all-encompassing show is one not to be missed.

Straight-talking on mental health

With mental health a key priority for the construction sector, the Mind Your Head mental health and safety campaign is launching at UKCW. Designed to promote mental wellbeing for those working in the construction industry, with a particular focus on men who are at greater risk of suicide, the campaign is designed to be straight-talking, no-nonsense and accessible.

As part of the campaign, Carwyn Lloyd Jones, the creator of the Tiny House at last year’s UKCW will be using his talents to create an artistic installation of swings to encourage open discussion about mental health.

There will also be a range of seminars discussing the unique challenges of mental health in the construction sector. On the main stage on Tuesday 8 October, ‘Wellbeing in Construction: Tackling work-life balance, mental health and diversity’, will be chaired by Dr David Hancock, head of construction – infrastructure and projects authority at the Cabinet Office.

On Wednesday 9 October, join Jane Leech, public health development manager at Public Health Portsmouth for ‘Maintaining good mental wellbeing is a skill, a skill that we and our workplaces can learn’. Kevin McAlister, founder of Lift Your Wellbeing will discuss ‘Constructing a wellbeing culture’. And join Brian Parker, business development manager at AFI Group for ‘Mental health in the work place – an industry perspective’ in the Working Well Together theatre.

 Error, group does not exist! Check your syntax! (ID: 4)
Sustainability in construction

This year, UKCW is placing sustainability at the heart of the show. Firstly, a new app will guide visitors around the show, replacing the printed show guide. The app alone will save five million sheets of paper.

Coming to UKCW 2019 is Mission Sustainable. The mission is to encourage all exhibitors and visitors to be as eco-friendly as possible. Examples include: a reduction in single use plastic at the catering points; water fountains located around the show and visitors encouraged to use refillable bottles; visitors encouraged to return lanyards and badges at the end of the show for reuse; visitors and exhibitors encouraged to travel by public transport or car share; exhibitor show stands to be reusable.

Also new for 2019 is the Electric Vehicle (EV) Arcade located outside Hall 12. As the adoption of electric vehicles gathers pace, charging points will become mandatory in new homes, and Boris Johnson is keen for the UK to lead the world in the adoption of electric vehicles and the infrastructure to support them. The EV Arcade will showcase the options on the market, including leading providers of charging points and renewable energy in this field.

Innovating for the future

With disruptors now present in many different markets, this year UKCW is shining a spotlight on the serious change-makers in construction. The aim is to promote productivity, speed, quality, sustainability and social cohesion, showing how innovation can create new value in the industry and stop the short-term, purely cost-driven ‘race to the bottom’.

To aid the search for what is genuinely new and valuable, a new Innovation Zone has been established in partnership with the Construction Innovation Hub – an organisation focused on transforming construction through digital and advanced manufacturing technologies. The Innovation Zone is a non-sales environment where visitors can explore the new ideas, learn and be inspired.

UKCW is one event with many sections, including Build sponsored by Easy-Trim, Building Tech, Civils, Energy and HVAC, Surface and Materials, and Timber. It also features Concrete Expo (8-9 October only) and Grand Designs Live (9-10 October only).

Single registration at, www.ukconstructionweek.com, gives access to all areas of the show. For further information follow @UK_CW or search for the hashtag #UKCW2019.

Evinox Energy are gearing up to take part in UK Construction Week, which is running from 8^th to 10^th October at Birmingham’s NEC and is the largest and most significant construction event of the year. UK Construction Week features an excellent programme with over 650 exhibitors covering every facet of the industry, CPD accredited seminars, networking events, an innovation zone and much more.

Visit Evinox at stand E317 where retro video games meet modern ‘Smart’ heat network solutions, with the launch of ModuSat® FUSION prefabricated HIU utility cupboard. The product will be on display and offers the ‘perfect fit’ for communal and district heat network developments.

Visitors can watch the ModuSat® FUSION video (Styled on classic 80’s video games) and experience first-hand the unique combination of ultra-compact design with ‘smart’ high-efficiency heat interface unit performance.

Win a retro Nintendo NES games console
Be sure to stop by at Evinox’s stand and enter the Free ModuSat® FUSION competition, where you can win a retro Nintendo Classic Mini NES games console! A miniaturised version of the ground-breaking NES originally released in Europe in 1986.

If successful you can plug the Nintendo Classic Mini into your TV, pick up that grey controller, and rediscover the joy of NES games – in high definition at 60 Hz!

There will be 3 Nintendo Classic Mini NES’s up for grabs, one on each day of the exhibition and entry is completely FREE of charge. Winner’s will be announced at the end of each day. Visit Evinox’s stand for full details.

‘Smart’ heat Interface units on display

Evinox will also display the latest range of ModuSat® XR ‘Smart’ Heating and Cooling Interface Units at the event. These units provide M&E Contractors and Consulting Engineers with a “whole lot more” for a “whole lot less” due to the myriad of hidden extras. Models on display will include the popular ModuSat® XR-ECO Twin Plate unit for heating and instantaneous hot water and the ModuSat® XR-ECO Combined Heating and Cooling interface unit, with new ultra-compact dimensions.

Find out more about the benefits of installing ModuSat® FUSION Prefabricated HIU Cupboards and Evinox’s ‘Smart’ HIU technology by visiting Stand E317 at UK Construction Week 8^th-10^th October NEC.

Website: www.evinoxenergy.co.uk/fusion

GenAir a leading hirer of compressed systems and desiccant dryers, have had the environmental qualities of their emission free, All Weather All Electric Air Compressor formally recognised by the internationally respected campaigners, The Green Organisation.

Three senior representatives from the West Midlands based company have been invited to a glittering presentation ceremony, hosted at the Houses of Parliament on 25th November, where they will receive their award.

These individually designed compressors have a working pressure of 10 –190psi with a maximum free air delivery of up to 400cfm. With a whisper quiet noise level of just 67dB (A) and protected in a fully weatherproof canopy, these brand new units are perfect for use in all situations and particularly in areas governed by emission and noise rules.

There are many advantages for using an electric compressor as opposed to a diesel powered set. Because most diesel sets can only run for about 12 hours before they need refuelling, their fuel levels will require constant monitoring. This can distract an operator away from more important tasks. As Genair’s electric compressors run entirely free from fuel, the environmental damage from diesel spillage is completely eliminated. Furthermore, a diesel engine’s filters must be replaced every 500 hours – that’s every three weeks for a project that runs for 24 hours. Electric compressors can be left alone for up to 4,000 hours before maintenance is needed, giving them a significant advantage on all major programmes. They continue to operate in extreme temperatures from minus 25º to plus 50Cº and their built-in after cooler and water separator will eliminate up to 70% of moisture. This will help with delivering superior air quality for improved performance.

Commenting on this accolade, GenAir’s Managing Director, David Timmins said, “Naturally, we are honoured to receive this award. Emission elimination and compliance with NRMM regulations have been the driving factor in developing these compressors. To have them officially acknowledged as a sustainable product is extremely satisfying.”

The Green Apple Awards began in 1994 and have become established as the country’s major recognition for environmental endeavour among companies, councils, communities and countries. The Green Organisation is an international, independent, non-political, non-profit environment group dedicated to recognising, rewarding and promoting environmental best practice around the world.

The Green Apple Awards are supported by the Environment Agency, the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, the Chartered Institution for Wastes Management and other independent bodies.

Incorporated in April 2007, Genair Limited is independently owned and a leading rental specialist of compressed air systems in the UK. They operate from three strategically placed depots; Motherwell, Slough and in the West Midlands. Registered to ISO 9001, the Genair management team has a collective 140 years’ experience in the compressed air markets, with fully qualified service technicians and ADR drivers. They supply equipment extensively throughout the UK and overseas.

www.genair.co.uk