Archive for category: General News

_{The Weinstein Company office at 99 Hudson before  and after the renovation, Photo: Camila Amaral}

The Weinstein Company’s offices at 99 Hudson Street have sat vacant since 2018 following widespread allegations of sexual misconduct against its founder, Harvey Weinstein. The space has deep roots for Harvey and his brother Bob, who built Miramax from inside its walls years before TWC was created. Now, with their remaining assets sold off and Harvey Weinstein in prison, there are 13,000 square feet of newly renovated commercial real estate with a dark past up for grabs in Tribeca.

Earlier this year, Barbara Kavovit, founder and CEO of Evergreen Construction, beat out three male-owned competitors for the privilege of ripping apart the Weinstein Company’s former headquarters. “I felt that I was doing something for female empowerment by ridding the space of bad karma and the things that went on in that organization,” the CEO, author, and former Real Housewife of New York says.

The redesign of 99 Hudson represents what Kavovit calls “a #MeToo–inspired shift in office culture.” The new space prioritizes transparency, with an open floor plan and glass walls instead of opaque office doors. Although the efficacy of open plans—particularly for female employees—has been hotly debated, Kavovit’s approach represents a stark contrast to what she calls Weinstein’s “closed-off…gloomy, ominous space.” Bright light now pours in from multiple angles. She describes “a big open kitchen where people can hold meetings. You can be in an office 75 feet away and still see what’s going on in the kitchen…everything is very transparent and light to really foster a safe work environment.”

Barbara Kavovit, founder and CEO of Evergreen Construction,

‘I felt that I was doing something for female empowerment by ridding the space of bad karma’

There’s no questioning that COVID-19 has forced many to rethink open offices altogether, but Kavovit emphasizes the layout’s adaptability. “Whoever leases that space is going to come in and take COVID prevention to the next level,” she says, referring to the plexiglass dividers and additional glass walls a future tenant might install. As for the construction process itself, which started in March 2020, safety was of the utmost importance. “Personal protective equipment was used throughout the project, and everybody was maintaining social distancing, wearing masks, and sterilizing,”

For Kavovit, this project was about more than just winning a bid or crafting a well-made space. “It was a very emotional feeling for me because I look at myself as being a very brave woman who’s had to stand up to an onslaught of different situations over the past 25 years,” she says. “I felt like I had a similar trajectory to the women that stood up in the courtroom, so it was important for me to represent all women within the #MeToo movement.”

Working in a male-dominated field, Kavovit “knows what it means not to be taken seriously,” and she’s passionate about helping other women navigate the construction industry. That passion was clearly reflected on the Weinstein project, where the “star project manager is a woman and probably 25 women at any given time were doing electrical work, demolition, and sprinkler work.” She took videos on-site, she explains, “because it’s so important to show women that they can break through the glass ceiling and this old boys’ network. We just have to keep chipping away.”

Evergreen Construction completed the renovation of 99 Hudson this month, and the office is now up for lease by its owner, Olshan Properties. The question remains whether prospective tenants will be able to overlook an office space famously associated with sexual misconduct, but Kavovit isn’t concerned. “Knowing that there was so much determination and resilience and grit that went into this beautiful space…it was about so much more than just taking a sledgehammer to it,” she says. “It’s turning over a new leaf on where we were and where we are going in the world.”

Source: Vogue

Follow us on TwitterJoin us on Linked in

By Andrew Gillard, Sika Business Unit Manager – Industry and MMC

This year has seen events that have re-shaped the world we live in. The world around us has seen generational shifts, with rapid transformations in IT, and advances in technology. Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) continues to move towards the heart of our construction industry in the UK. We understand that, for the offsite constructor, finding ways to increase PMV for the client, but keeping the manufacturing process as efficient as possible, can be challenging. We believe that it is the responsibility of key suppliers to assist this process, in whichever way possible. At Sika, we have the technology to support all areas of manufacture.

Sika can support the advancement of PMV, by providing unique and high-performing solutions. We can demonstrate high levels of technical knowledge, and support in many applications, from the floor, through to roof; these being interior and exterior applications for volumetric, panelised or pod manufacture. Our approach is to define ways to reduce build-time, simplify bill of materials, and increase quality as well as life expectancy, whether it be timber or steel framed construction.

It is necessary for the offsite manufacturers to rely on the technical support and product know-how of their supply partners. Technical support and training are a key requirement of a professional partner. We can support the offsite manufacturer with advice on Process Failure Mode Effects Analysis (PFMEA) and, where necessary, aid with training and upskilling of the client’s workforce.

We go beyond the supply of materials – we can assist with the development, testing and design, through to supporting a manufacturer’s implementation and process optimisation in modular building production.

Interior Applications

In the context of interiors, we can support with clever materials for cementitious bases through floor coatings, to Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) adhesives and good solutions for wood floor bonding, as well as traditional floor tile adhesive systems.

We can also support with joint sealants, whether it be sanitary or aesthetic. Our passive fire protection range can assist in making units safer. Our reduced dust, low emission wall levelling compound meets all the latest EHS requirements, and gives class-leading finishing characteristics. Our high green strength adhesive can be used to reduce the requirement for mechanical fixings, which can create Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) issues. Pretty much, we can help you look at applications in new ways.

Exterior Applications

We understand the need for water tightness and with our weather-proofing solutions for roofing, walls and windows, etc., we aim to assist you to deliver units, with minimal retro repair, and reduced zip-up costs. Our robust solutions will reduce transit damage of volumetric units, and our ideas to reduce weight will lower CO₂ from transportation requirements.

Our innovations to improve structural rigidity of units can mitigate flex in transit, and the subsequent repairs. Our membrane systems can assist with keeping the weather out, whilst the units wait to be slotted into the final building. Whichever exterior wall finish is used, Sika can support our customers. From renders to adhesives for brick slip bonding, to wood adhesives and bonded panelised systems.

Pod Manufacture

Our solutions for Bathroom Pods and wet rooms can reduce waiting time for curing. Whether it be for the concrete base or ETAG022 systems for wetroom walls and floors, for tile bonding with automated solutions, or fast curing stiffener bar attachment, we are able to help.

To summarise, in the last year, Sika has been learning about the challenges that face the MMC arena. To be able to support the required PMV levels, offsite and modular constructors warrant additional levels of service and innovation. After identifying key applications, Sika has leveraged its huge product range to come up with some great solutions, to improve rigidity, reduce noise transfer, improve fire performance, reduce cycle time, lower costs, enhance sustainability, boost quality and provide a one-stop-shop from basement to roof.

For more information on how we can assist you, contact James Taylor on 01707 363893 or visit our website here:

Follow us on TwitterJoin us on Linked in

A Cumbria County Council committee has asked to be included in a new working group exploring the suitability of Copeland for the site of an underground radioactive waste facility.

The council’s local committee for Copeland agreed on Tuesday to submit a request to Radioactive Waste Management to join its newly-formed working group, exploring the viability of siting a Geological Disposal Facility in Copeland.

The facility would provide deep underground long-term storage for nuclear waste, and the Government is now looking for viable potential sites for the construction of such a facility.

Copeland Council is already a member of the working group.

Conservative county councillor for Cleator Moor East and Frizington, Arthur Lamb, proposed to the committee on Tuesday that it express an interest in joining the working group, “to make sure that all tiers of local government are represented.”

The suggestion was unanimously agreed.

Also at Tuesday’s meeting, cabinet member for economic development and property, Labour’s David Southward, provided an update on recent developments in the nuclear landscape, which could prove to have a profound effect on Copeland’s future.

He explained that the much-anticipated energy White Paper will soon be published by the Government, which is expected to outline its position on the degree of support it will give to new nuclear power station projects in future.

This could have significant consequences for the future of the Moorside project, which may see a new nuclear power station built close to the Sellafield site.

Another avenue Mr Southward said may be explored in the White Paper is the role advanced modular reactors could be set to play in the Government’s future energy strategy.

He said it was now “clear” that Rolls Royce is the preferred provider for such technology.

“They’ve said clearly they would need to build 16 as a minimum to make the project viable,” he said.

“Those who are closer to Government than I am suggest there may be four allocated to the Moorside site.

“If that’s the case, it can only be good news.”

Mr Southward added that an alternative to advanced modular reactors at Moorside contributing to the national grid would be that “one or more of these AMRs would be build in conjunction with something like a hydrogen plant, which would make it a ‘one-stop shop’ for hydrogen.

“That sort of thing is being looked at.”

He added progress on this is likely to be several years in the making.

“I would remind people that as far as I know, the generic design assessment for the AMRs has still to be completed. That is frequently a two or three year process.

“After that, under the nationally significant infrastructure project regime, there would be a pause again, for perhaps three years, for development consent orders.”

He added that the “most crucial” result he hoped for from the White Paper was an indication on Government’s attitude is towards financing these projects.

Mr Southward said funding for AMRs would be easier to source than for conventional power stations.

“Clearly because of their size, there are only about an eighth or a ninth of a conventional power station, the funding for an AMR would be easier to raise on the market,” he said.

“It would still be, I would guess, something in the order of £2bn to £3bn.

“It’s not pocket money.”

Source: News & Star

The UK Treasury said yesterday it is important to consider large-scale nuclear projects in addition to Hinkley Point C (HPC) if the country is to meet its net-zero by 2050 target. This assessment rejects the advice of the National Infrastructure Commission two years ago that the government should not agree support for more than one nuclear power station beyond HPC, before 2025.

The Treasury outlined its position towards new nuclear in two documents – Response to the National Infrastructure Assessment and National Infrastructure Strategy Fairer, faster, greener. These followed the Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution the government unveiled last week and which includes nuclear power.

According to the Ten Point Plan, the government will provide up to GBP525 million (USD700 million) to bring forward large-scale nuclear and invest in the development of advanced nuclear research and development, including up to GBP385 million in an Advanced Nuclear Fund for small modular reactors and advanced modular reactors. This is alongside GBP220 million for nuclear fusion.

In its response to the NIC report of July 2018, the Treasury said the government agrees with the assessment of the importance of developing a flexible electricity system and the significant role of renewable generation in delivering a low cost, stable, reliable and low carbon electricity system. The government also recognises the NIC’s view that a large degree of uncertainty remains which affects what the optimal mix of electricity generation technologies might be in 2050. Since the NIC assessment was published, however, the government has legislated for a target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

In its infrastructure strategy, the Treasury says: “Nuclear is a proven, value-for-money source of reliable low carbon power which can complement renewables. The government is pursuing large-scale nuclear projects, subject to clear value for money for both consumers and taxpayers and all relevant approvals, with further details to follow in the Energy White Paper.”

It adds: “Last year, the government consulted on a nuclear Regulated Asset Base (RAB). The government is considering the responses to this consultation and expects to publish a response in due course. Alongside considering the RAB model the government will also continue to consider the potential role of government finance during construction, provided there is clear value for money for consumers and taxpayers.”

Tom Greatrex, chief executive of the UK’s Nuclear Industry Association, welcomed the Treasury’s assessment of new nuclear.

“Meeting net zero by 2050 is incompatible with the flawed analysis offered by the National Infrastructure Commission,” Greatrex said. “It is right that the UK government have rejected [NIC Chairman] John Armitt’s group in clear and stark terms – nuclear alongside other low-carbon technologies will be required to decarbonise, and it was never a sound position to suggest otherwise. The focus now must be on delivering the infrastructure required to meet net zero – and avoiding wasting further time, effort and attention in seeking to pit low carbon technologies against each other.”

Source: World Nuclear News