Features

A healthy building supports the physical and mental wellbeing of its occupants whilst doing as little damage to the environment as possible. Through the use of natural materials, healthy buildings establish a sustainable and durable structure, establishing a higher energy efficiency, says Adrian Judd, Operations Director at Steico UK

Richard Besant, Sales Director at Powdertech Corby, discusses why the latest powder coatings, when used in combination with aluminium, not only expand design perspectives but also help the environment through promoting the use of sustainable and environmentally-friendly materials.

During construction, buildings can be more vulnerable to fires than when completed. In the event of a blaze, a tall building’s riser often acts like a chimney and, therefore, needs protection to ensure flames do not move from one floor to another, writes Nick Atkinson, Director at Ambar Kelly.

IR35 is coming into play for medium- and large-sized private companies from April 2020, following its roll out in the public sector in April 2017, writes Phil Beardwood, Compliance and Assurance Director at the Morson Group.

Why is glass such a popular material for commercial buildings, and how can the material be used to overcome challenges such as space, light and acoustics while helping buildings to meet sustainability requirements? Simon Boocock, Managing Director of CRL Europe, takes a look.

‘People make places’. This is the driving force for a growing number of developers who are putting people, and particularly community, at the heart of what they do. Factors such as good design or a convenient location alone are no longer enough, leading to a growing trend in mixed-use developments. Mixed-use developments combine both commercial and residential aspects. In short, they allow people to live, work and play in a concentrated area, writes Founder of Blackswan Property, Marcus Hawley.

Originating from an architectural competition, the Drummondville Library in Drummondville, Canada, transposes the historical, cultural and poetic essence of the region into a studied urban and architectural composition.

Sally-Anne Balmer, Architect and Technical Team Lead at NBS, took the typical route to qualify as an Architect in the UK via a combination of academic studies at Manchester School of Architecture and two years’ experience in the industry before final qualification. Being a member of the RIBA and subscriber to the NBS for several years, she was interested in gaining a different perspective of the construction industry. Joining NBS has allowed her to develop her research and technical authoring skills within the emerging digital environment and offer suggestions for tool improvement from a subscriber’s viewpoint.

Gavin White from leading liquid applied roofing specialist, Sika Liquid Plastics, discusses the importance of supply chain technical support in managing hazards and avoiding risk.

There are billions of pounds of art exhibits covered by the Government Indemnity Scheme – thanks to top-level security solutions – security solutions that are available to all architects and developers, says Toby Humphreys, Product Development Manager of industry-leading physical security specialist Charter Global.