Future-proofing transport infrastucture with steel

As passenger numbers grow, specifying the right materials to future-proof stations and airports has never been more important. Andrew Jackson, director at SAS International, looks at how steel solutions meet the required design flexibility and aesthetic demand while providing long-term... View Article

Paving the way for a better passenger experience

Sally Binns, Marshalls’ rail expert, takes us on a journey to find out how good design and carefully selected materials can enhance the passenger experience from the station interface to the platform. Around 6.5 million passengers travel on Britain’s rail... View Article

Cracking the flooring challenge

Transport facilities are subject to heavy footfall and tiled flooring offers an aesthetically appealing and hard-wearing solution in this environment. But even the most resilient surfaces are vulnerable to damage after installation. Judith Mawtus, general manager at Dural UK, offers... View Article

A private balcony – from idea to reality

It is no coincidence that “balcony” is now one of the most searched keywords when people are looking for a new home. Estate agents are often told that the apartment they are offering would be perfect, “if only it had... View Article

Retail and rail – the design challenge

Since its creation, the architecture of the railways has been primarily about facilitating transportation. Now, as today’s travellers require multi-tasking spaces, architects and designers need to create retail opportunities as an essential part of the journey from pavement to platform,... View Article

Improving the appearance and thermal efficiency of buildings

Structural defects and poor thermal efficiency are issues affecting a significant number of non-traditional and prefabricated concrete (PRC) buildings. Andy Carter, Structherm’s technical manager, looks at how Structural External Wall Insulation (SEWI) can be used to remediate these problems Many... View Article

One million recruits needed to beat housing crisis

According to a white paper produced by EC Harris, construction companies will need to recruit one million new recruits by 2020 if the industry is to build the homes the country needs. The paper, ‘People and money – fundamental to... View Article

What the doctors ordered

Mark Smulian takes a look at the University of Leicester’s new Centre for Medicine, which will be the UK’s largest non-residential Passivhaus project to date Fitting the people and equipment from three departments into a single structure on a constrained... View Article

Specifying external sliding doors

Latest developments in window technology have radically improved the design, performance, and security of fully-glazed external sliding doors for residential use. However, as sliding doors become increasingly sophisticated, specification also becomes more complex. Andy Trewick, VELFAC direct sales manager, comments Site suitability To... View Article

The retail revolution

A tectonic shift has overtaken the retail construction sector over the past five years as retailers have responded to the challenges of persistently weak consumer spending and changes to how and where people shop. Stephen Cousins asks “where is it... View Article

Humid ‘hot spots’ pose health risks

Moisture is produced continuously within the home with the average family generating a staggering 20 litres of water per day. Whilst this may sound harmless, excess moisture within the home can leave occupants vulnerable to a host of health risks.... View Article

New housing stats comment from Mactaggart & Mickel Group

Ed Monaghan, chief executive of Mactaggart & Mickel Group comments on today’s Scottish Government house building figures: “The statistics released by the Scottish Government today showing a continued rise in new build completions are welcome news for the industry and... View Article

Government’s fuel poverty stats

Commenting on the latest fuel poverty statistics, Bob Mayho, Principle Policy Officer for the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH), said: “The fuel poverty statistics do not exactly make for good reading. While the fuel poverty gap has been reduced,... View Article