More Focus – Page 257
-
FeaturesFirst impressions: Projects by Hadid and Metropolitan Architects
Another ‘First Impression’ panellist, this time Michelle Sweeney, graduate from the School of Architecture at the University of Manchester, comments on five new schemes
-
FeaturesWe were there – Construction’s Olympians tell their stories
Construction is full of people who’ve lived the Olympic dream. As the Beijing Games kick off, eight of them tell Emily Wright about their years of training for moments of glory. Photography Michael Clement
-
FeaturesA mighty wind – the government’s plans for wind farms
The government’s plan to build 3,000 offshore wind turbines with blades the length of football pitches will spark a new multibillion-pound industry – complete with thousands of jobs. Olivia Boyd explains how you can get involved
-
FeaturesCountry focus: France
President Nicolas Sarkozy’s honeymoon period may be at an end, but France is weathering the credit crisis relatively well and the construction industry is still a bastion of the economy, reports Patrick Leniston of EC Harris
-
FeaturesThe second coming – the Strategic Forum for Construction’s Nick Raynsford
As the Strategic Forum’s new chairman, Nick Raynsford is bent on getting the industry to comply with its targets, recently launched by his predecessor Mike Davies. But is the response likely to be any better than it was to Egan? Kate Wheal met them both to find out
-
FeaturesAquifer thermal storage: DIG! A Dutch method of sorting out energy
M&E A Dutch method of storing all the energy required to heat and cool a building deep underground is coming to the UK. Stephen Kennett finds out how it works
-
FeaturesThe alternatives: Cooling and heating
Seasonal heat storeAt Beaufort Court (right), the headquarters for Renewable Energy Systems, environmental engineer Max Fordham created a seasonal heat store. This consists of about 1,000m3 of water held in a 5m deep hole, which tapers from 18m2 at the surface to 8m2 at the base – this shape does ...
-
Features
Building pathology: Boilers
Boilers have a tendency to go wrong at the most inconvenient times. Peter Mayer of Building LifePlans discovers what the most common problems are, and how they can be avoided
-
Features‘Life is just one long series of crises and disappointments’: Nick Clegg interview
But that doesn’t mean you don’t have to try to make it better. Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg thinks decentralised government, lower taxes and an end to ‘messing around’ with construction might help.Portraits by Julian Anderson
-
FeaturesCost model: Airport terminals
UK airport operators need to make substantial investments in infrastructure to prepare for continuing long-term demand for domestic and international flights. Simon Rawlinson of Davis Langdon reports
-
FeaturesAs bad as it gets: Building the UK embassy in Harare
With violence, poverty, hyperinflation and disease halting work at every turn, how is it even possible to operate in Zimbabwe? Martin Spring asked those building a new UK embassy in its capital
-
FeaturesGIA: Is this the UK’s grooviest building surveyor?
The butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker – if they’re after second careers, they could do worse than apply to become building surveyors at GIA. Alex Smith talks to seven employees who all have wildly different backgrounds. Photography by Steve Schofield
-
-
FeaturesUnderfloor heating
Raychem’s electric underfloor heating system has been installed in the recently opened spa at the Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire, Scotland.
-
Features
Energy saving lighting sensors
MK Electric has introduced a range of lighting controls, designed to deliver energy savings, for a range of commercial situations
-
Features
Heat pumps: GaeaTherm ground-source heat pump
Potterton Commercial has launched the GaeaTherm ground-source heat pump which it says can help reduce the carbon footprint of commercial buildings.
-
Features
Lighting controls
Flex Connectors has launched Flex 7, a range of lighting control products built into Flex 7 plugs to create a range of plug-in switches, dimmer switches, occupancy and absence sensors, daylight dependent switches, daylight-linked dimmers and manual dimmers, which can be incorporated without extra M&E works.Flex Connectorswww.flexconnectors.co.ukwww.building.co.uk/enquiries (305)
-
Features
Wall heaters
DRU Verwarming has launched a new range of commercial powered flue wall heaters to complement its existing balanced flue and conventional flue products
-
Features
Wiring accessories
Legrand has added to its Synergy Modern range of wiring accessories by launching two new finishes: matt black and black nickel.