More Focus – Page 268

  • The Crucible is home to the World Snooker Championship, which culminates in this Sunday’s final.
    Features

    Crucible Theatre: Right on cue

    2008-05-02T00:00:00Z

    If there’s one thing the city of Sheffield, the world’s snooker fans and project manager David Hobson can all agree on, it’s that nothing can stand in the way of the World Snooker Championship next year. Not even its venue’s much-needed revamp. Thomas Lane puts you in the frame

  • A double-height dining space makes up the reassuring heart of London's Maggie’s Centre. The glowering hospital is almost entirely screened from view.
    Features

    Richard Rogers' Maggie's Centre: Room for Reassurance

    2008-05-02T00:00:00Z

    The site for England’s first Maggie’s cancer care centre wasn’t quite the tranquil spot originally intended, but Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners worked with bright colours and canopies to create a peaceful retreat

  • University of Cambridge architecture department
    Features

    Reducing heat loads: Testing the water at the University of Cambridge

    2008-04-25T00:00:00Z

    Sustainability and innovation - When the architectural department at the University of Cambridge demanded a sustainable, lightweight building for its students, the designers had to overcome the problem of overheating

  • Features

    Think 08: a taster

    2008-04-25T00:00:00Z

    Think 08 will take place at the ExCeL centre London on 7-8 May. Here’s a taster of some of the firms that will be taking part.

  • Still a keen painter (despite getting an E in A level art)
    Features

    How they made it: Will Alsop

    2008-04-25T00:00:00Z

    How they made it - Do things your own way, work for someone you respect, steer clear of venture capitalists, and don’t hurry lunch … Will Alsop is full of advice for budding architects. Over a leisurely afternoon drink, he shares some of it with Roxane McMeeken

  • Windows can open, but tenants don’t open them
    Features

    30 St Mary Axe: A gherkin to suit all tastes

    2008-04-25T00:00:00Z

    Having dominated London’s City skyline for four years, the Gherkin is now appealing to a wide range of occupiers. Shame about the windows, though.

  • Features

    New Orleans reconstruction: We shall overcome

    2008-04-25T00:00:00Z

    Three years after Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans, the city is still in ruins and 40,000 people are homeless. The government has abandoned reconstruction in favour of commercial development, but the residents of the Lower Ninth Ward, determined to stop their district becoming an industrial park, have engaged charities, architects ...

  • Features

    Site canteen competition: And Britain's best-fed builders are...

    2008-04-25T00:00:00Z

    In December, Building launched a contest to find the best site canteen in the UK. With the shortlist whittled down to three, Katie Puckett joined our intrepid judges as they worked their way through the finest ‘grill-ups’ and porridge in the land. It was a tough job, but eventually a ...

  • Baroness Vadera
    Features

    Baroness Vadera: Construction minister's first interview

    2008-04-25T00:00:00Z

    Three months after becoming construction minister, Baroness Vadera has already been accused of not making much of an impression. In her first interview since taking the job, the former ‘axe-wielder from the Treasury’ tells Emily Wright how she plans to be a very forceful presence in the industry indeed. Portraits ...

  • Features

    Cost model: Schools

    2008-04-25T00:00:00Z

    It’s a critical time for BSF. With the programme’s first schools just open and large-scale building starting, local authorities will begin to find out if the effort has been worthwhile. Simon Rawlinson and David Long of Davis Langdon review the issues of design and delivery

  • Features

    What it costs: BREEAM – how to get good grades

    2008-04-25T00:00:00Z

    Many schools must now have a ‘very good’ BREEAM rating to meet regulations. Peter Mayer of Building LifePlans outlines the ways to get credits and the associated costs

  • Features

    Solar thermal heating

    2008-04-25T00:00:00Z

    Evinox has supplied a renewable energy solution for the rhinos at Whipsnade zoo. Hot water for the rhinos’ showers, the heating of their pool and the heating of the air-handling unit for their enclosure is being generated by a vacuum tube solar thermal system.

  • Features

    Danfoss agrees to take over majority shares in Eco Heat Pumps

    2008-04-25T00:00:00Z

    Danfoss has entered an agreement to take over most of the shares in Sheffield firm Eco Heat Pumps, which sells heat pumps to the commercial and domestic markets.

  • Features

    Scottish and Southern Energy spends £15m on 20% Geothermal International stake

    2008-04-25T00:00:00Z

    Scottish and Southern Energy is spending up to £15m to take a 20% stake in Geothermal International, a supplier of ground-source heating and cooling systems.

  • Features

    BRE Global to create sustainability product standard

    2008-04-25T00:00:00Z

    BRE Global is creating a product standard for gauging the sustainability of construction products.

  • Features

    Ulster Bank and Solarcentury introduce UK's first solar mortgage

    2008-04-25T00:00:00Z

    Ulster Bank and solar energy company Solarcentury and are introducing what they claim is the UK’s first solar mortgage.

  • Features

    Tradical Hemcrete awarded LABC System Approval

    2008-04-25T00:00:00Z

    Tradical Hemcrete, a hemp and lime mix used to build walls, has been awarded LABC System Approval.

  • Features

    Timed flow taps

    2008-04-25T00:00:00Z

    Temposoft is a range of easy-to-operate, “soft-touch”, timed-flow push basin taps and mixers from Douglas Delabie.

  • Features

    Cork wall coverings

    2008-04-25T00:00:00Z

    Urbane Living has expanded its range of eco wallpaper to include the texture of cork.

  • Features

    Smart metering

    2008-04-25T00:00:00Z

    PRI has launched the Scroller XP, a device for displaying on the computer screens of office staff the amount of electricity being used by an organisation.