All articles by Thomas Lane – Page 6
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FeaturesMid Group: Making the most of modern methods of construction
Building Boardroom talks with Steven Hearn, chief executive of Mid Group, about how the company’s focus on MCC helped it soar from zero to a £95m turnover in six years
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FeaturesMaking waves: how Rugby Radio Station was retuned as a secondary school
The initial plan had been to convert Rugby Radio Station into the heart of a 6,200-home estate, but there was a shortage of secondary schools in the area and master developer Urban & Civic had other ideas, Thomas Lane visits Houlton School
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FeaturesSurvey results: What benefits and incentives are firms offering to attract and retain staff?
The third in our series of staff management surveys looks at what construction firms are doing to find and keep staff
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FeaturesThe heat and buildings strategy explained: what did it say – and was it worth the wait?
Published last week and running to 200 pages, Thomas Lane dives deep into a government initiative that promised much but had delivered rather less
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FeaturesCircus act: Creating Lucent behind the Piccadilly Lights
The space behind the world’s most famous advertising hoarding has been empty since the 1950s. Now Land Securities is building a 144,000ft² mixed-use scheme – while keeping those lights on. Thomas Lane reports
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FeaturesJust how good is wood?
In the third in our series on construction materials, Thomas Lane looks at whether wood really is the panacea many claim it to be
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FeaturesIt’s a wrap: restoring Selfridges’ showstopper status
As if one shocking shopfront look wasn’t enough, Birmingham’s sassy Selfridges has donned a temporary garb of even greater gaudiness while faults are fixed in the glittering blue chainmail below. Thomas Lane explains the technical challenges
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FeaturesSteeling ourselves for climate change
In the second in our series on materials, Thomas Lane looks at the ways in which the steel industry can reduce its carbon emissions
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FeaturesWatch: CO-RE chief executive David Ainsworth video interview
Alinea’s Steve Watts talks to the London development management specialist about the office market
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FeaturesA lab of two halves … Warwick’s bold bid to keep those nasty bugs at bay
Designed by Hawkins\Brown, Warwick university’s new £54.3m interdisciplinary biomedical research facility features contrasting facades of dark bronze and white concrete that reflect the two different aspects of what is happening inside
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FeaturesWolfson College, Oxford: first-class graduates in energy efficiency
Wolfson College in Oxford has set out to cut 75% of emissions on its main estate by March next year and plans to be net zero by 2030
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FeaturesFuture forecast: June – August 2021
The latest quarterly sentiment survey by Building Boardroom shows office and retail on the verge of recovery, with those sectors showing the greatest rise in enquiries, while the specialism with the most optimism about future workload has switched now to engineers
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FeaturesWhat are we going to do about concrete?
One of the most versatile materials on the planet, concrete is also one of the most polluting. But pressure is growing on the cement industry to come up with ways to reduce its carbon footprint
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CommentLet’s not overlook what is good in the Building Safety Bill
Campaigners for leaserholders will understandably try to amend the bill but even so it represents a complete overhaul of the regulatory regime for buildings
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FeaturesPeter Baker: meet the man who must ensure no repeat of Grenfell
As the Building Safety Bill is announced, we republish our interview with the new chief inspector of buildings who is overseeing the new building safety regulator
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FeaturesInterview: Enfield council on its direct approach to housing
Enfield council has taken its housing programme to another level, by acting as developer on a £6bn regeneration scheme at Meridian Water. Building Boardroom spoke with the council’s Sarah Cary, Nnenna Urum-Eke and John Reid
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FeaturesBigger and better: One Triton Square
How British Land increased the net area of a 20-year old office block by 57% but still saved 40,000 tonnes of carbon by opting for refurbishment over new build
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FeaturesSurvey results: How are companies supporting staff health and wellbeing?
Building Boardroom examines construction firms’ strategies on staff health and wellbeing in this latest HR survey, and asks Hays property and construction director Gaelle Blake for her views on the topic
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FeaturesInterview: Waltham Forest council on its £500m regeneration plans
This east London borough has a massive regeneration plan afoot, spending half a billion pounds over the next few years. Building Boardroom spoke with the council’s Simon Miller, Stewart Murray and Mark Brickell to find out more about their strategy and what they seek in delivery partners
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FeaturesHow Sir Robert McAlpine went digital
Shifting a large firm completely over to digital is a major challenge, though one that brings huge benefits. Building Boardroom asked Nick Leach, head of digital at McAlpine, how he managed it