Duo win £95m first wave of modular schools

The Education Skill Funding Agency has picked offsite specialists Caledonian and Styles & Wood to deliver its first clutch of trial modular schools.

The firms will deliver 16 pilot primary schools with further schemes expected up to a value of £95m.

It forms part of the the ESFA’s plan to revolutionise the way education buildings are specified, procured and delivered, as it seeks to find more cost effective delivery in the face of rising construction costs.

Solutions developed for the programme will then be rolled out for use on further frameworks covering both primary and secondary school blocks.

Under the ESFA framework deal the firms will act as lead designer and principal contractor for the design and build of new schools, academies, and other educational facilities.

Caledonian and its design partner HLM Architects will deliver innovative design-led solutions that promote the intelligent use of BIM, design for manufacturing and assembly and the use of lean manufacturing techniques to eliminate waste.

This will enable entire school buildings to be manufactured off-site with only minimal works required onsite to install, connect and commission the buildings.

The framework, which falls under the second wave of the Priority School Building Programme, will run for four years. 

Paul Lang, chief executive officer of Caledonian, said: “Gaining this place on the framework underpins our strategy to double revenues in the current financial year, where we have already created over 100 new jobs since January, with significant growth anticipated in education, defence, Ministry of Justice and residential sectors.

“This follows on from winning a £50m contract to design and build a 1,500 hotel style living accommodation for key workers on the Hinkley Point C power station development”.

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2017/09/01/efa-picks-partners-for-16-pilot-modular-schools/

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Contractors to get independent hearings for safety fee appeals

Appeals against disputed charges under the controversial Fee for Intervention (FFI) scheme will now be heard by an independent panel.

Contractors are currently charged £124-an-hour for visits by Health and Safety Executive inspectors when they break safety laws.

And any appeals against the charges are currently heard by a committee of HSE staff.

But following industry complaints the make-up of the panel has been changed to contain a lawyer and to non-HSE safety experts.

A spokesman for HSE said: “We have consistently said that we would keep the dispute process under review, and are making sensible changes following the consultation and in light of four years’ experience of running fee for intervention.

“The revised process also provides greater clarity about the information which HSE will give to businesses to allow them to make appropriate representations to the dispute panel.”

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2017/09/01/contractors-to-get-independent-hearings-for-safety-fee-appeals/

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Kier frees 200 staff for school careers crusade

Kier is pledging to release 1% of its workforce to act as school career ambassadors for construction in a bid to combat the looming skills crisis.

The contracting giant was spurred into action by its own detailed research into attitudes to the industry at secondary schools and academies.

It is launching the 1% pledge in the hope that other firms will join it in facing up to the challenge of changing widely-held misperceptions in the education sector.

Its survey of 2,000 secondary schools and academies reveals that two-thirds of teachers and careers advisers hold negative views about construction.

Nine out of ten teachers across the UK are unaware of the scale of the recruitment shortfall in construction, with 41% not even realising there is an issue at all.

Furthermore, it reveals the Government’s present careers system is failing 13-15 years with just a quarter getting one hour, once of careers advice.

Kier has won the backing of the Institute of Directors and the Government’s Careers & Enterprise Company to launch the 1% initiative, echoing the 5% Club commitment to taking on apprentices and graduate trainees.

Staff will be released to work with both schools and colleges across the UK with the aim of reaching out to at least 10,000 pupils in the first 12 months.

Kier chief Haydn Mursell is calling on other construction business to sign the pledge to challenge misperceptions about construction and avert what the firm calls a looming £90bn UK GDP crisis in construction.

“The wider built environment sector needs 400,000 recruits each year, but drawing new talent into an industry that, as our research shows, is still misperceived as ‘muddy’, ‘manual’, ‘male dominated’, ‘poorly paid’ and largely ‘non-academic’, is a fundamental challenge, said Mursell.

“We  have an image crisis, based on out of date perceptions and advice.

“We cannot leave this to schools, councils or the government alone to resolve. Business is best placed to explain itself, its employment offering and its skills and training needs.

“If every company in the FTSE 250 and FTSE 100 followed the 1% pledge as part of their commitment to employment and skills, we could create a powerful network of real world advisors, to inform and inspire the next generation.”

Kier employs around 20,000 staff in the UK which means it will create 200 career ambassadors.

They will share their pride and passion and explain the vast array of roles and opportunities on offer.

This will involve demonstrating how diverse, rewarding and vital the industry really is.

At Kier alone, there are 2,000 different job roles across local, regional and national projects, and many different career entry and progression points

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2017/09/01/kier-frees-200-staff-for-school-career-crusade/

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M&E specialist goes under with loss of 99 jobs

A Dundee based electrical contractor has gone into liquidation with the loss of 99 jobs.

Vasanat International Ltd – trading as Scottish Electric Group – was placed in provisional liquidation earlier this week after facing a cash flow crisis.

Liquidator Donald McNaught of accountancy and business advisory firm Johnston Carmichael said the firm “had faced prolonged cash flow pressure which, despite the efforts of management, it was unable to overcome.”

He added: “Our main objective going forward will be to preserve value in the Scottish Electric Group’s remaining assets to maximise the return to creditors.

“Unfortunately, the process has resulted in job losses and we will work with the relevant government agencies to ensure employees are provided with the appropriate support.”

The firm had been working with Balfour Beatty on the £28m on the new Dundee Train Station Hotel which was due to finish in December.

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2017/08/31/me-specialist-goes-under-with-loss-of-99-jobs/

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Nano chip system measures light from single bacterial cell to enable chemical detection

Researchers have created a nanophotonic chip system using lasers and bacteria to observe fluorescence emitted from a single bacterial cell. The novel system paves the way for an efficient and portable on-chip system for diverse cell-based sensing applications, such as detecting chemicals in real-time.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170830094220.htm

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Acting like a muscle, nano-sized device lifts 165 times its own weight

Engineers have discovered a simple, economical way to make a nano-sized device that can match the friendly neighborhood Avenger, on a much smaller scale. Their creation weighs 1.6 milligrams (about as much as five poppy seeds) and can lift 265 milligrams (the weight of about 825 poppy seeds) hundreds of times in a row.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170830132212.htm

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Chemist synthesizes pure graphene

A chemist has patented a one-of-a-kind process for exfoliating graphene in its pure (unoxidized) form, as well as manufacturing innovative graphene nanocomposites that have potential uses in a variety of applications, including desalination of brackish water.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170829135351.htm

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Silicon solves problems for next-generation battery technology

Silicon – the second most abundant element in the earth’s crust – shows great promise in Li-ion batteries, according to new research. By replacing graphite anodes with silicon, it is possible to quadruple anode capacity.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170830114817.htm

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Why does rubbing a balloon on your hair make it stick?

New research indicates that tiny holes and cracks in a material – changes in the microstructure – can control how the material becomes electrically charged through friction.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170829135355.htm

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Robot probes mystery of prehistoric sea creature’s swimming style

A new study has shed light on the swimming style of plesiosaurs by creating a robot to mimic its movements.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170830102635.htm

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Go-ahead for London Ram Brewery phase 3

Chinese developer Greenland Group has gained planning for phase 3 of its £600m redevelopment of the historic 4.5-acre Ram Brewery site in south London.

Phase 3 of the redevelopment of Britain’s oldest brewery site will see 50 new homes, office and workshop space, and public realm works to connect to the new river walk alongside the Wandle in Wandsworth.

The project also includes the restoration of a Grade-II* listed terrace that is one of Wandsworth’s finest architectural assets. The row of houses will form 16 of the 50 new homes.

In previous phases, Greenland Group has also undertaken the restoration of the original Ram Brewery site, which will be turned into a heritage centre and microbrewery, the Coopers Lofts, which are being sensitively converted in just 14 warehouse-style residences and also the reimagining of the old brewery stables, which will form part of phase 2.

Contractor Ardmore secured the £170m phase 1 of the scheme, which involves building 338 of the 663 planned new homes and is due to be completed later this year.

Along with a strong retail, leisure and residential offering, Ram Quarter will also include a heritage centre, which will display some of the original machinery that had been in use when the site was a full-time brewery, and a microbrewery to continue the site’s 500-year tradition.

The River Wandle, previously hidden behind the brewery walls, is now a central feature of the scheme, running alongside the open courtyard, with restaurants and cafés fronting onto a pedestrianised boulevard on the river.

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2017/08/30/go-ahead-for-london-ram-brewery-phase-3/

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Plans go in for ITV South Bank rebuild

Broadcaster ITV has submitted plans to demolish its 45-year-old London Television Centre on the South Bank to make way for new offices and a residential tower block.

It is proposed that the ITV office HQ, which has been designed by architect Hopkins, will vary in height from around 5 storeys to 12 storeys.

The plan also includes building a 31-storey residential building that at 104m tall will be taller and of a more elegant design than the existing 90m office building.

Subject to gaining planning permission we intend to begin demolishing the buildings in late 2018, with construction due to begin in 2019 and the build complete by 2022/23.

Cundall is mechanical and electrical services engineer.

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2017/08/30/plans-go-in-for-itv-south-bank-rebuild/

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Queensferry Crossing opens £245m below budget

The £1.35bn Queensferry Crossing over the Forth has officially opened to traffic today.

Despite severe weather hampering the timetable for delivery, the project was hailed by the Scottish Government for coming in £245m under budget.

Joint venture builder Dragados, Hochtief, American Bridge International and Galliford Try have had to battle against harsh weather condition seeing the completion date pushed back twice and the bridge opening eight months later than originally targeted six years ago.

At the time the consortium secured the design and build job with a £790m bid, significantly lower that the initial estimated cost of somewhere between £0.9bn and £1.2bn.

Because this bridge contract ran until June 2017, the project is technically just 10 weeks late.

The time overrun has had no impact on the overall budget as the joint venture contractors are responsible for all costs associated with the over-run.

The bridge has been a catalyst for employment and business opportunities since work began.

Over 15,000 people have been inducted to work on the construction site since 2011, clocking up over 18 million hours of work in the process.

World class & world record breaking

• The structure spans 1.7 miles (2.7km) making it the longest three-tower, cable-stayed bridge in the world.
• The biggest infrastructure project in Scotland for a generation.
• New world record in 2013 when we achieved the largest continuous underwater concrete pour. The 24-hour non-stop operation successfully poured 16,869 cubic metres of concrete into the water-filled south tower caisson.
• Prior to the completion of the final closure sections on the deck, the balanced cantilevers which extend 322m north and south from the central tower, i.e. 644m tip to tip, were recorded by Guinness as the longest ever.
• Highest bridge towers in the UK. (210m)
• Longest free-standing balanced cantilever in the world. (Centre Tower deck fan was 644m wide prior to being connected to rest of structure)

Project Director David Climie said: ” It’s been a real roller coaster of emotions but the over-riding emotion at the moment is one of pride.

“Until you’ve actually been out on the bridge during severe winds it’s hard to appreciate the task at hand of delivering such a complex project.

“Experts from across the globe have marvelled at this achievement and so it’s nice to think there will be some recognition at home for the workforce this week too.”

Economy Secretary Keith Brown, said:  “To think that the crossing has been completed six years from the date construction started and ten years since Parliament approved legislation is a remarkable achievement for a project of this scale and complexity.

“The challenges of this location have been well-documented and the real heroes are those who have braved the elements in sometimes horrendous conditions to finish the job.

“This project has released £245m of savings back into the Scottish Budget since construction began. Quite often we see and hear of projects running significantly over budget, so I believe we should be proud of this achievement and take confidence going forward.

“Of course these savings are in addition to those achieved during at contract procurement which reduced the forecast by £512m from the outset.”

The bridge features pioneering new windshielding, which should almost entirely eliminate the need for closures during the frequent periods of high winds in the Forth estuary.

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2017/08/30/queensferry-crossing-opens-245m-below-budget/

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Hirer HSS suffers £30m first-half loss

Plant and equipment hirer HSS has reported a £30 pre-tax loss in the first six months of the year as it battles to deliver a major cost-cutting plan.

Steve Ashmore, Chief Executive Officer, said the increased loss from nearly an £8m loss at the same time a year ago, reflected weaker revenue performance year on year, together with the increase in cost of sales and £13m of exceptional costs.

In the first-half HSS closed 50 poorly performing depots in its 250 network of centres at a cost of £5m. HSS also reprofiled its stock as part of a programme to deliver annualised cost-savings of £13m.

He added: “While significant operational change was achieved during H1 17, both rental revenue growth and the cost base were temporarily impacted leading to reduced profitability. 

“We are facing into these challenges by taking decisive action to reinvigorate rental revenue growth through the implementation of new sales initiatives and by rolling-out cost actions that will deliver annualised cost savings of £13m, a number of which are enabled by the recent investment in our centralised engineering and distribution capability.”

Looking ahead Ashmore said that the action had seen HSS return to profitability in June with revenue in growth for the first 8 weeks of the second half.

“While the rate of recovery in our rental revenues has been positive, it has been materially slower than originally targeted leading to lower than expected profitability over this period.

“On this basis we expect second half adjusted EBITA profit to be in the range of £8m to £11m.”

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2017/08/30/hirer-hss-suffers-30m-first-half-loss/

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Watkin Jones deal on £63m Sheffield student digs

Watkins Jones has secured forward funding from investors to start a major student accommodation scheme in Sheffield.

The Hollis Croft Road project in the city will consist of nearly 1,000 beds, costing around £63m to build.

Designed by Sheffield-based architect HLM the proposed student complex will involve construction of around 400,000 sq ft.

Harrow-based 4D Structures is understood to be in line for the groundworks and frame contract.

The scheme will also include commercial space and a new pedestrian link along the western edge of the site connecting Garden Street through to St Vincent’s Church.

An 18-storey tower will become a new landmark in a part of the city designated for tall building development.

There will be 251 self-contained studio apartments in the tower, which will enjoy views over the city and the Peak District beyond.

Watkin Jones obtained planning for the Hollis Croft Road complex at the end of last year

This morning the firm also revealed it had forward sold a development of 354 beds on Little Patrick Street in Belfast to the same institutional investor.

Both developments are due for completion for the summer of 2019. The agreements mean Watkin Jones has now forward sold 1,981 of the 3,545 beds planned to be delivered ahead of the 2019/2020 academic year.

Mark Watkin Jones, chief executive officer of Watkin Jones, said: “These agreements further demonstrate the Group’s strong and growing relationships with institutional investors, as well as the continuing demand for high quality purpose built student accommodation.

“Our ability to secure, fund and develop a pipeline of attractive sites provides excellent earnings visibility for our shareholders.”

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2017/08/30/watkin-jones-deal-on-63m-sheffield-student-digs/

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Bidding starts on first AMP7 water framework

Water company Severn Trent has officially started prequalifying firms to deliver the next AMP7 water investment round.

Severn Trent and Dee Valley Water estimate investment spending on capital delivery and maintenance will reach £2.3bn over a five-year period starting from October 2018 to September 2023.

STW is interested in exploring several different delivery models ranging from turnkey solutions to sourcing strategy for materials, plant, equipment and labour for its total £4bn spend.

The capital delivery works programme element is being split into four lots covering either design and build, renewals or refurbishment work.

Capital Delivery Frameworks

Lot 1. Design and build; value £1.5bn

Lot2. Civils-led (build only); value £500m

Lot 3. MEICA-led (build only); value £150m

Lot 4. ICA-led(build only); value £150m

Expressions of interest should be notified via e-sourcing portal Bravo before 3 October.

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2017/08/30/bidding-starts-on-first-amp7-water-framework/

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Contractor hunt starts for £74m Trafford Centre revamp

The hunt is underway for a contractor to build a £74m extension to the Trafford Centre after retail giant intu confirmed the go-ahead for the scheme.

Primark will anchor the transformation of Barton Square at the centre which will gain another 110,000 sq ft of retail space, a new glass-domed roof and a refreshed interior.

Construction work on the site is due to start in the first half of next year and complete in 2019.

Colin Flinn, regional managing director for intu, said: “This is a significant milestone for intu Trafford Centre that will enable us to reposition and redevelop an important part of the centre so that we can create even better customer experiences and more opportunities for retailers to flourish.

“The work we are planning at Barton Square will attract more visitors for longer by expanding the centre’s retail and leisure mix and creating a new space befitting this architecturally-rich building.”

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2017/08/30/contractor-hunt-starts-for-74m-trafford-centre-revamp/

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Last chance to have your say on the CITB’s future

Questions are being asked over a consultation exercise to decide the future of the CITB with just over a month before the crucial vote is counted.

The CITB and its supporting trade bodies are coming under fire over their attempts to reach out to contractors.

The skills body has to gain the support of 51% of levy payers to keep its right to raise cash from contractors for another three years.

Balfour Beatty boss Leo Quinn has already said he will vote against before the consultation finishes at the end of September.

And the Home Builders Federation has also indicated its members may vote for an end to the CITB.

Trade federations are crucial to the CITB’s future because their block votes hold huge sway.

Critics fear some trade bodies are not listening to their members properly.

Others are issuing confusing and over complicated survey questions rather than a simple “yes or no” format on support for the CITB.

Ian Anfield, Managing Director of Hudson Contract said: “For too long the CITB’s levy raising powers have been maintained without any real scrutiny or debate.

“The housebuilders are to be applauded for sticking their neck out and standing up for their members.

“We hope this is a wake-up call to all the other federations – you need to consult carefully and represent truthfully. Anything less and the whole process will be exposed as a sham.

“All federated employers should be writing to their federations and demanding that their opinion is counted. There may never be a more opportune moment to have your say and bring about real reform.”

Hudson has produced its own video on the CITB vote which has been viewed more than 30,000 times on Youtube.

Anfield said: “People are definitely interested and animated when it comes to CITB.”

One trade body chief said: “We aren’t giving our members guidance – we are letting them make up their own minds.

“But that isn’t the case everywhere with a lot of not so subtle persuasion being put on firms or many others simply being ignored.

“It’s going to a be a very close call but if the CITB does go then their isn’t a lot of thought it seems at the moment being put into what will replace it.”

Build UK has been surveying its members and those in its affiliated federations.

But the industry’s biggest trade body has been running a low key campaign often relying on articles in small circulation trade magazines.

The Build UK consultation also finishes on September 4 – nearly a full month earlier than necessary.

To have your say before the deadline click here before next Monday.

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2017/08/30/last-chance-to-have-your-say-on-the-citbs-future/

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Scientists move graphene closer to transistor applications

Scientists were able to successfully manipulate the electronic structure of graphene, which may enable the fabrication of graphene transistors – faster and more reliable than existing silicon-based transistors.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170829131434.htm

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Placenta-on-a-chip: Microsensor simulates malaria in the womb to develop treatments

By combining microbiology with engineering technologies, researchers are developing a first-of-its-kind 3D model that uses a single microfluidic sensing chip to study the complicated processes that take place in malaria-infected placenta as well as other placenta-related diseases and pathologies. The chip will mimic the microenvironment of placental malaria, specifically the maternal-fetal interface.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170829093138.htm

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New liquid-metal membrane technology may help make hydrogen fuel cell vehicles viable

While hydrogen fuel cell cars offer advantages over electric vehicles, they have yet to take off. One reason is the high cost and complexity of producing hydrogen fuel, which can be reduced by using membranes to separate hydrogen from other byproducts. Conventional palladium membranes are expensive and fragile. A new study shows that membranes made from less-expensive liquid metals appear to be more efficient at separating hydrogen and also more durable.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170828164114.htm

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Midas targets Midlands and South East expansion

West of England builder Midas Group has opened new offices in the Midlands and South East in a big push towards becoming a national contractor.

The Exeter-based builder has moved into new offices in Leatherhead to serve the South East, and an office in Longbridge to serve its growth plans in the West Midlands.

After successfully developing Midas’s recently formed Southern Division into a £50m-plus business based out of Southampton, Paul Strachan moves to become divisional director in the South East.

He will be replaced by Peter Whitmore, who recently joined from Wates as divisional director for the Southern region.

The Birmingham office will come under Derek Quinn, Midas director for Wessex, Wales and the Midlands.

Midas Group chief Alan Hope said: “”We’ve been asked by more and more of our clients to move up into the Midlands. The new Birmingham office is a direct response to customer demand.

“In the South East we have experienced strong growth in recent years and we see significant potential with the establishment of a new regional headquarters to further grow the business in this area.

“Our Vision at Midas is to be leaders in customer service and performance and to be recognised as such by our customers, potential customers and the wider industry.”

He added that more than 75% of Midas projects are being carried out on a repeat business basis.

“This gives us confidence in the potential for further profitable growth and geographic expansion of the business.”

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2017/08/29/midas-targets-midlands-and-south-east-expansion/

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Striking crane drivers to target Spurs stadium site

Work could be disrupted at Tottenham Hotspur’s new £800m stadium site next week.

Tower crane drivers at HTC Wolffkran have confirmed their first strike date as September 9 following a long-running pay row.

Site sources confirmed to the Enquirer that high profile jobs will be targeted by pickets when the strike action starts.

One worker said: “We’ll focus on the jobs where we can make most impact and Spurs stadium is right up there in terms of profile.”

Drivers from HTC Wolffkran will stop work across the country for 24 hours hitting scores of sites reliant on tower cranes.

Unite members voted for strike action after the company refused to continue negotiations and imposed a two year deal on the workers of a 3% pay increase in both years and increasing annual leave to the standard industry level.

Unite national officer for construction Jerry Swain said: “Despite seeking fresh talks to avoid strike action, we have been unable to reach a satisfactory agreement and therefore have no option but to take strike action.

“Our members are simply not in a position to meekly accept an imposed pay increase, which is a pay cut in real terms compared to the current rate of RPI.

“This so called increase is in effect a substantial reduction when compared to the increases that workers are receiving in the industry.

“It in inevitable that strike action will cause widespread disruption on sites throughout the UK.

“Even at this late stage Unite is entirely open to holding further talks and to explore ways in which industrial action can still be avoided.”

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2017/08/29/striking-crane-drivers-to-target-spurs-stadium-site/

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Currie & Brown to cost manage £4bn Parliament revamp

Currie & Brown has been confirmed as part of the CH2M team managing the £4bn restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster.

Currie & Brown will be delivering cost management services on the project.

Initial work will consist of a programme of mechanical and electrical repairs to ensure that the Palace remains safe and habitable beyond 2020.

A detailed exploration of the condition of the building will also be carried out while MPs decide on future improvement plans for their historic home.

Long-term options include a rolling programme of repairs while the building remains in operation or a total shutdown while Parliament operates from a temporary home.

Currie & Brown said: “Before the final go-ahead for the chosen option is given, a detailed design brief, business case and budget will be developed for Parliament’s approval.”

Alan Manuel, Currie & Brown’s UK chief operating officer, said: “Currie & Brown is delighted to be delivering cost management services as part of this powerful team.

“With our expertise in working on historic buildings, including past and present projects at the Palace of Westminster, and a strong and experienced team of mechanical and electrical surveyors, we will help to ensure that value for money is obtained for the taxpayer on this programme of works.”

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2017/08/29/currie-brown-to-cost-manage-4bn-parliament-revamp/

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Bidding starts for £3bn works on HS2 London stations

HS2 has called up contractors to bid for its two big London stations with the promise of nearly £3bn of work.

Four firms will be separately shortlisted to bid for Euston and Old Oak Common stations with prequalification documents due in by early October.

Under present different firms will win the management contract for each station although firms can bid for both.

The prequal process has opened a month after HS2 revealed shortlisted designers for its stations. These  include, Arup, Mott MacDonald, WSP, Arcadis and a Jacobs/BuroHappold/Idom joint venture.

Euston station has an estimated construction cots of £1.65bn. It the most complicated contract to bid for because the full scope of works will not be established until the Autumn.

The station redevelopment will also be completed in two distinct phases, the first starting in September next year and the second due to start 2026 and run to 2033.

The extra scope for phase one could include enabling works for over station redevelopment.

Five bidders have already been named as in the running for Euston Master Development Partner contract. These include: Westfield Europe, Euston Regeneration Partnership (led by Argent), Canary Wharf Group, Land Securities and Lendlease Europe.

Old Oak Common station in North West London will also include options to include enabling works for overstation development.

As plans stand at present the station is expected to cost around £1.3bn to deliver with a contractor being signed up in September 2018.

On both contracts HS2 is reserving the right to require guarantees, bonds, collateral warranties, including  step-in rights to subcontract works packages.

Formal invitation to tender will be issued to shortlisted contractors next January. Further information is availble from the HS2 eSourcing portal (www.hs2.bravosolution.co.uk).

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2017/08/29/bidding-starts-for-3bn-works-on-hs2-london-stations/

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Industry awaits verdict as cladding fire tests completed

The Government has pledged to set out clear advice on the use of high-rise cladding systems after completing seven large-scale fire tests on popular aluminium composite cladding systems.

Until this is published, building owners are being left in limbo despite four cladding systems failing the BRE testing regime needed to demonstrate compliance with Building Regulation fire performance.

So far 228 residential buildings over 18m have been identified to be fitted with cladding systems that fail performance tests.

But with the results all in, designers and contractors are warning that manufacturers’ discriptions of the performance of materials could still create confusion.

A cladding industry source said: “These results must be welcomed because they bring some clarity to what systems comply with Building Regulation requirements.

“But the use of the terminology used by manufacturers around combustibility of fillers used in aluminium cladding needs to be addressed to end market confusion.”

Cladding system tests	Result	18m-plus buildings
ACM with unmodified polyethylene filler (PE) with PIR foam insulation	Failed	82
ACM with unmodified polyethylene filler (PE) with mineral wool insulation	Failed	111
ACM with a fire retardant polyethylene filler (FR) with PIR foam insulation	Failed	13
ACM with fire retardant polyethylene filler (FR) and phenolic foam insulation	Failed	22
ACM with fire retardant polyethylene filler (FR) with mineral insulation	Passed	13
ACM with a limited combustibility filler (A2) with PIR foam insulation	Passed	0
ACM with a limited combustibility filler (A2) with mineral wool insulation	Passed	0

The final test involving the least combustible combination of component passed the latest fire test as expected.

This involved a wall cladding system consisting of ACM cladding with a limited combustibility filler in combination with stone (mineral) wool insulation.

Announcing the result it said that this combination of materials were compliant when installed and maintained properly.

A statement said: “While government has not been informed of any tall buildings over 18 metres in England using this particular combination of materials in their wall system, it could offer a possible solution for some buildings with other cladding systems which have been identified as a fire hazard through previous large-scale tests.

“The clear advice from the expert panel remains that building owners need to continue to take professional advice regarding remedial work that takes into account the specific circumstances of their building.”

It added: “The purpose of this testing programme is to develop a better understanding of how different types of cladding panels behave with different types of insulation in a fire.

“This is so building owners and their professional advisors can make informed decisions. Results of all seven large-scale tests are available and government will shortly publish consolidated advice to landlords based on all the seven tests.”

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2017/08/29/industry-awaits-verdict-as-cladding-fire-tests-completed/

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New neutron holography technique opens a window for obtaining clear 3-D atomic images

New work at particle accelerator facilities shows that neutron holograms can reveal the precise atomic structure of doped materials, offering a new characterization technique for materials scientists.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170828102716.htm

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A low-cost method for solar-thermal conversion that's simpler and greener

Researchers have developed a simple, low-cost, and environmentally sound method for fabricating a highly-efficient selective solar absorber (SSA) to convert sunlight into heat for energy-related applications. The team used a ‘dip and dry’ approach whereby strips coated with a reactive metal are dipped into a solution containing ions of a less reactive metal to create plasmonic-nanoparticle-coated foils that perform as well or better than existing SSAs, regardless of the sun’s angle.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170828124534.htm

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Flipping the switch on ferroelectrics

Scientists have taken control of the configuration of domains in nanorod- and thin-film ferroelectric systems.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170828102731.htm

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Conformal metasurface coating eliminates crosstalk, shrinks waveguides

The properties of materials can behave in funny ways. Tweak one aspect to make a device smaller or less leaky, for example, and something else might change in an undesirable way, so that engineers play a game of balancing one characteristic against another. Now a team of electrical engineers has a way to simultaneously control diverse optical properties of dielectric waveguides by using a two-layer coating, each layer with a near zero thickness and weight.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170825140627.htm

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Tweaking thermoelectric voltage across atomic-scale gold junction by mechanical force

Scientists have achieved precise and fully reversible switching of the polarity of voltage produced by the thermoelectric effect across a gold junction with an atomic-scale contact. The control of thermoelectric voltage was achieved by mechanically elongating the contact. This technology is expected to find applications in thermopower generation, measurement techniques in materials science, and solid-state electronic devices.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170825124905.htm

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High tunability of 2-D material

A science team has precisely measured some previously obscured properties of a 2-D semiconducting material known as moly sulfide, which opens up a new avenue to applications.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170825124857.htm

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New steel beats the strength-ductilitiy trade-off

Automotive, aerospace and defence applications require metallic materials with ultra-high strength. However, in some particular high-loading structural applications, metallic materials shall also have large ductility and high toughness to facilitate the precise forming of structural components and to avoid the catastrophic failure of components during service. Unfortunately, increasing strength often leads to the decrease in ductility, which is known as the strength-ductility trade-off.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170825124908.htm

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Team develops novel 3-D printed high-performance polymer that could be used in space

With a new breakthrough, the high-performance polymer now could theoretically be used in any shape, size, or structure, and not just within the aerospace industry, say researchers. The same material can be found in scores of electronic devices, including cell phones and televisions.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170824182107.htm

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Low-cost production technology for sophisticated microreactors by surface finishing technique using water

Researchers have developed a manufacturing method for nano- and micro-scale structures. This technology has enabled the control of the wettability of a surface by combining advanced surface microstructure and functional surface films.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170824092856.htm

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Faster, more precise, more stable: Study optimizes graphene growth

Each atomic layer thin, tear-resistant, and stable. Graphene is seen as the material of the future. It is ideal for e.g. producing ultra-light electronics or highly stable mechanical components. But the wafer-thin carbon layers are difficult to produce. Scientists have manufactured self-supporting graphene membranes, and at the same time systematically investigated and optimized the growth of the graphene crystals.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170825103959.htm

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Recipe for safer lithium batteries -- Just add diamonds

While lithium-ion batteries, widely used in mobile devices from cell phones to laptops, have one of the longest lifespans of commercial batteries today, they also have been behind a number of recent meltdowns and fires due to short-circuiting in mobile devices. In hopes of preventing more of these hazardous malfunctions researchers have developed a recipe that can turn electrolyte solution – a key component of most batteries – into a safeguard against the chemical process that leads to battery-related disasters.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170825091240.htm

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New wrapping material enables high quality bioimaging

A nanosheet made of organic polymers has been developed to prevent the drying and deforming of biological samples, thus enabling high-quality imaging under microscopes.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170825090644.htm

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McLaren awards Skanska £41m MEP London office deal

McLaren Construction Group has awarded Skanska the MEP package to deliver the commercial fit-out of New Bracken House office building in London, which will become the new home of the Financial Times.

McLaren won the complete refurbishment and fit-out of the New Bracken House office building in the City of London three months ago.

The £41m MEP package contract includes replacement of interior services and facilities across all nine floors.

Skanska will deliver the mechanical and electrical engineering, plumbing and heating installations for both the shell and core and category A and category B fit-out, as part of the building’s redevelopment by Obayashi Corporation.

Works have just started and will conclude mid-2018.

Bracken House was first occupied by the Financial Times newspaper until the 1980s when the company moved to Southwark.

The building was partly demolished in 1989 to incorporate the Michael Hopkins glass and steel façade that is evident today.

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2017/08/25/mclaren-awards-skanska-41m-mep-london-office-deal/

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BAM starts £80m Edinburgh Airport expansion

BAM Construction has started work on the first phase of Edinburgh Airport’s Terminal Expansion Project .

The three-storey extension will be built from the existing gate 12 area spanning the old east end service yard.

Slated to be completed by autumn 2018, the project will include the extension of the South East Pier of the airport in order to accommodate additional boarding gates and seating areas between gates 13 and 14.

The first phase of this project forms part of an £80m investment plan at the airport so that it can cater an expected increase in passenger numbers.

Bruce Dickson, Regional Director, BAM Construction, said: “TEP is a significant infrastructure project and we are absolutely delighted to have been selected by EAL to deliver the first phase of this scheme.”

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2017/08/25/bam-starts-80m-edinburgh-airport-expansion/

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Manchester skyscraper gets green light

Ambitious plans to develop more than 750 flats in several high-rise buildings around Angel Meadow in Manchester next to the Co-op’s NOMA building have got the planning green light.

Manchester City Council planning officers gave Hong Kong developer Far East Consortium the thumbs up on Thursday.

It aims to build four separate blocks of apartments around the fringes of Angel Meadow park, the tallest rising to 40 storeys on the corner with Gould Street.

The scheme is also backed by the Co-op, which brought in FEC to develop the £235m residential scheme, designed by architect 5plus with WSP as engineering services provider.

Now building work is expected to begin in early 2018 with the first homes complete in 2019.

During the four-year construction period the vast site will support an estimated 750 construction jobs annually.

Plot 2: a 22-storey residential development plus one basement level with commercial uses and residential amenity uses at ground level.

• Plot 3: a 17-storey residential development plus one basement level with commercial uses and residential amenity uses at ground level.

Buildings on plot 2 and 3

• Plot 4: a 40-storey landmark residential development with commercial uses and residential amenity uses plus one lower ground level and one basement level

• Plot 5: a part 9-storey and part 12-storey residential development with residential amenity uses at ground level.

Plot five building plan

The first phase of Angel Meadow to launch will be plots two and three, which are situated on Aspin Lane.

Later phases will include a 41-storey landmark residential tower with retail and leisure space on the ground floor and 333 large apartments.

Rob Bignold, head of commercial and investment property at The Co-op, added: “We are delighted that planning permission for Angel Meadow has been granted and look forward to construction starting next year.

“High quality residential is central to our vision of NOMA being a work-live-play neighbourhood and will support Manchester’s continued growth by helping the city attract and retain crucial talent.”

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2017/08/25/manchester-skyscraper-gets-green-light/

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Origami-inspired robot

New research details how origami structures and bio-inspired design can be used to create a crawling robot.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170824121428.htm

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Breakthrough in magnesium batteries

Magnesium batteries are safe – unlike traditional lithium ion batteries, they are not flammable or subject to exploding – but until now their ability to store energy has been limited. Researchers have reported a new design for the battery cathode, drastically increasing the storage capacity and upending conventional wisdom that the magnesium-chloride bond must be broken before inserting magnesium into the host.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170824101804.htm

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Is there a better way to create organic bioelectronics?

Researchers reported a new fabrication technique for biocompatible neural devices that allow more precise tuning of the electrical performance of neural probes, along with improved properties for drug delivery.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170824101749.htm

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Making better batteries via real-time TEM observation

Scientists have made a surprising discovery: Making better batteries via real-time TEM observation.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170824094025.htm

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Highly flexible, wearable displays

Engineers have created wearable displays for various applications including fashion, IT, and healthcare. Integrating OLED (organic light-emitting diode) into fabrics, the team developed some of the most highly flexible and reliable technology for wearable displays in the world.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170824094022.htm

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Four in race for £70m Scottish A9 contract

Four bidders have been shortlisted by Transport Scotland to bid for the next major section of the A9 dualling project in Scotland.

Dualling of a 9.5km between Luncarty and Pass of Birnam will be the second works contract to be awarded on the massive project.

Shortlisted bidders include Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering, Dragados and two joint ventures Farrans Construction and Roadbridge and Wills Bros. Civil Engineering and Lagan Construction Group.

The project will involve four new overbridges to maintain local acess across the A9, along with the widening of one existing underbridge and the provision of a new side road bridge.

Other structures, such as retaining walls and culverts will also be required.

The £3bn project to dual the A9 between Perth and Inverness has been split into 11 contracts which are timetabled to be all completed by 2025.

A joint venture between Wills Bros Civil Engineering and John Paul Construction won the first £35m section from Kincraig to Dalraddy.

Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Economy Keith Brown said: “Work on the A9 Dualling Programme is continuing at pace, with preferred routes having been identified for more than 90 per cent of the programme, and we expect to award the contract for the Luncarty to Pass of Birnam section in the first half of 2018.

“The A9 dualling programme is already delivering for our economy by supporting nearly 1,200 engineering-related jobs with many more in the pipeline.”

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2017/08/24/four-in-race-for-70m-scottish-a9-contract/

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Chemists get step closer to replicating nature with assembly of new 3-D structures

Chemists have created a series of three-dimensional structures that take a step closer to resembling those found in nature.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170823121341.htm

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The breaking point: What happens around the edge of a crack?

What, exactly, happens right around the edge of the crack, in the area in which those large stresses are concentrated? A new study explains that the processes that take place in this region are universal – they occur in the same way in different materials and under different conditions.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170823094054.htm

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Use of brain-computer interface, virtual avatar could help people with gait disabilities

Researchers have shown for the first time that the use of a brain-computer interface augmented with a virtual walking avatar can control gait, suggesting the protocol may help patients recover the ability to walk after stroke, some spinal cord injuries and certain other gait disabilities.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170823121336.htm

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A more complete picture of the nano world

Aerosol particles are among the many materials whose chemical and mechanical properties cannot be fully measured until scientists develop a better method of studying materials at the microscale as well as the much smaller nanoscale (1 nm is one-billionth of a meter). Scientists have now developed such a method and utilized it to perform noninvasive chemical imaging of a variety of materials, as well as mechanical mapping with a spatial resolution of 10 nanometers.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170823090954.htm

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Artificial intelligence helps with earlier detection of skin cancer

New technology uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help detect melanoma skin cancer earlier.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170823090930.htm

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Spinning plant waste into carbon fiber for cars, planes

Using plants and trees to make products such as paper or ethanol leaves behind a residue called lignin. That leftover lignin isn’t good for much and often gets burned or tossed into landfills. Now, researchers report transforming lignin into carbon fiber to produce a lower-cost material strong enough to build car or aircraft parts.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170823090936.htm

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Gary Neville to submit £200m Manchester tower plan

Footballer turned property tycoon Gary Neville will submit revised plans next month for his proposed £200m St Michael’s development in Manchester.

The previous twin tower scheme has now been dropped for a single lozenge shaped tower on a site between Jackson’s Row, Bootle Street and Southmill Street near Manchester Town Hall and Central Library.

The 134m tall St Michael’s tower, designed by Hodder + Partners, will be mixed-use and feature offices, 170 flats and a 200-bedroom hotel.

His new proposal will incorporate the Sir Ralph Abercromby pub and create a new public square connecting Deansgate to Manchester Central.

It will rise to 39-storeys with the five-star hotel spread over 12 floors and the apartments.

Subject to planning approval, work could start on site by spring/early summer 2018.

Neville pulled an earlier twin tower scheme after opponents claimed it would dominate Albert Square

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2017/08/23/gary-neville-to-submit-plan-for-200m-manchester-tower/

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SES lures new Midlands director from Balfour

Wates-owned SES Engineering Services has appointed former Balfour Kilpatrick director Steve Tovey as new regional director in the Midlands and South West.

Tovey will be based  at SES’ Birmingham offices and is tasked with driving the £300m revenue MEP firm’s growth plan in the region.

He will also oversee the continued expansion of SES’ Prism offsite manufacturing business in the regions.

Tovey joins SES after a 40-year long career at Haden Young, Balfour Beatty Engineering Services and its offsite manufacturing facility, Modular Systems+ .  Most recently he worked at the Kilpatrick mechanical and electrical division.

He said: “SES really is ahead of the game when it comes to complex technical projects and embracing emerging digital engineering practices.

“There is a real desire to grow the business in both the Midlands and South West regions, pushing the boundaries with a market-leading commitment to digital engineering, with our dynamic three-year growth plan in place; I’m very much looking forward to working with the teams.”

SES is currently delivering a £43m contract on the £300m Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre  at the Stanford Hall estate near Loughborough.

Working alongside main contractor Interserve,  SES is providing full mechanical and electrical services to deliver a purpose-built, state of the art clinical facility for the Armed Forces when it becomes operational in 2018.

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2017/08/23/ses-lures-new-midlands-director-from-balfour/

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