Aecom hires Jacobs chief to head civils

AECOM has headhunted a key director at rival Jacobs, who led teams working on Crossrail and HS2 project, to head up its own civils business.

Mark Southwell who has over 30 years experience in the industry, joins as managing director of civil infrastructure for the UK and Ireland.

At Jacobs where he was a vice president, he led 900 people in the rail and geotechnical unit, delivering rail and tunnelling programmes.

Originally employed at CH2M, bought by Jacobs at the end of 2017, he previously worked at Network Rail as programme director for signalling for four years up to 2015.

Southwell will now take responsibility for all aspects of Aecom’s civil infrastructure business in the UK and Ireland, which includes transportation and water, ports and power teams.

David Barwell, Aecom chief executive UK and Ireland, said: “We’re delighted that Mark is joining AECOM. His strong market presence and passion for organisational development will be a real asset for our integrated Civil Infrastructure business.

“His initial focus will be to ensure we have a clear and executable vision and appropriate growth strategy for the UK and Ireland.

“With a history of working on major projects such as HS2, Crossrail, Thames Tideway and the Lower Thames crossing, I look forward to seeing the positive impact his experience and leadership has on our teams, inspiring our people to reach their full potential and driving growth for our organisation.’

Southwell said: “AECOM has a great track record with a strong diverse portfolio, I’m looking forward to working with David and his team to deliver excellence for our clients.”

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2019/03/01/aecom-hires-jacobs-chief-to-head-civils/

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Kent Uni tenders £20m life science building

The University of Kent is pressing ahead with plans to build a £20m Life Science Building at its Canterbury Campus in Kent.

Architect Stride Treglown with building services engineer Hoare Lea and Craddys have designed the new education building which will connect to the existing science block.

The interior will feature staircase, inspired by DNA, that spirals through a full-height atrium.

This is the nucleus of the building and its qualities speak of the facility’s identity; open, visible and collaborative. It also creates as a new focal point and destination for the campus.

The layout stacks labs and academic areas in a structure that is visible and easy to navigate. We also proposed a ‘shared-asset’ culture, which maximises the use of spaces and equipment. This prompts an open and cost-effective way of working across departments.

Canterbury Campus in Kent

Expressions of interest must be made by the end of March on the Delta E-sourcing portal with bids expected to be invited from selected contractors by 5 April.

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2019/03/01/kent-uni-tenders-20m-life-science-building/

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Blockbuster Hawk plant auction to raise £40m

Administrators winding up failed plant hire specialist Hawk are putting more than 1,500 items of construction plant and equipment under the hammer.

The blockbuster auction will be held over two days at Hawk’s main site in Prees Green in Shropshire and is expected to raise more than £40m.

Ernst + Young has enlisted Euro Auctions to handle the big sell-off in two weeks, which has attracted interest from dealers,  hirers and civils firms across the country.

All items are going on the block without reserve prices. The fleet includes nearly 40 Komatsu 20t-plus excavators, 32 dozers, over 60 articulated dumptrucks, 70 dumpers and around 70 telehandlers.

Over 16-17 March, there will also be over 250 miscellaneous items including forks and tipping skips, as well as a year-old executive electric hybrid Mercedes Benze E350.

Euro Auctions previously worked with the team at EY in 2016, after Hewden Stuart collapsed raising £120m what amounted to the worlds largest mobile crane sale.

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2019/03/01/blockbuster-hawk-plant-auction-to-raise-40m/

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Robo-builder vests trialled on utilities jobs

Workers at Morrison Utility Services are trialling the use of upper body exoskeletons to make heavy lifting easier.

The £5,650-a-time vests are being used on the contractor’s Yorkshire Water sites.

The Eksovets have also been trialled by Willmott Dixon on a school building job in Cardiff.

Morrison Utility Services’ ongoing trial programme includes:

• Lifting and handling activities in the company’s Normanton stores depot and around hoppers used by site clearance support teams;
• Supporting reinstatement teams using the company’s purpose-built Roadmender asphalt unit;
• Supporting backfill teams loading and unloading rammers onto the sides of vehicles.

Morrison Utility Services Executive Director John Edwards said: “ Augmenting human capability offers scope for significant safety, health and wellbeing benefits for our people working in the field, some of whom are involved in physically demanding, repetitive activities over extended periods of time.

“The benefits of this wearable technology will include reduced tiredness, a reduction in strain-related injuries and the ability for our people to work for longer periods without any detriment to their wellbeing.

“The use of exoskeletons could also help our sector tackle the ongoing skills shortage, as some members of the workforce could find that the use of such innovative wearable technology may help them carry out the more physical aspects of a job, thus opening up otherwise lost opportunities”

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2019/03/01/robo-builder-vests-trialled-on-utilities-jobs/

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New blueprint for understanding, predicting and optimizing complex nanoparticles

Northwestern University researchers have developed a blueprint for understanding and predicting the properties and behavior of complex nanoparticles and optimizing their use for a broad range of scientific applications. These include catalysis, optoelectronics, transistors, bio-imaging, and energy storage and conversion.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/02/190228141249.htm

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Hybrid material may outperform graphene in several applications

A structure comprising a molybdenum disulfide monolayer on an azobenzene substrate could be used to build a highly compactable and malleable quasi-two-dimensional transistor powered by light.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/02/190228154857.htm

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New method of synthesizing nanographene on metal oxide surfaces

Nanostructures based on carbon are promising materials for nanoelectronics. However, to be suitable, they would often need to be formed on non-metallic surfaces, which has been a challenge – up to now. Researchers have found a method of forming nanographenes on metal oxide surfaces.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/02/190228113612.htm

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J & D Pierce lands London City Airport steel deal

Structural steel specialists J & D Pierce (Contracts) Ltd has been named as the steel contractor for the London City Airport expansion programme.

The £500m City Airport Development Programme will see J & D Pierce fabricate and erect the structural steelwork as well as design all the envelope support steelwork, for the East & West Terminal Extensions, modifications to the Main Terminal Building and East Pier extension.

It is the third airport deal in 12 months for J & D Pierce after wins at Gatwick and Lossiemouth.

Managing Director Derek Pierce said: “This is a great opportunity, and I’m looking forward to seeing the progress and results of this exciting project.”

Expansion work is scheduled to take 12 months and will quadruple the size of the airport.

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2019/02/28/j-d-pierce-lands-london-city-airport-steel-deal/

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Code used to reduce quantum error in logic gates for first time

Scientists have for the first time demonstrated improvement in quantum computers by using codes designed to detect and discard errors in the logic gates of such machines. The codes were applied to IBM’s quantum computer via IBM Q.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/02/190228093609.htm

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Plan to build 700 homes at York gas works site

Private rental specialist Moda has teamed up with developer North Star to redevelop York’s former gas works site.

The £200m Heworth Green scheme will see the partners transform the derelict 9-acre site, which has been sitting vacant for over 10 years, with 700 homes.

Subject to consent, plans include 450 homes designed for rent that Moda will own and operate for the long term, plus 260 homes that will be developed by North Star for sale.

The carefully designed masterplan, will re-connect the existing surrounding neighbourhoods by adding extensive public realm and introducing new pedestrian and cycle links.

With the masterplan designed by D C Architecture, the Moda apartments will be a mix of sizes ranging from studios to three-bed homes, with secure long-term tenancies of up to five years on offer, Moda aims to cater for families, sharers and young professionals let down by the current rental market.

Moda and financing partner Apache Capital will also provide over 20,000 sq ft of on-site amenity space, including shared lounges, health and wellness zones, communal work space, extensive roof gardens with stunning views of York Minster and indoor/outdoor dining areas, all set in beautifully landscaped grounds.

This will be Moda’s second scheme in Yorkshire and it’s tenth scheme in the UK, also developing 515 homes for rent at SOYO Leeds, a key part of the cultural district in Leeds city centre.

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2019/02/28/plan-to-build-700-homes-at-york-gas-works-site/

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Union demands direct employment on HS2

Unite is calling for all HS2 workers to be directly employed and an end to using payroll and umbrella companies on the project.

The union staged a demonstration yesterday outside the headquarters of Costain-Skanska Joint Venture (CSjv), who are currently carrying out the southern area enabling works for HS2.

Unite want to see CSjv employ workers directly rather than through agencies like Bowercross Construction Limited who supply labour on the job.

National officer for construction Jerry Swain said: “HS2 is one of the most high profile construction projects in the UK and there is an agreement between the unions and HS2 that outlaws these types of practices.

“It would be reasonable to expect that HS2’s management, would want to ensure that first class workers’ rights exist on this project and as a minimum uphold the agreement they signed.”

Unite said it will now be extending its campaign across all of HS2’s sites.

An HS2 Ltd spokesperson said: “We have an agreement with the TUC demonstrating our commitment to working with the trade unions.

“By working together, we will build the new high-speed railway safely and create a diverse, inclusive and skilled workforce.”

A CSjv spokesperson said: “Bowercross Construction Limited (BCL), is one of the CSjv’s approved suppliers, who provide labour to some of our sites on the High Speed Two enabling works programme.

“All BCL workers on our programme are paid via PAYE and receive full employment rights, which include a minimum of the London Living Wage, EU holiday and sick pay and welfare benefits.

“CSjv are keen to meet with Unite to discuss their concerns and have previously offered opportunities for them to meet our workers.”

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2019/02/28/union-demands-direct-employment-on-hs2/

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Nottingham Forest unveils stadium revamp plans

Nottingham Forest have revealed plans to redevelop the City Ground in a move that will see it become the largest stadium in the East Midlands.

The club have been drawing up redevelopment plans for 18 months with the aim of starting at the end of next season.

Plans include building a new Peter Taylor Stand and improvements to the Trentside area, Brian Clough and Bridgford Stands.

The new stand will include a museum, new club shop, range of hospitality lounge facilities. When complete The City Ground’s capacity will reach 38,000.

The club unveiled the stadium plan, drawn up by architect Benoy, after an agreement with the City Council for an extended lease on The City Ground

Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis said:”The City Ground has iconic history and memories for our supporters and these legacies were fundamental in our decision us to remain on the banks of the River Trent and not relocating to an alternative site.

“This is our home and we will remain here forever.

“This investment is about our club and the city of Nottingham and we are all committed together to deliver a place that we will all feel proud of, The New City Ground, our home forever.”

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2019/02/28/nottingham-forest-unveils-stadium-revamp-plans/

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Ferrovial slashes value of Amey by £660m

Spanish owner Ferrovial has slashed the value of Amey by £660m.

Ferrovial said the “fair value” of Amey in the UK now is £88m.

Amey has been up for sale since late last year when Ferrovial decided to look at offloading its services division.

Ferrovial said: “Amey’s value has been affected by the situation of the UK services sector in recent years, due to numerous uncertainties attributable to budget cuts by local administrations, among other factors.

“Moreover, contractual disputes have proliferated between service providers and their clients.”

Amey is embroiled in a major row with Birmingham City Council over its £2.7bn highways maintenance contract.

Ferrovial said: Amey has a PFI agreement signed in 2010 with Birmingham City Council, which retained all related payments in 2018.

“The UK subsidiary, and the other stakeholders involved in the contract, are negotiating with the Council to attain a solution that is satisfactory to all parties.”

Ferrovial maintains its commitment as an investor in the United Kingdom, crystallized in its presence in all its business lines.

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2019/02/28/ferrovial-slashes-value-of-amey-by-660m/

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Paragon Interiors goes into administration

Fit out and refurbishment specialist Paragon Interiors Group Plc has gone into administration.

The Midlands based contractor is now in the hands of administrators from Leonard Curtis Business Rescue & Recovery.

The joint administrators are now seeking offers for the business in order to preserve jobs and maximise the return to creditors.

It is understood that the company employs in excess of 90 people.

The Enquirer reported earlier this week that the company was facing a fight for survival as staff and subcontractors went unpaid.

Chairman Alan Hardy is also owner of League Two football club Notts County.

Any parties with an interest in the company’s business or assets should email keith.turpin@leonardcurtis.co.uk.

Paragon Interiors is not related to Interserve company Paragon which continues to trade well.

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2019/02/28/paragon-interiors-goes-into-administration/

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Firms named for £1bn Pagabo refit and refurb deal

Construction procurement specialists Pagabo is set to launch a major new refit and refurbishment framework.

Seven firms have won the largest value lot covering schemes worth over £30m, with more than 20 selected across five lots.

The £1bn framework covers the full range of refit and refurbishment project types, taking in a dozen regions, including Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

This includes category A & B refurbishment, internal refresh for occupied and non-occupied buildings and cut and carve refurbishment for all structural and non-structural modifications.

Pagabo, chief executive officer, Simon Toplass said: “Our clients will be able to convert buildings while keeping the same structure, improving and restoring their building by renovating or incorporating the very latest in modern systems, through retrofit.

The framework will go live at the start of March and adds to a growing set of contractor panels.

Last year Pagabo delivered 195 projects worth in excess of £462 million with over 450 clients across a variety of sectors and frameworks.

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2019/02/28/firms-named-for-1bn-pagabo-refit-and-refurb-deal/

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B&K restarts stalled Leeds hotel project

Bowmer & Kirkland has restarted work on the stalled Hilton hotel project that stopped midway through the build with the collapse of builder GB Building Solutions three years ago.

The half-finished scheme has been redesigned by developer Select Property, which will invest £56m to turn the site into 273 student flats, under its Vita Student brand.

Mark Stott, CEO of Select Property Group, said: “For us, finding the right locations for our residences is key and we’ve done just that with Portland Crescent and St Alban’s Place.”

The project near the Leeds Arena was to be a 206-bedroom Hilton hotel and marked GB Building Solution first major foray into development.

But the firm collapsed in May 2015 leaving the project unfinished as a concrete frame. The project was part-funded by a taxpayer-backed loan of £4.8m from the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership.

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2019/02/28/bk-restarts-stalled-leeds-hotel-project-2/

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Safeguarding hardware from cyberattack

Researchers have developed an algorithm that safeguards hardware from attacks designed to steal data. In the attacks, hackers detect variations of power and electromagnetic radiation in an electronic device’s hardware and use the variation to steal encrypted information.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/02/190227173105.htm

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Fast, flexible ionic transistors for bioelectronic devices

Researchers have developed the first biocompatible internal-ion-gated organic electrochemical transistor (IGT) that is fast enough to enable real-time signal sensing and stimulation of brain signals. The IGT provides a miniaturized, soft, conformable interface with human skin, using local amplification to record high quality neural signals, suitable for advanced data processing. This could lead to safer, smaller, and smarter bioelectronic devices that can be implanted in humans over long periods of time.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/02/190227142721.htm

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Good news for future tech: Exotic 'topological' materials are surprisingly common

Once thought rare, strangely behaving substances called ‘topological materials’ are in fact quite common, a finding that bodes well for their potential use in future electronics. An international team of researchers has assembled an online catalog, based on the periodic table, to make it easy to design new versions of these unusual materials.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/02/190227131847.htm

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A water-splitting catalyst unlike any other

Chemists have developed a new iron-nickel oxide catalyst for water splitting, the reaction that produces hydrogen fuel. The patent-pending catalyst shows significantly higher activity in the oxygen-evolution part of reaction than conventional nickel iron oxide catalysts.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/02/190227111120.htm

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'Upcycling' plastic bottles could give them a more useful second life

Scientists have developed a recycling process that transforms single-use beverage bottles, clothing, and carpet made from the common polyester material polyethylene terephthalate (PET) into more valuable products with a longer lifespan. Their research could help protect oceans from plastic waste by jumpstarting the recycled plastics market.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/02/190227111210.htm

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Directed evolution builds nanoparticles

Directed evolution is a powerful technique for engineering proteins. Scientists now show that it can also be used to engineer synthetic nanoparticles as optical biosensors, which are used widely in biology, drug development, and even medical diagnostics such as real-time monitoring of glucose.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/02/190227111146.htm

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Chemical giant to invest £500m in two new plants

Chemical giant INEOS has unveiled plans to build a £350m steam and power plant at its Grangemouth site in Scotland.

Tobias Hannemann, CEO O&P UK said: “This investment forms part of our wider plans to secure a bright future for manufacturing at Grangemouth and will continue its renaissance as a world class petrochemicals site.”

INEOS will also invest £150m in Hull to construct a new Vinyl Acetate Monomer (VAM) plant.

VAM is a key component in a wide range of important high-end products including laminated windscreens, toughened glass, adhesives, coatings, films, textiles and carbon fibre.

Graham Beesley CEO of INEOS Oxide said: “This is an exciting time for INEOS and great news for manufacturing in the region.

“We are proud to be bringing production of this important material back to the UK. This will not only strengthen UK manufacturing but boost exports from the UK to Europe and the rest of the world.”

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2019/02/27/chemical-giant-to-invest-500m-in-two-new-plants/

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Contracts up for grabs at Cardiff Meet the Buyer event

A raft of main contractors and clients will be looking for new suppliers at a Meet the Buyer event in Cardiff next week.

Constructionline is hosting the event at the home of Premier league football team Cardiff City on Tuesday March 5.

Running from 8:30am to 2pm it will be attended by some of the UK’s top contractors, public sector authorities and other organisations including Bouygues (UK), Cardiff Council, Speller Metcalfe and Wates.

Constructionline Sales Director, Andrew Lowe, said: “Our events provide a fantastic opportunity to connect, gain insight, build knowledge and grow your business.

“The event will allow buyers and SMEs to come together for their mutual benefit, it’s a fantastic chance to discuss upcoming work contracts and build long lasting working relations.”

Featured projects include:

Cardiff Council: The SEWSCAP Construction framework which supports the 21st Century School build programme.

Wates Construction – Parliament Northern Estate Programme: Essential renovation of several buildings on Parliament’s Northern Estate.

Standard tickets are free to all, but you must register your attendance here

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2019/02/27/contracts-up-for-grabs-at-cardiff-meet-the-buyer-event/

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MPs demand review of working at height dangers

MPs are demanding a major review of working at height in a bid to cut the number of deaths and accidents caused by falls.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Working at Height has published a new report calling on the Government and industry to undertake a major review of working at height culture.

It also wants to see improved reporting of incidents and introduce reporting on near misses.

The report, Staying Alive: Preventing Serious Injury and Fatalities while Working at Height, is the result of a 12 month inquiry by the APPG.

Politicians explored why 18% of people who die at work do so as a result of a fall from height, and what steps can be taken by government and industry to prevent incidents for the millions of people in the UK that work at height.

The report makes 4 primary recommendations to reduce the overall number of falls:

• The introduction of an enhanced reporting system through RIDDOR.
• The appointment of an independent body that allows confidential, enhanced and digital reporting of all near misses, to be shared with government and industry to inform health and safety policy.
• The extension of the Working Well Together – Working Well at Height safety campaigns.
• An equivalent system to Scotland’s Fatal Accident Inquiry process extended to the rest of the UK.

Alison Thewliss, Chair of the APPG on Working at Height and MP for Glasgow Central said: “Every fall from height can have life-altering consequences for workers and their families. There is an urgent need to improve work at height culture, yet this issue is sadly not at the top of decision-makers’ agenda.

“A lack of empirical data prevents us from understanding the root causes of falls from height. This is compounded by a cultural obstacle when it comes to supporting people to report unsafe practices.

“We have made comprehensive recommendations to government, but the APPG’s work does not stop here. Our report must be the first step in a wider process of systematic and cultural change. It is now time for policy-makers to act.”

The APPG is now calling for a further period of consultation and a major review of work at height culture, including how to engage with difficult to reach sectors, the suitability of financial penalties, and the role of digital technologies in improving the safety environment.

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2019/02/27/mps-demand-review-of-working-at-height-dangers/

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