A new study by an international team of researchers highlights how manipulation of 2D materials could make our modern day devices faster, smaller, and better.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/11/161128151057.htm
A research group has developed a hydrogen-carrying polymer, which can be molded as a tangible, safe, and compact plastic sheet.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/11/161128131524.htm
The National Access and Scaffolding Confederation has unveiled record membership levels.
The confederation held its AGM last week where managing director Robin James confirmed the number of full members stands at 229 – the highest since the trade body’s formation in 1945.
The NASC also revealed winners of its inaugural Product Innovation Award.
The prize went to Acorn Scaffolding (Yorkshire) Ltd for its‘Acorn Super Structure’ – a £1.8m temporary roof at Creamfields Steel Yard with a highly commended award going to TRAD Scaffolding Co Ltd for the ‘Big Ben Braked Gin Wheel.’
James said: “2016 has been another exceptionally strong year for the confederation and its members – from the wide use and acceptance of the updated SG4:15 ‘Preventing Falls in Scaffolding Operations’ to the introduction of new members to the confederation and the launch of the successful new Product Innovation award and lots more besides.
“It’s fabulous to see the membership and scaffolding sector flourishing.”
President, Alan Lilley said: “It is with a sense of pride that I can say our mission over the past year to help companies meet our strict criteria and become NASC members has worked, cementing our position as the premier trade body for access and scaffolding in the UK.
“It is my aim to continue on this upwards trajectory and further increase the NASC membership in 2017 and help make it even more attractive to small and medium sized companies in the UK – giving them as much assistance as possible to reach the high standards of the organisation and achieve membership status.
“The NASC is open to all bone fide companies where access and scaffolding provides a significant part of their business.”
A new project is underway to design innovative nanoporous materials, or “sponge materials,” for highly efficient abilities in separation, storage, and release of essential gas molecules.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/11/161128090628.htm
Willmott Dixon has reorganised its operating structure to create three distinct companies delivering contracting, residential and support services.
Both residential development and support services companies will move from under Willmott Dixon’s umbrella to become sister businesses
This will give each greater operational, financial and strategic independence to crank up growth plans.
In particular, it will allow the residential arm to seek further investors to help fund delivery of its 7,500-home pipeline.
Group chief executive Rick Willmott said: “The revised structure also supports our wish to give top management in each of our three core businesses a more direct share in their company and in the success they help create.
“During 2017 the businesses will move out from under the Willmott Dixon ‘umbrella’ to become ‘sister’ rather than ‘subsidiary’ businesses to Willmott Dixon, whilst remaining owned and controlled by the same shareholder family.
Willmott said: “This year has seen some important developments to support our growth ambitions.
“In May, we formed Willmott Residential to combine the capabilities of Prime Place, Be:here and Homes within one company.
“This has already opened up many new opportunities for sharing skills, identifying new land opportunities and bringing a more holistic approach to house building for our partners and customers.”
He added: “More recently, we rebranded our support services businesses as Fortem to grow a strong new brand utilising the technical strengths and capabilities that exist in our people to create a business with greater access to a variety of markets outside its core housing sector.”
“Willmott Dixon will remain a billion pound plus company in 2017 and we’ll focus on our core strength of contracting, both new build and fit-out, with 85% of budgeted workload identified and secured for 2017.”
Malaysian investor Alloy has confirmed Mace has won the pre-construction services for its £450m One Crown Place project in east London.
One Crown Place is situated on the edge of the City of London and will consists of two residential tower blocks above an office podium building.
Currently the site is being prepared for construction with piling due to start in March 2017 and construction is set to be completed by summer 2020.
Under the pre-contract services agreement Mace will work with AlloyMtd Group to design and procure the sub-contractor packages, the first part of a two-stage construction process.
It is hoped that a major project contract will then be signed in autumn 2017.
AlloyMtd Group President and Chief Executive Officer, Tan Sri Dr Azmil Khalid said: “This is the first project of its type that AlloyMtd has developed in central London and we very much look forward to working together with Mace and CBRE to deliver this new London landmark.”
Mace COO for Construction, Gareth Lewis, said: “It’s a complex and challenging project and we will be drawing upon our extensive experience in this field to create a high-value, high-rise development that leaves a lasting legacy for London.”
The Shoreditch site is bordered by Earl Street, Crown Place, Sun Street and Wilson Street.
One Crown Place podium building
Designed by architects Kohn Pedersen Fox, One Crown Place development is expected to be completed in 2020 providing 246 private apartments.
The office space is to be housed in two buildings: a new podium building and the refurbished 54 Wilson Street building, providing 120,000 sq ft and 20,000 sq ft of net floor area respectively.
The City of London has approved plans for what will be the Square Mile’s tallest building at 1 Undershaft.
Nicknamed the Trellis for its visible structural steel cross-bracing, the new London skyscraper will soar to 305m, just above the recently approved 22 Bishopsgate tower at 278m, but a few metres below the Shard’s tallest steelwork point in London Bridge.
The existing Aviva tower in the City will be demolished to make way for the new Eric Parry-designed building, which will have a free public viewing gallery at the top and boast London’s highest public sky restaurant.
Singapore-based developer Aroland Holdings is behind the 73-storey landmark building, which at nearly 1m sq ft is expected to take around six years to complete.
Chris Hayward, chairman of the City of London’s committee, said the building showed that there was still a high level of investor confidence in the Square Mile after the European Union referendum.
“Over the next 30 years I expect that we will need to deliver office space for more than 50,000 extra workers within the Square Mile, and this development is important in reaching that end goal,” he said.
“I believe this building will play an important part in increasing London’s attraction as the world’s leading financial centre.”
At the top of the building will be the UK’s highest public viewing gallery, while an elevated office reception lobby will allow the public to walk freely beneath the skyscraper
How London will look at night once 1 Undreshaft and 22 Bishopsgate are completed
