Category Archives: Construction

Appointments, Construction, News

Sphere Solutions expand with opening of Gloucester office

Construction recruitment specialists Sphere Solutions have announced further expansion with the opening of a new Gloucester office.

The new Gloucester office, in Westerwells Business Park, has also seen the appointment of three new senior appointments, with Jack Spencer joining as Regional Manager, Rhys Jones as Construction Team Leader and Nathan Taylor as the regional Recruitment Consultant.

The new office follows the recent news of the company expanding its Cardiff head office, and extends an already vast office base for the recruitment business, as they continue to grow their operation throughout the UK.

Speaking on the opening of the office, Regional Manager Jack Spencer said: “I am delighted to join Sphere Solutions and to assist the growth into the Gloucester area.  Sphere already have a tremendous reputation with many existing clients in the area already, and I am excited to be part of its next phase of growth in the region”.

The new office and operating team will give the recruitment business a significant launch into a new geographical footprint.

James Parsons, Director, said: “It is an exciting time for Sphere.  We are delighted to welcome a new and dynamic team of talented individuals, who are also industry experts.  The new team will help us build our reach in Gloucester for both existing clients and new contacts”.

Sphere’s operations continue to expand, with Gloucester becoming the 8th UK office location, in addition to international operations in North America.

Mr. Parsons concluded: “We have ambitious growth plans for the business in the coming 3-5 years, and we are delighted to be able to open our new Gloucester office.”

 

Construction, Midlands News, News

Confidence boost as West Midlands firm builds up top team

Malcolm Priest, the managing director of Greswolde Construction Ltd, the West Midlands based construction company specialising in the education, healthcare, housing, commercial and industrial sectors with an annual turnover of around £20- £25m, has strengthened the senior management team with two new directors.

Construction Engineer Perry Stewart and former PWC Chartered Accountant Shaun Walsh have invested in the business, with ownership now shared between them and Malcolm Priest. Perry Stewart has been appointed as the new Managing Director and Shaun Walsh as Finance Director. Malcolm is to transition his day to day role over the coming months.

Construction Director Chris Harrison continues in that role.

Malcolm Priest purchased Greswolde Construction Ltd in 1995 but felt the business should be less dependent on him and that the time was right to build a larger, stronger senior team to take the business to the next level.

Perry Stewart is an engineer with 40 years’ experience in construction, including thirteen years as CEO of Immediate Property solutions and six years as MD of The House group, based in Gibraltar. Prior to that Perry Stewart was project manager for Skanska’s construction and marine projects in Scandinavia, Denmark and Northern Germany in collaboration with Veidekke.

Shaun Walsh spent his early career at PWC and has been a Business Consultant and Portfolio Finance Director for a variety of small and medium sized companies across a number of different industries up to £50m+ turnover.

Perry and Shaun are building a group of mutually supportive construction related companies as the IBG Group.  This is their third investment.

Malcolm Priest said:

“I want to see the business thrive. The COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging for the construction industry, however as we are waking up to face a new normal, I think it is the right time for me to hand over some of my responsibilities to a highly experienced team who can meet those challenges, not least the current shortages of materials and labour, so that Greswolde Construction has a strong and resilient future.”

Perry Stewart comments that he, Shaun Walsh and the IBG business growth team intend to build on the solid and well respected business that Malcolm Priest, Chris Harrison and the Greswolde staff have built over the last 25 years. Perry and Shaun intend to grow the business and take it to the next level and will be growing the number of members of staff at the company to facilitate that.

“We’ve bought into a fantastic company that has a great team, so the potential is immense,” he said.

“With such a great company and solid, talented colleagues, if we don’t double the turnover in three years I’ll eat my hat!”
 William Senior of Watersheds, who led on the transaction for Greswolde, said:
“It’s pretty amazing that we completed this deal for Malcolm during the Pandemic after many lockdowns, but it’s been a pleasure to work with someone who wanted to ensure the business is as resilient as possible and has a strong and sustainable future.
“Our approach was to find the individuals with the right skills, drive, experience and personality to give Malcolm and Greswolde the best possible outcome.
“We knew Malcom required a blend of hard commercial skills and relevant industry experience, but equally needed people with similar values and aspirations, and who were passionate about the brand and the staff.
“When we found Perry Stewart and Shaun Walsh, we knew we had found two people who understood the true potential of the business, and who also had the industry-related experience to help achieve sustainable growth. Malcolm can now relax, secure in the knowledge that the business is in the most capable of hands.”

 

Picture Caption

Growing  the business. Greswolde  Construction’s Malcolm Priest (second left) is pictured with (from left) Director Chris Harrison, new Managing Director Perry Stewart and Finance Director Shaun Walsh. Picture by Andrew Carpenter Photography.

Construction, News

Premier Forecourts and Construction appoints new finance director

Premier Forecourts and Construction, a specialist in forecourts and diverse construction projects, has appointed a new finance director as the company experiences a period of substantial growth after pivoting its business towards the electric vehicle charging market.

Rebecca Cook has been promoted to director after serving as a finance controller with the company for over two years. Cook has a total of 27 years’ experience in finance and accounts, having previously held finance roles within well known organisations, including Bevan & Buckland and South Wales Police.

Cook’s career has also included teaching AAT and ACCA accountancy qualifications, as well as A Level business and Finance/Business to degree level, at several educational institutions in the South Wales region: Neath College, Coleg Sir Gar and Swansea Metropolitan University.

Cook’s own academic achievements include BTEC National and BTEC Higher Diplomas in Business and Finance, AAT Qualification, CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountant – ACMA, CGMA) and also a teaching PGCE/PCE.

The new role will see her taking overall responsibility and accountability for finance, procurement and commercial activities with the Swansea-based construction company.

Rebecca Cook, newly appointed finance director at Premier Forecourts and Construction, said:

“My career goal was to become a finance director, and it’s very exciting to take on the role at a time of growth and positive change with Premier Forecourts and Construction. The company is now at the forefront of launching electric vehicle charging points for clients like MFG, BP and Shell, and we very much see this as the future of the business.

“I feel very honoured to be recognised by the board of directors and given this opportunity. Premier is a very hard-working company which upholds its values, especially that of putting people first.  I’m thankful for all the support I’ve had from the board, my fellow managers and the office staff. I plan on learning more about the different processes that happen on site and start working on preparing commercial and financial strategies that align to the overall aim of the company.”

Steve Evans, Premier Forecourts and Construction managing director, said:

“We are delighted to be able to promote Rebecca to the role of finance director during this exciting period for the business. Rebecca’s hard work and dedication over the two years she has been with us, coupled with her impressive working background and vast experience in finance, means she has become a highly-valued member of the team. Her passion for accounts and confidence in making decisions has meant she was the ideal choice to lead the finance department.”

Construction, News, Scotland

YARD Direct Expands to Stock Roto Windows

YARD Direct, with it’s excellent reputation for roof windows has been named the Official UK Partner for Roto Windows.

These windows are in stock for the most popular sizes and types and available right away, competitively priced for the current market. 

 Roto Windows are specially made as a result of their craftsmanship which dates back to 1935, when the company was founded. The name Roto represents innovation and technological progress in system components for the construction industry. This continues to this day.  The finish is exceptional as you would expect from a German engineered product. The product range is made from high quality materials and made to last. So much so that the windows come with YARD Direct’s 15-year warranty of quality assurance. 

 There are so many benefits to Roto Windows when compared to industry competitors, including the attractive design. Another benefit is the modern shape of the roof window covering, available in a dark grey, anthracite-metallic colour with a full range of interior and exterior sun screening. 

 Carefully selected materials, advanced technology and many years of experience in the production of roof windows guarantee very high quality and maximum safety. Roto Windows offer extremely high stability and durability thanks to multi-chamber profiles made of fibre-reinforced plastic with steel reinforcement.

 Roto Windows boast optimal energy efficiency thanks to the pre-installed WD thermal insulation block and vapour barrier film. Which means lower heating and air-conditioning costs that are too good to pass up thanks to the energy-saving triple glazing. Another benefit is that the galvanised fixing brackets are pre-installed which saves time on site.

 Ken McLelland, Founder, YARD Direct, said: 

 “I am thrilled to be Roto’s UK online partner stocking and supplying Roto Windows. They are a very high quality roof window and they offer a perfect solution. Particularly now with the extended lead times we are experiencing on other products. 

 This generation of Roto Windows is an invaluable addition to the UK Market and I am so excited to be the UK stockist. These windows are like the ‘BMW’ of Roof Windows. They come with so much as standard which is not as common in this sector. They also look great, are highly energy efficient and are a real credible alternative to the current options on the UK Market.” 

 Over the last 4 months in particular building supplies have been hard to get hold of and windows and roof windows are no exception. However, thanks to the new partnership arrangement with Roto, this problem is no longer an issue for frustrated homeowners of the UK as these windows are in stock and available immediately from the YARD Direct Warehouse in Stirling, Scotland. 

 Marta Oleszczuk, Export Manager said:

 “We are so elated to be supplying Roto Windows to YARD Direct. These windows are something that we are so proud of, these are high-quality products which we stand for.  We are delighted to be working with YARD Direct, whose expertise and commitment are perfectly complemented with the Roto vision. Supplying to the UK is something that we have been working towards for a while and there has never been a better time to launch an alternative roof window.

 Our range is expansive and we offer alternatives to industry names as well as those essential accessories like roof window blinds and flashings. YARD Direct’s 15 year warranty for our roof windows speaks for itself when we speak about the quality of our products. Roto Windows really are a smart choice when you are thinking about the new window for your house.” 

 For more information and to check out the range of roof windows available now visit https://www.yarddirect.com/roto/.

 

Construction, News, South West

Welsh fabricator secures new project at major Bristol development

LEADING Welsh aluminium fabricator, Dudley’s Aluminium, has secured another multi-million pound project at a major mixed-use development in Bristol.

Dudley’s Aluminium has secured the contract with Willmott Dixon to work on the Millwrights Place and Coopers Court residential scheme at Finzels Reach. The Cardiff-based company has already commenced work on Halo, innovative office accommodation within the same development, with the combined worth of the projects totalling £5.1million.

The fabricator will install a range of high-quality Kawneer products including windows, capped and structural silicone glazed curtain walling, swing doors and patio doors, in addition to louvres, steel doors, automatic opening and fire rated windows, across the build at the former site of the Avon Fire and Rescue headquarters.

Millwrights Place will feature 231 private rental apartments in a 14 storey building, while the adjacent 10 storey Coopers Court will include 66 apartments with affordable and shared ownership options available for prospective tenants. Providing a mixture of 1 and 2 bedroom homes, both schemes also boast courtyard bike stores, roof terraces, a brown roof and undercroft parking.

Colin Shorney, Managing Director at Dudley’s Aluminium, said: “This is the third major project we have worked on with Willmott Dixon at Finzels Reach, after the Aurora and Halo office complexes, and we are thrilled to be involved once again.”

Since 1993, Dudley’s Aluminium has offered clients full in-house design and production facilities, completing many successful and prestigious projects within the education, health, commercial, retail and defence sectors throughout the UK and Channel Islands.

Dudley’s reputation for quality has been recognised with several industry-related accreditations. The company is CHAS accredited, Constructionline registered and certified to manufacture “Secured by Design” products.

Construction, News

Wavin leads industry charge towards net zero construction

Leading plumbing and drainage manufacturer Wavin has joined the latest cohort of the Construction Leadership Council’s (CLC) net zero carbon programme, which is part of the council’s CO2nstruct Zero initiative. The involvement is part of Wavin being awarded the status of ‘Industry Business Champion’ and brings together industry-leading manufacturers, contractors and consultants who are committed to uniting the sector to meet the government’s ambitious targets. Wavin’s participation follows the introduction of a number of new sustainability initiatives across the business which build on its work to date in this area.

By becoming part of the industry-wide programme, Wavin will work with other companies in the sector as well as share evidence of its net zero carbon initiatives, in accordance with the CO2nstruct Zero reporting process set by the CLC. Wavin has already pledged to reach net zero emissions by 2050 and has also set a clear target to be the industry leader in sustainability by 2025.

Significant investments are being made across the business alongside strategic supply chain improvements. Renewable energy now powers all four main production sites in the UK. Solar panels and LED lighting are about to be installed at the main Chippenham site to further boost the clean energy drive. In terms of transport, the delivery of over 100 fully electric fleet cars is also underway across Wavin, and 40 per cent of its forklift fleet is already using more eco-friendly Bio LPG fuel. The manufacturer is also exploring how to reduce emissions across the full lifecycle of its products – from the way they are made, to how they’re installed. Wavin’s Recycore range is already composed of 50 per cent recycled material, and the Aquacell attenuation tanks are 100 per cent. Wavin is also focusing on minimum standards for product packaging too, with a goal of 30% being sourced from recycled material.

Mike Ward, Managing Director at Wavin UK, said: “We think of sustainability as a journey rather than a destination. We are fully committed to that journey, but recognise that it requires investment combined with action, challenge and change. The recent initiatives launched across our UK business are taking us one step closer to net zero carbon, by cultivating better building and logistical performance and helping us all be more environmentally-minded.”

A key part of Wavin’s sustainability efforts also comes from ensuring its partners are focused in their efforts to be more eco-minded. To ensure its supply chain is as transparent as possible, Wavin will be ensuring all suppliers follow the ‘Wavin Sustainable Suppliers Procedure’ and are REACH compliant.

Mike Ward added: “It’s vital for us to think about sustainability at every turn, so it’s a natural step for us to also make sure our trusted partners are on the same page when it comes to their own carbon footprint. We are truly in this together as a sector, and by ensuring we have an environmentally-focused supply chain, we can achieve industry-wide carbon net zero in-line with the targets.”

To find out more about Wavin’s sustainability initiatives and its product range, visit: https://www.wavin.com/en-gb/about/sustainability

Construction, FInance, Finance News, Property News

New research by Avamore Capital has highlighted that SME developers are continuing to face major challenges in relation to sites stalling for financial reasons.

A year on from the 2020 FMB House Builders’ survey, which found 33% of respondents said that lending options had deteriorated YOY, and a staggering 42% stated that they were involved in sites that were stalled for financial reasons,  Avamore Capital is reporting that this situation is the same, if not worse, and that demand for Finish & Exit funding is higher than ever.

A leader in principal development and bridging, Avamore has seen a 62 per cent year-on-year rise in completions of its Finish and Exit product, designed for part-built development projects; moreover, it claims indicators are that it show no signs of slowing, as the long term impact of multiple UK lockdowns remains clear.

Further research has highlighted four key reasons that are the most prevalent, or have had long lasting effects, which have resulted in the high number of projects arresting. These include: workforce instability and skill shortages, increased material costs, forced delays impacting agreed payback periods and likelihood of exit through sales.

“Whilst the property market has been fairly resilient through the pandemic, supported by government support packages, a number of factors have meant that many developers, although they were permitted to actually build, did not have the resources available to do so,” says Philip Gould from Avamore Capital.

“Various issues driven by COVID in the last 16 months have seen many projects fall behind and hit funding challenges – meaning they can’t meet market demand. Some developers found that they had to close sites completely with set-ups not allowing for appropriate social distancing measures, others were facing increased costs and most faced shortages of material supply. This combination meant that the number of developers obtaining cash out of their projects through sales is falling.

“Therefore, when planning for projects – and particularly as the pandemic wages on – it is important to pre-empt these intensified financing factors, which may impact timeframes, costs and ultimately profitability, and plan differently. We advise these steps:

 

Managing Workforce Stability – to reduce chance of running over term

The Q1 2021 Federation of Master Builders State of Trade survey highlighted that builders have reported increased difficulties in recruiting almost all the key trades in the first quarter of 2021. 38% reported bricklayer shortages, up from 22% in Q4 2020, and 34% are struggling to hire carpenters/joiners, up from 23%. The report attributes this to a lack of quality skilled entrants to the industry and increased loyalty to current employers. 

“This means that projects could take much longer to recruit for than ever before and so, we may see more developers starting all of their processes earlier in order to ensure a strong construction team” says Gould.

“Around 10% of the part-built schemes Avamore has funded in 2021 have reported that difficulties arose directly from being unable to secure a strong workforce upfront. Therefore from a financing side, the danger of not setting up the correct infrastructure means that projects could take longer than planned and so, the developer could run over term.”

 

Review current material costs – so financing forecasts are based on real time pricing 

According to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) the overall cost of materials for new housing was 6.7% higher in January 2021 than in the same month in 2020. Another example is from the Timber Trade Federation (TTF) which found that a range of ongoing logistical and administrative difficulties related to Brexit have led to supply problems and price rises.

Gould advises: “With supply chain issues and costs creeping upwards, it increasingly difficult for developers to effectively plan their cash flow schedules.

“14% of part-built projects Avamore supported in Q2 2021 required specialist structures to maximise funds available as soon as the loan completed; this was for the developer to cover the cost of urgent materials on site. In development finance, a contingency is always added to the loan (a pot designed for unknown costs which developers might face), but it is advisable it should be avoided or utilised as late into the project as possible. Fixed price contracts for future materials or using suppliers who offer the certainty of delivery has become more important than ever. “

 

Consider delays and discuss loan extension options upfront

“With the impacts of delays and costs, developers may have either run out of their existing development finance facility or come to the end of their term. Any development loan is issued for a set amount of time and most lenders will be looking to be repaid as soon as that period has come to an end. It is therefore likely that most developers had to negotiate with their funding partners across 2020 to avoid a formal ‘default scenario’.

“Whilst the lending market may have been relatively lenient at the start of the pandemic, it’s unlikely that relying on short term funding flexibility will remain a prudent strategy. Developers need to stick to a timeframe but also factor in the potential that the pandemic and Brexit is likely to continue to have an impact on many industries.

“It is therefore important for developers to have conversations with funders upfront about the possible scenarios they could face over the life of a loan.”

Whilst Avamore Capital adopts a careful lending strategy, in the last four weeks it has extended £2,762,802 worth of loans for an average of seven months after developers faced COVID driven delays during the build and now need additional time to sell the units.

“Discussing options at the outset such as informal extensions, conditional extensions or reduced extension fees would be prudent to ensure that should the unexpected occur, developers are prepared to finish their project in a cost-effective way”, adds Gould.

 

Secure an exit – determining the stability of the end user is more important than ever

“A strong exit strategy has always been important but considering the volatility of the market and economic uncertainty, it is likely that circumstances at the end of projects are becoming increasingly less predictable. As the stamp duty reduction comes to an end the market is likely to be impacted.

“In Q1 2021, the average price of a unit completed by an Avamore borrower was £426,258. With the stamp duty threshold at £500,000 the number of potential buyers for those same projects is likely to have reduced by September this year when the scheme closes completely.

“It is clear that the government has implemented measures to plug this potential shortfall at the lower end of the market, policies such as the 95% LTV mortgages will continue to make house buying attractive but, it is almost impossible to determine whether these measures, which involve borrowing more, will have the same impact as significant cost savings.

“Understanding the end user and determining their stability is therefore more important than ever.”

Gould adds: “It’s important that everyone involved in the industry prepares for new challenges, including how projects can be financed and rescued should problems arise.”

Construction, News, North of England

Delivery of 80 miles of cabling at Dogger Bank Wind Farm starts

A key milestone has been reached on the first phases of the world’s largest offshore wind farm, with deliveries of the electrical cabling for the onshore portion of the works commencing.

In total, there will be approximately 80 miles of cabling installed by civil engineering contractor Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK for the first two phases of the Dogger Bank Wind Farm.

Dogger Bank Wind Farm, which is to be built more than 130km off the Yorkshire coast in the North Sea, is currently being developed in three 1.2GW phases: Dogger Bank A, B and C.

Dogger Bank A and B is a joint venture between SSE Renewables (40 per cent), Equinor (40 per cent) and Eni (20 per cent), while Dogger Bank C is a 50:50 joint venture between SSE Renewables and Equinor.

Deliveries will take place every fortnight, with 82 cable drums to be transported to the site over the course of the scheme.

Each drum weighs 41 tonnes, with the combined weight (3,362 tonnes) heavier than Wimbledon’s Centre Court roof (3,000 tonnes).

Bristol-based high voltage electrical engineering specialists Powersystems will support the Jones Bros team during the installation of the cables.

Jones Bros project manager James Lockwood said: “The arrival of the cable drums marks a significant point in our works on the grid connection and land-based infrastructure.

“The site team have done a fantastic job over the past four months to allow for deliveries of the cables to start on time and on programme.

“The 80 miles of cabling will be used along a 20 mile route to help connect the offshore wind farm to the national grid, and we remain committed to minimising disruption in the local area as we carry out this work.”

Onshore project manager for Dogger Bank Wind Farm, Oliver Flattery, said: “The Jones Bros team has worked hard since the start of 2020 to safely and efficiently prepare the ground in East Riding, in readiness for more than 3,000 tonnes of cables to be installed from July onwards.

“We thank local residents and businesses for their patience over the last 18 months, and continue to focus on operating safely and with minimal disruption as we progress our work with the installation of the cables that will transmit renewable energy to millions of UK homes.”

Established in the 1950s, Jones Bros’ leadership team consists of members of the second and third generations of the founding family. It employs more than 500 people.

The company is currently working on contracts in various sectors including highways, flood and marine defence, waste management and renewable energy around the UK.

The company runs an award-winning apprenticeship scheme, which has produced more than 40 per cent of its current workforce, with many of its senior managers having started out as apprentices or in a trainee role.  It has recruited more than 100 apprentices during the past three years.

Construction, Home Improvements, News

Telford Businessman nominated for ‘Scale-up Entrepreneur of the Year’ following rags to riches success

A Telford based businessman has been nominated for ‘Scale-up Entrepreneur of Year’ in the prestigious Great British Entrepreneur Awards, after impressing judges with his rags to riches success story.

Facing spiralling consumer debt, Rob Stone developed the idea for Instaloft – now the UK’s largest installer of loft storage solutions – when scrolling through different franchise ideas before finding one for loft ladders.

Determined to build a successful business, Rob conducted his own research and found a company called Loftzone that had patented a raised floor system designed to protect loft insulation and meet relevant building regulations.

After watching multiple YouTube videos, Rob purchased some tools via a £200 credit card, created a basic logo and launched Instaloft via Facebook, despite his family and friends pleading with him to just get a job.

Instaloft was officially launched in October 2014 and within a 7-year period, Rob has successfully scaled the business from a ‘one-man band’ operating from a 3-bedroom semi-detached house in Telford, to a £14-million turnover empire, which now employs 127 skilled installers across 6 UK depots.

Rob explained: “I founded Instaloft during a very challenging time in my life, where I didn’t even have enough income to feed my family. Although I didn’t have experience in loft installations, the LoftZone solution made the process incredibly safe and easy and following my first few successful jobs, orders started to come in.

However, it wasn’t until I sprained both wrists when falling down the stairs in a customer’s home that I realised the real value of working on the business instead of in it. Unable to work, I hired my first employee to complete the installs and quickly realised that the more time I spent on sales and marketing, the quicker the business grew. With zero external investment, we have gone from £125K revenue in year 1 to £14 million at the close of year 7, which is just amazing.

Having built the business from incredibly humble beginnings, I am, therefore, delighted to be nominated for ‘Scale up Entrepreneur’ of the year and hope my story inspires other start-up entrepreneurs embarking on their own business journey.”

Founded in 2013, The Great British Entrepreneurs Awards acknowledge the journey of entrepreneurs and businesses across the UK, celebrating the incredible stories that have taken individuals to where they are today, regardless of company size or turnover.

Headquartered in Telford with regional offices in Essex, Reading, Peterborough, Newport and Wakefield, Instaloft is also a shareholder of LoftZone, after Rob acquired one third of the business to safeguard the future of the company.

Construction, Wales News

UK’s first oculus staircase finally takes shape at Cardiff Innovation Campus

The first glimpse of the oculus staircase, the first of its kind in the UK, can be seen following its installation at Cardiff Innovation Campus’ sbarc | spark building.

The finishing of the staircase is a pivotal moment in the construction of the Innovation Campus. The sbarc | spark showpiece starts at the ground floor as a social stair and forms breakout zones to each level which are curated differently, becoming destinations to users on other floors.

Bouygues UK, the construction company building the £300 million state-of-the-art Campus, worked with Taunton Fabrications to design and install the staircase, which was designed by architects HawkinsBrown.

The staircase is a sculptural, open staircase travelling through a slanting void. Its name is taken from the oculus design, which depicts an eye that allows light to flood into a space. It aims to drive engagement and collaboration between the varying departments and uses of the sbarc | spark building.

The Innovation Campus is being built on the site of a disused rail yard and comprises two buildings. sbarc | spark will be home to the world’s first Social Science Research Park (SPARK), alongside CardiffInnovations@sbarc – Cardiff University’s creative space for start-ups, spinouts and partnerships. The Translational Research Hub will be home to two world-leading scientific research establishments – the Institute for Compound Semiconductors and Cardiff Catalysis Institute.

Mike Baynham, Operations Director for Bouygues UK in Wales, and project lead on Cardiff Innovation Campus, said: “It’s amazing to have witnessed this staircase taking shape over the past few months. The expertise of Taunton Fabrications and the amazing vision of HawkinsBrown have all come together to create a spectacle in this truly one-of-a-kind building.

“The way the staircase was constructed is also very unique as the stairs weren’t installed directly above each other, as traditionally happens, but are offset at each floor level. Several methods of installation have been reviewed over months to come up with the best way to install the stairs safely and practically.”

Mike explained: “Our great team here at Bouygues UK came up with a solution to install each stair after each floor slab was built and then construct the next floor above the stair with a cleaver configuration. These temporary works was designed by Taunton Fabrications and the RC frame Contractor, 4D Structures. This was then repeated on every floor. It is a complex but exciting construction project and is amazing to see it come to fruition.”

Julia Roberts, Partner and Education & Research Sector Lead of HawkinsBrown said: “The oculus staircase was designed as a stimulating setting that fosters collaboration between researchers, practitioners and policy-makers. To develop this design, we worked with our computational design team and produced a script that allowed us to create a parametric model of the oculus void for best coordination with structures and M&E design teams. This also enabled us to create a game engine walkthrough which you were able to experience on a VR headset – it proved to be a powerful design development tool which actively involved the University and building users.

“This was the first time we utilised game engine technology on a project, and it’s very rewarding to see it taking shape on site.”

Professor Damian Walford Davies, Pro Vice-Chancellor for the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, said of the finishing of this milestone in the project: “The oculus is the light-flooded heart of our building: a visible symbol of the connections and configurations between people and projects that this space beautifully enables, as much as a practical thoroughfare.”

For more information about the Cardiff Innovation Campus, visit:    https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/innovation/campus-investment

You can view the oculus staircase fly through here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGLvMjd1htw