What the doctors ordered

Mark Smulian takes a look at the University of Leicester’s new Centre for Medicine, which will be the UK’s largest non-residential Passivhaus project to date Fitting the people and equipment from three departments into a single structure on a constrained... View Article

Specifying external sliding doors

Latest developments in window technology have radically improved the design, performance, and security of fully-glazed external sliding doors for residential use. However, as sliding doors become increasingly sophisticated, specification also becomes more complex. Andy Trewick, VELFAC direct sales manager, comments Site suitability To... View Article

The retail revolution

A tectonic shift has overtaken the retail construction sector over the past five years as retailers have responded to the challenges of persistently weak consumer spending and changes to how and where people shop. Stephen Cousins asks “where is it... View Article

A friendly facade

We asked four leading facade, cladding and envelope specialists what they would tell architects and specifiers if they had the chance. This is what they told us. Michael Willoughby reports. Chris Macey, group MD, Wintech Group When windows and facades... View Article

Brave new world

The sculptural ribbed aluminium form of the EBI South Building in Cambridgeshire is a dynamic reflection of the pioneering bioinformatics research going on inside. Stephen Cousins reports. Hunched down low in a protected rural landscape and clad in a ribbed... View Article

Everybody needs good neighbours

When Use Architects’ Jo Hagan came to develop his own site, he used an innovative material to make sure the block was a welcome addition to his Hackney home. Michael Willoughby reports. How to handle a large residential-commercial building in... View Article

The changing face of window design and specification

Jon Palethorpe, commercial director at architectural aluminium systems specialist, Technal, looks at current trends in fenestration design and specification, and some of the latest technical advancements engineered for high performance windows. In the UK, building regulations are imposing ever more... View Article

The demand for individual expression is on the rise

Paul Hughes, from FunderMax, comments on the rising trend and demand for individual design within the cladding industry, and subsequent challenges. There are numerous challenges that confront facade producers in today’s competitive construction market. All of which have to be... View Article

Delivering thermally efficient buildings

Lee Davies, technical director at building envelope specialist, CA Group Limited, explains the role of robust detailing in delivering thermally efficient buildings. The issue of improved airtightness has become a key focus for architects both in striving to deliver increasingly... View Article

Plugging the BIM gap

Gordon Moffat, technical manager at CMS, Scotland’s largest door, window and curtain walling manufacturer and installer, discusses the advantages to architects of ‘BIM ready’ contractors and how BIM can optimise building envelope performance. As more and more product and system... View Article

The use of natural stone in modern architecture

Ian Robottom of Lithodecor discusses lightweight natural stone ventilated rainscreen facades and the requirements of modern architecture. The advent of modern architecture has fundamentally changed the way buildings are constructed. This is particularly relevant when looking at how the use... View Article

Building envelope design can improve the overall BREEAM rating

Tom Taylor, Principal Consultant, BRE, explains how excellence in building envelope specification can help achieve BREEAM ratings. The specification of the building envelope has implications for performance against several BREEAM New Construction assessment issues and could potentially have a significant... View Article

BINDT’s CPS scheme replaced

ATTMA Registered Testers Scheme has replaced BINDT’s CPS scheme, Barry Cope, ATTMA Registered Testers Scheme Manager along with David Pickavance, Chair of the ATTMA Board of Directors explain. ATTMA has successfully taken the reigns from BINDT to run the authorised... View Article

DfMA – healthy injection for hospital design?

The advanced off-site manufacturing system, Design for Manufacture and Assembly, was used to build the Cheesegrater in London and is now helping deliver the next generation of UK hospitals faster, safer, and to higher levels of design quality than ever... View Article

Designing homes for mental disability

When it comes to creating residences for people with dementia it helps to look at things through the eyes of those with the condition, says Dominic Waters, Development Director at Waters Homes Open the property pages in any national newspaper... View Article

Architects have family lives too

To remain successful, architectural practices need to be able to retain their talent. That means keeping on top of new employment legislation and thinking harder about how they can support hard-working staff who are also carers and busy parents outside... View Article