This development of 10 apartments for Broadacres Housing Association is now complete. The building achieves Code Level 3, was completed on time and within budget. RBA Moody Bros were the principal contractor.
Each flat meets Lifetime Homes standards, features solar water heating and charging space for a mobility scooter.
It’s been a while since the last photos, but Ireland Wood Surgery is now fairly well progressed on site. The external rendering is now virtually complete and all the glazing is in place. Coloured Trespa panels will soon be fitted over the timber battens you can see in the bottom image, to complete the external appearance.
James, Ryan, Tom and Anna - Part 3 Success
It just goes to show that blood, sweat and tears do pay off in this industry.
I’m delighted to report that all of our Part III students have excelled themselves in their recent exams, and P+HS will have no less than FOUR new architects to add to the team.
Hearty congratulations to Anna Holden from our London office, and James Park, Ryan Meadows and Tom Potter from Leeds.
Our photographer Doug Jackson visited this fabulous new development last week. The weather wasn’t too bright, but that didn’t stop the building from looking abolutely stunning. Congratulations go to the whole team at P+HS, Willmott Dixon and of course Sunderland Teaching Primary Care Trust who once again have instigated an inspiring development.
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has spoken out against the Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment’s bid to take on the design review role fulfilled by CABE.
“The Prince’s Foundation is entirely inappropriately placed for a role which demands complete impartiality when making decisions related to the future of the built environment,” said Ruth Reed, RIBA President.
“Good design must not be determined nor constrained by arbitrary stylistic preferences, or the notion of what buildings ‘should’ look like; good design is simply about delivering both the client and the public’s needs within budget, in a way that is appropriate to the building’s context.
“It has to take full consideration of the aesthetic, future use and technical ambitions and constraints of the client, site and brief.
“Design review is one of the most important aspects of CABE’s role, and is a way of helping clients and local communities achieve better buildings.
“The integrity of the process must be maintained, and therefore it should continue to be delivered independently.
“It is something that the RIBA continues to explore with the Government.”
We learned on Friday that P+HS are once again named in Building Good Employers Guide as one of Constructions “good employers”!
Not only did we achieve inclusion as one of the top 50 in the country – we made the TOP FIVE….again!
Your support and commitment to P+HS is always greatly valued, as is your continued trust in the Directors, but never more so than during the current, very difficult time for the profession.
We are delighted to be your management team and proud to be working with you. Together, we do make a crackin’ group of professionals!
Thank you from each of us.
Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) launched an online Sustainability Hub, designed to be a one-stop portal for sustainability information for architects, students, and educators.
This web-based resource, which offers users a platform for learning and discussion, was developed by the Institute to engage the architectural community with sustainability as an inspiration for design, and to pitch green design as an emerging business opportunity.
The content of the Sustainability Hub will initially be centred around four core elements:
- A comprehensive set of design strategies illustrating how to embed the strategy through the conceptual stages of design.
- Relevant and inspiring case studies focusing on the design process, not just the finished building.
- A blog introducing the latest projects and ideas relating to sustainability, content updates, and discussion regarding the experience of RIBA members. High-profile guest bloggers will also be featured alongside a number of regular contributors.
- An expanding series of short films tied into the design strategies, each focusing on one architect, building and design strategy.
The RIBA has ambitious plans for the future growth of the hub, to include book reviews, discussion platforms, related events, and a directory of education and CPD opportunities.
“The RIBA has been at the forefront of sustainable and low carbon design for some time,” said Ruth Reed, President of RIBA. “In developing the Hub, we envisage that it will help to form the central, one-stop site for all of the Institute’s work on sustainability.”
Every last box on the Retirement Chart has been duly ticked off and I leave P+HS today in the safe hands of Joe Biggs and his fellow directors. P+HS is a great team of people and delivers exemplary service to all our clients, and that’s what my time at P+HS has been all about. The last two years have been tough but that service enables us to grow and develop. We’re not out of the woods yet and, more than ever, the team needs to pull together and everyone in the firm needs to focus on maintaining and improving our service. I know you can do it.
I shall stay in touch by supporting our work in Saudi Arabia, as a director of DMI Healthcare. I shall also be working with Mark Glatman of Abstract Securities to grow and develop the Abstract Healthcare portfolio; I hope in these ways to be able to help P+HS maintain its workload and keep in touch with your progress.
The last twenty-seven years have been great and I haven’t regretted the path I chose for one moment. I am humbled by your generosity and value your friendship, humour and, above all, your absolute dedication to the firm.
Bon voyage
Chris
Oh my word! The kitchen here on Friday morning could have gone into competition with Betty’s…AND WON!
We wanted to take part in and support the MacMillan national coffee morning and so Gill, Patrice and Natalie (or Nigella, Fanny and Delia as we now call them – but not necessarily in that order!) baked and cooked up a feast, sticky sausages – so moreish, corned beef and sweet potato pie mmmm, bacon and leek quiche (with a sticky sausage on the side served as a traditional English breakfast!), flap jacks that satisfied any sweet tooth, and don’t even get me started on the cup cakes! (Yes I know Angela…they were called fairy cakes in my day too). So a big fat (and after that lot I mean “fat”) thank you to them for the tremendous effort made, and thanks to all who have “purchased” the goods and enabled a generous donation to MacMillan, (over £80.00!!). The generosity of everybody who works here at P+HS never fails to amaze me, particularly this year. Thank you, you’re brill!
Congratulations to all our staff who took part in the Great North Run at the weekend and raised oodles of money for Charity. This year beneficiaries of our staff’s hard training and sponsorship include the Alzheimer’s Society, Guide Dogs for the Blind and Farplace Animal Rescue. Pictured here are Lisa Cook, Adrian Evans, Kay Dodds and Helen Goodsell. Word is that Tim Wilson ran too fast to be caught on camera.
Due for completion later this month, the new Linacc building at Nottingham University Hospital has recently gathered pace in preparation for handover. Following a recent site visit the building has been extremely well recieved with the end users and general staff. A few minor tasks remain including the installation of the decorative glass canopy and feature wall designed by a local artist as part of the Breeam credit.
World Architecture News is a web based international architecture magazine. It has some good stuff on it from time to time and it has awards in several categories. I was a jury member for the healthcare awards this year and think the shortlist and winners are pretty interesting. Have a look for yourself. .. Oh, and if you want to have something to pull my leg about next time you see me, also have a listen to my very first YouTube appearance! Wend
Congratulations to the team on the handover of Rivendale, a new Extra Care facility for Broadacres in Northallerton.
Photos courtesy of Doug Jackson
As part of achieving Breeam Excellent at the design stage for LINAC, the new radiotherapy centre Nottingham, a credit was gained for compliance with the 3% daylighting factor required for a typical 12 – 15sqm Consultant / Exam room. The photograph and sketch above illustrates the actual size of the window in relation to the room.
In this instance, the size and proportion of the window was governed by the fact that the room depth is greater than the room width, meaning that a large surface area of glazing is required in order to achieve 3% daylighting.
An alternative to this type of window which would still achive a 3% daylighting factor, would be to consider rotating the room by 90 degrees (so that the room depth is less than the width). This method would improve the quality of light transfer into the room and provide an opportunity for more interesting elevations in terms of external window fenestration. The down side to this however, would be the possibility of longer corridors.
