Category: Technical
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The steel super sheds: inside construction’s booming logistics sector
The rapid rise of internet shopping has led to growing demand for distribution warehouses, which in turn are getting bigger and quicker to build. Martin Cooper reports on structural steelwork’s largest UK market. Encompassing parts of Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Warwickshire, the area has excellent transportation links, being close to the M1 and M6 motorways. This…
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Skanska goes green on Victoria retrofit
With a maths teacher for a mum and a QS for a brother, construction seemed a good fit for Ben Ford. A work placement with John Sisk confirmed this proposition. “I thought ‘this is the perfect combination of everything I want to do’,” he says. Sponsored by Costain through a master’s degree in civil engineering…
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In pictures | Walter Lilly completes major renovation of Lambeth Palace
Lambeth Palace in south London (Image Wright & Wright Architects / Hufton+Crow) Walter Lilly has completed the first significant refurbishment of Lambeth Palace in more than 70 years – a £40m infrastructure and reservicing project aimed at improving accessibility and sustainability across the historic site. The works were carried out while maintaining the operation of…
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Building the Natural History Museum’s Urban Nature Project
The Natural History Museum’s new Urban Nature Project is a biodiversity project like no other. Will Mann meets the Walter Lilly team who helped bring it to life. The life-size bronze cast model of a diplodocus (Image NHM) The Natural History Museum (NHM) is one of the UK’s most visited museums – and this year…
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‘Forever chemicals’: 7 reasons construction needs to know about them
Environmental expert Steve Dyke MCIOB from Churngold Construction explains why ‘forever chemicals’ are fast becoming a mainstream issue for any developer and contractor involved in demolition, earthworks, or remediation. As our sector strives for net-zero and circular-economy goals, POPs and PFAS present a paradox. Disposal to landfill should be the last resort, so management of…
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How to enhance the natural environment during construction projects
In this month’s Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) column, Desiree Blamey looks at how construction project managers can enhance the natural environment at a local level. Image: Dreamstime This article supports Q.2.3.1 of the Considerate Constructors assessment: How is the registered activity identifying, assessing and planning to maintain or improve the natural environment locally? The construction…
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Mamma Mia! Why demountable venues are proving a winner
The key factors that make demountable structures attractive to investors and promoters alike is the speed at which the venues can be built and operated, reducing return-on-investment periods, allowing products to come to market quicker. They enable the trial of new products for proof of concept, while also entering new geographies and markets where there…
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CIOB Awards 2025: Renovation & Restoration
Gold Winner: Jason Hunt MCIOB, Willmott Dixon Project: Bristol BeaconScope: Renovation and transformation of Grade II-listed building into a concert hall and performance hub, completed in 235 weeks Client: Bristol City Council Value: £95m Project director Jason Hunt’s solutions-focused leadership, risk insight and determination overcame major historic defects on this ambitious project. These ranged from poorly executed previous…
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CIOB Awards 2025: High Rise Accommodation
Gold Award Winner: David John MCIOB, Willmott Dixon Construction Project: Millwrights Place and Coopers Court, Bristol Scope: Construction of 15-storey and 10-storey blocks with 297 apartments, completed in 168 weeks Client: Cubex Land Value: £57m Handing over a defect-free residential tower is notoriously difficult. David John not only managed the feat, on time and to budget, but delivered…
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CIOB Awards 2025: Healthcare
Gold Award Winner: Dean Williams, Kier Construction Project: Singleton Hospital, SwanseaScope: Replacement of front facade, completed in 155 weeks Client: Swansea Bay University Health Board/Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Bae Abertawe Value: £11m Dean Williams was brought in as operational lead two-thirds of the way through the project, bringing a fresh approach to phased facade replacement. Drawing on lessons learned…