One of Europe’s largest indoor play centres takes shape
Sutcliffe Construction is constructing a £3.5m indoor children’s adventure park at Stockeld Park near Wetherby in Yorkshire, set to be one of Europe’s largest, with a floor area of nearly 1,900 sq m. Designed by Corstorphine + Wright, the timber-framed Playhive will feature a series of themed adventure zones in a doughnut-shaped building with a 10m-tall tower at its centre.
Cemex launches cyclist warning system
Cemex has teamed up with FHOSS Illuminated Safety Solutions to launch a new cyclist warning system that aims to save lives when commercial vehicles turn left. The system is fitted with a Gobo lens, which projects an image onto the road, to give an alert when a manoeuvre is about to take place.
Graphene-enhanced concrete promises material and cost savings
Graphene-enhanced concrete has been used to lay the floor slab of a new gym in Amesbury, Wiltshire, in what its developers claim is a world first. ‘Concretene’, produced in joint venture between the University of Manchester and alumni-led construction firm Nationwide Engineering, requires 30% less material and removes all steel reinforcement.
Specialist restores 19th century Palace of Westminster flooring
Conservation specialist DBR has restored the Palace of Westminster’s 19th century flooring to its original splendour. DBR has been working since 2013 on restoring the ‘encaustic’ tiles, first added to the building by Gothic revivalist Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin in the 19th century.
World’s deepest pool planned for Cornwall
A £150m project to build the world’s biggest and deepest pool for testing underwater technology and training astronauts is being planned for Cornwall. The Blue Abyss project, supported by British astronaut Tim Peake, has been proposed for the Aerohub Enterprise Zone at Cornwall Airport Newquay. The centrepiece would be an aquatic centre featuring a 50m by 40m steeped pool with a 50m deep shaft. Construction is expected to cost £50m and take 18 months.
BAM backs veterans’ tree-planting business
BAM is sponsoring The Green Task Force, which retrains armed forces veterans to deliver tree planting and tree surgery. Founded by Dr Andrew Steel (pictured with business partner Gail Acaster), it has been certified as a Constructionline ‘Gold’ supplier.
Laing O’Rourke prefabricates 70% of university building off site
Laing O’Rourke’s specialist Expanded business has conducted 70% of the construction of a new university building in London off site. It installed bespoke staircases, precast linings, twin walls, perimeter beams and columns in the London College of Fashion campus in Stratford, for the University of the Arts London.
