NIBuilder 32-6 Dec-Jan

The only bi-monthly journal for the Northern Ireland construction industry!

OFFICIAL MEDIA PARTNER

Vol 32 No 6 DEC-JAN 2022

GILBERT-ASHGAME-CHANGING CATBFIT-OUTFOR PwC Merchant Square

FIT-OUTCONTRACTOR

www.gilbert-ash.com

NI BUILDER

Inside this issue...

Issue 32-6 - Dec-Jan 2022

36 51 NI BUILDER IS THE OFFICIAL MEDIA PARTNER FOR - CONSTRUCTION EMPLOYERS FEDERATION FOR THEIR LATEST NEWS AND UPDATES - SEE PAGES 27-30

News &Views 4 Construction Directors of the Year - IoD

Products 31 IJK Timber Group

In Focus 16 Back of the net

James Latham Group acquires IJK Timber Group Ltd and boosts NI Panel and timber supply.

Heron Bros. and supply chain complete Avoniel Leisure Centre as part of a £66m investment into leisure provision in East Belfast.

Northern Ireland’s construction sector leaders are recognised at the 2021 Institute of Directors Northern Director of the Year Awards. 7 Gilbert-Ash gives a hand Gilbert-Ash team members take part in David Meade workshop to construct prosthetic hands for amputees. 9 Gleeds host RICS Presidential visit Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors’ Presidential party visits flagship PwC Merchant Square fit-out. THE TEAM: Managing Director Karen McAvoy Editor Heather Campbell Editorial Laura Barr, Stephen Gamble Sales Manager Karen Jess Advertising Julie Patterson Production Manager Julie Anne Guiney Digital Creative Manager Jo Hendron Digital Communications Rachel Freeman Accounts Andrea Simpson Photography Gordon McAvoy Printed by W&G Baird

65 Cemfloor

36 Game changer

Bring your construction project back on schedule with fast drying liquid floor screeds from Cemfloor by McGrath’s Limestone.

First-of-it’s kind, £15m Cat B office fit-out is completed by Gilbert-Ash and supply chain to create PwC’s largest UK office outside London.

98 K Cabin

49 Nifty at 50

K Cabin meets Covid-19 demand for increased site welfare standards by adding new-site welfare product solutions.

Beattie Flanigan Consulting Engineers celebrates reaching milestone half-century anniversary.

CONTACT US: The Forge, 13b Lisburn Road, Moira, Co. Armagh, BT67 0JR T: Moira: 028 9261 2990 T: Dublin: 01 696 8319 E: northernbuilder@kmpltd.co.uk www.northernbuilder.co.uk

NI Builder Magazine @nibuilder NI Builder Magazine @nibuilder

NI Builder

With reference to the Misdescriptions Act, please note that the measurements and artist’s impressions within are for illustrative purposes only and may not be accurate. Reproduction of whole or in part of this publication, without prior permission from Karen McAvoy Publishing Ltd, is strictly prohibited.

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NI BUILDER | 3

NEWS

“AGREAT ENGINEER, GENTLEMAN ANDMENTOR”

The Directors

and staff of Semple & McKillop Ltd are mourning the passing of one of their founding partners, Tom Semple. Tom died peacefully on Sunday, 31 October 2021 after a long illness. A tribute posted

Tom Semple, founding partner of Semple & McKillop, who passed away recently.

Mark Spence presenting £3,000 from this year’s CEF Awards finalists and Robert Ewing presenting a cheque of £2,500 to Jonathan Smyth of Action Mental Health NI following a Company fundraising event to make a combined total of £5,500 going to support mental health services in Northern Ireland.

CEFANDWOODVALEBOOSTMENTAL HEALTHCHARITYFUNDS

on the company’s website, reads, “Tom was a founding partner of Semple & McKillop, which was set up in 1997. After a successful 10-year partnership, Tom retired in 2007. He was a great engineer, a gentleman and mentor to many young engineers. Over his long and esteemed career Tom developed strong relationships and friendships within the industry. The core values of integrity and professionalism, established when Tom and fellow founder Seamus McKillop started the company, remain the bedrock of Semple McKillop.” We wish to express our deepest sympathy to Tom’s wife Nancy, daughter Jennifer and son David and wider family circle - NI Builder Magazine.

CEF nominated Action Mental Health NI as its chosen charity for the year and members responded enthusiastically by raising an incredible £3,000. Woodvale Construction joined in with the initiative and raised an additional £2,500 for this vital charity. Head of Fundraising & Communications at Action Mental Health, Jonathan Smyth said, “We are absolutely thrilled to receive these generous donations from CEF and Woodvale Construction and would like to pass on our heartfelt thanks to everyone in the sector who supported the fundraising efforts. “Even before the pandemic, we know

that within the construction industry there were very specific issues relating to mental illness and suicide, so we are especially pleased to see CEF raise the issue of mental health in the workplace so prominently at their annual awards.” Action Mental Health provides a range of vital mental health services across Northern Ireland, for people of all ages, said Jonathan, “We couldn’t do what we do without the support of the local community in Northern Ireland and rely heavily on fundraising and donations to support our services, so we sincerely appreciate these donations from CEF and Woodvale.”

CONSTRUCTIONSECTORLEADERSRECOGNISED

Business leaders representing Northern Ireland’s construction sector have had their outstanding contributions recognised at the 2021 Institute of Directors Northern Ireland (IoD NI) Director of the Year Awards, sponsored by AIB. David Henderson of Tobermore received the award for Innovation, while Louise Skeath of SDG Construction Technology was presented with the Director of the Year Award for Small to Medium Business. Winners of the prestigious awards were announced during a ceremony at The Merchant Hotel, Belfast.

David Henderson is presented with the award for Innovation by Gordon Milligan, IoD NI Chairman at the 2021 Institute of Directors Northern Ireland Director of the Year Awards, sponsored by AIB.

Louise Skeath, winner of the IoD NI Director of the Year Award for Small to Medium Business pictured with Nick Read, Business Development Manager at award sponsor Ulster University Business School.

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NEWS

WORKS STARTON SEAFRONTSOCIAL HOUSINGSCHEME

Groundworks for a purpose-built supported living scheme at Ballycastle’s seafront are well underway. Lowry Construction, working with KnoxClayton Architects, will deliver 28 Category 1 apartments for Apex Housing Association. The development, with its private, landscaped garden and views over the sea front, is an ‘Actively elderly’ scheme, impeccably designed for tenants over 55. For more information about Apex Housing Association, call: +44 (0)28 7130 4800.

Apex Housing Association’s proposed seafront supported living scheme, Ballycastle.

David Meade’s ‘Give a Hand’ workshops help change lives by building prosthetic hands for amputees.

GILBERT-ASHGIVESAHAND

Last year, Gilbert-Ash moved into its new Boucher Place headquarters in Belfast. To welcome staff back with something truly special, the firm invited David Meade and his ‘Give a Hand’ workshops to the offices. The workshop culminated in the GA team constructing real clinical prosthetic hands, which will now be donated, in Gilbert-Ash’s name, to people in need. The hands will transform the lives of people living in countries such as Uganda, Cambodia, and

Vietnam. On David’s most recent trip, he helped fit 127 hands to amputees, many of whom haven’t been able to independently eat, write or work/earn a living for decades. A GA spokesperson said, “As a company, our overarching purpose is to make a difference to our people, our projects and our planet through innovation, collaboration and determination. We are proud that these hands will be making a difference to the lives of those who receive them.”

CLARKETEAMVOLUNTEERSATDAISYLODGE

Members of the Clarke construction team recently set sail to Newcastle to volunteer at Daisy Lodge, Cancer Fund for Children’s purpose-built, therapeutic centre for families affected by cancer. From gardening duties to painting, volunteers got stuck in and made an incredible difference to the centre, lifting the spirits of patients and staff alike. Offering a complete end-to-end

service from pre-construction to project handover, Clarke guarantees innovation, safety and takes sole responsibility in delivering remarkable buildings. Established in the mid 90’s and founded by company Chairman Michael Clarke, this year the Ballymena-based firm celebrates 25 successful years in business. To make contact with the team, call: +44(0)28 2582 2500 or email: e.office@mclarke.co.uk

Clark staff members volunteered their time to help make a difference at Daisy Lodge for Cancer Fund for Children.

www.northernbuilder.co.uk

NI BUILDER | 7

NEWS

NI CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY HIGH ON THE AGENDA AS DISCUSSIONS TAKE PLACE AT ULTRA-MODERN FACILITY... Gleeds host RICSpresidential visit to flagshipPwCproject

G leeds property and construction consultants recently welcomed Clement Lau, President of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and Richard Collins, RICS Interim Chief Executive to its flagship PwC Merchant Square fit-out project. The duo met Tim Hanna (Project Director and Head of Project & Information Management), Victoria Allen (Information Manager) and Jeff McCreanor (Associate Director) from the consultancy alongside Mark Spence, Managing Director of the Construction Employers Federation (CEF), to discuss the construction industry in Northern Ireland. Fresh from attending COP26, the President and his team were keen to continue the climate conversation with a focus on sustainability and the innovative range of new construction methods being developed by those operating in the built environment as it works towards a net zero carbon future. The group also talked about how the implementation of RICS standards is contributing to improvements across the property and construction sector, as well as taking a closer look at some of the most exciting projects being delivered by Gleeds across Ireland. The venue for the meeting - PwC’s largest UK office outside of London - is an ultra- modern facility on which Gleeds acted as

Left to right: Tim Hanna (Gleeds), Richard Collins (RICS), Clement Lau (RICS), Jeff McCreanor (Gleeds) and Victoria Allen (Gleeds).

project and cost manager. Commenting on the visit, Tim Hanna said, “This project is exactly the kind of future-proof development that Belfast and Northern Ireland needs in order to appeal to a modern workforce, and I am delighted to have been able to showcase what we achieved here.” Mark Spence said, “It was a pleasure to join Gleeds and the RICS President and CEO in the offices of PwC Belfast, a first- class showcase of partnership between client, consultants and contractors that

has delivered the most sustainable possible environment for modern working. CEF and RICS have a long history of partnering on the issues that matter to construction in NI and I look forward to building upon this as we jointly develop themes of sustainable construction and responsible use of resources.” Gleeds is an independent, multi- disciplined consultancy – visit: gb.gleeds.com to view its international award-winning projects.

Clement Lau, President of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), takes a closer look at Gleeds’ showcase fit-out project for PwC, Merchant Square.

PwC’s ultra-modern offices play host to RICS visit.

www.northernbuilder.co.uk

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NEWS

ENGEL WORKWEAR, MANUFACTURERS OF COMFORTABLE AND PRACTICAL CLOTHING SUITABLE FOR ALMOST EVERY WORK SITUATION, ADDS THE VERSATILE ‘GALAXY’ RANGE TO ITS COLLECTION...

T he Galaxy range from Engel Workwear is made from a 65% polyester and 35% cotton mix, providing strong weather protection with the emphasis on comfort, style and fit. It includes slim-cut, functional trousers and jackets, available in a choice of three colour combinations plus soft-shell and winter jackets, a comfortable fleece cardigan, bib-overall and boiler suit. Most items incorporate many practical details such as several spacious pockets which give quick and easy access to tools and personal accessories, concealed buttons and zippers, and jackets with adjustable cuffs and Cordura reinforced elbows. There is also a wide choice of Galaxy workwear specifically designed to be practical, comfortable and stylish for women. The Engel Galaxy workwear collections are available from MacBlair Builders Merchants throughout Northern Ireland, with all Engel workwear supplied by main distributors Pro-Tec Workwear based in Ballymoney. For further details, visit www.engel.eu/en or contact Gareth Bladen at gbl@f-engel.com or call: +44(0) 7759 520034.

Engel’s ‘Galaxy’ workwear has universal appeal

Style, performance and fit from Galaxy workwear.

HAMILTON ARCHITECTS WELCOMES THREE NEW ARCHITECTURAL TECHNOLOGISTS TO ITS TEAM... Trio of appointments for HamiltonArchitects

S imon Wright has joined Hamilton Architects as Senior Architectural Technologist. Simon has 15 years’ experience in the construction sector, having completed a Building Studies qualification at Ulster University. He has gained experience at a number of architectural practices in Northern Ireland, with particular expertise in the commercial, residential, hospitality and social care sectors, with projects including shopping centres, hotels, offices and housing developments. Emmett Heron joins the Hamilton Architects team as Graduate Architectural Technologist. Emmett has a BSc in Architectural Technology and Management with a Diploma in Professional Practice from Ulster University. He has particular interest in sustainability and green initiatives and has gained extensive work experience with

a number of local architecture, building and M&E businesses. Architectural Technologist Peter O’Kane joins Hamilton Architects with a BSc in Architectural Technology & Management from Ulster University. Peter previously completed several years’ experience in the architectural sector with a leading

Northern Ireland design firm and his background encompasses all sectors of the construction industry, at both private and commercial levels. Get in touch with Hamilton Architects’ team on: +44 (0)28 9033 4250 or email: design@ hamiltonarchitects.co.uk.

Simon Wright joins Hamilton Architects as Senior Architectural Technologist.

Emmett Heron joins the Hamilton Architects team as Graduate Architectural Technologist.

Architectural Technologist Peter O’Kane joins Hamilton Architects.

www.northernbuilder.co.uk

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FMB NEWS

FMB INVITES YOU TO BACK ITS CAMPAIGN TO PROTECT THE INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMERS FROM COWBOY BUILDERS…

W e know members of the good quality construction, which is why many have backed our campaign for a licensing scheme to help protect the industry and customers from cowboy builders. In the UK, any person or company is legally allowed to undertake construction work without having to demonstrate a minimum Federation of Master Builders (FMB) are passionate about level of competence. This means that our construction industry is not as safe, professional or productive as it might otherwise be. Other countries, such as Germany and parts of Australia and the US, have a licensing scheme, which ensures that those operating in the construction industry have the right skills and experience to do so. A licensing scheme for the UK construction industry has the potential to professionalise our sector, improve its image and increase the quality of the built environment. There is broad support for licensing from consumers, industry and policymakers. The Government has challenged the industry to develop the blueprint for a licensing scheme and this is the role of the cross- License the construction industry now

FMB’s Licence to Build report team arrives at 10 Downing Street.

5 Improve health and safety compliance Basic health and safety testing could be included as an entry criterion for a licence. 6 Improve the image of the industry Increasing quality and professionalism would help attract more new entrants and ease the skills crisis. TIME FOR ACTION In recent months, the FMB has been working with Conservative MP Mark Garnier, who has tabled a Private Members’ Bill, which was scheduled to be debated in Parliament on 19 November, to raise awareness of the destructive impact of ‘cowboy builders’. Private Members’ Bills can succeed in different ways; they may change the law, but more commonly they raise the profile of a campaign, which can in turn lead the Government to change policy. We encourage all within the industry to join the FMB to drive forward this campaign to licence the UK construction industry. For more information on how you and your company can get involved, please visit the website: www.fmb.org.uk/licensing

industry Licensing Task Force. The FMB has been at the fore in establishing the Task Force, which is chaired by Liz Peace who is passionate about improving quality and standards in the industry and believes a licensing scheme would be transformative. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A LICENSING SCHEME? 1 Remove incompetent and rogue traders from the industry A licensing scheme would allow the industry to enforce a basic level of competence at entry level. 2 Offer a much higher level of consumer protection FMB research shows that one-in-three homeowners have been put off doing major home improvement work for fear of hiring a cowboy builder. 3 Increase construction output to boost the wider economy Licensing would increase confidence in the industry and lead to more work being commissioned. 4 Drive up quality, professionalism and productivity Gaining and renewing the licence would provide a means of enabling a Continued Personal Development scheme.

FMB launches Licence to Build report in 2018.

Federation of Master Builders, Unit 10, Kilbegs Business Centre, Plasketts Close, Antrim, BT41 4LY T: +44 (0)28 9446 0416 - E: fmbni@fmb.org.uk www.fmb.org.uk - www.findabuilder.co.uk

www.northernbuilder.co.uk

NI BUILDER | 13

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BUILDHEALTH

Let’sTalkHealth

DOWNLOAD THE RESOURCES AND DISCUSSION GUIDES FROM BUILDHEALTH NI, TO DISCUSS IMPORTANT HEALTH ISSUES IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY...

Lets TalkHealth

T he construction industry frequently promotes the development of policies and procedures to support workers’ health. BuildHealth NI (BH) has created useful information and discussion guides to download when you need them. Topics covered in the resources include: ASBESTOS Asbestos illnesses will not affect you immediately but once diagnosed, it is often too late to do anything. It is important that you protect yourself now. BH resources give you guidance and tips on keeping you safe. CANCER Cancer has affected many colleagues. It is important to spot the signs and reduce your risk. BH resources show you how. CHEMICALS Workplace chemicals come in a variety of ways, so make sure you know the routes of exposure and hazards. Use BH resources to make sure your team knows their chemical know-how. DUST Dust can lead to serious occupational health issues such as COPD and

SILICA Dust from crystalline silica is one of the oldest workplace hazards – and it still causes hundreds of deaths every year. Find out what could potentially expose you to silica dust and how to protect yourself in BH handy guide. STRESS AND FATIGUE Stress develops when a person is unable to cope with the demands being placed on them and fatigue occurs. BH resources will help your team identify factors leading to stress and fatigue and work out a plan of action to help. Visit: www.buildhealthni.com, download the resources and start the conversation towards better awareness of risks to health.

even some cancers if activities aren’t managed properly. Keep safe with BH downloadable guide.

HAND-ARM VIBRATION SYNDROME (HAVS)

Avoiding occupational health issues can be difficult if you don’t know the risks. BH has put together an easy-to-follow guide on what HAVS is, and how to reduce your exposure. MANUAL HANDLING We all know what manual handling is, but it causes over a third of workplace injuries. Brush up your knowledge with easy-to- follow resources. MENTAL HEALTH It is important to recognise the signs of poor mental health and where to find help and information. BH resources are set up so you can discuss this in a relaxed environment. NOISE What is sound to one person can very well be noise to somebody else, but anyone who is exposed to noise is potentially at risk. BH guide to noise explains how to prevent it affecting your hearing.

#LetsTalkHealth

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NI BUILDER | 15

PROJECT

AVONIEL LEISURECENTRE, BELFAST

HERON BROS. PLAYS KEY ROLE IN HELPING BELFAST CITY COUNCIL ACHIEVE ITS LEISURE TRANSFORMATION PROGRAMME GOALS AS FOURTH PROJECT HITS…

BACK OF THE NET

A ward-winning construction and property development company, Heron Bros. has completed the state-of-the-art Avoniel Leisure Centre as part of a £65m investment into leisure provision in East Belfast. The Belfast-wide £105 million Leisure Transformation Programme has already funded the regeneration of Brook, Andersonstown and Lisnasharragh Leisure Centres - all delivered by Heron Bros. The £8 million Avoniel scheme comprised demolition of the existing out-dated facility and replacement new-build, football centre of excellence, which addresses the previous lack of pitches in the area for local teams. Commenting on the new centre, Lord Mayor Kate Nicholl said, “The council was excited to bring regeneration to an area that needs it and to give people in the area first-class facilities. There is also a psychological impact to everything, you would be proud to live near this and it shows we are investing in the city and looking after everyone.” Gareth Kirk, Director of the regional leisure trust GLL, said, “The contrast of the new centre compared to the old leisure centre is night and day, and this is an example of all the leisure transformation going on. We are bringing

“The newcentre of excellence includes an Intermediate FIFA-standard 4G football pitchwith a 250-seat covered spectating terrace.”

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PROJECT

AVONIEL LEISURECENTRE, BELFAST

OFFSITE CONSTRUCTION As with most current construction projects across Northern Ireland, the shortage in construction materials caused an issue, but a semi-modular approach mitigated some of the delay to the schedule of works. “A lot of construction was fabricated offsite,” said Donard. “For example, the terrace was precast in two sections and transported to site. This offsite solution definitely helped us in the current climate.” The redevelopment works spanned 14 months and included demolition, which took place throughout July and August 2020. Piling began the following month, with construction completed in September 2021. Heron Bros is delighted with the successful delivery of their fourth leisure transformation project for Belfast City Council and is already on site for their fifth job, the £17 million restoration project at the iconic Templemore Baths. This heritage project will preserve and enhance the surviving original features of this landmark building and extend its footprint to provide modern-day leisure and spa facilities.

leisure centres from the 80s and 90s into the modern day which would rival any from across Europe.” The new centre of excellence includes an Intermediate FIFA-standard 4G football pitch with a 250-seat covered spectating terrace, three covered and two uncovered 4G five-a-side pitches, an outdoor 4G seven-a-side pitch, multi- purpose rooms, conferencing spaces and changing areas. Specialist access control was installed to allow members to pre-purchase and pre- book a pitch online and scan a QR code to gain pitch entry through an automated turnstile. Despite being one of the smaller leisure projects carried out by Heron Bros, it did present its own unique challenges, as Project Manager, Donard Leonard, explained, “The demolition of the existing early-80s constructed Avoniel Leisure Centre required the removal of some challenging infrastructure such as the 25m concrete and steel reinforced swimming pool, not to mention substantial asbestos remediation. Also, as the site is bound on one side by the Connswater Greenway, we needed to maintain that public interface, so we erected permanent fencing to make it as smooth a connection as possible.”

PROJECTTEAM... Client: Belfast City Council Main Contractor: Heron Bros. Project Manager: AECOM Structural and architectural design team: McAdam M+E consultants: JCP Consulting Mechanical & Electrical Contractor: Dowds Group HOMEAND AWAY... Heron Bros.’ considerable experience in the leisure sector includes recent projects in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Scotland andWales: • The £4.5mgrandstand at Kingspan Stadium, HQ for Ulster Rugby • The £13.4mAberavon Leisure and Fitness Centre, Port Talbot, Wales • Sport Ireland’s €55mNational Indoor Arena in Blanchardstown • The £8.2mCraigie Park Sports Development, South Ayrshire, Scotland

2 St Patricks St, Draperstown, Magherafelt BT45 7AL T: +44 (0)28 7962 8505 - E: info@heronbros.com www.heronbros.com

www.northernbuilder.co.uk

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PROJECT

AVONIEL LEISURECENTRE, BELFAST

M&E CONTRACTOR

DOWDS GROUP PLAYS MAJOR ROLE IN BELFAST CITY COUNCIL’S LEISURE TRANSFORMATION PROGRAMME FOR AVONIEL LEISURE CENTRE…

D owds Group completed the full MEP installation for the £8 million redevelopment of Avoniel Leisure Centre, including infrastructure works such as water, gas and HV upgrades. Forming part of the Belfast Leisure Transformation Programme, the Avoniel Leisure Centre project involved the redevelopment of the existing centre, which comprised a community sports hall and gym facility, grass pitches, 3G and associated changing pavilion. The Ballymoney-based company was contracted to provide comprehensive Mechanical and Electrical services for Avoniel Leisure Centre, “Even though the building is small, there are a lot of services in the ceiling voids to accommodate plumbing, ventilation,

OPPORTUNITY Commenting on the project as a whole, Operations Manager, Jack Gourley said, “The project itself moved smoothly, and it really was an enjoyable project to be involved in. The building and pitches are nestled amongst houses, out of sight, compared to the other BLC projects to date. “The facility itself provides great opportunity for the surrounding areas, and hopefully we will see the next young sports stars using these facilities. It was great for Dowds Group to be part of another piece of the Belfast Leisure Transformation Programme.” For more than four decades, Dowds

power and data, so space was at a premium,” said Mechanical Contracts Manager, Aaron Corr. “Time was spent prior to starting on site, with our in- house BIM department ensuring firstly everything fitted, and secondly, we could access all serviceable/maintainable items as required. We feel the installation meets the high standard that our customers and clients expect from us.” For the electrical side on this project, Dowds used the Gripple Fast Trak system, which is the latest solution from Gripple, for bracketing solutions. “We found this an effective method of bracketing, and the guys on site could see the time-saving benefit,” said Seamus Close, Electrical Contracts Manager.

“Timewas spent prior to startingon site, with our in-house BIMdepartment ensuring firstly everything fitted.”

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www.northernbuilder.co.uk

PROJECT

AVONIEL LEISURECENTRE, BELFAST

has been delivering quality installations to a diverse range of clients throughout the UK and Ireland, earning a glowing reputation across the Health, Education, Commercial and Industrial sectors. The new facilities at Avoniel Leisure Centre also provide further evidence of expertise in the multi-faceted and often complicated leisure arena.

“For Dowds Group this was a great opportunity to work with Belfast City Council to deliver this fantastic new leisure facility for the community,” Jack added. Commenting on the working dynamics with the main contractor, Jack said, “Dowds Group and Heron Bros. work extremely well together.

When working alongside Herons, it feels like we are all working towards the same end goal. We find solutions on site, discussing problems face-to- face. With Teams meetings/emails and RFI’s being ever so popular, it probably feels like it’s becoming a forgotten approach, but it works. It keeps things moving.”

Dowds Group, 2-4 Milltown Road, Ballymoney, Co. Antrim BT53 6LE T: +44 (0)28 2766 2789 - E: info@dowdsgroup.com www.dowdsgroup.com

www.northernbuilder.co.uk

NI BUILDER | 19

PROJECT

AVONIEL LEISURECENTRE, BELFAST

ELECTRO AUTOMATION DELIVERS PERFECT INTEGRATED ACCESS SOLUTION FOR AVONIEL LEISURE CENTRE… ENTRANCE SYSTEM

E lectro Automation (NI) is part of the Electro Group, with branches in Lisburn, Dublin, Surrey, Birmingham and Germany. With 36+ years of experience and more bases, engineers and support than any other local company, they were uniquely positioned to provide Avoniel Lesiure Centre’s new Speed Lane access system, fully integrated with the membership system, controlling, validating and counting all access. The leisure industry has been a strong focus for Electro Automation NI in recent years, and they’ve been developing products and integrations in line with a vast range of requirements. James Boomer, Integrated Sales Consultant for Electro Automation explained, “We have positioned ourselves in the market to provide not only the physical turnstiles or speed lane systems but also the all-

important integration to the facilities membership system. “This involves a great understanding of integration of the hardware and software and the ability to demonstrate this to all interested parties. We have become very active in this sector and with specially developed products, we are now a clear choice for delivering properly functioning and supported systems.” The Speed Lanes for this project required a combination of efficiency, access requirements and accountability. Special consideration was given to very wide sports wheelchair access along with high volume access. With staff deployed more effectively, the Speed Lanes had to be ‘Self-Managing’. James added, “The environment within leisure centres is challenging. High volumes of various users require quick,

accurate and safe access, all with minimal leisure staff input. Product design from the outset was a key success factor to satisfy the stringent operational and safety demands. Working closely with the manufacturers, the correct product was designed. Coupled with the ‘integration’ intellectual property of Electro Automation, we were able to deliver the perfect solution.” Electro highlights that a key factor to its success is the rapid availability of local support using trained engineers. Commenting on the completed project, James said, “Working with Heron Bros within this sector continues to be a winning combination. We both continue to build a working relationship from initial enquiry to system switch-on and we have found the whole experience very rewarding. We look forward to working together on the next project.”

Electro Automation (NI) Ltd, 21 Crescent Business Park, Enterprise Crescent, Lisburn BT28 2GN T: +44 (0)28 9266 4583 info@electroautomation.co.uk electroautomation.co.uk

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www.northernbuilder.co.uk

PROJECT

AVONIEL LEISURECENTRE, BELFAST

MOVABLE WALLS AS ROOM DIVIDERS TO MAKE OPTIMAL USE OF SPACE… OPERABLE WALL SYSTEMS

M onowa was asked to provide and install one of its Single Point Operable Walls into Avoniel Leisure Centre’s new multi- purpose studio. This operable/movable wall comprises single panels, suspended by a carriage, which run along a head track channel in line with the ceiling. The system is fixed into a structural soffit and has no floor tracks. Each panel has its own internal mechanism, which, when the panel is put into place, can be activated to release a seal profile which extends from the top and bottom of the panel, to push against the head track and the floor respectively. Each panel is set against the other using this method to make the wall, which offers sound attenuation and divides the space accordingly.

Monowa specialises in the installation and maintenance of movable walls and sliding folding partitions. Based near London, they cover the UK and Ireland on a nationwide basis. Their portfolio has spanned a range of sectors including: health care, education, retail, commerce, industry and professional through to sport, leisure, conference and hospitality venues both in the UK and overseas. Commenting on the completed project, Monowa Director, Catherine Whelan, said, “Following the issues with Brexit and the pandemic, we are excited to be back installing in Northern Ireland. It was fantastic working with Heron Brothers again. The whole process was well co- ordinated by all involved and our workforce got on well on site with their team.”

Monowa Operable Wall Systems Ltd, Greenacres, Flaunden Lane, Belsize, Herts, WD3 4NS T: +44 (0)1923 244 258 - E: sales@monowa.co.uk Monowa.co.uk

www.northernbuilder.co.uk

NI BUILDER | 21

PROJECT

AVONIEL LEISURECENTRE, BELFAST

RUBB BUILDINGS DESIGNED THE INDOOR SPORTS FACILITY FOR THE AVONIEL LEISURE CENTRE PROJECT.... INDOOR SPORTS FACILITY

R ubb Buildings teamed up with create a stunning sports facility. Like all projects, there were some challenges along the way - none of which were major and so a few design details were looked at and discussed between Rubb as the designer and Heron Bros as the main contractor to ensure they were providing a solution which was safe for the community. Heron Bros. to design their third major project together, this time to “This was a design and build project in which Rubb proposed a system that was both aesthetically pleasing and functional for the purpose of the building,” explained Stephnie Coyle, Sales Executive for Rubb Buildings. “We included our reverse tapered leg design on this project to achieve a better

look to the building. With all of Rubb’s facilities being designed in house by our structural engineer, we have the capability to achieve various designs, and they are all designed and manufactured in house at our factory here in Gateshead, Tyne & Wear.” Rubb started making engineered fabric structures in Norway in 1968 and has gone on to become a world leader in the design, manufacture, delivery and erection of fabric building solutions. The company has earned a reputation for tackling difficult and unique projects, developing substantial structures that can be moved on wheels or rails or even lifted around a project site in fully erected form. Commenting on the projects, Stephnie said, “We have a great relationship

with Heron Bros., and when we were approached with the opportunity to work on this project we were delighted to develop a building that combines the traditional MUGA cover with a modern day football facility. “On all occasions, our work for Heron Bros has resulted in great facilities being delivered as part of fantastic overall schemes across Northern Ireland.” “On all occasions, our work for HeronBros has resulted in great facilities beingdelivered as part of fantastic overall schemes acrossNorthern Ireland.”

Rubb Buildings, 246 Dukesway, Team Valley Trading Estate, Gateshead NE11 0QE T: +44 (0)191 482 2211 - E: info@rubbuk.com www.rubbuk.com

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www.northernbuilder.co.uk

PROJECT

AVONIEL LEISURECENTRE, BELFAST

AGGREGATES & READY MIXED CONCRETE W hitemountain was awarded the aggregates and ready mixed concrete supply

packages for the redevelopment of the Avoniel Leisure Centre in East Belfast. High quality aggregates and sub- base materials were supplied from its Comber Depot, which included a variety of products for all site requirements. The ready mixed concrete supply package required Whitemountain to provide various strengths of concrete for different aspects of the build, from mud mats right up to high strength designed structural mixes and waterproof concretes. The concrete was produced at Whitemountain’s QSRMC-Approved Comber Depot using its own in-house, high quality aggregates and sand as the main constituents. Whitemountain is part of the Breedon Group and operates as the group’s to come on board the Avoniel Leisure Centre project to supply and fit their high-grade bonded bead insulation to make the cavity walls as efficient as possible. Modern insulation installation will drastically reduce the harmful CO2 emissions caused by private homes and commercial energy consumption, and this will be achieved in this fantastic new resource for the surrounding community and further afield. As a family business, Belfast Insulation Company has been providing insulation expertise for over 30 years with over 5,000 successful installs per year. Although Belfast Insulation Company has completed prestigious contracts for the public sector before; completing the cavity wall insulation on this project will stand out amongst previous

construction materials business in Northern Ireland. Whitemountain is also a civil engineering contractor, a major asphalt pavement contractor and a leading exporter of premium aggregates to Great Britain.

T: +44 (0)28 9263 9755 or 07436 031768 E: sales@whitemountain.co.uk

INSULATION INSTALLER N orthern Ireland’s leading insulation installer, Belfast Insulation Company was asked

projects due to the impressive specification of the building. Commenting on the completed project, Ryan Gilpin said, “Working with Herron Brothers on this project has been fantastic and the high standards set and maintained

throughout have made

the experience very easy. We

at Belfast Insulation Company aim to continuing providing our quality service and products to Herron Brothers on future projects and further our working relationship.”

T: +44 (0)28 9042 4411 www.belfastinsulation.com

www.northernbuilder.co.uk

NI BUILDER | 23

PROJECT

AVONIEL LEISURECENTRE, BELFAST

ASPHALT SURFACES

C ollen Bros (Quarries) Ltd supplied and installed the asphalt surfaces to the footpath, 3G pitch and car park for the Avoniel Leisure Centre redevelopment project. The surfaces were laid using a Volvo P6870D ABG compact paver– a brand- new investment made by the quarry and asphalt supplier/contractor. Based in Tandragee, Co. Armagh, Collen Bros (Quarries) Ltd supplies and lays asphalt throughout Northern Ireland and as far south as Dublin, with a 30-mile radius for aggregate delivery. The Collen family traces its building and quarrying routes back to 1810. It supplies to and carries out work for the private, commercial and public sectors. Main areas of expertise include the manufacture and laying of asphalt products, production and supply of a wide range of quarry materials, and supply of quality high PSV aggregates. Renowned for its attention to detail and

Collen Bros (Quarries) Ltd can trace its roots back to 1810.

strong customer service, this is Collen’s second leisure centre job completed for main contractor Heron Bros. in recent years. “Return business is very important to us and something we aim for,” said Director, Peter Collen.

T: +44 (0)28 3833 4131 E: info@collenbros.co.uk www.collenbros.co.uk

METAL FLOOR DECK

M etal Deck Ireland Ltd (MDI) designed, supplied and installed the composite metal floor deck and reinforced slab at the Avoniel Leisure Centre project for main contractors, Heron Bros. The Omagh-based company was asked to design and detail construction drawings for approval, supply and installation of the composite metal floor deck with mobile shear stud welding ready for the full concrete slab. Reinforcement and concrete placement was then completed by MDI. Founded in 2015 by Thomas Nugent and Conor McGlinchey, Metal Deck Ireland combines Thomas’ QS background with Conor’s site expertise to create highly designed and hands-on project delivery. Metal Deck Ireland offers complete design, supply and installation of metal floor and roof decks, mobile shear stud welding and reinforcement and concrete placement.

Commenting, Thomas Nugent, Managing Director said, “From the outset, it was a very straightforward, hassle-free project, which is typical of working with Herons Bros. It was a great project to be involved with and gave us a great opportunity to continue our well established working relationship with Heron Bros.”

T: +44 (0)28 8225 9042 www.metaldeckireland.com

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PROJECT

AVONIEL LEISURECENTRE, BELFAST

STEELWORK E den Fabrications installed the structural steelwork and cold rolled cladding support system on the Avoniel Leisure Centre project. From its state-of-the-art facilities in Portglenone, the firm engineered the canopy structure to provide the client with a cost-efficient project solution. This BIM-compliant project meant that documentation and data sharing had to meet the BIM standards. Since its formation in 2007, Eden Fabrications has become a leading supplier and erector of structural steel, and is capable of undertaking projects from 1 ton to 1,000 across the UK and Ireland. Having Execution Class 3 enables Eden Fabrications to take on more complex projects such as stadia, bridges, buildings above 15 floors and multi-storey car parking. Commenting on the completed project, Daniel O’Boyle said, “This local, high ARCHITECT M cAdam provided the multi- disciplinary design strategy for the total regeneration project at Avoniel Leisure Centre, across all RIBA Stages.

profile community project is something to be proud of and it adds to our growing stadia portfolio which includes Larne FC and St John’s GAC. “It was great to continue our relationship with one of NI’s leading main contractors.” ‘We’re proud of our growing stadia portfolio.”

contractors.”

T:+44 (0)28 2582 1000 E: office@edenfabrications.com www.edenfabrications.com

“The existing facilitieswere demolished and replaced by a centre of excellence.”

Working closely with the client, stakeholders and contractor, the

leading independent multi-disciplinary consultancy practice took inspiration from leisure centres across the UK, and their own portfolio, before creating a visually striking, yet highly functional design for the new complex. Belfast City Council invested £8million into the East Belfast site to address a lack of multi-use, all weather pitches in the area for local teams within the surrounding community. The existing facilities were demolished and replaced by a new football centre of excellence that includes an intermediate standard 3G football pitch, spectator stand, three covered and two uncovered 3G five-a- side pitches, an outdoor 3G seven-a-side

pitch, multi-purpose rooms, meeting spaces and changing spaces. Lord Mayor Kate Nicholl said, “This £8 million is so

exciting, bringing regeneration to an area that needs it, giving locals in the area first-class facilities. There is also a psychological impact to everything, you would be proud to live near this and it shows we are investing in the city and looking after everyone.”

T: +44 (0)28 9040 2000 E: admin@mcadamdesign.co.uk www.mcadamdesign.co.uk

www.northernbuilder.co.uk

NI BUILDER | 25

STRUCTURAL

BUILD SAFER, STRONGER BUILDINGS WITH SIMPSON STRONG-TIE® CONNECTORS… Fromtruss to foundation these connectors won’t compromise

F or over 60 years, Simpson Strong- Tie® has focused on creating connectors that perform under the toughest of conditions, helping you build safer, stronger homes and buildings. With more than 1,000 product solutions, its proud to offer the widest connector range in the UK and Europe. While the business and products may change to meet the needs of customers, Simpson Strong-Tie® values are steadfast and continue to guide the company in the work it does every day; total peace of mind, whatever you’re building or renovating. Whether off the shelf, or custom manufactured bespoke orders, the quality and variety of Simpson Strong- Tie® product lines gives engineers and builders more freedom to design flexibly, while offering reliability and proven performance Building designers the world over specify

“…total peace of mind, whatever you’re building or renovating.”

Simpson Strong-Tie ‘or equal’, and there is no equal when it comes to structural connectors. The specialist connector manufacturer only offers ‘premium’ and that goes for every aspect of what it designs, tests and fabricates. In addition, it goes to the heart of how the company deals with everyone who comes into

contact with its products, services and people. The Simpson Strong-Tie® mission is to help people design and build stronger, safer structures. Would you compromise? Simpson Strong-Tie® won’t. Contact Natalie for more information: T: +44 (0)797 114 7961 E: ndixon@strongtie.com

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T H E V O I C E O F T H E I N D U S T R Y

CONSTRUCTION EMPLOYERS FEDERATION UPDATES MEMBERS ON ONGOING ISSUES… Construction Employers Federation (CEF) represents the interests of not only its member companies but also those of roughly 65,000 skilled workers engaged within the wider construction sector. CEF Managing Director, Mark Spence, discusses some of the issues the Federation is currently working on: Work in progress

Mark Spence, Construction Employers Federation (CEF) Managing Director.

MATERIALS AVAILABILITY AND PRICING CRISIS – PROCUREMENT ADVISORY NOTE (PAN) After the agreement and publication of the PAN at the start of August, consultation was completed with CPD on example templates for potential claims in mid-October. RICS hasagreed special subscription rates for CEF members to assist in formulating claims using BCIS indices. Since then, members have been working with government clients on these claims, with over 100 contracts now availing of what has been put in place. The next few weeks will be key to determining how much assistance this has given contractors – and what further steps may need to be taken in the New Year.

BUILDING REGULATIONS – FIRST UPLIFT CONSULTATION NOW LIVE The Part F Phase One uplift consultation – which focuses on new buildings with the aim for a better/ lower carbon dioxide emissions performance, more use of PV panels and enhancing insulation requirements – is now live with a return date for submissions of 19 December. The CEF is currently engaging with members on its response to this, but is, broadly, supportive of what is being proposed. CONSTRUCTION LEADERSHIP COUNCIL Business Champions in the UK Government BEIS programme is committing businesses across the sector to achieve Net Zero by 2050. Further calls to become champions take place regularly, so please do get in touch for more information. Separately, at the November meeting of the CLC, the CEF raised special issues of importance to Northern Ireland in relation to CE markings while also discussing the application of the Construction Playbook, skills and outreach to schools.

NI PROCUREMENT BOARD Through CEF’s membership of the Procurement Board, work has recently commenced that seeks agreement between industry and government on a revised set of standardised X and Z clauses for the NEC4 contract. Additionally, work is close to being completed on revisions to the quality of the data in the NI Procurement Pipeline. CEF has separately been engaging with CPD and other CoPE’s around contractor notation values from Constructionline, which are beginning to be negatively affected by the impact of lower turnover for many firms as a result of the pandemic.

www.northernbuilder.co.uk

NI BUILDER | 27

C O N S T R U C T I O N E M P L O Y E R S F E D E R A T I O N T H E V O I C E O F T H E I N D U S T R Y

HOUSING POLICY CONSULTATIONS

As part of the final element of consultation on the Department for Communities Housing Supply Strategy, we will shortly hold a members’ roundtable with DfC. The final Strategy is due to go live in the spring. Separately, the Department of Finance has launched a consultation on amending building control fees charged by local councils. The current fees charged by local councils for most building control applications for domestic buildings are set and have remained unchanged since 2013. In addition to proposing amending the fees, the consultation is seeking views on revising the fee structure going forward. The deadline for our response to this is 19 December.

ANOTHER DIFFICULT YEAR AND PREDICTION OF ANOTHER YEAR OF CHALLENGES AHEAD…

The year of perfect storms

P erhaps the most over-used adage within the past year is the ‘perfect storm’, which has been rolled out to describe almost every aspect of business, civic and personal life in 2021. There has been such a convergence of challenges visited upon our industry that, in truth, there is no single response or strategy to manage all the implications. Construction has had to adapt to the impact of the global disruption of materials manufacturing, the calamitous logistical melt down of the shipping freight routes, the everyday impact of Covid isolations and restrictions, and the Northern Ireland Protocol. The unpalatable truth for much of this year for many local contractors has been the delivery of public works at a loss for clients fearful of reproach for not enforcing inflexible contracts written for ‘normal’ times. For much of the year, our focus at the CEF has been on working with the Executive to ameliorate this crisis and whilst we have undoubtedly made progress in the shape of the Procurement

Advisory Note on Materials, it is beyond doubt that these challenges will persist well into the year ahead. As ever, we are indebted to our members for their time in working with us to come up with solutions to the many issues that have arisen across the last 12 months. Much of this has been achieved within our three new member taskforces to specifically focus on key areas of concern across our membership: CO2nstructZero, People & Skills, Risk & Procurement, and these truly are the themes where the future of the industry will be decided. In the upcoming election year, we will be focused on the new Investment Strategy, planning reform, water funding, streamlining procurement, and generally a better deal for construction. Our job, as ever, in 2022 will be to bring home to our politicians that it is only with a thriving, vibrant local construction industry that Northern Ireland can see sustained economic growth in the years ahead.

MANIFESTO FOR 2022 NI ASSEMBLY ELECTION With May’s Northern Ireland Assembly Elections drawing near, we are putting the finishing touches on our manifesto which will lay out the key asks from the construction sector of the next NI Executive. The manifesto will be published in early January with a focus on it in the next issue of Northern Ireland Builder. For more information on the Construction Employers Federation, visit: www.cefni.co.uk

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