BSD | Latest News

BDP’s Bridge Academy wins Scala Award

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:49:00 GMT

The Bridge Academy in Hackney, designed by BDP, has won the Scala Civic Building of the Year Award.

£1.4 billion in loans for onshore wind farms

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:24:00 GMT

Three UK-based banks will start offering new loans to eligible onshore wind farms from this week.

Buro Happold to design Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra venue

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:26:00 GMT

International multidisciplinary engineering consultancy Buro Happold is to provide the structural engineering and building services design for the Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra’s (NOSPR) new cutting edge performance venue.

Engineering Council rebrands

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:37:00 GMT

The Engineering Council has now dropped 'UK' from its name.

Booking for Heavyweight Sustainable Housing conference opens

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:00:00 GMT

Booking has opened for a one day conference on sustainable housing design.

REA slams government renewable policy as wasted opportunity

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:32:00 GMT

The Renewable Energy Association has slammed the government’s national policy statement (NPS) on renewables as a wasted opportunity.

Briggs & Forrester bank job

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:03:00 GMT

Building services designer and contractor Briggs & Forrester has won a £2.1 million contract to install the mechanical building services, including shell and core pipework, for Rothschild Bank.

ADTs Tower 42 upgrade

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:10:00 GMT

Security company ADT has won the contract to upgrade the fire detection and alarm system at London’s Tower 42.

Climate change is a religion

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:13:00 GMT

A judge has ruled an employee’s belief in man-made climate change was akin to religion.

CPA plea for continued construction spending

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:14:00 GMT

The Construction Products Association has written to the Chancellor, in advance of the pre-budget statement urging him not to cut capital spending on construction projects.

Conservatives demand National Policy Statement on nuclear power

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:17:00 GMT

The Conservatives have called for an immediate National Policy Statement on nuclear power.

Latest speaker announced for BSD webinar

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:47:00 GMT

Dr Guy Hundy, director of Aleph Zero, is to speak at BSD’s latest webinar on heat pumps.

SES wins £11m M&E contract for Greenwich Council Civic HQ

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:10:00 GMT

Building services provider SES has won a £11.2m mechanical and electrical (M&E) contract to complete the services installation at Greenwich Council’s new Civic Headquarters in Woolwich.

Green Register teams with Build Up programme

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:19:00 GMT

The Green Register's sustainable building course is now available through the University of Westminster’s Build Up program.

UK Atomic Energy Authority commercial arm sold to Babcock for £50m

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:05:00 GMT

The £50m sale of the commercial arm of the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) to Babcock International is complete.

MIT graduates design tiles that change colour based on temperature

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:35:00 GMT

A team of recent MIT graduates has developed roof tiles that change colour based on the temperature.

BSD to hold webinar on heat pumps

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:04:00 GMT

BSD is to hold its latest webinar on heat pumps at on 19 November.

FDS Consult provides fire strategy for cultural hub

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:17:00 GMT

Fire consultancy FDS Consult has provided a fire strategy for a new “cultural hub” in Greenwich.

Transsolar wins competition for sports village in Sweden

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:57:00 GMT

German climate engineer Transsolar has won a design competition working with architects Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and engineering firm AKT for a sports facility in Malmo, Sweden.

RMJM Dubai appoints Crane MD of engineering

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:46:00 GMT

The Dubai office of the UK-based architectural firm RMJM has appointed Raymond Crane as managing director of Engineering.

Mark Andrews leaves NG Bailey

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:25:00 GMT

Mark Andrews is to step down as chief executive of NG Bailey.

Aecom appoints Cripps regional director

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:22:00 GMT

Andrew Cripps has been appointed regional director in the Sustainable Development Group at the multi-disciplinary consultancy Aecom.

HVCA and Unite agree to freeze wage rates

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:47:00 GMT

The Heating and Ventilating Contractors' Association (HVCA) and trade union Unite have reached an agreement on the terms of a wage freeze, effective 5 October 2009.

Government hosts first meeting of Domestic Heating and Hot Water Taskforce

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:29:00 GMT

Energy and climate change minister Lord Hunt of Kings Heath will today chair the first meeting of the Domestic Heating and Hot Water taskforce.

Peter Hoyle elected GCI-UICP president

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:58:00 GMT

Former HVCA president Peter Hoyle has been elected president of GCI-UICP, the European umbrella body for the mechanical services and plumbing industries.

Integral wins four-year deal with Environment Agency

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:06:00 GMT

Facilities maintenance specialist Integral has won a new four-year contract with the Environment Agency Wales.

E.ON appoints Michael Woodhead sustainability MD

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:57:00 GMT

Energy company E.ON has appointed Michael Woodhead as managing director of its Sustainable Energy business.

Consortia appointed to build Ravenscraig eco-homes

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:15:00 GMT

Four consortia have been appointed to build homes which will showcase green technology at the redevelopment of Ravenscraig, a former industrial site in North Lanarkshire.

Inviron provide M&E for General Medical Council office, Manchester

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:37:00 GMT

Inviron is to install the mechanical and electrical services at the General Medical Council (GMC) offices in Manchester.

Aecom and Philips design LED solution for Natural History Museum

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:54:00 GMT

AECOM and Royal Philips Electronics and have designed a LED lighting solution for London’s Natural History Museum.

Buro Happold designs low energy services for British Embassy, Warsaw

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:01:00 GMT

The British Embassy building designed by Tony Tretton Architects, with services provided by Buro Happold, has opened in Warsaw.

Former M&S HQ wins BCO award

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:24:00 GMT

The redevelopment of the former Marks and Spencer headquarters has won a British Council of Offices award.

BDP to design Telford & Wrekin Academy

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:12:00 GMT

BDP will design the new Abraham Darby Sport & Learning Academy at Ironbridge in Telford, as part of the Telford BSF project.

Green buildings not costlier, says Urban Green Council

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:35:00 GMT

Constructing green buildings is not as costly as previously thought, according to recent research.

Three more industry leaders join UK-GBC board

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:42:00 GMT

The UK Green Building Council (UK-GBC) has added three more construction industry figures to its statutory board.

Elta fans installed at Kuwait Royal Airport

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:56:00 GMT

Fans manufactured by Elta Fans have been installed in the Royal Terminal complex at Kuwait International Airport.

WSP Supreme Court refurb opens

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:42:00 GMT

WSP Group’s refurbishment of the Supreme Court in London opens this week.

Dyson invents bladeless fan

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:06:00 GMT

Sir James Dyson has invented a fan that has no blades.

Sinclair Knight Merz acquires Enviros

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 12:30:00 GMT

Enviros has been acquired by the global engineering firm Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM).

Bennetts Associates Potterrow Development scoops BCO award

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:42:00 GMT

Bennetts Associates’ Potterrow Development for the University of Edinburgh received the British Council for Offices’ National Corporate Workplace Award.

Liverpool hospital fined over unsafe levels of legionella

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:54:00 GMT

A Liverpool hospital has been fined nearly £48,000 following a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation into unsafe levels of legionella in the water supply.

Hilson Moran shortlisted for King’s Cross gasholder competition

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:09:00 GMT

Hilson Moran has been shortlisted for a competition to renovate a redundant gasholder building in King’s Cross, London.

PV installation to cut Nottingham library’s energy bills by 40%

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:28:00 GMT

A photovoltaic (PV) solar system supplied by SIG Sustainable Solutions has been installed at Nottingham’s Meadows Library.

Andrea Voigt appointed head of EPEE

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:40:00 GMT

Andrea Voigt is the new director general of the European manufacturers’ association EPEE (European Partnership for Energy and the Environment).

Recession has reduced emissions, says IEA

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:30:00 GMT

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has said that the global economic downturn could have a positive impact on the environment.

AECOM acoustics group establishes new Cambridge team

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:01:00 GMT

Multi-disciplinary engineering firm Aecom is to set up a new acoustics team in Cambridge.

Balls: BSF funding is safe

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:09:00 GMT

The government will maintain its financial commitment to the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme, according to education secretary Ed Balls.

Government engages communities with £10m low-carbon fund

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:35:00 GMT

Communities will be able to apply for a share of £10m in government funding to pay for climate change-fighting measures.

OFT fines construction recruitment agencies £40m for boycott and price fixing

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:41:00 GMT

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has imposed fines totalling £39.27m on six construction recruitment agencies for price-fixing and the collective boycott of another company in the supply of candidates.

Lincolne Scott rebrands to WSP Lincolne Scott

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:56:00 GMT

Australia-based green building engineer Lincolne Scott has re-branded as WSP Lincolne Scott.

First phase of Capita-designed BSF opens

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:26:00 GMT

The first new buildings in Nottingham City Council’s £180m Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme have officially opened.

UK organisations win low-carbon refit contracts

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:46:00 GMT

Over 180 organisations from across the UK have won contracts to devise innovative plans for ‘low-carbon refits’ of existing low-rise social housing.

PM stresses importance of green economy

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:50:00 GMT

Prime minister Gordon Brown stressed the importance of the green economy in his speech to the Labour Party conference earlier today.

UPS Systems install fuel cells at Environmental Energy Technology Centre

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:29:00 GMT

UPS Systems has completed the fuel cell installation for the Environmental Energy Technology Centre (EETC) in Rotherham.

EU faces legal battle over CO2 emissions

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 17:14:00 GMT

The European Commission is reportedly considering a legal fight with the EU's top court over the handling of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).

Plymouth school claims to be one of greenest in UK

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:04:00 GMT

A Plymouth school which uses renewable energy for all its heating needs claims to be one of the greenest schools in the UK.

Hilson Moran to design M&E for £174m Wolverhampton Interchange Scheme

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:58:00 GMT

Hilson Moran has been appointed as M&E consultants for phase one of the £174 million Wolverhampton Interchange Scheme.

BSD October CPD is online

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 17:10:00 GMT

This month’s CPD module is on plastic pipes.

Industry ‘disappointed’ by Part G delay

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 14:15:00 GMT

Martin Shouler, chairman of the Society of Public Health Engineers, has spoken of his disappointment at the 11th hour delay of the revisions to Part G of the Building Regulations.

REA leads UK effort to break down barriers to PV

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 14:45:00 GMT

The Renewable Energy Association (REA) is leading the UK arm of a 30 month project to analyse the barriers to installing and connecting solar photovoltaic power systems.

Mandelson announces low carbon review of construction

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:14:00 GMT

The government has commissioned a review of the construction industry to ensure it is “fit for purpose” for delivering a low carbon future.

Parsons Brinckerhoff acquired by Balfour Beatty

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:22:00 GMT

Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB) has agreed to be acquired by Balfour Beatty, pending a shareholder vote next month.

Aecom to install wind turbines at Lancaster University

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:07:00 GMT

Lancaster University is to become the first university in England to install wind turbines.

Dragon Paphitis promotes Carbon Trust equipment scrappage scheme

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:02:00 GMT

Dragon’s Den star Theo Paphitis is encouraging businesses to replace or upgrade their inefficient equipment.

RICS launches White Book facilities management practice guide

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:40:00 GMT

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has launched a new guide to best practice on facilities management processes.

Trox chilled beams installed at Three Valleys Water HQ

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:57:00 GMT

Trox has installed active chilled beams in the new headquarters building for Three Valleys Water, built on the site of the De Havilland aircraft factory.

Miliband dismisses concerns over blackouts

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:23:00 GMT

Energy secretary Ed Miliband dismissed comments by new energy advisor David MacKay which suggested the UK was headed for blackouts due to an energy shortfall.

Showers could prove hazardous to your health warns US university

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 17:14:00 GMT

Daily showers could make you ill, according to a study from the University of Colorado.

Morgan Professional Services designs services for Basildon Sporting Village

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 15:40:00 GMT

Morgan Professional Services is to provide the mechanical and electrical design for a £38 million sports and leisure complex in Basildon.

Part G revisions to be delayed

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:28:00 GMT

The revisions to Part G of the Building Regulations have been delayed.

Air conditioning and heat pump institute launches

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 16:08:00 GMT

The Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Institute (ACHPI) is to launch this month.

ECA slams panic buying of lightbulbs

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 15:39:00 GMT

The Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) has slammed the reported “hoarding” of old lamps following phasing out of traditional lightbulbs.

First Code Level Four housing built in Wales

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:36:00 GMT

Wales’ first homes to meet Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes have been built in Bangor.

Brentwood designs for world’s tallest student building

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:17:00 GMT

Brentwood Design Group has acted as services consultant on the world’s tallest student accommodation building.

Gifford designs services for new Chichester museum

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 11:38:00 GMT

Gifford is developing a sustainable design for a new museum in Chicester city centre.

Environment Agency claims highest BREEAM rating in UK

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 12:12:00 GMT

The Environment Agency claims that its new corporate office has achieved the highest score ever awarded by the BRE.

US study shows commissioning costs can be recouped in a year through energy savings

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 12:19:00 GMT

A study by the Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory, California, has shown that commissioning an existing building can generate average energy savings of 16%, while commissioning a new building’s services will produce average energy savings...

Government publishes proposed changes to building control

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:59:00 GMT

The Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) has published implementation plans outlining the proposed changes to the system of building control in England and Wales.

Morgan Professional Services to design Warrington college and art facilities

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 16:18:00 GMT

Morgan Professional Services (MPS) will deliver the civil and structural engineering design as well as client advisory support for mechanical and electrical engineering at new college facilities in Warrrington.

Incandescent and halogen bulbs to be phased out by 2012

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 13:49:00 GMT

EU regulations kicked in today that will see incandescent and halogen light bulbs phased out of the market by 2012.

UK GBC launches sustainability training programme

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 14:17:00 GMT

The UK Green Building Council (UK GBC) is to venture into training and education with its new Sustainability Training and Education Programme (STEP).

1 in 4 building contractors making a loss

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:15:00 GMT

Almost 1 in 4 companies in the UK Building Contractors industry is making a loss, according to recent research.

BSD September CPD online

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 17:21:00 GMT

This month’s CPD module is on Trench Heating.

US GBC launches LEED data collection initiative

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 10:15:00 GMT

The US Green Building Council (US GBC) has launched an initiative to collect data from all LEED certified buildings.

NG Bailey hits record turnover but makes a loss

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:07:00 GMT

NG Bailey hit a record turnover of £600m but made a pre-tax loss of over £10m.

Islay to be powered by tidal energy

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:51:00 GMT

The Isle of Islay could soon be entirely powered by renewable energy if Scottish Power’s plans for a tidal energy project are given the green light.

Industry welcomes government plans for construction champion

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:12:00 GMT

Construction industry leaders have spoken out in favour of the government's plans to appoint a chief advisor on construction.

Miliband proposes power grid revamp

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:36:00 GMT

Energy secretary Ed Miliband has put forward proposals to revamp the way power plants get connected to the UK’s power grid.

St Luke's Primary awarded BREEAM excellent rating

Sat, 22 Aug 2009 23:00:00 GMT

St Luke’s Primary School in Wolverhampton has gained a BREEAM excellent rating, making it one of the most sustainable educational facilities in Britain

Tidal energy device prototype holds promise

Sat, 22 Aug 2009 23:00:00 GMT

A prototype of a device that could generate up to 1GW of electricity from shallow tidal waters around the UK is now producing energy for a local company from its position in the Humber Estuary

Property sector failing to deliver a sustainable future

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 08:27:00 GMT

The property sector is not doing enough to deliver sustainable solutions, according to a survey of 200 global property professionals.

Yorkshire-based m&e contractor goes into administration

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 12:02:00 GMT

More than 130 jobs have been axed at Keighley-based m&e contractor SIAS Building Services. The firm has gone into administration after experiencing "contract problems" following a period of rapid growth.

Energy companies lobby to block roll-out of smart meter displays

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 14:12:00 GMT

Energy companies are trying to block a government proposal to install energy display monitors in every home. The displays would be linked to a smart meter to tell people how much their energy is costing them.

Energy Solutions Expo 2009

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 14:26:00 GMT

Energy Solutions Expo, the UK’s fastest growing energy management event, returns to London Olympia from 7 – 8 October 2009.

Hulley & Kirkwood launch acoustic division

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 15:02:00 GMT

Mechanical and electrical consultant Hulley & Kirkwood has launched an acoustic division to meet the rise in demand in noise-related enquiries.

AMEC appoints new head of sustainability

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 15:14:00 GMT

James Anderson has been appointed head of strategic and sustainability services at consultant AMEC.

Government warns air conditioning users to plan for HCFC phase out

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 15:52:00 GMT

All current users of HCFC-based air conditioning systems must develop a plan to manage their operations without virgin gas after December to avoid damaging their business and incurring additional costs.

Government faces court over Part L U-turn

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 09:21:00 GMT

The government could be taken to court over decision to axe improvements to the consequential improvements element of Part L of the Building Regulations.

Report highlights BSF programme running “considerably behind schedule”

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:50:00 GMT

The government’s Building Schools for the Future programme is running “considerably behind schedule” according to a new report from AMA Research.

M&E contractor pledges to publish annual sustainability performance

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 10:25:00 GMT

Contractor NG Bailey has committed to the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), which means the company will now publically disclose its economic, environmental and social performance on an annual basis.