Thomas Lane
Responsible for the projects section which covers architecture and technical. This includes regulations, sustainability, innovation and best practice. Thomas also looks after the economics section of the magazine.
Contact info
- Tel:
- 020 3011 3132
- Email:
- thomas.lane@assemblemediagroup.co.uk
FeaturesCould York Central be the model that solves the housing viability problem?
Work has started preparing ground for York Central, a 45-hectare development next to York station that will deliver up to 3,000 homes and 1.4m sq ft of commercial space through a public-private partnership
FeaturesDesigned to change the world: Inside Oxford University’s new £200m Life and Mind Building
This research facility brings together experimental psychology and biology departments to address challenges including climate change, mental health, food security and AI. Thomas Lane reports
CommentFailure to tackle shoddy retrofit work could destroy confidence in the industry
The shock findings of this week’s NAO report into botched external wall insulation installations has damaged public confidence in the benefits of retrofit. Decisive action is needed to restore faith and prevent future waste, says Thomas Lane
FeaturesToo good to waste: How to recycle an old building for use on a brand new one
30 Duke Street on Piccadilly features reclaimed steel, recycled glass, aluminium window frames and Portland stone from the building there before. Thomas Lane went along to have a look
FeaturesFrom discontented planners to a glorious summer: Leicester Cathedral’s new extension
The number of visitors to Leicester Cathedral soared following the discovery of Richard III’s tomb. The opening of a new heritage and learning centre marks the completion of Leicester cathedral’s masterplan to improve facilities for staff and visitors alike, Thomas Lane reports
Features76 Upper Ground: Denys Lasdun’s 1960s South Bank vision is realised at last
The IBM Building was a cut-down version of architect Denys Lasdun’s plans for a complementary neighbour to the National Theatre on the banks of the Thames. AHMM’s recent refurbishment, which sees the building brought firmly into the 21st century, means that original vision is now complete
FeaturesHow hard is it to decarbonise the construction of new homes?
More than 60% of a new home’s total carbon footprint is emitted before the new owner walks over the threshold. The Future Homes Hub has published an initial decarbonisation plan to tackle the issue. What is in it and will it make a difference?
CommentDoes Tony Blair have a point about net zero?
The former prime minister has said the government’s energy policy is doomed to fail, a line taken by Reform and the Tories. Thomas Lane asks what this means for Britain’s decarbonisation ambitions
FeaturesMission accomplished: University completes test drive towards net zero carbon building standard
A small robotics laboratory is one of the pilot projects for the NZCBS. It features straw-insulated walls and a UK-sourced timber frame and shows what net zero buildings might look like after 2030. Thomas Lane reports
FeaturesHow Everton built their new stadium in just five years (Manchester United take note)
The first test event to demonstrate that the stadium meets safety standards was held in February. A second one was held in March with the third and final event, which will feature a capacity crowd, will take place later this year before the season starts ...
FeaturesMax headroom: How floor jacking could give old buildings a new lease of life
Extending the building wasn’t an option as it is hemmed in above, below and on all four sides
FeaturesCanada Water: Is it a match for Kings Cross?
The first phase of British Land’s 53 acre mixed use development in south-east London is almost finished. Thomas Lane went along to have a look
FeaturesWhy 65 Holborn Viaduct could be the most difficult site ever to be built on in London
A disused railway station below half of a central London site meant conventional piling was out of the question. The team that built a five-storey basement under Claridge’s hotel while keeping it open were drafted in to come up with a radical solution
CommentIs it time to stop building in the wildfire affected areas of California?
The recent fires in the hills around Los Angeles are the most costly in US history. Does it really make sense to live in these heavily wooded places?
FeaturesMaterial passports: the key to carbon reduction, greater component reuse and more sustainable construction
Logging the details of the products and materials used on projects so they can have a second life after demolition has been discussed but never practised on a large London construction project – until now, Thomas Lane reports
FeaturesThe Elephant reborn: How Multiplex is rebuilding a south London landmark
The crumbling Elephant and Castle shopping centre built in the 1960s is being reinvented as a mixed-use destination as part of Southwark council’s strategy to regenerate the area. Thomas Lane visits to see how it is coming along
FeaturesHow a Victorian hospital became a forward-focused university department
When the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh moved to a new site on the edge of the city, the old hospital was left to rot because of its uncompromising layout. Two decades later it has been reinvented as the Edinburgh Futures Institute, an educational initative which seeks to help solve the ...
CommentThe net zero carbon buildings standard: tough but achievable?
The new standard is the most ambitious attempt to limit carbon emissions from buildings to date. What is behind it, and when will it start to make a difference?
FeaturesSpace House: 1960s icon gets another chance to shine
Centrepoint’s little sister was realised by the same architect and developer and built with similar pioneering techniques. Neglected for the past four decades, a recent refurbishment restores and celebrates the building’s groundbreaking architectural qualities