All articles by Thomas Lane – Page 17
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FeaturesFree school conversions: Making the switch
The government went out of its way to make it easier for free schools to be formed in non-school buildings by easing planning laws. So now that they’ve opened their doors, do they actually work? Take a look at two very different conversions…
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FeaturesCladding: Facing the future
The cladding market is being tested by the influx of new regulations and cost pressures. The good news is that facades can now be designed on a more human scale, says Stephen Ledbetter, director of the Centre for Window and Cladding Technology
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FeaturesZero carbon housing using underfloor thermal heat stores
When you’ve got houses and flats on a tiny plot, no room to store fuel and little roof space, finding a zero-carbon heating solution is tricky. One team went underground to find the answer
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FeaturesLaing O'Rourke and Atkins' standardised school: How's this for smart?
Standardised doesn’t have to mean inflexible design - that’s the message from Laing O’Rourke and Atkins with their clever solution to cutting school building costs. Building reports on the surprising versatility of concrete
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NewsCivil engineers launch 2012 London Engineering Awards
The ICE are inviting entries for 2012 awards celebrating engineering excellence in London
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FeaturesDeptford: Mixed to the max
On a single 7,000m2 site in Deptford, architect Pollard Thomas Edwards has managed to fit a community centre, artists’ studios, flats, a school and two playgrounds. Building finds out how
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FeaturesThe ArcelorMittal Orbit: Twist and shout
The ArcelorMittal Orbit in the Olympic park is being built to ‘arouse the curiosity and wonder of Londoners’. And the most curious thing of all is how this spiralling confusion of red steel actually stands up
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FeaturesRafael Viñoly's Firstsite centre: show time
Rafael Viñoly’s latest UK building finally takes centre stage, but why was it nearly undone by delays, overspends and legal spats? Thomas Lane reports, while below Ike Ijeh asks if it was worth all the pain
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FeaturesTall building design: Is it safe?
Ten years ago the world watched two of New York’s most iconic towers come crashing to the ground. Since then the industry has changed the way tall buildings are built in an attempt to make them terror proof. Building takes a look
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NewsOnly 31 homes reach code level 6
However, 29,205 homes have been completed to level 3 of the Code for Sustainable Homes
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FeaturesTop of the class: Passivhaus school design
A primary school in Exeter won’t win any architectural awards, but is earning gold stars in zero-carbon and Passivhaus design. Thomas Lane swots up on how to deliver a low-energy building on a budget
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FeaturesBrettstapel envelope: The natural choice
Getting planning permission to build a house in the stunning Scottish Borders requires a sensitive design, which is why architect Gaia specified a wooden Brettstapel envelope for this project
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CommentBeach volleyball stars distract Cameron from quelling riots
Volleyball replaced the mob in central London this week as Olympic organisers shifted tonnes of Surrey sand to Horseguards Parade
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FeaturesPost occupancy: Is your green makeover really so green?
Do low energy buildings really deliver results? Last month, Thomas Lane found two new-build offices that failed to live up to all their green credentials. Here, he reveals if two refurbished offices performed any better
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FeaturesBIM: The inside story
In recent weeks we’ve heard all about BIM - its advantages, the sharing principle, the downfalls,the training needed and the cost, but what does it all actually mean? Thomas Lane follows one BIMed-up project from beginning to end
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NewsUKTFA alleges timber frame report is biased
The UKTFA is calling for the report by lobbying body RISCAuthority to be withdrawn
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Features10 ways to make your office outstanding (in BREEAM’s eyes, at least)
These days the corporate world is falling over itself to improve its environmental credentials. Thomas Lane takes a look at the newest, greenest, office building on the block and finds out how your office can be ’outstanding’ too
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NewsLafarge sells 80% of its gypsum business
Sale generates cash for construction products giant and allows it to retain stake in gypsum business