In today’s news, we look into the ‘Topping Out’ milestone achieved at Buchanan Wharf in Glasgow. Call on the government of the United Kingdom to participate in the revolution of modular homes. Construction has begun on the ugliest building in Brighton, which will be replaced by over 200 dwellings. Babraham Research Campus and BioMed Realty work together to broaden the scope of the campus’s ecological responsibilities. Everyman has been secured as the anchor tenant for IQL Stratford’s landmark Turing building by Lendlease.

Glasgow’s Buchanan Wharf ‘Tops Out’

Original Source: Glasgow’s Buchanan Wharf Reaches ‘Topping Out’ Milestone

Drum Property Group’s £500 million Buchanan Wharf revitalization on Glasgow’s Clydeside has completed its final building phase.

Students’ Loans Company’s (SLC) new six-story office headquarters will be completed in 2023.

Drum originally announced the arrangement to bring SLC to the site in September 2021. The purpose-built complex would house up to 1,100 personnel over a 20-year period. Legal & General Investment Management Real Assets funded the development, and building began in 2021.

At the “Topping Out” event, Drum, SLC, Legal & General, and Graham Construction held a “Topping Out” event to celebrate the last concrete pour on the building’s highest point.

The SLC skyscraper completes one of Scotland’s major construction projects, Buchanan Wharf. Barclay’s Northern European campus HQ and Legal & General’s 18-story, 324-apartment development are already on the property. Local facilities and beautiful public places will be included.

Drum Property Group Group Managing Director Graeme Bone commented at the Topping Out event, “We’re now seeing Buchanan Wharf’s actual breadth and potential.” Our exciting development vision has been realised in less than four years.

“Today’s Topping Out event is a celebration of a fantastic building and a monument to Drum and its development partners’ confidence, commitment, and resilience in creating Buchanan Wharf, one of Scotland’s most important commercial and residential developments.” We’re thrilled to bring fresh investment, energy, and excitement to Glasgow’s city centre, putting the River Clyde at the core of its economic, social, and cultural revival.

The SLC building supports the organisation’s multi-year transformation drive to create an unparalleled customer experience through innovative technologies. It’ll save taxpayers money.

The Buchanan Wharf construction has altered the city centre and River Clyde, giving a distinctive, state-of-the-art campus, stated Student Loans Company CIO Stephen Campbell. Our building’s structure is now complete, marking a major milestone.

We work flexibly at the office and at home. This allows us to exploit the benefits of co-location, like social engagement, team connection, rich collaboration, better learning, and a sense of belonging, as well as the calm focus and balance of working from home.

“With our colleagues’ aid, we’re designing an office that stimulates collaboration and supports future methods of working. It will also help us enhance customer service for 8 million UK clients.

Legal & General’s forward funding cements its connection with Drum Property Group and gives LGIM Real Assets another regional government office.

LGIM Real Assets’ Head of Annuity Transaction Neil Dovey said, “We’re happy to see the building progress quickly and look forward to its completion next year.” The new Buchanan Wharf is a high-quality development that will sit alongside our Build to Rent scheme, which debuted last month.

“The investment shows our commitment to the regions, levelling up, and regional hubs across the UK.” Our Inclusive Capitalism aim means we’re well positioned to deliver some of the UK’s most strategically vital city centre and urban regeneration developments, bringing jobs and services back to city centres.

Call on the UK to encourage modular homes

Original Source: Make UK calls on government to support modular housing revolution

According to a recent analysis by Make UK, factory-built precision-engineered homes might revolutionise the construction industry and help address Britain’s housing issue.

The paper claims modular homes are up to 50% faster to build and cost 55% less to heat than a typical brick-built British home.

The report continues that modular homes are far kinder to the environment, accounting for 83% less CO2 during construction, producing substantially less trash than traditional structures, and the report continues, “dramatically reducing the amount of transit access necessary for building sites,” citing

Traditional construction is struggling to meet government plans for 300,000 new houses a year, while modular housing is meeting some of its potential. Modular manufacturers build around 40 factories in post-industrial provincial towns or cities, creating over 3,000 jobs and investing £700m in low-growth, low-employment locations. Modular construction businesses’ record R&D spending represents 30% of all construction R&D.

The research recommends that the government commit 20% of its affordable housing programme to modular housing, fast-track the planning process for modular homes, and raise energy efficiency criteria for new buildings. The UK argues these reforms will raise standards, provide pipeline security for modular producers, and enable the industry to grow.

This analysis reveals that modular is a major player in the UK housing sector, said Make UK Modular Director Steve Cole. “Government must speed modular delivery, building on investments and jobs created, by removing remaining hurdles”

Construction on Brighton’s ugliest building

Original Source: Construction underway to replace Brighton’s ugliest building

Over 200 new dwellings will replace “Brighton’s ugliest structure.”

A crane towers over the Preston Road building site, originally home to Anston House.

Two of three planned tower blocks have foundations, and one has a 13-story concrete core.

Anston House was erected in the 1960s but has been abandoned since 1987.

Brighton and Hove City Council approved planning approval in 2020, and demolition began in March 2017. One neighbour told The Argus he was “very delighted to see Anston House go.”

Brighton architects Conran and Partners say the proposed development will “offer much-needed new housing and work space”

30 of the 229 apartments to be built will be affordable, with rentals at 80% of the local market level.

According to an economic estimate, the £70 million development may improve the local economy by £140 million.

Babraham Research Campus and BioMed Realty cooperate to expand the campus’ ecology

Original Source: BioMed Realty partners with Babraham Research Campus to expand the Campus and its ecosystem

BioMed Realty and Babraham Research Campus Ltd. will deliver a 40,000-square-foot structure. BioMed’s third facility on campus provides much-needed space for scale-ups in Cambridge, UK. The joint venture plans to invest an extra £26 million and create 265 local construction jobs to complete this facility. The new facility will have flexible lab and office facilities for life science enterprises.

The development will earn a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating and increase biodiversity. The project will be finished in Q4 2023. BioMed Realty supports Babraham Research Campus’ Accelerate@Babraham program.

According to BioMed data, tenant demand in the UK has driven functional lab and office space availability to zero, potentially locking out prospective start-ups and scale-ups.

The new agreement with Babraham Research Campus responds to tenant demand in Cambridge and secures space for life sciences firms who are under-served in the UK, notably those growing out of incubation with a desire to scale.

BioMed’s footprint at the Cambridge Campus will rise to more than 130,000 square feet across three buildings.

The building will be the most sustainable on campus, combining technologies to cut energy use and optimise water management, resulting in considerable carbon emission reductions. The development will score BREEAM ‘Excellent’ and increase biodiversity. The site’s construction will end in Q4 2023.

The Babraham Research Campus is a hub for scale-ups and start-ups and a world-class research and business ecosystem that combines academics and industry.

BioMed is also supporting Babraham Research Campus’ Accelerate@Babraham programme. The bio-incubator, designed to support early-stage enterprises, brings together a network of specialists, mentors, and investors to provide early career science entrepreneurs with skills, confidence, network connections, and access to community laboratories.

BioMed entered the Cambridge, UK market in 2012 and owns 1 million square feet of lab and office space. BioMed helps approximately 30 start-up and established life sciences enterprises across its two city sites. The company’s large portfolio, centred in key innovation markets in the UK and US, allows tenants to simply transfer between buildings as their firm grows, even into new markets. BioMed has 19 million square feet occupied and under development as of June 30, 2022.

BioMed consulted Cheffins.

Everyman becomes IQL Stratford’s Turing building’s anchor tenant

Original Source: Lendlease signs Everyman as anchor tenant for IQL Stratford’s landmark Turing building

Lendlease has signed Everyman as the Turing Building’s anchor leisure tenant (IQL). The Everyman and Turing Buildings will open in 2024.

The 21-story Turing Building, designed by Arney Fender Katsalidis, encourages collaboration and new ways of working. Summer 2024 completion will include 350,000 square feet of Grade A office space. Turing will complement the East Bank cultural and educational district and the SHIFT Innovation District.

Guy Thomas, Head of Place Assets at Lendlease Europe, said IQL is attracting forward-thinking enterprises in the UK. We’ve let nearly 1 million square feet of office space to world-leading organisations, and The Turing Building is under development.

Having the right amenity mix is key to creating locations where workers, residents, and tourists desire to spend time.

Everyman was chosen as the integrated cinema to assist Stratford’s cultural growth. We’re glad they’re part of an iconic building that will characterise IQL for centuries.

The Turing Building is BREEAM Outstanding, Well Gold, and WiredScore Platinum. The Turing Building will contribute to Lendlease’s Net Zero aims by reducing embodied carbon by 48% during construction, reducing water use by 57% and having EPC A Energy Ratings and 90m2 of solar panels that reduce embodied carbon by 30%.

Everyman dealt directly with Shelley Sandzer, Nash Bond, and CF Commercial for Lendlease.

Summary of today’s construction news

Overall, we have discussed the £500 million Buchanan Wharf redevelopment being undertaken by Drum Property Group and have now reached the conclusion of the final building phase on Glasgow’s Clydeside. Make UK calls for support from the government for the modular home revolution, as factory-built, precision-engineered homes could help solve Britain’s housing crisis. Construction has begun on a new building that will replace Brighton’s most unsightly structure. More than two hundred new homes will take the place of “Brighton’s ugliest edifice.” A building with a square footage of 40,000 feet will be delivered by BioMed Realty and Babraham Research Campus Ltd. Everyman will serve as the Turing Building’s anchor leisure tenant, which Lendlease has secured (IQL). 2024 is the year that will see the opening of both the Everyman and Turing Buildings.