News
In this issue
Company News
• SDSL: One Year On
• Exams passed
• The Rising Cost of Energy
BP North Sea Headquarters, Aberdeen
The Hub, Old Aberdeen,
University of Aberdeen
Colourful furniture to meet the "fun” and “funky" brief has been selected and sourced by CMA's specialist interior design team in Aberdeen.
Devon Place
Gardens,
Edinburgh
Innovative interior features a Barrisol ceiling consisting of a stretched membrane spanning the large first floor food hall.
The Hub is due to open for the students during September 2006.
We are nearing handover of six terraced two storey residential units for Abbey Scotland Ltd. The show-house is complete and is open for public viewing.
This has been a successful project for all concerned and we are pleased to continue our relationship with Abbey.
Sales particulars are available at the following link: http://www.rettie.co.uk/dev/devonplace/
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Covell Matthews Aberdeen
• 9 Albyn Terrace, Aberdeen
• Tel: (01224) 634040 • Fax: (01224) 631649
Covell Matthews Edinburgh
• 6 Manor Place, Edinburgh
• Tel: (0131) 226 3366 • Fax: (0131) 220 1177
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• English Heritage save home of one of Covell Matthews Founders
English Heritage save home of one of Covell Matthews Founders
The 1949 Post Modern home designed by Gerry was brought to the attention of English Heritage by local Amenity Society, the Streatham Society & Mr Brian Blocie, Tutor in History and Architecture at Morley and Lambeth Colleges.
The campaigners submitted research to English Heritage that showed Gerry to be a major influence in the development of post war Architecture in the UK and Worldwide.
All at Covell Matthews are delighted that the application has been refused and would like to congratulate the campaigners on their diligent efforts.
Red Mall Facilities, Metro Centre, Gateshead
Last month saw the handover of another phase of work to the Metrocentre Redevelopment in Gateshead with Sir Robert McAlpine for Capital Shopping Centres.
We have worked on this project for last few years, and the latest phase to be completed includes a new public toilet block that is integrated into the Red Mall which was completed last year. Once again this phase of the project has been delivered on time and on budget.
Gordon Highlanders Museum Re-Opens
Following its recent closure for refurbishment The Gordon Highlanders Museum has re-opened with resounding success.
Most notable is the new lifelong learning facility; a purpose built space that enables the museum to offer both formal and informal learning opportunities for all ages and abilities.
A somewhat unique facility for a non-publicly funded museum, the new life-long learning room allows the Museum to interpret its collections through a variety of media, including music, art, craft and drama.
The facility is available for hire for education related events and activities.
The Museum's commitment to life-long learning and its positive impact on our community has not gone unnoticed, attracting the attention of both public and private sector museum officials.
Sarah Malone, Museum Curator said “we're delighted with the flexibility and finish of the space; it's a superb room that will significantly improve the quality of our education provision”
• Gordon Highlanders Museum Re-Opens
Includes organic studio-style office furniture, soft seating and curved internet desks from Holland, Italy, Sweden and UK. The colours have been selected to match The Hub's branding.
Construction work on the BP North Sea Headquarters is progressing, with the majority of the steelwork erected for the office building and a substantial amount of the precast floors installed.
Various elements for the external cladding have also commenced.
CMA were commissioned as a member of BP’s Technical Team to undertake Design and Construction Monitoring services throughout the project.
This involved the review and development of a Statement of Requirements brief to prepare an ITT (Invitation to Tender) document for issue to potential developers.
CMA were an integral part of the team who reviewed and assessed the various proposals to ensure they achieved BP’s aspirations in terms of design and environmental philosophy, in addition to meeting the technical requirements set out in the ITT documents.
CMA continue to undertake design and technical reviews of the various work packages as they are issued prior to final construction, and are also involved in monitoring the fit out works and in the value engineering and risk peer reviews undertaken by BP.
The headquarters building, being built by London-based developer Akeler in Stoneywood Road, is expected to be complete in the second half of 2007.
The new offices are on three main levels and house several varying sized wings, designed around a full height central atrium which will
accommodate reception, café and dining facilities.
Two feature access stairs will rise from ground floor to second floor level within the atrium in addition to the four lifts and link bridges.
New Real Time Operating Centre (RTOC) for Shell Exploration & Production in Europe
Covell Matthews Architects Aberdeen are working with Shell and Landmark to construct a Real Time Operating Centre (RTOC), on the Tullos campus.
Shell has a vision to “Become the recognised industry leader in real-time operations technology, providing the well delivery teams and its partners across the globe with state-of-the-art well visualisation and real-time information technology to help plan, drill and complete wells at maximum efficiency and lowest unit technical cost (UTC)”.
Works have started on site and are due for completion by year-end.
Aberdeen Base Relocation, Acergy UK Limited
CMA have been appointed by Acergy to undertake Design and Construction Monitoring services for the relocation of their current Bucksburn facilities to a new specially designed multi-purpose Office, Workshop and Leisure campus on the outskirts of Aberdeen.
Covell Matthews have also been commissioned to design the internal fit-out of the new 10,700 sqm office building.
Whitsome Hill steading development, Berwickshire
The Whitsome Hill steading development for our client Mercat Cross, incorporating 11 steading conversions and 4 new build houses has now commenced on site.
The design and presentation of the Planning Application was highly praised by Scottish & Borders Planning Department.
With several units having already been sold off plan the Whitsome Hill site has become one of many steading developments that our Edinburgh Office is involved with, others sites are also situated around the Scottish Borders and Loch Leven areas.
Exams passed
All at Covell Matthews would like to congratulate Jayne Harwell & Fiona Hay for successfully passing their exams.
Jayne joined our Aberdeen office when she was appointed as a Space & Implementation Planner. Jayne graduated in July with a BSc Hons in Architectural Technology from the Robert Gordon University where she was also awarded the Building Magazine Stage Prize.
Fiona a summer placement student in our Edinburgh office has recently received the news that she passed her 4th year and obtained a BArch. She now returns to Dundee University for a final year. We wish her the best and thank her very much for her hard efforts over the summer.
SDSL: One Year On
A year ago our Aberdeen office became an early adopter of a new broadband technology called SDSL (Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line).
The Rising Cost of Energy
With the ever increasing cost of gas and electricity people are looking at ways to reduce their bills and alternative means of energy.
The Basics
1. A third of your heating bills could be escaping through your roof. Minimum building regulations recommends 270mm of mineral wool insulation.
2. A further third of the heat in your home can be lost through the walls. Cavity wall insulation can be injected inexpensively.
3. An Energy Saving Light Bulb can save you up to £100 over it’s lifetime compared to a traditional alternative.
4. Time and temperature controlled heating will reduce energy wastage. Turning the thermostat down by 1°C will cut your heating bill by up to 10%.
Want to do more?
The DTI offers grants to those who comply with the Basics and want to do more to reduce their energy consumption. The low carbon buildings programme will fund a range of microgeneration technologies including:
Solar photovoltaics
Wind turbines
Small hydro
Solar thermal hot water
Ground/water/air source heat pumps
Bio-energy
Renewable CHP (Combined heat and power)
MicroCHP
Fuel cells
Open to householders, public, not for profit and commercial organisations across the UK (except the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man), the programme will demonstrate how energy efficiency and microgeneration can work hand in hand to create low carbon buildings.
Further information can be found here:
Further details on this project will follow in future newsletters as design and construction works progress.
Acergy UK Limited are a leading seabed-to-surface engineering and construction contractor for the global offshore oil and gas industry and the new facilities are to have a capacity for 650, with a further option to extend the premises to house 800 personnel.
Design of the core facilities and workplace areas are being progressed from the Developers Category A base provision.
A new Workplace Strategy will also be formulated following the completion of an optimisation study of the current facilities.
images courtesy of Extrude Media
CMA Newest Client, PSN
Covell Matthews is pleased to be working with Production Services Network (PSN), one of the largest private companies in Scotland, following their successful management buyout four months ago.
Headquartered in Aberdeen, PSN is a major, independent international service contractor to oil, gas and other process industries.
With turnover forecast at over $1 billion and staff numbers rapidly heading upwards (in excess of 7,000), this new Scottish services giant looks set for a bright future.
• Q&A With George Simpson
Q&A with
George Simpson
George, could you tell us a bit about where you are from?
I was brought up on a farm in Kingswells near Aberdeen where I learnt the essential skills of construction. This coupled with my keen interest in art focused my efforts in becoming an Architect. After gaining the appropriate qualifications in various schools including Bankhead and Aberdeen Academy I was accepted to study at the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture. Following a successful period at college where I gained a Distinction in Design and Building Technology and an RIBA Commendation, I left to join Arup Associates, an internationally renowned practice in London. During my seven years there I worked as Project Architect on many award winning schemes as part of a multi-disciplinary team, a pioneering concept at the time.
What drew you back to Aberdeen?
Apart from wanting to be closer to family I wanted to contribute to the development of my home town. Buildings were being constructed quickly in response to the oil boom and I hoped to improve on the quality of design. I joined Covell Matthews Architects in 1977 as an Associate and I have been here ever since!
What are the highlights of your career?
Over the years I feel I have achieved a lot, from building my own home, carrying out the majority of work myself, to progressing through a successful company to the position I hold today. I have been fortunate to have met various members of the Royal Family over the years in conjunction with my work including the Queen, Prince Charles, Princess Anne and the Duke of Kent. Most of all I am delighted to have maintained ongoing working relationships with clients. The MacRobert Trust and Castlehill Housing Association, for example, have worked with us for over 20 years.
As Chairman of Covell Matthews Architects what are your ambitions for the company?
I believe as Architects we have a real responsibility to our communities and our environment. At present I am developing our Environmentally Responsible Design Guide to ensure we, as a company, understand the holistic nature of our projects and their impact on our surroundings. I have always maintained a focus on environmental design issues, before it was in vogue. Our company logo was designed to illustrate this.
You are obviously a busy man, how do you relax?
I am keen member of the Deeside Thistle Cycle Club and also enjoy mountaineering and hillwalking. I take my physical well being very seriously, and as avid ornithologist I enjoy spending my spare time in the great outdoors.
Are there any ambitions left to be fulfilled?
The application to demolish the house of Covell Matthews founder Gerry Matthews has been refused by Croydon Borough Council.
Chairman of Covell Matthews
I really look forward to being able to dedicate time to sketching and painting. I would also love to participate in L'Etap du Tour, a mountain stage of the Tour de France. I have completed other stages but this one is approximately 180km and a real challenge!