Sound Solutions for Next-Generation Learning Spaces

Educational environments, across all levels, have changed dramatically over the past couple of decades. In fact, in many ways, the schools, colleges and universities that today’s students attend bare little resemblance to those in which their parents and grandparents studied. Beyond the ‘traditional classroom’, new types of learning environments, including performing arts spaces, sports facilities, […]

While the attractions of aluminium cladding are well understood, how products of this type rate in terms of sustainability is a little more difficult to determine. How then, should architects go about this task? How should they assess its environmental implications? As is the case with all building products, the answer to this question is […]

For specifiers, treading the pathway to sustainability is a tricky task. Amidst the many claims of environmental responsibility, product stewardship, supply chain management, and so forth, it can be difficult to distinguish between fact and fiction; between suppliers with valid, provable claims to sustainability and those doing no more than greenwashing. The good news is […]

As it stands, the construction of formwork usually involves one of three well-known methods – in-situ conventional formwork, blockwork or precast concrete. While each of these methods is reliable and, if constructed appropriately, can be relied upon to meet all regulatory requirements, each also has its drawbacks. In-situ conventional formwork is costly and tends to […]

Within shared spaces, like offices, educational buildings and so on, you will always find people with diverse personalities, working patterns and needs. Acknowledging this diversity and catering for the range of ways occupants perceive and respond to their environments should be a primary consideration for all involved in designing these spaces. Here, the WELL Building […]

Just as it has elsewhere, connectivity has arrived and transformed commercial environments. As a result, the modern workplace is a space where employee well-being is paramount, efficiency is optimised, and technology is employed seamlessly to improve business outcomes. In this context, the introduction of things like Smart Lockers makes perfect sense. Beyond ensuring the security […]

Perforated metal is a form of sheet metal that has been punched or stamped to create an almost infinite combination of hole sizes, shapes, patterns, images and open areas for the purpose of screening, shading, security, ventilation and art installation. Used in these ways, perforated metal really gets the chance to shine. With its uniform, […]

This CPD presentation will introduce you to the main concepts of biophilic design, how it enhances and supports wellbeing and indoor environment quality, and the ways in which timber can be used in biophilic approaches to deliver better environments for people while also being positive for the planet. By the end of this session, you […]

Though roughly 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water, once the world’s oceans, along with polar ice caps, glaciers and so forth are accounted for, only 1% of that figure is suitable for human consumption. Globally, access to an adequate supply of clean, portable water has become a major cause for concern. It […]

As with all aspects of the construction sector, the specification of level entry thresholds in Australia involves compliance with the National Construction Code (NCC). As is also standard, compliance of these products can involve either Performance Solutions (which vary according to the specific job) or the more prescriptive and standardised Deemed-to-Satisfy (DTS) solutions. In the […]