Auld & White Constructors’ Post

Every month we like to choose a project to feature. This month, we’ve chosen Bloxham School, Stonehill House.   Stonehill House was nominated for ‘Project of the Year’ at OxPropFest Awards 2023.   The thriving independent coeducation school required a solution that would enable the school to achieve 40 boarding places, as well as a new common room and tutor room, to facilitate growth of the school. *Project challenge*   There are challenges to overcome with every project, and that is what makes each one unique and interesting to work on. Those challenges are one of the reasons we chose Bloxham School as our Project of the Month.   Key considerations: -        Located in a conservation area -        Grade II listed building -        Limited vehicular access -        Structural challenges -        Proximity to residential properties   Take a look at the journey and how the school achieved its vision: https://lnkd.in/eP75NzxE   #featuredproject #planning #bloxham #oxfordshire #planningpermission #school #conservationarea #listedbuilding Image credit: Clews Architects and Andy Marshall, Fotofacade

Q: Hey Re:Vision, what are you doing for Earth Day? A: Hi! Thanks for asking! We’re celebrating the world’s FIRST Core Living Building Certified project at Muhlenberg College and we’re really excited about it! International Living Future Institute created the Core Living Building Certification using 10 non-negotiables from the Living Building Challenge as the baseline to make our communities good for everyone. We’re really proud of the work of the entire team on this project, which met certification requirements after demonstrating 12 months of energy and water use that were above requirements.   We think Core Living Building certification is a game-changer for everyone who owns, designs, or constructs building projects. It’s a holistic look at what our building projects should be doing as an entry to regenerative practice, where our work can exist in balance – or as a benefit – to the natural, built, and social communities around it.   Oh, and most of us biked, carpooled, took transit, or walked to work today.   #AuthenticSustainability #CoreLivingBuildingCertified #EveryDayIsEarthDay #FirstInTheWorld Muhlenberg College The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company BSEG, LLC Thriven Design Keystone Consulting Engineers, Inc. O'Donnell & Naccarato ThinkGreen LLC Cloud Gehshan Design

Broken eggs yield tasty omelets - with the right chef. So the saying goes (kind of). Well, dismantled buildings yield beautiful spaces - with the right team. Here we are in the middle of a lot of construction, and sometimes it’s hard to see the possibility of it all coming together. But one way or another, it always does. In the words of Fleetwood Mac "Don't stop thinking about tomorrow, it will soon be here". Don't lose sight of the vision! #WeWillGetYouThere #SSParchitects

👷♀️🏢 Behind every successful project stands a team of dedicated individuals, and Tricia F. is a shining example of this collaborative spirit. Captured here on the 7th-floor scaffolding at West Side Montessori School, Tricia's leadership is driving forward our church expansion scope and fire escape replacement, working hand in hand with the engineers at Silman, A TYLin Company to shape the future of this community space. 🌆🛠️ 🔗💪 Grounded in our shared commitment to excellence, Tricia and the UPC team are united by a shared purpose. As we navigate the intricate world of construction, the expertise of our skilled collaborators serves as our guiding light, leading us towards architectural innovation and achievement. Together, we're not just constructing buildings; we're fostering connections, growth, and empowerment in every brick and beam. 🏗️🌟 • • #urbanprojectscollaborative #upcnyc #ownersrep #ownersrepresentative #westsidemontessorischool #wsms #buildnyc #buildnewyorkcity #nycconstruction #ProjectManagement #Construction #DesignExcellence #UrbanDevelopment #FacilitiesManagement #Sustainability #RealEstate #StrategicPlanning #CommunityImpact #BuildingTogether #CollaborativeEfforts #EmpoweringCommunities #ConstructivePartnerships #InnovativeEngineering #EmpoweringExcellence #ArchitecturalAchievements #EmpoweringGrowth

It is good to see this nationwide programme of school rebuilds following the RAAC crisis is underway with this contract win for BAM Construction and Ryder Architecture. Last September, Emma Greenland, our Education Sector lead, wrote a short piece highlighting the key acoustic considerations that should be given to projects requiring improvement works including:- >When replacing RAAC roofing slabs, a replacement lightweight roof needs to be checked to ensure environmental noise ingress (for schools near to airports for example), rain noise and fixed plant noise ingress is not going to be an issue, and sound insulation of walls is not compromised by transmission via the partition head. >Replacement ceilings need to include fixed or suspended sound absorption and/or acoustic wall panels in order to achieve good control of reverberation time and hence suitable listening conditions for all students, but particularly those with: - Special Hearing and Communication Needs - English as an additional Language, - younger children, - Social Emotional and Mental Health Needs (SEMH) and AD/HD - SLCN, Language Impairment and even Dyslexia If your school is affected by the RAAC crisis, or you happen to be involved with the refurbishment of one, we can offer advice to check the potential impact of alternative facilities and upgrade schemes on acoustics and listening in schools. Read the full piece here:-https://lnkd.in/evqJy9X2 #educationestates #schools #rebuild #raac #acousticdesign #acousticconsiderations #architects #contractors

PUSHING THE ENVELOPE I would like to pile on the congratulations to the project team, but with a Building Science twist: Not only did they receive the 2024 MCA Choice Award, they also achieved a Whole Building Air Tightness test result of 0.015CFM50/SF!!! For a point of reference, the Phuis airtightness requirement is 0.060 CFM50/SF. - 285,000 square feet building footprint - 423,000 square feet exterior enclosure surface area If you want the equivalent value at 75pascals, the power law conversion would be 0.019CFM75/SF. If you’re stuck in your ways and want to turn this into a less sensible metric, the average building height of 34 feet would give you 0.04ACH50 Multipoint table and chart in the comments below. Cuningham DSGW Architecture Kraus-Anderson #KABuilds #BuildingScience #BuildingEnvelope

Check out this progress picture of Gray’s restored University of Kentucky College of Design building. Look at those stairs!

Some projects take ironmongery design and specification to the next level and Grantley Hall is just such a project. Em-B Solutions #architecturalironmongery #winnerofwinners #doorhardware #colaboration

We asked out a few of our employees about what are the school trends in construction, this was their answer…   💡Owners are carefully balancing budgets, contemplating 'wants vs needs,' and maximizing every dollar for features in their buildings. Each district's unique priorities shape the materials, designs, and systems they embrace.   🏗️Excitingly, there's a surge in projects at Vocational Schools like Apollo, Vantage, and Millstream, fueled by state investments in expanding programs.   🤝Steven M. Schroeder and Brent D. Stechschulte highlight the varied project ideas—some districts know precisely what they want, while others seek guidance. Touchstone, drawing from its wealth of experience, ensures districts achieve both aesthetic appeal and functionality within their budgets. It's a dynamic journey in school construction!   #SchoolBuildingTrends #ConstructionInsights

For this year’s final #BlackHistoryMonth community spotlight, KAI looks to the Arlington Grove Apartments project. Located in the City of St. Louis, this special project included the redevelopment of the William B. Ittner designed Arlington School, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Established under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Register of Historic Places, managed by the National Park Service, aims to facilitate public and private initiatives in identifying, assessing, and safeguarding America's historical and archaeological assets. KAI was chosen by the St. Louis Housing Authority to perform Design-Build services and transform the block into a $34 million, 162,000 square foot mixed-income and mixed-finance residential development that includes 112 units of apartments, townhouses, and semi-detached housing as well as a mixed-use building and renovated school. The 91 construction housing units included a heavy emphasis on sustainability that positively impacts both the residents and the community for years to come. The opportunity to help provide people in underserved areas with a meaningful place to live and a starting point for a better future is something on which we’ve built our legacy. Our mission of transforming communities is part of every project we take part in and is a mission we strive for with each step we take into the future. Read more about this historic and meaningful project in the link below. https://lnkd.in/g-m-VSSp #TransformingCommunities #CommunityImpact #AEC #Design #Engineering #CommunityInvestment #Construction #CommunityDesign #ResidentialDesign #EducationDesign