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February/March 2010
Innovative Research Centre Heralds New Mode of Design
Engineering and Physical Sciences needed for this to happen.”
Research Council’s ‘Challenging Professor Mithen said:
Engineering Programme’. “The Design Innovation Research
Dr Jennifer Whyte, Director of Centre will have a major
the Design Innovation Research transformative impact on the UK
Centre, said new tools and construction industry. It arises
processes were needed by from the personal vision of Jennifer
engineers and designers in the Whyte, a vision that combines
21st Century. extensive knowledge about the
“Innovation in design is crucial needs of industry, technical
to UK competitiveness and excellence, creativity and ambition.
sustainability,” she said. “The centre exemplifies how the
“By understanding what people School of Construction
are doing in industry, we can work Management brings innovative
to improve their systems and research to bear on practical
processes and help them make problems and why it attracts staff
better design decisions. and students from throughout the
A new research centre to create by the Dean of the Faculty of “We can look at problems or world to work and study at the
novel engineering solutions for Science, Professor Steven Mithen, challenges facing very complex University of Reading.”
designers of buildings and on Thursday, 21 January. international projects which have DIRC is multi-disciplinary and its
infrastructures in the digital age It has been set up within the people working on them across aims are to develop international
has been officially opened at the School of Construction the world. In these cases it is vital best practice, create new
University of Reading. Management and Engineering and that they share a single source of engineering solutions through
The Design Innovation Research is funded for five years by a design data. We can create virtual design innovation and become an
Centre (DIRC) was declared open £1 million grant from the models that develop the processes internationally-led research centre.
Latest Deal Locks Up Successful Start for
Plans Approved to put the Heart Back into the
Russells Construction
Old City of Salford
North West contractor Russells focus heavily on customer service The biggest-ever planning The approved plans will create
Construction has signed a and work closely with prospective application for the city of Salford the conditions to assist the
£670,000 deal with Lockie Ltd to clients to develop a scheme that is was given the green light by successful regeneration of the
build a new manufacturing facility right for them and I believe that Salford City Council today area, which includes a number of
and head office at Withins Lane in attention to detail is why we (Thursday January 21) in a distinct districts including:
Haydock. The deal will enable have remained successful. unanimous decision. Salford Central Station, Chapel
Lockie to move to a new build unit This scheme has been under The application, submitted by Street, Adelphi and the Historic
from its current premises, discussion for a number of English Cities Fund (ECf) with the Core, which features the Adelphi
in nearby Haydock Lane, by the months and we have managed to support of Central Salford Urban and Bexley Square Conservation
summer. The design of the put together a plan which is both Regeneration Company was larger Area and listed buildings such
14,500 sq ft portal frame building viable for the client and retains than that submitted for the first as St Philips Church and
has already been agreed and work our margins. I am delighted phase of MediaCityUK and will link Salford Cathedral.
is set to start on site, with delivery that Lockie has chosen key sites such as the University of The Chapel Street area occupies
due for June 2010. Andrew Russells Construction for this Salford and The Crescent, Chapel a key location and is the western
Russell, managing director of important project.” Street and the region’s business gateway, which links the rest of
Trafford-based Russells This is the second design and district - Spinningfields. Salford, including MediaCityUK,
Construction, worked closely with build contract announced by Covering an area of 17.744ha - through to Manchester city centre.
Lockie managing director Bob Russells Construction in the last equivalent to 21 international The plans would see Chapel Street
Pooley to put together the scheme. few weeks and follows news the football pitches – it follows more restored, improving the setting of
Andrew said: “I’m delighted to firm is to provide a new facility for than two years of consultation with its historic buildings and putting
have started 2010 in the same vein F Duerr and Sons in Runcorn as the community and stakeholders the heart back into Salford.
as we ended 2009, with a new part of a £1.5m deal. The firm has and aims to deliver the holistic The proposed development is
contract. Winning new clients is signed almost £20m of new work regeneration of this important part centred on creating sustainable
always a challenge and has been over the last 12 months, despite of Salford for the benefit of existing communities with the correct
even more so in the current the difficult economic climate. and potential residents, businesses balance of uses.
economic climate. However, we and visitors.
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