BSEE-JUL21-P06 News & Quotes_Layout 1 15/06/2021 10:58 Page 6


BSEE Buro Happold strengthens consultancy


capabilities with acquisition of Vanguardia and Crowd Dynamics International


Vanguardia Limited, and its subsidiary Crowd Dynamics International. Having worked together on renowned sports and entertainment projects for more than two decades, the businesses have helped to deliver some of the finest venues and experiences in the world, including the new home of Tottenham Hotspur, which sets a benchmark in stadium design.


B


Respected as the world’s leading stadium engineers and recognised for enabling incredible experiences in the finest venues globally, the acquisition increases Buro Happold’s breadth and depth of expertise to help solve the complex challenges affecting stadia and entertainment venues. It also creates a platform for the continued growth of Vanguardia – which specialises in acoustics and audio-visual technology at sports and music venues – into other new and exciting sectors and markets and strengthens client- consultant teams with the combined expertise.


From shrinking income – heightened by the Covid-19 pandemic – to the climate emergency and competition from other sectors for leisure time, many organisations in the sports and entertainment industries are seeking greater community or urban integration, or are looking to refresh assets to optimise the experience of their users and generate a


commercial return. Together, the Buro Happold and Vanguardia teams will work to solve these problems faced by stadium and entertainment venue owners and operators, while also improving the experience for fans. “It is a really exciting time for Buro Happold,” says James Bruce, Chief Executive Officer. “Having worked alongside Vanguardia and Crowd Dynamics International for more than 20 years, it’s a natural step to formally


uro Happold has announced its acquisition of one of the world’s leading acoustics and audio- visual consultancies,


‘


NEWS & QUOTES Quote, unquote


ACE responds to Williams review


Matthew Farrow, director of policy at the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE), responds to the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail: “Following the pandemic, both passengers and the rail sector require a fresh start, and this review provides that opportunity. The plan for an integrated ‘guiding mind’ – Great British Railways – is welcome and should enable a joined-up strategy with an eye on the longer term, especially vital as we move towards tackling overarching issues such as the decarbonisation of the railway and fare reform.


bring them into the wider Buro Happold portfolio. We are enhancing our collective consultancy capabilities, creating significant opportunities for our clients.


“Our heritage of tackling global complex engineering challenges in the built environment puts us in the perfect position to advise and design exceptional solutions. This acquisition signals a period of rapid acceleration for our business and the industry as a whole”


The collaboration also extends from Buro Happold’s work in integrated engineering design and consultancy, and large-scale visioning for sports and entertainment precincts and the communities they serve. Specifically, the acquisition enhances the standalone and combined services of acoustics and sound engineering, environmental advisory services, plus a broad range of electro-acoustic and technology offers.


It also provides a fully integrated mobility consulting offer encompassing inclusive design, waste and logistics, and crowd and traffic consulting capabilities. Buro Happold and Vanguardia have worked together on some of the world’s leading sports and entertainment infrastructure, including Emirates Stadium, Tottenham Hotspur’s Stadium, the O2 Arena, Silverstone Racetrack, Qatar Education City Stadium, The Fisht Olympic Stadium at Sochi in Russia and the London Stadium.


“The elephant in the room is the finances of the network – more than £12 billion has been provided in emergency investment by the Government since the start of the pandemic – and nurturing the emergence of a economically sustainable system which is also attractive to passengers looking for more flexibility than before, will be key. Moving to a new simplified organisational structure will enable better strategic decision-making which balances financial considerations, ambitions for us to build back better post-pandemic, and Net Zero goals. “The emphasis on accelerating network upgrades is also welcome and reinforces key issues outlined in ACE’s recent Project Speed briefings which showed how our members’ skills could be used to achieve this. However, with much of the detail still to be revealed, and two years before the new system is in place, we will need clarity on how the industry transitions to these new arrangements. For example, how will this affect preparations for Control Period 7? Furthermore, understanding how Great British Railways works with, and alongside, regional transport bodies will require more detail. “ACE and its members are ready to work with the Government to ensure the paper’s aims are delivered, as together we nurture a sustainable rail sector – in every sense of the term – that is attractive to passengers.”


’ ‘ Europump Welcomes New President


ast month, Vanni Vignoli was elected as the 30th President of Europump, the European pump industry association. In an historic first, and in keeping with other such COVID induced adaptations, the election was undertaken digitally as part of the association’s Virtual General Assembly. Vignoli has held various positions with Italian pump manufacturer, Caprari, best known for its centrifugal pumps, submersible motors, and integrated solutions for water systems. Most recently as its Head of Corporate Marketing, he has been responsible for both strategic and product marketing activities, whilst coordinating several businesses within the Caprari suite of companies. However, as of 1st June 2021 he will hold the position of Research and Development Director.


L


Currently Chairman of the Marketing Commission and Second Vice-President of Assopompe, Europump’s Italian association member, he has served Europump for many years. Initially as a Guest to various meetings and then as a Delegate, he became Chairman of the SME Commission, and a Member of the Executive Council before his election as First Vice-President in 2019, at the General Assembly held in Naples.


Vanni Vignoli succeeds Dr Sönke Brodersen, Global Executive Officer Committees and Associations at KSB SE &


Co. KGaA and Chairman of VDMA Pumps+Systems, the German pump manufacturer association. Sönke has been a member of Europump’s Executive Council since 2005 and served as the association’s President between 2011 and 2013, being re-elected in 2019.


The election of a new President comes at a time of profound change both for the European pump industry, as it moves full speed towards the digital and green twin revolution, and for the role of European associations whose “raison d’être” of building bridges between companies, countries and people has been strongly challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic. Vanni Vignoli said of his election: “I very much look forward to continuing the work started by Sönke, notably with the setting-up of our new “digital working group” to address data, artificial intelligence and cyber security issues as they affect our industry, and the continuous promotion of our “Extended Product Approach”, which places us at the forefront of the EU’s sustainability policy”.


On behalf of all those involved in the European pump sector, the Executive Committee would like to offer its sincere thanks to Dr Sönke Brodersen for his fine and diligent work throughout his tenure as Europump President and wish Vanni Vignoli its unwavering support and best wishes as he takes over the role.


6 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER JUNE 2021


Beard comments on materials shortage


As the CIPS PMI stats paint a very positive picture this morning of the recovery in the construction sector, Beard’s finance director Fraser Johns says the materials shortages crisis means contractors need to work smart with suppliers to mitigate for long lead in times:


“The headline figures tell a great story about the construction sector’s recovery, which suggests a rapid rise in new business and orders at the highest level since 1997.


“It’s clearly very welcome to be talking up prospects and seeing the trends going in the right direction, but there has to be a reality check taken as the ongoing crisis in materials shortages threatens to undermine the fast-paced recovery we’re seeing. “Supply chains are stretched like never before as the drop in factory output across Europe due to the coronavirus is really biting into delivery times, coupled with the ongoing difficulties at our ports due to Brexit.


“Confidence is returning to the economy and customers are forging ahead with plans that have been put on hold, our own head of work reflects the buoyancy of the market in that sense. But in order to keep confidence high, contractors must work smart and take a collaborative approach with suppliers and customers, to mitigate for the long lead-in times. Strong relationships with suppliers all the way down the line are going to be crucial to get through what is likely to be a difficult second half of the year in terms of the materials issue.”


’ Read the latest at: www.bsee.co.uk


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50