Phase 2 of The Maltings, Colchester is Well Underway

Following the occupation of all 381 rooms in Phase 1 of The Maltings student accommodation scheme on King Edwards Quay in Colchester, Elements Europe has been instructed to commence manufacturing for Phase 2 of the project.

Phase 2 is a carbon copy of the first, and will complete the development, offering a total of 779 high-quality rooms for students studying at the University of Essex, located close by.

Pickstock Construction has already completed piling, and the structural podium work on Phase 2 onto which the off-site constructed modules will be placed. Work on the four concrete cast-in-situ stair/lift cores is now also underway.

Elements Europe will manufacture a further 398 Room Modules, made up of one-bed flats, studios and en-suite bedrooms for the scheme, including all stair cores and roof structures. Elements Europe will also manufacture communal kitchens to accompany shared flats.

Delivery and installation of the modules will commence in February 2015.

Russell Parry, Factory Manager commented “With both phases combined, this is the largest student accommodation scheme that Elements Europe has undertaken to date. We look forward to delivering modules for the final phase.”

The Maltings will be complete by the beginning of August 2015 and be ready for the occupation of new students mid-September.

Community Recognition for Elements Europe

Elements Europe has been presented with a plaque from Shropshire Fire and Rescue, in recognition for employing a retained firefighter.

Matt Barrow, Production Operative has worked at Elements Europe for four years, and since January of this year has also been an on call firefighter at Baschurch Fire Station.

Russell Parry, Factory Manager and Alec Stephenson, Supervisor collected the plaque on behalf of Elements Europe at a presentation evening which saw local businesses come together at Theatre Severn in Shrewsbury.

Russell commented “I felt very proud to be representing a business that helps the local community in employing a retained firefighter” Russell added “Thank you Shropshire Fire and Rescue for a wonderful evening.”

Over 150 people attended the event which also marked the transition from trainee firefighter to the development phase.

Matt Barrow commented “I can’t thank Elements Europe enough in letting me work full time as well as have my responsibilities with the Fire Service” Matt added “It has been a dream for a very long time to join the service, and serve the local community.”

Mark Donnelly, Group Commander of Shropshire Rural Performance Group commented “Without organisations such as Elements Europe we as a Fire and Rescue Service would struggle to deliver such a quality service to our communities.”

Pictured from Left: Alec Stephenson, Elements Europe Supervisor, Matt Barrow retained Firefighter and Elements Europe Production Operative, and Russell Parry Elements Europe Factory Manager.

First Modules Installed at Cambridge Student Scheme

Elements Europe has successfully completed the first delivery of modules this week to Pickstock Construction’s Cambridge student accommodation scheme.

Elements Europe is again working alongside Pickstock Construction to offer a high-quality modular solution.

Elements Europe has worked closely with architects Jefferson Sheard and Pickstock Construction to modularise the triangular shaped building for its client.

This week has seen the first of the 98 Room Modules installed. All room modules, floor and ceiling corridor cassettes, light steel frame panels and roof cassettes will be craned into position in just 4 weeks.

The former petrol station site is on the corner of a busy junction leading into the city. A key consideration for this project has been logistics and deliveries. These have been scheduled to ensure minimal disruption to commuters and local residents.

When completed the building will have retail outlets on the ground floor with three floors of high-quality student accommodation above. Part of the third floor includes a mansard roof which will also be modularised.

The 98 rooms are made up of 75 studios and 23 en-suite rooms that offer students at the University of Cambridge a modern yet comfortable place to live during their studies.

Dave Malkin, Site Manager commented: “Our experience working alongside Elements Europe is one that is fine-tuned, we can therefore ensure a quick and efficient install of modules.”

Elements Europe Meet with CIBSDR

Elements Europe has met with the technical delegation from the China Institute of Building Standard Design and Research (CIBSDR).

The visitors from China are in the UK to look at examples of steel construction in order to expand their knowledge with a view to using steel in China’s residential sector.

CIBSDR is the sole comprehensive enterprise for scientific research, design and technical service, covering national standards and code compilation. The institute also deals with all national design drawing compilation, engineering design, building products certification and building software research and development.

Kevin Arthur, Sales Director of Elements Europe met with the institute at Ewer Street student accommodation scheme in Southwark, central London, where Elements Europe provided all 200 Room Modules.

Kevin gave a tour of the building and explained how Elements Europe manufactured and installed the room modules to achieve an expedited construction programme for its client. He also explained why modular construction has become so popular in the UK.

Kevin commented “It was a pleasure to present to the institute. Elements Europe grasps any opportunity to raise awareness of its methods of construction.” He added: “The interest from across the world just shows how modular construction is becoming recognised as the future of construction.”

The tour was requested by the Steel Construction Institute (SCI). This is the second time this year Elements Europe has been asked by SCI to speak with international visitors.  Earlier this year Elements Europe presented to a group from Samsung Everland, Korea.

Mark Lawson from SCI commented “We were very pleased to present Kevin Arthur to the delegation from China” he added, “Elements Europe is one of the key modular solutions businesses in this sector and is doing increasingly innovative and exciting projects using its modular light steel framed systems.”