At the gcp designed Stonewater development in Sutton Benger, Winsley White are constructing the roofs at first floor level! They are then craned off to allow the wall panels to be erected. The roofs are then lifted into place. It’s a little confusing the first time you see it, but great for health and safety as working at height is reduced.
Jon Briscoe
Unique mix of brickwork patterns for Oakfield’s homes
in Housing
The scaffolding has been struck to reveal the brickwork in all its glory. These will be the first houses completed at Mi-Space’s Oakfield development for Nationwide Building Society in Swindon. We cannot wait for the full effect when the windows are unmasked and the Juliet balcony and front door canopies are installed.
Castle Cary looking fantastic upon completion.
in Housing
Another successful housing project completed with Halsall Construction. This development of 50 dwellings for Abri is on the edge of the Somerset town of Castle Cary and comprises a mix of apartments and houses. gcp worked on the construction stage delivery of this scheme, including developing the energy strategy with the contractor.
The Willows – Start on site
We have been working with Curo for over 4 years now to develop 3 adjacent parcels of land in Lawrence Weston. The development will provide 57 new affordable homes across the site, formerly home to the Longcross pub, Holly House and Rockwell House. Last week we had our first site meeting where we finally met the Jehu team in person. It was also an opportunity for some members of the team to see the site in person for the first time!
Works have begun on the Rockwell site where the old care home has been demolished. My inner child loved seeing the diggers in action! Curo’s old office, Holly House, has now been stripped back ahead of refurbishment works to create accommodation for over- 55s.
It’s been a long journey getting here. The Willows, or as I know it Corbet Close, was one of the first projects I worked on when I joined gcp 4 years ago and several initial feasibilities had already been explored. Planning was finally approved in 2019 after an 11-month process. Being a newly qualified architect, I get very excited to see projects I’ve seen through from the beginning getting onto site. I’m looking forward to being back in 4 weeks’ time to see the progress. Esther Brown, Architect, gcp Architects
It is all in the detail.
The brickwork on Mi-Space’s Oakfield development is amazing. Really attractive bricks have been specified, and bond patterns used that showcase them at their best. There is Flemish bond between paired front doors with the alternating header and stretcher bricks in contrasting colours. The projecting brick detail also features contrasting bricks, which with the sunshine and shadow looks really spectacular. Visitors to the development will also notice that prominent corner plots feature a basket weave pattern which is an eye-catching but quite subtle detail.
gcp have prepared brick setting out details to assist Mi-Space in achieving these really great results.
Phase 1 at Oakfield development making great progress.
Fantastic progress is being made on site where Mi-Space are constructing the Oakfield development in Swindon for Nationwide Building Society. Phase 1 will see the completion of 44 houses, 12 walk-up apartments and the Hub building.
The houses and walk-ups are a mix of open market and affordable units. They are traditional masonry cavity construction of two and three storeys in height, and progress ranges from completion of ground floor slab to installation of first floor joists.
The Hub has a community room on the ground floor and 18 intergenerational apartments, for local affordable housing provider GreenSquareAccord. Construction of the 4 storey concrete frame is now at roof level.
The Hub building with phase 1 houses in the foreground.
From the roof of the Hub building, phase 1 houses can be seen to the right with phase 3 to the left and phase 2 in the distance.
Progress on site at Oakfields, Swindon.
in Housing
Work is progressing well on site at Nationwide’s Oakfield development in Swindon. Foundations and ground floor slab are complete on the first plots and Mi-Space are now well underway with construction of the blockwork and brickwork. The first homes will be completed later this year.
End of year blog 2020
A year like no other is coming to an end and I just wanted to say that, despite the numerous challenges presented to us, the whole team has responded magnificently demonstrating a deep-routed culture of mutual support and understanding. My thanks and appreciation go to you all. I have known for ages that it was all about the people and so I want to mention some of the ways that we have progressed as an organisation to put us in such a strong position looking forward to 2021 and the part that the individuals have played in that.
Everyone has developed a ‘teams’ persona whether it’s during a virtual rendezvous with genial GP ‘doctor’ Martin Spear, ‘cat juggling’ Esther Brown, ‘squeezed under the stairs’ whispering Michael Hanson or ‘wild man of the woods’ Jonathan Platt. Sometimes they all appear at once on screen like a mad version of University Challenge.
I thought some like borrowing the cool neutral background of a beautifully tasteful modern kitchen until I eventually realised that in Olia Kyritsi’s case it was actually her real kitchen. Some like Tom Mellor, Tom Hubbard and Matt Andrews like fading out the domestic child strewn chaos in which they obviously live while Owen Faunt either has many rooms in his house or a different selection of bold wallpapers in each. Sarah Markroum looks as though she is just about to pick up an instrument and sing us a song and Matt Bonney has been sitting next to his match pot decorated wall for most of the year.
Natalie Lock likes to share her domestic bliss with us occasionally interrupted by child or husband or both and recently we have been able to share the homes of Maria Steward, who’s husband lives, we now know, behind a door curiously located half way up the wall in her kitchen, or Siobhan Tarr who has brought the garden inside her house with her spectacularly green fingers. James Pilling resides in his person shed in the middle of a building site with bike poised for an early morning spin whilst Jon Briscoe organises our every waking hour with benevolent decisiveness and our recently distanced genial voice of reason and wisdom Colin Powell looks over us and after us.
What a dream teams team!
This year really has been full of achievement. Financially we have, more or less, broken even which has been no mean feat on its own. During a year when we have completed a refurbishment of the office, had to work in bubbles, incurred the considerable cost of converting the business into an Employee Owned Trust and set everyone up with the IT infrastructure to work fairly seamlessly from home or from Corum 2, this performance has been even more remarkable.
The year stared with James Pilling achieving a Part 1 Architectural qualification by distance learning with Oxford Brookes and ended with Esther Brown becoming a fully qualified Architect. In the middle Sarah Makroum passed her first year of Part 2, again at Oxford Brookes and Own Faunt his first year apprentice Part 1 at South Bank University, both with flying colours. Matt Bonney and Olia Kyrirtsi became qualified Passivhaus designers and Tom Hubbard became a certified Architectural Technologist. Congratulations to you all.
Shout outs go to Michael Hanson for his tireless responses to your never-ending technical queries and Michael again with Tom Mellor for masterminding the IT development and eventual delivery of a VOIP telephone system. Don’t ring us ( and expect to get transferred ) we’ll ring you back! Lastly a big mention for Esther Brown, Natalie Lock, Matt Bonney and James Pilling for boosting our social media presence to the status of influencers – who would have believed it!
And then there was the actual work!
Happy Christmas to you and yours and I look forward to eventually meeting up with you all in 2021.
Jeremy Pilling
2020 Favourites: Castle Park Energy Centre
“This has been a fantastic project to be involved with. gcp has always been passionate about designing low energy buildings and Castle Park Energy Centre has given us the opportunity to work on a project which will deliver renewable energy. In a prominent location on the Floating Harbour on the edge of Castle Park the proposed Water Source Heat Pump forms an exciting part of the council’s ambition for Bristol to be a carbon neutral city by 2030”
We asked everyone in the office to name their favourite project of 2020. Jon has an interest in low energy buildings and was thrilled to help deliver this project which was granted permission in November.
Renewable Energy for the Bristol Heat Network
in Consulting
Castle Park Energy Centre proposal
Planning has been submitted by Bristol City Council’s Energy Service for the construction of a new Water Source Heat Pump energy centre on the edge of Castle Park. gcp have worked with the client and the design team to deliver this exciting scheme which will generate renewable energy for the Bristol Heat Network. Consisting of an abstraction platform on the wall of the Floating Harbour, a heat pump building and a thermal store, the proposed water source heat pump will form a key part of the council’s ambition for Bristol to be a carbon neutral city by 2030.
“Fab to be involved in this fascinating project for the city on such a prominent site on the edge of Castle Park and the floating harbour. ”
Jon WFH: What have I learnt from the experience?
The view into Jon’s Garden
As lockdown eases and gcp makes a part time return to the office, in small socially distancing work bubbles, what have I learnt from the experience?
First of all, it has reaffirmed that I need separation between my working and non-working life. The ability to work from home has led to the collapse of my work / home boundaries. What might have started out as working from home very quickly transformed into a feeling of living at work. It has only been the lack of phone calls and meetings that has distinguished the weekends from the working week. If working from home is to be a long-term part of my future, then I need to find a better work / life balance.
Secondly, working at home has been isolating at times. Bouncing ideas off people or sharing a problem is something that happens spontaneously in the office. When you need to arrange a meeting or make a phone call in order to speak to colleagues, it is often easier not to. Running jobs and coordinating projects with colleagues has proved my biggest challenge during lock down. The phrase ‘herding cats’ comes to mind. I had not appreciated just how important the casual catch up in the office was. Not only does this allow progress to be checked easily, but it facilities a more productive dialogue between colleagues.
There are however some positives that I can take from the experience. The only part of my work / life balance that I have got right is lunchtime. Gone is my office routine of sandwiches at my desk. There is nothing I have enjoyed more during these last three months than eating my lunch in the garden, and the glorious weather of early lockdown certainly helped. And my colleagues might be surprised to hear that it has not always been a cheese sandwich!
There are also benefits to holding meetings via video conferencing. There are times going forward when being in the same room will be beneficial, but too many times in the past I have driven for an hour to a meeting that has barely lasted half an hour, and probably wasn’t necessary anyway. Lockdown has shown us that these meetings can take place as a video conference, which not only means that the workday is more productive, but reduced travel benefits the environment. Speaking of the environment, I’ve managed to get by at home without printing as many drawings or e-mails as I deemed necessary in the office. Maybe fewer trees will be sacrificed in the name of my job.
gcp appointed to deliver 239 quality sustainable homes in Swindon.
in Housing, Regeneration
gcp are thrilled to be part of the team delivering Nationwide’s major new housing scheme in Swindon. The not for profit development will deliver 239 quality sustainable homes. The development has been designed as an intergenerational community with a mix of houses and flats, a community room, shared gardens, green spaces and links to the existing neighbourhood. 30% of the properties will be affordable. gcp are working for contractor Mi-Space, who started on site in April 2020. The first homes will be available to view in autumn 2021.
CGIs credit to PicturePlane, Metropolitan Workshop and PRP
Please take a look at the development website www.oakfieldswindon.co.uk for more information.
Meet the Team: Jon Briscoe
We’ve mentioned before how incredibly proud we are that over half of our team have been at the company ten years or more; there are so many benefits to having skills and relationships built over this period of time – we think that makes this office a welcoming place for our new starters and apprentices, many of whom go on to join the ranks (we have a further 4 members of staff in the five to ten year bracket).
There is another special anniversary at gcp this month, as we take a few moments to celebrate the hugely impressive 19-year work anniversary of Jon Briscoe, who did his year out at gcp in 1997.
Jon studied at Liverpool University and joined gcp following his graduation in 2000. He has worked as an architect since completing his qualification in 2002.
Jon combines his role as an architect with managing gcp Consulting, a separate entity within the overall practice. gcp Consulting provides the knowledge and understanding needed to deliver sustainable low energy buildings, that meet the compliance requirements of funders and local authorities. As our lead assessor, Jon provides energy advice to clients, prepares SAP assessments for statutory compliance and prepares energy strategies to meet Local Authority targets for reductions in energy demand and carbon emissions.
Jon has also completed training to deliver Principal Designer services to meet the requirements of CDM 2015 Health & Safety Regulations.
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I think the introduction speaks for itself Jon, you really have achieved so much during your time with us. It would be really nice if you could answer a few questions about your life, career and time with gcp. Let’s start with what inspired you to pursue architecture.
Dreaming of being an architect developed out of my childhood enjoyment of drawing.
And if you weren’t an architect, what would you be?
I always fancied being a travel writer in the style of Bill Bryson. Although theme park design also sounds like a lot of fun.
That does sound fun! Maybe we should add a theme park design challenge to our staff events calendar. But on a more serious note – a 22 year association with gcp is a long time; do you think you could tell us a bit about how the office has evolved in that time?
Although some of the people are the same, the way we work has changed. When I first joined there were still some drawing boards in use and for a while the office’s only internet connection and e-mail account was through the computer I was working on. We also used to work until 6pm because that was when the pub opened.
Nowadays we try save the pub for special occasions, or Fridays.
So, in all your time at gcp, what has been your favourite project to work on?
For my favourite project I would have to pick the refurbishment of Fairfield Park Health Centre.
I’ve been doing this for a while now and I must say, I find the favourite project choices really interesting. On a more personal level, do you think you could tell me a bit about your time out in Australia?
I took a break from the world of work in 2007/8 to explore Australia and New Zealand. Of all the experiences, from cleaning out koala enclosures, snorkelling, or jumping out of an airplane, the most fun we had was enjoying life on the road in a campervan, especially if the days route took in a local vineyard!
Sounds brilliant, I’m always a bit jealous of your year out, it’s on my bucket list.
It’s been fantastic catching up Jon and hearing a bit more about your time at gcp. To finish up do you think you could tell us something we might not already know about you?
As a baseball fan I have enjoyed many trips to American ballparks, but was particularly excited to attend the two game series between the Red Sox and the Yankees in London this year.
Perfect. Pictures attached.
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Jon is a senior architect with experience working on projects in the residential, sports, education and health sectors. With involvement from initial scheme design through to completion on site, Jon has experience of working with clients, submitting planning applications, discharging planning conditions, complying with statutory regulations and working closely with contractors and consultants.
As part of his interest in sustainable design, Jon qualified as a Code for Sustainable Homes assessor, completed the transfer training for its successor, the Home Quality Mark, and is a certified SAP assessor. Extending this further Jon is accredited to prepare thermal bridging calculations.
Recently, Jon has been working predominantly in the residential sector. As a project leader he combines his architectural expertise and sustainable design knowledge to provide a design approach which delivers practical and sustainable housing solutions for Housing Association and private developer clients.
It really is a pleasure to celebrate our staff anniversaries and achievements, today is a particularly special one.
We have another staff interview coming next week and a special anniversary month in September, where we will celebrate gcp becoming another year older so keep an eye on our blog for interviews, images and reminiscing through our birthday month.
Thermal Bridging Calculation Qualified
in Housing
Thermal Bridging Calculation
gcp are pleased to announce the addition of thermal bridging calculations to our services, available through gcp Consulting.
Part L of the Building Regulations now requires the submission of Thermal Bridging Calculations.
The Part L1A SAP calculation uses conservative default values for thermal bridging. Replacing these with calculated values assists in demonstrating Part L compliance through improved performance without needing to upgrade the specification of other elements of the building.
Please contact Jon Briscoe if you would like to know more about thermal bridging calculation services.