Stuart O'Brien, Author at Facilities Management Forum | Forum Events Ltd - Page 5 of 87
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Stuart O'Brien

Barbican Centre set for £25m facilities upgrade
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The City Corporation’s Policy and Resources Committee approved the money to develop elements of a long-term ‘masterplan’ for the Barbican Centre, undertake further consultation, and deliver early systems and infrastructure work to boost the venue’s operational and environmental performance over the next two years.

The Renewal Programme will transform underused spaces within the centre for new creative use, whilst also investing in its existing venues and public spaces, and improving the welcome, wayfinding and technical capabilities at the site.

It comes after the City Corporation launched its Destination City programme to build a seven-day-a-week leisure destination for UK and international visitors, workers, and residents.

Recognised globally as an icon of Brutalist style, the Barbican Centre is one of the UK’s greatest post-war buildings, attracting almost two million visitors annually.

It showcases the most exciting performers and artists in music, theatre, dance, the visual arts, and cinema, as well as supporting emerging talent, shaping opportunities that will accelerate the next generation of creatives. The Barbican is also one of the most dynamic London venues for domestic and international business events and conferences, creating an unparalleled blend of arts, curiosity and enterprise.. The City Corporation is the Barbican Centre’s founder and principal funder.

The overarching vision for the Barbican Renewal Programme is to care for and invest in the Barbican Centre building, celebrating its radical vision, and design heritage, while responding to the creative opportunities and challenges of the future.

Major improvements will be made to the building’s environmental performance under the City Corporation’s Climate Action Strategy, which commits it to achieving net zero carbon status in its own operations by 2027.

The project will sensitively preserve the complex, respecting its Grade II listed status, and the original architectural vision of the arts centre, which is now more than 40 years old.

Since the appointment of an award-winning design team in 2022 – led by Allies and Morrison, Asif Khan Studio and Buro Happold – the Barbican Renewal Programme team has been consulting widely to understand what audiences, artists, local communities, and the wider public want from the scheme.

Claire Spencer, Chief Executive Officer at the Barbican Centre said: “We are delighted with this vote of confidence in the Barbican Renewal Programme from the City Corporation. Our role is to spark creative possibilities and transformation for artists, audiences, and communities – to inspire, connect and provoke debate. Fundamental to this is the renewal of our brilliant Barbican building.

“We now have a great opportunity to conserve the extraordinary architectural heritage of the Barbican, while reconsidering what an arts centre can and should be in the twenty-first century, and making sure we are open and welcoming to all. I am looking forward to continuing to work with our accomplished design team, current and future users of our building, and the community to address the challenges and seize the opportunities of the future.”

i-FM Technology in FM Award – Now open for entries!
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The annual i-FM Technology in FM Award recognises companies and organisations in the facilities arena that are utilising new technologies to achieve exemplary improvements in business processes and performance in the world of the connected workplace.

The Technology in FM Award is open to entrants from across the facilities management industry and its many associated sectors. Entries are welcome from end users or tech providers across a broad range of initiatives – service delivery or management, internal or external communications, projects, etc – anything that demonstrably contributes to enhancing work, the workplace or the environment for people at work.  Joint entries, for example from a tech company and a client, are also welcome. And of course apps and any similar initiative designed to support hybrid or flexible work and today’s more flexible workplaces are welcome, too.

Past winners of this unique award have all been very different, spanning products, services, apps, websites and more. But they all have one theme in common: the use technology in compelling and innovative ways to support facilities management, the FM team and/or people in the workplace. In addition, they have all been solutions that are readily accessed and interfaced with other systems and elements of a particular environment to make demonstrable contributions to business processes and the wellbeing of the organisation and its employees.  They keys to success here are innovation, problem-solving and evidenced success.

The 2023, winner, for example, was a team comprised of Softbank Robotics, H3 Dynamics and Bouygues Energies & Services. Their solution to a specific challenge was a robotics-as-a-service drone that performs inspections on building façades. Bouygues E&S has deployed the platform on customers’ solar farm sites to enhance the organisation’s digital lifecycle management capability across its construction, infrastructure and energy businesses.

The award judges noted that the solution created can be used across a variety of industries and applications, and is significantly faster and more accurate than traditional methods used before. In addition, the return on investment was quick and easily identifiable, demonstrating both benefits and value not only for the FM sector but also for real estate users, occupiers and investors.

In previous year, Arcus FM emerged top in 2022 for its Photovoltaic Energy Dashboard monitoring and management system designed to meet the large-scale needs of a specific client.  In 2021, the award went to Wagestream for its employee financial support system, which is now used widely across the sector.  And in 2020, the winner was GoSpace AI, a unique intelligent workspace allocation tool.

Details of all these, plus the other winners stretching back over the years, are available on the i-FM website.

All entrants are assured of a fair and impartial assessment by a judging panel on which the majority are independent FM and technology experts. Judges are particularly interested in the ‘who, what, why, where, when and how’ elements of each entry as they seek to understand and assess the drivers for its development and the benefits it delivers.

Entry is a straightforward process, with the deadline for submission being 1 December.  The shortlist will be announced before the holidays.  Judging will take place 23 January, and the 2024 Award winner will be revealed at the annual Workplace Futures conference in February.

Further advice on entering for the i-FM Technology in FM Award is here.

Do you specialise in Waste Management? We want to hear from you!
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Each month on FM Briefing we’re shining the spotlight on a different part of the facilities management market – and in August we’ll be focussing on Waste Management.

It’s all part of our ‘Recommended’ editorial feature, designed to help FM industry buyers find the best products and services available today.

So, if you specialise in Waste Management and would like to be included as part of this exciting new shop window, we’d love to hear from you – for more info, contact Paige Aitken on p.aitken@forumevents.co.uk.

Here’s our full features list:

Aug – Waste Management
Sep – Asset Management
Oct – FM Software
Nov – Intruder & Alarm Systems
Dec – Fire & Safety Equipment
Jan 24 – Health & Safety
Feb 24 – Building Maintenance & Refurbishment
March 24 – Cleaning
Apr 24 – Total FM
May 24 – Energy Management
Jun – Physical Security
July – Air Conditioning

 

In focus: The key trends impacting HVAC solutions for Facilities Managers
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In the realm of facilities management, HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) systems play an indispensable role in maintaining comfort and air quality. As part of our focus this month on HVAC, we summarise the latest technological advancements and sustainability concerns…

Firstly, the integration of IoT (Internet of Things) in HVAC systems is becoming increasingly prevalent. IoT-enabled HVAC systems offer real-time monitoring and control, facilitating proactive maintenance and increasing energy efficiency. They can adjust automatically to changes in weather or occupancy, saving energy and reducing operational costs. Additionally, these systems can predict and identify potential issues, alerting facilities managers before significant problems arise.

Secondly, the shift towards greener, more sustainable HVAC solutions is gaining momentum. Energy-efficient HVAC systems, utilising technologies like geothermal heat pumps, solar-powered cooling, and waste heat recovery, are becoming more common. They not only reduce energy consumption and costs but also contribute to sustainability goals, aligning with the global trend towards reducing carbon footprints.

The rise of AI (Artificial Intelligence) and Machine Learning (ML) in HVAC systems is another significant trend. AI and ML can analyse vast amounts of data from the HVAC system and other building systems, optimising performance, predicting equipment failure, and providing insights for better decision-making.

Another emerging trend is the use of Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) systems. These systems allow for precise control over the heating and cooling of individual zones within a facility, enhancing comfort and reducing energy consumption. Their flexibility and scalability make them a popular choice for diverse facilities.

The increasing focus on Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is also notable, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. More facilities are investing in HVAC technologies that improve IAQ, such as air purifiers, UVGI (Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation) systems, and advanced filtration systems. These technologies can remove pollutants, allergens, and pathogens, enhancing occupant health and wellbeing.

Lastly, the trend towards HVAC as a Service (HVACaaS) model is emerging. This subscription-based model allows facilities to outsource their HVAC operations, including maintenance and upgrades. It reduces upfront costs, provides access to the latest technologies, and allows facilities managers to focus on their core operations.

The trends shaping HVAC solutions in facilities management reflect a broader shift towards smart, sustainable, and health-focused solutions. As these trends continue to evolve, facilities managers must stay abreast of the latest technologies and practices to maximise comfort, efficiency, and sustainability in their buildings.

The ultimate goal remains to create a healthy, comfortable, and productive environment for occupants, while balancing operational efficiency and sustainability concerns.

Are you searching for HVAC solutions for your company or organisation? The Facilities Management Forum can help!

Image by Erich Westendarp from Pixabay

Refurbishment on your mind for 2023? Find the solutions you need in the FM Forum Recommended Supplier Directory!
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Are you lining up a Refurbishment project for your building, venue, school or company? The FM Forum Recommended Supplier Directory is home to dozens of trusted partners ready to help make your project a reality!

Put simply, there’s something to suit every requirement.

Start Your Search Now

Are you an FM supplier? Get listed!

The FM Forum Recommended Supplier Directory is the perfect platform to raise your organisation’s profile and extend your reach.

Promoted via the FM Briefing newsletter, website and our renowned meet-the-buyer facilities events – this digital FM directory offers a comprehensive list of industry solution leaders.

Click Here To Get Listed!

Or, for more information, please contact Paige Aitken on 01992 374079 or p.aitken@forumevents.co.uk

Secure your place at October’s FM Technology Forum
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There’s a complimentary guest pass waiting for you at the FM Technology Forum, giving the the opportunity to meet with the sector’s best suppliers while networking with peers.

10th & 11th October

Radisson Hotel & Conference Centre London Heathrow

Your itinerary will include:

  • A series of seminar sessions
  • 1-2-1 meetings with budget-saving suppliers.
  • Networking opportunities with industry peers
  • Overnight accommodation
  • Drinks reception & three course dinner with entertainment
  • All other meals and refreshments throughout

Click Here To Register

Aggreko raises concerns over National Grid’s winter plans
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Aggreko is emphasising the importance of diversifying on-site energy models to ensure resilience in the immediate and foreseeable future, following news that the National Grid will ask factories to voluntarily reduce electricity usage this winter to combat grid strain.

The Grid has urged heavy industry to sign up to an expanded version of the demand flexibility service previously targeted at households to lower demand and ease the pressure on the UK’s power infrastructure.

According to Chris Rason, Managing Director of Aggreko Energy Services, this latest announcement shows the importance of decentralised energy technologies in ensuring the manufacturing sector can continue operations unimpeded.

“This request from the National Grid is a troubling one – especially for manufacturers,” he said. “Energy scarcity is rapidly supplanting fluctuating power prices as industry’s chief concern. This is unsurprising – insufficient grid supply is an existential threat to day-to-day operations, and requests to cut back or shift energy usage to outside peak times are definitely worrying for manufacturers.

“The disruption that may ensue because of this will hold back the sector at a time when UK manufacturers are often at their busiest. More flexible approaches to powering factories, including on-site power generation, must be explored if British businesses are to remain competitive at home and abroad.”

Anticipated disruption to grid supplies is a key talking point in Aggreko’s latest report, The Race to Resilience. It identifies steps high energy users can take to safeguard power provision in the immediate future, and how other tools and services may help facility stakeholders to best guarantee long-term energy security. The report also explores how plants can reduce carbon emissions and transmission losses while boosting resilience against external events such as National Grid shortages.

“The expansion of the demand flexibility service is not enough in isolation where grid disruption is concerned,” Rason concluded. “Energy-intensive facilities should not wait for these infrastructure problems to get worse. While prohibitive up-front costs and supply chain disruption may make it more difficult for organisations to secure permanent installations, short- to medium-term hired power may provide a potential way forward.

“On-site energy generation technology continues to develop rapidly, and multiple options are now available to boost resilience. These solutions, including battery storage, combined heat and power installations, gas-powered generators and microgrids, are covered in greater detail in  Race to Resilience, our latest report. I would advise stakeholders download a copy and see what can be done to combat growing grid strain issues.”

Airports of Tomorrow initiative aims to land Net zero by 2050
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More than 50 CEOs have come together to join the World Economic Forum’s new Airports of Tomorrow initiative, ranging from equipment manufacturers and fuel producers to engineering firms and airports. The initiative will focus on supporting airports to make the profound changes to their operations and infrastructure that will enable net-zero aviation.

Participants will be working together to:

  • Articulate the infrastructure requirements, through a series of blueprints, for airport ecosystems to transform their operations for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), electric and hydrogen-fuelled aircraft
  • Produce a geographical distribution map of the 300 SAF plants that will be needed to stay on track to achieve net zero by 2030, broken down by region to maximize the sustainable feedstock potential in each part of the world
  • Mobilise capital through innovative financing mechanisms; for example, through the co-design of a SAF fund and creative regulatory and policy instruments
  • Deliver a sustainable finance toolkit to mobilize the billions of dollars of investment needed to transform airports into clean energy hubs

Airports of Tomorrow members include: Airbus, Arup, Atkins, Boeing, Mott MacDonald, Neste, LanzaJet, Dufry, Menzies Aviation, Dallas Fort Worth (DFW), Mundys and its Aeroporti di Roma, London Heathrow, and many more. The full list of members can be found here.

Reaching net-zero emissions in the aviation industry will require an annual investment of approximately $175 billion, reaching $5 trillion by 2050, to enable the transition to emerging technologies and alternative propulsion methods like SAF and battery-electric/hydrogen powered flight. The Airports of Tomorrow initiative will bring together leading stakeholders in the aviation ecosystem to help mobilize this capital and forge a path towards net zero.

“We see airports as strategically located epicentres of activity, where leaders from across the aviation ecosystem can convene and work together to transform the industry,” said Lauren Uppink, Head, Climate Strategy, World Economic Forum. “If the right planning and investment decisions are made today, airports can play a pivotal role in shaping a sustainable future for aviation as well as other transport sectors. The Airports of Tomorrow initiative will help airports harness these opportunities, enabling them to fulfil their potential as clean energy hubs and standard-bearers for the net-zero economy.”

The shift will entail huge changes in infrastructure, both on and off airport sites. For example, it is estimated that airports could consume five times more electricity than they do today to power alternative propulsion methods, with global electricity demand for airports set to reach 600-1,700 TWh of clean energy by 2050, equivalent to the energy generated by a solar farm half the size of Belgium.

The massive land footprint of airport sites also allows for new infrastructure that typically has not been associated with airport activity before, such as solar photovoltaic farms, blending facilities for liquid fuels, and storage for either liquid or gas hydrogen.

Most airports have space for hydrogen liquefaction and storage infrastructure but not enough land to generate all of the clean energy needed to power battery-electric and hydrogen aircraft. Airports will have to establish new supply networks and partnerships to develop and scale off-airport infrastructure in addition to their on-site infrastructure changes, primarily in power generation, electrolysis and liquefaction, as well as the supply of sustainable aviation fuels.

“As a leading player in transport infrastructure enabling the mobility of several million people across the world,” said Giampiero Massolo, Chairman, Mundys’, “We see the transformation of airports towards net-zero aviation as a building block of our strategy focusing on sustainable infrastructure and multi-modal, integrated mobility services to improve life for people on the move. We are keen to work with the leading stakeholders in the aviation ecosystem to help mobilize the huge investment needed to transform airports into clean energy hubs.”

“Airports serve as powerful cornerstones of the aviation ecosystem where we can unite, collaborate and facilitate the industry’s sustainability transformation,” said Sean Donohue, CEO, DFW Airport. “By making the right planning and investment decisions today, we have the unique opportunity to shape a sustainable future for aviation and set examples for other public and private sectors. Through initiatives like the Airports of Tomorrow, we are dedicated to harnessing these opportunities, unlocking our full potential as clean energy hubs, and setting the standard for the net-zero economy.”

“Any pathway to achieving net-zero aviation will require a fundamental transformation in energy provision – with implications across both airport infrastructure and wider energy networks,” said Graham Bolton, Global Practice Leader for Aviation, Mott MacDonald. “By considering the airport as part of a wider ecosystem we can develop new solutions that facilitate decarbonisation of aviation and deliver wider community benefits. As Mott MacDonald we are already integrating aviation, energy and climate expertise to help airports meet their environmental and social commitments; and we are excited to build on this as a champion for Airports of Tomorrow.”

Final call for next week’s Facilities Management Forum
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The second Facilities Management Forum of 2023 takes place next week – Don’t miss out!

Join the delegate list today for free and also benefit from refreshments throughout the event, overnight accommodation, a networking dinner and a buffet lunch.

3rd and 4th July

Hilton Deansgate Manchester

Please book your delegate place here.

Among the seminar sessions being hosted by industry though leaders are:-

Beyond the Global FM Trust Index

Findings from the Global FM Employee Experience Index.

Presented by: Liz Kentish, Managing Director, Kentish & Co Ltd

Raising Standards and Reducing Risk: The importance of Choosing Third Party Certificated Suppliers for Security Systems, Guarding and Fire Safety Services

Don will explain why contracting third party certificated suppliers assures buyers and interested parties services will be delivered to the highest standards by businesses committed to quality and continual improvement.

Presented by: Don Oakley, Development Director, National Security Inspectorate (NSI)

Unlocking the Dangers of Artificial Intelligence

Is an AI produced policy right for you? What your business is trying to achieve and how your people behave is what determines your culture, not Artificial Intelligence.

AI, panacea or magic beans?
AI and security culture…
The future is bright but is it intelligent?

Presented by: Mike Gillespie, Managing Director, Advent IM

Your attendance is completely free of charge and includes:

• An itinerary of one-to-one meetings, designed by you, with solution providers
• A seat at the industry seminar sessions
• Networking breaks to make new connections in your field
• All meals and refreshments throughout
• A drinks reception & three-course meal, with entertainment

To reserve your place, click here.

Alternatively, please feel free to contact us with any questions.

Do you specialise in Air Conditioning? We want to hear from you!
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Each month on FM Briefing we’re shining the spotlight on a different part of the facilities management market – and in July we’ll be focussing on Air Conditioning.

It’s all part of our ‘Recommended’ editorial feature, designed to help FM industry buyers find the best products and services available today.

So, if you specialise in Air Conditioning and would like to be included as part of this exciting new shop window, we’d love to hear from you – for more info, contact Paige Aitken on p.aitken@forumevents.co.uk.

Here’s our full features list:

July – Air Conditioning
Aug – Waste Management
Sep – Asset Management
Oct – FM Software
Nov – Intruder & Alarm Systems
Dec – Fire & Safety Equipment
Jan 24 – Health & Safety
Feb 24 – Building Maintenance & Refurbishment
March 24 – Cleaning
Apr 24 – Total FM
May 24 – Energy Management
Jun – Physical Security