Restrictions over the last ten months have deeply affected the Architecture industry. Architects have not been able to work in the office, and smaller architecture firms have struggled to stay afloat, with the lack of projects, certainty and clients since the effects of the virus.

Although buildings have been able to remain open, issues around meeting contractor demands when Covid-19 restrictions have prevented many architects from attending live sites have also caused distress and disruption in the industry.

Paul Stallan of Glasgow-based Stallan Brand says: “As a studio we had been consistently growing year-on-year for the past nine years. That has not only stopped but gone backwards due to Covid. We have lost people, and it hurts”.

Progress has also been halted by the uncertainty of the Architecture and Design industry landscape. Stretched local authorities are delaying responses to pre-applications, these are usually the first step in risk assessments of developments and delays are creating a stranglehold on progress, reducing productivity and increasing timeframes of projects.

Ian Apsley, managing director of Broadway Malyan, London has said ‘We will see the effect [of the lockdown] in a slowing-down of the recovery and the progress of major projects through the planning process.’

Other industries such as steel and car manufacturing have saved tens of thousands of lost man hours per site and reported no transmission issues through adopting frequent rapid lateral flow testing. These included Bentley and Tata Steel.

Regular rapid mass testing will help facilitate a more significant opening of other large industries such as infrastructure engineering, rail travel, entertainment, hospitality, manufacturing, construction and retail, among many more. By testing staff regularly in industry with rapid results, consumers and employees can feel safe returning to these environments and employers can have greater certainty on working hours, capacity and avoid further disruption.

The World Nano Foundation and pandemic experts say regular use of inexpensive mass lateral flow rapid antigen test kits is the way to beat COVID-19, its variants and future viruses.

As vaccination quickens for vulnerable members of society, the next prize is to get the world’s economies moving, with mass frequent testing as the key, using the mantra ‘test to suppress’, and as an early warning system to protect against new strains and future outbreaks.

These simple-to-manufacture rapid tests have shown a thousand-fold increase in the effectiveness and accuracy of testing with this technology. The kits can produce a positive result even when there are fewer antigens to the virus in the sample – vital for finding asymptomatic individuals and ‘super-spreaders’.

In what many believe was a game-changer in preventing lockdowns across the world, in the UK, community and workplace lateral flow rapid test kits (LFTs) have been mobilised now for door-to-door delivery  – the UK government has secured more than 400 million of these kits – for its “Test to Suppress” strategy as well as to address fears that the South African variant had broken out in areas of the country. 

World Health Organisation Special Envoy on COVID-19, David Nabarro commented:

“We’ve seen it (rapid mass testing) used in many different locations, for example in trying to keep aircraft free of people who’ve got COVID or looking after major events.”

A UK Government initiative offering LFTs in workplaces – healthcare, education, and local authorities, with private companies such as Royal Mail, the DVLA and Tate & Lyle Sugars also adopting frequent rapid testing.

Oxford’s Regius Professor of Medicine, Sir John Bell underlined the benefit of these tests removing infectious people from high-risk environments: “They’ve found 25,000 cases just in healthcare, which may have prevented tens of thousands of cases of the disease.” 

Tim Peto, Professor of Medicine, Infectious Disease, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, Oxford University addressed the contrasts between PCR (polymerase chain reaction) swab testing and lateral flow kits:

“PCR is very good at telling you’ve had the virus or got the virus, but it doesn’t tell you whether you are infectious or not and the other problem about the swab test is that it takes a day or two…to get the answer back. The LFT has the enormous advantage of giving you an answer in about 30 minutes.”

He said this allows immediate self-isolation and individuals can also quickly advise their contacts so, “within a few hours, a local outbreak can be detected. This can’t be done with the swab (PCR) tests” adding that LFTs “detect people with high viral loads…the very people who are infectious.”

The World Nano Foundation (WNF) promotes healthcare technology and predicts that mass testing is central to future pandemic protection.

The not-for-profit organisation’s Co-founder Paul Sheedy said: “Our research shows how healthcare diagnostics technology will shift dramatically to a more decentralised community early intervention model, against potential epidemics and pandemics.

“Our own COVIDlytics™ modelling shows that an intensive front line ‘Test to Suppress’ campaign using rapid test kits available to the individual will allow early detection and immediate isolation, reducing the need for lockdowns.”

The Bathroom Manufacturers Association has announced it is rearranging the date for the Industry Conference due to ongoing Coronavirus concerns. This event had been planned for June 7-8, 2021 but is now being moved to June 6-7, 2022. It will still take place at Carden Park Hotel and Spa in Cheshire.  

MA CEO, Tom Reynolds, explained the decision: “The safety of all the attendees and BMA employees is at the forefront of our minds, and we have been working with Carden Park to assess whether the event can go ahead.    “This is the second time we have taken the decision to postpone the conference, and it’s with a heavy heart we’ve taken this step. 

“Ongoing lockdown and travel restrictions in the UK, and uncertainty about the vaccine timetable, have prompted this move. “Rather than cancelling the event at the last minute, we’ve taken the decision to postpone for now, but I want to reassure everyone, the conference will happen at some point, and we will do everything we can to make it worth the wait.”   

Previous bookings will be honoured and anyone wishing to make a new booking can do so here. 

The Kitchen Bathroom Buying Group (KBBG), part of DER KREIS is continuing to support its members throughout lockdown by working with its suppliers to offer webinars exclusively for KBBG members. 

The first webinar, which took place on 27^th January 2021, titled ‘How to successfully sell in a virtual world’, was led by the Director of Lead Wolf, Graeme Wilson. The webinar was carefully crafted to help KBBG members successfully organise virtual appointments to continue to generate leads while showrooms must remain closed during lockdown. Graeme shared insights and tips that covered the whole process of organising virtual appointments from what to include on a booking form, right through to how to host the meeting and follow up with the client afterwards.

Graeme Wilson, Director, Lead Wolf, explains: “Virtual appointments have never been so important with the changing nature of how independent retailers are operating due to the pandemic. What’s more, we have taken note of the change in consumer behaviour and foresee many of the new ways of working to continue to be popular with consumers beyond the pandemic. We therefore encourage retailers to adapt their selling process now, by introducing virtual appointments for example, and integrating these new ways of working into their future sales process too.”

The webinar was gratefully received and very well attended by KBBG members. Tasha Cloete, Owner, CLOPPENbourne Kitchens, praised the webinar: “I found it very useful and have implemented a few of the points already”, while Darren Walker, Director, Laings, said: “The webinar was good, well presented and clear – good points made for this new way of working”.

Bill Miller, Managing Director, KBBG, adds: “The feedback we received following the webinar was very positive, with many members praising the session for being interesting, informative and detailed. In addition, each attendee was sent a pack to help them get started, enabling them to drive their business through virtual appointments. A number of our members have also expressed interest in further discussions with Graeme on a one-to-one basis.”

The KBBG is planning further webinars to continue to support members of the buying group during this uncertain period of time. Bill explains: “We were pleased that the webinar was so well-received and we are working with our suppliers to plan further sessions for our members to partake. We also encourage our members to let us know if there are any particular topics they would be keen to learn more about and we will do our best to make it happen.”

For more information on the KBBG, call Bill Miller on 07887 247811 or email b.miller@derkreis.co.uk

As of the 21st January 2021 Waterfront Designer Bathrooms entered Voluntary Liquidation.

An automated email reply from a senior company spokesperson confirms:

Waterfront Designer Bathrooms has entered into Voluntary Liquidation. As of the 21st January, all staff including myself were made redundant.

Thank you for your support in the past and we wish you every success for the future.

Based in Waltham Abbey, Waterfront Designer Bathrooms Ltd’s portfolio included Designer, Signature and Studio bathroom collections. The company worked with leading designers and architects on projects such as Emery Wharf Dock (pictured).

AWARD-WINNING CPMG Architects, has announced the relocation of its head office. Following more than two decades in Warser Gate, the architectural practice will be moving its operations to a new home in St Peters Gate. 

The Grade II listed two-storey building, which has had a former life as a bank and more recently a bar, will be completely refurbished by CPMG with a design approach that captures the company’s mission: to design “places that feel better”. 

Overlooking St. Peter’s Church, the former banking hall will bring the team together in a single studio environment with newly installed mezzanine, along with subterranean meeting spaces occupying the former bank vaults. The entrance space will incorporate a co-working and coffee area. 

Managing director Richard Flisher said: “This move is a vote of confidence in our home city of Nottingham and in the future vitality of the city centre. Everything we do at CPMG is driven by our core values of people, purpose and place – and our move to St Peters Gate is no different. 

“As designers we adopt a flexible approach to the workplace and this move gives us the opportunity to instigate new ways of working for our staff, based on choice, and supported by flexible workstyles and cloud-based IT systems. 

“In support of CPMG’s commitment to the ‘RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge’ and our drive towards making all our designs zero carbon, we have designed our new offices to eliminate fossil fuel use whilst continuing to offset the remainder of our operational carbon use via Forest Carbon.” 

The design team will be revealing key details and progress on the refurbishment of the site over the coming months.  

Talking about the driving forces behind the decision, Richard continued: “We have been working towards a more flexible and varied approach to working for a while and there is no doubt that this has been greatly accelerated by the effects of COVID-19. Our existing lease at Warsaw Gate was coming to an end and it has given us the perfect opportunity to look afresh at the way we want to work in the future. 

“While we have in recent years opened offices in London, Birmingham and China, Nottingham is where our headquarters will always be. With this office move, we are reaffirming our commitment to a city that is our home and the place where we continue to design key projects across the city. 

“Nottingham has been our home for more than two decades, and we’re looking forward to being here for many more years to come.” 

For more information about CPMG Architects, please visit https://www.cpmg-architects.com.