Category: Uncategorised

One of the challenges faced by us working remotely from home is getting enough fresh air and exercise.

Many studies have shown that doing physical activity can improve mental health. For example, it can help with:

• better sleep – by making you feel more tired at the end of the day
• happier moods – physical activity releases feel-good hormones that make you feel better in yourself and give you more energy
• managing stress, anxiety or intrusive and racing thoughts – doing something physical releases cortisol which helps us manage stress.
• Being physically active also gives your brain something to focus on and can be a positive coping strategy

NACWL have successfully gained FIRAS Certification for installation of Passive Fire Protection systems.

We underwent a three-stage assessment process in our head office and on a live site and the requirements were successfully met with no issues.

FIRAS was first introduced back in 1994 to drive up standards in the installation of fire protection products, for the benefit of the construction industry.  It is a voluntary, third party independent certification scheme for installation contractors of both passive and active fire protection systems and is operated by Warrington Certification and accredited by UKAS.

An important element of being FIRAS registered is that we are subject to ongoing random inspection of our installation work.  We are also required to have an annual audit of our office systems by FIRAS inspectors to ensure compliance.  This provides added reassurance to our customers of the workmanship they will receive.   As FIRAS certificated contractors, we are required to log all contracts to the FIRAS database, which means our clients can receive a certificate of conformity (compliance) for the completed works.

NACWL have been busy collecting kids unwanted/outgrown football boots/trainers/sports kit for local Portsmouth charity ‘The Roberts Centre’ who work with vulnerable children and families.

These families do not have the finances to buy sports kit, which means the kids don’t get the opportunity to play sport.

With all this kit we will be able make a lot of children in the Hampshire area very happy, so thankyou to our colleagues, friends and clients who kindly donated!

We are delighted to announce that we have been appointed by Brymor Construction to install  a combination of Schueco, Aluprof and SMARTS to a cruise terminal in Southampton. The new building will service the larger cruise liners and will be used to safely transfer passengers into the boats from its impressive 80-meter bridge.

NACWL will provide bespoke applications where required such as fire rated windows, Bi-folding doors, Curtain Wall facades which boasts in areas a single span of 5m and curtain wall roof lights to a CWCT class 1.

We have already started on site and we look forward to sharing more progress shots in the coming months.

We have been appointed by McLaren Construction to design, supply and install the external glazed elements to the new development at Edward St, Brighton;  including curtain walling, timber composite windows and aluminium windows with feature cladding details such as balconies, soffits and brick slip reveals.

The Edward Street Quarter project is a mixed-use development that will deliver 110,000 sq ft of Grade A office space, 168 new apartments, 39,000 sq ft of retail, food and beverage and leisure units, the development is the largest of its kind to come to Brighton in over 25 years.

The English National Ballet has been named Overall Winner and Steel Category Winner at the 2020 Schueco Excellence Awards. The awards are judged on innovation, technical expertise and collaboration in the design of projects that incorporate Schueco facade, window and door systems. NACWL was responsible for the design, supply and installation of Schueco curtain wall glazing solutions for all four floors of The English National Ballet building.

Constructed by main contractor Ballymore and in a striking design developed by Glenn Howells Architects, the external façade of the steel building is a combination of glazing and semi-opaque cladding, allowing passers-by to view dancers practising inside – a design feature that aims to open up the building and the art of ballet to the wider community.

The project impressed the judges with its engineering excellence, particularly the ability of the steel curtain walling to support very large and heavy glass panels while retaining a lightweight and elegant aesthetic.

NACWL has appointed by GRAHAMS  to design, supply and install the external facade glazing, roof lights and internal dividing pool screens of its new indoor sports facilities. This will be through a combination of Schueco and Aluprof products to meet the demanding specifications and quality required.

Liam Kewell our Contracts Manager got awarded his favourite football teams ‘Portsmouth’ shirt by our Executive Director Robbie Welch.

Liam has been with us for 2 years and always goes the extra mile, providing our customers with the best service. Liam received amazing feedback from Berkeley Group, commending his work on our Sovereign Court Project and stating how much of a credit he is to the company.

He certainly is and we want to thank Liam for his incredible work – Congratulations!

Three NACWL projects have been shortlisted for the RCI Facade Awards. The Awards, which recognise the most innovative achievements in facades, have shortlisted Plumstead Library for the Best refurbishment project. London Film School for the Best use of a brick slip cladding system and Hobhouse Court for Best use of a Curtain Walling System. The RCI Facade Awards UK, is a unique event tailored to provide acknowledge and reward excellence for those working within this dynamic sector.

Best refurbishment project-NA Curtain Walling with Geoffrey Osborne: Plumstead Library, London
Plumstead Library is a grade II listed building built in 1903 and is one of the first Carnegie funded Libraries, the refurbishment has created a new facility that combines improved Library rooms, new Leisure facilities, reinstated flexible spaces, and a new café that creates a new social destination for the residents and the High Street. NACWL were appointed to design, supply and install new curtain walling, SFS, single-ply roofing, hot melt roofing and bespoke glazed roof lanterns.

Best use of a brick slip cladding system-NA Curtain Walling with Ballymore: London Film School
London City Island is a new neighbourhood in Canning Town, developed by Ballymore on former dockland. Used originally as a media centre during the Olympics. The new purpose built London Film School will accommodate 220 students, along with over 55 staff, from over 60 countries and will include 2 cinemas. NACWL were awarded the contract to strip the existing facade back to its primary structure and install a completely new facade.

Best use of a Curtain Walling System-NA Curtain Walling with Geoffrey Osborne: Hobhouse Court, London
The mixed-use development comprises of 19 residential units, 1400m² office space, 850m² retail, and an art gallery within a refurbished Grade II listed John Nash building. Parts of the site fall within both Trafalgar Square & St Johns Conservation Area of Westminster.
NACWL were appointed to install windows into SIPS / brickwork openings, as well as some into more challenging dormer areas where we were to supply the rainscreen cladding to roof and cheeks. On the ground floor our scope included toggle glazed curtain walling and doors, as well as the “monumental” capped curtain wall screen to the stair core.

We have been appointed by Grahams to install Schueco FWS50 curtain wall system, Schueco AWS75 Si windows and doors and fire rated curtain wall screens to the Egham Gateway project in Surrey.

Amidst such uncertain times it is great to know that the new mixed-use scheme will see the construction of over 100 new homes, as well as new student accommodation, retail units and a cinema, generating more employment opportunities and helping towards rebuilding the economy.

The project, formally known as Egham Gateway West, is being managed by development and placemaking group Places for People on behalf of Runnymede Borough Council.

The development will deliver 1,300sqm of new retail space as well as a new, high-quality public realm connecting it to the rest of the town centre.

We look forward to working closely with Grahams on this project which is expected to start in October 2020.

When lock down happened, we all used the time at home in many different ways.

One of our Quantity Surveyors Antonio Cerdà Lluch gave the baking and gardening a miss and instead concentrated on completing his Master’s Degree in Business Administration from The European Business School in his home country of Spain.

A massive well done to Antonio, he can now add those important initials after his name!

Great news to share with everybody, we have been appointed by McLaren Construction Group to install Aluprof UK Ltd Curtain Wall system, Zinc cassette and shingle panels, SFS framing, Soffits and GRC features cladding to the new 10-screen Empire Cinema in Basildon, Essex.

Alongside this there will be six new restaurant units with outdoor dining opportunities, demolition and site preparation has already started and the project is expected to be complete by Summer 2021.