Fortress 80 Fencing shortlisted in Design in Mental Health Awards

Britplas is delighted to have been shortlisted in the Outside Spaces category of the 2022 Design in Mental Health Awards for its Fortress 80 Fencing installation carried out at Sowenna CAMHS Unit in Bodmin.

Anti-ligature Fortress 80 Fencing is widely used for securing mental health unit buildings, recreational and outdoor areas, providing enhanced security and safety for patients and staff.

“We are absolutely delighted with the finished Fortress 80 Fencing” explained Karyn Roberts, Business Support Officer at Sowenna, following the project completion. “Not only has it solved the fundamental problems with the old fence but it’s actually helped to create a much more pleasant environment for our service users.

“Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with visitors and patients regularly telling us how much better it looks, but we are also seeing a direct behavioural impact with markedly increased usage of the recreation area.”

The full shortlist can be viewed here. Winners are due to be announced on Wednesday 8th June.

For more details on the Sowenna installation click here.

Fortress 80 Fencing wins a Building Better Healthcare Award

Britplas Fortress 80 Fencing installed at Sowenna CAMHS Inpatient Unit, Bodmin, has won the award for the Best External Environment Project at the 2021 Building Better Healthcare Awards.

The BBH Awards celebrate the very best in the design and build of healthcare facilities across the UK. During a double celebration held at The Brewery in central London this week and attended by more than 600 guests, trophies were handed out across five classes for both the 2020 and 2021 competitions, after last year’s event was postponed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Britplas anti-ligature Fortress 80 Fencing is widely used for securing mental health unit buildings, recreational and outdoor areas, providing total security and safety for patients and staff.

Supported on substantial posts and fixed with anti-tamper fixings, Fortress Fencing is ultra-strong, exceptionally secure and can be built up to heights of 5.2 metres. Its innovative cloaking allows for the overprinting of artwork or scenery which can be used to enhance therapeutic environments.

The Sowenna fence was installed in Q4 2020, with Britplas adopting Covid-secure working practices to carry out the project during the UK’s second period of lockdown.

“We are absolutely delighted with the finished Fortress 80 Fencing” explained Karyn Roberts, Business Support Officer at Sowenna. “Not only has it solved the fundamental problems with the old fence but it’s actually helped to create a much more pleasant environment for our service users.

“Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with visitors and patients regularly telling us how much better it looks, but we are also seeing a direct behavioural impact with markedly increased usage of the recreation area.

“We are all aware of the therapeutic impact of the natural environment and this fencing is a great way to bring the beauty of the outdoors into our facility whilst also, crucially, successfully solving a potential absconsion problem and minimising the ligature risk.”

For more details on the Sowenna fencing project please click here.

For more details on Fortress 80 Fencing please click here.

The complete list of BBH Award winners can be found here.

 

Sancroft refurbishment project gets underway

Britplas has been awarded a contract to complete the design and installation of the glazing package at Sancroft London – a refurbishment of an existing building creating best-in-class office space with hotel style facilities in Paternoster Square.

The project, for McLaughlin & Harvey, includes the refurbishment of existing curtain wall screens and coping as well as the installation of a heavy duty 10m wide bifolding door system to the terrace area on level 7. Britplas will also be installing frameless revolving doors, secret fix rainscreen panels and acoustic louvers.

The project is currently on site and is due for completion in Q2 next year.

Douglas Bennett House to use Safevent Access windows

Britplas has been appointed to supply and install its patented Safevent windows at Douglas Bennett House – a new, purpose-built mental health facility for longstanding client South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) at Denmark Hill in London.

Spread over nearly 10,000m², the new facility is being built by Integrated Health Projects (IHP), the VINCI Construction UK and Sir Robert McAlpine joint venture, and will house acute adult inpatient services including four specialist wards and a psychiatric intensive care unit.

The building will use over 200 Safevent Access windows with Multask® handles, some of which are vertically sliding. Britplas are due to complete their installation phase later this year with the whole project due for completion in 2022.

Britplas wins façade package at Tower House, Bristol

Britplas has been awarded a contract to complete the façade package to Tower House in Bristol – a refurbishment of a 14 storey tower providing contemporary office space at 10 Fairfax Street for Midas Construction.

The project comprises the design and installation of curtain walling, structural glazing, doors, windows and secret fix rainscreen panels. Britplas is due to complete the works in October this year with the building due for occupation from Q1 2022.

This is Britplas’ second project for Midas Construction in Bristol, having previously completed facade works at the Unity Street student accommodation project.

Image: Darling Associates

Britplas Fortress 80 Fencing at Sowenna CAMHS Unit

Britplas Fortress 80 Fencing has been fitted to the outdoor area at the new Sowenna CAMHS Inpatient Unit in Bodmin.

 

Britplas were contacted in the middle of 2020 by Karyn Roberts, Business Support Officer at Sowenna. The unit, which opened in 2019, had been fitted with a wooden slatted external boundary fence which was already proving problematic, with patients able to climb the fence quite easily.

From internet research, Karyn had identified Britplas’ Fortress 80 Fencing as a possible suitable replacement product. Its anti-climb and anti-ligature properties were obviously a necessity but Karyn was also drawn to the option to print artwork onto the fence’s cloaking which she felt would significantly improve the outdoor recreation area as well as providing an opportunity to involve young people and give them a say on what the new fence would look like.

Anti-ligature Fortress 80 Fencing is widely used for securing mental health unit buildings, recreational and outdoor areas, providing total security and safety for patients and staff.

Supported on substantial posts and fixed with anti-tamper fixings, Fortress Fencing is ultra-strong, exceptionally secure and can be built up to heights of 5.2 metres.

Having settled on the Fortress 80 product, Karyn provided current inpatients with a choice of four different scenes for the new fence. The winning design featured a stretch of rocky coastline, a fitting reminder of the nearby Cornish coast. Karyn chose a bright RAF blue for the fence posts, in a nod to her RAF background, which further brightens the finished effect and reduces its impact.

The fence was installed in Q4 2020, with Britplas adopting Covid-secure working practices to carry out the project during the UK’s second period of lockdown.

“We are absolutely delighted with the finished Fortress 80 Fencing” explains Karyn. “Not only has it solved the fundamental problems with the old fence but it’s actually helped to create a much more pleasant environment for our service users.

“Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with visitors and patients regularly telling us how much better it looks, but we are also seeing a direct behavioural impact with markedly increased usage of the recreation area.

“We are all aware of the therapeutic impact of the natural environment and this fencing is a great way to bring the beauty of the outdoors into our facility whilst also, crucially, successfully solving a potential absconsion problem and minimising the ligature risk.

“Patients enjoyed being able to have a say on the choice of artwork and even something as simple as being able to specify a bright colour for the fence posts helps to transform the overall impact from something drab and negative and reminiscent of confinement to something positive and cheerful.

“From our first enquiry, Britplas have been great to deal with. The installation was smooth and well-managed and installers were well versed in the protocols and procedures necessary for working in live environments.”

Graham Garside, Sowenna Unit Manager, commented “the improved security of the recreation area means that we no longer need to closely observe the patients when they are outside and they can express themselves safely.

“I am overjoyed with the look of the fence, it is better than I had imagined it would be and during the installation, Britplas worked closely with us to ensure that the impact of the area being closed caused minimal disruption to our patients.”

New façade contract at Wirral Waters

Britplas is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a contract to complete the façade package to No. 1 Tower Road South, a new commercial development at Wirral Waters, Liverpool, which will create 25,000 sq ft of office space over 4 storeys.

Working for main contractor GMI Construction, Britplas are due to start on site in May, with completion due in autumn 2021. The building was designed by Glenn Howells Architects and features a striking facade comprising curtain wall with feature cladding panels. 

Ben Woodward appointed sales and estimating director

Britplas has announced the appointment of Ben Woodward to the new position of sales and estimating director.

Ben, who has been with the business since 2015 and previously led the pre-construction and estimating department, will be responsible for the overall sales strategy for the Britplas Group, heading up the sales and estimating teams and leading new business development.

Having doubled its turnover over the last five years to some £27m, Britplas carries out the design, manufacture and installation of glazed façades to large commercial developments throughout the UK and also supplies a specialist patented window to the mental health sector.

Current commercial projects include the £250m Kampus mixed use development in Manchester City Centre and the new Edinburgh St James Quarter for main contractor Laing O’Rourke.

The new role will oversee the sales functions of both the commercial and healthcare divisions of the business for the first time.

“Ben has been an integral part of the senior team at Britplas for some years now” commented Britplas managing director John Blackwell. “He has an in-depth understanding of our markets and shares our vision for future business growth. I congratulate him on this well-deserved promotion.”

Ben commented “I am delighted to be stepping up to the position of sales and estimating director. Despite what has been a challenging year for most businesses, we have a firm strategy in place supported by an excellent team and I am looking forward to the next stage of our development.”

Building Awards Specialist Contractor of the Year

Britplas has won the Specialist Contractor of the Year award in the 2020 Building Awards.

These prestigious annual awards, run by Building Magazine, celebrate the very best of UK construction.

Winners were announced in an online film published on 3rd November. The full list of award winners can be viewed here.

 

Safevent windows selected for Springfield University Hospital

Britplas is delighted to announce that it has been awarded a £1m+ contract to supply Safevent windows to the new state of the art mental health centre being built at Springfield University Hospital in Tooting.

Commissioned by South West London & St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust (SWLSTG) and with build now underway by main contractor Sir Robert McAlpine, the £150m development will include eight new inpatient wards and is set to open in 2022.

SWLSTG has selected aluminium Safevent windows featuring Multask handles for the new buildings, which have been carefully designed with input from clinicians and service users to provide the most supportive environment and innovative facilities for the delivery of mental health care.

Image: C.F. Møller Architects