Date: 25th July 2019

Civil engineering family fun sessions

Supported by Curtins, ICE Merseyside is hosting free summer engineering sessions aimed at young people aged 6-14 years old on Wednesday 21 August.

Families can have a go at flying drones, virtual reality, building LEGO, water challenges and colouring.

The event is taking place at Liverpool’s Central Library between 10am – 12pm and 1pm – 3pm.

Bookings can be made here or you can just turn up on the day.

We’d love to see as many budding engineers as possible so please help us to spread the word with family and friends in the area.

Date: 17th July 2019

Our third wellbeing event takes place in Leeds

Stacey Copeland visited our Leeds office on Friday to run a third workshop on mental health and wellbeing for our staff, following events in Liverpool and Manchester. The workshop asked staff to consider the things that may have shaped their perceptions of mental health or illness, and what support systems are available to help them cope with stress or times of difficulty.

Once again, Stacey rounded off the event in true sporting form with a boxing skills session, designed around teamwork and friendly competition; and highlighting the benefits of exercise for our wellbeing.

Thank you to Stacey for another excellent session and to Nigel Maitland for the photography.

Date: 11th July 2019

Curtins appointed as C&S Engineer for Gorton Community Hub

Manchester City Council has appointed Morgan Sindall Construction to build a new health and community hub in Gorton, who in turn has selected Curtins as Civil and Structural Engineer.

Discussions are on-going around what services will be available at the hub, but the ambition is to bring together a partnership of public sector organisations, including Manchester City Council, health and social care partners and housing and community service provider, One Manchester.

The purpose-built facility on Garrett Way would create a one-stop resource for local people to access a range of health, social and public services in a single location, all of which are currently delivered by several different providers in different parts of Gorton. This will include moving the Gorton library from its current site close by, with the existing library remaining open until construction is completed.

The demolition of the vacant properties on Garratt Way, formerly offices and a pub, is already under way to make way for the hub

The proposals were presented to tenants at a series of consultations in June. A planning application is expected to be submitted in July, with a start on site planned by late 2019 and completion anticipated in Spring 2021.

Shaun Jones, North West area director for Morgan Sindall Construction said:

“This is precisely the type of development we have a real passion for delivering and we are very pleased to have the opportunity and responsibility to provide these new facilities to the people of Gorton. We look forward to working closely with the city council to ensure the project has a positive community benefit during the construction process.”

Councillor Bev Craig, Manchester City Council’s executive member for adult health and wellbeing, said: “An approach like this is the embodiment of our belief that you can’t just treat health and social care in isolation – as all the other key elements of life like housing, having a good job, and having fulfilling things to do in our free time are all interconnected with our wellbeing.

“We want to help Manchester people live happier and healthier lives. Accessing services should be easy and joined up, and that’s why we are making public services like health and care work more closely, to provide better support to help people when they need it, to stay fit and well, access good quality jobs and enjoy all the rich social and cultural elements of where they live.”

The hub in Gorton sits alongside several regeneration projects taking place in the area. Manchester’s Housing Investment Fund has backed the development of more than 400 homes, including 183 homes for sale at Connell Gardens in West Gorton and 67 homes for sale and rent at Gorton Monastery.

Image: Artist’s impression provided by Manchester City Council

Date: 11th July 2019

David Hammond contributes to new CIRIA guidance on Construction Impact

David Hammond, Associate in our London office, is providing ongoing specialist geotechnical advice on the steering committee for new guidance by the Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA) on ground movement. The project will deliver good practice guidance on prediction, assessment and control of damage from ground movements, which will be disseminated through the industry.

Ground movements caused by construction activities such as basement excavation or tunnelling have the potential to cause damage to neighbouring structures or services. The guidance will identify the principal sources of ground movements and the methods for their prediction using empirical and analytical methods. Information on commonly adopted control measures to control ground movements from initial design through to construction will be included. The project also aims to provide guidance on permissible movement for different structure types, dependent on their condition and structural characteristics, and how this might be achieved by monitoring.

It is hoped that the guidance will enable those with a role in managing construction impact from ground movement to better understand the impact and good practice mitigation strategies.

For more information, visit CIRIA’s website here.

Date: 11th July 2019

Alison Horton is named as an Inspirational Women

We Are Tech Women has named Alison Horton, Senior Engineer in our Birmingham office as an Inspiration Woman in recognition of her work to encourage more people – both male and female – into STEM related jobs.

Find out what she has to say about her role as a STEM ambassador, an Engineer and a role model to young women aspiring to a career in engineering in this Q&A piece on WATW’s website by clicking here.

Date: 5th July 2019

Eleven take on the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge

Congratulations to our brilliant team of 11 walkers who set out in the early hours of Saturday 29 June to complete the Yorkshire Three Peaks in aid of Marie Curie, Curtins’ charity of the year.

The eleven completed the mammoth walk in 11 and a half hours, raising over £1388 for Marie Curie and exceeding their target.

Marie Curie carry out invaluable work supporting and caring for families living with a terminal illness. Their Nurses care for people in their home, when they need them most, day or night. They have nine hospices across the UK and last year, they provided support for more than 50,000 people across the UK.

The team’s completed Yorkshire Three Peaks route was 24miles long and included 1585m of ascent. The peaks (Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough) form part of the Pennine range and encircle the head of the valley of the River Ribble, in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Thank you for everyone for their support, and in particular to Paula Gallego, Andrea McGee, Rebecca Strange, Michelle Lin, Shamine, Max Lee-Rodriguez, Ben Hughes, Sam Hoyer, Brendan Oates, David Dominguez and Kieran Geoghegan – our intrepid hikers!

If you would still like the opportunity to support Marie Curie, you can do so at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/TeamCurtins

Date: 4th July 2019

Multiple schemes approved for Transport Planning team

It’s been a successful couple of weeks for our Transport Planning team who have seen planning approval secured for three of their schemes in the north west.

Two previously-refused schemes, Logik’s tower at Arundel Street and Salboy proposals at Back Turner Street, won approval at Manchester City Council’s planning committee last Friday.

Designed by Architects SimpsonHaugh, Arundel Street will see the construction of 23-storey, 9-storey and 8-storey residential towers comprising a total of 355 new apartments. Similarly, the Jon Matthews design for Back Turner Street involves construction of a 17-storey mixed-use residential building.

More information about the Arundel Street and Back Turner Street schemes can be found here: https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/news/planning-arundel-street-and-back-turner-street-approved/

The third approved project, Bolton College of Medical Sciences, will see the construction of a £30m, 81,000 sq ft College to support around 3,000 students a year, with 1,000 apprentices in health and social care roles. Construction is set to begin on 2 December following unanimous backing from Bolton Council. Avison Young acted as planning consultant, Box Clever Consulting as project manager, the strategic brief was developed by Just Ask Scarlett, designs were provided by Associated Architects, and landscape architect was Re-Form.

More information on Bolton College of Medical Sciences at: https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/news/bolton-college-of-medical-sciences-secures-approval/

Date: 3rd July 2019

Our Kendal office relocates!

Curtins moves to larger premises in Kendal’s K-Village

After 4 decades in converted office spaces in Kendal’s town centre, Curtins have moved to brand new, contemporary and fit-for-purpose premises at the riverside K-Village. The move comes nearly 45 years since we first opened our Kendal office in 1977, during which time our team and specialisms have grown to offer 7 built environment services.

The new office features a large meeting room with views over the river, modern workspaces, accessible facilities and car parking.

The new office location at Units 24-25 Riverside Place, K Village, Lound Road, Kendal, LA9 7FH is just over 5 minutes from the previous spot on Lowther Street. The K-Village workplace will not only provide accommodation for the growing team, but also level access for all – a significant improvement on the 4-storey Lowther Street premises.

Long-standing team member, John Sutcliffe joined the firm as a school leaver in 1979 and can recall our office’s original location at 45 Highgate in Kendal, most recognisable as the space above family-owned Boyes, the homeware store.

The office branch was launched in the 1970s in response to work developing through the English Industrial Estates Corporation (EIEC). The EIEC were building industrial facilities in rural locations to encourage business growth outside of cities. With prospective developments in Barrow-In-Furness and other parts of Cumbria, Curtins took the opportunity to set up an office in Kendal and make use of the countryside location’s potential. Now, almost 45 years later, the office is firmly rooted in the Cumbrian community and is one of our most desirable places to work – set just minutes from the UNESCO World Heritage English Lake District.

Chief Executive, Rob Melling commented, “The office in Kendal has been long established in Cumbria, allowing us to serve clients across the North West and provide employment opportunities for people wishing to work in the beautiful Lake District location.

“I’m pleased to now share the news of our office expansion. It’s an excellent development for all of us here at Curtins, which will facilitate the continued growth of our business in Cumbria and Lancashire.”

The office is led by director Andy Roberts who took over as office lead in 2013, growing the office from 5 technical staff to a team of 13.

Andy Roberts commented, “Curtins are privileged to be based in the Lake District and we are extremely enthusiastic about working in this unique area.

“Since we opened in Kendal in 1977, we have contributed to some memorable projects across Cumbria, including the National Trust’s Fell Foot Park, a new £30m school in Whitehaven, Cumbria County Council’s new offices in Carlisle and schemes at Glaxosmithkline and BAE Systems. On all projects, we always use our local knowledge and technical expertise to engineer the best solution available.

“I’m looking forward to continuing to build close relationships with our clients and contributing to a diverse range projects from our new office in K-Village.”

Contact the office here. 

Date: 2nd July 2019

Your Mental Health Matters event

On Tuesday 25^th June our team in Manchester took part in a wellbeing and mental health awareness event at their office, designed to create an open discussion around mental illness. We welcomed both commonwealth boxing champion and speaker on equality, diversity and mental health, Stacey Copeland and founder of Level Heads & Threads, Tom Godfrey who shared lived experiences and advice around mental health. Through free discussion and workshops, staff were encouraged to speak openly about their perceptions of mental health, as well as what more Curtins could be doing to support employee wellbeing.

The day was rounded off with an endorphin boosting cycle spin class at Nuffield Health, led by Stacey – we couldn’t just invite a champion boxer and former England footballer to our office and not take the opportunity to get in some exercise, could we?!

The event forms one of several formal and informal sessions we’re running across Curtins regarding mental health.

Date: 1st July 2019

Open Your Eyes Week