(Published Feb - June - Oct)

The following key areas of Public Sector Building will be covered in each issue of the supplement.

1. Education

This is still the most buoyant area of the construction market, although costs are becoming more constrained. The Building Schools for the Future programme is continuing, and the renewal of primary schools is kicking in. And, following the debacle of the Learning and Skills Council funding, some further education buildings are going ahead. Sure Start is also continuing – for the moment. The special issues of education buildings which these features will address include: the need for robustness; rapid design and delivery; the increasing role that education buildings play in the community; the need to demonstrate sustainability; high acoustic standards. These features will look at how these and other factors influence design and specification.

2. Health

The healthcare environment is one of the most demanding. Hospital design has to accommodate new types of treatment, the latest thinking on infection control, and the move towards single rooms. Some of this will be new build, and some will involve refurbishment of existing facilities. Primary healthcare is the fastest changing area, with the move towards larger and more inclusive primary care facilities, which need a civic presence, and may include functions beyond healthcare. In addition, there are ‘special’ building types, such as the Maggie’s centres and the Teenage Cancer Care Trusts.

Hospitals – new build and upgrading
Primary health care - new health centres, integration with other services, civic presence
Alternative buildings’ – Maggie’s, Teenage Cancer Trust

3. Urban Regeneration

As our lives change, and our demands on our environments, so our towns and cities need to adapt. Areas need to be regenerated to deal with the death of some traditional industries, and also changes ways of living and working, with more people likely to be working at or close to home. Features will include such aspects as shared surfaces, the need for parks and urban space, and improvements to street furniture and signage.

4. Infrastructure

As our transport and energy needs change, so will our infrastructure. There will be new types of interchanges, and facilities for electric vehicles and for cycling. At the same time, energy supply will change, with more district heating systems. Drainage and water supply will become ever more sophisticated as water becomes a more precious resource. Our features will look at what this means for design and specification.

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