Current Issue
A successful AV system design starts with an informed customer
It’s fair to say that, when it comes to the world of AV, it is easy to become quickly overwhelmed by the often-complex jargon that is prominent throughout the industry. APi Sound and Visual, specialist audio-visual installers for the church and heritage markets, want to ensure customers can access information they understand. No technical language, no in-depth explanations of the internal workings of equipment, just straightforward answers of what something is, what it does and why it is important (or not).
Read more: A successful AV system design starts with an informed customer
Celebrating 40 years of Cadw: caring for our precious heritage, discovery and learning
This year marks a significant milestone for Cadw as it celebrates its 40th anniversary and continues on its mission to care for Wales’ historic places while inspiring current and future generations to connect with the nation’s rich cultural heritage.
Since it was established in 1984, Cadw has welcomed over 50 million visitors from across the UK and the world to its historic monuments in Wales. There are now over 30,000 listed historic buildings, over 4,200 protected historic monuments, nearly 400 registered historic parks and gardens, and four World Heritage sites.
Read more: Celebrating 40 years of Cadw: caring for our precious heritage, discovery and learning
CXD supply William Morris Gallery with bespoke showcases following refurbishment
Conservation By Design (CXD) has supplied bespoke showcases to the William Morris Gallery in London following a £5 million major refurbishment. The Walthamstow gallery has been transformed to create a new world-class destination and international centre of excellence for the study of Morris, one of the foremost creative artists and original thinkers on the nineteenth century.
It reopened its doors to the public in August 2012, giving visitors the chance to view almost 600 objects and previously unseen work. The collection housed at the William Morris Gallery is the only one in the world to represent all aspects of Morris’ work.
Read more: CXD supply William Morris Gallery with bespoke showcases following refurbishment
Important CSCS Card update from NCTS
Part of the Construction Leadership Council’s drive for a fully trained and competent workforce, the Industry Accreditation CSCS cards, which were issued through the Grandfather Rights period from 1st Jan 2020 will expire on 31st December 2024. Please note the current CSCS cards cannot be renewed.
Anyone who was issued with a CSCS card during that process, will have to consider renewing now to allow enough time to complete a formal assessment.
New AV system provides the complete solution
The re-ordering of Holy Saviour Church in Bitterne, Southampton, has seen the culmination of over four years of project work by Creative Audio-Visual Solutions (CAVS).
Within the main church, full sound, visual and streaming systems have been installed for complete versatility and long-term development potential. The audio system features eight Electrovoice EVC 8” speakers for effective coverage throughout the main nave and side aisles – supplemented by dual compact ELX-200 active subwoofers. Additional S-series speakers provide additional chancel coverage for service leaders.
ISCVE announces ISCVEx 2025 Exhibition and Seminar Event
It's the event all professionals in the Sound, Communications and AV industry should attend, the ISCVEx 2025 Exhibition and Seminar Event, organised by the Institute of Sound, Communication and Visual Engineers (ISCVE), taking place on 25-26 March 2025, at the prestigious Coombe Abbey Hotel.
This two-day industry event brings together experts, manufacturers, and installers to showcase the latest technologies and innovations in the industry.
Read more: ISCVE announces ISCVEx 2025 Exhibition and Seminar Event
Shedding light on conservation rooflights
Paul Trace from Stella Rooflight offers advice on navigating UK Building Regulations and Planning Laws.
In his address to the House of Lords in 1943, Sir Winston Churchill emphasised the profound influence that the built environment has on our lives, advocating for the faithful restoration of the House of Commons following its wartime destruction. “We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us,” he said. His sentiment underscoring the significance of preserving the character and identity of historic buildings, which form an integral part of our national heritage, evoking a sense of pride and identity among many Brits.
ICS Furniture completes chair installation in Belfast Cathedral
Also known as the Cathedral Church of St. Anne, Belfast Cathedral is a Church of Ireland Cathedral and is the focal point of Belfast's Cathedral Quarter. Their old seating was 120 years old and were not stackable. The church required a chair that allowed for the flexibility and comfort that the older seating did not provide.
Read more: ICS Furniture completes chair installation in Belfast Cathedral
New York cathedral gets bespoke furniture to accommodate diverse needs
In March ICS Church Furnishers of the Republic of Ireland announced the successful completion of a bespoke seating project for The Cathedral of St John the Divine, the cathedral of the Episcopal Diocese of New York. This collaboration began in 2018 when the cathedral sought a solution for their seating needs that would accommodate their diverse range of services and events.
The project, which resumed in early 2023 after a pause due to external factors including the COVID-19 pandemic, resulted in the creation of 2,000 custom-designed chairs tailored specifically for the cathedral’s requirements. Each chair, a modified version of ICS’s renowned ICON 40 chair, was meticulously crafted to compliment the cathedral’s existing architecture, featuring a darker stain, and engraved with the cathedral’s iconic Rose Window emblem.
Read more: New York cathedral gets bespoke furniture to accommodate diverse needs
Stockport tree surgeon faces a challenge at Mellor Church
Stockport’s local tree surgeons, Myers Tree Care, are often presented with an unusual challenge. On this occasion, they were approached by the bell ringers of St Thomas’s Church at Mellor to see if they could assist in the scheduled maintenance of the clock face.
As a school governor at Mellor School, tree surgeon David Myers was teamed up with the headmaster, Jim Nicholson, and between them took on the challenge with both hands!
Read more: Stockport tree surgeon faces a challenge at Mellor Church
Careful conservation allows candelabra to shine again
The Church of St Michael and All Angels is in Skelbrooke, a small village to the north of Doncaster, beside the A1 trunk road. The church is listed Grade II by Historic England, with a chantry chapel recorded on the church site as early as 1338.
Some elements of a medieval church survive, including some stone arches between the chancel and chantry chapel. They were bricked up during the reformation in 1549 and are some of the few early features to survive a serious fire that destroyed much of the church building in 1870.
Read more: Careful conservation allows candelabra to shine again
Manchester Town Hall - cleaning and restoration of the Great Hall
James Stone Masonry Ltd in association with McCrory Holding are proud to have been involved in this prestigious project to restore the historic Grade One-listed Victorian Gothic edifice. The Great Hall in Manchester Town Hall is of immense importance: within the Great Hall there are 12 murals painted by Ford Madox Brown. These murals had to be protected and great care had to be taken when we were working around them.
The superb painted ceiling in this room is also quite remarkable, the ceiling is separated into panels bearing the coats of arms of principal countries and towns with which Manchester traded. The timber panels around the ceiling were cleaned taking great care not to damage the gold leaf and paint work to the woodwork.
Read more: Manchester Town Hall - cleaning and restoration of the Great Hall
How urban mining can help reach net-zero goals
When considering the heritage buildings of the future, the carbon footprint not only of the buildings in operation, but also the process of construction and the building’s life span – from design, through construction to demolition. An innovative, circular approach is emerging that has the potential to reduce the environmental impact of construction significantly: urban mining. Here, traditional brickmakers Michelmersh explain the process and its advantages.
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