Central Intelligence – Construction industry finally sees growth as Ukraine ramps up preparations for Euro 2012

Project – The congregation in Dunmurry are benefitting from a newly consolidated and more accessible church and halls complex that better serves the needs of the community

NI Analysis – Stagnation of business activity in November brings an end to 23-month period of contraction

Worldwide mainstream house prices marginally avoided falling into negative territory with prices rising on average by 0.1% in the three months to June 2011 and by 1.7% over a 12-month period, writes Knight Frank.

In the coming years Bulgaria’s construction sector will start to grow slowly following the hard years of the economic slowdown, although no spectacular changes are expected in the short run.

In anticipation of growing demand, local producers are busy raising their cement production capacities and also investing in the sustainability of their plants writes PMR Publications.

There is scope to reform the process to benefit all parties while also stimulating enterprise development writes Aidan Sweeney.

Last year might have seen the completion of several major infrastructure projects, but the immediate pipeline for similar projects is exceptionally bare. IBEC’s quarterly economic outlook reports on the industry

Kingspan Insulated Panels

Morrisons’ South West Regional Distribution Centre (RDC), a 59 acre goods facility at Bridgwater in Somerset, is raising the bar for energy conservation, with an exemplar scheme that uses innovative solar PV and insulated panel technology from Kingspan Insulated Panels to create one of Europe’s most energy efficient logistics facilities.

One of the challenges was to transform unproductive roof space into the facility’s own power plant. Following a thorough project analysis by Kingspan’s in-house Renewables design team, two different products from the PowerPanel range were specified for two of the distribution facility’s main buildings to meet that challenge. 

Wicona's New Test Centre

In its first year of operation, the new dedicated test centre for Wicona’s façade products – one of the first energy-positive industrial buildings in Europe – has generated 60 per cent more electricity than it needs for its own consumption.

Located at Bellenberg near the Wicona Brand Development Centre at Ulm in Germany, the €3.5m scheme provides in-house testing facilities for new products and project-specific façade solutions which can then be independently certified to the latest European standards.

Cork City Enterprise Board Hosts Information Evening

If you are an engineer, architect or design professional sole trader and are challenged to find business in the current economic climate you will be interested in participating in an Open Night in Maryborough House on Wednesday January 25th at 6pm.

Supported by Cork Enterprise Board, Enterprise Ireland, Engineers Ireland, the Royal Institute of Architects, Cork Chamber, Cork City Partnership, Cork City Council and various educational institutions the Open Night will explore the benefits of working in a shared environment as a part of a co-operative Hub.