Latest News from
Hemsley Orrell Partnership

Building Information Models — the future of design

HOP have been major exponents in using BIMs since 2006.

We run AutoCAD Revit, AutoCAD Civils 3D and Viko Constructor (formerly Graphisoft).

We firmly believe this to be the future of construction design and have found it to be a massive boost to the service we provide from initial inception through to completion and the building in service.

The first major project we ran as a Building Information Model was the £92 million AMEX Community Stadium - the new home for Brighton & Hove Albion. This enabled early stage 3D visualisation, manipulation of complex geometrical shapes integrated with our structural design analysis and design software. Close collaboration was achieved between all the other building professionals including good clash detection with commensurate saving in design time.

Forward thinking clients like the University of Brighton are fully embracing the use of Building Information Models, not only in the construction process but also for future maintenance and running of their buildings.

As designers we conceive and design in 3D and the builder has to construct in 3D. Why have 2D flat drawing in the midst of this process?

In the US 75% of projects are built using BIM and the UK is rapidly going that way.

HOP staff are adept in the use of BIMs and we are currently in the throws of training all staff members in their use.

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LEMO Building

Gets prestigious South East region Local Authority Building Control Award for Best Commercial Development.

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Amex Community Stadium

The Structural Steel Design Awards 2011 sponsored by Tata Steel and The British Constructional Steelwork Association – HOP were presented with a certificate as Concept Designers for the American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, which received an Award for the high standard of design achieved.

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Eurocodes have arrived

As part of our learning and training ethos, HOP provided visiting lectures on structural design, practical detailing and introduced the Eurocodes to University of Brighton students in the academic years 2008/2009 and 2009/2010.

As part of this, we went into Eurocodes ourselves in depth and have found there to be distinct advantages. On some forms of construction, it’s quite easy to ‘win’ a 5% saving of the materials when designing in reinforced concrete for example.

Importantly, all codes are now compatible using the same load factors so figures do not have to be reworked for different materials from steel frame to brick panels to earthworks and foundation design.

Designing to Eurocodes is starting to be a preferred route for many local authorities and is also a distinct advantage with some of our overseas work, not necessarily confined to the European Union as Eurocodes are beginning to be accepted as a worldwide standard.

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HOP gains ISO 9001:2008 Accreditation

In March 2010, HOP’s quality management system was accredited direct with the British Standard Institute (BSI) for our quality management in accordance with the Code.

We were reassessed in January 2011 and are pleased to confirm that we retained our accreditation. The audit was very positive and we continue to work to its high standards.

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Investors in People

On 31 March 2011, our three-yearly review for the Investors in People accreditation was conducted and we are pleased to announce that we again passed with flying colours!:

Our assessor said that:

“HOP gave the overriding impression that it is a professional organisation that is committed to developing its people for the benefit of the firm and individuals’ careers. The Investors in People ethos is undoubtedly an integral part of the fabric of the organisation and the high staff morale and retention rate is testament to this fact.”

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HOP's Sustainability Group

Although HOP staff have always had a keen interest to learn more about sustainability and put it at the forefront of our design approach, we are now keener than ever to learn about sustainable products and techniques from around the world. The HOP sustainability group meets regularly and has a member from each HOP team.

Our objectives are:

• Keeping our own house in order
• Careful planning and design of projects from the start
• Looking at the way things are done
• Constant learning and review

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The Constructive Solutions Partnership —
Brighton and Hove City Council

HOP has recently been appointed as Engineers to Brighton & Hove City Council for their Strategic Partnership, comprising all new build work including schools etc. HOP is also appointed as CDM Coordinator and look forward to working with the rest of the team, Brighton and Hove City Council, Westridge Construction Limited and F T Allen Limited.

We look forward to helping realise Longhill School’s and Patcham High School’s expansion and farther into the future, works at Somerhill School where Jon Orrell used to be a Governor and Nigel Hosker, now CDM Coordinator in charge of the works, is an ex-pupil!

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Flood Risk Group

As part of our infrastructures team we have a Flood Risk Group, which is headed up by, HOP Associate Director, Mark Naumann (photograph), who are often consulted prior to planning applications to give informal advice or more formal flood risk assessments.

We have been undertaking Flood Risk Assessments since 2002.  Recent Flood Risk Assessment projects include: the King Alfred development at Hove, Brighton Marina, Newhaven West Quay and numerous other inland sites.

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CDM Coordination Services

As part of our Health and Safety advice we are engaged as CDM coordinators on projects large and small throughout the South. We see this as integral to the design process and do not try and make a bureaucratic mountain of paperwork, simply trying to give the right advice and making sure the right people get the right information at the right time, reducing bureaucracy wherever possible.

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INVESTORS IN PEOPLE Review

As a measure of the training, nurturing and importance we give to staff, we have passed the second round of Investors in People’s reviews with flying colours, with our assessor using words like: ‘truly impressive’ in relation to our commitment to learning and development. HOP are pleased to employ top quality staff and only by proper investment in people can we continue to maintain and improve.

The assessor’s overriding impression of HOP was of a ‘professional and progressive firm where investing in people is seen as pivotal to on-going success’.

We are also members of CONSTRUCTION LINE and are a Construction Health and Safety (CHAS) registered contractor.

All members of staff who are likely to go on site now hold CSCS cards - keeping right up there with health and safety legislation and procedures.

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‘Saving Private Ryan’s Landing Craft’

HOP procured a WWII Higgins boat, the actual one used in the dramatic opening sequence of the film ‘Saving Private Ryan’, saved from a naval scrapyard in Portsmouth   Now on display as part of the sponsored landscaping of the Holmbush Roundabout, Shoreham. [See also ‘Staff News’ for HOP’s D-Day connections.]

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Iron Bridge

HOP were engaged by English Heritage to undertake structural inspection (including underwater!) of this world famous World Heritage site at Ironbridge Gorge.

The Iron Bridge Gorge or ‘Valley of Invention’ had a unique role in the Industrial Revolution and Iron Bridge itself is the first bridge in the world to be constructed of iron (in 1779).

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