February 2012
2 posts
10 tags
December 2011
2 posts
5 tags
BIM = BIG?
There seems to be a school of thought that BIMS are for the large national consultants and for the large projects but north east based M Design are proving this not to be the case.
M Design have been using BIM design principals for some time now in relation to their engineering designs which utilise AutoDesk Civil 3D fully and can design site levels, roads and drainage in full 3D.
They have now...
2 tags
BIMS & Revit
Continuing with their previous investment in cutting edge software, M Design now have full BIM capability following the purchase of Revit Architecture, Revit Structure and Revit M&E!
These are exciting times in the industry in the way consultants are now having to start designing in 3D. Being able to take a building design and model fully in 3D means we can take the structure directly into...
October 2011
1 post
M Design Tips To Lower Self Build Construction...
M Design have many years of experience of self-build so we understand and can help. Here are some tips that will help and if you want more, just give us a call and get us involved!
The construction of a building not only demands great capacity and closeness in management, but also a magnitude of expenditure for the wide range of materials that are needed.
Operating costs for labour are often taken...
August 2011
2 posts
Independent PV Surveys (Solar Panels)
The whole solar panel industry in the UK seems to be attracting the murkier side of headlines at the moment with pressure sales and overestimated returns being high on peoples gripe list.
M Design have been carrying out PV surveys constantly for the last few months for a local authority client. They carry out the solar survey as well as the structural survey at the same time (something plenty for...
JOB VACANCIES
Due to continued growth and workload, M Design are please to announce they are now looking to recruit another two members of staff.
Structural Engineer:
Ideally we are looking for someone who has good experience in the industry and who has experience of design in all the main structural materials. The ideal candidate will have the skills to work independently and as part of our team and must be...
June 2011
2 posts
We love Photovoltaics!
M Design are in the middle of a huge number of PV Surveys encompassing the structural and solar surveys for our client; a local authority with big plans for PV installation this year.
Building on their 20 years of structural engineering experience, staff have also undertaken the PV Specifiers Course run by NAREC in Blyth; ensuring they are the perfect people to help you with any PV installation.
...
Photovoltaic Specifiers Course
M Design have completed the NAREC Photovoltaic Specifiers Course at Blyth as a lead in to the huge amount of public buildings they are currently surveying for local authorities.
M Design are carrying out the surveys assessing the buildings suitability for PV panels; including a structural assessment along with the actual solar suitability.
They have a staggering amount of enquiries on this type...
April 2011
2 posts
How to write a flood risk assessment →
NBS (National Building Specification) Software
As part of their ongoing investment into software and quality management systems, M Design are pleased to announce that they have purchased the full version of the National Building Specification Software……NBS to its friends.
This will allow them to create full specification documents for any of their projects and has already been used to great effect with the completion of the King...
March 2011
4 posts
M Design in Durham Times - The Fallen Angel Hotel,... →
M Design in Northern Echo - The Fallen Angel... →
February 2011
3 posts
Are all Flood Risk Assessments Created Equal?????
The range and diversity of flood risk assessments is staggering and must be a constant source of anxiety for anyone looking to develop a site these days.
In the last few months we have had such a range of approach and advice from planners and local environment agency flood officers that anyone new to this aspect of building design must struggle.
We have had large development sites that have been...
More flooding on way?? →
January 2011
3 posts
Government Cuts Affect Flood Defence Proposals
On the BBC news this morning was another article regarding how the government cuts are going to put the kibosh on any of the proposed flood defence schemes that are not already started commenced.
This follows the news before Christmas relating to questions that the PM had misled parliament when he said flood defence cuts had been protected in the spending review.
The BBC website has an article...
USP??
We have been asked what our unique selling point is and the answer is quiet straightforward; we carry out both architectural and engineering design in house, in the same office in one small practice! This is actually quite unusual in a practice of our size!
Many of the national consultants can offer both these services but most people don’t want to deal with an outfit of that size. For a...
Happy New Year!!
M Design are back to work and wishing all our clients and contacts a happy and prosperous 2011!!!
October 2010
2 posts
National Flood Risk Awareness Week
Were you aware next week is National Flood Risk Awareness Week!! Not sure anyone really is but us geeky flood engineering types obviously are.
The timing is significant as it is 10 years since the great autumn floods of 2000. I can remember walking the dog into Durham and watching people swim in the Royal County Swimming Pool at a lower level than the River Wear which was lapping up against the...
M Design continues investment in CSC software
Following the arrival of our new structural engineer we are pleased to agree the continued maintenance of our CSC software packages; TEDDS and FASTRACK BUILDING DESIGNER.
The packages enable M Design to undertake all our structural designs quickly and effectively and most importantly to provide economical design solutions for our clients.
The TEDDS package is a great tool for any engineering...
September 2010
1 post
MUGA and Sports Pitches
We have been looking at what we have been up to over the last couple of years and we have suprised ourselves with the fact that we have now completed 11 different sports facility designs and work on 5 different MUGA / Play Area sites.
This is one of those disciplines where you go down a route different to how the business originally started but end up with a great portfolio of work and clients...
August 2010
3 posts
GOATS ON THE ROOF
M Design were very happy to attend the grand opening of Goats On The Roof at the Fontburn Reservoir in Northumberland at the weekend! Having spent a lot time dealing with planning conditions and difficult ground conditions it was great to see the place open and the goats obliging by getting up on the roof!
M Design dealt with planning conditions relating to the access track, junction widening,...
GOATS ON THE ROOF →
Link to BBC website with news article about our clients Goats On The Roof!!!
Changes to Building Regulations 2010
M Design are busy at the moment trying to come to terms with the changes in the building regulations in part L1A and more importantly how this affects our clients.
One obvious way to handle the deadline looming in October 2010 is to get cracking and submit your building regulation application before that! Given the workload we currently have I think this must be the preference.
Looking longer...
July 2010
1 post
M Design appointed to provide Civil 3D 2011...
In a departure from the usual M Design have been appointed by a national engineering consultancy to provide some staff training on AutoDesk’s Civil 3D 2011 design package. It is quite a compliment really to our staff and we are happy to take this unofficial ‘pat on the back’.
Bit of a conundrum as I guess we are helping the ‘competition’ but their training needs...
June 2010
2 posts
Changes to Building Regulations 2010 →
New M Design website goes live!!!
Part funded by Business Link, the new M Design website has now gone live!
New features include links to the M Design Blog and M Design twitter site!