Latest – CCL RESOURCE CENTRE

Are Living High-Rises the Answer to Sustainable Urban Construction?

With the world’s population rising, cities bursting at the seams and net-zero carbon targets to meet, innovative architects and developers are pushing the boundaries to construct eco-friendly skyscrapers. Does a trailblazing high-rise called Bosco Verticale (the Vertical Forest) suggest that future skylines will be alive with greenery and foliage? CCL takes a look…

CCL Completes Lebanon’s First Balanced Cantilever Bridge

CCL is delighted to announce the completion of Lebanon’s first balanced cantilever bridge. We first reported on this innovative project when it began and now the bridge is complete and fully operational. Take a look at the project video to see the breathtaking way in which the bridge became a reality.

Building Bridges

Bridges form a large part of the UK’s road and rail network with over 72,000 of them across the country. And as contractors begin work on the first phase of HS2 between London and Birmingham, that number is only set to increase. Fortunately, bridges are something we know about at CCL. Our post-tensioning technology has been used to construct new bridges all over the world. We have also engineered and installed bridge bearings for many high-profile projects. Whether it’s building new bridges or maintaining and repairing existing ones, CCL has it covered.

Smart Concrete Monitoring System Set To Save CCL Customers Time And Money

As part of our commitment to help clients and partners emerge from the global pandemic stronger and smarter, CCL is proud to announce a distribution agreement for Maturix: an innovative smart concrete monitoring system that brings tangible cost, time and build quality benefits.

The Road to Recovery

If the global pandemic has taught the construction industry anything, it’s that we can’t afford to be complacent, and that the ability to adapt and innovate is perhaps the best protection we have. So in addition to the advances we already had planned for 2020 and beyond, the teams at CCL, in response to COVID-19, have implemented new ways of working so we can support you better than ever in the coming months and years.

CCL Case Studies: Transport Projects

As HS2 is given the green light by the UK government, there’s no better time to review the many transport-related projects that CCL has helped deliver. In this special case study roundup, we take a look at projects around the world that CCL has designed, constructed, repaired or strengthened. Let’s dive in…

Five Buildings to Look Forward to This Year

As engineers and architects continue to break convention with evermore radical designs that push boundaries in terms of aesthetics, materials and sustainability, there are a number of groundbreaking structures due for completion this year. From an underground art museum to a spacecraft-like structure in the desert, CCL takes a look at the five projects we’re most looking forward to seeing in 2020…

The Living Concrete that Can Grow Itself

Scientists have developed a new ‘living-concrete’ that regenerates and can even reproduce on demand. The new material holds great potential for the construction industry with its high-fracture toughness and biological capabilities, meaning new bricks can be ‘grown’ on site. With concrete being the second most used substance on the planet after water, could this new material revolutionise construction as we know it?

CCL SURFACE: Jointless Flooring System

CCL has developed a revolutionary jointless flooring solution called SURFACE. This hard-wearing flooring system is proving to be a real hit in the logistics sector, as warehouses look to maximise their capacity by adopting very narrow aisle (VNA) racking systems that require an ultra-flat, jointless, crack-free surface. Here’s the rundown…

CCL CASE STUDIES: HEALTHCARE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS REVIEW

According to a UN report, virtually every country in the world is experiencing a surge in population growth. With most countries seeing a significant increase in the number of older citizens, population ageing is set to become one of the most significant social transformations of the 21st century. With that in mind, it comes as no surprise that construction activity in the healthcare sector is booming. We take a look at the recent healthcare construction projects that CCL has helped to deliver…

CCL CASE STUDIES: END-TO-END STRUCTURAL PROJECTS

Known for using innovative techniques and ideas to deliver solutions for structures around the world, CCL can now also provide a full end-to-end structural service from design through to construction. Whether it’s a luxury villa, structural changes to a beachfront hotel or a brand-new industrial facility, our one-stop-shop can simplify the process, maximise value and deliver peace of mind.

The Robots That Could Save Construction Companies a Fortune

Some industry reports suggest that up to 20% of the costs on construction projects are down to reworking mistakes. With margins on some building projects as low as 1% or 2%, it’s more important than ever to get things right the first time. Now a Barcelona-based tech company has developed a “Wall-E” lookalike robot that constantly monitors progress on site, with a mission to prevent needless mistakes and the associated costs.

CCL CASE STUDY: A POST-TENSIONED SOLUTION FOR A POST-MODERN VILLA

When Architect Mohammed Kabbaj set out to build his own home, his vision was to transform an old family villa located in the prestigious California district of Casablanca into a brutal but beautiful celebration of bare concrete. The ambitious nature of his plans, however, posed some engineering challenges. CCL set to work…

The World’s First 3D-Printed Community

Around the world, millions of people in developing countries are living in poverty. Properties are often no more than makeshift shelters, with poor hygiene, no access to clean water and vulnerable to extreme weather conditions. Now a collaboration between forward-thinking companies is trying to change all that with houses that can be constructed in just 24 hours, with almost zero waste.

CCL CASE STUDIES: SPORTS STRUCTURES

With the 2022 Commonwealth Games drawing ever closer, Birmingham is rapidly rolling out a programme of sports stadium and transport infrastructure improvements. As the region gets ready to deliver one of the most spectacular sporting events in the world, it’s a good time to look back briefly at a few of the sport-related projects CCL has delivered around the world.

CCL CASE STUDY: AWARD-WINNING SOLUTION FOR A HERITAGE SITE RENOVATION

CCL has been awarded a prestigious ‘Award of Merit’ by the Post-Tensioning Institute for our involvement in the construction of an underground car park beneath two 19th Century townhouses in Boston, USA.

THE FIRE-RESISTANT CONCRETE MADE FROM OLD TYRES

A research team at the University of Sheffield has discovered that fibres extracted from old tyres can be used effectively to reinforce concrete, making it more durable in the event of a fire. The discovery could not only make structures much safer, but also help solve a global environmental issue that has gone unresolved for decades.

UK Post-tensioned Bridge Inspections Behind Schedule

An RAC report published in early 2019 has revealed that almost 200 UK bridges, which should be inspected every seven years as a matter of course, have not been assessed by specialists in 18 years.

CCL Builds First Balanced Cantilever Bridge in Lebanon

CCL is delighted to announce that Qorsaita Bridge, the first ever balanced cantilever bridge to be constructed in Lebanon, will be completed in early 2019. The 100-metre-long bridge, which was designed and built by CCL, is currently in the final phases of construction in Bqarsouna, Lebanon.

Specialised Case Study Roundup

From a flawless flooring system in Lebanon to a meticulous maintenance job much closer to home, by way of a panoramic plaza in Peru, join us on a journey around the world as we take a whistlestop tour of some of the specialised structural solutions CCL has deployed for clients across the globe.

THE KEY TO STRONGER CONCRETE: CARROTS

Researchers at England’s Lancaster University have discovered a simple, cost-effective way to make concrete much stronger: carrots. The discovery that adding nanoparticles from root vegetables to a traditional concrete mix ‘significantly improves’ its strength could result in significant savings, reduced carbon emissions and lower energy consumption for construction projects across the world.

CCL CASE STUDY: BUILDING A NEW STRUCTURE ON TOP OF A SKYSCRAPER

How do you add a whole new structure to the top of an existing high-rise building? Simple. You call CCL. With a global reputation for specialized engineered solutions, it was no surprise that CCL received that very call, to help construct a massive extra level on top of an existing skyscraper – to accommodate nine private sky villas and an infinity swimming pool. (Naturally – this is Dubai after all.)

CCL Helps Construct An Animal-Friendly EcoBridge in Sweden

The Sandsjöbacka Nature Reserve in the Gothenburg region of Sweden is bisected by the ever-busy E6 motorway. With a steady stream of fast-moving traffic and so many wild animals, large and small, in the immediate area, it’s common for animals to stray onto the highway, which poses a serious threat for motorists and the animals themselves. CCL is delighted to have played an integral role in an innovative project to solve the problem.

HS2 Review – A Brief Summary of the High Speed 2 Project

With the first phase contracts already awarded, there’s no better time to take another look at the HS2 project and answer some of the key questions around its development. This review from CCL gives you a quick summary of HS2, including the benefits, estimated costs and completion dates.

Moulding the Future: Buildings Made from Mushrooms

A new technology that transforms fungus into an organic building material has been developed by researchers. The mould-breaking eco-material has already been used to construct a structurally sound 40-foot tower, made entirely of mushroom matter.