AKT II

Here's to our friends, partners and staff for a fantastic year – wishing you a joyful holiday season and an even better 2025! #Holidays #HappyNewYear

It's always exciting to see projects recognised. 🙌 White City Place Gateway West / Gateway Central have recently been featured in Architecture Today's #2024 review! AKT II is proud to have contributed to such spaces that combine #innovation, #sustainability, and #thoughtful engineering. In the review, Architecture Today's Claudia Lynch discusses how Gateway West / Gateway Central stand out for their intelligent integrations of design and engineering, highlighting the projects' focus on creating a sustainable, adaptable environment. Take a look at the full review to see why we’re so #proud of what was accomplished with these projects. 👇 https://lnkd.in/eXt7qKNX Sir Robert McAlpine | Stanhope PLC | Mitsui Fudosan | Allies and Morrison | HED | Deloitte | Sweco | Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo) #Engineering #AKTIIEnvelopes #GatewayCentral #Sustainability #2024Review

It's time to shine a light on an exciting chapter in #AKTIIEnvelopes journey 💡   Oxford North, led by Thomas White Oxford, delivered by Laing O'Rourke and designed in collaboration with Fletcher Priest Architects, combines state-of-the-art #laboratories and #workspaces for #biomedical research with homes, public parks, and neighbourhood shops—a true fusion of innovation and community.   #AKTIIEnvelope’s design and façade performance specifications allowed a ‘’common’’ approach between the Workspace and Red Hall buildings. The linear facades are cladded over a spandrel truss system that spans between columns to support ribbon windows and dark #terracotta tiles. The design and façade performance specifications also allowed for CWCT testing as well as bespoke fire test to EN 1364-3 in order to ensure that the façade meets client’s brief. The glazed gable ends are formed from #bespoke stick curtain wall components to accommodate the necessary movements and tolerances. Finally, the roofs are optimised for weathertightness and installation using a standing-seam system that supports the #cladding and allows for access walkways and concealed gutters. By optimising the #structural performance of framing members and combining high-performance #glass coatings with ceramic frit and aluminium brise soleil, the design balances aesthetic intent with performance requirements and takes advantage of the views out of the building.   The cladding design of the Red Hall building has been developed to express the qualities of the profiled red sinusoidal sheets and provide crisp detailing at interfaces with windows and doors.   This project reflects our commitment to delivering innovative solutions that integrate #cutting-edge science with sustainable design, enhancing both the urban fabric and the natural environment. 🌍   Stay tuned as we bring this vision to life! Thomas White Oxford | Stanhope PLC | Fletcher Priest Architects | Laing O'Rourke | Savills | Gardiner & Theobald LLP | Hoare Lea | STANTEC | Townshend Landscape Architects | Gustafson Porter + Bowman #OxfordNorth #Innovation #Engineering #Facade

🎄✨ Fundraising, but make it festive! ✨🎄   Yesterday was a big day for AKT II as we celebrated both Christmas Jumper Day and our Charity Raffle, and what an amazing day it was! 🎅🎁   The team’s #festive spirit was strong as we sported our best Christmas jumpers and came together to support causes that truly matter. Thanks to the incredible generosity of everyone at AKT II and company donation matching, the raffle raised an amazing £8,732!   This brings our total fundraising for the year to a phenomenal £17,971 – a true testament to the power of #teamwork and #compassion.   The funds raised will support four incredible charities: ❤️ Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) – providing vital medical support where it's needed most. 🎗️ Cancer Research UK (CRUK) – funding life-saving research for a cancer-free future. 🏠 St Mungo's – supporting those experiencing homelessness with care and compassion. 📞 Samaritans – offering a listening ear to those in need, 24/7.   A huge thank you to everyone who participated, donated, and helped make this day so special and our very own #AKTIIChariteam for organising.   Together, we’re making a meaningful impact and spreading joy this festive season. 🌟   Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season! 🎄✨   #ChristmasJumperDay #CharityRaffle #GivingBack #FestiveSeason #TeamSpirit

An exciting win at the Concrete Gala in #Sweden last week 🏆🌎 Kvarteret Återbruket in #Gothenburg has been honoured at this year’s Concrete Gala (Betonggalan) with the Environmental Award for its #pioneering approach to sustainable and circular construction. This unique project incorporates #reclaimed materials, including concrete elements and timber from demolished buildings, to reduce the environmental impact of new construction. AKT II collaborated with the architects Lendager on the design of the project, identifying and ensuring the feasibility of the key reuse targets and strategies. This award was prompted by the high level of concrete element reuse identified by the design team at an early stage, which has resulted in the procurement of items such as precast hollowcore slabs reclaimed from a nearby dismantled IKEA by the contractor. In addition to the concrete reuse, our #Copenhagen Studio team worked with Lendager to identify and ensure the feasibility of the highly innovative reuse of glulam timber elements - extracted from a local Ice Rink within the superstructure itself. This is all thanks to intensive work to review surveys and existing design material, analysis and linking to the original timber manufacturer to identify and path from reclaim to reuse in a new structure! By reusing materials that would otherwise go to waste, Kvarteret Återbruket sets a new standard for how the construction industry can contribute to a circular economy. #Betonggalan #Sustainability #CircularEconomy #Innovation #GothenburgProjects #BuildingTheFuture

Could #Cambridge host the Olympics? 🏊 While Los Angeles holds the honour of hosting the next Olympics, last night we imagined what a Cambridge Olympics could look like – all brought to life through the creativity and power of LEGO! 🧱 Hosted at Jesus College, it was inspiring to see the creativity on display, from elaborate river scenes to innovative ski villages. AKT II's Adnan Khan joined the Purcell team that created the wonderful boat scene you see below. Whilst incredibly proud of the teams creation, the real highlight was mingling with so many #talented professionals from across disciplines and companies. Although we didn’t walk away with the #trophy, it was a fantastic experience diving into the theme: “Cambridge Bids for the Olympics 2028.” A huge congratulations to all the winning teams and a massive thank you to the Cambridge Forum for the Construction Industry (CFCI) for organising! #Cambridge #Networking #LEGO #Olympics #WhatIf

Have you ever seen a building look so #delicious? 🍬🏙️ While passing through this year’s Gingerbread City event, we couldn’t help but spot a sweet surprise—#HYLO brought to life in gingerbread form! This delightful creation, crafted by HCL Architects, embodies this year’s theme: Recycled City. The Gingerbread City, hosted by the Museum of Architecture, is a festive celebration of #design, #creativity, and #community. Architects and designers come together to build an entire cityscape out of gingerbread, showcasing the perfect blend of sugar, spice, and architectural innovation. If you're in London, be sure to check out this magical (and mouthwatering) display! 👏 A huge well done to HCL Architects for this whimsical #masterpiece. 👉 Learn more about the event: www.thegingerbreadcity.com #GingerbreadCity #Architecture #HYLO

TTP Campus Wins at Architects’ Journal Architecture Awards 2024 Last night at the AJ Architecture Awards 2024, TTP Campus took home the top prize in the Workplace Project (£50 million and over) category. This award celebrates more than just great design—it recognises a workspace built to spark #innovation, foster #collaboration, and push #boundaries. This recognition is a proud moment for everyone involved and a reminder of what can be achieved when #design and #ambition align. Congratulations TTP Team! TTP plc | Sheppard Robson | Bidwells | Spacehub | Gleeds | CSA Environmental | AECOM | SDC Builders Ltd 📸: Jack Hobhouse #Architecture #AJAwards2024 #WorkplaceDesign #Innovation #TTP

Congratulations to marina tabassum on being named Architect of the Year at the Dezeen Awards. Her work is a thoughtful example of how design can positively impact communities. She effectively combines local, sustainable materials, collective intelligence, and traditional methods to create projects that are both meaningful and environmentally harmonious. It was a pleasure to collaborate with her on bringing Khudi Bari to life, a highlight of her impactful approach to #architecture. AKT II were proud to have hosted marina at our offices last week to congratulate her in person and discuss our next projects together. Watch this space! #Dezeen #ArchitectOfTheYear #Achievement #Congratulations

AKT II co-founders join world-renowned jury; The Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction Awards 2025   Two of AKT II's founding directors, Hanif Kara OBE and Albert Williamson-Taylor, have been announced as 2025 jury members for the globally renowned Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction Awards 2025.   This competition challenges #architects, #engineers, and #visionaries worldwide to redefine the built environment and drive meaningful change. AKT II co-founders will be joining the Holcim Foundation Juries in the following capacities; 🌎 Hanif will contribute his expertise to the North America jury panel. 🌍 Albert will contribute his expertise to the Middle East & Africa panel. The Holcim Awards emphasise #sustainability at every level, from resource efficiency to social equity. Submissions are open until February 11, 2025—a call to innovators shaping the buildings and cities of tomorrow. Find out more and join the movement toward a sustainable future: https://lnkd.in/eSYD-APp   #Sustainability #HolcimAwards #Innovation #Leadership