MCBAINS COOPER MEXICO PRISONS PROJECT NAMED IN LATIN AMERICAN TOP 100

MCBAINS COOPER

PROPERTY & CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANCY

PRESS RELEASE

April 16, 2012.

MCBAINS COOPER MEXICO PRISONS PROJECT NAMED IN LATIN AMERICAN TOP 100.

A construction and development programme in Mexico advised upon by property and construction consultancy McBains Cooper has been named amongst the Top 100 Infrastructure Projects in Latin America.

The Mexican Government’s Public-Private Partnership programme of prison developments has been given the ranking by one of the region’s leading business magazines – America Economica.

McBains Cooper is based in London, but has a Latin American operation based in Miami, and has now been invited to make a presentation about the programme to the Latin American Infrastructure Forum in Lima, Peru, in May. McBains Cooper was technical advisor to the Mexican Ministry of Security which project managed the developments.

Santiago Klein, managing director of McBains Cooper International, says there’s a steady but growing flow of demand for UK construction consultancy expertise in Latin America for both public and private sector related projects with an especially positive forecast for Public-Private Partnerships.

“Every region of the world has a different way of going about doing business, and Latin America’s way is a complex mix of who you know, what language you speak and the pedigree of professional expertise. Latin America is dominated by two languages and a deep-seated enthusiasm for UK professionals – so we tick lots of boxes,” said Santiago Klein.

“We’re a long-established UK company, with on-the-ground presence and local business experience in several Latin American countries – and that makes us of great interest to the decision-makers.

“But crucial to the whole process is the who-you-know: in Latin America the deals are done between businesses and organisations who know and trust one-another, which is fundamental to protecting the integrity of the contract - and a general rule of thumb is that it’s necessary to have an in-depth understanding and business intelligence of the local markets to be successful in the region.

“We have vast experience across Latin America on both inward investment support and PPP bids and contracts – we have a compelling proposition to businesses and organisations not just in Mexico, but much further afield in Latin America.”

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

07788 978800 im@pressrelations.co.uk

www.mcbainscooper.com

@McBainsCooper

Notes.

McBains Cooper

McBains Cooper is an inter-discipline consultancy, specialising in property, infrastructure and construction, offering a wide range of consulting and design services including architectural, aesthetic or technical design, problem solving, budget management, facilities management, health and safety, sustainability consultancy and on-the-ground civil engineering. Driving and supporting projects ranging from minor works to major contracts worth more than £100 million, McBains Cooper operates across a variety of sectors throughout the UK, Europe and Latin America. McBains Cooper is committed to environmental, social and economic sustainable development and their integrated approach means they deliver effective, award-winning solutions to their clients. The Group employs 150 people. McBains Cooper has regional headquarters in London (head office), Glasgow, Manchester, Oxford, Windsor, Lima (Peru), Miami and Mexico, with associate offices in Belfast and Dublin. www.mcbainscooper.com

USE OLYMPICS TO EXPORT BRITAIN’S ENVIED GOLD MEDAL-PERFORMING CONSTRUCTION EXPERTISE.

MCBAINS COOPER

PROPERTY & CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANCY

PRESS RELEASE

January 27, 2012.

USE OLYMPICS TO EXPORT BRITAIN’S ENVIED GOLD MEDAL-PERFORMING CONSTRUCTION EXPERTISE.

Stop criticising and talking down our Olympic achievement – some of the strongest economies in the world are watching Britain and considering what we could bring to future games.

That’s the message from international property and construction consultancy McBains Cooper which says it winces every time there’s any domestically-generated criticism of London 2012 – because from a design, construction and delivery perspective it has been a gold medal-winning performance by Britain.

McBains, which works on public and private sector projects in the UK, Latin America, Europe and the Middle East, is urging UK government international trade development teams to wave the flag abroad for UK construction and property businesses who have moved heaven, earth and big pieces of east London to deliver one of the most organised games construction plans ever.

“McBains Cooper already has an alliance in Brazil – the venue for the 2016 games - and we’re working in virtually every country or region, bar Japan, which are candidates for the 2020 games. But whether it’s Rio 2016, or candidates in Spain, Italy, Azerbaijan, Turkey or Qatar for 2020, there’s a common murmuring we hear every time the subject comes up,” said Michael Thirkettle, Chief Executive of McBains Cooper.

“And that is that everybody involved in construction, whether in Brazil or the 2020 candidate venues, has commented on the success of the planning and construction of everything London games-related – and more often than not it’s accompanied by some positive reference to the UK construction industry, and its professional advisers and consultancies being the best in the world.

“The fact is that in comparison to any other recent major sporting event – and some recent Olympics - London 2012 construction has run far faster and more efficiently. That has been noted by other countries, and, frankly, because of our reputation, British construction and professional consultancy businesses are amongst the very few who can travel the world to help drive and deliver major projects for other venue cities – the Olympics is a fantastic global shop window for British management expertise, design and construction skills, and that expertise can be exported to make other games equally impressive.

“The Office of Budget Responsibility reckons that a good deal of UK economic growth in 2012 will be down to the Olympics – but we shouldn’t be believing the opportunity ends when the last competitor or spectator leaves through Heathrow’s temporary games terminal: it could be the start.

“Anybody with any ability to export British construction expertise should be hot on the heels of those departing, and selling that expertise to the next successful or candidate Olympic venues.”

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

07788 978800 im@pressrelations.co.uk

www.mcbainscooper.com

Notes.

McBains Cooper

McBains Cooper is an inter-discipline consultancy, specialising in property, infrastructure and construction, offering a wide range of consulting and design services including architectural, aesthetic or technical design, problem solving, budget management, facilities management, health and safety, sustainability consultancy and on-the-ground civil engineering. Driving and supporting projects ranging from minor works to major contracts worth more than �100 million, McBains Cooper operates across a variety of sectors throughout the UK, Europe and Latin America. McBains Cooper is committed to environmental, social and economic sustainable development and their integrated approach means they deliver effective, award-winning solutions to their clients. The Group employs 150 people. McBains Cooper has regional headquarters in London (head office), Glasgow, Manchester, Oxford, Windsor, Athens, Lima (Peru), Miami and Mexico, with associate offices in Belfast and Dublin. www.mcbainscooper.com

MAKE GREEN EXCITING – AND WATCH CASH GROW FROM TREES.

MCBAINS COOPER

PROPERTY & CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANCY

PRESS RELEASE

January 13, 2012.

MAKE GREEN EXCITING – AND WATCH CASH GROW FROM TREES.

Britain is in danger of taking its eye off the sustainability ball because of the distractions of dealing with the daily pressures of UK economic turmoil – but green could still be the big cash generator of 2012.

“I think there is a very real risk that we will let short-term economic policy move us further behind Europe, and will prevent us from moving further up the global league table of nations driving innovation in sustainable initiatives,” said Mark Leeson, director of property and construction consultancy McBains Cooper.

“There is currently a vast UK estate of not-green-enough commercial property which could be a huge and sudden generator of cash for both the construction sector and building owners: it’s staring us in the face.

“Around three-quarters of today’s commercial property will still be in use by 2020 – and future-proofing them by driving efficiencies through green enhancements could yield 15% on investment values, and raise tenant income by 5%, while also benefitting from green tax incentives. There are also obvious advantages in terms of branding, perceived quality of building and benefits for occupants in terms of health and wellbeing.”

Campbell Devine of McBains Cooper said: “You don’t have to get the calculator out to work out the potential revenue increases and tax benefits by making even just a fraction of the UK’s commercial property more green.

“With the introduction of FITs (Feed-In Tariffs) and RHI (Renewable Heat Incentive) there is a business case for even the most demanding investors to embrace green initiatives when retrofitting buildings. Cash can grow from trees.

“The issue is perhaps the legacy of an over-complicated planning approval system, and a lack of a sense of clarity amongst commercial property owners: but things are changing fast, particularly with emphasis on carbon reduction rather than sustainable electricity generation.

“What we need is an injection of excitement into the green construction agenda: a penny-dropping moment when it hits investors that a green approach can move bank accounts out of the red and into the black. For impact, that injection needs to come out of the blue: a concisely-delivered ‘sustainability information bomb’ aimed at investors, and which highlights the brutal cash benefits of future-proofing property.

“‘Green enhancement’ and ‘better green credentials’ often improves tenant quality, occupancy levels, reduces sick leave and increases capital values and the sale-ability of any property. There’s also a growing club of investors who are snapping up older but well-let properties, and which have potential for rejuvenation and retro-fit, providing a contrast to risky new development caught by the potential impasse as the Government considers its position in relation to changes to the planning system.”

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

07788 978800 im@pressrelations.co.uk

www.mcbainscooper.com

Notes.

McBains Cooper

McBains Cooper is an inter-discipline consultancy, specialising in property, infrastructure and construction, offering a wide range of consulting and design services including architectural, aesthetic or technical design, problem solving, budget management, facilities management, health and safety, sustainability consultancy and on-the-ground civil engineering. Driving and supporting projects ranging from minor works to major contracts worth more than £100 million, McBains Cooper operates across a variety of sectors throughout the UK, Europe and Latin America. McBains Cooper is committed to environmental, social and economic sustainable development and their integrated approach means they deliver effective, award-winning solutions to their clients. The Group employs 150 people. McBains Cooper has regional headquarters in London (head office), Glasgow, Manchester, Oxford, Windsor, Athens, Lima (Peru), Miami and Mexico, with associate offices in Belfast and Dublin. www.mcbainscooper.com

BRITAIN’S CITIES LOVE THEMSELVES, SAYS MCBAINS COOPER

MCBAINS COOPER

PROPERTY & CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANCY

PRESS RELEASE

January 10, 2012.

BRITAIN’S CITIES LOVE THEMSELVES, SAYS MCBAINS COOPER.

Images available.

Britain’s cities love themselves more than ever before, according to property and construction consultancy McBains Cooper.

The firm is involved in a number of inner-city residential redevelopment projects – with several recently completed – but has noticed in each case there is something missing.

“The common factor is that there’s a marked reduction of litter, fly tipping, vandalism and graffiti – and a great deal of pride being shown by residents in regenerated and redeveloped housing estates up and down the country,” said Michael Thirkettle, Chief Executive of McBains Cooper.

“Three typical examples in which we are involved are Anderston in Glasgow, Shiregreen in Sheffield and Rose Hill in Oxford. Each has origins in eras when design and development considerations were not at their sharpest – but in each case the project outcome has been a massive improvement.

“The result is that each has generated a strong feeling of community and pride amongst residents – and by going the extra mile in each case, working with the developers, we have created residential areas the people want to look after. And that has a hidden benefit – an ongoing cost-saving arising from local authorities or building owners not having to constantly repair or replace damaged or neglected property.”

The Rose Hill Redevelopment – which involved replacement and redevelopment of poor-quality housing, and construction of 259 new homes - has been awarded Winner of the New Buildings Category at the Oxford Preservation Trust Awards. McBains Cooper is Employer’s Agent on the project.

The project was voted into top slot for demonstrating Oxford City Council’s commitment to housing and to improving Rose Hill for its community.

Oxford Preservation Trust's aim is to preserve and enhance the historic city of Oxford and its green setting. The Trust’s annual awards scheme recognises projects that make a significant contribution to the conservation and improvement of the built or natural environment of Oxford.

Meanwhile, McBains Cooper was part of the Sanctuary Housing Association team behind the “Streetscene” element of the project in Shiregreen, Sheffield, which involved a massive makeover of the public areas of the estate – a project which was shortlisted in The Sustainable Housing Awards “Transformation” category.

And in Scotland McBains Cooper are project managers on the five-phase residential rebuild of Anderston – notorious for its poor-quality tower-blocks - working with client Sanctuary Housing, where a sculpture of Billy Connolly is high up on the elevation overlooking Glasgow, and the well-kept first phase.

“Such was the attention to detail during the project as a whole that the team even designed one apartment specifically for the needs of one family, and the gratitude and delight of the residents at that sort of effort - plus the overall finished product – has been clearly signalled by how well kept the whole area is,” said Alan Hannah of McBains Cooper in Glasgow.

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

07788 978800 im@pressrelations.co.uk

www.mcbainscooper.com

Notes.

McBains Cooper

McBains Cooper is an inter-discipline consultancy, specialising in property, infrastructure and construction, offering a wide range of consulting and design services including architectural, aesthetic or technical design, problem solving, budget management, facilities management, health and safety, sustainability consultancy and on-the-ground civil engineering. Driving and supporting projects ranging from minor works to major contracts worth more than £100 million, McBains Cooper operates across a variety of sectors throughout the UK, Europe and Latin America. McBains Cooper is committed to environmental, social and economic sustainable development and their integrated approach means they deliver effective, award-winning solutions to their clients. The Group employs 150 people. McBains Cooper has regional headquarters in London (head office), Glasgow, Manchester, Oxford, Windsor, Athens, Lima (Peru), Miami and Mexico, with associate offices in Belfast and Dublin. www.mcbainscooper.com

TOUGH TIMES BOOST HOTEL DEVELOPMENT MARKET FOR MCBAINS COOPER.

MCBAINS COOPER

PROPERTY & CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANCY

PRESS RELEASE

January 3, 2012.

TOUGH TIMES BOOST HOTEL DEVELOPMENT MARKET FOR MCBAINS COOPER.

Property and construction consultancy McBains Cooper says that the tough economic climate appears to be actually boosting the hotel development market.

Richard Fewings of McBains Cooper says there has been no fall off in enquiries from hotel developers over the past 12 months, and, if anything, they’re on the increase.

McBains’ hotel team is seeing a distinct pattern emerging: four-star business and conference venue hotels in and around London, and three-star “crash-pad” hotels across the rest of the country.

“The downturn is, ironically, working well for the hotel market: hotels are becoming essential tools of business and client development, with more people spending more time away drumming up business, and more companies bringing their people together for motivational, intelligence-sharing or brainstorming meetings all aimed at making the most of every opportunity,” said Richard Fewings.

“Business-focussed hotels are benefitting from high fuel charges and rail fares: staying over away from home, just outside major cities, between meetings, often costs a fraction of the price of the fuel to go to and fro.

“Anybody in business who has to travel to London from around the country also knows that the most time-efficient fares – peak-time travel – cost around £240 standard and £350 first class, Leeds or Manchester-London return, for instance.

“But the key is the new breed of super-efficient hotels, high on sustainability and recyclable energy. Yes, hotels are closing, but they’re largely older hotels which are in the right place but have a legacy of age-old design which can make some of them many times more expensive to run per square foot compared to something designed and developed today.

“Older hotels were edifices and landmarks, luxury was built-in, crafted and carved, and are often difficult to modernise. Modern hotels are largely pre-packaged, fast to go up, massively efficient.”

One example is McBains Cooper’s newest project – it has been appointed to provide M&E, cost management and project management on a multi-million pound hotel project in Shepherd’s Bush, London, for Kosmopolito Hotels.

The seven-storey, four-star hotel will sit behind the listed façade of a former cinema building and will include 242 bedrooms, a restaurant, bar and gym.

“This is an exciting project, because we have a listed façade, but a core structure which will use the newest techniques and materials, creating something both attractive and efficient,” said Richard Fewings.

Kosmopolito currently owns and manages four brands in different market segments; the upscale Kosmopolito brand, Boutique Series by Kosmopolito, four-star business hotel Dorsett Regency and value hotel Silka, with a total of 29 hotels across Asia - in Singapore, Malaysia, Johor, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Chengdu and Wuhan.

This is the first hotel for Kosmopilto in London, which is expected to be under the Dorsett Regency brand.

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

07788 978800 im@pressrelations.co.uk

www.mcbainscooper.com

Notes.

McBains Cooper

McBains Cooper is an inter-discipline consultancy, specialising in property, infrastructure and construction, offering a wide range of consulting and design services including architectural, aesthetic or technical design, problem solving, budget management, facilities management, health and safety, sustainability consultancy and on-the-ground civil engineering. Driving and supporting projects ranging from minor works to major contracts worth more than £100 million, McBains Cooper operates across a variety of sectors throughout the UK, Europe and Latin America. McBains Cooper is committed to environmental, social and economic sustainable development and their integrated approach means they deliver effective, award-winning solutions to their clients. The Group employs 150 people. McBains Cooper has regional headquarters in London (head office), Glasgow, Manchester, Oxford, Windsor, Athens, Lima (Peru), Miami and Mexico, with associate offices in Belfast and Dublin. www.mcbainscooper.com

BILLY CONNOLLY: MADE IN SCOTLAND FROM SCULPTED STEEL BARS, AND HUNG FROM A WEE BUILDING IN ANDERSTON

MCBAINS COOPER

PROPERTY & CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANCY

PRESS RELEASE

December 14, 2011.

BILLY CONNOLLY: MADE IN SCOTLAND FROM SCULPTED STEEL BARS, AND HUNG FROM A WEE BUILDING IN ANDERSTON.

Billy Connolly sculpture video. http://bit.ly/vLq6eV

Anderston residential project: the challenges video: http://bit.ly/ut0NsJ

Anderston – the next stages, video: http://bit.ly/vxHop5

Links to photos http://bit.ly/vkEhZN

Made in Scotland from girders … not quite, but a sculpture of Big Yin Billy Connolly has been created in metalwork to signal the completion of the first phase of a landmark McBains Cooper project-managed residential housing project in his home town of Anderston, Glasgow.

The sculpture, made from steel bars by renowned north-of-the-border artist Andy Scott, is hung high on an elevation of the first phase to be completed.

And while Glasgow’s most famous son couldn’t make it to the unveiling of a ground level commemorative plaque marking the occasion, a big crowd of locals and media did.

Property and construction consultancy McBains Cooper are project managers on the five phase residential rebuild of Anderston, working with client Sanctuary Housing, and the sculpture of Billy Connolly is high up on the elevation overlooking Glasgow.

Such was the attention to detail during the project as a whole that the team even designed one apartment specifically for the needs of one family, and the gratitude and delight of the residents at that sort of effort - plus the overall finished product – has been clearly signalled by how well kept the whole area is.

“We occasionally get celebrities turning up at launches and openings, but it’ll be nice to drive past the sculpture of the Big Yin every day and be reminded that we played a part in putting Anderston back on the map – after Billy Connolly did it first time round,” said Alan Hannah of McBains Cooper.

The project involves the demolition of a number of 1960s housing blocks in the Glasgow suburb, but has proven to be a massive logistical challenge for the McBains Cooper and Sanctuary teams.

“The key issues here are that the work is going on in amongst a number of schools and nurseries, while also being surrounded by occupied homes – so not only have the logistics of getting into the sites been taxing the grey matter, there has also been the issue of moving families out and into nearby accommodation, and then into the completed Phase One apartment complex,” said Alan Hannah.

“But we know we’ve got it right, firstly because the local residents were surveyed and asked what they wanted and needed in the area – a target we delivered against – but secondly because you don’t have to go far through the area to see how well-kept and looked-after the communal areas are.

“This is one of those incredibly complex but equally incredibly satisfying projects that’s clearly making a vast difference to life in Anderston. And with the Big Yin looking down on us, we wouldn’t dare get it wrong.”

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

07788 978800 im@pressrelations.co.uk

www.mcbainscooper.com

Notes.

McBains Cooper

McBains Cooper is an inter-discipline consultancy, specialising in property, infrastructure and construction, offering a wide range of consulting and design services including architectural, aesthetic or technical design, problem solving, budget management, facilities management, health and safety, sustainability consultancy and on-the-ground civil engineering. Driving and supporting projects ranging from minor works to major contracts worth more than £100 million, McBains Cooper operates across a variety of sectors throughout the UK, Europe and Latin America. McBains Cooper is committed to environmental, social and economic sustainable development and their integrated approach means they deliver effective, award-winning solutions to their clients. The Group employs 150 people. McBains Cooper has regional headquarters in London (head office), Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, Oxford, Windsor, Athens, Lima (Peru), Miami and Mexico, with associate offices in Belfast and Dublin. www.mcbainscooper.com