Events

The UK’s biggest construction show – Interbuild – is back for 2009 and revamped to attract a broader base of specifiers than ever before.

 ‘Interbuild Specifier’ is set to reach out to audiences from architects, to engineers, project managers to local authorities and even head teachers.

Visitors to this area of the show – which will run alongside ‘Interbuild Onsite’, an event dedicated to the building trade and end user – will be impressed not just by the range and quality of exhibitors, but also a host of new visitor attractions.

David Pierpoint, Event Director at Interbuild, says: “Half of all visitors to last year’s show were specifiers, so it’s natural for us to dedicate half the exhibition space this year to building specification, design and innovation.

“We expect to see more exhibitors bringing new product and service offerings to the fore and a more interactive audience experience with specifiers looking to exploit these innovations across multiple markets and applications.”

Providing four packed days of dealmaking and networking opportunities, Interbuild Specifier will focus on all areas of the specification market including structural buildings, offsite construction, interiors, timber, roofing, IT, lighting & electrical, conservation & restoration, fire & security, doors & windows.

Visitors will be excited by the prospect of Interbuild Specifier’s showpiece attraction. Sustainability Street will feature real-life structures ranging from residential and retail to schools and hospitals. Supported by BRE and Advantage West Midlands, visitors will be able to see, touch and experience contemporary sustainable construction at its best. Here’s just a flavour of what to expect:

Ergohome
Through a combination of careful design, material sourcing and 'factory' assembling, the Ergohome showcases sustainable technologies, which can be installed at affordable prices. With their first trials having been installed at Birmingham University, the Ergohome offers high quality, affordable housing that minimises the impact on the environment both in its construction and use as a home.

Paul Chadwick, Director of Ergohome Ltd, says: “Ergohome recognises Interbuild as the pre-eminent show to the construction industry has chosen this year's event to launch a new instant home product to the market. This is the first time the Ergohome solution has been seen in public, and will be an exclusive opportunity for specifiers to evaluate and review our new and revolutionary factory-built home."

The 99% Challenge – refurbishing existing stock
Taking the form of three period properties this feature will show, through cross section, how a variety of installations and techniques can renovate existing stock to make it more sustainable and eco-friendly.  From roofing to cladding, windows to flooring, insulation to damp corsing, visitors will be able to see how these solutions work through 'before' and 'after' transformations. The 99% Challenge is brought to Interbuild Specifier in partnership with the BRE, NHIC and the NFRC. 

Construction Forum – free, client led conference
Chaired by the chief executives of the BRE and CPA (Dr Peter Bonfield and Michael Ankers, respectively), the Construction Forum is a free conference which will debate the big issues affecting the industry and how to tackle them in these testing economic times. Through themed sessions, the conference will address major projects including Building Schools for the Future (BSF), 2012 Olympics, social housing, healthcare, retail and leisure.  Led by key clients from across the industry, the Construction Forum will be a unique chance for specifiers to debate, with their peers, about the challenges and opportunities they face over the next three years. Speakers confirmed include:

• Mark Farrar, Chief Executive, Construction Skills Council
• Ian Fordham, Deputy Chief Executive, British Council for School Environments
• Robert Holt, Education Director, Carillion
• Cliff Jones, Senior Policy and Performance Manager, ProCure21 (Estates and Facilities Division, Department of Health)
• Ant Wilson, Business Unit Director, Faber Maunsell’s Sustainable Development Group

Innovation Theatre
Featuring presentations from the contributors to Sustainability Street, the Innovation Theatre will prove to be a vibrant hub of networking and learning, with the focus on product design and innovation. Assembled visitors will gather within a unique eco pod, created by Kita Design, which has been developed for use in a number of environments, including a school in Cumbria. This stunning example of sustainable offsite construction is designed specifically as a low impact, carbon responsible module and will be used to stage the seminars.

To learn more about these unique features and register to attend or exhibit, please visit: www.interbuild.com.