A word of thanks from Jam tribute band

Over 100 Capita Symonds staff turned out to see Lindsay Carroll from Capita Symonds' Blackburn office play a charity gig for Macmillan Cancer Support recently.

Lindsay’s band - "Snap! The Sound of the Jam" - pays homage to the songs (and spirit) of one of the UK’s most important and influential rock bands of the last 30 years.

Lindsay said: "Thanks very much to everyone who came along to Blakey’s Bar on the 17th April to support SNAP! and Macmillan Cancer Support. It was the first time the lads and I had played in Lancashire and it definitely won’t be the last, you guys really know how to enjoy yourself and you’re a joy to play to!”

“A special mention of thanks needs to go to the staff at King Georges Hall who couldn't have been more friendly and accommodating, Donna Neely and Andy Hawthorne for their organisational skills and Martin, Gemma, Karen, Nick and Sharon for collecting all the lovely cash on the night - we raised almost £600! All I had to do was shout and strum, it was great fun!” he adds.

Find out more about the band on their myspace page:
http://www.myspace.com/snapjamtribute or http://www.snapjamtribute.co.uk/

And a special thanks must go to Lindsay and his band for all their efforts!

Westminster Accademy Video on BBC

BBC have added a video on their website featuring the Westminster Accademy, which Capita Symonds project managed. Watch the video below.



Go to the full article on the BBC's website

Capita Symonds helps the summer festivities

This year we're working on some really exciting projects that are helping us get into the summer-vibe, including sporting venues and festivals.

Find out about just a small selection of the projects we're currently working on:

• Henley Festival and Regatta
• Relentless Boardmasters Festival
• Wimbledon Centre Court
• Epsom Down's Racecourse
• The Grand National (as part fo our partnership with Sefton Council)

And watch this space, there'll be plenty more we're involved in across the summer!

Wales Millennium Centre photo challenge

In honour of it's 5th birthday, the Wales Millennium Centre are encouraging budding photographers to submit their photos of the centre.

Each month will have a different theme:

• May: Warm Welsh Welcome
• June: Moving
• July: Belonging
• August: Heritage
• September: Celebrate

Photos should be submitted via the 'Celebrating 5' Flickr Group

To find out more go to the WMC website

The WMC, and the later addition the BBC Hoddinott Hall were both designed by Capita Architecture (and their previous incarnations).

Find out more about our involvement in the project:
BBC Orchestra gets a new home
Official opening for Wales Millennium Centre

Below are the photos submitted so far:




Happy 5th Birthday!!

Video: Liverpool 1 - Building's Project of the Year

Building magazine have recently posted a video about the award winning Liverpool 1 development on Paradise Street - where 25 architects designed over 30 new buildings for Gosvenor. Grosvenor's Rod Holmes gives a tour: Watch the video

Teams from Capita Symonds’ London, Liverpool, Altrincham, Colwyn Bay, Carlisle and East Grinstead offices provided Transport Planning, Health & Safety, CDM, and Highway and Public Realm Design services on the scheme which covers 42 acres in the heart of Liverpool city centre.

More coverage on the Wimbledon roof

Inhabitat.com (a weblog devoted to sustainable design and Architecture) has posted an article about the Wimbledon roof and some of it's sustainable aspects e.g. did you know the roofing farbric is fully recycleable?

Read the Wimbledon article on inhabitat.com

Or just have a look at their blog

Structures team works on Wimbledon's Centre Court roof

You've probably seen all the coverage of Wimbledon's new retractable roof in the media today - but did you know Capita Symonds provided Structural Engineering services on the project? (Well now you do!)

The retractable roof will bring an end to washed-out games – and potentially Cliff Richard's singalongs! (Cliff famously entertained the crowd when rain stopped play in 1996).

Find out more about the project on our website

View a video of how the roof works, below (taken from www.building.co.uk)

Capita Symonds advises on Boardmasters Festival

Capita Symonds will be providing Event Safety consultation for the Relentless Boardmasters Festival - a surf, skate and music festival in Newquay, Cornwall - 5th - 9th August.

Read the full article on our website

Photo courtesy of Relentless

Capita Architecture's Rob Morgan discusses off-site production techniques...

....in a recent article, "Out of site, not mind" for Construction News

Find out more, read the article on Construction News' website

Eggcellent Easter Collection

Staff at Capita Symonds’ Cumbria and North East offices pulled off an amazing Easter feat by collecting 455 Easter Eggs for charity.

The Carlisle, Durham, Penrith, Kendal, Barrow and Whitehaven / Lillyhall offices held a dress down day to raise money for the children’s wards at five local hospitals. As part of the day, staff were also asked to bring in an Easter egg of their choice to donate to the various wards (Cumberland Infirmary - Carlisle & Penrith offices; West Cumberland Hospital – Whitehaven, Maryport & Lillyhall offices; Furness Hospital – Barrow offices; Lancaster Royal Infirmary – Kendal offices; Durham University Hospital – Durham offices).

The scores were:
Carlisle – 263
Durham – 20
Penrith – 32
Kendal – 72
Barrow – 26
Whitehaven/ Lillyhall – 42

As the Carlisle office gathered 263 eggs (a few too many for one children’s ward!), they donated 40 to adults with learning disabilities at the Glenmore Trust (Carlisle) for their Easter egg hunt. The remainder will be donated to Cumbria County Council Social services to give to individual families.

Capita Symonds Cumbria and North East also donated £500 which will be split between the five children’s wards.

Thanks to all of our generous staff!