Featured Presentations
TIDE Bankside:Â Squire & Partners
Raquel Gutierrez (Associate, Squire & Partners) took us behind the scenes of TIDE Bankside, a groundbreaking net zero carbon development in the heart of London’s Bankside. Inspired by the Thames’ riverbanks and the area’s cultural heritage, the building’s striking façade reimagines natural erosion patterns through pioneering water-jet cut brickwork – a world first in collaboration with Thorp Precast.
Raquel explored how innovative design, low-carbon materials, and a strong focus on wellbeing came together in 147,500 sq ft of flexible workspaces, complete with landscaped terraces, a biodiversity-rich roof garden, and extensive cycling facilities and revealed how TIDE Bankside achieves BREEAM Outstanding, a 180-year design life, and sets a bold new benchmark for sustainable, resilient, and inspiring workplaces.
Sadlers Wells:Â ACS Stainless Fixings Ltd & Galostar
Paul Ruding, (Strategic Specification Director at ACS), delivered an insightful presentation on the striking brickwork design of the new Sadler's Wells East theatre, a key landmark in London's East Bank cultural district.
This session revealed the complex process of realising the theatre's façade, which features projecting, corbelled, and unique floating clay brick louvres. Mr. Ruding detailed the close collaboration between ACS and specialist subcontractor Galostar to develop bespoke hidden structural masonry solutions that delivered a visually seamless and acoustically sensitive envelope.
The talk highlighted how innovative thinking and precision engineering overcame challenges in structure, acoustics, and waterproofing to bring the architect's ambitious vision to life on this BREEAM Excellent, Olympic legacy project.
Sheepcote Road: Threefold Architects
Matt Driscoll (Founding Director, Threefold Architects) provided an exclusive look at the Sheepcote Road housing development for Pocket Living in Harrow.
Matt shared how the design transforms a brownfield site into 149 affordable homes using two interlocking L-shaped buildings that create a new central landscaped courtyard and pedestrian route, effectively reconnecting the neighbourhood.
The session highlighted the expressive use of clay brick, inspired by Harrow’s historic architecture. The façade blends light grey brick with rich red detailing to provide rhythm, depth, and a strong civic presence. This material continuity extends into the interior, featuring a striking brick colonnaded entrance and double-height lobby, creating a warm, tactile environment that encourages social interaction and well-being. The development champions sustainability through solar PVs and durable, low-maintenance materials.
Silvertown Tunnel:Â A V V Solutions + RIVERLINX
In this session, Graeme Murray (Project Manager, RIVERLINX), Michael Tincknell (Commercial Director, A V V Solutions) and John Suiu (Operations Director, A V V Solutions) explored how the essential infrastructure of the new Silvertown Tunnel has achieved global architectural recognition, culminating in the prestigious Brick Awards Supreme Award. The 1.4 km twin-bore road tunnel aims to ease congestion at the Blackwall Tunnel and boost connectivity across the Thames.
The presentation focused on the tunnel's two Portal Control and Support Buildings, the permanent architectural legacy of the scheme. Attendees discovered how carefully articulated brickwork, using Staffordshire Blue Class A engineering bricks in a Flemish bond with recessed headers, transforms these functional structures into civic landmarks.
The judges praised the outstanding craftsmanship and precision planning. The design expertly integrated double bullnose bricks to navigate complex curved geometry, enhancing visual impact, ensuring long-term durability, and setting a new benchmark for infrastructure design quality.
