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Teesside University partners with landscape architects unlocking new technologies

Newcastle and London-based urban designers, landscape architects and master planners, Colour, are finding new ways of implementing the latest technology in its work thanks to a partnership with Teesside University.

Colour has taken on two members of staff at its Newcastle headquarters with the help of different schemes run by the University to help companies recruit talent and develop new skills in their business.

The company has used a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) and a Knowledge Exchange Internship (KEI) to investigate ways of implementing Building Information Modelling (BIM) within its business.

BIM is a concept that uses a combination of processes and technologies to develop a digital representation of physical and functional characteristics of a building.

Henry Fenby-Taylor was taken on by Colour in November 2013 on a KTP as a BIM system designer to apply BIM project management standards and to enhance software productivity and efficiency.

KTPs typically last for two years and are a collaboration between a University and a company.

They are part-funded by Innovate UK to help businesses to improve their competitiveness and productivity through the better use of knowledge, technology and skills.

The project has already proved so successful that Henry has been appointed by the Landscape Institute, the Royal Chartered Institute for Landscape Architects, to write a major new book on BIM for landscape.

‘BIM for Landscape’ will be the first book of its kind, and is aimed at landscape practitioners, project leaders and decision-makers working with landscape on a BIM project.

Adam Hay has just completed a 12 month KEI at Colour and is now employed permanently at the company, where he has helped to integrate BIM into its projects.

KEIs, unique to Teesside University, are part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and employ talented graduates in companies which are looking to solve a particular problem or implement a specific project.

Over the course of the 12 months he has applied BIM to a live project, the new Newcastle College Gateway faculty, and collaborated with Ryder Architecture on their winning bid in the Build Sydney 2013 virtual design competition for a new convention centre in Sydney, Australia.

Adam said: “I’ve been using the technology to help the landscape architect. It’s meant I’ve been kept very busy with lots of new problems to solve and fix, and also learn new knowledge and skill sets.

“It’s really helped to move me on in terms of furthering my skills.”

Henry Fenby-Taylor said: “Having the chance to work with both professionals and academics in this area is unique and we are doing some cutting edge work.

“My role is more research focused and so I can afford to experiment and try new things. It means I can look at new models of doing things and it’s not going to impact on the company.”

Technical director at Colour, Stephen Blacklock, said: “We’re extremely pleased with the work that we’ve been doing with Teesside University.

“Adam’s KEI has allowed the company to take on more complex BIM projects and is also helping the company drive efficiencies and work towards ISO accreditation which will help secure more work.

“The KTP is more of a problem-solving position with a lot more academic support but hopefully it will enable us to develop solutions which will allow us to stay at the forefront of our industry.

“It’s fantastic that there are these different ways in which Teesside University has been able to support our business. We’re now thinking of running another KEI project in our London office.”

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