ProCon Events

WEBINAR - Thinking Differently: Architectural Design for Neurodiversity & Hidden Disabilities

In today's built environment, creating truly inclusive spaces requires a nuanced understanding of neurodiversity and hidden disabilities. This webinar offers a crucial opportunity for architects, structural engineers, MEP engineers, and other building professionals to deepen their knowledge and skills in designing for neurodiversity. By challenging common misconceptions and exploring practical strategies for creating sensory-friendly environments, participants will gain invaluable insights into how their designs can better accommodate the diverse needs of all users. In an increasingly diverse and inclusive world, professionals in the architecture and engineering fields have a responsibility to ensure that their projects prioritise accessibility and inclusivity, making this webinar essential for staying at the forefront of inclusive design practices.

Our speaker is Stephanie Kyle, Architect and Inclusive Design Consultant at maber.

There will be a Q&A session after the main presentation.

EVENT - Visit to Hollycroft Primary School - Leicestershire’s first net-zero school

BOOKINGS FOR THIS EVENT ARE NOW CLOSED

We invite you to come along to Hollycroft Primary School on Tuesday 20 February (10am to 1pm) to join us at this showcase event with Willmott Dixon to take a sneak peek at Leicestershire’s first net-zero school!

What’s interesting about the school?

Leicestershire’s first net-zero school is a showstopper! Embodied carbon is reduced through a timber frame, M&E features have been left exposed to enrich STEM learning for pupils, and advanced modelling at design stage has enabled the school to reach net-zero for both regulated and unregulated sources of energy.Event information

On the day, you can expect to hear from the team behind the school, including OWLS Academy Trust, Willmott Dixon and Leicestershire County Council, and also be given a behind-the-scenes look at what makes this school so special.

You'll find out about how early engagement facilitated a balance between cost and carbon to deliver a net-zero school on budget, as well as what a net-zero school means to the school’s trust – from the possibility of reallocating operating costs into educational resources to inspiring young, inquisitive minds to explore STEM principles.

EVENT - Biodiversity Net Gain - Facts, Challenges and Case Studies

BOOKINGS FOR THIS EVENT HAVE NOW CLOSED

Major new biodiversity regulations come into effect in January 2024. Planning permissions granted for new housing, commercial and infrastructure developments will be required by law to deliver at least 10% biodiversity net gain.

These regulations become enforceable by April 2024 for smaller developers, while major Infrastructure Projects are expected to comply by 2025.

In November 2023, the Government published the draft secondary legislation which provides the detail for the new biodiversity net gain framework, together with six statutory instruments which will become law in early 2024.

The new regulations may be challenging but, if planning starts early enough, they also present real opportunities to deliver better outcomes for nature, communities and building occupants. The outcome should be new habitats and green spaces. It’s something you now need to factor from the initial stages of project planning.

We have put together a panel of speakers who can provide insight and guidance into this new legislation and talk through case studies to aid compliance.