Glasgow, UK-based swimming pool and spa provider Barr + Wray has announced that it has successfully secured two contracts in the Far East worth £2m (US$3.1m, EUR2.3m). The group has been appointed to carry out the installation of spa facilities at Resort World and the W Hotel in Sentosa, Singapore, with the latter due for completion in April 2012. Located on the southern tip of Singapore, the 240-bedroom W Hotel

Work on the new £24m Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre in St Albans, Hertfordshire, has reached a milestone after the large wooden beams that will support the roof were installed. Glulam beams have been shipped over from Denmark following an eight-week design and a 14-week manufacturing process. Each of the five beams are more than 35m long. It will take contractor Willmott Dixon three weeks to complete the installation of all

Liverpool City Council (LCC) has approved plans for the development of a new equestrian centre on a 12.9-hectare (31.9-acre) site within the curtilage of the historic Allerton Priory. Radcliffe Groves Partnership were behind the designs of the scheme, which is being led by the Maghull Group and includes a stables block to cater for up to 38 horses. Equestrian facilities will include a timber-framed indoor arena; two outdoor arenas; external

National Galleries Scotland (NGS) has reopened the Scottish National Portrait Gallery after completing work on an extensive £17.6m refurbishment of Edinburgh attraction. The gallery was initially designed by architect Sir Robert Rowand Anderson and was one of the first purpose-built portrait galleries in the world when it opened in 1889. Work has now been carried out by BAM Construction in a two-year scheme to provide new education facilities, including a

Casson Mann has been selected as exhibition designers for the Natural History Museum's new Treasures gallery, which forms part of a wider redevelopment at the London attraction. The gallery will be located at the top of the North Staircase and will open in 2012 in the first phase of the Central Hall scheme, displaying some of the museum's "greatest treasures". Casson Mann will be tasked with creating a space that

Park Hyatt Sydney, the 155-bedroom hotel overlooking the Australian city's iconic harbour, is to reopen in December following the completion of an extensive transformation project. The refurbishment has included a complete redesign of the hotel's facilities, such as the spa, restaurants and bars. Three rooftop suites have also been created on a new fourth level. Following its relaunch, Park Hyatt Sydney will provide a new-look spa designed to deliver a

New York, US-based Pryor Cashman LLP has confirmed its client, Castillo Grand, has been awarded US$44m (£28.1m, EUR32.9m) in its legal case against Sheraton Operating Corp. The New York State Supreme Court found Sheraton - part of Starwood Hotels and Resorts - breached a contract with the owner and developer of the former St Regis Hotels and Resorts. Castillo Grand's claim focused on a lack of "St Regis-style" in the

Property investment and development group Town Centre Securities (TCS) has been given the green light to proceed with the New Front leisure scheme at Leeds' Merrion Centre. The multi-million pound development will seethe transformation of 80,000sq ft (7,432sq m) of retail space into a leisure destination adjacent to the new 13,500-capacity Leeds Arena. Seven units ranging in size from 420sq ft (39sq m) to 30,000sq ft (2,787sq m) will house

Oxford's Ashmolean Museum is to open six new galleries for its Ancient Egypt and Nubia collections tomorrow (26 November), following £5m development project. Designed by Rick Mather Architects, the new facilities have been built by the Oxford-based contractor, Beard, and will present the attraction's collections under six broad themes. The themes are: Egypt at its Origins; Dynastic Egypt and Nubia; Life after Death in Ancient Egypt; the Armarna 'Revolution; Egypt

UK Athletics (UKA) and England Athletics are set to move to new offices at Birmingham's Alexander Stadium, which form part of a new stand along the back straight at the venue. Both organisations are already working together on areas such as schools athletics and coach education, with the relocation designed to offer "super cost-effective solution". The office space is located under the main concourse of the 5,000-seat stand, which has

A new spa comprising seven secluded over-water bungalows, which is due to open early next year, is to form part of the Viceroy Hotel Group's newest resort in the Maldives. Viceroy Maldives overlooks the Indian Ocean and offers 61 villas around a lagoon, with The Spa at Viceroy Maldives to help reduce stress and renew the body, mind and soul. The seven bungalows are to feature five multi-purpose spaces, such

Florida Studio Theatre (FST) has confirmed plans for a major US$5.6m (£3.6m, EUR4.2m) improvement campaign at its base in Sarasota, US, which is due to commence in early 2012. The scheme, which has been designed by Potvin Architects with C Alan Anderson Architect PA and Contractors, will include a revamp of the 6,000sq ft (557sq m) Gompertz Theatre. A new 18,000sq ft (1,672sq m) extension is also proposed as part

Chelsea Football Club (CFC) is looking into the possibility of developing a new stadium at London's Battersea Power Station site, which has remained unused since the early 1980s. It follows the recent news that CFC had failed in a bid to acquire the freehold land on which its existing Stamford Bridge venue is located from Chelsea Pitch Owners. The Premier League club has made no decision on whether to leave

Hertfordshire-based contractor Willmott Dixon has revealed that it is set to deliver a major new £33m leisure, business support and community facility in the heart of Redcar. The group said it had been appointed through the Scape framework on the first of a two-stage contract to build complex on behalf of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council. It is hoped Willmott Dixon will start work in the New Year, working with

A new 25,000-seat stadium, which will become the home of Le Havre Athletic Club Football Association at the entrance to the northern French city, is due to be completed next summer. KSS Group and Paris-based Société de Conception d'Architecture et d'Urbanism (SCAU) led the design of the EUR90m (£77.5m, US$120.7m) Grand Stade du Havre development. Vinci Construction and Communauté de l'agglomération Havraise (CODAH) are delivering the Ligue Two club's new

Vision West Notts (VWN) has received the green light to progress with the development of a new £11m complex at its Derby Road campus in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. Forming part of the institution's £24m redevelopment, the building will comprise 4,000sq m (43,056sq ft) of teaching and learning space with a health spa and a fine-dining restaurant. Hair and beauty salons are also proposed as part of the facility, which will cater

Plans have been revealed for a renovation of the 120,000sq ft (11,148sq m) west exhibition wing at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History in Washington DC, US. The attraction's centre core and east wing will remain open during the transformation, with proposals including the creation of new galleries, an education centre and interior plazas. Performance spaces and upgraded infrastructure are also planned as part of the overhaul, in addition

Imperial War Museum (IWM) London is to to create new galleries for its First World War collections as part of its plans to commemorate the centenary of the conflict in 2014. The new spaces are due to open in summer 2014 and will improve access to the attraction's extensive collections, allowing more personal artefacts, films and images to go on display. Foster + Partners and exhibition designer Casson Mann are

Marriott International has announced a new European design concept for the Courtyard by Marriott brand, as well as "significant" continental expansion plans for the business. Scotland's 194-bedroom Courtyard by Marriott Aberdeen and the 230-bedroom Courtyard by Marriott Cologne, Germany, are to be the first properties to debut the design in 2013. The Courtyard by Marriott European prototype model is based on a 170-bedroom, six-level property, which can be increased or

Concept designs put forward by ten shortlisted teams for the creation of "two new distinctive areas" in East London have been unveiled by the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC). Five teams are in the running to design a new public space to the south of the Olympic Park, while five more have been selected to draw up proposals for a community hub to the north. The visions are now on

Plymouth City Council (PCC) and operator Everyone Active have announced that plans are being put in place to open the new £46.5m Life Centre to the public on 23-25 March 2012. It follows the confirmation from contractor Balfour Beatty that the Archial-designed facility is now scheduled to be officially handed over to Everyone Active on 27 February. Balfour Beatty told PCC earlier this month that a "number of factors" had

Vacation Villas at Fantasy World in Kissimmee, Florida, US, has unveiled its new US$6.2m (£4m, EUR4.6m) amenity area, which has been built by Winter Park Construction (WPC). The project included a 14,000sq ft (1,301sq m) activity building, which includes a fitness area with sauna and steamroom; banquet facilities; a game room; and a business centre. L2 Studios designed the new amenity area, which also comprises an outdoor zero-entry pool with

Nashville's historic 125-bedroom Union Street Hotel in Tennessee, US, is set to become the 27th property to join Marriott International's Autograph Collection in January 2012. The hotel, which will be the state's first to be incorporated into the Autograph Collection, is housed in the city's former L&N Railroad train station following a conversion in 1986. Real estate developers Turnberry Associates and Corner Partnership undertook an US$11m (EUR8.2m, £7m) revamp and

The historical theme park Puy du Fou in France and the revamped Star Tours 4D experience at Disneyland, California, US were among the attractions to win a Thea award for their achievements in design and theming. Star Tours was given the award for the best refresh of an attraction while Puy du Fou won the prestigious Classic Award. The Thea awards are judged and handed out annually by members of

The Natural History Museum of Utah (NHMU) has officially unveiled its new 163,000sq ft (15,143sq m) home at the Rio Tinto Center in Salt Lake City, US, today (18 November). Ennead Architects, GSBS Architects and Design Workshop worked on the design of the Rio Tinto Center, which has been built by Big-D Construction over the last three years. The facility boasts around 51,000sq ft (4,738sq m) of permanent exhibition space,

Wolverhampton City Council (WCC) has announced the new £18.6m Bert Williams Leisure Centre in Bilston, West Midlands, will open its doors to the public on 3 December. York-based contractor Shepherd Construction has now completed work on the 5,600sq m (60,278sq ft) complex, which will replace the existing Bilston Leisure Centre. Built on the site of a former ironworks and designed by WCC architects, the centre includes a 25m swimming pool;

A new visitor centre, which has been designed by Toronto-based architects Reich and Petch, has opened in Ontario, Canada, as part of a wider project to celebrate the War of 1812. St Lawrence Parks Commission chose the design firm to draw up plans for the new facility, which is located at the Upper Canada Discovery Centre in Morrisburg. It is one of six sites that Reich and Petch has been