Heatherwick Studio founder took home 1.4m last year, almost a third of the profit earned by the practiceHeatherwick Studios proposals for a luxury shopping centre in Seoul, South KoreaThomas Heatherwick increased his annual dividend last year despite profits at his practice Heatherwick Studio crashing by 73% following a collapse in revenue from the US.The firm reported pre-tax profit of 4.7m for the year to 31 March 2024, down from the 17.6m earned in the previous year, with turnover during the period falling from 49.6m to 42.3m.Heatherwicks 1.4m dividend was over 300,000 more than the 1.1m he received in 2023.Source: Tom CampbellThomas Heatherwick outside the firms new Kings Cross office, which it moved to in August 2023 following a two-year refurbishmentThe bulk of the years fall in revenue came from a lull in the firms work in the US, where income fell by 87% from 14.4m in 2023 to 1.85m the following year.All other key regions saw improved numbers, with income from Asia, the firms most lucrative market, increasing from 16.1m to 19.2m, and the Middle East rising to 16.5m from the 13.1m earned in the previous year.Turnover also increased in the UK from 1.8m to 2m and in the rest of Europe from 1.1m to 1.6m, although it fell across the rest of the world, outside of the firms five key regions, from 3m to 1.1m.The practice said the fall in turnover and profit was fully expected following an exceptional year in 2022 and 2023 when the studio won work on a string of large projects and several others that had stalled during the pandemic, restarted.Group staff numbers during the period edged up to a total of 234, from 225 the previous year, with the firms wage bill increasing from 18.9m to 20m.The accounts also revealed the firm owes creditors a total of 26.4m, including 11.1m within the next year. The firm is currently paying off a 20m bank loan from Barclays which it took out in March 2022 at a rate of around 1.3m a year.It is also owed 8.5m from debtors, including 6.2m from trade debtors, within the next year.Heatherwick Studio partner and group leaderStuart Wood said:The studios portfolio continues to grow both in terms of geography and the amazing range and scale of our projects.We are also bigger than ever as a team. Following astrongyear after the pandemic, turnover is now on a level with previous years, as anticipated, and we expect it to continue on a gradual upward trend.Major jobs which the firm picked up last year included a transformation of Londons BT Tower into a hotel for US hotel chain MCR Hotels and a luxury shopping centre in Seoul, South Korea.The firm also won its first job in South America, a seven-storey university building in Bogota, the capital of Colombia.

Stanton Williams' RIBA competition-winning design for a new Fleming Centre at St Marys Hospital, in Londons Paddington Source:&nbsp Stanton WilliamsStanton Williams has seen off major names to win the competition to design a new Fleming Centre for St Marys Hospital in Londons Paddington The proposed 30 million research and public engagement centre on the historic west London hospital campus forms part of the wider Fleming Initiative plans, which aims to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR) around the world.Stanton Williams beat four other finalists in the two-stage contest for the job, organised by the RIBA on behalf of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.Also shortlisted were Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, Allies and Morrison, Grimshaw and WilkinsonEyre partnering with White Architekter.AdvertisementA three-day design exhibition in November showcased the five shortlisted concept designs. The RIBA said that feedback from more than 300 visitors helped guide the final selection.It added that Stanton Williams concept design for the Fleming Centre embraces the heritage of its proposed location on the site of The Bays, a set of industrial warehouses from around the 1850s which were used for transport and distribution before being incorporated into the hospital in 1983. Source:Stanton Williams Stanton Williams competition-winning design for a new Fleming Centre at St Marys Hospital, in Londons PaddingtonThe Stanton Williams design retains and adapts The Bays while inserting new elements, including the Fleming Discovery Centre, and offering views into laboratories and curated exhibition spaces for the public. It also prioritises sustainability, with a water-source heat pump, PV panels, biodiverse landscaping and a low-carbon structure.The RIBA said the next phase of the project will involve detailed design development, public consultations, and submission of a planning application to Westminster City Council.The new building will occupy a waterfront site overlooking the Regents Canal and will be the first new building to open at St Marys as part of ongoing plans for the sites wider redevelopment, under the governments New Hospital Programme..AdvertisementIts opening date is scheduled for 2028, marking 100 years sinceAlexander Fleming discovered penicillin at St Marys.Ara Darzi, executive chair of the Fleming Initiative, led jointly by Imperial College Healthcare and Imperial College London, said Stanton Williams bold vision for the new Fleming Centre had brought [the initiatives] ambitions to life.He said the concept reflected the centres unique purpose and global significance and could make the building a global beacon for change in healthcare.Imperials president Hugh Brady said that, as well as bringing together world-leading researchers to tackle AMR head-on, the Fleming Centre would form a key part of the Paddington Life Sciences development and Imperial WestTech Corridor vision.St Marys Hospital, a mix of historic and post-war buildings, is located immediately next to Paddington station. Allford Hall Monaghan Morris and HOK became the latest architects to be appointed to work on a planned 1.7 billion redevelopment of the site two years ago.The hospital redevelopment was one of the 40 new hospitals the previous government committed to rebuilding by 2030. Farrells drew up a masterplan for a new Paddington Health Campus on the site in the late 1990s, but the proposed PFI project was scrapped in 2005 after more than 15 million of public money had been spent on it. David Morley Architects later drew up a new masterplan but this project also never came to fruition.In September 2024, a search was launched for an architecture and landscape architecture team to work with site owner Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust to win planning permission for a major mixed-use development at the campus.The competitions judges included Darzi, Jo Wright of Perkins & Will, acting as RIBA architect adviser; Lisa Jamieson, public engagement consultant and former head of engaging science at Wellcome; and David Halpern, director and chief executive of the Behavioural Insights Team.2025-01-08Anna Highfieldcomment and share

The buildings, on Farringdon Road within the Clerkenwell Green Conservation Area, were originally four Victorian warehouses, housing a printworks and shops selling bicycles and printing ink. Incremental conversions over the years had left the warehouses with a confusing array of tenancies contained within an inefficient, leaky envelope. Source:Martina FerreraFathom has extended the workspace area by 920m2, while upgrading the fabric to reduce the carbon footprint, as well as create a new modern identity for the buildings, celebrating their industrial heritage.The ground-floor entrance was designed in collaboration with interior design firm Fettle around a communal area with a co-working lounge and other facilities. The scheme also includes two retail units. Above, six floors of workspace have a series of private and communal roof terraces leading off from them.Advertisement Source:Martina FerreraThe design looks to retain the qualities of the original fabric and balance these with new elements and materials. Circularity and material reuse were key to the project, including the repurposing of 3 tonnes of glass into terrazzo-style worktops and the recycling of 5,000 bricks, 185m2 of timber flooring and 2.3 tonnes of structural steel within the build. Source:Martina FerreraArchitects viewViewed collectively, this series of buildings offered a unique opportunity as a characterful heritage workplace. The challenge was to unify the individual buildings and unlock additional floor space within the constraints of the existing fabric and the conservation area setting.Our design response was to form new connections to create large light-filled floorplates as close to open-plan as its possible to make a Victorian load-bearing masonry structure.The topography of Farringdon Road means that the four buildings step down the hill, with a level change of approximately 0.75m between each. To mitigate this, two of the original circulation cores were removed, with the remaining two reconfigured to incorporate dual-sided lifts providing step-free access to each part of the floor plate.A set of 1970s mansard roof extensions were removed, and in their place, a new attic storey replicates the language of the existing building frontage. Above this is a set-back contemporary sixth floor with a three-sided wrap-around terrace. We worked hard to create external amenity space for every floor of the building as well as a communal roof terrace on level seven.At ground floor, a new centralised reception and co-working space was formed by connecting the separate spaces via a series of large steel-framed openings in the original party walls and lowering the floor levels to create a unified space.Much of the aesthetic comes from the character of the existing building. Exposed brickwork, expressed structural steelwork and concrete are complemented by replacement timber sash windows and an exposed services strategy as a backdrop to the Cat A floorplates.Materials and colours were selected to create a refined industrial language. Handsome late-Victorian tones are complemented by a consistent use of black architectural metalwork, with robust finishes such as glazed tiles adding texture and ensuring longevity.The project has demanded ingenuity, persistence and a collaborative spirit from everyone in the design and delivery teams. The Waterman has become one of the largest heritage workplace buildings in Farringdon and we are proud to have contributed to the next stage of its history.Tom Bulmer, project associate, Fathom Architects Source:Martina FerreraInterior designers viewOur brief was to design Alfreds Club on the ground floor of the Waterman, the main arrival and communal space of the building, and to create an inviting, elevated yet comfortable environment. We wanted to create a space that felt more akin to a hotel lounge or members club than a traditional office lobby, whilst maintaining functionality and flexibility as the space needed to support a variety of daily uses and events.Alfreds Club includes a feature terrazzo-topped coffee counter and events bar, which creates a focal theatre element, as well as a lounge, co-working areas and meeting rooms to serve the buildings tenants. Our design has successfully activated the ground floor and ensured a warm and inviting arrival experience for all buildings users and visitors.Andy Goodwin, creative director and co-founder, Fettle Source:Michele CadeiClients viewBGO tasked Fathom with transforming a complicated and inefficient series of heritage warehouses into a single desirable workplace.Through its analytical and considered approach to the existing Victorian structure, Fathom unlocked net area on every level, improving average net/gross ratio from 79 per cent to 85 per cent. It carved out high-end amenity space and vastly improved the buildings efficiency in operation.Fathoms reimagination has created a distinct identity for the Waterman, celebrating its heritage but very much appealing to the workplace demands of today. Were incredibly proud of whats been achieved on this truly collaborative project.Emma Foster, principal, BGO Source:Fathom ArchitectsProject dataStart on site October 2022Completion date October 2024Gross internal floor area (GIA) 8,614m2Form of contract or procurement route Design & buildConstruction cost UndisclosedConstruction cost per m2 UndisclosedClient BGOArchitect Fathom ArchitectsInterior design (Alfreds Club) Fettle DesignPlanning consultant DP9 and Rolfe Judd PlanningProject manager B&CoContractor AmbitStructure Bridges PoundM&E consultantGDMHeritage consultant The Heritage PracticeQuantity surveyor RLBTransport consultant The Steer GroupLandscape architect Bowles & WyerFire consultant Sweco & SemperApproved inspector SwecoRights of light GIAPrincipal designerFathom ArchitectsPrincipal designer adviser Goddard ConsultingSustainability consultant SwecoBREEAM assessor JAWEcology consultant Greengage EnvironmentalAcoustic consultant EECCAD software used AutoCADEnvironmental performance / sustainability dataPercentage of floor area with daylight factor >2% Not currently assessedPercentage of floor area with daylight factor >5% Not currently assessedOn-site energy generation 0%Annual mains water consumption 6.12 m3/occupant/yearAirtightness at 50Pa 3.43 m3/h.m2Heating and hot water load 21.98 kWh/m2/yrArea-weighted U-values walls: 1.3 W/m2K; roof: 0.12 W/m2K; windows: 1.3 W/m2K; floors: 0.74 W/m2K (NB weighted averages across existing and new build fabric)Design life 60 yearsEmbodied / whole-life carbon Awaiting final assessmentAnnual CO2 emissions 23.4 kgCO2eq/m2

If there's one highlight of tax season for most of us, it's receiving a tax refund. Although the tax filing season hasn't officially started yet -- we expect it will open by the end of the month -- you might want your tax refund sooner to pay off holiday debt or fund an upcoming trip or expense.Some tax software companies advertise tax refund advances, a short-term loan that can give you access to your tax refund even sooner. Getting your money now may seem tempting, but most experts don't recommend applying for one. This story is part of Taxes 2025, CNET's coverage of the best tax software, tax tips and everything else you need to file your return and track your refund. "While tax refund advances may seem appealing when finances are tight, I only recommend taking them out if necessary," said Dana Ronald, president of the Tax Crisis Institute. "They often come with high interest rates and fees, which can add to the overall cost of borrowing."If you take out a tax refund advance loan, you might end up paying for it, either upfront or in the long run. Before you apply for a tax refund advance, make sure you know how they work and what the risks are.Read more:Child Tax Credit: Find Out If You're EligibleWhat are tax refund advances and how do they work?A tax refund advance (also called a refund anticipation loan) is a short-term loan that offers you a portion of your expected tax refund amount weeks or months ahead of your actual refund. The premise may seem compelling, especially if you're still catching up on bills from the holidays. You can typically borrow between $100 and $4,000 until February with a tax refund advance."Tax refund advances are not free money and should be cautiously approached," said Ronald. "It's always best to carefully consider all potential risks and alternative options before deciding."You'll apply for a tax refund advance on a tax preparation company's website. You may need to provide proof of income, your pay stub or W-2 (if available) and other financial records.Tax refund advance loans typically don't have the same credit score requirements as other loans do, and the amount you're approved for may depend on your expected refund amount. So even if a service advertises $3,000 advances, and you expect a $3,000 refund, it doesn't mean you'll qualify to receive this full amount.You typically receive your funds within a few business days, and sometimes as fast as the same day. If you're required to file your taxes with a tax preparation company, the amount owed may be automatically taken from your refund once the IRS submits it. Otherwise, you'll need to repay your loan by the agreed-upon due date.How much do tax refund advances cost?Having extra funds at your disposal could be helpful, but a high-interest tax refund advance is generally not the way to go. Interest for this type of loan is high, with annual percentage rates upward of 35%. For context, average credit card APRs hover around 20%, while personal loan APRs are around 11.56%.Some tax filing services don't charge interest for this service as long as you agree to file your taxes with them, but that could mean you end up paying a fee to file your taxes. There are also other fees you should look out for, even if the loan has a 0% APR. When it comes time to repay your loan, for example, if you choose to repay it directly from your refund, fees could apply.What are the risks of taking out a tax refund advance?There are a few reasons why you should be wary of tax refund advance loans."One of the biggest risks is that your tax refund could end up being less than the amount you borrowed," said Ronald. Since these loans are based on an expected refund, there's always the possibility that your refund is smaller than expected. In this case, you'll be responsible for paying the full balance.Secondly, a refund advance may cost you, even if it's advertised as 0% APR. There could be hidden fees, including a requirement to pay for tax filing services, which can be pricey. Plus, some services may charge high interest rates, making this a more expensive type of loan.Note: Be careful of payday lenders that may advertise similar loans during this time of year. These companies often have extraordinarily high interest rates and fees. In some states, payday loan rates can average as high as 400% (yes, you read that correctly). Personal finance experts recommend avoiding payday loans at all costs.Where to get a tax refund advance in 2025Most of the large tax preparation companies offer some sort of tax refund advance, although the terms, conditions, qualifications and amounts vary from company to company. Here's a quick look at the products offered by some of the larger tax preparation firms:Jackson Hewittoffers two products: an Early Refund Advance, which you can get with just your pay stubs and comes with an APR as high as 35.96%, and a No Fee Refund Advance, which is a no-fee, 0% APR loan available at most Jackson Hewitt locations.H&R Blockhas a 0% APR refund advance loan for up to $4,000 through Feb. 28. You'll be charged a $42 fee if you decide to repay your loan with your refund from your H&R Block refund transfer account.TurboTaxoffers a refund advance of up to $4,000 with no loan fees and a 0% APR until Feb. 28 if you meet certain eligibility requirements. If you choose to repay your loan with your federal refund, separate fees may apply.Alternatives to tax refund advancesIf you can, wait until your tax refund comes through in 2025. This can prevent you from receiving a larger loan than you can afford to pay back when your refund hits. To get your refund as quickly as possible, the IRS recommends filing online early in the tax season and opting for direct deposit delivery.You can also tap your emergency savings account, then replenish it when your tax refund arrives. If you're still working on getting your emergency fund set up, there are other, more affordable options to consider.If you need your refund money faster to cover a surprise expense or necessity, consider a personal loan or 0% APR credit card. Just make sure you can make monthly payments to minimize interest, late fees and other penalties. More tax advice

Several important refinance rates moved higher this week, making it harder to find a lower rate on a home loan.

Mortgage rates were varied, but one benchmark rate saw an increase. Here's what experts want you to know.

Minecraft YouTuber to present new Classic FM video game music seriesBaroque-buster.Image credit: DanTDM / YouTube News by Ed Nightingale Deputy News Editor Published on Jan. 8, 2025 Classic FM is launching a new video game music radio series presented by Minecraft YouTuber DanTDM.Next Level with DanTDM launches on Saturday 11th January at 9pm for an hour, and will run each week until Easter.The first episode will focus on legendary soundtracks from games such as The Legend of Zelda, Final Fantasy 7, The Elder Scrolls, and of course Minecraft.A Minecraft Movie - Official Trailer - Warner Bros UK & IrelandWatch on YouTubeClassic FM has championed video game music for quite some time, with entries in its Hall of Fame from 2012. It then launched High Score in 2017, a radio series presented by BAFTA-award-winning composer Jessica Curry, who also co-founded Everybody's Gone to the Rapture studio The Chinese Room.It seems clear, though, the radio service is aiming for a younger audience with the hiring of Daniel Middleton, aka DanTDM.The YouTuber has 29 million subscribers on his channel, with more than 20bn views across his online content."Teenage me wouldn't be able to believe I have my own radio show!" he said. "Having studied music production at university and then worked in video games for the past 15 years, being given a show that celebrates the meeting of these two worlds feels totally surreal."Classic FM is such an iconic station and I'm really grateful and excited to have been given this opportunity." To see this content please enable targeting cookies."Across three months, he will not only showcase the greatest video game music to our loyal listeners, but with Dan at the controls, we're looking forward to welcoming VGM fans to Classic FM for the first time too," added Classic FM managing editor Philip Noyce. "We have always championed new forms of classical music, from film scores to gaming soundtracks, so I'm pleased to announce this next chapter in our support of video game music."DanTDM has recently been involved with charity work, donating gaming carts to Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children. Additionally, he's admitted he was invited to see the set of the Minecraft film, with some fans speculating he has some form of cameo.The Minecraft film's second trailer released in November, with the full film launching on 4th April this year.

Microsoft says handheld gaming PC should bring "the best of Xbox and Windows together"For a natively "gaming-centric device".Image credit: Eurogamer News by Tom Phillips Editor-in-Chief Published on Jan. 8, 2025 The future of Microsoft's handheld gaming plans includes a marriage between the best of Xbox and Windows.That's according to Microsoft's Xbox hardware veteran Jason Ronald, who also teased that the company would have "a lot more to share later this year" on what exactly its Windows-powered handheld vision might look like."We've been really innovating for a long time in the console space," Ronald told The Verge during an interview this week at CES 2025, "and as we partner across the industry it's really about how do we bring those innovations that we've incubated and developed in the console space and bring them to PC and bring them to the handheld gaming space."Ronald is speaking specifically here about Microsoft's plans for handheld gaming on Windows devices, which sounds like something we'll see bear fruit sooner than Xbox's much-mooted gaming-specific handheld. Indeed, Xbox boss Phil Spencer - who has spoken repeatedly of his desire for Microsoft to launch an Xbox handheld - said in November that such a device was likely still a few years away."It's bringing the best of Xbox and Windows together, because we have spent the last 20 years building a world-class operating system, but it's really locked to the console," Ronald continued, discussing the Xbox console interface. "What we're doing is we're really focused on how do we bring those experiences for both players and developers to the broader Windows ecosystem."We're focused on really simplifying that and making it much more like a console experience. Our goal is to put the player and their library at the center of the experience and not all the [Windows] work that you have to do today."Examples of this include removing the need for PC-centric inputs such as a keyboard and mouse, and moving away from Windows relying on the use of classic user interface features such as the taskbar and Start menu.While we wait for more on Microsoft's handheld plans, further Switch 2 leaks have continued to paint what looks to be a pretty accurate picture of Nintendo's next handheld console.

Until Dawn film won't feature the same characters, or even the same story, as the game it's based onJust slayin'.Image credit: PlayStation News by Victoria Kennedy News Reporter Published on Jan. 8, 2025 Sony's upcoming Until Dawn film adaptation will feature both a new cast of characters and a new story.This titbit was shared during a presentation at CES by Sony's president of film division Screen Gems Ashley Brucks, who stated that while the film would - clearly - be different in some ways to the original Until Dawn game, it would still respect the series' source material."The key to [successfully] adapting these games comes down to one thing: respecting the source material," Brucks said (transcribed by IGN). "Our close collaboration with PlayStation Productions gives us and our filmmakers the advantage of working directly with the creators of the game."The Sony exec said it was a "careful balance of trying to identify and incorporate what the fans love about the game and the experience as well as offering something fresh and exciting to entice newcomers"."In adapting Until Dawn, filmmaker David F. Sandberg, who is a big fan of the widely acclaimed game, took the essence of what makes the game great and selected elements we think are the most important to the fans and paid homage to it in the right way," Brucks continued. "We then built out Until Dawn's universe, using the core premise of a group of friends who encounter a variety of terrifying threats to tell a new story that is truly visceral and horrifying." Actor Peter Stromare as Dr Hill in Until Dawn. | Image credit: PlayStationActor Peter Stromare, who is said to be reprising his role as psychiatrist Dr Hill in Until Dawn's adaptation (so, perhaps there is at least one returning character after all), added the film will "honour the spirit of the game"."I have been lucky to be part of Until Dawn since the original, incredible, super terrifying game, and what's why I'm so excited to be part of this film, because the whole thing is a love letter to horror, and it completely honours the spirit of the game," Stormare said."The movie is going to be full of fresh characters and victims in a brand new story loaded with twists, so whether you're a longtime fan or discovering it for the first time, get ready for Until Dawn like you've never seen it before."The Until Dawn film is set to arrive later this year, on 25th April.As for the game itself, the recently released PS5 remake introduced a new ending for Until Dawn, which hints towards a sequel (please be aware of story spoilers for Until Dawn if you follow the link).

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games hereValorant is kicking off a brand new year in epic fashion. We are getting treated to the arrival of Agent 27, Tejo, very soon, and they will be accompanied by a brand new battle pass as well as the introduction of Flex. While it would usually be considered Episode 10 Act 1, it is technically not the case thanks to changes from Riot. Here you will find an explanation for these massive changes as part of the Valorant 2025 roadmap. The release time for Tejo and the new battle pass is set, and the new agent looks ridiculously cool as emphasised in the gameplay trailer from Riot. They are branded as the 27th agent amongst the roster gallery, and they are following in the footsteps of Clove and Vyse, who joined in 2024. Riot introducing a new playable character is the perfect way to start the new year, and the developer has also announced some massive changes that drastically alter Valorant and its 2025 roadmap. Valorant 2025 roadmap The Valorant 2025 roadmap is different than any other year as Riot is abandoning the format of Episodes. Instead of Episodes, Riot Games multiplayer shooter is now turning to yearly seasons, and this is Season 2025 a.k.a. V25. As part of the new seasonal format, Riot will still be releasing acts, and there will be six acts per year. Each of these acts will represent meaningful periods of gameplay like they do now such as ranked, battlepasses, map rotations and Premier stages. Theres no mention of how long each act will last, but they should be roughly two months considering Riot plans to release six each year. In addition to six acts per year, Riot has confirmed that they are moving Valorant Champions down the calendar to October to create much better overall pacing.For the first half of 2025, Riot has confirmed they plan to implement balance changes for agents. So far Riot has only announced power budget redistribution around Isos kit along with adjusting Deadlock to have more aggressive potential. Based on all of the above details, the Valorant 2025 roadmap so far looks as follows:Act 1 JanuaryAct 2 MarchAct 3 MayAct 4 JulyAct 5 SeptemberValorant Champions October Act 6 NovemberAgent changes Iso first half of 2025 Deadlock first half of 2025 Check out Riots Whats New For 2025 Dev Update for more details about the year ahead. For more Valorant, check out our18 tips on how to get betterat the game along with our guide forhow to appear offlineif you dont want certain friends knowing youre playing. We also have guides forhow to chat with the team, all, and private, along withhow to add friends.ValorantPlatform(s):PCGenre(s):Action, Shooter, StrategyRelated TopicsValorant Subscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share