The refurbishment at Kingston University’s Knights Park Campus provides the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture with 9500sqm of new and improved facilities that better reflect the school’s outstanding reputation and competitive edge. The new building provides more collaborative working space for staff and students.
The design and build project was undertaken in full occupation. The project required a significant decant schedule, and ongoing noise, dust and vibration monitoring.
A phased approach to the works with a detailed decants schedule enabled activities to progress with minimal disruption to the campus. We provided a dedicated contact purely for any issues around noise, dust or vibration in order to address immediately. The phasing was undertaken floor by floor thus enabling containment as far as possible.
The final project delivered a 52% reduction in operational carbon emissions and also achieved BREEAM Excellent. Over 1,000sqm of flat roof has been put to work, providing outdoor teaching spaces, wildlife habitats and green roofs.
100% payment within 30 days terms
Zero RIDDORs
Soft landings for handover
21 work experience placements
7 curriculum support activities
6 graduates
9 jobs created
15 NVQs
Community garden renovation
100% timber responsibly sourced
Over 100sqm of flat roof providing wildlife habitats and green roofs
BREEAM Excellent
52% reduction in carbon emissions
Email: james.wright@hants.gov.uk
Phone: : 07761 330560
Email: alan.smedley@morgansindall.com
Phone: 07967 686066
first Recladding Project Undertaken: Friars House is a office block that was converted into a Residential building in 2015, with one additional floor added. The building totals 5 storey’s (8 storey’s including the shopping centre) and is constructed over an existing shopping centre and now contains 71 residential apartments. When the Building was converted from Offices to Residential the building was over-clad with ACM and a EPS render system. Whilst occupied, this project undertook works to replace the potential combustible cladding on the external elevations with materials in line with Approved Document B December 2018 Revision, post-Grenfell.
Undertook extensive cross checking with physical inspections. Understand how the occupiers use and plot trends whilst planning operational delivery around these patterns. Plan ahead with extensive logistical solutions in place and test these prior to undertaking any works.
Adapted to ever evolving Covid CLC working practices – worked closely with the client to ensure minium disruption experienced. Customer stated: Excellent communication all through the design and construction phases
99.8% payment periods not exceeding 30 days
Undertook social legacy work-streams and compliance with the Social Legacy Policy
Zero Harm
Handover & Aftercare Contractor Promise
Email: james.wright@hants.gov.uk
Phone: 07761 330560
Email: guy.dawes@willmottdixon.co.uk
Phone: 07989 179444
Project details
Form of Contract: NEC3 Engineering and Construction Contract April 2013
Procurement Type: 2 Stage
Contract Period: 97 weeks
Size: 55,000 sqft
The project comprised of the refurbishment and upgrade of the client’s estate under their ‘Restoration and Renewal Programme’. The project endeavored to deliver maximum flexibility and usability for a design life of 15 years, achieving BREEAM Excellent.
The project included CAT B fit out of offices, a new reception, new meeting rooms and collaboration spaces. The scope of works also included structural alterations, window replacements and external works and security enhancements of 55,000 sq ft over 9 floors including roof and terraces in a 1920’s building.
Multiple stakeholder engagement
The scope included the decant of large numbers of staff to allow 750 new staff to occupy their new space.
Engaging with government recommended contractors
ISG had to liaise with government recommended subcontractors with their own works packages within the building.
Delivering in a Global Pandemic
The PCSA and part of the construction period spanned the unprecedented Covid-19 Global Pandemic.
Challenging logistics
The project was located in central London, with the building located on a busy road. The building was occupied for the duration of the works.
Base build fit out
It became clear the CAT A wasn’t fit for purpose; extensive reparations were required before the CAT B could begin.
Multiple stakeholder engagement
ISG engaged early in the preconstruction phase with incoming government departments to build a move-in calendar for each department. They also held coordination workshops with the client’s in-house design team, data teams, security and maintenance teams, and catering teams.
Engaging with government recommended contractors
ISG engaged at tender stage with government recommended subcontractors and incorporated their specialist programmes into their master programme to calibrate and synchronise their works.
Delivering in a Global Pandemic
ISG’s industry leading Covid-19 safety measures ensured minimal disruption to the project despite lockdowns and social distancing measures, in the challenging conditions of an unprecedented global pandemic.
Challenging logistics
The logistics of the site was very tight. The scope included the removal and replacement of the lift motor room. ISG agreed the use of a full height hoist to the front elevation for movement of materials and operatives into the building. Neighbouring businesses and residents were kept informed of progress and the team received zero complaints of disruption.
Base build fit out
After notifying the client of the issues with the base build, ISG removed infrastructure back to risers and validated all CAT A base-build plant, effectively providing the client with a turnkey solution.
Early engagement with government subcontractors enabled the programme to progress efficiently and smoothly
The ISG and client team remained safe, proactive, focused and driven to achieve all key sign offs and milestones throughout the project lifecycle
The occupants of the space moved into their new offices on time, with support of the ISG team
Neighbouring business and residents were satisfied with the logistics approach, resulting in zero complaints
Effectively delivered a turn-key solution for the client
100% payment within 30 days
Achieved BREEAM Excellent
Zero RIDDORs
Handover & Aftercare Contractor Promise
ISG maintains ongoing community engagement with three organisations:
The Passage – refurbishment of their entrance / circulation / break out zones
One Westminster – welfare facilities refurbishment
St Mungo’s – PPE donations
Email: alex.nelhams@hants.gov.uk
Phone: 07717 003869
Email: matt.glass@isgltd.com
Phone: 07929755500
University of Westminster
Willmott Dixon were appointed to deliver a £1.6m refurbishment in time for the 2021/2022 academic year. In order to meet this deadline, there was a very restricted programme, which was to be delivered in an occupied building.
The University of Westminster wanted to improve the overall student experience by creating flexible and engaging multi-purpose spaces.
Specialist teams from Willmott Dixon refurbished the ground and lower ground floors at the university’s building.
On the ground floor, three existing rooms have been repurposed to create a new, single, and accessible open plan area for work-based learning, with non-structural walls removed to enlarge the space.
A new heating and cooling system was implemented to improve the building’s thermal efficiency. Other improvements consisted of new lighting, flooring and stackable furniture, and a new AV system, including the latest display technology for wireless projection.
The 10-week project has delivered 8,500 sq ft of flexible and engaging space across 8 weeks within the building’s CSE Innovation Centre. The new space has been designed to switch between a 40 seater programming lab and a collaborative working area.
The space is also used to showcase student work, research posters sessions, and presentations, and act as additional meeting space.
Delivered on time enabling use at the beginning of the 2021/2022 academic year.
Email: guy.dawes@willmottdixon.co.uk
Phone: 07989179444
London
Client
The Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime
Contractor
Morgan Sindall
Value
£24.36m
Contract Period
75 weeks
Complete refurbishment of 120,000 sq-ft Police station, in 3 phases whilst in occupation. Key to the project was to maintain all services whilst the custody suites and office areas remain occupied. Refurbishment including all new mechanical and electrical installations, new raised floors, IT, security, lifts, raised floors, ceiling, joinery, toilets together with renovation of roof, windows, doors, repair and replacement of render and external redecoration. New air-conditioning plant was installed at the ground floor with the creation of a plant enclosure in the central courtyard as a solution because we were not allowed to use cranes to lift plant.
Fair Payment Charter
Sustainable Development Charter
Health & Safety Charter
Legacy Charter
Handover & Aftercare Contractor Promise
Whilst on site, the project team were involved in a bake off raising over £1,000 towards the Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity.
Working in live police station
Working in a live police station with the busiest custody in Europe with 2 armouries that Police need to have constant daily access to allow them to load ammunition and guns to guard prominent buildings in the capital. We had to coordinate with vans with up to 80 prisoners a week being unloaded and loaded in into the courtyard being delivered to the custody suite, whilst keeping the area safe secure for all.
To manage the security levels and keep a fast programme of works, there was a high level of communication and awareness of the police requirements. There was a daily, sometimes hourly, dialog to understand each other’s needs; we had to listen and be flexible and sensitive to the requirements of the Police, sometimes changing the programme to suit operational needs.
We divided the building into sections where the Overbury workforce were not allowed so the Police could carry on policing unhindered.
Deliveries logistics
Working in central London with close proximity to many cafes bars restaurants with no available parking for visitors’ and operatives’ cars, and no unloading area for deliveries.
To manage the deliveries, we needed a phone notification from drivers of delivery lorries whose arrival was imminent, this was taken by our logistics team who either took in the delivery or alerted the subcontractor, so an efficient unload was carried out and materials stacked away promptly to point of work.
We let all the surrounding businesses know who we were with programmes and contact names and mobiles numbers.
There was a high level complaint to the Police and Council regarding construction work causing noise and dust affecting their business, this was caused by another contractor who was working nearby. We met the manager of the restaurant and developed a good relationship with her and helped them continue their business once more with advice and meetings.
Site office location
We needed an area for site office set up and access onto site. We didn’t have an area available inside Charing Cross for site offices and we couldn’t put cabins on the pavement or roof. Westminster Council didn’t allow cabins outside a construction zone so special permission was sought to another solution.
We formed a scaffold all the way around the building with a gantry for cabins which held the site offices, canteen, toilets, meeting rooms, subcontractor office, and changing rooms. We built a security point so we could check all our workforce in and out. The entrance to the workplace was through windows in our secured areas.
Our Success
Our Learnings
Value Added
Contract | Gateway 2 Planning | Gateway 3 Contract Agreement | Variation | Gateway 4 Handover | Variation |
Cost | £23,519,050 | £22,708,452 | -£811,000 | £24,372,709 | £1,664,338 |
Time | 80 weeks | 72 weeks | -8 weeks | 68 weeks | -4 weeks |
Contact: Alan Smedley, Framework Manager
Email: alan.smedley@morgansindall.com
Part strip out and fit out of approx 50,000m2 for 10 individual tenants occupying 11 floors. Each tenant represented a government department relocating from various sites throughout London. The CAT B scheme was largely based around a flexible open plan working arrangement with cellular meeting rooms concentrated around central cores.
The main challenge centred around the multiple end users who all had their own design requirements and the 28 sectional handovers required to enable a progressive occupation of the building. The multiple sectional completions also had to accommodate dependencies from other workstreams within the building.
To ensure programme delivery, Overbury agreed a vanilla scheme/cost for each client enabling the floors to commence. Running concurrently, Overbury agreed a detailed design release programme with the client and consultants which allowed the maximum time to fine tune the design while still achieving client move dates.
The logistical and operational challenges were managed by a detailed risk register which listed all the dependencies and highlighted risks to our client. This was updated on a weekly basis. The multiple handovers were managed through a minus 6 week detailed close out programme supported by a robust handover file and agreed procedures.
The agreed approach of vanilla design/cost followed by enhanced design resulted in a high number of change instructions, partially regarding day two items following occupation. Overbury allocated a dedicated change manager to the project which mitigated the programme.
The experience the client and consultants conveyed to Overbury was how interactive and collaborative they found working with the project team. This was partly due to the open plan working office environment they set up for the wider project team.
100% payment within 30 days terms
100% timber responsibly sourced
Zero RIDDORs
CCS Score 43/45
20 No of SMEs
47 beneficiaries
Soft landings for handover
Dedicated Overbury Change Manager
On-line portal for notifying any defects with 3 priority categories for response times
Email: james.wright@hants.gov.uk
Phone: 07761 330560
Email: alan.smedley@morgansindall.com
Phone: 07967 686066
Client
Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
Project Manager
Avison Young
Architect
Avison Young
Contractor
Morgan Sindall (Overbury)
Value
£2.4m
Contract Period
32 weeks
Procurement Type
Design & Build
Form of Contract
JCT D&B
Size
1600 m2 GIFA
The West elevation of Building 329 was the subject of a CAT B fit out, on the ground floor this will include wings G,H,J & K, cores 2 & 3 and link 2. To the first floor fit out works were to wings J & K and core 3. The existing WC blocks on the ground floor and first floor, although within the site demise, were not the subject of any works.
Overbury took overall responsibility as principal contractor for the whole of the above areas and coordinated their works accordingly with adjacent tenants and the landlord contractors at the east end within building 77.
The floor plates included works to provide open office space complete with office desks and enclosed meeting rooms and offices; new comms and patch rooms to both floors. Existing carpet finishes remained in the majority of areas with new feature carpet to various walkways and offices. Decorations completed to all areas in line with finishes plan. Amendments to services were carried out to align with the new layout and occupancy levels. Kitchenette, and post room provided to the ground floor and a kitchenette to the first floor. Services included Access control, FA, CCTV, Intruder alarms and data to all areas.
The west elevation entrance was altered to accommodate new revolving entrance doors, with extended external paved landing and steps. Internally the entrance was fitted out with security speed lanes, reception desk, visitor WC and security office including ceramic floor tiles throughout.
All external windows had Anti Shatter clear film applied. The north of wing K had a sliding wall installed to provide a large conference room or 2 x smaller seating areas.
Due to the known presence of ACM, this required specialist attendance to accommodate removal of base build structures to facilitate the installation of services and finishes. Fixing of high and low level components were the subject of strict procedures to negate penetrating through the known ACM.
New service and drainage connections and ducting required both external and internal excavations.
Extent of asbestos remaining within the building
This could not be removed as encased within the base build floor slabs across the entire area. We had to re-sequence all works and re-programme the works to allow the asbestos contractors to “deal” with installing our fixings and provide us with service penetrations before handing the areas back to us following air clearance certificates being issued.
Fixing methods of all components due to asbestos
This encompassed all services, specifically at high level. We achieved this by installing 4000 meters of Uni-Strut to suspend all services and ceilings from it. The Uni-Strut was fixed by our specialist Asbestos Contractor using circa 8000 fixing bolts. Fixing of components to floor was also problematical as limited to depth of fixing so we did not penetrate the Asbestos. Re-designed base units and fixings and depth gauges on drilling tools were used.
Security design and installation extremely sensitive and classified as “Official Sensitive” in all correspondence
This meant that we and our security contractor had to under go security clearance checks, with our security contractor being subjected to extensive checks by the NDA authorities.
Distribution of all security designs and drawings could only be carried out via a specific PC located within NDA premises. Displaying of any designs or drawings could only be done on any floors above 1st floor level, all items had to be removed at the end of the working day and placed under lock and key.
Our Success
Our Learnings
Contract | Gateway 2 Planning | Gateway 3 Contract Agreement | Variation |
---|---|---|---|
Cost | £2,105,632 | £2,105,632 | 0% |
Time | 29 weeks | 31.3 weeks | +2.3 weeks |
Client
Reading Borough Council
Project Manager
Hampshire County Council
Architect
Broadway Malyan
Contractor
Morgan Sindall (overbury)
Value
£3.6m
Contract Period
26 weeks
Procurement Type
Design & Build
Form of Contract
JCT D&B
Size
1,308 m2 GIFA
Trainees
5
Overbury successfully delivered a full Cat B fit out over two floors and a mezzanine area for repeat client, Reading Borough Council (RBC). Procured through the SCF Framework, the newly modernised office space will house the Council’s Parks, Highways and Housing departments. The works also included the creation of a storage facility for the museums and modern records division.
Works to the office space included the creation of a breakout area on the ground floor, new toilets, refurbishment of the showers, new tea points, installation of a new lift and redecoration throughout. Structural beams were moved and adapted to ensure that the lift could be appropriately supported. A new structural steel beam was installed under the mezzanine to support the new storage equipment that would be installed on this floor. New roller racking storage and close control air conditioning units and dehumidifiers were fitted in the document and artefact storage areas.
The security of the building was increased with specialist steel doors and updated security systems.
The building is located in the middle of a busy depot which was in constant use throughout the project. Logistics had to be carefully planned; and effective traffic and parking management was key. Maintaining a strong relationship with the client ensured successful and efficient use of a challenging site.
Throughout the project we had apprentices and trainees working on site; directly for Overbury and for our subcontractors.
Tight Programme to achieve Critical Path
The tight programme for the roller racking area presented a key challenge for the project. We had to ensure that this portion of works started as early as possible to meet the critical path. The programme was designed to progress these areas to mitigate the risk of not meeting the handover with the roller racking in place.
To ensure the smooth operation of the roller racking, the floor levels could only have a 5mm tolerance throughout the whole span of the warehouse. After the final stage of demolition was completed in the racking areas, we re-screeded the entire warehouse. This ensured the 5mm tolerance was met throughout the span which resulted in the perfect running of the racking system.
Plant Room Decommissioning
From the validation phases of the project it became apparent that there was an old mains electrical panel in a plant room in the centre of the building that was still live, this was due to be demolished to be used for racking areas. Requests to the electrical board were made immediately for them to disconnect and remove, however there was still to be a delay for these works. To ensure that this did not delay the overall programme we progressed with all other surrounding works, whilst keeping this plant room out of bounds to mitigate any health and safety risk. The sequencing of the roller racking was swapped to ensure the programme stayed on schedule.
Once the electrical panel was safely disconnected and removed, works to remove the old plant room and progress works for roller racking installation was accelerated so that the end handover date was met.
Deliveries Logistics
The office block was at the centre of a live and busy council depot. We had to balance deliveries and a shared car park with the council contractors and the challenging location also meant that large vehicles and deliveries could not access the site.
Collaboration, communication and organisation were key to maintaining a good relationship with the client while being efficient with deliveries and subcontractors.
Our Success
Our Learnings
Value Added
Client
University of Exeter
Project Manager
Faithful + Gould
Architect
Faithful + Gould
Contractor
Morgan Sindall
Value
£1.06m
Contract Period
25 weeks
Procurement Type
Traditional
Form of Contract
JCT 2011 SFC
The works involved removing and replacing all existing external windows and external doors, providing a new fire alarm and emergency lighting system, new sub-main power installation and new heating distribution pipework and radiators. Due to the pre-construction stage being very short, our team had to ensure a speedy and accurate order for new windows which were manufactured by Nordic and immediately delivered to site for just in time arrival for fitting.
The works were completed within an occupied building out of hours ie all works carried out overnight from 6pm – 7am leaving the areas in a suitable condition for re-use by the building users the following day which included the relocation of furniture and all associated equipment. The works also included floor slab concrete repairs acting as lintels. The works were completed within an occupied building over a series of 24 weekly phases.
These phases were programmed in detail with the stakeholders to incorporate each of their requirements ie to take into account their busy times; for example there was a 3 week period within the central block when it operated as a 24 hour call centre for a telethon. Within the programme, consideration was also given for graduation weeks, exam periods and open days. Each phase was vacated at the end of each working day and all works delivered out of hours. Works also included the erection and dismantling the scaffold around the live building, campus and the car park for Northcote House.
Senior management occupation of building
The building is the main HQ of the University which is occupied by all of the senior management team at the University including the Vice Chancellor.
The window installation around the Vice Chancellor’s office (Executive Suite) needed to be within strict timescales to be “seen and not heard”. We created a scheduled timetable with the building occupants so they were all aware of busy and noisy periods enabling them to plan their meetings accordingly.
Exam period
There were to be exams held within the building throughout the duration of our works therefore a schedule was worked out around timetables. Works were then planned to commence out of hours and at weekends to hand back the offices on the Monday.
Building remained fully occupied and operational throughout works
To enable the building to remain fully operational without disruption and accommodating the out of hours working, we photographed each room prior to the shift starting, moved all furniture away from the windows ready to remove and replace and then put the room back to how it was in the morning ready for staff to use the office space. The building was a large building and the works as such were done under multiple phases with each requiring very close liaison with the building users within each office area.
Our Success
Our Learnings
Value Added
Contract | Gateway 3 Contract Agreement | Gateway 4 Contract Completion | Variation |
---|---|---|---|
Time | 24 weeks | 24 weeks | 0 weeks |
Client
Somerset West & Taunton Council
Avon & Somerset Police
Project Manager
Somerset West & Taunton Council
Architect
HLM Architects
Contractor
Midas Construction Ltd
Value
£6.7m
Contract Period
55 weeks
Procurement Type
Competitive tender – 2 stage
Form of Contract
JCT Design & Build 2016
Size
5,600m²
Apprentices
17
This scheme saw the transformation of this flagship town centre office building to the north of Taunton town centre, headquarters of Taunton Deane Borough Council, to bring together a range of council services under one roof. Midas completed works to this live, three-storey building in phases to allow it to remain open and in use throughout.
Midas undertook this major project on behalf of joint clients Somerset West & Taunton Council and Avon & Somerset Police, to deliver an improved customer experience in a refreshed building that provided a modern and comfortable workspace for its staff. Bringing Taunton Police and the Council together in one building enables the community to access more public services from one convenient location.
The complete refurbishment of Deane House has produced a more energy efficient building that offers flexible, open plan working and communal spaces in Grade A office accommodation with high spec finishes throughout. The building can be adapted for future needs and has potential to accommodate additional public or private sector partners in the future.
The project received a score of 92% in the customer satisfaction survey at practical completion.
Career Development
Building remained occupied by Council staff and open to the public throughout the project
Bringing the project in line with the budget
Phased project with sectional completion
Our Success
Our Learnings
Value Added
Contract | Gateway 2 Planning | Gateway 3 Contract Agreement | Variation |
Cost | £6,782,797 | £6,752,576 | -£30,221 -(0.4%) |
Time | 63 weeks | 63 weeks | 0 weeks (0%) |