The Bottle Yard 2 Studios

    Procurement Type:
    Two stage Design & Build

    Form of Contract:
    NEC 4

    Contract Period:  34weeks

    Size: 82,000 sq ft

    The Challenge

    Bristol City Council (BCC) contracted ISG to convert the industrial property at Hawkfield Business Park, less than half a mile from the main Bottle Yard site, into three new state-of-the-art studios in South Bristol (The Bottle Yard 2).

    BCC was heavily focused on increasing the sustainable performance of the studios as well as delivering a social value target of £230,500.

    During the Preconstruction Service Agreement (PCSA) period ISG’s team worked alongside AHR, Method and CMB to develop the mechanical ventilation strategy after an initial survey indicated that the original natural ventilation strategy would not be sufficient to service the volumetric needs of the studio spaces required to meet regulatory requirements. The new mechanical ventilation systems had to be carefully designed to integrate the acoustic requirements of the sound stages.

    The new system had to be designed to provide flexibility at height to accommodate the lighting, staging and sound rigs within the studio areas.

    The Solution

    Due to the internal scale of the rooms, standard building regulations and compliance had to be carefully considered to deliver compliant low energy mechanised ventilation system with heat-recovery and fan coil units delivering hot/ cold air into internal spaces. ISG worked with Method and CMB to develop a series of thermal models to define how the studio space would perform through each season. Their mechanised ventilation system features ceiling mounted textile baffles which align with the customer’s need for highly specified acoustic performance and minimal suspended services which could interfere with the staging rigs. The system’s benefits include:

    • Superior acoustic control
    • Meets user requirement for minimal roof-based services
    • Better user environmental control
    • Reduced in operation carbon

    Designed to provide enhanced sustainable and operational performance, The Bottle Yard 2 (TBY2) adds three new sound stages measuring: 20,000 sq. ft, 16,000 sq. ft and 7,000 sq. ft to the existing Bottle Yard facility, accompanied by ancillary spaces including production offices, prop stores, costume/ make-up and break-out areas totalling 82,000 sq. ft.

    ISG worked with Bristol City Council who were committed to following a performance and evidence based approach to social value, based on National Themes, Outcomes and Measures (TOMS) developed by Social Value Portal. ISG worked in partnership with BCC, Social Value Portal and their supply chain to develop a bespoke social value plan.

    The Results

    The new studios are one of the first Studios to be awarded BAFTA albert’s inaugural Studio Sustainability Standard. It was the second highest scoring studio out of the 12 participating in this first cohort. The project also won a 2023 Global Production Award in the Sustainable initiative category at Canne Film Festival.

    Since its completion in November 2022, the expansion to The Bottle Yard, from eight to 11 stages, has ensured the continuing growth of this already established facility and secured Bristol’s status as a UNESCO City of Film, allowing growth via clients such as BBC and Amazon.

    Overall, the investment in the current Bottle Yard Studios site and additional studio provision at the new TBY2 facility located at Hawkfield Business Park is expected to create 135 jobs during the refurbishment process, with a further 863 jobs created over the next 10 years through an accompanying Workforce Development Programme focused on high-end TV skills and targeting development of new talent in South Bristol.

    The project has created a legacy in South Bristol. It has generated £3,153,615.37 of social value at completion versus a target of £230,589.44. Outperforming the target by 1,367.63%. The collaboration between BCC, ISG and members of the TBY2’s integrated delivery team played a critical part the project’s success in promoting investment in the local economy and surrounding community.

    72

    Apprenticeship weeks

    £3,060,172

    SME Spend

    88%

    Client Satisfaction

    Improved performance in operation and end-user wellbeing due to improved thermal & acoustic strategy

    Added Value

    Client Testimonials

    “It is great to see the expansion work starting at The Bottle Yard Studios. Our £1.6m investment in the current site, coupled with the additional capacity at the Hawkfield site, once developed, will bring confidence to the city’s film and TV production sector and harness growth as the demand for on-screen content grows worldwide. The expansion will also create jobs, skills, and training opportunities, support the local supply-chain and be a major boost to our wider regeneration plans for south Bristol, bringing growth and opportunity into the area.”

    The expansion of The Bottle Yard studios sends a strong message that our amazing creative sector here in the West-of-England is thriving. So many talented people are helping put our region on the national and international map as a go-to location for the film and TV industry. Three new stages will mean even more of our favourite shows like The Outlaws, Poldark and Showtrial can be filmed here. This vote of confidence in the West-of-England will create a thousand high skilled jobs and should help us to attract even more production companies. I look forward to watching lots of new shows hit our screens, and I’ll enjoy them even more knowing they are made in the West-of-England”

    Contractor Performance | Commitments

    Fair

    100% payment within 30-day terms

    Sustainability

    Up to 70% off annual running costs

    Safe

    Zero RIDDORs

    CCS score: 44/45

    26/27 CLOCS Audit Score

    Aftercare

    Handover & Aftercare Contractor Promise

    Legacy

    Support local community projects:
    Heart of BS13 – Volunteer day to help set up the new sustainable flower farm
    Wild Goose Charity – Volunteer day to refurbish and paint worn cafe furniture

    Inclusion for disabled and neuro diverse colleagues’ training for 3 staff members

    11 community events

    5 jobs created

    SCF Framework Manager

    Kingsley Clarke

    Email: kingsley.clarke@devon.gov.uk

    Phone: 07805760622

    Bristol Humanities HubKingsbrook View Primary Academy, Aylesbury