Town Centre Securities has selected BAM Construction to refurbish a 1960s office building in north Leeds.

Above: CGI of the redeveloped Merrion House

The Merrion House refurbishment involves a complex remodelling of offices previously occupied by Leeds City Council employees. BAM will also be responsible for fitting out the building.

Merrion House is a 10-storey structure within the Merrion Centre shopping arcade, making it a logistically challenging scheme. The programme includes an element of new build over seven and eight storeys to increase the floor area and capacity.

The scheme is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2017.

BAM also previously redeveloped the neighbouring Town Centre House in the Merrion Centre for Town Centre Securities. Also nearby is the new Leeds Arena that BAM built.

Kelvin Pollard, BAM’s construction director, said: “The first phase of works is to strip down the pre-cast panels leaving the concrete frame. This is a controlled de-construction rather than a demolition and it will take two tower cranes to achieve it.

“Then we will re-clad the building into a fully glazed and curtain walled structure. There are several complex aspects to the works, both the structural works and the M&E require particular expertise and experience. BAM’s specialist services engineering business will help us deliver what will be a striking transformation. This is going to be a very visible building as you enter the city of Leeds from the north.”