Helensburgh’s state-of-the art leisure centre is on track to open in 2022, despite the construction challenges brought by the global pandemic. One year after construction began, the main building is structurally complete, with the external Lomond stone blockwork and glazing installed, there are new flood defences for the town and
Office development within Belfast’s City Centre has received a significant boost as The Ewart in Bedford Street reaches a major construction milestone with the building’s structure ‘Topping Out’ ahead of its targeted opening in January 2022. One of the most important and historic architectural landmarks on Belfast’s skyline, The Ewart
Midlands based contractor G F Tomlinson continues its quest to protect local wildlife as part of their day-to-day construction activities and have recently installed by way of example hedgehog highways and houses in locations close to their existing projects. Four hedgehog friendly homes were installed and bespoke fencing was developed
Regeneration Of Dee House Progresses CBRE has been instructed by Cheshire West and Chester Council to seek a development partner to be part of the regeneration of Dee House, a prominent and historic building that has been vacant since the 1990s. Forming part of the Chester One City Plan, the
Over 300 Iron Age ‘potins’ – or small coins – discovered on HS2 site in West London Video and images of the Hoard available: https://mediacentre.hs2.org.uk/resources/f/archaeology-sites-and-discoveries/greater-london-area-south/hillingdon-hoard Archaeologists working in West London on the HS2 project have uncovered a fascinating rare set of Iron Age potins, an early version of the coin,
A STATE-OF-THE-ART £21million sports and leisure facility has completed in Pontefract, West Yorkshire thanks to leading architecture studio GT3 Architects and national contractor Willmott Dixon. Aspire@ThePark offers state-of-the-art sports facilities to five towns surrounding Wakefield city and rivals that of private leisure centres, bringing world-class facilities to the local community.
Preparatory work for a £10.9m Oxford City Council housing development has unearthed fascinating glimpses into Oxford’s past. Council housing company Oxford City Housing Ltd (OCHL) and preferred principal contractor Willmott Dixon expect to start work next month on building 36 flats in the city centre. The development site is probably
Topland and development partner Beltane Asset Management have started construction of Verdant, a comprehensive extension and redevelopment of 150 Aldersgate Street and 3-4 Bartholomew Place. The Farringdon office building is being redeveloped to meet changing occupier requirements. The scheme, that will see the two sites connected through a new extension, will
NATIONAL contractor Willmott Dixon has completed work in June on the new and improved Warwick Arts Centre situated on the University of Warwick’s campus. The Arts Centre now boasts a large new building with a number of newly created spaces including three digital auditoria with high-end digital projection and sound, as well as a
THE INPUT GROUP is celebrating the completion of six developments across the Midlands and Yorkshire – including Sheffield, Castleford and Market Harborough railway stations, Sheffield Meadowhall Interchange and two new Orangetheory Fitness studios – helping to bolster the hard-hit leisure and travel sectors. The projects, which are part of the
Helensburgh’s state-of-the art leisure centre is on track to open in 2022, despite the construction challenges brought by the global pandemic. One year after construction began, the main building is structurally complete, with the external Lomond stone blockwork and glazing installed, there are new flood defences for the town and landscaping is well underway. When it’s complete the council’s £22 million development will provide residents and visitors with new swimming and studio pools, and a gym and café with stunning views of the Clyde. Access for all The Helensburgh Waterfront Development is designed to be fully accessible for all users and includes: Pool pod access facilities to enable wheelchair users and anyone with mobility issues to independently access the pool. A moveable floor in the studio pool, making it easier for all swimming abilities A Changing places toilet with hoist equipment and a changing bench Employment and Next Generation Skills As the local economy starts to recover from the impact of the pandemic, the build continues to support local employment. There are over eighty people working on site and many local contractors working on the project. The project is creating vital training and experience for people starting out with their careers. The Council and its construction contractor Heron Bros Ltd offer a number of work placements and ongoing learning including: Apprentice civil engineers and stonemasons Trainee quantity surveyors Civil engineering graduates Apprentice joiners, plumbers and electricians Councillor Gary Mulvaney. Policy Lead, Financial Services and Major Projects: “This development not only offers a first class facility for residents and visitors, it provides vital skills and training to the next generation, and support for the local economy now when it needs it. With ongoing Covid restrictions, it has taken a huge team effort from the Council, Heron Bros and our internal and external design consultants to get us to this important milestone. It is remarkable to think of the progress to date considering the back office staff behind the Waterfront Development are working remotely to deliver the project. The progress achieved in the face of considerable challenge is a testament to the power of partnership and professionalism. Congratulations to everyone involved.” Cathal Heron, Regional Director for the Main Contractor, Heron Bros: “Heron Bros is extremely pleased with the progress made to date as we mark such a key milestone for the project. The celebration represents a high point not only for the project build, but for the entire project team, who have worked so effectively together in making such impressive progress.” The project is supporting a number of community projects with donations from Heron Bros to local charities and material supplied to help initiatives including the Helensburgh Community Centre. The Council appointed contractors Heron Bros Ltd to start work in August 2020. The project represents investment in Helensburgh of more than £22.3 million. This includes £5million awarded from the UK Government Libor Fund and £100, 000 from SportScotland.
Office development within Belfast’s City Centre has received a significant boost as The Ewart in Bedford Street reaches a major construction milestone with the building’s structure ‘Topping Out’ ahead of its targeted opening in January 2022. One of the most important and historic architectural landmarks on Belfast’s skyline, The Ewart at 17-storeys high, is the final phase of developer MRP’s Bedford Square development, constructed by Design & Build Construction Partner McAleer & Rushe, which includes the Invest NI Headquarters. A £85m 210,000 sq. ft Grade A listed office project, The Ewart is set to accommodate 2,500 people when fully occupied. Construction began in January 2019 with 300 jobs created throughout the construction phase of The Ewart building. MRP are long term investors in the City and have completed a number of other large developments including the nearby Maldron Hotel and Queen’s University’s’ student accommodation Elms BT1 and Elms BT2, all constructed by McAleer & Rushe. While the original sandstone warehouse dates back to 1870, a two-storey link extension will connect to a new modern office tower creating highly efficient and flexible floorspace. The panoramic glazing offers spectacular views across the City and there is also an extensive landscaped plaza area to enrich the environment adjacent the double height reception entrance. The building will have a BREEAM Excellent rating and a Wired Score Platinum Certification making it one of the most environmentally friendly and digitally connected offices in the City. Set in the heart of the central business district, The Ewart is only a short walk from City Hall, main transport hubs, shops, bars, restaurants and hotels. The finished offices will be part occupied by Deloitte NI with a further 124,000 sq ft for tenants seeking high quality workspace in the prime office core of the City. Stephen Surphlis, Managing Director at MRP said: “Despite the challenges of the last 18 months, the team and our project partners have worked to deliver a landmark development creating one of the most sophisticated and desirable office spaces in the City. The contemporary building will offer a flexible, dynamic and sustainable working environment and with many businesses currently reviewing their return-to-work strategies, we have begun to see an increase in the number of tenant enquiries over the last few months. “As Belfast continues to recover from the pandemic, we are confident that this very significant and important commercial project in the heart of the city will further support its regeneration, delivering a modern working environment for Northern Ireland’s workforce of the future.” Jonathan O’Neill, Senior Director at McAleer & Rushe said, “The Ewart is a vital part of Belfast’s historic Linen Quarter and we are proud to be restoring and conserving the building respectively and sustainably to bring it back to its former glory and once completed, the new build section to the rear will be the tallest commercial office project in Belfast city centre. We are thrilled to be a part of this significant development for the city and to have remained on programme following the difficulties of the past 18 months is a huge testament to the monumental efforts of all the teams, consultants and supply chain involved.” Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Kate Nicholl spoke about the city centre development and said: “The city centre of Belfast is one of the most important places in Northern Ireland. A city centre which is attractive, safe, with high levels of employment and investment can provide the basis for a prosperous and successful city and surrounding region. The Bedford Square Development Project will contribute to the success of Belfast as we recover from the Covid-19 pandemic. The dynamic, sophisticated and modern office building will inject a new lease of life into the city centre, aid recovery and in turn create jobs and prompt further investment and long-term economic growth. Our city centre vision- The Belfast Agenda outlines that we work every day to make Belfast the city of choice for investment opportunities and I am delighted that this project will deliver a world-class working environment for future generations.” Robert Ditty, Executive Director at CBRE NI, letting agent on the scheme said: “Belfast Offices has built a strong reputation for being a market leader in a number of sectors to include cybersecurity, fintech, professional Services and creative industries. The City also continues to benefit from having one of the lowest operational and occupational cost bases when benchmarked against other regional cities. The Ewart will offer some of the best quality office space in Belfast City Centre and this factor coupled with all the environmental, health and wellbeing credentials sought by new office occupiers makes the building a compelling proposition for tenants”
Midlands based contractor G F Tomlinson continues its quest to protect local wildlife as part of their day-to-day construction activities and have recently installed by way of example hedgehog highways and houses in locations close to their existing projects. Four hedgehog friendly homes were installed and bespoke fencing was developed to ensure they can nest safely and move freely through domestic gardens – after their presence in a woodland adjacent to their Staffordshire site was confirmed by a specialist ecologist survey. Skilled tradesmen crafted two of the houses from recycled timber on site. With guidance from The British Hedgehog Preservation Society, this caring wildlife initiative has been rolled out across two key sites located in Staffordshire and Nottinghamshire in the hope their actions will help to preserve their habitat, to protect, nurture and encourage the presence of hedgehogs within the local area. “We partnered with The British Hedgehog Preservation Society back in September 2020 and their advice has been invaluable to help us to protect these vulnerable animals. We are hoping to roll out hedgehog houses and highways across more sites in the coming months alongside other ongoing environmental initiatives,” said Andy Sewards, managing director of G F Tomlinson. “In Staffordshire, leaflets were distributed to local businesses, offering a guide to helping hedgehogs in the area along with a brief case study identifying the local woods nearby and their significance to the hedgehogs. The G F Tomlinson site team will also soon be seeding indigenous wild flowers within the adjacent meadow to our site to improve biodiversity and encourage bees and insects to populate these important areas of natural beauty. They are also creating greater awareness to the general public of the hedgehogs by placing ‘slow down hedgehog’ signs on the bespoke fences near to site.” The hedgehog population has sadly seen a deep decline in Britain in recent years, with the animal now included in the ‘red list’ of endangered species. “Hedgehogs have declined by a third in urban areas since the turn of the century,” added Fay Vass, Chief Executive at the British Hedgehog Preservation Society. “We all need to play our part in bringing them back from the brink – so we are delighted that G F Tomlinson are doing their bit to improve these valuable habitats for hedgehogs.”
Regeneration Of Dee House Progresses CBRE has been instructed by Cheshire West and Chester Council to seek a development partner to be part of the regeneration of Dee House, a prominent and historic building that has been vacant since the 1990s. Forming part of the Chester One City Plan, the redevelopment of Dee House is a key aspect of the scheme and the Council is moving the project forward this year. CBRE’s UK Development Advisory team has been appointed to seek the right partner to bring the site back to life, with a shared vision to create a development of excellence to contribute to the long-term regeneration of Chester. Both Dee House and the site on which it sits have significant historical value. The site covers part of the area of the unexcavated Roman Amphitheatre discovered in 1929 and provides excellent views over the visible section of the amphitheatre, whilst the building is Grade II listed due to its special architectural and historic interest. Dee House is located to the south east of Chester City Centre adjacent to the City Walls and within close proximity to St John’s Church, the Roman Gardens and Grosvenor Park. The River Dee lies 100m south of the site. Its central location adjacent to the A5268 ring road (Vicar’s Lane) makes the site highly accessible and desirable. To help facilitate redevelopment and safeguard the integrity of the building, Cheshire West and Chester Council will be instructing vital works to stabilise key parts of the building. These are scheduled to commence this autumn and complete during early 2022. Alex Andrews, Associate Director, at CBRE Manchester, commented; “We are delighted to be appointed to work with Cheshire West and Chester Council to bring this exciting project forward. The preservation of historically significant sites is key to the long term regeneration of Chester and breathing life back into a site that has been redundant for over thirty years will not only enhance the immediate area, it will also add to the wider attraction of the city itself encouraging both tourists and locals alike to enjoy Chester City Centre at its very best.” Councillor Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, said: “The Council and the Dee House and Amphitheatre Working Group have the collective view that Dee House is an important historical asset for the city of Chester and should be redeveloped and modernised for the 21st Century, while retaining its historic appearance and unique characteristics. “It is a building with great potential in a prominent location in the centre of a well-known and historic city. Anyone who chooses to join the Council in investing in its future is sure to benefit, helping to transform it into a place visitors and residents can enjoy for many years to come.” Andy Foster, of Dee House and Amphitheatre Working Group, said: “After more than a year of deliberations and taking guidance from experts in the field of archaeological and historic building preservation, the working group concluded that Dee House should be saved and redeveloped. “We are keen to see progress this year and the plan is to prepare a planning application to seek permission to begin stabilisation work as soon as possible in the autumn, which will enable a long term end-use to come forward.”
Over 300 Iron Age ‘potins’ – or small coins – discovered on HS2 site in West London Video and images of the Hoard available: https://mediacentre.hs2.org.uk/resources/f/archaeology-sites-and-discoveries/greater-london-area-south/hillingdon-hoard Archaeologists working in West London on the HS2 project have uncovered a fascinating rare set of Iron Age potins, an early version of the coin, dating back to the 1st century BC. The hoard of over 300 potins is a significant historical find, and was discovered in Hillingdon in August last year (2020). The find may be recognized as “treasure” under British Law. ‘The Hillingdon Hoard’ – as it has been called – dates back to the late Iron Age, during a period of change as the Romans began to establish themselves in Britain and create Londinium. The potins are based on coins struck in Marseille, France, about 2,175 years ago, which bear the left-facing head of Apollo on one side and a bull charging right on the other. The use of these early coins spread across northern Europe. In England their use was commonly linked to Kent, Essex or Hertfordshire. The term ‘potin’ refers to the base metal silver-like alloy used in coins. It is typically a mixture of copper, tin and lead. HS2’s Head of Heritage, Helen Wass said: “At HS2 we are not only building for the future, we are also preserving the past. This is an exciting find for our team of archaeologists and provides us with more information about how our ancestors lived and settled in London. HS2’s unprecedented archaeological programme has enabled us to tell the stories of our history and leave a lasting legacy for future generations.” Historians are unclear what the potins were used for during the Iron Age, particularly as the exchange of goods and service, or bartering is thought to have been the main method of commerce at that time, nor why the coins were deposited where they were found. Archaeologists analysing the discovery believe the potins may have been to mark the boundary of a property or as an offering to the Gods – in a woodland clearing or near a sacred spring. It is not unusual for a hoard to be found in an apparently isolated location and they may also have been buried as saving hoards or as emergency hoards in times of crisis. The first series of potins produced in Britain, are known as Kentish Primary or Thurrock types, and are likely to have been made no later than 150 BC. Sometime before 100 BC, these rather bulky coins were replaced by thinner coins with more degenerate designs, now called Flat Linear types. Over a period of several decades, the Flat Linear potins gradually evolved into a wide variety of forms, with the depiction of the bull and the head of Apollo becoming more and more stylised. The Hillingdon Hoard is late in the Flat Linear sequence. A hoard of a similar size, the ‘Sunbury hoard’ was discovered in 2010 but the potins were dated much earlier in the Iron Age. Potins from late in the Iron Age, similar to the Hillingdon Hoard, have been found previously but in much smaller quantities, making this find very significant. The site in Hillingdon was undergoing archaeological excavation and analysis led by HS2’s enabling works contractor, Costain Skanska joint venture (CS JV) and the archaeologists involved were elated to make such a significant discovery. Following a storm, ground conditions changed, and revealed where the coins were buried. Describing the discovery, Emma Tetlow, now working as Historic Environment Lead for HS2’s main works contractor Skanska Costain STRABAG joint venture said: “We were coming to the end of our archaeological work on the site when we found a patch of soil that was a very different colour from what it would be expected to be. The patch of soil was dark greeny-blue which suggests oxidized metal, and when we checked more closely, we could see loosely packed metal discs. This is a once in a lifetime find, and allows us to expand our knowledge of what life could have been like in Hillingdon many centuries ago.” Because of the significance of the find, and the high number of coins, the local coroner was alerted. The coroner will determine whether the discovery amounts to ‘treasure’ after considering specialist evidence from the British Museum. The potins were removed from site for specialist cleaning, conservation and assessment. Records have then been sent to a specialist for cataloguing and further assessment to determine their origins and significance. In the London region, the oldest archaeology found by HS2 was dated to 11,000 years ago – a period known as the Mesolithic or Middle Stone Age. From this period, stone tools and artefacts have been found at locations which suggested people were living on the banks of the river. This would have provided a rich supply of food and water for these hunter-gatherers to exploit. Later evidence from the Bronze Age, about 4,000 years ago further indicates human activity near the river, with finds including cremations and a possible roundhouse. However, until the potins were uncovered no archaeological evidence of activity was encountered for almost another 3,500 years. The value of the hoard has not yet been determined, nor has its future location. Under the Treasure Act, the Coroner will determine whether the find constitutes Treasure and if a museum wishes to acquire the potins, on the advice of specialists at the British Museum the Coroner will conduct an inquest at which recommendations for the find will be made and a potential value placed upon it. The hoard was found during HS2 works on land that was occupied temporarily. HS2 is not making any claim on the hoard and under the Treasure Act archaeologists are not entitled to a share of any reward. HS2 developed an approach to the archaeological work in discussion with Historic England to ensure the site was carefully examined to find, protect or investigate important archaeology before construction begins. Duncan Wilson, Historic England Chief Executive, said: “They
A STATE-OF-THE-ART £21million sports and leisure facility has completed in Pontefract, West Yorkshire thanks to leading architecture studio GT3 Architects and national contractor Willmott Dixon. Aspire@ThePark offers state-of-the-art sports facilities to five towns surrounding Wakefield city and rivals that of private leisure centres, bringing world-class facilities to the local community. As well as a new 100 station fitness suite and multi-use studio, the scheme also boasts a 10-lane 25m swimming pool, climbing zone, café, and full size 3G football pitch. The project was part funded by Sport England and had to meet detailed criteria around their SOPG aspirations. The scheme was designed by GT3 Architects – following in-depth consultations with local sports clubs, residents, and community groups to ensure the building met the needs of the community – and constructed by Willmott Dixon for Wakefield Council. Mark Gowdridge, director at GT3 Architects, said: “This scheme presented a great opportunity to create a long-standing legacy for Wakefield, Pontefract, and the surrounding areas. From schematics to completion, we employed our Community+ service to ensure that the scheme broke the traditional mould for leisure centres and offered something different through design. “The vision was to create a connection between the internal and external spaces from a wellbeing and sport activity perspective. These aims have been met and the project team have done an amazing job. “Collaborating with Willmott Dixon on Aspire@ThePark really helped us to ensure the project ran smoothly and we could deliver a wide range of facilities within a unique and interesting design.” Sitting in the heart of Pontefract Park, the centre’s gym and sports pitches capitalises on the stunning park views and surrounding land, much of which has been preserved to maximise on the existing green space. The design, which utilised a natural palette to blend the building into its surrounding, features a complex curved façade comprised of vertical timber panels. Curved windows provide varying levels of visibility for different areas of the facility and connect the space, creating a focal point for social interaction. Cllr Jack Hemingway, Deputy Leader of Wakefield Council, said: “I’m delighted with how the plans have come together and this is an excellent addition to the district’s leisure offer, giving residents the purpose built, state of the art facilities they deserve. People will be able to access sport, recreation and wellbeing activities at the centre and the wider park so they can enjoy healthy lifestyles. This is so important for our residents and I know that this facility will be used and enjoyed for many generations to come.” Procured through the Scape framework, Aspire@ThePark is the latest in a series of leisure schemes worth more than £200m that Willmott Dixon has delivered in the last three years. Anthony Dillon, managing director for Willmott Dixon in North, said: “This really is an exciting and important facility built by and for local people, and we’re proud to say we have invested more than £15.7m of the project spend with businesses in the local area. “We think the local community will be proud of Aspire@ThePark for generations to come. The creation of top-quality leisure facilities to encourage health and wellbeing are vital to help our communities thrive. Aspire@ThePark combines that with a new community space that will bring people together.” The development has recently opened its doors to the public in line with government guidance. For further information visit www.gt3architects.com or join the conversation over on Twitter @_GT3Architects
Preparatory work for a £10.9m Oxford City Council housing development has unearthed fascinating glimpses into Oxford’s past. Council housing company Oxford City Housing Ltd (OCHL) and preferred principal contractor Willmott Dixon expect to start work next month on building 36 flats in the city centre. The development site is probably best known to current Oxford residents as that of former homeless hostel Lucy Faithfull House, built in the 1970s and demolished in 2018. However, an archaeological excavation carried out between April and June by MOLA (Museum of London Archaeology) uncovered evidence of Oxford’s medieval past. Blackfriars The Dominican Order (Blackfriars) first came to Oxford in 1221 and established their first friary near what is now Oxford Town Hall. Lucy Faithfull House sat on the site of the Blackfriars’ second friary, established in 1246 in what is now the St Ebbe’s area of Oxford. This was an unusually large friary which functioned as a college – or Studium Generale – for the order, training students from across Europe in theology. It was also head of one of the four visitations into which the English province of Blackfriars was divided. Like other monastic houses in Oxford, Blackfriars came into rapid and repeated conflict with the university. However, its death knell came with the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII in 1538. Dismantling of the site began not long afterwards. The Dominican influence in Oxford persisted beyond medieval times. While the Friars area did not survive the post-WW2 clearance and redevelopment of St Ebbe’s, evidence of the Blackfriars’ importance in Oxford still lives on in the street names of Friars Wharf, Preachers Lane and Blackfriars Road. The Blackfriars did not return to Oxford until the 1920s, with Blackfriars Hall joining the University of Oxford as a permanent private hall in 1994. The new 36 flat development will reference the Blackfriars’ black and white coat of arms by using light and dark building materials throughout. Excavation and findings The excavations uncovered parts of the west range of the main cloister and the west end of the friary church, revealing sequences of external and internal walls and floors and nearby rubbish pits. Finds included fragments of moulded stone, a 13th or 14th century decorated floor tile from the cloister and painted glass from the west end of the church. A stone coffin was discovered west of the church, along with other burials in the northern part of the site. The dig also yielded evidence of horn cores indicating the likely use of the site as a tannery after dissolution, as well as stone lined waste pits and pottery dumps belonging to the early 19th century housing that later occupied the site. The excavation has now been backfilled. Once construction is underway the impact of the development on the remaining walls and waste pits will be reduced by careful foundation design, with the stone coffin and other burials protected below shallow ground beams. Following analysis by MOLA specialists, artefacts recovered at the site will be donated to the Oxfordshire Museum for storage and potential display. The council hopes it may be possible for them to be put on temporary display at the Museum of Oxford after it reopens in September. Lucy Faithfull House Initial planning permission for a Church Army hostel that became Lucy Faithfull House was granted in 1972, with construction beginning the following year. The building was used as supported accommodation for people experiencing rough sleeping until it was decommissioned by Oxfordshire County Council in 2015 as part of a round of funding cuts. When the hostel closed in February 2016, its 61 beds were replaced by 62 beds provided in shared houses across the city. Oxford City Council acquired Lucy Faithfull House in 2017. As the building was in a bad state of repair and poorly configured for modern use, the council decided it was no longer viable as hostel accommodation and decided to redevelop the site for much-needed housing. Demolition began in April 2018 and was completed that August. The 36 flats on the redeveloped site will be in a single block of four to six storeys, which will include 15 council homes let at social rent, eight shared ownership and three homes at affordable rent. The remaining 10 homes will be for market sale. Lucy Faithfull herself was a social worker, children’s campaigner and founder of the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, a nationwide charity working to protect children from sexual abuse. Joining Oxford City Council as a children’s officer in 1958, she was appointed as director of social services in 1970 and retired in 1974 as local government reorganisation put social care in the hands of a new tier of county councils. She was awarded an OBE in 1972 and became Baroness Faithfull of Wolvercote when she accepted a life peerage in 1976. As Baroness Faithfull, she played a key role in the passage of the Children Act 1989 and later helped to set up the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Children. She also served as a trustee for a number of voluntary organisations, including Barnardo’s and the National Children’s Bureau. She died in 1996. Comment Councillor Alex Hollingsworth, cabinet member for planning and housing delivery, said: “History is literally underfoot in Oxford and excavation on the Lucy Faithfull House site has yielded new insights into our city’s medieval past. The surviving archaeological remains will be protected below the flats for future generations to investigate with new techniques and new questions about Oxford’s rich medieval history.” Oxford City Council archaeologist, David Radford, said: “The former Lucy Faithfull House proved to have been built on extensive modern foundations. Nevertheless, the area in the former courtyard proved to be well preserved and the work by MOLA has produced important new information. I am especially pleased about the details we have learnt about the internal layout of the west range of the friary, which certainly surpassed our initial expectations.” MOLA director of developer services, Sophie Jackson, said: “This year marks the 800th anniversary of
Topland and development partner Beltane Asset Management have started construction of Verdant, a comprehensive extension and redevelopment of 150 Aldersgate Street and 3-4 Bartholomew Place. The Farringdon office building is being redeveloped to meet changing occupier requirements. The scheme, that will see the two sites connected through a new extension, will create 135,000 sq ft of new office accommodation. The building will benefit from dual entrances to both Aldersgate Street and Bartholomew Place. It is located within the heart of the Cultural Mile and within two minutes’ walk of the Farringdon Elizabeth line underground entrance at Long Lane. Biophilic Design and Natural Ventilation Verdant has a low embodied carbon footprint achieved by reusing approximately 80 per cent of the existing structure, natural ventilation throughout and a bespoke biophilic design integrated into the architecture. In addition, there are green roofs, terraces on all floors, hard and soft landscaping and the creation of external courtyards. Communal facilities will be incorporated, including a ground floor café and co-working area and further investment in sustainable travel is included, with the introduction of more than 250 cycle spaces. Once complete, the building will comprise 135,000 sq ft of Grade A office accommodation, with floorplates ranging from 2,000 sq ft to 17,000 sq ft, suitable for a range of office users. The building is scheduled to complete in Q2 2023 and Cushman & Wakefield and BH2 have been appointed as leasing agents. Mark Kingston, ms of Topland, said: “Our decision to build speculatively demonstrates not only our confidence in the London office market, but also our confidence in the scheme itself. Verdant provides truly sustainable next generation office space that we believe will appeal to a wide range of occupiers”. Jonathan Chenery, Founding Partner at Beltane Asset Management added: “We are delighted to get going on the redevelopment of Verdant. The building will provide occupiers with a sustainable workplace of the highest quality, aimed at fostering wellbeing and productivity, in arguably one of London’s most attractive sub-markets. Farringdon, Clerkenwell and Smithfields are experiencing record-levels of demand from a range of sectors that are attracted by the transport connections at Farringdon and all that the area has to offer.”
NATIONAL contractor Willmott Dixon has completed work in June on the new and improved Warwick Arts Centre situated on the University of Warwick’s campus. The Arts Centre now boasts a large new building with a number of newly created spaces including three digital auditoria with high-end digital projection and sound, as well as a ground floor gallery to exhibit contemporary art, sculpture and photography. The building also features a new foyer offering a larger, more environmentally friendly and attractive entrance for visitors, in addition to a new restaurant and bar to ensure the complete experience. The project also involved the refurbishment and upgrading of the existing building. The £25.5 million investment in Warwick Arts Centre was supported by an award of £4.2 million in National Lottery funding from Arts Council England and is a key venue in Coventry’s year of UK City of Culture in 2021. Designed by Ellis Williams Architects with Bond Bryan as delivery architect and project managed by Turner & Townsend, the project aims to make Warwick Arts Centre the region’s leading cultural centre and a place where creativity, collaboration and innovation thrive. Peter Owen, managing director at Willmott Dixon, said: “We are very pleased that, after a difficult time for the much-loved arts industry, Warwick Arts Centre will later this year be welcoming audiences back to a space that supports and enhances everything the arts has to offer. The project involved a number of challenges, not least the constraints of a tight site in the middle of campus and the changing requirements related to COVID-19, so a collaborative approach was vital. “We have a strong relationship with the University of Warwick, first established during our work on the University’s Oculus Building, then their Sports Hub and Wellness Centre in 2019, and earlier this year the IBRB. This means we are able to truly understand their campus vision and help make it a reality. “We are very proud to have become a trusted advisor to the University and to have built a relationship which allows us to contribute to the wellbeing and development of not only students but also the people of Warwickshire and beyond.” Throughout the project, the equivalent of £1.8 million of social value return on investment was delivered to local people by way of a number of community initiatives. Over 17,000 hours was spent supporting local young people with work experience opportunities, as well as 20 weeks with the University’s civil engineering students. Warwick Arts Centre is now a hybrid consisting of new and old, following the demolition of an existing section of the site. By matching the existing build and bringing together the new elements of the project seamlessly, there are now over 20 different roof levels on the site. Bruce Raw, Birmingham studio director at Bond Bryan, said: “We’re delighted to see Warwick Arts Centre completed. Our team are deeply passionate and proud of our growing presence and relationships across the West Midlands and this project has been at the heart of that drive for the last two years. “From start to finish the project has been a really positive team collaboration between client, end-users, architects, project managers, consultants and the contractor – with everyone all pulling in the same direction on what has been a very complex project on a constrained site, working closely together to solve challenges.” With the project beginning in 2019, followed by the closure of leisure, arts and entertainment venues for much of the last two years, the venue is all set to welcome audiences for shows beginning from October. Commenting on the completion of Warwick Arts Centre’s redevelopment its Director, Doreen Foster, said: “Today is a fantastic day for Warwick Arts Centre as we are now one step closer to welcoming visitors back to their arts centre. We cannot wait for our audiences to enjoy the experience and make new memories as they engage with the exceptional range of arts and culture that has always been our hallmark, including in our new spaces – such as our new three screen cinema, restaurant and the reimagined Mead Gallery. “With people throughout the UK and Europe set to visit our city to mark Coventry’s year as City of Culture, 2021 is set to be an exciting time for arts and culture in our region – and I’m delighted that we will be part of its success. I like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been involved with the redevelopment of Warwick Arts Centre for making this possible and ensuring that audiences and visitors will be able to join us for decades to come. We’re back, bigger and better than ever, and our doors will be open wider than ever before.” The University of Warwick’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Stuart Croft, said: “Sat right at the heart of our main campus, Warwick Arts Centre has been an integral part of the cultural life of our University and region for almost five decades. As we celebrate Coventry City of Culture 2021, it is wonderful that Warwick Arts Centre will soon be open again for audiences and visitors to come and enjoy all that it has to offer.” Robert Freeman, Director of Ellis Williams Architects, said: “This is the culmination of many years of planning and working with Warwick Arts Centre and the University of Warwick and we are really excited to see the project completed. “The biggest design challenge we faced was to retain the unique character and top-light of the original Mead Art Gallery in the new galleries that was much loved by artists, whilst also providing new galleries at ground floor creating more accessibility to audiences and at the same time adding the three new large digital auditoria all on the original site. “We are extremely pleased that Willmott Dixon has completed the renewed Warwick Arts Centre in time for it to be part of Coventry City of Culture 2021.” Warwick Arts Centre is now taking bookings for shows from October. 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THE INPUT GROUP is celebrating the completion of six developments across the Midlands and Yorkshire – including Sheffield, Castleford and Market Harborough railway stations, Sheffield Meadowhall Interchange and two new Orangetheory Fitness studios – helping to bolster the hard-hit leisure and travel sectors. The projects, which are part of the specialist contractor’s large portfolio of leisure and transport projects across the region, required a range of installation works to create and improve public facilities. The Input Group’s £2.8 million transformation at Castleford train station was carried out in a bid to improve passenger experience. The team worked to create new high-quality waiting facilities – which comprised a ticket vending machine, seating area, a disabled toilet, and information and retail facilities – as well as refurbishing the station’s car park to provide 65 parking spaces, CCTV, lighting and improved pedestrian and cycle access. Market Harborough station also benefitted from a brand-new cycle hub. Part of East Midlands Railway’s £1 million commitment to increasing cycle provision across its network, the completed hub now provides 100 spaces in a secure storage facility with accompanying CCTV. Chris Monk, managing director at The Input Group, said: “As a Derby-based business, we have a lot of links to the region, so we find it really fulfilling when we complete projects in the Midlands and surrounding areas that help to support and grow the local economy. Both the travel and leisure sectors are industries that suffered throughout the pandemic, so helping to create and improve facilities that encourage public spend to re-boost these industries is incredibly important to The Input Group.” The team also made improvements to two railway stations in Sheffield, installing anti-slip tiling and wider entrance doors at Sheffield station to increase access to the external taxi rank and cycle hub, and upgrading Sheffield Meadowhall Interchange’s car park through resurfacing and the installation of a new CCTV system. Infrastructure works were also carried out at the station, which will allow for electric vehicle charging stations to be installed in the future. Chris added: “While we often work on transport and railway projects, we have also recently completed two fitness studios in Derby and Nottingham for Orangetheory Fitness – an American fitness brand that is now expanding across the UK. We will be working on completing 40 gym studios for the brand across the Midlands and Northern England, which will be a great addition to our portfolio of leisure schemes.” In both studios, the team worked to complete the design according to Orangetheory’s brand guidelines, carried out the mechanical and electrical installation of all equipment, and created entrance ways, office facilities, toilets, locker rooms, changing cubicles and showers. Adam Busby, sales director at Orangetheory Fitness, said: “Launching our third studio in the East Midlands, and the second studio with The Input Group is really exciting. Both Derby and Nottingham have so many new businesses and an array of culture, cafes and restaurants, there’s a wonderful community feel to these cities, which is perfect for the local community feel we like to create for our members. Orangetheory Nottingham & Derby may be part of a globally successful brand, but these studios are very much Derby and Nottingham’s ‘local’ studios and with The Input Group’s help, we’re looking forward to continuing to launch stunning studios to welcome people to the OTF family.” The Input Group was established more than 45 years ago and provides a ‘one stop shop’ approach to construction within the transport, corporate, and retail sectors. With offices in Derby and London, the firm has delivered a number of high-profile projects for clients such as Eurostar – including the design and development of St Pancras International – Network Rail, DHL, and Transport for London. To find out more about The Input Group, please visit www.inputgroup.co.uk or contact marketing@inputgroup.co.uk.
