COMMERCIAL UKC
James Durrans & Sons Ltd New office development September has seen the completion of the design and construction of the new contemporary office headquarters for James Durrans & Sons Ltd in Penistone. Consisting of three-storeys of contemporary office accommodation, there is a new integrated basement garage facility and this office development will replace the existing buildings that currently occupy the site. The result will be a sustainably designed building that is energy efficient, highly functional and of strong architectural merit. Celebrating its 150th anniversary later this year, the Company appointed leading design specialists HTC Architects in March last year to design a state-of-theart headquarters that can symbolise the growth and development of the Company. When completed, the development will provide high quality office accommodation, staff facilities, meeting rooms and a feature full height entrance atrium and reception area. HTC Architects has specifically designed the building according to the site constraints, ensuring it can be accessed from both the north elevation off Saville Lane at first floor level or from the south elevation at lower ground floor level and at basement level
throughout the integrated basement facility. The existing site has also been redesigned to enhance its functionality, and includes a renovation of the existing parking area to create a safer and more secure staff car parking area, the creation of dedicated pedestrian routes to ensure continued permeability through the site, and implementation of feature landscaping areas to enhance the look of the site. The east and west facing elevations feature full height glazing to maximise natural day lighting, providing a contemporary feel to the development. Utilising more stone and feature ‘punched’ windows provides balance to the north facing elevations while the contemporary sloped roof and secondary entrance canopy provide architectural flair. The south
elevation houses the main entrance into the office development and will boast high quality glazing and feature balconies. Built by JF Finnegan, the building is on course to achieve a BREEAM ‘Good’ rating. Work started in November 2012 and completed in September 2013.
Part of a £75M council investment plan Construction on the new £15M building for Notre Dame Catholic College in Liverpool completed this summer allowing the college to open to staff and students for the new term in September 2013. The new design incorporates the best of the traditions and heritage of Notre Dame Everton Valley such as beautiful legacy items including the chapel’s stained glass windows, and combines them with 21st century teaching and learning spaces. These spaces are equipped to ensure flexibility and the highest standards of teaching can take place, whether that is one-to-one tuition in English or maths, small group work, class work or whole year activities. The new site boasts state-of-the-art science, computer and design spaces fitted with high specification equipment and hardware. In addition to this, the college’s existing strengths in humanities subjects is enhanced by a purpose built geology laboratory and multi-wall projection and immersion facilities in history, allowing students to access these subject areas in greater depth. This project is part of a £75M plan to construct 12 new schools. The scheme is part of the Mayor’s Investment Plan for Secondary Schools, devised as a
rescue package following the scrapping work of Wave Six of Liverpool’s Building areas Schools for the Future (BSF) project. have Operations began following Cabinet been approval for the scheme, subject to the included in the design to allow students formal awarding of the £15M contract. to further their studies before and The college has been built on a site adjacent after school within their preferred to Everton Park Lifestyles Centre on the curriculum areas with specialist edge of the Project Jennifer regeneration support and materials close to hand. scheme, and the school will use the sports The Architect for the project is facilities at the site. The college is being Sheppard Robson, and the Main co-located with Everton Park Sports Centre, Contractor is Willmott Dixon. so students will have access to a lifestyles gym, INDEPENDENT GROUND IMPROVEMENT COMPANY LTD swimming pool, SUPPLYING ALL YOUR GROUND IMPROVEMENT NEEDS sports hall, exercise IGI (Independent Ground Improvement Company), as we are more commonly known as in the marketplace, are a relatively small scale company, who pride themselves as being fully independent, friendly and approachable. studios and newly IGI undertake all aspects of Ground Improvement, from large scale industrial units to small housing installed, external developments. 3G sports pitches. On the Notre Dame project, IGI worked for Willmott Dixon from the initial consultation through to the installation of over 2000 columns in order to facilitate the loadings from the building into the ground, with columns being As would be taken down to the red sandstone bedrock to depth from 4.0m to 7.5m below existing ground level. The works expected, the progressed very well due to IGI’s and Willmott Dixons close working relationship, both on site and office to office basis, and due to the relationship and understanding, the works were carried out in only 14 days. performing arts IGI have historically provided innovative engineering solutions to problematic D&B contracts with great success, facilities will be and undertaken works throughout the UK. of a professional standard and INDEPENDENT GROUND IMPROVEMENT COMPANY LIMITED will include two OAKWOOD HOUSE, YEW TREE COURT, TAYLOR BUSINESS PARK, WARRINGTON ROAD, RISLEY WA3 6WP separate auditoria and two recording Tel: 01925 733 733 Fax: 01925 733 734 Email: info@igi-ltd.com studios. Bespoke staff and student
EDUCATION UKC
Notre Dame Catholic College
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