CARIBBEAN REGION

Visitors to the Caribbean can experience the work of Update Group from the moment they arrive. Our projects range from the scale of an international airport and a major office campus development for a leading oil & gas firm, to the attention to detail and complex planning required for a luxury hotel.

From our regional hub in St James, Barbados we are currently working on projects in Guyana, Grand Cayman, and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Work is almost complete on Santander UK’s landmark new workplace in Milton Keynes. Procured by Osborne+Co for Santander and designed by LOM, Unity Place will be a centre for digital banking innovation and will incorporate a range of community facilities.

With a total construction area of 800,000 sq ft and over 550,000 sq ft of commercial office space, this will be one of the largest office developments to be completed in the UK over the next few years outside London.

Unity Place will bring together Santander’s 6,000 employees who are currently spread across four sites in Milton Keynes.

Designed to achieve a WELL ‘Gold’ certification, this vibrant new workplace will nurture collaboration and support staff health and wellbeing. It has also been conceived to help attract the next generation of talent who will drive the banking sector in the future.

The scheme will be the focal point for Santander’s UK business and the local community. It includes coworking space for small businesses and start-ups. The public will be encouraged to use its facilities including an ‘urban market’, retail outlets, health facilities including a gym, yoga and consultation spaces, community hall and auditorium. There is also a rooftop running track and café and restaurant with terrace.

Santander Milton Keynes, UK

With a total construction area of 800,000 sq ft and over 550,000 sq ft of commercial office space, this will be one of the largest office developments to be completed in the UK over the next few years outside London.

The total office space area of around 550,000 sq ft is equivalent to over eight and a half football pitches.

The scheme will be the focal point for Santander’s UK business and the local community. It includes coworking space for small businesses and start-ups.

6,000 person facility

Smart Building

80,000 sq m of construction

Generator crane lift at Unity Place in November 2022. With a kVA rating of 2,500 and weighing over 42 tonnes, the generator was precision guided into position on the roof and successfully installed.

HOW WE DO IT

Project Advisory

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PROJECT INITIATION CONCEPT & BUDGET EVALUATION

The best time to start thinking about the building services requirements of your project, is at the same time as your outline brief is being developed. The MEP scope is usually the largest package after construction, up to 25% of total cost on some projects, so getting this right from the outset should be near the top of your list of critical factors.

Speaking to us at this early stage means we can provide a Strategic Analysis of your initial brief and budget estimate, and advise on potential related risks across the entire plan of work.

Get in touch for a chat. We would really like to hear from you.

Once appointed, we will work closely with the construction consultants and MEP design team to define the Project Brief. This will involve an indepth study of the client objectives and planned demands on the building services.

Our input on the Project Brief will include:

Site Evaluation

Feasibility Studies

Design Drawings & Specification

Order of Magnitude Costs

Procurement Plan

Sustainability

Innovative Technologies

Project Programme

Buildability

Project Execution Plan

Where design responsibility needs to be maintained, we actively participate in workshops and provide input in areas such as technical, sustainability, cost and buildability.

From our extensive experience we have a significant amount of cost data across a wide range of sectors and geographic locations.

Combine this with our resources, knowledge and insights and we can provide a detailed evaluation from an engineering perspective and complete a detailed measurement and cost for the project.

This allows us to prove value for money at an early stage which we can guarantee forms the key to the development of the MEP cost.

Outcome / Benefit

Strategic Analysis

Outcome / Benefit

Definition of Project Brief

Project Programme

Outcome / Benefit

Assurance on Design Direction

Initial Cost Analysis

Detailed Engineering Evaluation

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DESIGN & COST FINALISATION PROCUREMENT & COORDINATION PROJECT DELIVERY

COMMISSIONING & VALIDATION

POST-OCCUPANCY SUPPORT

Having established a target cost, the path becomes clearer.

If the system performance and design intent has been sufficiently identified, we have the experience and skill set to take ownership of the design and carry it through to the construction and implementation.

It is important to stress that during this phase cost models are continuously updated to reflect the status of the design. Without these updates it is difficult to gauge on whether value for money is being achieved.

The benefits from our early engagement flows through the design development stages, and as we gain knowledge of the project requirements we will guarantee the cost of the MEP works from Stage 4 onwards.

As soon as the design & cost review process is completed our construction team issue a project schedule or programme. Critical path factors and procurement requirements are identified

Our supply chain procurement schedules will be issued simultaneously when final scope is clarified.

At this stage our construction delivery team are fully in place and engaged, working alongside our pre-construction team. This allows us to hit the ground running and ensure meaningful coordination of the MEP works with ongoing QA/ QC reviews, all while maintaining the maximum efficiencies of the construction programme.

We issue regular project reports advising on procurement, supply chain performance, design status, financial and critical factors to ensure all stakeholders stay informed.

Always with one eye on the commissioning requirements we will develop a Commissioning Plan from the beginning. This plan starts with the preparation of commissioning scripts per system so we can get the agreed buy in from all project stakeholders.

This follows through with detailed system commissioning work plans. We also set out the validation and handover processes so everyone knows what to expect.

Following handover, our contract is still active for a further 12 months.

To ensure the building is used, operated and maintained efficiently, during this time we:

Undertake reviews of Building Services Performance

Undertake seasonal Commissioning Rectify defects

Undertake Post Occupancy Evaluation of building performance in use

Hampton by Hilton Dublin

This new hotel by JMK Group and operated by Hampton by Hilton, is a 249room property located on Chancery Street close to the Four Courts complex in Dublin City Centre.

Update Group delivered all the building services for this project on a design and build basis. A busy and bustling location, it presented challenges in terms of logistics and managing the works safely.

Hotel facilities include a spacious lobby with attached bar and café area, adjoining restaurant, fitness centre, and contemporary rooms.

Update Group delivered all the building services for this project on a design and build basis. A busy and bustling location, it presented challenges in terms of logistics and managing the works safely.

Scope included all MEP services

249 rooms

Completed on design and build basis