Due to the success of the University’s 3M Buckley Innovation Centre, the University wished to provide additional and improved space to attract new tenants.
To achieve this, a vacant floor plate would be refurbished into two new laboratories and six offices, with the work comprising partitions, ceilings, new services, joinery and finishes – and all completed within eight weeks.
The first challenge related to managing the risk of transmission of COVID, as this was one of the first projects we undertook since its outbreak.
We produced detailed RAMS and management protocols, which were developed and agreed with the University. Lodestone, the University and AHR then undertook independent health and safety inspections to monitor compliance throughout.
Programme was also a challenge, with all works completed within eight weeks. We developed, therefore, a detailed programme at tender stage. Creating a clear plan, which we closely monitored throughout, we also provided weekly progress updates to the University.
Finally, dust and noise management was a key consideration too. The nature of the 3M labs meant dust from the live site could not transmit to operational areas, with offsite manufacturing, cutting stations and dust extraction tents used to control this.
The project was delivered three days early with zero snags at handover. There were no COVID, health and safety or other incidents throughout the works and the 3M or its tenants did not experience any disruption.