Kirkleatham Innovation Centre

Project Overview

Northern Bear were appointed as main contractor on the ‘Kirkleatham Innovation Centre’ project by UK Steel. The project comprised of the redevelopment of various phases within the occupied Innovation Centre. The phases were split in 4 key areas of work, i.e. Phase 1 offices including a separate kitchen area and gym with changing area and toilet cubicles, Phase 2 reception, Phase 3 staircase, lobby and kitchen, Phase 4 small reception.
The centre comprises of several buildings which are occupied by various tenants, some of which worked 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. The refurbishment works had to be split into phases, to allow works to be co-ordinated with the various tenants.

Objectives

The project aimed to refurbish and modernise the Innovation Centre while maintaining full operation for all tenants, minimising disruption, and improving functionality, access, and aesthetics across offices, reception areas, gym, kitchens, and communal spaces.

Scope of Works

• Phase 1 – Office, Gym, Changing Rooms and Toilet Cubicles Works to these areas comprised of isolation, strip out and full re-build. Access to these areas were fully segregated with access only for the contractors. The tenants had to be directed away from the work area using the appropriate signage, barriers, temporary protection to floor finishes, etc.
• Phase 2 – Reception We temporary relocated the client into an area including all temporary services, allowing the temporary reception to be used during the refurbishment. Upon completion of the new Reception area, the temporary Reception area was removed allowing the next phase of work to commence.
• Phase 3 – Staircase This was a refurbishment of the main staircase. Before works commenced we had to set up and relocate the access to another staircase, which included temporary signage, barriers, etc.
• Phase 4 – Lobby & Kitchen Works to these areas were again occupied and before works commenced temp signage, protection, barriers, etc. had to be set up to direct the tenants away from our work area.

External resources used were mechanical & electrical installations / new aluminium windows / new internal partitions and lining systems / new floor finishes and ceiling finishes. Subcontractors were drawn from Northern Bear’s approved database with previous experience in working in live environments.

We use as many SME’s based in the North East of England to assist with the delivery of our projects thus ensuring the spend on the project remains in the North East and benefits the local economy.

Challenges

Keeping disruption to a minimum on a live facility was an essential requirement. All phases of the project were screened off with the use of cleanable hoardings for as long as possible with the hoardings being removed as late in the build process as possible and the finishes at the connection point being minimal at the time the hoardings were removed.

Ways to build the project and complete through the external fabric of the area being fitted out were reviewed and identified to ensure works were completed using external access wherever possible and phased to achieve this requirement.

All of the noisy demolition works at the start of each phase of works were carried out on a weekend to avoid noise from disrupting the facilities ongoing tenant. Constant communication was maintained between the client’s on-site facilities team and Northern Bear’s site delivery team.

Outcome

All phases were coordinated, completed and operational as planned with minimal disruption to the centre and tenants. The project successfully delivered upgraded office spaces, gym, kitchens, reception areas, and circulation spaces, while maintaining full operational continuity for all tenants throughout the programme.