18th October 2017 | News
John Perkins Construction is undertaking major refurbishment works for both the University of Bristol and the Clifton Catholic Diocese, in projects that involve notable buildings and the intricacies of working in live environments.
The £2million negotiated contract to refurbish and remodel the main entrance of Queen’s Building for the University of Bristol got underway in August 2017.
The works involve the soft strip demolition of all the internal features of the existing space, and conversion to a new, high-spec entrance, with café and student facilities.
Phase 2 is on track to be finished in late November 2017, while Phase 3 is due for completion in March 2018.
Queen’s Building is an extremely high-profile site at the heart of the university campus and the works are taking place during the busy term-time periods. Queen’s Building will remain open, with facilities and access for staff and students maintained.
Working within a live environment is, of course, challenging. However, the John Perkins team is bringing with it extensive (and award-winning) experience of undertaking construction works while students and staff remain close by.
Scrutiny from the site’s neighbours and other stakeholders is also nothing new for John Perkins Construction, following its refurbishment of two floors of the university’s Richmond Building in 2016. Throughout the project, the team will hold regular stakeholder meetings, client liaison meetings and contractor liaison meetings to ensure all stakeholder views are heard and accommodated.
Not far away, on Pembroke Road, John Perkins Construction is also carrying out works at the Cathedral Church of SS Peter and Paul, better known as Clifton Cathedral.
The result of a single-stage competitive tender win, this £650,000 contract involves the refurbishment of the cathedral’s heating and lighting, plus plant room works, including installation of a new air handling unit.
Built in the 1970s in the Brutalist style, Clifton Cathedral is one of Bristol’s most striking buildings. It is Grade II* listed and home to a priceless church organ. This means the utmost care is required, with absolutely no interference to the fabric of the building.
The refurbishment project, which began on site in September 2017, is due for completion in February 2018. This encompasses the Christmas period – the busiest time for the cathedral, which will remain in use throughout the works.
The John Perkins team is using strict segregation, with working areas closed to public during weekdays, but also ensuring that church services and other events remain unaffected.
In addition to the difficulties of working on a listed building that’s also a live environment, Clifton Cathedral also boasts an extremely high ceiling, which adds another layer of complexity. Mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) will be in use throughout the works, in order to carry out the refurbishment at high level.
Rob Yeandle, Managing Director of John Perkins Construction, comments: “The projects at Queen’s Building and Clifton Cathedral are undoubtedly complicated, but with our team’s strong arsenal of skills in managing live environments and working sensitively within listed buildings, we are more than capable of rising to the challenge.”
