Projects

T.B.B.C.
46-48 East Smithfield
London
E1W 1AW

Background:

32,000 sq ft building opposite St Katherine's dock. Originally commissioned to be the London Head Office of Reuters. Following contractual problems the completed building was placed on the open market. The original developers then decided to keep control and turn it into a serviced office facility.

The Challenge:

We were contracted to put in a 1000 point Category 5 data network with a fibre optic backbone; electrical floorboxes and a Category 3 lighting system throughout.

With our designers, a system was proposed, accepted and implemented. During the course of the project and because of the methods employed, we were asked to project manage the other site contractors:

• Partitioning
• Air conditioning
• Washrooms
• Carpeting
• Painting/Decorating

Result:

Following successful completion, we provided management services until the building's sale in August 2010.

Introduction

A & O a fast growing, vendor-independent provider of IT support services, in Europe and around the globe. A&O main UK offices are in Colnbrook, Berkshire, with an employee base of over 300 personnel.

Background

The office was in need of updating; having had little modernisation work done since it was built in the early 1980's. Being a provider of corporate IT solutions and having a finite capital to work with, A&O wished to ensure they received maximum benefit from their budget. In addition to getting the most up to date look and feel, to increase worker satisfaction, it was also necessary to upgrade certain parts of the electrical and lighting system, which, upon survey, were found to be below the appropriate legislation.

The Challenge

We needed to provide the relocation of existing services as well as the utilisation of our complete service.

Using our designers, space planners and engineers, the team initially helped A&O to understand where the best return for their investment could to be found.

The challenge involved; complete overhaul of office space, creation of new meeting room facilities and office space, refurbishment of all the washrooms, new power and data cabling and new office furniture. However, we found innovative ways to achieve the updating of the building whilst still remaining within budget.

A project manager was assigned to A&O senior personnel, and established the requirements of A&O with their management team in terms of start times and work phases. A phased plan was presented, including sequenced moves, which meant any work with impact on A&O employees was either completed out of hours or over weekends. Where this was un-achievable, temporary work areas were set up that enabled A&O employees to work as usual without interruption.

A new layout was proposed to open up the existing office; allowing more space and natural light into the work areas. We proposed this layout as it could be achieved with minimal cost; since the partitioning installed was demountable and only required a new finish to look as new. The cost of refurbishing and moving the existing partitioning saved A&O tens of thousands of pounds. Money that could be used elsewhere in the building.

The latter phases were then designed with an eye on cost; re-using all materials where possible and refurbishing rather than replacing. This included sections of the bathrooms and kitchen areas.

During the refurbishment the new power and data cabling was installed, saving time in completion and disruption for A&O staff. The new office furniture and employee's possessions were then relocated over each weekend, before they returned the following Monday.

The Result

Even though additional items were added to the original specification we ensured that all original deadlines were met. The project was completed with capital to spare; meaning A&O could replace out of date furniture, further enhancing the look of the building. Employee feedback revealed it made the building a better place to work and production was enhanced.