Building Briefs – July 18th

AWE awards five-year managed services contract to BakerHicks

Multi-disciplinary design and engineering company BakerHicks has been awarded a new five-year managed services contract by the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE), providing support in the capture, recording, updating, management and maintenance of AWE’s baseline configuration data.

BakerHicks’ Configuration Management capability includes the detailed recording and maintenance of facilities’ physical and technical information. The information and specification is securely recorded and maintained to ensure safe operational, maintenance, upgrade, replacement and decommissioning activities.

BakerHicks has an established track record with AWE, initially in CAD Management, setting up processes and procedures for drawing production, publishing and storage that are recognised as best in class. It is now continuing to work with AWE in ensuring the integrity, accuracy, security and quality of the information recorded, harnessing the benefits of 3D Modelling and BIM with fully embedded asset information.

The contract was awarded to BakerHicks by AWE Management Limited, and will comprise a team of more than 50 with more than 500 years of accrued knowledge. The company originally started working with the AWE in 2006, and the new contract is effective from 1st July 2017 and runs for five years.

Space Solutions wins new Insights deal

Property and office design group Space Solutions has been awarded a new contract to refurbish Insights Group’s Dundee headquarters after successfully completing an initial fit-out project.

The firm has recently completed the £130,000 upgrade of Innovation House at Dundee Technology Park for the global learning and development group.

The successful project – which was to provide a colourful, creative and collaborative working environment capable of accommodating up to 65 staff – has led to Space Solutions being handed a second contract to upgrade the nearby Terra Nova building.

The colour wheel system used in Insights Discovery profiles inspired the interior design scheme at Innovation House.

Space Solutions said it currently had its largest ever order book in Dundee.

AECOM appointed to government’s project management and full design team services contract

Global infrastructure services firm AECOM has secured a contract to deliver project management and full design team services (PM&FDTS) for the Crown Commercial Service (CCS), an executive agency of the Cabinet Office.

PM&FDTS is the biggest single framework for accessing public sector work in the UK and AECOM’s contract is for up to four years.

PM&FDTS will enable public sector departments to access project management, design and advisory services to support delivery of property and construction projects. AECOM will provide strategic, broad based advice across a wide range of disciplines and functions to support, guide and provide innovative solutions.

The PM&FDTS framework is the first point of “cradle to grave” services provision in CCS and is supported by other frameworks such as Estates Professional Services, Facilities Management Services, Building Materials, Modular Buildings, Furniture and Energy Services.

Edinburgh office take-up reaches record high

Edinburgh office take-up reached an all-time high in Quarter 2 2017 according to the latest figures from Cushman & Wakefield.

Over 535,000 sq ft of office space was transacted during the quarter, the highest recorded figure since the firm began compiling the figures in 2000.

The next highest quarter was Q4 2002 when take-up totalled 462,150 sq ft (including RBS taking 350,000 sq ft at the newly built Gogarburn facility). Take-up for the first half of the year now stands at 735,000 sq ft which is the highest half year total on Cushman & Wakefield records and, with a good pipeline of lettings anticipated in the latter half of the year, it looks likely annual take-up will exceed one million sq ft for only the second time in market history.

The biggest deal of the quarter saw the Government Property Unit (GPU) agree a pre-let of 181,000 sq ft at New Waverley. Other significant deals included State Street’s pre-let of 65,600 sq ft at Quartermile 3, Computershare acquiring 41,000 sq ft at Edinburgh House on North St Andrew Street and Standard Life Investments taking 31,300 sq ft at John Courage House in South Gyle.

Highlands swimming pool set to re-open after revamp

Craig Maclean Leisure Centre swimming pool in Grantown is set to reopen to the public on Saturday 12th of August following a £2.175 million contract to carry out redevelopment of the pool.

The refurbished pool is set at deck level which will meet the needs of swimming clubs and lessons in terms of depth, and has been designed to be more accessible with an improved hoist system to assist people with disabilities to enter and leave the pool.

The works carried out include the remodelling of the changing village area and installing a new swimming pool ‘tank or shell’ and water treatment plant.

The changing area has been transformed into a family friendly changing village style design which remains suitable for school requirements.

Roof coverings to the existing pool and adjacent fitness hall have been replaced, including the installation of new roof lights over the pool.

Work on Duthie Park café refurb in Aberdeen complete

Work on a café extension and refurbishment in Aberdeen is now complete.

The Duthie Park café is scheduled to reopen on Thursday, 20 July.

The new larger facilities at the venue include south-facing floor-to-ceiling windows revealing the vista of the park, the cricket lawns, the bandstand and the water features beyond.

To the rear, a newly-glazed wall gives view to an abundance of tropical palms along with creating an integral link to the award-winning Winter Gardens.

In 2013, Duthie Park underwent a £5 million refurbishment with funding provided by Aberdeen City Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The upgraded café will be called the park café and will have a similar design with the café at Hazlehead Park.

Work underway on Kilmarnock to Carlisle railway line upgrade

Work is underway on a railway line upgrade and refurbishment programme between Kilmarnock and Carlisle.

More than four miles of track is being renewed at locations along the line from Mauchline in the north to Dumfries in the south.

In Mauchline, work to repair and strengthen the two railway bridges over Ayr Road is also taking place with further bridgeworks in the south, at Annan Viaduct, where specialists have been working since May to carry out masonry repairs and strengthening works. Additional track works will also be delivered on Sundays into August.

Due to the complexity of the engineering work and the heavy machinery involved, these projects cannot be delivered without the short-term closure of the line. Replacement bus services will be in place.

West Lothian schools to receive over £2m boost

More than £2 million is to be invested in West Lothian’s schools this summer.

The works will be spread over schools across the region, ranging from minor works to larger scale projects.

Features include; £255,000 invested in re-roofing work at St Kentigern’s Academy in Blackburn, £180,000 for new science labs at Linlithgow Academy and £100,000 each for new ceilings at Howden St Andrew’s Primary in Livingston and accessibility improvements at St Columba’s Primary in Bathgate.

‘Haunted’ Angus castle to be renovated as part of hotel proposal

An Angus castle, said to be haunted by the ghost of a murdered cardinal, will receive a makeover before being converted into a hotel.

Ethie Castle, near Inverkeilor, is reputed to be Scotland’s second oldest with continuous habitation, and has its origins in the 14th Century. It was once home to Cardinal David Beaton, who was executed by nobles after a long period of anti-Protestant persecution.

The current owner has applied to renovate large parts of the castle including the original “cardinal’s staircase” and change the castle’s use to hotel-type accommodation.

For conservation reasons, Angus Council must be consulted on the external and internal alterations.

As well as updating the fabric of the building, the games room and blue room will be converted into extra bedrooms.