Internal and External Refurbishments to 22 Blenheim Road

22 Blenheim Road is a detached three storey Victorian Villabuilt in the 1850’s located on a residential street in affluent St Johns Wood. The property had been left vacant and unmodernised and our project was to undertake the full internal and external refurbishment generally comprising stripping out, internal and external alterations, general repairs, new full height side extension, new kitchen and bathrooms, decorations and finishes, full electrical rewire, new plumbing, heating and hot water installations, drainage works, external repairs and painting and front and rear landscaping.

The result was a complete success delivering a high quality prime residential property with increased floor areas, renewed services, top quality decorative and joinery finishes, modern bathrooms and kitchen together with a completely renovated structural envelope.

Client
The Trustees of the Eyre Estate

Consultants
Principal Designer and Contract Administrator: Cluttons LLP
Structural Engineer: The Furness Group

Location
22 Blenheim Road, London, NW8 0LX

Internal and external restoration of a splendid Grade II listed Victorian building, Chelsea Old Town Hall.

Fit-Out at 250 Euston Road

This fast track project involved the Cat B fit out of 1300m2 of existing office space at 4th and 6th floor levels.

Pioneering project for a new Neuromuscular Critical Care Centre

Neuromuscular Critical Care Centre (NMCCC) on the ground floor of the existing National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery situated in the Queen Square conservation area. Work entailed the sub-division and refurbishment of The Basil Samuel Outpatient Department and Chandler Wing entrance corridor to create a new reception, waiting room and consultation rooms along with space for the new ward.

Our main objective was to minimise disturbance to patients and hospital staff and to maintain clinical services and public facilities at all times. This project proved to be a prime example of Ark Build’s commitment to stakeholder engagement. The affected medical surgery teams had direct access to our Project Manager who was able to stop works immediately (for any required timescale) upon their instructions.

This pioneering project has been a huge success, with the NMCCC being the first dedicated facility of its kind in the country for patients suffering from Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy. Furthermore, it was a finalist for “Building Project of the Year (up to £10m)” in the 2014 British Construction Industry Architecture Awards.

Client
UCLH Charity

Consultants
Llewelyn Davies – Architect
Arup – Services Engineer
Bradbrook Consulting – Quantity Surveyor

Contract value
£1.75m

Contract period
24 weeks

Location
Queen Square, London WC1N

Remodelling of the main reception for QS Enterprises

Working in conjunction with the UCLH Charity design team our objective was to re-configure and refresh the imaging centre reception to provide an ergonomic and aesthetic solution to the existing awkward layout and dowdy finishes.

All this against the enormous challenge of completing the work in one week against a four week lead in whilst the Imaging Centre maintained an uninterrupted service. Once the design had been signed off and hospital permissions obtained we commenced work on a Friday evening and worked solidly for nine days to undertake all of the alterations and improvements.

We stripped out a staff room to provide temporary accommodation then erected temporary partitions to enable access to the Imaging Suite. The improvement work included new lighting and fire detection, modification to the ventilation system, new wall panelling with book matched veneers, a new and re-positioned reception desk with a stone counter and backlit and stainless steel fascia, new floor covering and complete re-decoration. Modifications were also made to the data and telephony services.

The outcome was a tremendous success with the re-configured floor plate and high quality finishes providing a sophisticated and calm environment.

Client
QS Enterprises Ltd

Consultants
Llewelyn Davies – Architect
Arup – Structural Engineers

Contract value
£120k

Contract period
2 weeks

Location
Queen Square, London WC1N

Refurbishment of a 19th century, terraced town house

We were approached by Taylor Clark to undertake the restoration of 20 York Street which is an early 19^th century Grade II listed five storey terraced town house in Marylebone.

Taylor Clark had acquired the property to facilitate the relocation of their head office and the project comprised the renovation of the office accommodation at basement and ground floor level and the partial conversion and renovation of one bedroom flats on the three upper floors.

Internal work included minor re-configuration, new MEP services, re-plastering, new bathroom and mini kitchens, new joinery, new floor finishes and complete re-decoration.

Externally, all timber double hung sash windows were replaced along with the wrought iron railings to the first floor balconies. All external areas were re-decorated.

Work had to be sequenced to accommodate incumbent residential tenants and was overseen by ADP Architecture and the Conservation Officer from Westminster City Council.

This proved to be a highly successful project for all concerned with the accommodation restored to very high standards whilst in keeping with the original architectural design. Taylor Clark are now ensconced in their splendid offices and the residential flats are all let due in no small part to the high level of finish and fittings provided.

Client
Taylor Clark

Consultants
ADP Architecture – Consultants

Contract value
£1.6 million

Contract period
 26 weeks

Location
 20 York Street, London, W1U 6PU

Refurbishment and remodelling of Gasworks Art Gallery

For more than 20 years, Gasworks Art Gallery and Studios provided facilities to scores of talented artists and in the process has played a unique role in the contemporary visual arts sector in south London. However, over this time it had succumbed to general wear and tear and was in need of a makeover and an update. 

The project was implemented to give the building a new lease of life which included the refurbishment and remodelling of existing facilities, to provide a new art gallery, new office space and additional accommodation.

Prior to the refurbishment work taking place, the existing layout of the building was confusing, with spaces that did not make the most of their potential.

The new Gasworks Art Gallery includes specialist lighting, a large glazed entrance on the ground floor, a foyer, exhibition spaces, artists’ kitchen, offices and access points for the lift and stairs. The second floor includes studios with a better use of space. All works were completed within the agreed contract period and cost.

Client
Gasworks Art Gallery

Consultants
HAT Projects – Architect
William G Dick Partnership LLP – Quantity Surveyor

Contract value
£680k

Contract period
26 weeks

Location
155 Vauxhall Street, London SE11

Setting standards in luxury refurbishment

This luxury residential refurbishment project is located in the Bedford Estate conservation area. It consisted of significant structural reinforcement and alterations to provide a lateral conversion of the upper storeys of 40 and 41 Store Street and the refurbishment of 38 Store Street. All three properties sit above operational retail stores which necessitated careful co-ordination with the store proprietors to ensure minimal disruption.

Internal works included the removal and replacement of the second and third floors, and replacement stairs which were constructed from first to third floors.New kitchens and bathrooms were fitted throughout and all mechanical, electrical and plumbing services were upgraded. High quality decoration completed the newly renovated properties. Externally, works consisted of the renewal of the roofs with new roof lights. Additionally, the rear windows were replaced and the front windows refurbished.

The main challenge faced by our team was working within a confined physical environment with no external areas for site establishment or storage. This called for logistical excellence to minimise standing time and sterilisation of work areas.

The client was delighted with the finished apartments. They were presented to the market on programme and promptly let.

Client
The Bedford Estates

Consultants
Garnett & Partners – Architect
Mason Navarro Pledge – Structural Engineer
Tuffin Ferraby Taylor – Project Manager
Thompson Cole – Quantity Surveyor
Taylor Project Services – Services Engineer

Contract value
£645k

Contract period
22 weeks

Location
38, 40 & 41 Store Street, London WC1

Refurbishment of two office floors and common parts

The work comprised the strip out and Cat A refurbishment of the existing first and second floor offices, redecoration of the complete stair core, installation of a shower room at lower ground level and refurbishment of the ground floor reception.

Work to the offices included the installation of new perforated metal suspended and MF plasterboard ceilings, new raised access floors and redecoration. The original single door openings onto each floor were enlarged and new glazed double entrance doors were fitted to improve accessibility and to create a more spacious transition from the lift lobbies onto the floor plates. Existing fan coil units were repositioned and overhauled and the electrical lighting circuits were rewired to supply new linear light fittings in the main body of the ceilings and LED downlights in the MF margins. Upgraded controls have been fitted to the mechanical services installations and the new lighting circuits and fittings are digitally controlled with daylight and proximity detection significantly improving energy efficiency of the installations.

The work was completed both during normal working hours and out of hours to accommodate the use and constraints of the building. The result was excellent. The common parts and the floor plates have been completely refreshed which has significantly improved the marketability of the accommodation much to the satisfaction of our client.

Client
Chiswell Property Holdings Ltd

Consultants
Blackburn & Co

Contract value
£265k

Contract period
 52 weeks

Location
35 Chiswell Street, London EC1