BOREHAMWOOD CIVIC OFFICES, HERTSMERE BOROUGH COUNCIL

This project was administered under a JCT Intermediate Building Contract and was completed within a live environment, with shared communal areas and access.

Renovation works were required across multiple levels of three Council buildings including the Civic Offices, the main central hub of the council.  The CEO, Mayor, Party Leaders and central departments all needed to remain fully operational within the buildings throughout the project.

Undertaking the role of the Principle Contractor Alcema provided overall project and programme management.

Working in a live environment works required in depth coordination with multiple client departments liaising and arranging staff moves across various areas as the works progressed.

Works consisted of full strip out and refit of office areas over several floors, asbestos removal, strip out and replacement of roof mounted mechanical plant and associated duct work and new fire and smoke controlled dampers across all areas.  Fully re-wired electrics, new distribution boards to all floors and bespoke designed day light sensing LED lighting and lighting controls.  Following a full strip out to each office a new raised access floor was installed, acoustic double glazed partitions and metal stud plasterboard partitions, glazed access controlled doors, new kitchens team points, flooring, full decorations and perimeter storage cupboards.

HVAC improvements were made with two new air handling units, located within the roof plant rooms, new VRF units installed on a new steel roof mounted gantry and a new heat pump and associated plant items within bespoke GRP enclosures.  All associated ductwork was redesigned and fully replaced across all floors, providing an improved energy efficient heating and colling system, reducing environmental impact, costs and ongoing maintenance.

Lighting is a key component in the modernisation and decarbonisation of public buildings.  We provided new energy efficient LEDs replacing approximately 700  fluorescent luminaires.  We installed occupancy controls with daylight sensing, auto dimming measure to maximise on natural daylight and occupancy levels.  This led to a projected saving of 147,000KwH/annum; providing our client with a substantial operational and maintenance saving.

During our initial ductwork surveys were established insufficient fire dampers had been installed and the existing dampers did not full operate or conform to current regulations or the building fire strategy.  We redesigned the ductwork to incorporate network controlled, fire and smoke dampers, interfaced to the BMS system and Fire Alarm and controlled via a data network and damper control panel; located within the ground floor.  Thirty seven dampers in total were replaced to all floors, within live communal areas at compartment locations.  As the system is fully interactive this involved a high level of co-ordination with the key suppliers, fire engineer, building facilities team, M&E installers and end users.

This project came with various challenges.  The steel work and mechanical plan installation to the roof level was completed over eight phases and a mobile crane was required for each phase.  This involved closing the neighbouring Police Station car park entrance and liaison was required with the Police 3-4 weeks prior to ensure meticulous planning.

Working within a live environment posed the greatest challenge throughout. To ensure safety areas were segregated, with barriers and clear signage to mitigate unauthorised access.  Materials were distributed to each floor/working area by a dedicated lift or via the rear (dedicated) staircase ensuring segregation from Council staff.

To reduce disruption and inconvenience life safety systems were removed and reinstalled with temporary systems being in place during the change over period

The noisier and more disruptive works were completed outside of office hours, either at weekends or before 8am and after 6pm on work days, ensuring all council operations were able to continue with minimal disruption, including accommodating for evening council meetings.

The project team communicated and collaborated thoroughly with consultants and client project teams at informal weekly meeting and formal monthly meetings, managing change and understanding programme restraints on all phases.  Quality was managed meticulously on every works package to ensure the project was handed over snag free and achieved the highest standards possible.

Our experienced delivery team with a meticulous approach to programming were able to work effectively, without disruption to office staff and within limited working hours.

Alcema adopt a ‘One Team’ approach, our supply chain are trusted partners that we work with on many of our projects, whose skills, knowledge and quality management are perfectly aligned with ours and our clients objectives.  Borehamwood is no exception, with the collaboration with our specialist consultant helping us to achieve exceptional levels in the decarbonisation of the building.

We recognise the importance of Social Value and supporting local communities. Our Client identified two local needs for support, the local foodbank and the local Boxing Club.

The team at Alcema and our supply chain readily supported and made a significant donation to the foodbank at Christmas which provided food parcels for homeless and underprivileged families. Just prior to Christmas our Site Managers and some of our supply chain collected and delivered these food parcels during their personal spare time to add extra support at an extremely busy time for the foodbank.

In addition, we supported the local Boxing Club in Borehamwood, an England affiliated club offering amateur boxing activities and additional recreational activities to the wider community. The club has an outdoor pitch area which had suffered from a lack of investment and was underutilised.  New goals, gifted by Alcema, have allowed the club to increase the use of this pitch area to other community groups, who by means of a hire charge contribute towards to positive financial health of the boxing club.

The positive outcome of this project is best represented in the feedback that we have received.

‘Working with the Alcema Management & site team on this project has always been a positive experience. Any issues that have occurred be they technical or operational have always been resolved in a timely manner. The HS&E Management has been excellent & carrying out an extensive refurbishment program within an operational building will always bring its challenges which have always been well managed.

All the site team mangers, operatives & sub-contractors have been polite & friendly at all times in my experience.

I would like to mention in particular some members of the Alcema team. Our dedicated site manager on this project has been helpful & responsive along with always being friendly & always willing to talk & answer any questions & deal with any concerns raised. Along of course with the Project Manager who has kept the project moving forward dealing with any issues that have presented themselves along the way. Last but not least Adam Nolan who has kept an eye on the design brief & changes & the project costs.