Fashion & Textile Studio, University of Derby
Conversion of dilapidated industrial building into specialist studio
After previously working with the University of Derby on refurbishment and alterations at its Kedleston Road campus, we secured the project to create a specialist fashion and textiles teaching facility in a dilapidated former industrial building dating from the early 1900s.
A particular difficulty we experienced was that lots of terraced housing backed up to the building. The back wall of the building formed the wall at the bottom of the gardens of these houses. We had to liaise sympathetically and considerately with these neighbours in order to get access to the building at some points via scaffolding.
The building was given a full structural upgrade which included underpinning and steelwork to reinforce the external walls, and this created a new two-storey teaching facility. Our experience of managing health and safety in challenging situations was invaluable. We refurbished the building with new mechanical and air conditioning systems and managed all the electrical works including audio visual equipment.
We faced a fixed deadline as the building in Chandos Pole Street had to open for the start of the September 2016 academic year. To achieve this, we co-ordinated the building work with the movement of heavy and specialist equipment including looms, industrial sewing machines, industrial steaming tables and cutting tables. Floors had to be designed to carry the weight of this apparatus. The building covers 1,100 square metres of space and includes open plan tutorial and breakout areas and technical and academic staff offices. The work was completed on time and to budget with no snags or defects reported in the 12 months after completion.
Sector:
Public sector
Form of Contract:
JCT 05 Design & Build
Client:
University of Derby
Duration:
Forty four weeks
Project Manager:
Mark Hutchinson
Completion Date:
September 2016
Architect:
University of Derby Design Services
Value:
£2.6m
Location:
Chandos Pole Street, Derby
Fashion & Textile Studio, University of Derby, Gallery:
