B2 Projects Limited were contracted to carry out the full refurbishment of the office and welfare area refurbishment on a design and build contract. To recreate a usable space, fit for purpose, the existing office space was reconfigured, and an additional toilet formed.

We also recreated a welfare space into a modern layout to suit the businesses adapted way of working. The scope of works comprised the:

·       Demolition of existing walls and toilets

·       Formation of new wall and toilets

·       New formation of office seating

·       Formation of new meeting rooms

·       Formation of open plan kitchen / relaxation area

As the works were delivered during the COVID pandemic, like the wider construction industry, lessons were learned with regards planning for material shortages and delays. To overcome this issue going forward we utilise the established relationship with our suppliers and subcontractors to bulk buy and secure material and labours. We also focus on early procurement to ensure timely delivery in line with programme demands.

Tasked with the tight schedule to have office ready for the staff returning to work following COVID, we incorporated evening and weekend working into the programme. This was done to meet programme deadlines while also accommodating the COVID regulations put in place which reduced numbers of staff working together.

As principal contractor, we implemented safe working for all staff incorporating COVID guidance, PPE, sanitisation stations with minimum persons permitted on the project at any one time.

Implementing lessons learned from previous projects carried out during the pandemic, the project benefited from early procurement built into our pre-construction programme. To enable early procurement, we worked in partnership with the client to help them develop the specification early on and lock in design. 

As the client was based in London, with limited travel permitted, communications were carried out virtually via Team meetings and video walk rounds to demonstrate progress.