Renfrewshire Council Offices
Renfrewshire
DESCRIPTION:
Civil and Structural Engineers for major refurbishment and new build of Grade B Listed Council Offices. The main floor plates were transferred into brighter open plan areas. The new build elements involved a full height extension to the existing multi storey office structure, a new customer service centre, council chamber and marriage suite.
INVOLVEMENT:
Struer were appointed as civil and structural consultants from the outset and were responsible for delivering drawings and specifications to the successful managing contractor. Struers’ service continued through the construction stage to Practical Completion.
CHALLENGES:
The main challenge faced was the limited archive information made available. At the design stage, assumptions had to be made as no information could be obtained through historic documents and no conclusion could be made from on site investigations. Opening up of finishes to inspect the structure in key areas, was programmed early allowing time to make any necessary alterations to design assumptions. Other challenges involved the complex design of the new structures on top of the existing concrete car park structure. Load transfer to the existing foundations was achieved by new transfer structure.
BENEFITS TO CLIENT:
The client now has a much improved facility with bright open plan office space and quality welfare facilities. Better continuity now exists between departments due to links between the main offices and the customer service centre.
The refurbished offices have increased the efficiency of the day to day council operations, saving cost and increasing employee job satisfaction.
