GrapevineISSUE 13 SUMMER 2012

A Message from MarkEastbank Court Luxury Apartments CMCB Building, University of Warwick Triple Standard George Law

Focus on... The Drawing Office Orders of St John Care Home

Stepnell Project Updates George Law - Diversity is Key Margaret Court, Tiddington

Group News Grapevine catches up with!

The Stepnell Group WelcomesNew ArrivalsWedding BellsSorry To See You Go

Pictured: The CMCB building at the University of Warwick. (Image courtesy of Lightworks)

Inside This Issue:

“Necessity is the mother of all invention”. With the economic climate as bad as anyone has ever experienced and with even the best

predictions forecasting no improvement in the

construction market for years, few of us can argue that there is a real necessity for us all to find better ways of working.

There are significant changes afoot within our industry, many of which are being exposed by the reduced workload. These changes have the potential to change the way the industry works, from procurement through to delivery. We need to be alive to the opportunities that these changes can bring and to spot how we can take

advantage of them within the Stepnell Group. In many respects we must think like entrepreneurs looking for that better way of making the proverbial mousetrap. New technology, better conditions of contract and more refurbishment projects will all help The Group, but only if we can see a way to use it commercially.

There are many opportunities within our businesses and innovation can come from anyone. Innovation does not always mean new products, but includes new processes and tools. We should all look at our areas of responsibility and work with the people whom we work closely with to see if we can work smarter rather than any harder. Our objective must be to enable our site teams to deliver more efficiently in order to meet our customers’ needs more directly.

I was recently given a great example of the opportunity within our industry to deliver better value. The Ministry of Justice questioned the value of materials and the labour to install them on their projects. Their conclusion was that for every pound they spent only 26p related to the materials and productive labour to install them. There is a fantastic opportunity for The Group, with new technologies, working practices and a slim structure, to reduce the 74% indirect cost. We should all remember that this is an overhead cost and we would do well to reduce it by whatever means we can before our competitors work it out first.

Mark Wakeford, Managing Director.

Phase one of three is now complete at Eastbank Court in Worcester, the Aspen Retirement Ltd luxury apartments being project led by George Law. Contract team Director Alan Lyons, Site Manager Gerald Robins and Quantity Surveyor John McCarthy.

Phase one comprises of 51 (1 & 2 bed) apartments. The rooms being distributed over 3 floors, with the ground floor containing contemporary communal areas, the Restaurant and Piano Bar.

The structure is of traditional construction, with masonry walls, precast concrete floors and stairs, beam and block ground floor, and a trussed rafter pitched roof. Initially the project faced obstacles in attaining planning permission. This has been a challenging site, the scale, mass and height of the building caused problems. There were issues with the ridge height which were resolved by adapting the design to incorporate a low pitch roof with ‘Ondue Tile’ sheeting beneath the roof covering.

Construction has met NHBC, Robust requirements and Lifetime Home standards.

The building features a curved facade and turret, with courtyards formed by the configuration of the building. These partly enclose the external spaces protecting them from the weather, enabling these spaces to be more temperate, even in moderately inclement weather. This protection will also improve the longevity of the building materials and reduce the level of damaging exposure.

Throughout the building, each floor has no steps that residents have to negotiate. Also access from each entrance and exit is on one level.

Previously, Aspen have used apartment layouts from past schemes which had proven successful with regard to the design. The vision for this scheme was to create a building that had a luxurious ‘hotel’ feel and to achieve this, a whole new apartment type was designed. To overcome any design issues, a ‘sample’ apartment was created where Aspen could look at the product and make any necessary amendments and adaptations rather than facing these

issues during the build and in turn reducing snagging requirements further down the line.

Alan Lyons, Director. George Law

“Necessity is the mother of all invention...”

Aspen Retirement Ltd, Luxury Apartments at Eastbank Court, Worcester

Phase One Complete

The Mechanochemical Cell Biology Building at the University of Warwick represents the University’s strength of ambition; its energy performance sets a benchmark for buildings on the campus. The building is an extension to the Clinical Trials building and is 2 storeys high with an enclosed roof level plant room. The building has a steel frame with a mixture of brickwork, curtain walling and built up cladding to provide an eye catching and very thermally efficient envelope. The roof is covered with a number of photovoltaic panels.

The contract value was £4.4 million with in excess of £400,000 value engineered from the original tender figure of £4.9 million.

The client was the University of Warwick and funding was provided from a number of sources including Marie Curie Cancer Care, Advantage West Midlands and the Wolfson Foundation.

The project was designed to house the Centre for Mechanochemical Biology

which is a world leading cancer research organisation but had a large degree of future proofing built into the design.

The building is highly energy efficient due to the use of heat and cooling systems from the campus combined heat and power installation, a high level of insulation and solar shading and the provision of heat recovery and solar electricity. To ensure comfort in the summer the building has combined manual and automatic night cooling. This is by the very colourful louvres on the south and west elevations.

The building achieved BREEAM excellent and an EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) B rating under the latest Building Regulations.

The project was completed to programme in February 2012 by the Rugby Contract Team, Brendan Rourke, Contracts Manager with Steven Smith, Senior Quantity Surveyor, Kevin Hudson, Site Manager and assisted by Leigh College, Assistant Site Manager.

Mike Harper, Design Manager. Rugby

We are happy to announce that George Law Ltd at Kidderminster and Bloxwich along with their respective site locations have received registration to IS0 9001:2008 Quality Management System, ISO 14001:2004 Environmental Management System and OHSAS 18001:2007 Occupational Health and Safety Management System.

Well done to all those who were directly involved with the assessment process for all their hard work and effort in achieving this goal!

Triple Standard Registration for George Law Ltd at Kidderminster and Bloxwich

The New Centre for Mechanochemical Biology

Another Job Well Done at the University of Warwick

Images courtesy of Lightworks

Hi Craig, who are the team and what do they all do?

The team comprises of four members.

Manna Rahman - Building Design

Technician, who’s role is to produce detailed drawings for construction packages, from tender sketch schemes, Planning/Building Regulation details and As-Built drawings. June Badger - Document Controller (most people who receive documents and drawings would have no doubt spoken to June at some point). Danny O’Toole - Trainee Drawing Office Assistant, deals with document control and minor CAD works.

This only leaves me, Craig Sutton - Drawing Office Manager and Architectural Technologist. I deliver a similar role to Manna Rahman, providing building design solutions from conception through to completion, applying the science of architecture while concentrating on the technology of building design and construction.

So, what happens in the drawing office on a day to day basis Craig?

The Document Control side of the Drawing Office provides other departments with a

support/assist function where in a typical month it can be printing and distributing around 2500 A4-A0 drawings. We are also in the implementation phase of the ‘Horace’ system.

On the design side Manna and I work side by side on various projects ranging from crèches, crematoria, industrial and commercial properties. Some projects require simple internal modifications and planning approval while others require early tender sketches right through to full package building regulation submissions and detailed design drawings.

All in all, life in the drawing office can be described as unpredictable and changeable just like the British summer, where the priority and urgency can change from day to day, but we will always have our rain coats and suntan cream at the ready!

What has changed in the drawing office over the years and what changes do you see for the future?

During my time in the Drawing Office, I have been lucky enough to see and in some cases implement change, which have led to improved communication, integration and production. The introduction of Horace, alongside various software upgrades has meant that a lot has changed in our working

practices. Existing drawings that were previously traced, scaled or hand amended are now scanned/edited in around half the time.

Craig, how do you think the drawing office will develop over the next 10 years?

As we move more towards an “online” virtual environment, together with tighter controls executed by the government, there will be a requirement for fully collaborative BIM (Building Information Modelling) level 2 solutions, with all project, asset information, documentation and data being electronic by 2016. I would like to see the Drawing Office become more integrated with other internal and external professions within the industry and working in a fully collaborative 3D environment.

Grantham - Completed Projects 2011/2012

New teaching facilities and auditorium at Oakham school, Rutland.

Macmillan Information Centre at Leicester Royal Infirmary.

Additional space for extra clinical support at Leicester & Rutland Hospice, Leicester.

Grantham - Under Construction

Medical Centre in Old Arley, Warwickshire. The building will house GP consulting rooms, registrar rooms, training and treatment

rooms and a conference room situated over two floors.

Alterations to Denton House and an extension to the Pullinger Building at Loughborough Grammar School commenced at the end of July 2012.

Poole - Completed Projects 2011/2012

Chesil Cove Primary School was completed in May and will be used as a welfare facility for the sailing events during the Olympics. A team will be back following the games to make ready for school occupation in September.

Poole - Under Construction

The redevelopment of the CO-OP store, Bearwood to provide a New Doctors’ Surgery for the community.

High Street, Swanage. Extension to a retail outlet, new basement, goods in area and four new flats spread over two phases.

Avon Heath Country Park. Remodel of an existing building to house new classroom and toilets. Also in progress are:

Ferndown Upper and Middle Schools. Remodelling of the arts complex, three

Medical Centre, Old Arley, Warwickshire

Oakham School, Rutland

Back L-R: Danny O’Toole, Craig Sutton.

Front L-R: June Badger, Manna Rahman

Focus on... The Drawing Office, RugbyThe Grapevine talks to Drawing Office Manager, Craig Sutton

Project Updates

The £5.4M Windsor Street care home in Cheltenham is the construction of 81 en suite bedrooms and ancillary rooms for the Orders of St John Care Trust. The project also involves the complete fit out of the entire care facility with all fixtures and fittings being installed as part of the contract due for completion in April 2013. The facility is split into 45 dementia beds and 36 nursing care beds which will have a domestic and homely feel within a three storey building. July saw the construction of the roof as we desperately try to evict the British summer from impacting further on construction progress.

The construction techniques involved in the development are different using a

traditional masonry structure integrated within a steel frame, which partly supports a concrete plank transfer deck at first floor. The second floor is a domestic construction using engineered timber floor joists, with a 7.5° trussed roof incorporating a single ply membrane roof covering. The exterior of the building will be finished with 5 different colours of render in order to blend in with the rest of Windsor Street.

The project has adopted differing construction techniques. An area of contaminated ground was excavated and placed under the footprint of the building and capped with the ground floor structural slab. To avoid additional spoil on site, helical displacement piles were used, where

possible. A plot of land adjoining the site has been rented in order to alleviate the need to impose construction traffic onto the narrow residential Windsor Street.

The site team comprising of me, Site Manager Andy Higham, Assistant Site Manager Jez Hawkins, Foreman Chris Tew and Foreman Ian Jagger have to manage not only a construction process that is technically demanding but the entire fit out of every room right down to the linen on the beds.

Andrew Higham, Site Manager. Rugby

science labs (including installation of a new adjoining disabled lift) and IT suite.

Rugby - Completed Projects 2011/2012

Gladstone Road, Northampton. Margaret Court, Tiddington. CMCB, University of Warwick. Pathology Laboratory, Nuffield Hospital, Leamington Spa.

Rugby - Under Construction

Banner Lane, Coventry a £5.5M contract to build a 106 bed care home.

Fradley Crematorium near Lichfield. A design and build contract for Mercia Crematoria Developments.

University of Warwick, refurbishment of the Rootes Building and library.

Wantage - Completed Projects 2011/2012

Blenheim Crescent Pharmacy, Luton. Refurbishment of St Aldates Tavern, Oxford. Refurbishment of the Fawsley Building and St Johns Residence at the University of Northampton.

Wantage - Under Construction

Windale Community Primary School, Oxford. Single storey building to house new teaching and staff room facilities.

The Oxford Oratory, Oxford. New accommodation facilities, refurbishment of the parish centre and conversion of the old school hall into a new library.

Enabling works contract at Lincoln College, Oxford.

Rose Hill Primary School, Oxford. Gym conversion and classroom refurbishment.

Redevelopment of the CO-OP store, Bearwood, Dorset

Fradley Crematorium near Lichfield, Staffordshire

The Oxford Oratory, Oxford

Left: Windsor Street Care Home Top Right: Windsor Street (pre-construction) Bottom Right: Foundation Stone Ceremony

Orders of Saint John Care Home in CheltenhamConstruction reaches roof height

With regards to projects, George Law is probably going through one of the most diverse periods in its history, having to demonstrate its extensive set of skills and experience of delivery to its clients.

Projects completed or nearing completion in the last six months are:

Chicken Curve, which despite its unusual name was a complex civil engineering project in Gloucestershire. A large stretch of embankment owned by GWR (Great Western Railway) had slipped. The embankment, which has slipped on numerous occasions over the years, has had its problems compounded by poor methods of reconstruction from previous contractors. It was down to us to strip away the bank in sections and reconstruct, soil nail to prevent future slips and address poor drainage issues prior to handing back to GWR before Cheltenham Race Day. Site Manager Richard Griffiths.

Vision Labs in Kidderminster was a building project with a difference. Works involved the

construction of a two storey building within the envelope of an existing industrial unit for the provision of production of ophthalmic lenses. An intricately designed building had to be delivered. We are now in the process of mobilising for the recently awarded Phase two contract. Site Manager Rob Brooks assisted by Foreman Dave Hughes

Another core civil engineering project came in the shape of an extension to Bushbury Cemetery and Crematorium, Wolverhampton. With the site on a rather steep incline, the project brief included new drainage at the foot of the hill and heavy landscaping to create a tier system. Roads, fencing and an extension to the irrigation system were also part of the project. Site Manager Tony Scrocca

We have been very active in the Education sector with extensions and internal modifications to two school entrances and classrooms at Pitmastion Primary School (Site Manager Sam Blackmore) along with Grimley & Holt C of E Primary School. (Alan Lyons Team). We have also completed a MUGA (multi use games area) and activity park for Regency High School in Worcester (Site Manager Alan Romeo) where we are also putting the finishing touches to a trampoline hall. New build and refurbishment work is being carried out at Whitecross High School, Hereford which was built by Stepnell in 2006. Site Manager John Carrington-Stait

In Aldridge, a sophisticated new waste management facility for Interserve Site Services also benefited from our expertise and experience. This project included drainage, groundworks, concrete hard standings and the construction of a waste reception and site welfare buildings. Site Manager Richard Griffiths

We continue to work for long standing clients such as Severn Valley Railway, for whom we are the term maintenance contractor, the National Grid where Sean Doherty and David O’Doherty have been completing several contracts including two new industrial type buildings at Iron Acton and Leicester Circuit Breaker Refurbishment Centre. Site Manager Neil Perrins continues to work on Severn Trent Water sites where we are bringing our unique input and know-how to the projects.

Jim Collingwood, George Law

The £1.62 million pound development comprised of the demolition of two existing residential properties and the traditional construction of six luxury extra-care retirement bungalows. This is the second phase of Margaret Court in Tiddington,

Stratford-upon-Avon, for Retirement Security Ltd whom specialise in developing very sheltered housing for the elderly.

The bungalows are purpose-built to the highest specification. Demand was so high that five of the six properties were bought off-plan.

The site team, Richard Arthur Site Manager and Marcus Darcy Assistant Site Manager performed well to complete the project to programme considering there was 16 weeks’

worth of variations encountered throughout the project.

David Owen, Quantity Surveyor. Rugby

Vision Labs, Kidderminster

Chicken Curve, Gloucestershire

Kitchen, Margaret Court Bungalow

George Law - Diversity is key!

Luxury Living in Stratford-upon-AvonMargaret Court luxury bungalows complete

What’s the best part of your job Steve?

The best part of the job, for me, is that I am not confined to an office all day. The maintenance team can be working at a number of sites at any one time so I have to be available at these locations throughout the day.

What do you think differentiates Stepnell from its competitors?

From the perspective of the maintenance side of the business, I would say that the diverse portfolio is something that sets Stepnell apart. My team have to do all sorts of work from re-roofing a two bedroom terrace house or putting down a new road at a large factory unit.

Who has most influenced your career?

A former school teacher once told me that I wasn’t well suited to academia, and that I should probably focus my efforts on metal and woodwork. I was inclined to agree with him so took his advice and became an apprentice joiner.

What’s the best advice you have ever been given?

Don’t believe anything you read and only half of what you are told!

If you weren’t the Maintenance Team Manager what would you be?

Retired... I can but dream! I’ve always had a strong interest in classic cars and motorcycles which I have owned and worked on over the years. So I would have more time to tinker with these.

What’s your favourite film?

I don’t watch a lot of films but one that particularly stuck with me over the years is an old horror film that I saw at the cinema a long time ago called ‘The Blob’ starring Steve McQueen.

What’s your favourite meal?

Call me old fashioned but give me ‘Roast Dinner’ or a ‘Good Steak’ any day.

Where is your ideal holiday destination?

Anywhere that I don’t have to answer my phone, so I can just relax… preferably somewhere with good weather too!

Most valued possession?

The deeds to my house, they’re about the only thing that my kids haven’t had from me!

Which three people (dead or alive) would you invite to a dinner party?

Barry Sheen, Stirling Moss and John Surtees. They were all fantastic racers in their day (Stirling Moss still does a bit now!) and I admire that.

What would your ideal day be?

It would probably involve a day of historic motor racing, viewed from Woodcote corner at the Goodwood circuit.

Brackley Investments donated £250 to the Herbert Fowler Junior School to buy art materials enabling them to enter the art competition for the new Medical Centre at Old Arley. The winning artwork will be displayed in the main reception on project completion. (Pictured: Chrissy Jones - Practice Manager for the surgery, Geoff Simm - Director at Brackley Investments and pupils from the Herbert Fowler Junior School).

The Poole office lottery syndicate scooped a handsome sum on the Euro millions in April. WELL DONE!!!

Steve Hanger, Plasterer at Poole was 65 in June but said he has no plans to retire yet!

Blair Lennox, Apprentice Carpenter at Poole was invited to take part in the Skillbuild Competition for trainees in the Construction

Industry. Out of over 150 entrants from all around the south he was placed in the top 10.

Grapevine catches up with...Steve Bichener - Maintenance Team Manager, Rugby

Aspen

Adam Maine - Assistant Project Manager David Gannon - Land Manager

Brackley Investments

Victoria Turner - Graduate Development Surveyor

George Law

Joshua Hartley - Part-Time Labourer

Grantham

Patrick Boyle - Site Manager Thomas Morgan - Work Placement (Contract Team)

Poole

Clare Snape – Administrator Daniel Hunter – Plumber Darren Launder - Painter & Decorator Marc Llewellyn – Carpenter Mark Senior – CAD Engineer Samual Gibbins – Labourer Simon Adlard - Senior Estimator Simon Macfarlane - Plumber/Pipefitter

Rugby

Amisha Lad - Administrator Edward Hopkins - Trainee Groundworker John Cooper - Strategic Project Manager Jon Atkinson - Project Manager Joseph Corney - Work Placement (Estimating) Matthew Sargent - Design Manager

Congratulations to Gyles Brown, Poole Site Engineer, who married partner Angela Milree on 5th May!

Grantham Site Manager, Chris Came retired in January 2012 after after completing 27 years of loyal service.

Enjoy your retirement Chris!

George Law Site Manager Stan Gurner retired at the start of 2012 after a staggering 40 years of service!

Enjoy your retirement Stan!

Aspen Land Manager, Selwyn Cooper retired in April 2012

Happy days Selwyn!

Blair Birrell (Rugby) & Emma Birrell (Aspen) welcomed the arrival of Leonardo Alexander Blair Birrell on 05/02/12 weighing 8lb 1oz.

Katie May was born on 15/05/12 weighing 8lb 12oz to parents Dave Steadman (George Law) & his partner Amy.

Craig Sutton (Rugby) & his partner Emma welcomed the arrival of Harvey William on 17/03/12 weighing 6lb 11oz

Kris Young (Rugby) & partner Amanda welcomed the arrival of daughter Willow, who was born on 31/05/2012 weighing 6lb 15oz.

Daniel Little (George Law) & partner Maria became parents to Archie on 26/09/11 weighing 6lbs 13oz. Congratulations to Graham Little (George Law) on becoming a proud grandfather to Archie

Brooke Elise Ivy England was born on 25/06/12 weighing 7lb 15oz to parents Oliver England (Wantage) & Holly Badby. Congratulations also to Des England (Wantage) on becoming a proud grandfather to Brooke

New Arrivals

Sorry to see you go!

All the best for the future!

Congratulations

The Stepnell Group would like to welcome

Happy Days

Wedding Bells