McLaren to build new £32m HQ for Salvation Army

The Salvation Army has confirmed  McLaren Construction as the main contractor on its new 55,000 sq ft territorial headquarters in Southwark, London.

The £32m HQ building will allow the international charitable organisation to relocate from its current headquarters, consolidating its administrative office and training provision in one location.

The Breeam Excellent building will be located at the William Booth Training College site in Denmark Hill, Southwark – an underutilised part of the Salvation Army’s existing campus.

The HQ varies between five and six storeys and includes open-plan office space, designed to be flexible and support smart working, arranged around an atrium. It will accommodate up to 450 employees and Salvation Army officers.

Additional Facilities within the headquarters include a series of multi-function rooms, recording studios, an editing suite and a café open to the public. A landscaped terrace at the southern end of the site will provide a private space and retreat for staff to enjoy.

The architectural intent is to have exposed concrete soffits, with extensive architectural timber throughout.

Darren Gill, Managing Director, London for McLaren Construction, said: “McLaren’s appointment on The Salvation Army Territorial headquarters is testament to our expertise, can-do culture and an ability to deliver exemplary projects, exceeding expectations.

“We recognise the importance of delivering this once in a lifetime project for The Salvation Army, a renowned organisation steeped in values. We are delivering a new HQ, bringing together disparate facilities and employees into a modern and sustainable building, on the site of the iconic William Booth Training college, where we are honouring the place and neighbouring area, while providing collaborative and much needed workspace for the international charity.”

The façade will be carefully detailed in precast masonry panels, stone and glazing and take a cue from the adjacent listed buildings and feature a series of tall, multi-brick and stone bays punctuated by brick piers, creating a strong vertical emphasis on the street.

The project is scheduled for completion in 2023.

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Bouygues wins £70m first phase of science centre

Carmarthenshire County Council has appointed Bouygues UK to design and build the £70m Zone One of its Pentre Awel science and innovation centre.

The council has led an extensive tendering process via the South West Wales Regional Contractors Framework for firms to deliver the scheme.

Zone One will feature education, business, research, leisure and health facilities to provide social and economic benefits to people in the region.

The council and Bouygues have now entered into an initial pre-construction period ahead of work starting on site next year.

During this period, further design will be undertaken together with preparation and submission of detailed planning information and preparatory works on site.

Property and construction consultants Gleeds will manage the build contract, supported by design and planning experts Arup.

Simon Barnes, Pre-Construction Director for Bouygues UK, said: “We are delighted to have been selected as preferred bidder on the Pentre Awel project, a first of its kind project in Wales. Our experience in large scale projects like this will ensure the successful delivery of the scheme.

“We are pleased that Carmarthenshire County Council is aligned with our ambitious vision to bring a positive social impact alongside this project. Together with our supply chain we look forward to bringing lasting value to the local community.

“Through engagement with regional learning and skills partnerships, we will also help deliver learning and career opportunities. This project will also benefit from using a local supply chain with particular focus on small and medium size enterprises.”

The Pentre Awel project includes integrated care and physical rehabilitation facilities, a well-being skills centre which will focus on health and care training, a clinical delivery centre to deliver multi-disciplinary care, and a new state-of-the-art leisure centre, along with landscaped outdoor public spaces for walking and cycling.

A hotel, a range of social and affordable housing, assisted living accommodation and a nursing home are being planned for later phases of the scheme.

 

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“Vast majority” of jobs set to be saved at nmcn

The sale of nmcn following its fall into administration is expected to be concluded within 48 hours saving the jobs of the “vast majority”of the contractor’s 1,700 employees.

The Enquirer has seen an update sent to staff by CEO Lee Marks on Tuesday.

It states that the sale of the Infrastructure, Plant Transport & Accommodation, Telecoms and Water divisions is expected to complete in the next day or two.

Marks added: “These potential sales will secure the jobs of the vast majority of our employees as your current employment with nmcn will transfer to the new organisation under TUPE, with the interested parties taking on certain people and projects.”

Following its imminent appointment administrator Grant Thornton will hold calls with employees to discuss TUPE or redundancy options.

Marks said: “Whilst this is positive news for the majority of our people, I understand that these are worrying times for everyone.”

One employee said: “I’m sure the senior management will make sure they are carried across to the the new companies. As for the rest of us – we’ll see.”

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