1. home and garden

Building
Blocks
News from the HCD Group
ISSUE 12
in this ISSUE
HOTEL CONVERSION IN
LONDON CONSERVATION AREA
MANHATTAN LOFT CREATES
GARDENS IN THE SKY
SOUTHAMPTON’S TALLEST TOWER
FIRE STRATEGY FOR
SWINDON REDEVELOPMENT
EXPERIENCE PAYS OFF AT
BARNSLEY BSF PROGRAMME
© Paul-Riddle.com
www.hcdgroup.co.uk
Challenging Hotel
Conversion in London’s
Inner Temple
The £20m conversion of a 1950s office
building located in a central London
conservation area into a 4* hotel raised a
number of challenges for the project team.
Apex Temple Court is Ian Springford Architects’
third major project for Apex Hotels in London.
The architect identified the opportunity to
partially demolish and extend the central
wing of the existing building to increase room
numbers and to resolve internal circulation
issues. As the building falls within the Inner
Temple Conservation Area detailed discussions
were held with the planning and conservation
departments to reach agreement on the
approach before contractor, Tolent Construction
could begin work on site in October 2010.
HCD acted as Approved Inspector throughout
the project.
The approved design delivered a 184 bedroom,
10,000m2 hotel with restaurant, bar and gym
facilities. Work included the complete
re-landscaping of two external courtyards to
form the new hotel entrance and also involved
the retention and refurbishment of a Grade l
listed building which had to remain occupied
as office use throughout.
..the building falls
within the Inner Temple
Conservation Area..
The layout and design of the hotel celebrates
the grandeur of its setting and the unique
characteristics of the Inner Temple, providing
guests with a glimpse into the workings of the
legal profession during their stay. The hotel’s
bedrooms and suites are arranged around an
outdoor courtyard with many of the rooms
boasting stunning skyline views of Big Ben and
the London Eye.
The hotel opened in spring 2012.
The Inner Temple is one of the four Inns of
Court along with Gray’s Inn, Lincoln’s Inn and
the Middle Temple. The Inns are responsible
for training, regulating and selecting barristers
within England and Wales.
© Paul-Riddle.com
© Paul-Riddle.com
Olympic
outlook
for
landmark
scheme
Manhattan Loft Corporation, the developer
behind a landmark hotel and residential
scheme adjacent to London’s Olympic Park,
has appointed HCD Group to provide a hat
trick of key services to the project.
The £200m Manhattan Loft Gardens scheme is
a 42 storey glass-clad tower with three striking
‘sky gardens’ carved out of the structure at
7th, 25th and 36th levels. A highly engineered
steel frame supports two massive cantilevers
to create these distinctive open air spaces
which enjoy unobstructed views. Designed by
SOM Architects, the building comprises 248
high rise apartments, a 155 bedroom hotel on
seven lower floors plus two restaurants, spa and
swimming pool. At ground level there will be a
triple-height lobby and a restaurant/bar with
communal gardens above.
The scheme is located within the Stratford City
masterplan area.
HCD is providing Fire Engineering, Building
Control and Construction Design and
Management Co-ordinator (CDMC) support to
the project team. Manhattan Loft Gardens is
the latest in a series of successful collaborations
between HCD and Manhattan Loft Corporation.
Manhattan Loft Gardens has been designed to
have a responsible impact on the environment
and its surroundings. Design elements
contributing to the building’s efficiency include:
•building façade optimises daylight in the
apartments and limits solar gain
•all apartments have operable windows,
allowing fresh air and cooling when the
weather is appropriate
•kitchen and bathroom appliances are selected
to reduce energy and water use
•rainwater is stored and treated for use in
watering the gardens and cleaning the
building
•sky gardens include a wide variety of plants
and provide habitats for wildlife
•the building is linked to the local district
heating network, benefiting from this efficient
source of energy.
Construction was scheduled to begin after
the Olympics, with the building scheduled for
completion in 2016.
Manhattan Loft
Gardens is the latest in
a series of successful
collaborations between
HCD and Manhattan
Loft Corporation.
World-class centre
for cancer research
HCD Building Control is part of the early
design team behind the new Manchester
Cancer Research Centre (MCRC) building in
Withington which has been given the goahead by Manchester City Council planners.
The MCRC was created in 2006 as a partnership
between three key organisations: The University
of Manchester, Cancer Research UK and
specialist cancer centre, The Christie. Its aim
is the development of personalised cancer
treatments based on improved knowledge of
each individual patient’s disease characteristics,
leading directly to better patient outcomes. The
rapid expansion of high quality research at the
MCRC has led to the requirement for the new
facility, which has been designed by Wilson
Mason and Partners.
The new building will provide space for an
additional 150 cancer researchers on the site
and will also be pivotal in creating a recruitment
incentive to attract additional world class
researchers to secure the MCRC as a leader in
its field.
It will contain laboratory accommodation for
research groups plus write-up, administration
and office accommodation. It will also house the
relocated Clinical Trials Unit from The Christie.
The building arrangement is intended to
promote increased interaction between research
teams and also contains breakout spaces to
encourage networking and collaboration and a
lecture theatre on the ground floor.
HCD Building Control has been involved since
the concept stage of the design process,
attending client and design team meetings to
ensure continued compliance with the technical
requirements of Building Regulations. HCD has
worked closely with the design team to reduce
design risks and to help provide the most cost
effective scheme achievable under current
legislation.
Early liaison with the Fire Service has also
been crucial to allow full discussion of the fire
engineering principles and how the occupants
will use the building both in and out of working
hours.
Enabling works on the site have started and the
procurement process to select a contractor for
the building was due to be complete during
the summer. The new MCRC building is due for
completion in spring 2014.
HCD has worked closely
with the design team
to reduce design risks
and to help provide
the most cost effective
scheme achievable
under current
legislation.
Tallest Tower for
Southampton Waterfront
Standing at
26 storeys,
the Western
residential tower
is part of a £48m
mixed-use scheme.
© Bristol Airport
HGP Architects for Warings Contractors Limited
Construction of the tallest building at
Southampton’s Admiral’s Quay development
is now under way.
Standing at 26 storeys, the Western residential
tower is part of a £48m mixed-use scheme
for Allied Developments. Designed by HGP
Architects, Admiral’s Quay is one of the final
elements in the city’s Ocean Village waterfront
regeneration project and Warings is the main
contractor delivering the scheme under a design
and build contract.
The Western tower will be supported by two
additional apartment buildings of 16 and
nine storeys. The scheme will incorporate
a landscaped terrace at second floor level
between the first two buildings. This will provide
an exciting area with space for up to eight
restaurants and seating spilling out onto the
promenade.
The residential towers feature glass cladding
to provide panoramic views across the city and
marina. Other elements of the building will be
clad with modern materials to compliment the
clean lines of the façade.
HCD is providing Fire Engineering and
Construction Design and Management Coordinator (CDMC) support to the project. Alex
Manning, Associate Director at Fusion Fire
Engineering said: “We are providing important
support to Warings in the development of
this prestigious project, giving guidance in
accordance with the new BS9991. Through this
approach Fusion has created savings in terms
of each flat design and also aided the solutions
for difficult fire service access routes along the
quay.”
It is hoped the landmark tower will be the
beginning of a new skyline for the city of
Southampton acting as a catalyst for future
investment and development, while the
surrounding new areas of public space will
encourage an atmosphere more reminiscent of
the café culture of the Mediterranean.
Work on site began in late July 2012 and
completion is scheduled for December 2014.
Allied Developments’ Peter Morton said:
“We are delighted that construction is under
way on the project. This will be a landmark,
contemporary scheme for the city and help
make Ocean Village a world class destination. It
has been a long time coming and we are proud
to be involved in helping to complete the final
regeneration phases of the Marina.”
This will be a landmark,
contemporary scheme
for the city and help
make Ocean Village a
world class destination.
Network Rail’s
National Centre
becomes operational
Network Rail’s National Centre in Milton
Keynes became fully operational in
September, with the last of the 3,000
workforce moving into the building known
as The Quadrant:MK.
The move, which brings together teams from
across the country under one eco-friendly roof,
will enable Network Rail to improve the way it
co-ordinates activities and is expected to help
cut millions of pounds a year from the cost of
running the railway.
HCD has been involved in this flagship scheme
since its inception, providing Building Control
consultancy advice. This involvement included
the development of an alternative approach to
fire safety in terms of access for the emergency
services that ensured the project design
complied with current requirements.
The 40,000m2 building is designed so that the
blocks can be subdivided between different
teams. As a result, HCD also played an
important role in advising on the provisions
for means of escape along with thermal
requirements so that the design is sufficiently
flexible to accommodate any such subdivisions.
HCD’s early involvement was critical in
developing alternative solutions that suited the
building design as it progressed through the
early RIBA stages.
The new centre is one of the most sustainable
office buildings in the country and has been
designed to meet exacting environmental
standards - achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating for
design against BREEAM (2008). The scheme
comprises four office blocks set at an angle to
the street line. This alignment, together with
exterior solar shading panels, reduces heat gain,
improves the efficiency of natural ventilation
and allows the effective use of natural light.
In addition to the use of ‘green roofs’ the
centre also features a ‘brown roof’ - a concept
with similar benefits to the ‘green roof’ but
which puts the emphasis on indigenous species
and biodiversity.
The area between the office blocks is enclosed
to form a large atrium that creates a focus
for The Quadrant:MK and houses the main
reception, a coffee bar and facilities including
a self service stationery store, IT and facilities
help centre, together with space for informal
meetings and socialising. The ground levels
of the office blocks house support facilities
including a staff restaurant, a knowledge
centre and a health and wellbeing centre,
while the upper floors provide flexible office
accommodation linked by high level bridges.
Work on site commenced in August 2010 and
Network Rail staff began moving in during June
2012. Architect to the scheme was GMW and
the contractor was BAM.
HCD’s early
involvement was
critical in developing
alternative solutions
that suited the building
design as it progressed
through the early RIBA
stages.
Fire strategy for
central Swindon
redevelopment
HCD Building Control and sister company,
Fusion Fire Engineering, are integral members
of the design team behind the £50m mixeduse redevelopment of Regent Circus in
Swindon by developer Ashfield Land.
structures as a route for escape and for fire
brigade access. This approach allows the
maximum footfall on the restricted site and
ensures all safety and commercial requirements
are achieved.
This complex inner city project will see the
transformation of the five acre former Swindon
College campus into a retail and leisure scheme
to a design by architect Lyons+Sleeman+Hoare.
It will comprise a 6,000m2 Morrisons food store,
a six screen all-digital cinema, eight high quality
restaurants and a 450-space car park.
As part of this approach a study was undertaken
to determine that the scheme did not qualify
as a ‘mall’ for design purposes but could
be classified as a ‘covered street’. Through
calculations and smoke modelling it was shown
that smoke would be vented successfully around
the shelter-providing street covering without
mechanical smoke extraction, allowing the
less onerous approach to be adopted when
designing the fire strategy.
Fusion Fire Engineering designed an effective
fire strategy in conjunction with advice
from HCD Building Control to overcome the
complexities of including these mixed uses
over five floors. The principal design challenge
of providing adequate means of escape was
overcome by utilising the general podium
Demolition of the former college is now
approaching completion and construction will
start this autumn with the scheme scheduled to
open in the spring of 2014.
Through calculations
and smoke modelling
it was shown that
smoke would be vented
successfully around
the shelter-providing
street covering without
mechanical smoke
extraction…
Will Amlot Photography
Building Control Services
for Award-Winning
Housing Project
HCD provided a full range of Building Control
services to the award-winning £22.8m Roden
Court residential scheme in Crouch End.
The development uses renewable energy sources
- with around 10% of the energy used produced
on site - with sustainable features such as ‘green
roofs’ to reduce the amount of rainwater run-off.
It has been named as:
•transformation award winner in the Sustainable
Housing Awards 2011
•best new development in the affordable homes
sector for the Evening Standard New Homes
Award 2011
•best development – Bronze in the What House
Awards 2011
which manages over 14,000 homes in London
and the south east.
Phase one finished in June 2010 and work on
phase two was completed in early 2012.
The first phase of works began in March 2009
and involved the demolition of buildings on
the east side of the site and construction of 66
concrete framed homes. Of these, 14 flats were
for sale, with a further 48 apartments and four
family-size homes for social rent.
The development achieved a ‘Very Good’
rating under EcoHomes, through the use of the
following sustainable features:
The second phase involved demolishing buildings
on the site’s west side and construction of a
further 70 homes – including 40 care flats – all
with associated communal areas. The overall
project included landscaping, roadways, services
and other infrastructure works.
The project had to be divided into two separate
•best Housing Association modernisation project phases because there was an existing inhabited
apartment block on the site. Consequently, to
for the National Home Improvement Council
minimise disruption, residents were allowed
Awards 2011
to stay in their homes during the first phase
The scheme, designed by architect Pollard
and the second phase could only commence
Thomas Edwards, involved the redevelopment
after they had moved into their newly provided
of a site containing former YWCA housing into
accommodation in phase one and the old
a mixed tenure development. It provides 40
apartment block had been demolished.
care units, 52 affordable rented dwellings and
HCD had to issue a partial completion on phase
44 homes for private sale. This tenure mix is
one ensuring that all life-safety systems were in
designed to encourage the development of a
place and that there were no health and safety
diverse and sustainable community.
issues from the adjacent construction works
Galliford Try was the contractor and client for
on phase two. Various inspections took place
the scheme was One Housing Group, a leading
towards the end of the project to ensure the
provider of housing and care and support services works attained the necessary level of compliance.
•a biomass heating and hot water system
•a rainwater harvesting system
•green sedum blanket coverings to most roofs
•protection of existing trees and ecology on
the site
HCD is involved with several projects in the
south east with Galliford Try, including the
redevelopment of Finchley Memorial Hospital.
Two further medical centre schemes are currently
under construction in Westcliff-on-Sea.
The development
achieved a ‘Very
Good’ rating under
EcoHomes….
Collaborative working in
the care home sector
This summer saw the opening of the £4m
Mill View nursing home in East Grinstead. The
opening marks the completion of the first of a
series of projects being undertaken by HCD Eng
Ltd for Castleoak, one of the UK’s largest care
home developers and contractors.
The new home sits in landscaped grounds which
include a patio with raised flowerbeds, lawned
areas and a vegetable/herb garden. A butterfly
conservation area has also been created. It is one
of the first of around 30 new homes that Care UK
plans to build over the next five years.
The Mill View home was constructed by
Castleoak for Care UK. HCD Eng Ltd was originally
engaged by Care UK to carry out hydraulic
modelling, flood risk assessments and drainage
strategies for the Mill View scheme. Following
the granting of planning consent and award of
contract, Castleoak retained HCD Eng Ltd as the
civil and structural consultant for the construction
phase which started on site in March 2011.
A key feature to the external works for this
project was the retention and improvement of a
historic mill pond and adjacent watercourses. The
surrounding area has suffered severe flooding in
recent years and, through consultation with the
Environment Agency, the improvements made
should greatly reduce the risk of future flooding.
Mill View is a traditional two storey load bearing
masonry structure providing 70 single, en-suite
bedrooms. It is designed around a central,
internal ‘village’, with communal facilities
including a cinema, hairdressing salon, a shop, a
café and an activities room. It delivers residential,
nursing and specialist dementia care and has
been specifically designed to provide the highest
standard of comfort and security.
“At Castleoak we place great store in collaborative
working and this was recognised and acted
on by HCD,” commented Castleoak’s Head of
Design, Tony Farnsworth. “Their approach helped
us to achieve a very positive outcome and it is
no coincidence therefore that we have worked
together on two new contracts.”
Since its appointment at Mill View, HCD Eng
Ltd has worked with Castleoak on two further
projects in Mansfield & Hopton on Sea. Both
were scheduled for completion this summer. HCD
Eng Ltd is also working closely with Castleoak and
Care UK on a proposed care home in Newbury
which is due to begin on site in October 2012.
Their (HCD’s) approach
helped us to achieve a
very positive outcome
and it is no coincidence
therefore that we have
worked together on two
new contracts.
Experience pays off on
Barnsley BSF programme
The last three schools to be delivered under
the third and final phase of Barnsley’s massive
£1bn plus Building Schools for the Future
(BSF) programme opened this September.
HCD has been an integral member of the
professional team behind the ambitious BSF
programme. It has acted as Approved Inspector
for all three phases of the programme and also
provided CDM Co-ordinator (CDMC) support for
phases two and three.
HCD has vast experience within the education
sector, having worked on some of the most
cutting edge school buildings constructed in
recent years. Based on this experience it was
able to provide critical input and guidance
to the Barnsley delivery teams to ensure a
successful outcome.
The Barnsley programme involves the
replacement of all 13 secondary schools
with nine new-build Advanced Learning
Centres (ALCs), combined with considerable
improvements to the special school estate and
the provision of an integrated managed ICT
service. The £127m final phase of Barnsley’s
BSF programme delivered the last three ALCs,
which join the six ALCs and two special schools
which were built previously.
Among the final three facilities, the £46m
Horizon Community College is the largest ALC in
Barnsley and is thought to be the largest school
in Europe. It offers places for 2,200 secondary
pupils and specialises in sport and creativity.
Work started on site in October 2010.
Horizon Community College provides state
of the art ICT, flexible spaces for conference
facilities, one-to-one interviews, lecture facilities,
theatre and performance spaces, high quality
sports facilities and catering spaces.
In common with all ALCs, the building will be
used out of hours by the community for leisure
and cultural activities and for adult learning.
In delivering its Building Control responsibilities
across the £1bn programme, HCD ensured
the compliance of all aspects of design. The
client’s decision to maintain a relationship with
HCD throughout the three delivery phases
resulted in a consistency of approach which saw
principles established early on and then carried
through on all schemes as the programme
rolled out. Thus the construction teams knew
what to expect on each project and were able to
minimise risk with ‘no surprises’. These benefits
were reinforced by HCD’s ability to maintain the
same team of experienced site staff throughout
the works.
As CDMC for phases two and three, HCD
reviewed the proposed construction methods
plus issues relating to future use and
maintenance. In this way the facilities have
been built in the safest way possible with
reduced impact on ongoing school activities,
and will also be cost effective and easily
maintained in operation.
Barnsley Building Schools for the Future (BSF)
has been delivered by the Barnsley Local
Education Partnership (LEP). Barnsley LEP’s
Private Sector Partner, Barnsley Partnership for
Learning (BP4L), is a joint venture between
construction company Laing O’Rourke and
specialist investor and operator, John Laing.
John Laing Integrated Services (JLIS) will provide
the facilities management for each school for
25 years.
The £46m Horizon
Community
College is thought
to be the largest
school in Europe.
Image credit: Laing O’Rourke
Expanded facilities at
leading theological
college
A £6.4m development to provide a striking
new education centre (above) and chapel
at an Oxfordshire theological college was
approaching completion as Building Blocks
went to press.
Ripon College, Cuddesdon was founded in 1854
by the Bishop of Oxford. It is one of the country’s
leading theological colleges with a third of
current bishops, deans and archdeacons in the
Church of England having trained there.
The recent expansion comprises a new chapel
designed by award-winning architect Niall
McLaughlin and an education centre and
convent designed by Sadler Brown. Contractor
for the scheme was Oxford-based Beard and
HCD provided extensive Building Control and
Construction Design and Management Coordinator (CDMC) services to the project.
The design team had to respond to a rapidly
changing brief on this historic site located
within the green belt. While the new buildings
dramatically increase the facilities available, great
care had to be taken to minimise their visual
impact and to retain views from and onto the
college’s existing Grade II* listed buildings.
As a result, limestone, glass and oak have been
used to form these unashamedly contemporary
additions to ensure they contribute positively to
the fine architectural heritage. These complicated
structures required detailed co-ordination of the
design and construction elements of the project.
constraints of a busy college environment.
Guidance was given on the competency and
experience of proposed contractors and checks
were made to ensure contractors had appropriate
processes in place to manage the work safely.
In one example, timber clad walls wrap
seamlessly over the eaves to form the roof of
the new four-storey education centre - Harriet
Work on the new buildings began in July
Monsell House – adding an impressive new
2011 with completion scheduled for late
wing to the existing building complex. The
Autumn 2012.
building includes lecture theatres, student
accommodation, and the top two floors provide a
new home for the Sisters of Begbroke, a religious
order currently based at Begbroke Priory.
The second eye-catching building – Edward King
Chapel - seats up to 120 people and provides
a new worship space at the centre of the
community. The Chapel is elliptical in form with a
dog-toothed stone wall surmounted by clerestory
windows. Internally a lattice-work timber frame
echoes the beauty and intricacy of vaulted
ceilings found in historic cathedrals.
As part of its role as Approved Inspector, HCD
Building Control assisted in the amicable
resolution of outstanding issues surrounding
the fire strategy for the chapel, facilitating
negotiations between the fire authority, college
and architect to achieve the best solution for all
parties concerned.
Meanwhile, HCD’s CDM Co-ordinators
provided advice to the client to enable the
safe construction of the buildings within the
The design team had
to respond to a rapidly
changing brief on this
historic site.
Police Accommodation
in the South West
Work recently started on a £129m scheme
to provide cutting-edge police facilities in the
south west of England.
The Avon and Somerset Police Accommodation
PFI Project comprises the development of four
new facilities at Portishead, Bristol Patchway,
Keynsham and Bridgwater. The contract also
includes responsibility for maintaining the
buildings for 25 years. The project is to be
undertaken by the Blue Light Partnership,
comprising Miller Construction and Bilfinger
Berger Project Investments. In addition to
supplying project investment, Miller Construction
has been appointed principal contractor.
Through the tender process, HCD Building
Control supported the Blue Light Partnership,
assisting in the identification and management
of statutory approval risks and providing
specialist advice relating to fire engineering,
energy and access strategies.
The schemes include:
•Somerset Operations Base including a Custody
and Crime Investigation Centre, Specialist
Operations and Enquiry Office
•Custody and Crime Investigation Centre
and Police Station in Patchway
•Custody and Crime Investigation Centre
in Keynsham
•Tri-force Indoor Firearms Training Centre for the
Avon & Somerset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire
forces near Portishead
Fire safety issues
overcome at
London hospital
The £30m redevelopment of Finchley
Memorial Hospital has achieved completion
in Barnet, North London, part of a Local
Improvement Finance Trust (LIFT) Private
Finance Initiative scheme and the largest LIFT
development to date.
The redevelopment has replaced the outdated
1904 hospital with a 9,500m2 high quality, stateof-the-art building, equipped to provide a range
of health care services. These include specialist
rehabilitation and intermediate care, primary
care services (booked and unscheduled, including
GP services), outpatients, therapies, diagnostics,
pharmacy dispensary, x-ray and an infusion suite.
Client, NHS Barnet, selected Elevate Partnerships
as its preferred development partner for
the scheme. Elevate Partnerships is the LIFT
Company for Barnet, Enfield and Haringey. It is a
consortium of companies led by gbpartnerships,
set up to deliver investments and non-core
services within the local healthcare community.
HCD, which has delivered on earlier schemes
with gbpartnerships and its partner, Galliford
Try Partnerships, was subsequently appointed
to provide comprehensive Building Control
and Fire Engineering services. This presented
a number of challenges due to the range of
services offered at the site – the ground floor is
a clinic with associated outpatient services and
accommodation, whilst the first floor consists of
wards for inpatient care.
This layout required the integration of the
requirements of HTM 05-02 (the Health
Technical Memorandum regarding fire safety)
into the design of a multi-use building in a way
that was cost effective, efficient and above
all, safe.
It is anticipated that construction will begin on
the first two facilities in late summer 2012 with
the buildings being open from 2014.
Elevate Partnership / Galliford Try Partnership
The layout is based around a modular design
to reflect the new Health Building Note 11-01
(Facilities for Primary and Social Care).
In addition, it is being built as part of a health
campus in conjunction with SHINE – the learning
network for sustainable healthcare buildings - to
ensure that the building is an environmentally
responsible and sustainable contribution to the
local setting and community.
As a result, the hospital has achieved a BREEAM
‘Excellent’ rating, exceeding Local Authority and
GLA requirements.
Galliford Try Partnerships, which is both a
stakeholder in the Elevate consortium and main
contractor, commenced construction on site
in late September 2010. The new hospital is
expected to be operational in October 2012.
The development has also been designed to fully HCD is currently working with gbpartnerships and
embrace new Department of Health guidance for Galliford Try Partnerships on two other healthcare
flexible and adaptable healthcare facilities.
schemes in Southend on Sea.
David Richmond + Partners Ltd
David Richmond + Partners Ltd
Monastic library wins
prestigious RIBA award
A state-of-the-art library designed and built for
the Douai Abbey monastery in Berkshire has
been named a winner in the prestigious 2012
RIBA South East Downland Awards, following
its similar success in last year’s Civic Trust
Awards.
Architect David Richmond & Partners was
appointed to the scheme to provide new
retreat facilities at the Benedictine monastery
located between Reading and Newbury in 2000
following an architectural competition.
The brief involved the reconfiguration and
refurbishment of existing 1960s accommodation
with the addition of new facilities. The new
refectory and extra guest accommodation was
opened in 2006 and the final segment of the
refurbishment programme, the construction of
the new Monastic Library and sacristy complex
on the north side of the listed Abbey church, was
completed in 2010.
HCD provided Building Control services on
this final phase of the programme, delivering
proactive and practical advice on Building
Regulation matters to help secure the architect’s
vision for this unique scheme.
Douai Abbey is a community of 29 monks of
the English Benedictine Congregation. The
community was founded in 1615 in Paris and
moved to England in 1903.
The library has been designed to provide
optimum conditions for books and archives
on its 10km of shelving as well as an excellent
environment for students. It has been carefully
designed to blend with the existing monastic
buildings with an envelope constructed from
a combination of stone, stack-bonded facing
bricks, stainless steel cladding and oak. Behind
the envelope is a concrete mass structure
designed to help regulate internal temperature
(augmented by a ground source heat pump) and
a sophisticated ventilation system to control the
air moisture content which is critical for the safe
storage of the archives.
Now for the first time since its arrival in England
the community has adequate accommodation
for its collection of over 60,000 volumes,
specialist collections, mediaeval manuscripts,
archive dating back to the 17th century and a
unique collection of English Catholic portraits.
According to the RIBA: “This is a modest, even
humble piece of work, but the quality of the
architecture and consistency of detailing shine
through. The new library is a place where you
want to sit and read books forever.”
King’s Cross Redevelopment
HCD is providing Building Control services during the redevelopment of the
style with classical details and was in continuous use until its closure in
The hotel sits at the southern end of the 67 acre King’s Cross regeneration
site. A new pedestrian arcade at ground floor level provides retail
accommodation as well as the entrance to the hotel itself plus a link to the
new concourse of King’s Cross station. From a Building Control viewpoint
the building’s redevelopment has been complex as the hotel backs onto
the station concourse and features a particularly complex basement design.
2001. It is currently being refurbished as a boutique hotel.
Client for the scheme is RAM. MACE is constructing the hotel.
Great Northern Hotel in London’s King’s Cross. The 19th Century, Grade II
listed building was one of the first examples of the great railway hotels built
in 1854 at the height of the Victorian era. It was designed to an Italianate
The HCD Group offers an integrated, multidisciplined consultancy to the construction
industry. Consistent results have established it
as a growing market leader with over 90 staff in
nine offices throughout the UK.
Our Services:
HCD Group is a multi-disciplined consultancy
with national coverage, engaging self motivated
professionals, delivering excellence and meeting
both client and company core values.
- Fire Safety Engineering
- Approved Inspector Building Control Services
- Fire Risk Assessment
- CDM Co-ordinator
LONDON
• +44 (0)20 7299 8300
CARDIFF
• +44 (0)29 2081 7878
- Site Waste Management Plans
- Structural Engineering
- Civil Engineering
BRISTOL
• +44 (0)1454 629 663
- Cost Consultancy
FAREHAM
• +44 (0)1329 824 930
- Project Management
FLEET
• +44 (0)1252 786 040
- Employers Agent
LEEDS
• +44 (0)113 397 0971
- Fund Monitoring
LETCHWORTH
• +44 (0)1462 473 810
MANCHESTER
• +44 (0)161 876 2910
WOLVERHAMPTON
• +44 (0)1902 824 121
For further information please contact
Steve Highwood at our London office or at
[email protected]
www.hcdgroup.co.uk