The ground floor of the building was badly impacted by the floods caused by Storm Desmond in December 2015 and had been unused for six years as a result. Extensive refurbishment works were required to repurpose the ground floor which previously housed a large amount of the council’s public-facing operations.
The ground floor of the building was badly impacted by the floods caused by Storm Desmond in December 2015 and had been unused for six years as a result. Extensive refurbishment works were required to repurpose the ground floor which previously housed a large amount of the council’s public-facing operations.
Phase 2 of the project saw the demolition of the Rotunda building, followed by extensive works to upgrade the external areas of the building. Works were carried out to install new drainage, surfacing, paving and lighting, with the adjacent car park also extended.
A new entrance to the building was constructed, with hard and soft landscaping also carried out to enhance the new area.
The project involved the following main phases:
Phase 1:
• Full refurbishment of the flood-effected ground floor and basement areas
• Construction of new entrance porch
• Significant structural layout alterations including removal of existing and building of new internal masonry walls and forming new openings in existing concrete walls
• Installation of new M&E
• Completion of new surface finishes
• Completion of hard landscaping to external areas
Phase 2:
• Isolate Rotunda from existing building and complete demolition works
• Install drainage, new aco tails and hydrobrake
• Install ducting and colums for lighting and new ticket machines
• Grading and surfacing works to new car park area
• Paving and landscape works
• Formation of new steps and ramps including installation of new handrails
Throughout all stages of the project the Story team conducted daily discussions with the client, ensuring that all client needs were discovered and attended to. This proactive approach to managing the project also enabled any changes to the work scope to be dealt with quickly and efficiently to negate any impact on the project programme.
Throughout the project the site team were required to contend with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring that adapted working practices and government requirements did not negatively impact the project’s progress.
Despite this, the team also provided work experience opportunities for local students in partnership with Carlisle College. This innovative work experience opportunity saw the students take part in a variety of online-based sessions hosted by the project team and wider Construction division. This helped provide the students with a safe environment to benefit from a valuable work experience opportunity, which had largely been restricted due to the pandemic.
BAE Systems
Story Contracting were contracted by BAE Systems to carry out the project which was a mixture of civils and building works to prepare the site for the new University of Cumbria facility.
Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO)
Story Contracting were contracted by Landmarc to carry out the project to construct a new 1214m2 industrial style training building for the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) within the Catterick MOD base.
Holmen Iggesund
In 2021 Story were appointed to assist the design team to produce the most efficient construction sequence to carry out the construction of a new Effluent Treatment Plant at the Iggesund factory in Workington, Cumbria.