Story Contracting were contracted by DNV to carry out the project to construct a new office extension and workshop area at the RAF Spadeadam site in Cumbria.
Story Contracting were contracted by DNV to carry out the project to construct a new office extension and workshop area at the RAF Spadeadam site in Cumbria. The office extension which was constructed, ties directly into the site’s existing Hazard Awareness Training and Conference Centre, which was also constructed by Story in 2016.
The new building constitutes new office space and a viewing area for planned explosions on the first floor, with a new reception, lecture room, toilets and canteen and mess facilities on the ground floor with various meeting rooms throughout. Prior to the works, site staff had been based in portakabins placed around site.
The site team has also outgrown the existing workshop, with the new, larger workshop creating in order to allow the team to remain self-sufficient for on-site requirements.
By the time of completion, the scope of works had increased significantly to also include the construction of a new warehouse, plant room and gatehouse on the site.
The project involved the following main work activities:
• Earthworks
• Installation of raft foundations
• Concrete slab installation, in line with blast loading requirements
• Construction of a new retaining walls
• Installation of attenuation tank
• Erection of steel portal frame
• Installation of cladding to building roof and walls
• Installation of concrete floors throughout
• M&E installations including HVAC system
• Dry lining and plastering works
• Installation of suspended ceilings and bulkheads
• Completion of external drainage works
• External surfacing and landscaping works
• Installation of reverse osmosis (RO) plant
• Installation of gabion basket walls throughout main building
• Installation of Honister Slate walling and tiling
• Installation of sliding partition walls
• Construction of curtain walling
• Platform lift installation
• Air test to main building
• Installation of KONE overhead cranes to workshop
• Installation of solar PV panels
Throughout the project the Story team worked in close collaboration with the client, supply chain and all stakeholders to ensure works were delivered efficiently and successfully. This close contact enabled the team to deliver a significant increase in the original work scope, with over 350 variations throughout the works, increasing the project value from an initial £4.5m to £7.6m upon completion.
The team also worked reactively, enabling them to ensure works progressed and that more than 800 drawings changes were delivered successfully across the scheme.
As the works took place within the RAF Spadeadam site, the team work closely with the client and project stakeholders to ensure that our activities did not disrupt the ongoing day-to-day operations of the site.
In addition to this, the Story team also value engineered an alternative solution for the construction of the workshop plant room. The room was initially designed to be an undercroft of the workshop, however an alternative solution was developed to construct a standalone plant room building adjacent to the new workshop, providing a significant cost saving to the client.
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.