The Government is planning a major industry briefing day to set out radical plans to reorganise its sprawling office estate into a series of regional hub buildings.
Public Health England’s proposals to create a new headquarters in Harlow forms part of the wider programme to rationalise the Government estate.
Its ambitious office closure and relocation plan is expected to generate up to £900m of fit-out work over the next seven years.
This will offer opportunities on a mix of small to large, and simple to complex fit-out projects across the country for a select list of preferred contractors.
Ahead of setting up the new framework, the civil service office estate and HMRC are holding a joint client industry day in London on 25 October to set out their plans to industry.
many successful projects with them along the way.
This Summer has been no different with Quest Interiors being involved in a mix of projects from Laboratory refurbishments, Toilet refurbishment, and general common areas and academic offices refurbishments.
Works start at the beginning of summer and all works to be completed by 1st October. This case study being the first snap of works completed already within this tight window.
Imperial College expect a high standard of projects, completed on programme and with Health & Safety a primary goal toward this. Quest over the years have enjoyed working with Imperial and how they raise the bar every year on standards, health & safety and communication.
Quest Interiors were instructed to carry out Phase 2 of the on-going Spire Southampton project, which included the creation of new welfare facilities and clinical storage for Spire Southampton.
The project consisted of creating welfare facilities to the underside of a modular building which was previously a car parking area. Quest Interiors created a new canteen, male and female changing rooms, toilets, as well as a RMO bedroom for all doctors on call.
This project over all was very challenging. As it was a live environment the Quest team had to adapt with being stopped on a regular basis due to ongoing operations and procedure carried out by consultants on site.
It’s possible to get xated with “building” when you’re involved with developing a site like we have been for the past 3 years.
At Nehemiah Project, we’ve tried to ensure that we always maintain focus on what we are developing the site in Cowdray Park for. It must be put into good use and benet the community that it’s been built for, and ultimately, that’s where the project’s focus must be.
“A picture paints a thousand words” (or so the song goes), so here’s “x” thousand words to show our newsletter readers how we put the site to good use and how the Community benet’s from having it there and available to them where once existed only brush-land and a build up of years of dumping rubbish. An eye-sore turned into a treat for the eyes and a place of refreshment to be enjoyed by any and all in the years to come.
It’s not possible in a few words in a newsletter to fully explain the value of these resources in the development of these beautiful and precious children and young people who nd themselves in such challenging circumstances. Social skills & life skills teaching and development, advice and counselling, fun and games, resilience building, family support and strengthening, encouragement in Education and much more go on at this site week after week, painting a picture of a brighter future for all participants.
Quest were approached by Spire in December 2015 to take on a client brief; develop and construct a new welfare faculty for the theatre staff and, an operating theatre to house a Divinci Robot – A First for Spire Hospitals!
Quest accepted the challenge, and works started on site in January 2016, under two phases; Phase 1 – New Divinci Robot Theatre – Completed June 2016.
Phase 2 – New Welfare Facility & Clinical Storage – completion due on the 4th July.
Works began on site in January 2016 for first phase of the project, this involved converting an existing staff room into a new theatre suitable for the Robot. This included a new concrete slab, structural alterations and working right next door to the Hospitals Main Theatre.
Over the last decade, Quest Interiors have completed a broad range of Warehouse conversions and refurbishments for London & Cambridge. Projects include complete strip and installation of new roofs to the overhaul of existing warehouse structures ready for new tenants.
Working on projects such as this requires rigorous Health & Safety measures to be applied at all times as well as strong communication throughout. This ensures that a safe working environment is at the forefront of priorities throughout our entire supply team.
Quest Interiors work with only the best to ensure that works are completed safely, on time and within budget.
Earlier this year, Quest Interiors was once again awarded triple certification in OHSAS 18001, ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, validating our consistent commitment to health and safety, quality and the environment.
Earlier this year, after rigorous assessment, Quest Interiors was once again awarded the ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 certification by Alcumus ISOQAR. Alcumus ISOQAR provides certification services that are accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS).
In order to achieve each of the certifications, Quest Interiors were required to meet specific, globally recognised industry standards.
ISO 9001 confirms that Quest Interiors is adhering to international quality management standards. ISO 14001 certifies that the organisation is effectively managing and mitigating their impact upon the environment and the OHSAS 18001 certification verifies that Quest Interiors provides a safe and healthy workplace for employees.
The certifications were achieved following a number of audits and assessments of the company's health and safety and environmental procedures.
Quest were nominated by the client to complete a difficult but essential extension to the Simmons House and Adolescent Unit for young people between 13 and 18 years of age.
The unit is equipped to cater for up to 12 young people in individual bedrooms with en suite facilities. The length of stay at Simmons House depends on the young person’s requirements and collaborative aims and goals.
The facility is designed for young people to be admitted for anything from a few days to longer admission periods of up to 9 months. Quest were selected as a result of their professional approach and previous experience of working in such sensitive live environments.
Warehouse construction specialists are set for a five-year work boom as internet retailers demand more new space than the market can currently cope with.
Property consultants Lambert Smith Hampton believe demand will outstrip supply by 25 million sq ft by 2020.
“E-commerce in the UK is not just growing rapidly, but it’s also evolving as retailers attempt to satisfy consumer demand ever more quickly and efficiently.
The results are in for the seventh University Lifestyle Survey published by Sodexo which identifies and tracks trends in key non-academic areas of university life as experienced by undergraduate students.
Download Quest Interiors University Case Studies here.
Sodexo first undertook the University Lifestyle Survey in April 2004 and has subsequently undertaken the research every two years with Times Higher Education magazine as its media partner. The findings provide valuable insight into students’ lives and lifestyles which enables provision of better services.
The 2016 survey is the seventh. It is the first survey in which Sodexo has asked students to reflect directly on their quality of life and some of the key factors (e.g. accommodation, social life, health and wellbeing) that influence this.
The survey results have been validated by Professor Jane Longmore, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Southampton Solent University.
A representative sample of 2,000 students participated in the research, from 148 universities across the UK. The participants in the survey were full-time undergraduate students from all years of study.
The research has found that 85% of students are happy with their quality of life at university, however, the increasingly competitive graduate market, rising costs of living and increasing amount of debt levels are leading to millenary students to take university very seriously.
Quest Interiors was approached by Spire Healthcare to undertake a fast track turnkey project for Wirral Hospital in October 2015. They were tasked with completing a complete refurbishment of the existing day care unit into an additional day care unit catering for 7 beds. The project was to be completed by the of January 2016.
Quest were required to interpret the client brief and to develop a strong design, working closely with partnered Consultants throughout the project whilst implementing the complete project and handing back on time in within a tight budget.
Quest Interiors were asked to review an existing waiting area located on the 1st floor at Spire Healthcare in Leeds, with a view to remodelling the space in order to create a new Minor Operation Theatre, all within four months from design to Completion!
Work started in a heavy footfall area of the hospital, within which, Quest had to monitor noise, dust and on a regular basis, provide clear communication to the hospital to ensure that works did not disrupt the day to day running of the facility.
The project also involved constructing a new external plant, which needed to be dressed in such a way it met planning regulations but more importantly, was in keeping with the heritage of the existing building.
The client also had bookings scheduled in for the day after completion deadline so it was essential that the project was completed on time and within budget. Quest Interiors completed the project on time and within budget and have since been contracted to the next phase of works for Spire Healthcare.
Download the full case study here.
The cut-throat bidding war among British universities for students and resources entered a more expensive phase last week following the University of Northampton’s announcement to borrow in the region of £300m to finance a new campus.
The government’s decision to remove the limit on undergraduate student recruitment has resulted in an upsurge of building at British universities.
According to Northampton’s plans, an estimated £330m will be spent on the construction of its Waterside campus, and will include commercial space, a hotel, retail park and accommodation for 1,500 students.
This followed an announcement by the University of Kent in Canterbury who have also secured financing of £75m in loans in order to facilitate plans for expansion.
Government’s decision to do away with the cap on undergraduate student recruitment as of next year has started a building frenzy among British universities. Many universities now find themselves eager to jump ahead of their competitors with new halls of residences, lecture theatres and campus facilities designed to attract more students – and using their tuition fees to pay for the increased borrowing which will be required.
Quest Interiors were contracted by University College London to create a new IITS laboratory.
The Skempton Building houses the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Imperial College London. It is named after the English civil engineer Sir Alec Skempton, one of the founders of British Soil Mechanics study, and former head of the department. The departmental building changed its name from Civil Engineering Building to its current name in 2004, a short time after Skempton’s death in 2001.
The project involved creating an acoustic enclosure to house materials which would be used for testing/research purposes.
Quest Interiors are proud members of the Association of Interiors Specialists and affiliates of a number of trade bodies that represent organisations that meet the highest quality of standards recommended for the Construction Sector.
Earlier this year, Quest Interiors became accredited to ISO 9001, 14001 and OHSAS 18001 standards which demonstrates our commitment to maintaining the highest standards in health, safety, quality and the environment.
We are registered and certified with Constructionline which is a UK Government certification scheme that provides a register of pre-qualified construction contractors and companies. In addition to this, we have been a member of the Considerate Constructors scheme (CCS) for a number of years. The CCS is a national initiative designed to encourage best practice beyond statutory requirements.
We are also certified by the Contractors Health & Safety Assessment (CHAS) scheme which provides our clients with the peace of mind that our work is pre-qualified and of the highest standards. We were recently re-certified by the CCS and CHAS and plan to continue our affiliations with all of these prestigious organisations in order to continually demonstrate our commitment to delivering exemplary standards in health, safety, quality and the environment.
The £42 million contract includes the construction of striking new buildings for the university’s schools of fashion and textiles, art, design and architecture.
The project will include the creation of the Jonathan KS Choi Creative and Cultural Centre, as well as a rebuilt Fletcher Tower which will make for a dramatic new landmark in the West End of the city.
The £136 million campus transformation project aims to radically improve the facilities and buildings available to students.
Architectural students will be able to experience the whole design and build process with art, design, graphics and interior design students working on elements within the interior of the buildings.
The redevelopment of the campus building will also offer computer programming students with the opportunity to work on illustrations showing what the campus will look like on completion.
Builders have started work on a £54 million project for two new academic buildings at The University of Bath.
The two new facilities will be for the Department of Psychology which was recently rated as number on in the UK for student satisfaction, and the Faculty of Engineering and Design.
The university’s teaching facilities are currently housed in separate buildings.
The new building for the Department of Psychology on the west side of the campus, will allow room for both facilities under one roof, and will also house the university’s Institute for Policy Research.
A second building, on the south side of the campus, will provide more teaching space for the Faculty of Engineering and Design, as well as additional computer facilities.
The two new buildings are the result of a £54 million investment by the university, taking recent investment in the campus to over £150 million.
“I am delighted to see work start. The new buildings will offer a fantastic setting for both our teaching and research.
A new Deloitte survey of finance directors offers evidence on how the UK’s higher education estates are a potentially good market for facilities management service providers.
Despite caution about the financial and regulatory environment, Deloitte reports that universities are set to increase investment in teaching and student facilities as competition for student numbers continues to increase.
Representing over one-third of the sector, the firm’s annual survey of higher education finance directors gauged the views at UK universities.
(83%) of these FD’s say they will increase capital expenditure in the next year, up from 43% in 2013’s survey. Finance directors say that 61% of capital spending will focus on teaching facilities, 18% on research facilities and 15% on improving students’ experiences, such as student unions and sports facilities. Only 4% will be focused on student accommodation.
Quest Interiors’ chosen charity is the Nehemiah Project. Nehemiah Project was started in 2001 as a response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic sweeping across southern Africa.
James Windsor of Quest Interiors supports the cause by completing gruelling sporting challenges to raise sponsorship which is generously donated to the charity.
Quest Interiors were involved in the development of the first licenced Bikram Yoga studio in Essex.
The client approached Quest to transform the existing space into a state of the art Yoga Room with a HVAC system specifically designed to meet the exacting demands of Bikram Yoga.
Bikram Yoga requires studio temperatures of up to 40°C to be maintained with a humidity of 40%. Quest Interiors worked with the client to deliver an ambient new studio with an air conditioning system that continuously replenishes the air with over 1000 litres per second.
The flooring needed to be resilient and slip resistant as well as being waterproof. Flotext Eco Carpet was used within this project to provide an acoustically sound, waterproof, durable flooring solution, ideal for the studio environment.