The Samuel Alexander Building at the University of Manchester underwent a £9.5m refurbishment. The building accommodates for the University’s School of Arts, Languages and Cultures.
The Grade two listed building required a major overhaul of the interior space as well as the exterior courtyard. The scheme needed outdoor furniture for the communal courtyard area which is in the middle of the building, adjacent to the canteen.
The architect was very enthusiastic about the Westeifel range and after discussing the project's budget with Bailey Streetscene, the main product chosen was the Linares Picnic Set.
On the opposite side of the central courtyard, hard standing planters and matching benches were required. Bailey Streetscene recommended the Westminster Planter and the Westminster Mini. The Westminster Concrete Range suited the architect’s requirements.
This project presented some challenges due to restricted access and delivery points as the building was continuously in use by staff and students throughout the build. The courtyard area was only accessible via a narrow corridor. Bailey Streetscene worked through the restricted access complication with the groundworks contractor during a site visit at the beginning of the project and discussed the options that were available to the team.
Roles & Responsibilities:
- Budget and cost evaluation
- Logistic and offload planning
- Project management and client liaison
- Defect free signoff
Outcome
The client created a modern communal area within the confined spaces of a busy university. The products chosen for the exterior space have helped to incorporate natural elements such as, shrubs and flowers in the planters, into an otherwise wasted space.
The Client, Travis Perkins had this to say: “A major refurbishment project in a live environment presents a number of challenges. Careful planning and a great deal of hard work by our delivery teams, combined with a proactive, collaborative approach from all involved, have produced an excellent result for this landmark project”
