The project comprised of the strip-out and reconfiguration of the first and second floors of The James Hehir Building, including installation of specialist M&E equipment and healthcare grade floor, wall, and ceiling finishes.

Working in a Live Environment
The upper and lower floors of the building remained live, with a bar/café below and teaching facilities above. We operated stringent planning and strategic management to ensure that the project was completed successfully without disrupting the daily operations of the University. Disruptive works were conducted during agreed hours to ensure that water, electric and air conditioning supply to operational floors was not impacted.

Access Constraints
With limited space available on the site, we positioned our compound to maximise the space available to the neighbouring bar/café and created a temporary entrance through the removal, and reinstatement, of fencing and kerbs. We also worked with our supply chain to design a suitable scaffold/loading bay system to facilitate the movement of materials in and out of the building at both first and second floor levels. We removed, and reinstated, large sections of existing glazing to accommodate this, and to ensure that the other levels of the building remained unimpeded and operational. The project received no complaints or reports of disruption from the public, a measure of our exceptional approach to the management of the project.

Social Value
As a project with high profile project facilitating benefit to the NHS, we held a large number of site tours and information sessions, notably meeting:

• Our local MP
• The Board of Directors from the University of Suffolk
• Prospective students and staff

The scheme also provided training opportunities for 6 trade apprentices through our supply chain, and 2 of our own Management Trainees, and supported the local economy with over 79% of subcontract packages placed with contractors in East Anglia.

“When you are the client of a project, you need to be able to allow the supplier and contractors to be able to just get on with it. You also need full trust and knowing that they are going to support you with resolution of any issues. You need them to get to know you as a business and understand your aims to the reason this project is been done. With Barnes we had all of this and the project team were seen as an extension to my own team that showed the same values and behaviours as my own team and that of the University. The collaboration with Barnes made the project a joy.”
Nigel Lucker, Director of Estates, University of Suffolk