Two new primary schools projects for Woods Hardwick.

Woods Hardwick have been working closely with the framework contractor and Peterborough City Council to bring to fruition two new primary schools.The projects involve the construction of a new 420 place primary school and associated external works at Welland. The present school will remain in operation whilst the new building is completed and will then be demolished to make way for the newly designed school, car parking areas, entrance pathways and servicing areas. Due to the success of meeting tight deadlines for Welland the practice have also been engaged to develop detailed proposals for a new community school in the Hampton district of Peterborough. This new facility (pictured) will consist of a new 420 place primary school and community facilities.

Woods Hardwick expand their Engineering team with two new appointments

Woods Hardwick Infrastructure LLP is pleased to announce the appointment of two Chartered Engineers to strengthen and broaden their highly successful Engineering division. Agnieszka Seamans joined the team in June 2011 at Associate level, and has over 9 years’ experience in highway and infrastructure projects, with an emphasis on sustainable developments. In recent years this has extended to undertaking flood risk assessments for residential and commercial developments. John Freeman is the most recent recruit, who joins the team as an Associate Director. With over 10 years’ experience of working in the public and private sectors, John’s expertise lies in the residential sector. He has an enviable track record of managing multi-disciplinary teams and has successfully delivered schemes from 10 to 1200 homes.

The grand opening of the impressive new Adams Food Ingredients factory

On Friday 21 October 2011, Lars Huntley, Associate Director at Woods Hardwick attended the opening of the new AFI factory in Leek, Staffordshire.
Located on the site adjacent to the Kerrygold factory (also recently completed by Woods Hardwick), the new 7,000sqm facility is a result of AFI outgrowing its previous outdated building. The project was commissioned to bring AFI up to the standard of other IDB manufacturing facilities in the UK and Europe, but also in response to increased global demand and the need to meet ever stringent requirements.
Currently, AFI produces a range of dairy ingredients such as cheese flavours, whey protein and lactose, and technical ingredients, such as texturisers, emulsifiers and stabilisers, for various food and drink categories. However, after investing in a detailed review and analysis procedure, AFI have been able to explore a wider range of products and new technologies which allows them to venture into new areas. .

Woods Hardwick is celebrating yet another award this year

Woods Hardwick scooped the Best New Commercial Construction award at the Fenland Building Design Awards for their innovative project for The Middle Level Commissioners.
Having outgrown their two town centre locations, The Middle Level Commissioners employed Woods Hardwick to design one new site, housing both their office and maintenance functions.
Completed in June 2010, the new ‘green field’ site rests on the bank of the River Nene in March, and boasts fantastic views across the river, fens and farm land. As the site resides on peat, the ground is expected to shrink, so the linking slab to the depot was designed with this in mind. It has been kept deliberately low with a feature clerestory, maximising the use of natural daylight.
The judging panel were very impressed with the design, stating, “The setting and design of the Middle Level building was exceptional and it blended in remarkably well into the Fen landscape”.

Woods Hardwick in Architectural Technology Magazine

Woods Hardwick have won Commended in the 2010 CIAT Open Award for Technical Excellence for the Partis Building in Milton Keynes. They will receive a certificate and plaque for thr project at a presentation in 2011.

Please read the full archicle on page 16 of the Architectural Technology Magazine

Three New Associates at Woods Hardwick

The Directors are pleased to announce that Elena Moran-Batiz, Tom Francis and Arun Thaneja will become Associates of the Company with effect from 1st January 2011. We wish them every success in their new positions and are confident that they will continue to be substantial assets to the company

Routeco Retail Park Phase 2 - Designed to BREEAM ‘Excellent’

The demolition of a redundant industrial premises has provided the opportunity for the extension of an existing retail site to provide new flexible warehouse space, capable of subdivision into a number of units.
Providing an area of 1930m sq this design is only one of a small number of buildings of this type achieving an “Excellent” BREEAM rating in Milton Keynes.
The new building compliments the existing established retail units on the site which were also designed by Woods Hardwick, blending with them whilst benefiting from its own identity. Use has been made of building features taken from immediate surroundings thus integrating the scheme with the existing buildings whilst having an identity of its own with entrance features matching those of the earlier buildings.
Early interest has been shown by high street retailers interested in occupying this new outlet as either a multi let or single unit, showing the sites advantage being close to the centre of Milton Keynes.
Site works commenced in September and works are due to complete at the end of first quarter of 2011.

Well Worth Waiting For – Northampton planning approval

After extensive negotiations over time with WNDC planners, Woods Hardwick is pleased to confirm that reserved matters Planning Approval has been successfully obtained on The Crow Lane site at Great Billing, Northampton on behalf of client Litchgate Ltd.
The scheme is designed to achieve a BREEAM rating of “Very Good”.
The buildings comprises a mixed variety of B2 / B8 units, some incorporating two story provision, varying in size from 2,367ft2 to 10,800ft2 with a total area of 148,000ft2 spread across the 32 units. They are of a contemporary design with a curved roof profile, whilst the elevations incorporate glazed office areas with solar shading and timber cladding making an individual statement differentiating the design from other developments. In addition a sculpture is to be included close to the site entrance. The design will make a welcome improvement and upgrade to the tired and neglected buildings at present on the site and improve the area associated with the Water Works close by.

Adams Food – All packed up and on the move

Having outgrown their current facility; Adams Food Ingredients, part of the Irish Dairy Board, need a new purpose designed food processing and packaging factory and have appointed Woods Hardwick to undertake the challenge.  The new 7,000sqm facility, located on the site adjacent to the recently completed Kerrygold factory (also designed by Woods Hardwick) in Leek, Staffordshire will be a replacement to their existing facility. This provision will provide them with sufficient space to expand and grow the business in line with business expectations for the short and long term future.  As part of the overall concept, this future expansion has been designed into the new facility with a phased development approach.

A detailed planning application was submitted to Staffordshire Moorlands District Council and Full Planning Permission was granted in July 2010 with works commencing immediately at the end of July.

Routeco office achieves BREEAM excellent

BREEAM Excellent achieved by this 50,000sqft net lettable Office building forming the first part of the second phase of works at the Routeco Business park in Milton Keynes.
This prestigious building benefits from following the design style established by the earlier phase of works whilst being updated to incorporate rainwater harvesting, sanitary cut off, water leakage detection, enhanced U value insulation, sub metering of all building services, provision of cyclist features including covered storage and changing rooms, enhancement of site ecology, flood water attenuation within the drainage system and refrigeration leak detection.
The building is provided with an atrium entrance hall with marble floor and feature curved staircase together with a feature fully glazed “rotunda” announcing it’s presence on site.
The building has been let within days of its completion, illustrating the desirability for well designed and constructed building meeting today’s exacting requirements.

Woods Hardwick receive a prestigious RICS Award

Woods Hardwick’s MK SNAP facilities project have received a prestigious RICS award as runner up in their south eastern region for projects providing outstanding “Community Benefit”. The facility has now been operational for several months and is proving to be a great success providing a centre for the charity where they can provide employment and a meeting place for people over the age of 16 who have learning or physical difficulties living in the Milton Keynes area. The facility has matured into the landscape providing excellent accommodation and provision of meeting spaces for the charity and local community who also have use of the facility.

Woods Hardwick in final of International Competition

Woods Hardwick were in the final of an international competition in China. The site was located in the south of Changchun City. The 110,000m sq building area consisted of a Library, exhibition spaces, hotel, restaurants, auditoriums, management offices and supporting facilities. The design approach was to create a cohesive group of buildings which reflect the local character of the city and the region engendering a sense of civic pride in the citizens and impressing the visitor.

Tattenhoe Park Primary School opens

Woods Hardwick was commissioned by ROK and Milton Keynes Council to complete the design of Tattenhoe Park Primary School in Milton Keynes. The school which was occupied in September 2008 comprises of a 420 place primary school with a 39 place nursery. There are 12 classrooms for year 1 to 6, foundation, reception and nursery spaces with a library resource centre, music areas and main hall along with staff and admin areas.

Planning approval in Dales Manor Business Park

Planning has been granted for a 130,000 sq ft small and medium size industrial scheme in Dales Manor Business Park Sawston for Endurance Estates and Salmon Harvester Properties Ltd