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Robert Aitken
HSBC Clumber Street, Nottingham
Client:
HSBC Bank Plc.
Project:
HSBC Clumber Street, Nottingham
Contract duration:
17 Weeks
Description of works:
From start to finish in seventeen weeks: bank refurbishment in the fast lane
When building refurbishment specialist Murray & Willis was awarded a £1.8million contract to refurbish and fit out HSBC's flagship branch in central Nottingham, a tight work programme was not the only challenge it faced. Among others were heritage controls protecting the part Grade 1 listed building and severe restrictions on vehicle access to the site.
Although Murray & Willis is accustomed to working to tight deadlines, the Nottingham contract brought more pressure, via external influences. "From the start, it didn't help that we inherited the site late because of over-runs elsewhere," comments Contract Manager, Paul Hazlehurst. "We also found other problems such as window openings that weren't square, columns that were not upright - headaches that we had to overcome."
The new HSBC branch stands on a corner site at the junction of Lincoln Street and Clumber Street, Nottingham. Intended to be HSBC's flagship branch in the city, it was designed to integrate a new-build section with two adjoining existing buildings, both of which are Grade 1 listed and with exacting protection requirements. "The heritage planning officer was very pro-active," explains Paul Hazlehurst of Murray & Willis. "We were prevented from over-plastering certain brick walls, just cleaning them so as to leave them mostly exposed. We couldn't touch floor boarding or some of the ceilings, nor one of the rear staircases, which was protected and had to be incorporated into the new design.
We also encountered horse hair plaster panelling, which dated back to the period 1750 - 1800 when the listed part was built - we think. That caused us health and safety issues, which involved taking special protective measures when we did any drilling. Cast iron columns had to stay in situ and even the basement, which was developed, had to stay as it was, with a special tanking system to prevent water getting in," he concludes.
Playing a key role in ensuring that the design was acceptable to the heritage authority was architect Roger Ball from A & Q Partnership. Although based some way away in Dorchester, he committed considerable time to site visits and meetings throughout the work programme to advise on heritage compliance. Additionally, he was also ensuring that the juxtaposition of the modern part of the building blended with the listed parts and that the functionality of the whole structure accorded with HSBC's operational needs.
Restrictions on crane operations meant local road closures had to be made on a Sunday night, to provide safe access to hoist the heavy air conditioning plant into place on the roof. The actual lift had to be done at four o'clock in the morning and the requirement was to be finished and off site by eight. This procedure was repeated on a second Sunday night.
On the ground floor of the new section of the building, Murray & Willis replaced all the windows and, working with the architect, adapted the existing windows within the listed sections of the development. Of particular interest was one of the windows on the ground floor of the Lincoln Street elevation. Most of this floor is dedicated to a vast open retail space, containing automated banking machines.
A large photographic mural of Nottingham Market Square was to be set behind machines. "We weren't allowed to put it on the glass: the mural had to stand 220mm back from it. This set us quite a challenge - to glaze the window, get the mural in situ and install the machines. It caused us a few headaches and a few days planning to achieve, but the finished effect does look very striking."
The first floor of the branch is also retail space and includes two counter positions, for normal banking and travel money. The second floor is dedicated to business banking and also to serving HSBC's top of the range Premier Banking customers. This area is fitted out with leather furniture, and special veneers of dark oak or walnut. Some of the interview rooms split into the listed sections, which are again subject to listed building planning restrictions.
Despite the many challenges posed on this re-fit and refurbishment contract - notably the earlier time over-runs and the special heritage requirements imposed - Murray & Willis completed the project within the allotted seventeen week time-frame, enabling the new Nottingham branch to open its doors for customers on the due day. The clients were reportedly delighted with the job and have stated that it sets the future quality benchmark for HSBC bank refurbishments.
Although Murray & Willis is accustomed to working to tight deadlines, the Nottingham contract brought more pressure, via external influences. "From the start, it didn't help that we inherited the site late because of over-runs elsewhere," comments Contract Manager, Paul Hazlehurst. "We also found other problems such as window openings that weren't square, columns that were not upright - headaches that we had to overcome."
The new HSBC branch stands on a corner site at the junction of Lincoln Street and Clumber Street, Nottingham. Intended to be HSBC's flagship branch in the city, it was designed to integrate a new-build section with two adjoining existing buildings, both of which are Grade 1 listed and with exacting protection requirements. "The heritage planning officer was very pro-active," explains Paul Hazlehurst of Murray & Willis. "We were prevented from over-plastering certain brick walls, just cleaning them so as to leave them mostly exposed. We couldn't touch floor boarding or some of the ceilings, nor one of the rear staircases, which was protected and had to be incorporated into the new design.
We also encountered horse hair plaster panelling, which dated back to the period 1750 - 1800 when the listed part was built - we think. That caused us health and safety issues, which involved taking special protective measures when we did any drilling. Cast iron columns had to stay in situ and even the basement, which was developed, had to stay as it was, with a special tanking system to prevent water getting in," he concludes.
Playing a key role in ensuring that the design was acceptable to the heritage authority was architect Roger Ball from A & Q Partnership. Although based some way away in Dorchester, he committed considerable time to site visits and meetings throughout the work programme to advise on heritage compliance. Additionally, he was also ensuring that the juxtaposition of the modern part of the building blended with the listed parts and that the functionality of the whole structure accorded with HSBC's operational needs.
Restrictions on crane operations meant local road closures had to be made on a Sunday night, to provide safe access to hoist the heavy air conditioning plant into place on the roof. The actual lift had to be done at four o'clock in the morning and the requirement was to be finished and off site by eight. This procedure was repeated on a second Sunday night.
On the ground floor of the new section of the building, Murray & Willis replaced all the windows and, working with the architect, adapted the existing windows within the listed sections of the development. Of particular interest was one of the windows on the ground floor of the Lincoln Street elevation. Most of this floor is dedicated to a vast open retail space, containing automated banking machines.
A large photographic mural of Nottingham Market Square was to be set behind machines. "We weren't allowed to put it on the glass: the mural had to stand 220mm back from it. This set us quite a challenge - to glaze the window, get the mural in situ and install the machines. It caused us a few headaches and a few days planning to achieve, but the finished effect does look very striking."
The first floor of the branch is also retail space and includes two counter positions, for normal banking and travel money. The second floor is dedicated to business banking and also to serving HSBC's top of the range Premier Banking customers. This area is fitted out with leather furniture, and special veneers of dark oak or walnut. Some of the interview rooms split into the listed sections, which are again subject to listed building planning restrictions.
Despite the many challenges posed on this re-fit and refurbishment contract - notably the earlier time over-runs and the special heritage requirements imposed - Murray & Willis completed the project within the allotted seventeen week time-frame, enabling the new Nottingham branch to open its doors for customers on the due day. The clients were reportedly delighted with the job and have stated that it sets the future quality benchmark for HSBC bank refurbishments.