Beard successfully negotiated the contract to construct a new depot/warehouse with a separate two-storey office building for Kennet District Council at Hopton Park, Devizes.
Ground improvement works, including vibro-compaction, had to be carried out on the site before the traditional reinforced pad and strip foundations could be installed.
Each of the two structures comprises a steel portal frame, brickwork, and aluminium composite cladding. The warehouse has glazed panels at high level and roller shutter doors, while the office building features a substantial expanse of curtain walling. Each building has an external galvanised steel spiral fire escape and an internal metal staircase.
The warehouse floor is made of power-floated concrete poured in situ. The walls are of painted fairface blockwork. Beard installed a mezzanine floor and roller racking system to provide a two-storey archive area.
In the office building, the floors at ground level are formed from poured concrete. The first storey floors are constructed from pre-cast hollow core concrete planks. The blockwork walls are plastered and painted, and the ground floor offices have suspended ceilings. The Beard team also installed partition walls, all services, the security system, acoustic screens and carpets.
Externally, Beard expanded the existing drainage system and installed oil interceptor alarms. Landscaping works provided 1,700 square metres of tarmac, gravel and concrete surfaces for vehicle parking.
Challenges and solutions
Beard was responsible for designing the external envelope of each building. The team worked closely with the project's subcontractors and suppliers to ensure that the cladding, curtain walling and windows integrated successfully.
The site was adjacent to a children's play centre, so Beard implemented a strict site and traffic management system to ensure the safety of passers-by.
