Willow and Dean House
Liverpool, UK
KEY INFORMATION
Two residential high rise tower blocks
116 residential dwellings
Combustible wall insulation
Poor fire compartmentation
Full refurbishment
CLIENT
Castleforge
LOCATION
Liverpool, UK
MARKET SECTOR
Residential
AG ROLES
+ Project Management
+ Principal Designer
PROJECT DURATION
Ongoing
CONSTRUCTION VALUE
£5.5 million
Challenge
Refurbishment of 116 residential dwellings within a 12-month period, addressing the following issues:
Concurrent refurbishment schemes
Asbestos removal & encapsulation
Combustible materials in facade
Poor fire compartmentation internally.
Action
Competitive tender process, using local competent contractors.
Concurrent refurbishment of both towers using separate contractors.
Phasing of external façade works, asbestos removal and internal refurbishment works.
Fire compartmentation upgrades and installation of new sprinkler system.
Proactive project management, to ensure delivered on time.
Outcome
Two tower blocks which stood vacant for years are now fully refurbished residential accommodation within the community. Within two months of completion, the blocks are 100% let.
Challenge
EWS1 Form identified combustible insulation and defective fire barriers within external walls.
Action
Erection of scaffold, removal of combustible insulation and replacement of defective fire barriers.
Internal 60-minute fire rated lining to internal walls.
Internal compartmentation upgrades
Replacement of all fire doors.
Outcome
Fire upgrades have resulted in the building being safe for occupation.
Challenge
Inflation rates affecting material prices during the construction phase.
Action
Design and build contract offered contractor freedom to obtain alternative products, subject to approval.
Communication with contractor was key to managing delay associated with sourcing alternative products.
Required a good understanding of the contract ‘fluctuation’ clause’ to manage client and contractor expectations on price increases.
Outcome
A good understanding of the chosen construction contract is key to controlling the cost and programme. Cost increases which the contractor was trying to pass onto the client were rejected and impact on the programme was managed.