Leading fit-out and refurbishment specialist contractor, Willmott Dixon Interiors, is to redesign Brent Civic Centre.
The contractor will refurbish 22,600 sq ft of the award-winning council building in Wembley Park, to ensure it continues to provide a positive experience for all visitors.
The redesign will see changes to Wembley Library on the ground floor, customer services on the mezzanine floor and wedding area.
Accessibility is at the heart of the project, with the building being reconfigured to accommodate wheelchair users, pushchairs and people with complex needs. Visitors will be greeted by an enhanced arrival experience, including a new main entrance and feature staircase.
Upgrades will be carried out to the mechanical and electrical systems to create a user friendly and brighter workspace for the visitors. The wedding area will be spacious with improved acoustics.
Opened in 2013, Brent Civic Centre attracts thousands of visitors each year who come to speak to customer services, get married, register births and deaths, study, and socialise.
The project to refurbish the centre has been shaped by a wide-ranging review into how visitors and residents access its services. It included a consultation with more than 500 residents, staff focus groups and surveys.
Willmott Dixon Interiors was awarded the contract to refurbish Brent Civic Centre via the Procurement Hub framework. As part of its delivery of the project, the contractor will work with West London Careers Hub to support local schools and colleges through careers events, work experience and industry insights.
Neil Adams, senior operations manager at Willmott Dixon Interiors, said: “Brent Council recognises the importance of responding to the changing needs of those using its facilities. The Civic Centre is a hugely important community resource and this project has been purposely designed to ensure it continues to deliver a positive experience for everyone. We’ll be repurposing the space to provide better public access, with open spaces that are not only more welcoming, but are easier to find and navigate too.”
Councillor Fleur Donnelly-Jackson, cabinet member for customers, communities & culture at Brent Council said: “Our award-winning Civic Centre has served residents and the council well over the past decade. However, a lot has changed, particularly since the pandemic and it’s important for us to adapt to meet the evolving needs of our residents.
“This exciting transformation will enable us to better serve our community, prioritising those with the most complex needs, creating a more accessible space and providing enhanced facilities for all to enjoy.”
Andy Peck, senior client relationship manager at Procurement Hub, said: “This is another project that represents a great example of how working with Willmott Dixon Interiors through the Major Projects Framework provides great benefits for the public sector. In this challenging environment, the flexibility of the framework enables Willmott Dixon Interiors to move forward with Brent Council and deliver value in the right areas.”
Willmott Dixon Interiors has gained a reputation for the successful delivery of public sector refurbishment projects. The contractor recently worked with Enfield Council to complete the CAT B fit of flexible office and meeting space at Edmonton Green Library, and handed over a new children and family hub at Thomas Hardy House in Enfield, which opened last year.
Above: CGIs of the redesigned Brent Civic Centre.