Work has been completed on a refurbishment project to create flexible new office and meeting space for housing and homelessness services in north London.
The fit-out and refurbishment specialist contractor, Willmott Dixon Interiors has transformed the second floor of Edmonton Green Library in Enfield, to deliver contemporary and accessible office accommodation.
Part of Enfield Council’s Build the Change programme, the new facilities will serve as a hub for the borough-wide Housing services.
Willmott Dixon Interiors has carried out substantial alterations to the interior and exterior of the building at second floor level, to create a large, open plan office area with flexible meeting spaces. New partitions have been installed with glazed screens, as well as a new kitchen area, toilets and showers, and raised access flooring.
The workspace benefits from an MEP installation throughout, with a new mechanical plant on the roof and new air handling, condenser and air conditioning units.
Externally, new large windows have been added to the east elevation, which also incorporates new steel wind posts and beams to create the increased structural openings and now greatly improves natural daylight penetration into the floor plate.
Construction of the building has been characterised by strong sustainability credentials, with 98% of project waste directed from landfill and harvested rainwater used to limit dust on site.
Graham Shaw, managing director at Willmott Dixon Interiors, said:
”The way we work is continually evolving and we are placing new demands on our offices. Employers need modern and dynamic workspaces that can attract and retain talent, and enable their teams to work flexibly and efficiently. At the heart of the Council’s vision for Build the Change is also the wellbeing of their staff and residents; it’s investment in Edmonton Green Library has created a modern light-filled space that brings vital services closer to the people who need them most and will serve the local community for many years to come.”
As part of the delivery of the project, Willmott Dixon Interiors and Enfield Council developed a strategy to maximise investment in local suppliers, with 74% of total project spend made within 10 miles of the site.
Willmott Dixon Interiors also delivered a 71% social return on investment through deployment of a social value plan. Activities included a careers event with local sixth form students and a virtual site tour designed to give an insight into the construction industry to an audience of 300 secondary school students.
The refurbishment was procured through SCAPE, one of the UK’s leading public sector procurement authorities. It was delivered by a project team including architect, TP Bennett; quantity surveyor, Stace LLP; and Pick Everard as project manager and services engineer.