Oldrids & Co, Boston (Phase One)

The basis of this project was to increase the office and storage space of the building, by adding two new extensions, reconfiguring internal areas, whilst also additionally updating the mechanical and electrical systems throughout the whole store.

Both extensions were constructed on piled foundations, with a reinforced concrete ring beam and slab. The remainder of the structure was formed using a steel frame, pre-cast concrete flooring units and façade consisting of a mix of brickwork and cladding, with a metal sheet roof.

The first of the extensions included a new main office area for the store management, meeting/training room, interview rooms, security office and an extended store entrance. Each of these were fully fitted-out with suspended ceilings, floor finishes and mechanical and electrical systems – which included comfort cooling, dado trunking and data wiring.

The other extension consisted of a new warehouse area to the ground floor, with the first floor forming the new main plant room for the building and further storage space.

An area of the existing main warehouse and loading bays was demolished and reconfigured, to increase the usable working space. This included removing blockwork walls and floor slabs, re-stabilisation of existing walls, removal of existing sectional overhead doors and the installation of new.

All of this work was completed in a fully operational store, whilst minimising disruption to the normal trading day, which meant maintaining close relations with store management to co-ordinate deliveries, phasing of the work, temporary stock movements and hot-work permits.

During a period of night work, new mechanical and electrical systems were also installed throughout the main sales floor and restaurant.

At times, this meant stock and displays had to be moved and returned to their original position, ready for trading at the start of the day.

Following the completion of this project, a second phase was awarded to us.