The University of York Chemistry Department, Heslington Campus

2011/12

The University of York’s department of chemistry isexpanding its teaching and research capacity basedon its excellent reputation, covering all aspects ofchemistry at this attractive University.

Over the past five years there has been 100% growth in thenumber of undergraduate applicants, significantly outperformingthe national chemistry statistics, generating the demand for theadditional space.

The project will provide a 2,685 m! building that will serveprimarily as a Chemistry research facility to accommodateapproximately 100 personnel. Austin worked with the Universityto develop user requirements and meet the University’saspirations with the completion of the remainder of the building,which has been developed in a phased approach. The co-ordinated aesthetic solution provides three floors of researchlaboratories.

The building is a four storey steel framed building on piled foundationswith composite cladding and curtain walling to the envelope. Theinternal fit out is to Category C with the research labs to the centralzone - the labs will house 78 fume cupboards between them. Offices,write up areas and valuable break out spaces are set around the labsto the perimeter of each floor. The operational floors are served by aroof plant room.

The project is being built to an aggressive programme with detaileddesign, procurement and construction scheduled to complete insidean 18 month period. The project duration is achievable by having acollaborative procurement approach. At the present time the structureis nearing completion and the envelope is about to commence.

Energy saving requirements have been at the forefront of the design,and the facility will meet Part L2A of the 2010 Building Regulations. The

Facility is also being assessed under BREEAM for laboratories and is on course to achieve a rating of Very Good.

In the most recent Research Assessment Exercise, York Chemistry was placed in the top echelon of all UK chemistrydepartments. In order to stay at the cutting edge of chemistry teaching and research the very best and most advancedfacilities are required. The extension of the existing unit is therefore a hugely exciting development for the University.

Chemistry Department, Heslington Campus, Block C

Austin has produced a feasibility study for a new buildChemistry Teaching, and Green Chemistry researchlaboratories on the footprint of an existing building which isdue to be demolished.

The new facility would provide laboratory space on twofloors with the teaching on ground level havingapproximately 81 fume cupboards and a Green Laboratoryat 1st floor with approximately 20 fume cupboards.

The new building would have a strong contemporaryaesthetic as the flagship for the chemistry facility andachieve a BREEAM rating of Very Good.

Austin is continuing its successful partnership with Cadbury/Kraft at theirhistoric manufacturing site at Bournville.

Having completed the design and construction of a 720 m! QA Laboratory andwith a change to the business needs, Austin has been asked to modify the layoutto expand microbiology laboratories, while relocating the analytical labs to anexisting building.

In addition a new Innovation Kitchen is being designed and built by Austin tocreate another “Centre of Excellence” for Cadbury/Kraft.

Cadbury/Kraft, Bournville

Cadbury/Kraft Innovation Kitchen, Bournville

The refurbishment of the 5th floor on the Lindenand V Blocks at Cadbury/Kraft Bournville is dueto complete in late November 2011. The facilitywill provide an R&D space with associatedareas.

The site is focused to become a centre forexcellence, creativity and innovation for thedevelopment, testing and presentation of newproducts.

As a high profile space where VIPs, industry peersand public consultation will take place, the designand finish of the facility is sophisticated, excitingand high quality. The spaces are environmentallycontrolled with new roof-top plant with provision forthe refurbishment of the 5th floor on the LindenTower in early 2012.

Quality Award

Austin is proud to have been presented with the BestBuilt in Quality Award 2011. This is sponsored byBirmingham City Council, West Midlands Centre for Constructing Excellence and the Chartered Instituteof Building.

The award recognises Austin’s experience in thesystematic and efficient way the project was designed,constructed and completed to provide the first classnew facility for Cadbury/Kraft.

Institute of Cancer Research, London

Austin is delighted to have been associated with the recently completed refurbishment of aresearch facility for The Institute of CancerResearch in London.

The new facility occupies 1100 m! of space on theupper two floors of a former hospital building datingback to c1900.

The project involved a challenging phasedrefurbishment of the specialist research facility,together with the redesign and installation ofcomplex specialist equipment within the restrictedexisting roof space.

Austin was involved in the project from the initialsurvey of the building, development brief andconcept design through to detailed design,construction and commissioning.

Careful planning was a key aspect of the project.This was to minimise disruption of on-goingresearch through the implementation of a phasedconstruction philosophy. Additional challengesincluded minimal external access and working area(Central London); age and configuration of theexisting structure and timescale to meet researchdeadlines.

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Discovery Centre, Hoddesdon

International Healthcare CompanyAustin was commissioned to carry out anEnvironmental Health & Safety (EHS) Accelerationproject for this client in South Wales. The purposewas to address specific Health & Safety issues intheir production building (Unit 1) to facilitate staffegress in the event of power or mechanicalequipment failure.

The project involved the design, installation,commissioning and validation of new and existingsystems and equipment. This involved the provisionof mechanical and electrical back-up to the SolventLaden Air (SLA) extract systems to prevent SLA escaping into occupied spaces. This is to allowtime for personnel evacuation or for the problem to be resolved.

The work was carried out during a carefully plannedshutdown and was successfully commissioned andvalidated by Austin.

Huntsman is an international companyspecialising in the research, development andproduction of titanium dioxide pigments for avariety of industrial applications.

The operational headquarters, along with the researchand development arm has developed and expandedwithin various parts of existing buildings.

With a strong business platform, Huntsman decidedto move from an old stock of buildings to brand newpremises consisting of a four storey office buildingand a large single storey commercial building withmezzanine office.

Austin undertook a feasibility concept and developedthis into a preliminary design. Austin then developedthe detailed design and specifications for on-siteimplementation.

The office is a striking contemporary design andsupports the strong brand and corporate imageHuntsman is achieving as part of the move.

Huntsman, Billingham

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The Discovery Centre is one of our majorclients’ Corporate Training and Innovationsuite forming part of the company’sResearch and Development campus inHertfordshire.

Austin won a design competition andsubsequently carried out a full design andconstruction service for the Centre which islocated in a large multi-storey building from thelate 70’s.

The prestigious conference facility provides a high quality environment, a high level offlexibility, a welcoming, inspiring and easy tonavigate space.

The M&E systems incorporate state-of-the-artlighting controls and audio visual systems.

The key criteria were successfully developed in aclose working relationship with the client.

SOHO Group, Jakarta, IndonesiaAustin has continued to support The SOHO Group,one of Indonesia’s leading pharmaceutical andhealthcare corporations. This support has beenachieved through an assessment and development oftheir existing manufacturing facilities to meetprojected growth for the next 15 to 20 years.

Initially involving a project based on regulatorycompliance and modernisation of their existing SterileManufacturing facility, this support has expanded intoother areas including Cephalosporin manufacture andHerbal extraction and product manufacture. As a result,Austin developed a master plan for SOHO`s existingmanufacturing sites in Jakarta and to develop a unified,phased approach to meet growth demands.

This study showed that based on projected growth andfuture product development, SOHO`s existing manufacturing facilities would not be capable of meeting theneeds. As a consequence, Austin was asked to develop a new site master plan based on a “greenfield site”,that would meet their projected needs for the next 15 years and beyond.

Throughout these projects, Austin has worked closely with our associated office, Austin South East Asia(ASEA), based in Singapore, which has included assisting in finding and assessing suitable “greenfield” sitesaround Jakarta.

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A most recent project with BPL is a good example ofan assignment taking an interesting turn. InitiallyAustin was commissioned to carry out a study for anew office building and this work prompted them toask Austin to look into enhancing some of theirexisting office accommodation to give it a “bit of afacelift”.

The core element of the accommodation is a lateeighteenth century house reputedly used as a countryretreat by the Marquis of Queensbury (he of the boxing rules).

On reflection, although this started out as a slightlyunusual commission, it encompassed what mostorganisations are looking for; a new approach to theworking environment that embraces change butrecognises the core strength of the business.

BPL employs advanced fractionation techniquesthat separate coagulation factors, immunoglobulinand albumin.

The business is responding to increased demand and iscurrently developing strategies to increase production.

As part of this overall strategy for expansion Austin hasbeen commissioned to undertake a Site Master Plan forthe Elstree site.

Positioned on Green Belt land, the proposals for

development need to be carefully considered within thecontext of the existing built environment and theemerging local plan.

Maximising the potential of the site for development isone of the key objectives of the study. Alongside this,the study will consider the implementation of thestrategic plan to respond to the business developmentpriorities.

In parallel with the Site Master Plan, Austin isundertaking a concept study for a new Inspection,Labelling & Packaging building. The provision of this willrelease space in the existing manufacturing building toallow for additional production capacity.

Bio Products Laboratory Ltd, ElstreeAustin was asked to become involved in two separate projects for Bio Products Laboratory Ltd, whomanufacture and supply plasma-derived products to a worldwide marketplace.

Universities look for value solutionsAustin continues to provide a valuable service to universities during these difficult times byproviding innovative solutions giving value and certainty to their projects.

Cranfield UniversityFollowing site surveys in buildings52, 83 and 111 to establishcompliance with current fire alarmstandards, Cranfield Universitycontracted Austin to preparedetailed designs for each building.These were issued for tender. Austinassisted Cranfield University withthe tender review process and theselection of a fire alarm contractor tocarry out the works. Austin alsoprovided on-site support during theinstallation period.

Cranfield University contractedAustin to prepare detailed designsfor replacement fire alarm systems ina further four buildings on their site.These were buildings 31, 41, 53 and90. Again Austin provided supportduring the tender review and alsoduring the installation period.

University of Exeter

Austin was invited by the Universityof Exeter to provide specialistconsultancy advice on theenvironmental operation of anexisting CL3 Laboratory. The areawas inspected and a desk top studyundertaken of the highly complexmechanical air systems installation.A report was then prepared on the findings of the study and

issued to the University with arecommendation.

Following the successful completionof the CL3 Laboratory study Austinwas commissioned by ExeterUniversity to carry out a study andprepare a report on the chilled watersystem within the Aquaculturefacility. This included a report on the possibility of microbiologicalcontamination on the pipework.

Imperial College, London

Austin is delighted to have beenawarded a four year frameworkagreement by Imperial CollegeLondon as suppliers of specialistmechanical and electricalconsultancy services for the designof complex scientific facilities.

Work completed so far includes atwo phase preliminary design study.This is for the refurbishment of anexisting facility to accommodate amajor research department which isto relocate to a site in the centre ofLondon.As the study included very closecoordination between thearchitectural layouts, mechanical &electrical building services and thebuilding structure, Austin wereappointed to carry out all design

disciplines plus early stageconstruction assessment. The firstphase of the project covered theenabling works which entailedcareful planning. This was for therefurbishment of various areas onthe upper floors to facilitate therelocation of staff and scientificfunctions from the basement area.

The second phase covered thedesign of a new research facilityincluding laboratories within thebasement area.

The preliminary design study had toovercome various challengesincluding:

• Building to be occupied throughout the work on site.

• Facility consisting of a number ofbuildings, one dating back to the Victorian era.

• Building surrounded by houses and NHS buildings with restrictedsite access.

• Insufficient services infrastructure.

Imperial College was presented witha scheme that met with the projectbrief and included both budget costand programme information.

Austin has been commissioned by JohnsonMatthey to carry out a site development strategywhich will include a new office development tohouse approximately 100 staff on two floors.

A key project driver is sustainability of the proposedoffices which will be designed to achieve a BREEAM ofExcellent.

During the course of developing the strategy Austinproduced a report to the Environment Agency, aground contamination survey, a flood risk assessmentand a traffic analysis for the planners.

The completed development will form a new ‘Gateway’to the site including a reception area.

Johnson Matthey, Billingham

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Genzyme, HaverhillGenzyme contracted Austin tocarry out surveys of existing fire alarm systems inapproximately 20 buildings andareas on their Haverhill site;prepare detailed designs for afully networked arrangement offire detection and voice alarmsystems to replace their existingsystems.

Austin is currently assistingGenzyme in conducting tenderreviews with potentialcontractors.

Medical Research CouncilTechnology, Mill Hill

MRCT is a leading academicresearch institute that undertakespreclinical development andtechnology transfer of potentialmedicinal products through to commercial collaboration.MECT commissioned Austin toundertake a concept designstudy for a new facility.

This entailed a detailed review ofexisting operations including aprojection of future needs anduse of shared accommodation.

This information was then usedto establish various genericlayouts and will be used byMRCT to identify potential newsites.

Small Engineering Work

Using Austin’s in-houseengineering teams we are ableto provide solutions for all typesof projects from pub upgradesthrough warehouses to carehomes. If you need engineeringservices from highly strategic to the minutely technical we can help.

Austin recognises that the smaller projects are generally critical to the on-going success of a business and often need, in many cases, as much attention as larger capital projects. Austin UKis well placed to undertake these smaller but high impact projects as demonstrated by the currentworks described below.

Critical Small Projects

This is the fifth year of operation since The AustinCompany was bought out by the ManagementTeam. During this period we have consolidatedour operations in the design and constructionmarket by continuing to provide all the servicesrequired for quality facilities at the high end of thespectrum.

We have also embraced changes within theindustry which has challenged us to take intoaccount, and be competent in issues such assustainability, energy conservation, wastemanagement and Health & Safety etc.

Our management and operating proceduresremain the same, well tested and proven, to givethe best service available.

In this issue of Austin Update we are pleased toreport excellent continuing relationships with ourclients and suppliers and we are particularly

proud to have received a prestigious “Built inQuality Award for 2011” for our work withCadbury.

We have also recognised the value of smallcritical projects being one of the keys to thesuccess of our clients’ businesses. These play avery significant role in the success of Austin andit is acknowledged that these smaller projectsrequire much the same skills as their largercounterparts.

Thank you for your continuous support over thepast five years, we look forward to the next fiveyears.

Continuing Success at Austin

Prakash Davda, Managing Director

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The Austin CompanyCardinal Point, Park Road. Rickmansworth, Herts WD3 1RE

T: 01923 432658 F: 01923 432795enquiries@austin.co.uk www.austin.co.uk