GARDNER LEADER LLP, Newbury
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Gardner Leader is a law firm that has been at the heart of the Berkshire community for over 120 years. Their head office building, in Newbury, was originally a Tudor inn, adapted over the years with Victorian additions and a 1960's extension. With times changing and the growing need for expansion, plus DDA laws of accessibility to all, it was only natural when the Royal Bank of Scotland next door came available, to look at extending their head office into it.
Macbeth Insurance kindly recomended Gardner Leader speak to us to help them with how they go about it. So this is what we did for them:
Macbeth Insurance kindly recomended Gardner Leader speak to us to help them with how they go about it. So this is what we did for them:
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August 2019
A feasibility study was the first thing we recommended, to ascertain what could be done with the space, how to rearrange their staff to make the best out of each building and look at how the buildings could be connected. It then became apparent that the 80's bank was Grade 2 listed for some reason. It had been built on the site of two Grade 2 Listed Victorian buildings. (The listing hadn't been removed when RBS miraculously recieved local permission to knock them down to build the bank in 1989) Once we gave our case to Historic England the listing was removed and permission to work on it granted. A lot needed to be done.
A feasibility study was the first thing we recommended, to ascertain what could be done with the space, how to rearrange their staff to make the best out of each building and look at how the buildings could be connected. It then became apparent that the 80's bank was Grade 2 listed for some reason. It had been built on the site of two Grade 2 Listed Victorian buildings. (The listing hadn't been removed when RBS miraculously recieved local permission to knock them down to build the bank in 1989) Once we gave our case to Historic England the listing was removed and permission to work on it granted. A lot needed to be done.
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RBS had abandoned the building in a bit of a state having ripped out all the security elements of the bank and half the ceiling with it. The furnishings all dated back to 1989 and the whole building needed a full overhaul. We had no original drawings as it was a bank; the PDF's and hard copies had sections hatched out for security reasons, so we had to survey the building and draw our own. The only element we had to keep was a huge walk in safe, as the building had been built round it.
November 2019
November 2019
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The original toilets were a waste of space, a mess and non accessible. The disabled toliet had a cleaner's sink in the way and the door wasn't wide enough. So we redesigned the ladies toilet to become a multi-sex toilet, tea point and a cleaner's cupboard, plus we enlarged the old doorway to meet DDA requirements. The first floor was stripped back removing it's antiquated ceiling, lighting and flooring to see the concrete shell. We discovered nothing was up to date so new mechanical, electrical, plumbing, heating and data were installed. As a CDM compliant site our brilliant site manager Simon kept everything in check.
March 2020
Originally the plan was to be finished and hand over on April 2nd but with Covid-19 and the folding walls stuck in Italy, our site had to lock down for a few weeks. However, due to the dedication of our team, common sense and social distancing plus good planning we were finally ready for the certificate of completion in June and the new furniture was installed ready for handover as soon as Building Control, working from home would issue it. I am pleased to say the senior inspector of the area conducted the final building control visit and was very impressed. 15th July 2020 we handed over.
Originally the plan was to be finished and hand over on April 2nd but with Covid-19 and the folding walls stuck in Italy, our site had to lock down for a few weeks. However, due to the dedication of our team, common sense and social distancing plus good planning we were finally ready for the certificate of completion in June and the new furniture was installed ready for handover as soon as Building Control, working from home would issue it. I am pleased to say the senior inspector of the area conducted the final building control visit and was very impressed. 15th July 2020 we handed over.
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The Ground Floor
The new partioning was installed with full height oak doors and silicone glazing. The front meeting rooms create a flexible meeting/ social space when the walls are folded back and the walk in safe was refurbished and became an extremely secure filing room. A new Clarke Rendall reception desk was installed and walkways are wide, accessible, allowing plenty of space for social interaction and more currently, social distancing.
The new partioning was installed with full height oak doors and silicone glazing. The front meeting rooms create a flexible meeting/ social space when the walls are folded back and the walk in safe was refurbished and became an extremely secure filing room. A new Clarke Rendall reception desk was installed and walkways are wide, accessible, allowing plenty of space for social interaction and more currently, social distancing.
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The First Floor
The existing business banking suite became a meeting suite with expanded corridors opening towards the new staff only offices, break-out area and an internal meeting room. A new corridor was created towards an existing window that will eventually become the link to Gardner Leader's neighbouring office some time in the 2021.
The existing business banking suite became a meeting suite with expanded corridors opening towards the new staff only offices, break-out area and an internal meeting room. A new corridor was created towards an existing window that will eventually become the link to Gardner Leader's neighbouring office some time in the 2021.
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The Second Floor
What used to be a store room, a money counting room and a canteen became a department's open plan office. The old mechanical plant room became a storage area and boiler room.
What used to be a store room, a money counting room and a canteen became a department's open plan office. The old mechanical plant room became a storage area and boiler room.
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Client Testomonial
"Hi Natalie,
Just a quick note to say thank you for dropping off the handover manual together with the sets of keys. I also understand that you left a card and box of chocolates for our team and that is much appreciated. Thank you and your team for all your hard work on this project and I look forward to many years of being able to host our clients and contacts in the new environment.
Kind regards
Greg"
Greg Humpheries
Partner - Gardner Leader
"Hi Natalie,
Just a quick note to say thank you for dropping off the handover manual together with the sets of keys. I also understand that you left a card and box of chocolates for our team and that is much appreciated. Thank you and your team for all your hard work on this project and I look forward to many years of being able to host our clients and contacts in the new environment.
Kind regards
Greg"
Greg Humpheries
Partner - Gardner Leader