INFRASTRUCTURE
London universities name winners on £217m contractor framework
Eight firms have been named as winners in a GBP217 million construction framework, following a recruitment exercise led by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM).
The firms will now be able to bid for work on the estates of The Royal Veterinary College, the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London and Birkbeck University.
Winning firms for the first lot in the tender published March 2019 (for projects with values up to GBP2 million) include Walter Lilly and Co, Russell Cawberry, T&B Contractors, Styles and Wood, Logan Construction.
LSHTM expects the lot to be worth GBP70 million over seven years, with contract values ranging from GBP250,000 to GBP10 million.
According to Construction News, the universities will be issuing contracts for the construction of administration and office accommodation, catering facilities, laboratories, as well as the temporary structures to occupy whilst the other projects are ongoing.
Other works will include the refurbishment of existing laboratories and libraries, including fit-out alterations to student spaces and infrastructure replacement.
For Lot 2, which covers work with a value of GBP1 million or greater and has an estimated total value of GBP138 million, the winning firms are Graham Construction, Speller Metcalfe, 8Build, as well as Walter Lilly and Co and T&B Contractors, the only two firms to win business on both lots.
Founded in 1899, LSHTM is a public research university renowned for its research, postgraduate studies and continuing education in public and good health. The school has reported significant annual income growth over the past few years, going from GBP100 million in 2010/2011 to GBP167 million in 2015/2016.
To accommodate this growth, the school in its 2017-2022 strategy announced plans for major infrastructure upgrades: the construction of new research and office facilities behind its existing Tavistock Place building and refurbishment of its Keppel Street space. According to the plan, the new research facility will provide more than 2,500 square meters of working space, which Keppel Street will see the addition of new laboratory facilities, better use of available space and upgrades to the infrastructure.
”Activities on the two sites will complement and enhance each other to maximise real-world impact. Through research excellence, global reach and impact, we will continue to work with partners to find solutions to the most important challenges in health,” the university promises.
The new panel of firms will support the phased programme of works for the Keppel Street building, according to Construction Engineer. According to the works schedule, Phase 1, which kicked off last year, involves the refurbishment of laboratories among other infrastructure improvements inside the building. Refurbishment works in the Keppel Street building should be complete in two years’ time.
Between Summer 2019 and January 2020, the university expects to start construction works on the new Tavistock Place facility, as well as refurbishments of the existing building. The new building should be completed and ready for move in by Autumn 2021.
INFRASTRUCTURE
