Delivered in JV with Dowds, we completed the refurbishment of the 7-storey Innovo House, located within a 15-minute walk of Liverpool’s 3 main university campuses.
Our works consisted of substantial layout alterations and refurbishment, including extensive M&E installation, as well as full façade strip and rebuild, to provide 124 modern student apartments.
The ground floor also included a management suite, common room, ancillary areas and commercial space, differentiating Innovo House as a high-quality accommodation offering for students in Liverpool.
The façade works and layout refurbishment required extensive temporary works, which were designed and installed in line with our Temporary Works Procedure. All temporary works were designed and independently verified by qualified individuals and the works were coordinated by a dedicated Temporary Works Coordinator. Prior to installation, all temporary works materials were inspected for suitability by the Temporary Works Supervisor.
As we were completing the unfinished work of a previous contractor, we undertook punch-hole surveys of the new brickwork façade to verify that the correct fire stopping and cavity socks had been fitted in the cavities. This identified incorrect and loose cavity insulation. We then developed a programme and cost for removal and installation of the correct cavity insulation which we agreed as a variation with the client.
Client
Sollbuild UK
Given the extent of the layout alterations, a key package was the partitions. We worked closely with the supply chain to ensure that the various requirements for acoustic rating and fireproof performance were correct for the end use, and ultimately achieved. All party walls between student rooms offered a minimum acoustic performance of 45dBD and fire rating of 30 minutes. Walls between the rooms and corridor offered 60-minute fire rating, whilst we utilised partitions with 120-minute fire rating around the stairwells and risers, as part of our robust passive fire strategy.
The M&E installation was significant and included amenity space services, ventilation units, lighting, fire alarms and sprinkler systems. We reviewed the ventilation design in line with the commissioned overheating report to ensure that the system in use would satisfy building regulations. We utilised high-efficiency appliances and LED lighting to minimise the cost in use of the building, as well as carbon footprint. We installed an automatic addressable fire alarm system to serve each area of the building, in accordance with BS 5839-1 and BS5839-6 requirements.
In line with the latest Government advice, principally informed by the 2017 Hackitt report following the Grenfell Tower Fire, we have maintained the Golden Thread of information to ensure that all design information is readily available for the client and end user, preserving the original design intent. This also includes O&M manuals, our fire strategy and the health & safety file. We utilised Aconex as our digital audit platform, as well as our ISO 19650 accredited BIM system to help achieve this Golden Thread. The Golden Thread of information will ensure that the client and end user have the required information to manage building safety during and throughout the lifecycle of the building.
