Vinci Construction UK is building a new office development in London for BNP Paribas Real Estate, the property arm of a French bank. Plot B1 King’s Cross Central, close to King’s Cross and St Pancras railway stations, will create 43,000m2 of prime office and retail space.
To meet the fast-track demands of the £80m project, approximately 800 fan coil units and pipework modules were prefabricated in York by subcontractor SES Prism, part of the Shepherd group, before being tested and dispatched to London for fitting.
Project director Phil Willmott said: “Prior to leaving the factory the modules are put through a rigorous testing regime to ensure we aren’t faced with any problems on site.
“If we had carried out the installation using a more traditional approach it would have meant an additional 12,000 hours’ worth of work having to be carried out on site, which clearly comes with cost implications.”
Vinci Construction UK worked with SES to devise a transportation frame that enabled the modules to be stacked five high.
Mr Willmott said: “The frame ensures that we maximise space within the vehicle. The frames are mounted onto wheels, giving maximum manoeuvrability on site and at the factory.”
Installation has begun on the first and second levels, with work due to begin imminently on level three.
The project is due for completion in October 2014.
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