In such a competitive market, specification and cost are key drivers for occupiers, so developers and investors are looking for a contractor with the expertise to deliver on budget and to specification. We consistently hand over schemes which provide state-of-the-art services wrapped up in a high-quality finish for a price that remains attractive to the market and allows our clients to retain their margin.

New office development is increasingly taking the opportunity to improve outdated buildings and create attractive new office space from old heritage stock. We are increasingly working on high quality refurbishment of offices built anytime from the 1960s to the 2010s. These projects often involve transforming the façade and revamping shared amenity spaces in addition to the office floor plates.

Our office construction work at Hanover House was a £35 million refurbishment project to the Grade-II listed building, which once belonged to the Co-Operative Wholesale Society and was warehouse and office space.

The partially derelict building was painstakingly stripped back, revealing many heritage features that were carefully restored or replaced like-for-like. The project was completed with a superb internal fit out to Grade A standard with a series of unique heritage features and high specification finishes over 182,405 sq ft. The office construction project won the following awards:

• 2019 RICS North West Awards – Building Conservation Project of the Year
• 2019 Insider Property Awards – Commercial Development of the Year
• 2019 The Institution of Structural Engineers, North West Awards – Most Sustainable Project
• 2019 British Council for Offices Awards – Refurbished / Recycled Workplace: North
• 2019 British Council for Offices Awards – Refurbished / Recycled Workplace: National

Russell WBHO have also worked on the heritage refurbishment office construction project at 76 King Street, Manchester. This included renovating a stunning Grade-II listed Victorian building built in the 1900s, adding 31,000 sq ft of new Grade A office space to the local market.

The office construction work at 76 King Street included clean-up of the existing facade, masonry repairs, two new elevations and structural works, and the conversion of the basement into an underground car park.

We have expanded our specialist expertise in heritage refurbishment, as preferred contractor for the major office-led regeneration programme at NOMA in Manchester. Russell WBHO has on-going involvement with eight buildings within the regeneration zone.

As well as extensive experience in heritage refurbishment, the Russell team also delivers quality new build office construction projects, such as Halton Housing Head Office in Widnes. The two-storey 12,000 sq ft was designed by 5Plus and Cube with interior layout, specification and design by Interiors and fitted out by Spatial Office Environment.

The deep pitch roof is striking and was designed to resemble local landmark Fiddlers Ferry Power Station. The four window topped turrets lend themselves stylistically to their inspiration, and aid natural lighting and ventilation which are key in office construction. The external brick cladding features large glazed recesses to maximise natural light, with brise soleil to prevent glare in the workspace.

The interiors feature an industrial look with painted blockwork, power floated concrete floors, two precast staircases and a feature metal staircase. An external maintenance hall was also constructed to offer the office some storage space for Halton borough’s maintenance equipment. This is also a steel frame building with a cladded roof and walls. It is also easily accessible via the new housing development and features 91 parking spaces and 4 disabled bays. The Russell WBHO office construction team ensures that each project is designed with the client’s needs in mind.

Russell WBHO also has experience in delivering sustainable, eco-friendly office spaces for those clients who desire it. The office construction project at Caspian House saw the refurbishment of a 35,000 sq ft former Rolls Royce office building at the Atlantic Business Park in Liverpool. The remodelling transformed the formerly small office layout into a Grade A open-plan office space.

Caspian House was built to BREEAM Very Good and features double-height sections to bring additional natural light into the space as well as fully accessible raised floors and LG7 lighting. The Russell team was responsible for the internal fit out, mechanical and electrical engineering works, replacement roof, car park and external landscaping as part of the office construction project – all of which was completed within the timescale and budget with a satisfied client.

Part of the Radclyffe Park regeneration in Salford is the 18,000 sq ft Ordsall Health Centre. It incorporates spaces for nine doctors and nurses to provide general practice services, five dental consulting rooms, a pharmacy and a multi-functional community room.

The outcome of the office construction project at Ordsall Health Centre is Salford’s greenest public health building, rated BREEAM Excellent, thanks to its design, materials and construction. The following measures were incorporated into the design to improve energy efficiency and waste reduction:

• Use of Kingspan Thermawall TW50 insulation, providing a thermally efficient building envelope at 1.136m²K/W25
• Roof-mounted solar photovoltaic panels to produce 4,000W
• Low energy light fittings
• Acoustic glass
• Low flush toilets and efficient taps
• A central atrium to allow for maximum natural light in the reception and waiting areas

Not only did the design of this office construction project lead to a greener building, but it also provides a pleasant indoor environment that contributes to the well-being of staff and patients.

To find out more in detail about our office construction projects, you can browse specific builds below.