Scotland

Ochil House fit-out

ScottishPower -Ochil House- Hamilton International Park, Ochil House- Glasgow

A £4.3 million turnkey project to fit-out 87,000 sq ft Ochil House near Glasgow is nearing completion.

Located in Hamilton International Park, Ochil House is the largest office development on the site, and shares a home with similar offices for companies including HSBC, First Direct, T Mobile, S&UN, First Engineering and ICM.

ScottishPower currently occupy the adjacent 4-storey New Aspect House at Hamilton International Park and the move to Ochil House is of strategic importance to create a campus for ScottishPower’s business requirements.

The Ochil House project is being implemented by Scottish Power and its new owner Iberdrola, a Spanish multinational utility company. The project is scheduled to reach completion in November 2012 and once work is complete Ochil House will allow ScottishPower to consolidate a number of its existing facilities.

Ochil House is a four-storey building accessed by a central stairwell and has two, 13-person passenger lifts. Also, there is a rear stairwell with one passenger lift and toilets. The facility boasts suspended ceilings, raised access floors with recessed modern lighting, VRV comfort cooling, broadband access and DDA compliant toilets on each floor. The development also includes car parking facilities.

ScottishPower -Ochil House- Hamilton International Park, Ochil House- Glasgow

Work began on the design and build contract in June 2012 with Manchester-based contractor Overbury Plc awarded as main contractor. Cooper Cromer is providing all architectural services, with Wallace Whittle responsible for the mechanical and electrical works and BREEAM. Structural works and acoustic services were also required.

Internal work on the development includes the construction of new partitions to create individual office and rooms, along with the introduction of new facilities including showers and approximately 900 fully-equipped work stations.

As well as the internal fit-out of the building, external work on the site includes the creation of footpaths, CCTV and access control, as well as a number of provisions for cyclists, such as covered cycle parking.

To date the building has achieved a BREEAM rating of ‘Very Good’.

Cooper Cromer Senior Architect, Graeme Greenock, said:

“The facility is mostly for back office staff and the objective is to deliver a modern open plan office environment, along with ancillary meeting rooms, private offices, break out areas, a reception area, and a deli bar. The layouts of each floor reflects ScottishPower’s business and operational needs and also satisfies ScottishPower and Iberdrola’s design guidelines and brand requirements.

“As toilet facilities, a lift core and stairs already existed in the building we are fitting out the office shell with new partitions, which combine a mix of traditional drywall plasterboard partition systems as well as purpose-built Spanish demountable glazed and solid partitions.

ScottishPower -Ochil House- Hamilton International Park, Ochil House- Glasgow

“With ScottishPower now part of Iberdrola, so it is very important that the Iberdrola brand is followed through in the design and detail for this new facility. This is the first major collaborative UK project for Iberdrola and ScottishPower.

“Due to the nature of the work the fit-out is taking place on every floor, with some floors more advanced than others. Overbury Plc is working from the top of the building down in order to complete each floor. With ceilings and partitions almost finished, work is progressing well.”

Graeme added:

“At Cooper Cromer we have many years of valued experience working on fit-out contracts throughout the UK and with companies currently looking to modernise their workplace to keep abreast with current office standards and with cost in mind, many companies are now either refurbishing their existing premises or moving into newly refurbished premises.

“This is the first time that we have worked alongside Overbury Plc and we’re are enjoying this new working relationship to deliver this very important project. We continue to work very closely with ScottishPower and Iberdrola and they are delighted with the work completed so far.”

About the author

Roma Publications