Castle Building Services has been appointed as principal contractor for the refurbishment of the Axis Building, Maingate, located on Gateshead’s Team Valley business park.
The six-storey building will see Castle Building Services refurbish all of the rooftop plant areas including the installation of solar photovoltaic panels. The team will fit out levels 2, 4 and 5 plus the reception area, whilst maintaining services to levels 1 and 3, which will be fully occupied throughout the build.
As principal contractor, Castle Building Services was appointed onto the project by UK Land Estates to undertake refurbishment work within the existing 20-year-old building, incorporating features that will significantly reduce its carbon footprint.
Andrew Dawson, managing director at Castle Building Services, said: “We have developed a long-standing relationship with UK Land Estates which has resulted in our appointment as principal contractor.
“Sustainability will feature heavily throughout the upgrade with our objective of reducing carbon footprint and improving energy efficiency. As such, the roof areas will be renewed and fitted with photovoltaic panels which will capture solar energy and convert it into electricity, generating energy that will reduce the carbon footprint, achieving EPC ratings of A.
“The office areas will be provided with high efficiency LED lighting and fitted out with high efficiency energy heat pumps. We will also be providing the full mechanical and electrical and public health works.
“The office refurbishment work will include structural elements including lift lobbies, finished internal walls, internal lighting, air conditioning, toilets and fire detection systems within levels 2, 4 and 5, as well as refurbishment work within the reception area.
“Level 2 will include both a category A and Category B fit out, with the finished office space tailored to the exact requirements of the client, resulting in a space that is ready for occupancy.
“As levels 1 and 3 of the building will remain occupied, our teams will be working with the client so as to keep any disruption to a minimum. We are looking forward to the work commencing and seeing the end result.”
Adrian Bartle, construction director at UK Land Estates, said: “The Axis Building is the latest in a string of retrofitting projects we are undertaking alongside Castle Building Services to ensure our properties are as economically and environmentally sustainable as possible.
“By reducing energy consumption via the installation of LED lighting, VRF air conditioning and Photo Voltaic panels, we are ensuring each of our buildings achieve the highest of EPC ratings, while doing everything within our power to reduce our carbon footprint and deliver an all-round better service for our customers.”
Headquartered in Hebburn, with a headcount of over 150 and offices in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Teesside, Castle Building Services, which last year recorded £30 million turnover, is one of the UK’s leading providers of building services, offering a wide range of high-quality engineering and contracting services covering all aspects of building, mechanical, public health, renewable and electrical engineering.
Working across the UK, its growing reputation for the successful delivery of a diverse and complex range of projects has been built on four core values – innovation, efficiency, honesty and pride.