Click here to view the Update

For more information call Austin on Tel: +44 (0) 1923 432 658
or Email: enquiries@austin.co.uk

This award, in conjunction with Birmingham City Council, West Midlands Centre for Constructing Excellence and the Chartered Institute of Building, honours our excellent work on Cadbury’s new Quality Assurance Laboratory in Bournville, Birmingham.

The project provides Cadbury two new Microbiology Laboratories and one Analytical Laboratory with support facilities. These feature the latest and most up-to-date requirements for Bio-security within a secure building. The award recognises Austin’s experience in the systematic and efficient way the project was designed, constructed and completed to provide a first class new facility for Cadbury.

This is a further award for our team for which we are extremely proud and is added testimony of our ability to provide excellence and workmanship by our professionals for a wide range of projects.

At Austin, quality is an ingredient in every task we undertake. We believe in the greater picture, quality is not a cost but an economy.

We would be delighted to discuss with you how Austin could deliver added value to any project you might be considering for the future.

In the most recent Research Assessment Exercise (2008) York Chemistry was placed in the top echelon of all UK chemistry departments. It is ranked 4th in the Guardian 2011 league table & the Times Good University Guide 2011 and 5th in the Independent 2011 league table. The Department won the Athena Swan Gold award in 2007, and this was renewed in 2010. A number of chemistry staff have also been awarded international prizes.

Over the past five years there has been a 100% growth in the number of undergraduate applicants, significantly outperforming the national chemistry statistics.

These successes have led to major building developments and the construction of this significant new 2,685m² research building to accommodate about 100 researchers.

Plans are also being prepared for a new undergraduate teaching laboratory complex.

The proposed facility will be assessed under BREEAM Bespoke 2008 for laboratories and is on course to achieve a Very Good rating.

A total of 78 fume cupboards will be served by a central VAV supply and exhaust air system.

A collaborative procurement approach is delivering the project based on an incentivised target cost principle.

Against severe competition, Austin demonstrated quality, expertise, experience and value with an in-house multidisciplinary approach which gained the confidence of the University to award this prestigious project to The Austin Company.

Austin is working with The University of York to develop the user requirements for the expansion of the existing Chemistry facility. Preliminary Design commenced in January 2011. Detailed design is currently underway to develop a range of laboratory, write up and office facilities. The planning consent will result in an expansion to complement the existing building with matching external appearance. The Austin Method® enables a start on site to be made in April 2011 with hand over in mid February 2012.

A coordinated aesthetic solution is proposed for the central chemistry laboratories.

The development provides three floors of teaching and research laboratory facilities, laboratory support and office space with roof top plant room.

Energy saving considerations are at the forefront of the project. The design is being developed to comply with BREEAM and Building Regulations Part L2A 2010.

The target air tightness for L2 compliance is 4m³/m²/hr at 50Pa.

“The Austin Company secured this project as they have an in-house multidisciplinary Design and Construction team who could develop a finalised brief, concept study through to detail design and manage, procurement, cost & construction through to Hand-over”- Project Manager, The University of York.

Austin is working with The University of York to develop the user requirements for the expansion of the existing Chemistry facility. Preliminary Design commenced in January 2011. Detailed design is currently underway to develop a range of laboratory, write up and office facilities. The planning consent will result in an expansion to complement the existing building with matching external appearance. The Austin Method® enables a start on site to be made in April 2011 with hand over in mid February 2012.

Click here to view the Update

For more information call Austin on Tel: +44 (0) 1923 432 658
or Email: enquiries@austin.co.uk

The facility will contain API manufacturing, finished product manufacturing, quality control, quality assurance, automated product cold store, administration areas and support, waste water treatment, warehouse, packaging and shipping areas.

How do you see workplace trends evolving in the next ten years?
How do you define the workplace?
Do work environments really make such a difference?

Read Robert’s views on these questions here.

Austin were invited to contribute to the debate at the Higher Education Facilities Management Network workshop held at Middlesex University at the end of June 2010.

The day’s event was focused on “Space – going further” and Robert  from Austin’s delivered a paper entitled “Looking Good Naked – new workplace essentials”

The presentation discussed the opportunities for maximising the use of space, reducing material cost, reducing overhead, getting the most out of your asset by challenging the accepted norms of space utilisation. It explored how you can create very cost effective, good-looking solutions within challenging budgets. This may mean exploring different approaches for traditional activities. It may also support a new generation of users who have different expectations of the workplace and what it can do for them.

Read the full synopsis HERE and/or call Robert to discuss the issues or email us on enquiries@austin.co.uk