Skanska today announces that it has received a contract from Brent Council to build their Civic Centre. The contract is valued at approximately £85 million. Work is scheduled to begin immediately, with completion set for December 2012.
To construct this project, Skanska has put together an in-house team, which includes its skills in construction, mechanical & electrical installation, piling & foundations and steel decking.
Covering a total area of around 40,000 square metres, the new Civic Centre will be located within the Wembley regeneration area opposite Wembley Stadium and Wembley Arena Square. Hopkins Architects have designed the scheme, which reinforces the site's prominent location. Skanska and Brent Council will lead the way in sustainable development on the scheme to achieve Brent's aspiration to build the UK's first ‘Outstanding' BREEAM rated public building. To achieve this, Skanska will incorporate elements such as a vegetable oil fired tri-generation unit, high performance facades, efficient building services, and rainwater recycling into the building.
The nine storey Civic Centre will include accommodation for up to 2,000 staff and councillors and provide outstanding community facilities. The building will include a main foyer and reception, state of the art new library and learning centre, Council Services Centre, Registrars services, wedding suite and wedding garden, partner organisations, restaurant, retail space, a large community hall and winter garden, upper lobby/gallery and training facilities The third floor will include the Civic Hall and roof garden, Committee Rooms and the councillors and Mayor's offices will be on the fourth floor. Administrative accommodation will be situated on the upper floors and the basement will be used for parking, loading and mechanical plant for the building and showers and changing facilities.
Commenting on the award, Paul Heather, Managing Director of Skanska's Building - London & South East Operating Unit said: "We are delighted to be working with Brent Council on their vision to build this Civic Centre at Wembley. Skanska was recently named industry leader in the Sunday Times Best Green Companies Awards 2010. This makes us the "greenest contractor" with the culture and commitment to meet the sustainability requirements of this new public building. We are looking forward to working with all the team at Brent to deliver this Civic Centre for the people of Brent and London."
Gareth Daniel, Brent Council's Chief Executive, said: "Brent's new Civic Centre is a critical component of our current improvement and cost reduction programme that helps us to consolidate our current property portfolio. The development also forms an important part of one of the UK's most exciting regeneration projects in the heart of Brent. Working with Skanska, we will deliver a high quality, sustainable building, which celebrates Brent's unique diversity and champions our local communities, whilst setting the standard for other developments to follow within the Wembley regeneration area. We are determined to create a building in which the people of Brent and London will take pride."
David Selby, Senior Partner at Hopkins Architects, said: “We are delighted that the project is moving forward to the construction stage and that Skanska have been appointed - this is a major step forward for Brent Council and for establishing an efficient and sustainable model for civic buildings delivering public services."
Notes to Editors: Skanska UK is a construction services business with operations in building, civil engineering, utilities and infrastructure services, piling and ground engineering, design, mechanical and electrical, hard and soft FM, PFI/PPP, ceilings and decorative plasterwork, steel decking and Communities, which delivers ModernaHus, Skanska’s low energy MMC residential solution.
Our business model is to integrate our core disciplines to deliver project solutions across our chosen market areas. By integrating all disciplines and working together with our clients, our partners and our supply chain, we make a real difference to the way construction is delivered.
Backed by the financial strength of our parent, Skanska AB, we focus totally on our customers in the UK, understanding their needs. We combine this with a “can-do” mindset to get it right first time. By continually improving the service we offer and delivering on safety, environment, quality and performance – our clients see us as the first choice of partner. Our ability to demonstrate real responsibility to the people, organisations and environments in which we work attracts the next generation of talent who want to make a real difference.
We employ around 5000 staff and undertake over £1.5 billion of work each year. All operating units have certification to the management systems ISO 14001, ISO 9001 and OHSAS 18001 and work strictly in accordance with the Skanska Code of Conduct.
Skanska UK is part of Skanska, Skanska is one of the world’s leading project development and construction groups with expertise in construction, development of commercial and residential projects and publicprivate partnerships. The Group currently has 55,000 employees in selected home markets in Europe, in the US and Latin America. Headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden and listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange, Skanska's sales in 2009 totalled £11.4 billion.