Work completed on 'complex' multi-million pound refurbishment scheme at University of Leeds

SES Engineering Services (SES), the national engineering specialist, has completed a multi-million pound refurbishment project at the University of Leeds’ School of Chemical and Process Engineering building.

Working on behalf of main contractor Galliford Try, SES has been on site for two years to deliver the transformation of the 60s building as part of the university’s £520m transformation programme.

The revamp of the School of Chemical and Process Engineering faculty, which caters for some 1,000 students from more than 70 countries, will assist the university to achieve growth in academic activity.

Galliford Try and SES completed the work on time, despite an array of hidden challenges brought about by the outdated building and a raft of variations to the original contract.

While on site, SES delivered 12 contractual phases, 12 commissioning periods and 12 handovers under the one contract.

The building now comprises a suite of three purpose-built laboratories for research using radioactive materials, with space for pilot scale rigs, bench top chemical experiments and high-spec analytic equipment.

A new photonics laboratory hosts ultrafast laser plasma implantation equipment. This allows research to be undertaken, whilst also supporting the use of facilities for commercial applications.

David Oldroyd, University of Leeds’ senior project manager, said: “Without doubt, the refurbishment of the School of Chemical and Process Engineering was complex on many levels.

“The building fabric and services threw up various surprises to the team coupled with changes in research and recruitment, which forced a high volume of changes by the university.

“To ensure the remodelled building would help us to achieve what we’d set out to achieve, the client and contractor’s design team pulled together to resolve the issues jointly and a can-do attitude was applied by both SES and Galliford Try.

“I also believe that the timely completion of the project would not have been reached were it not for the open, communicative and collaborative approach adopted by both contractors at the outset and their willingness and ability to respond to the changes without breaking stride. They are to be commended for that.”

Steve Joyce, SES’ business director North, added: “This project, in my opinion, is exemplar and has been a feat of logistics engineering in itself.

“It is a clear demonstration of how a collaborative approach can overcome challenges and deliver results that everyone on the team can reflect on positively and apply to future projects. “