Project Example : New Micro Science Unit : Factory & Offices HQ.
Griffith Laboratories Ltd, Somercotes, Derbyshire

Description of Scheme

Background

In late 1990 Griffith Micro Science, a subsidiary of American-owned parent company Griffith Laboratories, issued a competitive Design & Build brief for a new Micro Science Unit on two acres of land adjacent to their existing food blending and sterilising facility on the Cotes Park Industrial Estate at Somercotes, Derbyshire.

Scheme Brief

The Client brief identified the requirement for a new 32,000 sq ft facility, which would include an office / laboratory block, automated process and warehouse facilities, together with considerable associated external works including construction of a new access road to the sloping green-field site.

Design Approach

Following a detailed site survey and considerable consultation with the Client and local highways and town planning authorities throughout the design process, the final site layout was developed on computer, including production flow routes to indicate improved handling efficiency, whilst endeavouring to reduce the impact of the building mass by incorporating substantial landscaping and screen planting to the perimeter of the site :-

Budget

The agreed overall Contract value was some £1.7m including associated external works.

Final Design

The final design solution was worked-up on our Computer-Aided Design facilities, with presentation drawings prepared to help describe the scheme to all parties concerned with the project, including the following artist's impression of the main Office / Laboratory Block frontage :-

Final Costs

The scheme was completed within the 28-week contract programme and on budget.

Completed Scheme Photographs

The following photo montage show interior views of the automated factory, a clean- laboratory room and exterior view of the completed Offices / Laboratory Complex :-