032-press-shot.jpgWelconstruct has completed a multi million pound major design and build programme at Sainsbury’s distribution centre in Coventry. The £5m scheme has enabled the leading retailer to expand storage space for its TU clothing range, double the office accommodation, increase the restaurant facilities and build a new reception area. Reworking of the 25,000 sq ft site began in April 2007. Both clothing and general merchandise buyers are to be located at the city base.

Welconstruct, one of the UK’s leading fit out and refurbishment specialists, led the project design of the warehouse storage solution.
The team worked closely with Sainsbury’s appointed architects and consultants on the office alterations all while acting as principal contractor during the 20-month project.

Nick Basire, project manager for Sainsbury said: “Welconstruct were instructed on the basis of their wide ranging experience in the retail sector and ability to identify more efficient and highly cost effective measures to benefit the centre.

“The fact that they could offer the complete package from warehouse to the office element of the project was also very attractive.

“The transformation was carried out in two distinct stages as this was a live, operational site – a constraint that Welconstruct are also well versed in. Stage one focussed on the warehouse and stage two on the offices. The first stage was subsequently split into smaller sub-phases to ensure the business operation had minimal disruption”.

Wayne Morran, sector manager for Welconstruct continued: “This was a complex project on an operational site but the potential for increased efficiency was huge.

“We began in the warehouse where we increased storage space from 4,360 sq m to 12,057 sq by using a mezzanine floor and a three-tier multi shelving system. This enabled us to also house goods lifts, conveyors, additional racking, sprinklers, lighting and heating systems.

“Office space was increased from 1100 sq m to 2750 sq m – creating an additional 1650 sq m of space using another two mezzanine floors. With the rapid growth of the site Welconstruct also carried out expansions of the restaurant and welfare facilities, the new building of ‘mock shop areas’ as well as a purpose designed reception area.”

This works programme also incorporated alterations to the existing mechanical & electrical services in addition to the general refurbishment program. In a separate stage of works Welconstruct built a new satellite 600 sq mtr modular building linked to the main building that ultimately became the general merchandise mock shop.

Welconstruct is the fit-out and refurbishment division of Welconstruct Group Ltd, a £50m business with offices in London, Birmingham, Bristol and Manchester. Welconstruct offers a fully integrated fit-out service, nationally, to the commercial, distribution & logistics, retail, healthcare, education and industrial property sectors.

Welconstruct

www.welconstruct.co.uk

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