The four-storey accommodation units of the hotel are of prefabricated construction with modular bedroom and bathroom units. Constructed during the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns, stringent health and safety controls were utilised throughout the course of the works.

METHODS OF CONSTRUCTION

• An expedited design process, as the Holiday Inn Express was based on a model project, allowing repeatability of design standards between the schemes.
• A faster assembly process vs traditional methods of construction, with up to 3 modules produced per day during the manufacturing process. On site, the modules took 5 weeks to install including corridors and fire stopping.

VALUE MANAGEMENT

We worked alongside the client, designers, and key members of our supply chain to develop value engineering proposals for the scheme totalling £480k

CHALLENGES

Due to the modular nature of the scheme, foundation slab and drainage pop up tolerances were required to be extremely precise. To manage this, we worked closely with our groundworkers, with increased supervision and quality check hold points on site. As well as engineering quality assurance checks prior to the pouring of concrete to ensure tolerances were met.
The project was registered for the Construction Logistics and Community Safety (CLOCS) scheme, with deliveries timed to avoid peak access and egress times for the local Academy, despite this being some distance away from our site. A traffic marshall was utilised for all deliveries to site.

COMMUNICATION

For the local community and nearby businesses, we provided updates on our activities including progress, planned disruptive works, and scheduled significant deliveries. These were shared on social media channels, newsletters, and site notice boards.

ENVIRONMENTAL AND WASTE MANAGEMENT

• The building is heated using a ground source heat pump.
• A targeted Waste Management Plan was in place throughout the course of the works, with segregated skips in use. This resulted in over 95% of waste diverted from landfill.
• Rainwater harvesting was undertaken during the construction process.
• The design focussed on offsite manufacture which saved significant embodied carbon in the construction process as well as reducing waste from the construction process.

SOCIAL VALUE

• Four M&E apprentices were employed on site over a 4-month period, providing 2,400 hours of experience.
• Three Barnes Construction Management Trainees worked on the scheme across various departments within our organisation.
• Low and high viewing panels were inserted into the hoarding to encourage community engagement with the scheme.

As architects we were very impressed with the professional and collaborative approach of Barnes during the construction process. There was a real focus on quality which is refreshing in modern day construction, and we were extremely pleased with our own relationship with Barnes which we felt really helped to produce the best possible design and in turn completed hotel. A few of us in the office that worked on the project have noted that it has been one of the most successful in terms of architect contractor relationship as well as the high-quality service that Barnes provided.”
Craig Martin, ICA Architects.