5 January 2021
As the new year begins, Collins is proud to announce the completion of the phase one works at Dashwood. Collins is delivering a programme of projects across 12 of the building’s 17 floors, totalling approximately 100,000 sq ft, for repeat client Landsec.
We have been on site since June delivering a £7.5m Cat A refurbishment across six floors and the basement area to create a modern space for future tenants, called Blank Canvas.
Dashwood Blank Canvas
Collins was then appointed to deliver the £6m Myo fit out across a further four floors of the building, totalling approximately 35,000 sq ft. Myo is Landsec’s flexible office space brand and Dashwood is its second location after the success of its launch at 123 Victoria Street.
The team is also delivering Landsec’s Customised workspace on the second floor, a turnkey and customisable offer that can be delivered to any of the Cat A floors upon request. Collins has now handed over three completed floors, including two Blank Canvas floors and the completed Customised floor. We continue to be in discussions with Landsec regarding further floors as they become available.
Dashwood Customised
As the only company delivering all three spaces – Blank Canvas, Customised and Myo, Collins has been able to make effective use of materials distribution across the projects, create programme efficiencies and recover time lost from lockdown. In response to current social distancing guidelines and site restrictions, Collins has used an external hoist and lifting beam on the eighth floor for horizontal material plant lifting and as a thoroughfare for the subcontractors.
This has eliminated the need to block the internal lifts by keeping the movement of materials on the outside. It has also created a better quality of materials as they will be built offsite as complete pieces rather than having to be broken down onsite, resulting in seamless construction.
Ryan Cleanthi, Project Director at Collins, said: “We committed a great deal of time to reviewing the spaces of Dashwood and how they would be used by the different audiences. By having a real understanding of the building and a longstanding and close working relationship with Landsec it was easier to plan for the impact of Covid-19.
Collins has a one-team approach to refurb and fit out so we can work dynamically and accommodate change quickly when we need to. Dashwood is a great example of what can be achieved through strong relationships and the ability to be flexible during challenging times.”
The team is making good progress on the installation of the interlinking staircase between two of the Myo floors. A slab has been cut out between levels seven and eight, ready for the staircase to be hoisted in through the front elevation, where several panes of glass have been carefully removed.
Collaboration has been key
Charlie Railton, Portfolio Projects Director at Landsec, said: “The Collins team put together fantastic bids for the projects at Dashwood and it is great to be working with a mix of familiar and new faces. This project is a first for Landsec in bringing its 3 office products (Blank Canvas, Customised and Myo) to market within the same building at the same time. That in itself generates many challenges before taking into account working in an occupied tower building and the restrictions of COVID-19. Collaboration between client, professional team and the construction team is key and once again Collins are stepping up to the plate with energy to drive the project and an open minded approach.”
