The Leeds HQ building is home to West Yorkshire Combined Authority – iStock
Willmott Dixon Interiors has been awarded two projects to deliver new internal space for West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Havant and South Downs College.
The largest scheme is the refurbishment of Wellington House, headquarters of West Yorkshire Combined Authority in Leeds city centre. The interior specialist will transform 48,300 square feet of space at the five-storey building into a modern and collaborative working environment with improved accessibility for employees and visitors.
The project includes creating flexible office space and larger conference rooms for public meetings, with a reconfigured entrance lobby and internal layout to enable better public service.
Willmott Dixon Interiors was procured for the Wellington House refurbishment through Major Works England and Northern Ireland, a part of the Scape National Construction framework, after the original contractor, Clugston Construction, went into administration.
Wellington House was built in the early 1900s before being rebuilt following fire damage in the late 1980s.
The scheme increases the company’s presence in Leeds following its transformation of Quarry House for the Department of Health and Social Care.
Mark Robinson, Scape Group chief executive, said: “Willmott Dixon has a strong track record of providing cutting-edge, high-quality facilities for local authorities, where space is maximised and services brought together in an intelligent way, which enables enhanced collaborative working. By accelerating this important project via our framework, West Yorkshire Combined Authority will not only secure value for money for the taxpayer, but they will also unlock tangible benefits for the local community, through training, community engagement and through the use of SMEs from the local area.”
And Willmott Dixon Interiors’ Projects Below £3million team, which specialises in fast-paced refurbishments, has been appointed by Havant and South Downs College to design and refurbish two of its three campuses during the summers of 2020 and 2021. Work this summer will be completed within an eight-week programme and includes stripping out the first floor of the college’s main building in preparation for refurbishment work in summer 2021.
Willmott Dixon Interiors’ in-house team is developing the design, which includes upgrading the M&E system alongside creating a senior management suite, multi-use teaching space and a digital learning hub in preparation for the arrival of T-Levels from September.
Graham Shaw, managing director of Willmott Dixon Interiors, said: “These new wins continue our expansion, especially in Leeds, where we now have a growing track record in this city. It’s also pleasing to see our specialist Projects Below £3million team provide a fast-paced refurbishment at Havant and South Downs College, which will meet their timescale needs.”