Double success at the North West Regional Construction Awards 2023

Last night our North West team attended the Constructing Excellence North West Regional Construction Awards 2023 where we picked up two awards.

Modern Methods of Construction for our Manchester Town Hall Project

This is a very proud win for our North West team, who have worked on this project since 2020. This project demonstrates how true collaboration via Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) enables goals to be achieved, for the end client, stakeholders, and for the community.

Manchester City Council's vision of this mammoth project involved repairing, restoring, and refurbishing the much-loved Town Hall building, to ultimately boost public access, and safeguard its longevity and significance, all whilst preserving the architectural fabric. The Town Hall is at the heart of the city - as demonstrated by the aptly named 'Our Town Hall' project - clearly showing how significant the building is to the people of Manchester.

MMC was crucial in refurbishing this heritage building – a marriage between past, present, and future - modern methods in an old structure, to preserve what is historical, not only for us in the present but for future generations too. This project demonstrates how this can be done, and done successfully, with MMC the focus from the offset, driven by a forward-thinking client and by the vehicle of collaborative working principles and early engagement.

NG Bailey also supported the Council in its social value goals; not only is the refurbishment of the building itself for the people of Manchester, but the course of the project also benefits local people. This involved a real drive to create work opportunities, including for young apprentices, and hosting young people from schools to learn about the industry and the project.

The judges said: “A very strong submission with clear evidence trails, this is a project that we might not have expected to see in this category. The judges were impressed by the high-level vision of how Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) can be used in Heritage buildings.

This is a true example of how MMC can be used in renovation and traditional settings. MMC was embedded from the outset via early engagement for the refurbishment of this Grade 1 Heritage building. With a focus on maximising the advantages of a design for manufacture and assembly approach, the project demonstrated wider social value.”

Project of the Year, Cumbria for the BAE Devonshire Dock Hall Complex Project

Over the last five and a half years, NG Bailey has completed a complex scheme of mechanical and electrical services upgrades and replacement works at the Devonshire Dock Hall and surrounding complex – BAE Systems’ largest UK site at Barrow-in-Furness.

The project achieved site readiness for build, test, and commissioning of the next generation of Royal Navy nuclear submarines – Dreadnought class – a programme of huge significance for the UK’s national security and defence.

Mechanical and electrical services required extensive upgrade works within the facility, whilst also maintaining existing capability for the continuation of the Astute class boat build operations.

The project was delivered through a technically led, collaborative approach that provided pragmatic and innovative solutions driven by the customer’s specific requirements, all with quality in mind and a focus on health and safety.

The project was successfully completed on time, to BAE Systems’ requirements, with more than 500,000 worked hours without a RIDDOR reportable.

The judges said: “This was a very impressive project delivered in very challenging circumstances. Success was secured through collaboration and teamwork. Strong evidence of wider constructing excellence principles was evidenced all within the challenging confines of a nuclear environment.”

Congratulations to both project teams.