Refurbishment delivered smoothly in live environment.
Ensigna Construction was appointed to reconfigure and refurbish the reception and entrance areas of the Grade II listed 1932 Town Hall extension, an Art Deco landmark designed by Bradshaw Gass & Hope. Works included internal and external façade alterations, a new reception desk, office space, glazed sliding entrance doors, and associated structural and M&E installations. Enhancements also extended to the surrounding landscape, with new signage boards, entrance canopies, hard landscaping, seating, and planting. All works were sensitively delivered to preserve the building’s heritage while upgrading functionality and improving visitor and staff experience.
The Challenges
The project was carried out in a live, fully operational environment, necessitating the segregation of work areas with hoarding and the temporary relocation of the reception desk to complete the first phase, followed by the reinstatement of the reception area in phase two. Given that the building was occupied and housed multiple businesses—including an NHS call centre on the floor above—we managed communication with numerous stakeholders through a feedback system and weekly reports outlining noisy work schedules, progress updates, restricted access areas, alternative routes, and associated timeframes. To minimize disruption, particularly to the NHS call centre, we occasionally paused work during designated periods. Additionally, during a planned weekend power shutdown, the existing electrical switch—unserviced for over 20 years—failed to restart, prompting the emergency installation of generators, which was completed by Sunday evening to ensure the building was fully operational by Monday morning.
Results
The project was successfully executed within a live, fully operational environment, remaining on time and within budget despite the challenges of working in an occupied building. Ensigna’s flexibility, dependable supply chain, and full resourcing enabled the programme to stay on track, while strong collaboration with the Client Project Team fostered effective communication and problem-solving. Numerous project variations were implemented promptly with timely cost reporting, and the site manager ensured that the client, onsite staff, and internal businesses were consistently informed and satisfied throughout. The successful management of unforeseen issues—such as the emergency generator installation during a power shutdown—further demonstrated the team’s responsiveness and capability, ultimately resulting in a positive outcome and strong working relationships across all stakeholders.
Contact
Address
Head Office
37-39b Freelands Road,
Bromley,
Kent,
BR1 3HZ
1st floor,
157 High Street,
Ongar,
CM5 9JD
Unit 1B, Cliffe Yard,
Anthonys Way,
Medway City Estate,
Rochester, Kent,
ME2 4DY
