Beckton Community Centre Refurbishment

The community centre was in disrepair, with inoperative heating and cooling, and had been closed. It also had some dangerous structural failings around the central atrium which had had to be boarded off for the last few years of the building’s use. As well as the failure of structural, HVAC and electrical systems, the cosmetic state of the building was very poor.
The project undertook a full strip out of ceilings, flooring, walls – and remodelled rooms and access according to the client’s designs.

Project specifications

  • The large hall was refurbished and fitted with an optional divider, allowing flexible use as one or two spaces.
  • A refurbished atrium featuring a new 6m x 6m structural double-glazed dome, replacing the original unsafe structure, with an integrated blind to manage temperatures on those hot sunny days
  • A commercial kitchen designed for event catering, cooking classes, and daily user needs.
  • Updated meeting rooms with modern heating, cooling, lighting, and flooring for long-term durability.
  • Massively improved insulation with huge R-Value improvements and a completely new 'smart' HVAC system custom designed for the space
  • Hardwearing flooring throughout, rated for commercial use and heavy footfall
  • Brand new roof installed to keep the building protected for many more decades
  • New toilets and kitchenettes throughout
  • Automatic LED lighting
Sector

Local Authority

Service

Refurbishment and retrofit

Location

Beckton, East London

Value

£1.5m

Client

Newham Council

Innovations, challenges & solutions

The original design we received for the HVAC was under-specified for the large space in the hall, and the budget did not allow for it to be up-rated. Olli had three HVAC  companies check the design and all three said it wasn’t going to work.

So we commissioned one of our most trusted HVAC contractors to redesign the system to use networked Mitsubishi equipment. This eliminated the need for a plant room, saving tens of thousands of pounds which could then be ploughed back into upgrading the system overall.

The air handling units recover 92% of heat from vented stale air, and allow for sufficient changes of fresh air all year round.

Olli was able to take savings made in some areas (the basement floor proved easier to work with than expected) and use these savings to deliver beyond the original specification in other areas, like upgrading the flooring throughout.

Olli site manager Dan James remarked: “There's a lot of work that you don't realise above the ceilings. There's loads of it. So we had to find some money somewhere to pay for that in the electrical side of the package. So we re-specified the light fittings with a different design.”

The lighting design was redesigned with standard components and them we were able to add an automatic lighting control system which will save money over the lifetime of the building. Lights are automatically turned off in unoccupied rooms and when there is sufficient natural lighting. The M&E was brought in on budget.

We were able to get a great result on the massive 6m x 6m glass dome by specifying aluminium double glazing units with structural properties, eliminating the need for additional structural steels. To put that roof on, we had to get our structural engineers involved to calculate the loads. And the final roof looks better, as well as coming in at a lower cost.

Olli site manager Dan James remarked:

“There's a lot of work that you don't realise above the ceilings. There's loads of it. And we had to find some money somewhere to pay for that within the M&E side of the budget. So we re-specified the light fittings with a clever new design.” — Dan James, Site Manager

The lighting design was redesigned with standard components and then we were able to add an automatic lighting control system which will save money over the lifetime of the building. Lights are automatically turned off in unoccupied rooms and when there is sufficient natural lighting. The M&E was brought in on budget.

We were able to get a great result on the massive 6m x 6m glass dome by specifying aluminium double glazing units with structural properties, eliminating the need for additional structural steels. To put that roof on, we had to get our structural engineers involved to calculate the loads. And the final roof looks better, as well as coming in at a lower cost.

Project Outcome

The renewed building is being used by an eager local community including children’s karate, elderly Chinese ladies’ group, after-school clubs, special needs children, Tai chi sword, health-care worker professional training, dominoes club and a thriving private hire for weddings, wakes and social community events.

Olli have completely revitalised the building, and the community is reaping the results.

“It looks amazing. I never thought it was going to transform the way it has. The central atrium has been transformed, and and the light that has been given to the centre as a whole is just phenomenal. There’s a maximisation of space, especially compared to the old dusty corners we used to have. Just absolutely phenomenal.” — Lisa Taylor, Community Neighbourhoods Manager