Case Studies
Using intelligent solutions to create an inspiring space that enhanced social value and wellbeing in the community.
Two projects being delivered simultaneously for the City of London Academy Shoreditch Park: a brand new Leisure Centre and a secondary school and sixth form.
Set over four storeys, the stacked leisure centre features swimming facilities, fitness suites, indoor sports halls and outdoor rooftop tennis courts. The academy consists of 4 and 5 storey construction with a basement under half the building. The building includes 2 large full height atrium areas, a rooftop playground including an artificial grass MUGA pitch and a 615m2 triple storey height sports hall.
Client: Hackney Borough Council
Value: £97.5m
Duration: on-going
Delivered a brand-new leisure centre and secondary school to Hackney Borough Council, and worked with the council to deliver five key objectives focusing on the social value and wellbeing the new additions brought to the community.
We wanted to create more than a ‘just a new leisure centre’. We wanted to empower our team to create a legacy that was completely aligned to the council’s five unique objectives.
Here’s how we responded to the challenge.
Objective: Maximise opportunities for disadvantaged groups and improve employability skills in the borough.
To support Shoreditch Trust in their fight against inequality across the borough, the team sponsored and attended the Elders Fest. This is a special, festive event created for 40 people from the community with different physical and mental disabilities, who would normally be socially isolated.
The team learnt a lot from the residents during this time, and helped us view our work in the community differently. A few attendees even helped our the team to learn a few new dance moves!
Thanks for a lovely evening yesterday. I was most touched by the care and attention that staff and volunteers gave every person present particularly to those, like myself, who were on their own. It was much appreciated to be made to feel so welcome.
Objective: Enrich the school curriculum
The team reached out to students and pupils of the local area to understand what they actually wanted out of their education experience. There were over 1,000 engagements accounted for throughout their time on the project. Armed with this insight and knowledge, the team ensured careers fairs were as important as our on-site deliveries, and we worked closely with the school and colleges in the area to ensure online events continued throughout lockdown. The team also helped to arrange work experience interviews for candidates for Hackney Works
I wanted to say a huge thank you for attending our Discover Apprenticeships Event this week! It was such a great atmosphere and student feedback has been amazing!
Objective: Partner with employment and training providers
The team worked with Women in Construction to support 60 women as part of a wider employability programme. This included speed interviews and seminars. They also worked with Women at the Well, a charity that helps women whose lives are affected by prostitution.
It not only boosted personal hope to forge a career in the industry and enthusiasm for the varied roles available but also expressed so much gratitude for the million pieces of advice and insight knowledge that was provided to each mentee.”
Objective: Seek innovative solutions to ensure environmental sustainability
One of the team’s most innovative projects was to utilise London’s Cycle Superhighway’s cargo bikes to make deliveries to the site, as they had a hub located next to it.
There were on average three bike deliveries per week and TfL captured this as best practice, recognising that the team were the first contractor in London to make use of this approach.
These little changes led to big savings, as the team found that not only did their carbon output for van deliveries go from 17.1 kg to 0kg, but they increased productivity as cargo deliveries could be made to the site in half the time they would take in a van.
Objective: Work with the community to define and coordinate activities
The commitment to making positive change was driven even further, when in March 2020 the UK entered its first lockdown.
The team persisted with their plan and adapted their residents’ meetings and careers fairs to be online - and quickly. This meant they could still continue and exceed their social value objectives during what was a difficult time for the community.
The final result - £78.1 million created in social value, 79% of the project value (£98.7million)
While reminding ourselves that the stats are impressive, as are the systems such as the Social Value Portal and Local Multiplier 3, what really matters are the individual people that the project has continued to have a positive impact on. That’s what has been the most rewarding for the team.
Using intelligent solutions to create one of the healthiest buildings in the world.
Part of £1bn development known as Paddington Village, The Spine is located in the Knowledge Quarter of Liverpool and is the new Northern Home for the Royal College of Physicians (RCP). The team delivered the shell & core of the 14-storey, 160,000 sq ft commercial building and provided CAT B fit out to level 6.
The RCP occupy the top 7 floors which have been designed specifically to their requirements. This includes facilities for high quality research, medical training, examination and conferencing with open plan office space and meeting rooms. The remaining floors provide flexible workspaces for like-minded industries.
Client: Liverpool City Council
Value: £35m
Duration: 103 weeks
Representing Liverpool’s first Grade A office space offer in a decade, which also creates a new northern headquarters for the Royal College of Physicians, we developed a 1.8m sqft space of architectural innovation and design excellence.
The landmark building needed to create an environment that promotes a healthy and happy workforce, while also playing home to some of the world’s largest players in the science, technology, education and healthcare sectors.
This involved working to the WELL Standard which consists of seven concepts - air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort andmind.
At every stage of the project, we had to work towards the scientific and medical research principles established in the international WELL Standard. For Platinum status, a building requires at minimum 80 of the proposed features.
Not set with meeting the minimum requirement for WELL Platinum status, we installed 101 out of a possible 110 features to create the first WELL Platinum scheme in the UK - 87 of which were within the shell and core of the building.
The design of the building itself was based on the narrative of the human body and its abstract representation through architecture and biophilia.
Taking influence from the human skin, the façade has a striking Voronoi pattern that includes 23 million individual polygons applied to the building’s glazing. This mathematical pattern is found in biology, medicine and epidemiology and assists in the building’s solar control.
Natural light that enters through the biophilic design inspired façade generates unique shadow patterns on the inside of the building - helping to create an ever-changing environment that promotes productivity andstimulates the mind.
Between the building’s floors with helical stairs, there are a rich mix of plants and trees to reduce both carbon dioxide and toxin levels - while also producing oxygen, promoting salutogenic properties and adding to the overall appearance.
Instead of an atrium, The Spine’s series of double height spaces are known as vertical villages which are made to represent lungs.
Natural materials, textures and finishes are used wherever possible and all furniture is responsibly sourced to ensure the air quality is kept to a high standard and in keeping with the WELL Standard principles.
It’s fantastic to see first-hand just how inspiring this biophilic workplace is. From the distinctive Voronoi panels to the striking geometric staircase; the trabecular columns to the abundant internal space - the innovation throughout has reflected the ambitious and pioneering nature of this new northern home for the RCP. We’re delighted with the results and look forward to seeing the impact the positive and healthy workspace has on its occupants.
Building more than just a building in Birkenhead
Morgan Sindall Construction have been commissioned to build two Grade A office buildings in Birkenhead town centre.
The two new office buildings mark a significant milestone in the transformation of Birkenhead, being the second Grade-A development in the area since the Queensgate development in 2014.
Once complete, the office buildings will be connected by new outdoor public realm and open, adaptable spaces for occupiers, residents and visitors to enjoy, as well as providing opportunities for events and pop-up activities stimulating the daytime and evening economy in the town centre.
Client: Wirral MBC
Value: £40m
Duration: 22 months
Created a social value plan with initiatives that aligned to Wirral Growth Company's (WGC) key areas of priority.
Part of WGC's regeneration plan is to revitalise local communities and focus on the key issues facing skills, education and employment in the area. The challenge was to see how we could help WGC improve these key areas during our time working in the area and how we could help benefit the community for years to come.
Here's how we responded to the challenge:
The Launch of Wirral's Knowledge Quad
Following the success of the first two Knowledge Quads in Liverpool and Salford, the project team developed its third facility at the Birkenhead development.
The Knowledge Quad is a multi-purpose training and learning facility based within our onsite set up which provides users with a unique insight into a working construction environment. Its predecessors have proven to deliver value through delivery of employment pathway programmes, skills workshops and numerous schools, college and university engagement sessions.
Wirral Knowledge Quad has created a vital link between industry and education through its partnership with Wirral Met College which offers a range of built environment courses. The partnership ensures that curriculums align with employer requirements and that students, trainees and apprentices at all levels are provided with the relevant knowledge, skills, training and onsite experience to help them succeed.
The Knowledge Quad forms part of the project’s social value plan and supports the Council's wider regeneration plans for Wirral. Some key priorities for this include creating sustainable employment, reducing crime and creating opportunities for care leavers.
The following pictures and video case studies on the next pages highlight some of the opportunities we have created for young people.
The launch of Wirral's Knowledge Quad
‘Build an outdoor classroom’ challenge with Wirral Met joinery students
‘Changing Rooms’ challenge for Wirral Met painting and decorating students
Lois and Ryan undertook three month work placements with us as part of our partnership with LEEP School who support young people excluded from mainstream school and are at risk of becoming NEET. Lois passed her maths GCSE and is now at college studying to be a Quantity Surveyor. Ryan has been offered an apprenticeship with Summit Scaffolding.
Joe and Ben are both care leavers from Wirral. Joe trained for a logistics position in the military but failed a medical and was left jobless. Morgan Sindall created a position for Joe via the Kickstart scheme which has led to a permanent position as a trainee logistics manager. Ben has embarked on a steelwork apprenticeship with Leach Steelwork.
Building local opportunities
Another of Wirral Growth Company’s objectives in this regeneration programme is to create work opportunities for local people and businesses.
Our Getting Connected events were developed to align with this objective. They have created a forum for local people and businesses to forge connections with ourselves, our supply chain partners and local support services to help them access employment and work opportunities as the regeneration of the town centre moved ahead.
We have also fully adopted the use of Local Supply Chain within our procurement processes resulting in 26 new connections with local businesses.
Take a look at some of the outcomes of ‘Getting Connected’ in our short videos.
Our first Getting Connected event took place during pre-construction. This helped to place the local community at the heart of our procurement strategy and generate full buy in to our social value commitments from our supply chain partners.
Over 100 Wirralians made meaningful business connections and discovered suitable work and training opportunities available to them.
Our latest Getting Connected event supported sustainable growth of local SME's and microbusinesses and shared insight on key components of our procurement strategy such as carbon and social value. The event resulted in:4 business growth referrals2 new members of Wirral Chamber12 registrations to Local Supply Chain6 supplier referrals to Materials Desk
