Member Article

SES Engineering Services secures starring role on creative arts project

Leading national engineering specialist, SES Engineering Services (SES), has announced its latest contract win in the higher education sector on a new £80m landmark building in Leeds City Centre.

Working on behalf of main contractor George Downing Construction (GDC), SES has been awarded a £12m contract to provide a full range of building services, including heating, cooling, ventilation and public health, as well as smoke ventilation and security on Leeds Beckett University’s prestigious new creative arts building.

Designed to be a hub for creative education, The Creative Arts Building will include an array of state-of-the-art facilities such as performing arts and music performance spaces, a TV studio, film studios, a 220-seat cinema, recording studios and a theatre as well as a black box studio and green screen studio.

Further to this there will be additional specialist teaching spaces to promote collaboration, knowledge sharing and creative talent.

The landmark building will be home to the university’s School of Film, Music and Performing Arts as well as its Fashion Department.

Constructed on a sloping site, the building’s design incorporates many changes in levels thereby presenting a challenge for the installation and co-ordination of a high volume of building services. To overcome this SES will use its BIM Level 2 expertise to ensure that the required services not only fit within the building, but are designed and installed in such a way that maintenance and future access provision has been meticulously planned for.

Speaking about this latest higher education sector win, where SES is expected to start on site in January 2019, Steve Joyce, business director for the North and Scotland, said:

“Our reputation of working at the forefront of major new build and refurbishment projects in the higher education sector is growing with each technically challenging project we successfully deliver. I am delighted therefore, to announce our appointment with GDC on such a landmark building as Leeds Beckett University’s outstanding Creative Arts Building.

“Our early adoption of BIM Level 2, combined with Prism, our offsite manufacturing facility, are contributing factors, along with our dedicated team of project managers and site operatives, to our ongoing work winning success. In addition to the extensive range of building services required, we will also be installing rooftop MEP plant and equipment, which will be necessary to crane in, adding a further challenge to our delivery of the scheme. However, it is one which I am confident we will take in our stride.”

Commenting on such a major addition to its estate, Professor Peter Slee, vice chancellor of the University added:

“Leeds Beckett University is a major contributor to the success of the cultural and creative industries of Leeds and the ‘creative conurbation’ which is developing in the greater North. This latest investment will further enhance our positive social, cultural and economic impact. I’m delighted to see the progress on site that GDC and its team are already making.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Becky Ramsey .