Southampton Solent University Café & Art and Design Faculty

The Artisan café (formerly known as The Café in the Square) is situated within Solent University’s Sir James Matthew building and sits within the heart of Southampton City Councils redevelopment of the Guildhall Square area.

The café is run by contract caterer Sodexo and is operated as a high street commercial café as well as a subsidised student café.

Prior to the refurbishment, the Café was in much need of modernisation and as a result was very underutilised. In a bid

to win a 10 year campus wide contract Sodexo contacted Ferro Design in order to put together a design scheme to address some of the operational issues as well as to propose a completely new interior scheme.

Martek were appointed to undertake the project management and complete fit out of the café. Works included removal of an existing ramped area, infilling the floor, installing a new DDA compliant ramp, converting a standard WC in to a disable WC, new partition walls, new flooring, decoration, new coffee/deli bar joinery,

supply and installation of new catering equipment, all mechanical and electrical works.

The project was completed over a period of 5 weeks, which meant that it was notifiable to the H&S executive. As well as obtaining building regulations approval for the work, we also appointed an independent CDM Co-ordinator to the project. We obtained the necessary building control certificate upon completion and a complete bill of good health from a health and safety perspective.

Martek has created a bright and contemporary teaching space at Southampton Solent University as part of a recent refurbishment project.

Established in 2005, Southampton Solent University (SSU) is one of the country’s newest universities, offering state-of-the-art facilities, city-centre location, links with the local community and lively student life.

Taking on the role as main contractor, Martek transformed a run down snooker hall and former department store in the heart of Southampton High Street into a bright and contemporary teaching space, in only 16 weeks. Students from the University are now occupying the new premises, re-launched as Southampton Solent School of Art and Design, whose

spacious workshops, teaching rooms and exhibition space will become the central hub for creative studies at SSU.

Martek undertook the internal demolition and strip out of the existing 18,000 sqft premises, followed by the complete interior refurbishment and fit-out. Due to the age and fabrication of the building, extensive repairs were made to the floor, which included pumping in a levelling screed throughout and laying a new quartz resin floor finish. A completely new exposed mechanical and electrical design was installed, along with craning and supporting several ton of mechanical handling plant to the roof.

A mix of new acoustic, fire rated and glazed four-metre walls partitioned the open plan space into six distinctive

teaching areas, with additional space created for offices meeting rooms and utility areas. Existing toilet facilities were stripped out and completely refurbished with the creation of three new disabled WCs.

Martek undertook all decorative finishes to the new teaching space, including over boarding and plastering of all walls and the 25 supporting columns. The existing pot and beam concrete ceilings were also sprayed from black to white, and along with the exposed M&E services helped to create a contemporary learning environment for students, lecturers and visitors.

Martek also applied the finishing touches of specialist joinery, including the impressive new reception desk.

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