In this review

Award

winners

Sustainable

developments in

education

Conservation

Long

term

frameworks

Technological

advances

Racing up

mountains

RIDGE

Autumn 2007

www.ridge.co.uk

The Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, was established to preserve and interpret the remains of the Industrial Revolution in the six square miles around the Ironbridge Gorge. The Museum staff manage thirty fi ve historic sites within the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site, including ten museums.

Ironbridge Gorge became one of the fi rst group of seven UK sites to be awarded World Heritage status by UNESCO. This designation recognised the area’s unique contribution to the birth of the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century, the impact of which was felt across the world.

As a World Heritage Site there is a responsibility to interpret and inform visitors and the local community about the signifi cance of the site and in addition to these responsibilities there are also benefi ts that include an enhanced international profi le helping to strengthen

tourism and access to funds to ensure the long-term protection of the area.

Ridge, as a framework consultant, has been retained for the duration of the restoration projects. Works at the Jackfi eld Tile Museum and the Coalport China Museum have been essential to preserve the historic fabric of the buildings using appropriate materials, and in developing new visitor attractions in the most cost effective manner. The preservation work will ensure that these buildings can be used as essential areas for modern day manufacturing and commercial use, as well as satisfying over half a million visitors every year.

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Property and Construction Consultants

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Saracen’s HeadThis project, famous as the winner of the BBC’s Restoration series in 2004, involves two Grade II listed buildings: the Tudor House (Saracen’s Head) and the Old Grammar School. The scheme is to be developed into a mixed-use centre for heritage and community use for all ages. Ridge was involved in putting together the original proposal for the television presentation and since the competition Ridge has been retained as consultant for project management, quantity surveying and CDM co-ordination.

Christ Church, Oxford All of the Ridge disciplines have been involved in the recently-completed refurbishment of the South West Canonry for Christ Church. The Grade I Listed building began back in 1568 and fronts onto the busy street of St Aldate’s. The project impressed Oxford’s City Council’s Conservation Offi cer so much that it is now used as an example of best practice.

Ridge is also appointed on a very demanding project for Christ Church - to repair and extend Blue Boar Quad. Work on this newly-listed 1960’s concrete frame, stone clad building (designed by Powell and Moya), began in August 2007 and will complete in time for the beginning of the academic year in 2008. The Halls of Residence will be

upgraded into a mixture of accommodation, teaching space and lecture theatre.

Saving St SavioursFollowing a serious fi re at the Grade II Victorian church in

Poplar, the London Diocesan Fund appointed Ridge to advise on the existing structural integrity of the building, and what steps

needed to be taken to make it safe. It is currently on the London Borough of Tower Hamlets dangerous structures list.

The church itself is located as an oasis in the middle of an attractive parkland setting, and is a well loved local landmark. In

time it is planned to reconstruct the church to satisfy the exacting requirements of English Heritage.

Conservation

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Little’s Boarding HouseOakham School in Rutland has been a Client of Ridge since 1983. The latest scheme ‘Little’s Boarding House’, has made the fi nal shortlist for the RIBA Industrial/Commercial Architectural Awards to be featured in the October 2007 edition of the RIBA East Midlands Sector Review.

Dynamic improvements BAR fi rst developed the team’s headquarters site in 1997 when Ridge designed the bespoke facility; since then Ridge has built the second on-site wind tunnel for Honda Racing F1 Team and, most recently, a new composite and model making facility, a new drawing offi ce, a complete R & D facility, refurbishment of their existing wind tunnel, a new logistics centre, extension to their current machine shop and a new engine transmission test rig - one of the most advanced motorsport dynos in the world today.

For a dyno facility reproducing speeds and gear shifts is standard; however, the speed of reaction of this cell’s motors, along with the temperature and humidity intake on the engine, means that this new rig can also replicate exactly any specifi c track condition in gear shift, engine torque and atmosphere, temperature and humidity control.

Expansion undergroundRidge has been involved with the Enstone site since the construction of the main building for Benetton Formula 1 in 1991 and in all the main developments for the site since, including the design and management of the wind tunnel facility. Our next major project is to provide Renault F1 with a subterranean building (17m x 65m) to accommodate a new ‘CFD’ (Computational Fluid Dynamics) centre. This is an electronic aerodynamics research and development facility (or environmentally-friendly wind tunnel).

St Georges RC Church Meeting HallThis project won the 2007 RICS West Midlands Community Benefi t Award and the scheme now goes forward for the same category in the National Awards. St Georges is also entered for The Wood Awards 2007 for use of wood in buildings. Pictured above is an internal view looking up at the spectacular ceiling. Earlier this year the project achieved the City of Worcester Award for the Contribution made to the Quality of the

City and it reached the shortlist for the RIBA Midlands Region

2007 Architectural Awards.

Photo courtesy of Panton Sargent Ltd

Sustainability in Education

Ridge is currently working across a range of sectors where sustainability has been at the core of the design and inherent in the clients’ requirements.Berkshire College of Agriculture has a series of buildings, the major one being the horticultural and science unit which utilises a timber frame together with a sedum roof and photovoltaic cells. All the buildings will be heated by a centralised biomass boiler which will also provide the basis for further courses as the wood fuel will be cultivated on site through coppicing.

Dartington Primary School in Totnes is being targeted as a zero carbon footprint school, an aspiration for the Government in years to come. The buildings are designed around clusters utilising a complete timber solution for fl oor, walls and roof as well as incorporating solar water heaters and wind turbines. As an educational tool, each cluster will record both energy usage and production so that the pupils can understand how they impact on the environment. Rainwater harvesting will also be incorporated into the toilet systems.

At John Cabot Academy in Kingswood, there is a new block being constructed using a concrete frame to assist in the thermal mass of the building which, together with natural ventilation, will avoid the need for any cooling systems as the design of the building allows night time cooling. The heating system will be via a ground source heat pump and the insulation of

the building is further enhanced by the use of a sedum roof which will also assist in the drainage attenuation.

On the proposed scheme at East Surrey College, Ridge is assisting the designers in identifying sustainable products which will enable additional funding up to a maximum of 10% of the production cost through the Learning and Skills Council.

Sustainable buildings are also in demand in other market sectors. The Community Centre in Knowle West, Bristol, uses straw bale panels as the external wall insulation material.

In Shropshire, we are currently assisting in the cost planning of a driver experience centre for ‘Drive Me’ which is designed to be a low-energy building and uses recycled tyres as the insulation material in the external walls.

The site of Hollands House is being redeveloped as a headquarters building for Magna Housing. The environmental design of the new building is an important aspect of the redevelopment; the new construction is an opportunity to create a low energy, sustainable development which is designed to stand the test of time. It is proposed to exceed the requirements of building regulations and achieve a high BREEAM rating.

Frameworks

Marks and SpencerA roll out of this stores remodelling programme covered sixty stores during 2007. The Ridge mechanical & electrical quantity surveying team has provided innovative and proactive procurement services and the works carried out have resulted in a substantial improvement to outturn costs without erosion in the quality of the installations.

Warwickshire County CouncilFollowing our very successful relationship with Warwickshire County Council over the last seven years Ridge has secured quantity surveyor, project manager, employer’s agent and CDM co-ordinator services for the Council’s four-year Framework.

Homes for Haringey, & Hammersmith and FulhamRidge has been appointed as consultants providing a range of services on both of these major frameworks for ‘Decent Homes’ in London.

University of ReadingA brand new Life Sciences Building is now under construction on site for The University of Reading, as part of a twenty-year ongoing relationship with the University. Ridge is proud to have been appointed as one of the team of quantity surveyors and building surveyors under a new four year framework. Previous projects include the fi tness studios, Philip Lyle Building, Bob Kayley Theatre, Student Union as well as new- build academic and teaching space at Earley Gate.

Alliance Boots plcAlliance Boots plc has a portfolio of over 1600 stores. Ridge was initially appointed in 2004 to analyse the portfolio and capital maintenance requirements, and has subsequently been commissioned to develop scopes of work, procure, project manage and quality control the annual works programmes.

University of BathRidge has a four year Framework Agreement for building surveyor services, and included within this are CDMC and mechanical & electrical services. We have undertaken a range of refurbishment projects including the library and laboratories at the Claverton Down Campus.

Ridge recognises the importance to have a balanced workload from individual projects to major frameworks in both the public and private sectors. Frameworks provide continuity of work and are a ‘win win’ for Ridge and our Clients by sharing knowledge and understanding across a programme of work leading to genuine continuous improvement, better value and delivery.

BIRMINGHAM | BRISTOL | LEICESTER | LONDON | OXFORD | READING | WORCESTER

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The Cowyards, Blenheim Park, Oxford Road, Woodstock OX20 1QR

Brasilian World Champions Ridge has been commissioned to conduct a feasibility report into the remodelling of the existing race track, new pit facilities and grandstand at Brasilia to upgrade it to the standards required by the FIA for Formula One and A1GP racing. The Ridge team spent a week in Brasilia with Brazilian-born F1 drivers Emerson Fittipaldi (2 times World Champion) and Nelson Piquet (3 times World Champion) supporting the push to bring A1GP to Brazil. The visit culminated with a meeting and presentation to the Governor and his Ministers in front of TV and media. This is one of a number of race tracks which Ridge is involved with worldwide.

Pictured in front of the Governor of Brasilia’s House are (from left to right) Jolyon Price (Ridge), Nelson Piquet, Scott Hollingsworth (A1GP America), Emerson Fittipaldi and Clive Bowen (Apex Circuit Design).

40 years celebrationA special reception was held to celebrate John Townsend’s forty years service with Ridge. Phil Jones, Senior partner (above right) made a presentation to John to show the Partners appreciation for our longest serving member of the Ridge team. John joined in 1967 and is a valued and experienced quantity surveyor based at Oxford.

Raising money for charity, this team from Ridge took part in the the ‘Three Peaks Challenge’ sponsored race. Starting in Scotland the fi rst peak Ben Nevis (above), was quickly followed by the ascent of Scafell Pike in the Lake District, and the challenge was completed by the climb up Snowdon, all within 24 hours. The team raised over £3000 for the Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre in Reading.

One team, one challenge, three very large peaks!