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After months of working in the ground and overcoming a series of issues, works are progressing well with the new glass enclosures. Due to various planned events including Durham's Lumiere and Advent functions the project will now run into the beginning of 2020.

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Once complete the minimalist enclosures will shelter the interior of the cathedral from the external elements and the environmental heating and ventilation within the lobbies will help mitigate against stone decay around the entrance doorways.

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In September we commenced works on the refurbishment and restoration of  the Grade II* Bishop Cosin's Hall.

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The work involves the full new roof, extensive stone repairs and internal works including lime plastering and repairing damaged historic covings, etc.

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The £700K project is due to finish in Summer 2020.

On the success of Maris House and in tandem with its completion we were negotiated a summer refurbishment of a 60 bedroom block at Bowsden Court in Gosforth.

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The project works involved the introduction of ensuite bathroom pods to each of the bedrooms and the general refurbishment of the bedrooms and corridors/staircases and were completed and handed over on time and to the satisfaction of the accommodation team and students

In August we completed and handed over the £3.5m refurbished Marris House Student Accommodation back to Newcastle University.

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The accommodation comprises of 32 flats, each accommodating six bedrooms with a communal kitchen living area, social and study space. The aim was to modernise the blocks to provide bright, cosy and modern accommodation in what is a prime city centre location. The blocks were installed with new certified fire doors throughout, there was a new heating system installed, together with new shower pods and bathrooms. The kitchens were stripped out and refurbished with modern grey units and a seating area for the students to enjoy. The lighting and electrics through out the blocks were modernised and new vinyl and carpets installed. The entrance ways, staircases and communal areas were modernised with the introduction of new glass balustrades.

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The 192 bedroom complex was completed and handed over in time for the students to return in September 2019 and the feedback from the client and students has been very positive.

In October 2018 the Auckland Tower opened its doors to the public and was hailed to be a huge success with over 1000 visitors over the first weekend.

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The Auckland Tower is a unique centre piece building that will sit outside the Castle grounds to welcome visitors to Auckland Castle and The Auckland Project. The design was to reflect the idea of overcoming the physical and conceptual barriers which historically existed between the town and castle. The structure was intended to emulate a great wooden siege engine drawn up against the castle’s fortification and the in-built viewing platform allows visitors access and insight into the former private palace by effectively ‘breaking down the walls’. The timber structure was also intended to be a permanent reminder of the temporary wooden structures that historically used to be constructed in the market place for fairs and festivals. The tower and visitor centre are one of the premier elements of a wider effort to revitalise Bishop Auckland and Auckland Castle. The intention is to create world class art, faith and heritage attractions to draw in people from around the world. The project is figure headed by Jonathon Ruffer, who is the founder of The Auckland Project. The tower’s main function was to be a stand out building that provides a warm welcome, ticket sales and information for visitors to The Auckland Project and its various attractions which are planned throughout the town.

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The £2.5 m 30m high tower with 89 steps to its viewing platform and visitor centre are constructed primarily of concrete & larch. The unique design & construction methods together with materials from around the world set us up for a construction challenge like none we had tackled before. There were over 650 tonnes of concrete, over 23,000 metres of timber (larch), 77 panes of glass weighing up to 160kg each and 2325 handmade encaustic tiles from Turkey used in its construction.

In September we completed the £3.5m remodelling & refurbishment of a 1960’s student accommodation, Jevons Building which forms part of Hatfield College in the centre of Durham.

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The upgrade works involved the reconfiguration and refurbishment of around 90 standard bedrooms into 60 en-suite student bedrooms & 3 self-contained flats flats. As part of the works we created new shared kitchen, created a new launderette & bar/social space for the whole of Hatfield College.

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The internal work involved extensive structural alterations including replacement of corroded structural members, works to enlarge the existing plantroom, create a new internal link between what were originally two separate buildings, remodel the full internal layout to link 3 separate blocks and to accommodate the en-suites, etc. Upon commencement of the works and opening up we were faced with numerous unforeseen issue which had to be overcome during the works, including structural issues, extensive additional asbestos, etc.

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Externally new windows and doors were installed throughout, works were undertaken to repair the brickwork and the roof was renewed. We also formed a large new courtyard, including hard (permeable paving) and soft landscaping.

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Overall the project was well managed with minimal issues and disruption. There were numerous issues and challenges that we had to overcome during the works, but managed to reschedule and re-sequencing the works to ensure that the client could still utilise the bedrooms ahead of the completion of the bar, etc. The project works and completed project has received praise from the University and the college, who are very happy with the finished job, which achieved the desired Very Good rating against the BREEAM UK refurbishment and fit out 2014.

We are pleased to announce that this year's e-Christmas Card donation of £300 will again be sent to The Great North Air Ambulance.

After last year's success we again going to offer our website visitors the option to choose where we donate our Christmas Card Charity Donation.

Works on the construction of a new Junior Common Room for the relocated John Snow College is progressing well after overcoming several hidden issues in the ground including a 200mm gas, fire hydrant and water supply pipes running across the site.

Time Lapse Video 1

The timber frame to the main tower is progressing well.

In September we commenced works on the construction of a New Junior Common Room and other facilities for the relocated John Snow College from Queens Campus, Stockton.

The building will initially be used as a JCR, offices, etc, but in 2019 will be converted into teaching facilities. The £1m project for Durham University is due for completion in June 2018.

The timber frame has arrived on site and will be erected over the next few weeks.

The timber frame to the main tower is progressing well.

From September 21 2017, Auckland Castle Trust will be known as The Auckland Project – a name chosen to reflect its continued evolution and long-term aspirations, while still honouring its Auckland Castle roots.

As part of the changes the Welcome Building has been renamed as The Auckland Tower.

Originally named the Welcome Building, Auckland Tower will be the main visitor centre, welcoming people to The Auckland Project and providing tickets and information. Its design echoes a medieval siege engine, breaking down the barriers between the town and the Castle. Featuring a 29m high tower with a viewing platform, the outside of the building will be adorned with decorative shutters and texts depicting scenes from the Castle's history.

The timber frame has arrived on site and will be erected over the next few weeks.

The Concrete tower has reached it's peak and over the next few weeks the scaffold will be stripped ahead of the timber frame which will be commencing in September.

Site Manager - Neale Torr at the top of the tower

Gavin & Roly Vest

The Concrete spine tower is nearing completion and the timber framing is scheduled to commence in September.

YouTube - Time Lapse Video 2

The Concrete spine tower with plank effect visual concrete is progressing well.

Works progressing well after overcoming a series of problems in the ground. Over the next few months the tower will begin to take shape.

YouTube - Time Lapse Video 1

In January we commenced works on the construction of the new Welcome Building for Auckland Castle in Bishop Auckland.

Darren Cooke from VEST Construction, left and Jonathan Ruffer, from Auckland Castle Trust, on the site of the new Welcome Building in Bishop Auckland

February saw the work commenced in earnest after carrying out some enabling works in January, the official ground breaking ceremony and the arrival of the piling rig to construct the foundations for the £2.5m building.

http://www.itv.com/

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/

http://www.aucklandcastle.org/

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The design includes a 29m high tower with a 15m viewing platform, offering views across the Castle ground, Bishop Auckland and countryside beyond.

The £2.5m project is due to be complete and open to the public in 2018.

Made in Tyne & Wear News

After months of work and deliberation we are please to announce that we have been successful in retaining our place on the Durham University Framework.

We applied for and have been awarded Lot 1 which covers works upto £1m and also Lot 2 which covers works from £500K to £4m. The original Durham University framework that we have been successfully involved with for over 5 years only covered projects up to £2m, so this new framework covers larger projects as well as incorporating construction works at Newcastle University.

We look forward to what we hope will be another very successful 5 year relationship with two major customers.

This year we are giving our website visitors the chance to choose where we donate our Christmas Card Charity Donation.

Works are continuing on the £750K refurbishment of Dundas House and are scheduled for completion as planned in February 2017.

The works include the adaptation of existing office space to accommodate clinical spaces, exercise/physio suite and offices.

The project is above and access is through a live shopping centre in the middle of Middlesbrough. Also several of the other floors within the 8 storey office block remain occupied during the works. Planning and continual liaison has been the key to the project's success.

In December we were awarded the contract to construct the new Welcome Building for Auckland Castle in Bishop Auckland.

Works on the £2.5m project is due to commence in early 2017 and will be complete and open to the public in 2018.

Welcome Building will provide information on other local tourist attractions, accommodation providers, and places to explore within Bishop Auckland.

The building, designed by Niall McLaughlin  will stand on the threshold between the town and the castle. Its modern design echoes a great wooden siege engine drawn up against the castle’s fortifications to allow access to the historic inner realm. The building incorporates a dramatic 29 metre high tower that gives unsurpassed views across Auckland Park, Bishop Auckland town, and the rural landscape beyond.

Works are progressing well and several historic features have been unveiled and recorded by the archaeologists during the refurbishment and restoration of the Grade 1 listed Exchequer Building at Palace Green Library in Durham for Durham University.

Externally we have installed a graphical wrap to mask the scaffold & construction works on this prominent site in the heart of the World Heritage Site & within the shadow of the Cathedral.

In October 2016 we decided to commit to employing a Trainee Estimator.

George Crees joins us and will follow in the footsteps of Gary, Lynsey & Richard through a series of company, college and university training over several years. George was former pupil at Carmel RC College in Darlington and we were delighted to be able to offer one their former students a position and employment within our company. It also reinforcing our ties with one of the top performing schools in the country.

In September we were awarded the contract to construct a new fitness suite at Trevelyan College for Durham University.

The £300K project is due to start in October and scheduled for completion early 2017.

In September we complete and handover our 2nd project of the year at the Herschel Building for Newcastle University.

The two projects were valued at £650K. The first project included the refurbishment of the 1st Floor & the 2nd later project the refurbishment of laboratories in the 2nd floor annex.  The works were mainly carried out during term time, so co-ordination and working with the department and other building users was crucial to the works being successful. The works were completed on time we have received excellent feedback from the client and occupants both during and post completion. Our philosophy of understanding and working around the client’s needs certainly helped on this live site and enabled ourselves and the University to function alongside each other.

In September we were awarded a contract to refurbish and adapt 5 internal floors of Dundas House in Middlesbrough for Middlesbrough Council.

The £750K project is due to start in October and scheduled for completion in February 2017.

In July 2016 we commence works on a classroom extension at Cockton Hill Junior School in Bishop Auckland. The scheme on this local school will bring back memories for many of our employees who are former pupils, including our MD.

The £125K project is due for completion at October half term.

In July 2016 we were awarded a £1m contract to refurbish and restore the Grade 1 listed Exchequer Building at Palace Green Library in Durham for Durham University.

Works is due to commence in September and be completed in Spring 2017.

This year three of our site managers received awards from NCSG for their contribution & standards achieved on site for Health & Safety.

After 12 months the works were completed on the Barras Building for Newcastle University.

The 840K project originally only involved works to the external façade after one of the masonry blocks became dislodges and fell to the street. Upon opening the structure up the corrosion to the façade retention system was worst than originally envisaged, plus there was extensive corrosion to the main structure and roof structure meaning that the roof and several other structural members had to be replaced. During the works the client also took the opportunity to refurbish the interior of the building. Throughout the works the 1st floor which had recently been refurbished remained occupied, this obviously presented its own problems, but through planning and continual liaison or site team completed the works successfully and with minimum disruption to the occupants.

In July we completed the works to Bedlington Health Centre.

The £240K project had to be carried out in phases so that the building could remain open to the public during the works. Our works therefore had to be very carefully planned and organised to not only enable to building to operational, but to ensure minimum disruption whilst the works were being carried out.

Overall the works were completed to a high standard and we have received excellent feedback from the client and health centre staff.

In June we completed the works to the refurbished Derwent Clinic. The Clinic serves as a base for Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust’s (TEWV’s) Adult and Older People’s Mental Health teams, as well as supporting administrative functions.

The building remained fully functional and open to the public from 8am to 8pm daily during the works, so our works had to be carefully planned to enable to building to operational whilst the works were being carried out.

The £225K project comprised of the refurbishment of interior finishes to over approximately 50% of the buildings footprint and minor demolition and space remodelling works to approximately 30% of the building’s footprint. The work areas were scattered throughout the building so had to be planned and carried out in 3 phases so that we could gain safe access and the hospital could remain operational. Where spaces were re-modelled improvements were made to the mechanical and electrical infrastructure. During the works we had to overcome several problems including extensive previously unknown asbestos.

Overall the works were completed to a high standard and very successfully with good feedback from the client and hospital staff.

We are delighted to announce that we have now achieved a UKAS accredited Integrated Management System. We now hold standards for Quality (ISO 9001:2008), Environmental Management (ISO 14001:2004) and Occupational Health & Safety (OHSAS 18001:2007).

During January we commenced a £200K refurbishment at Shotley Bridge Hospital for the NHS, a £90K Refurbishment project at Holy Trinity Rosehill Primary School in Stockton for the Durham Diocese

In December four of our site managers received awards from NCSG for their contribution & standards achieved on site for Health & Safety.