Novus refurbishes historic university building

Novus Property Solutions has recently refurbished a historic Grade II listed building as part of a large-scale multi-million pound make-over at Teesside University.

The Constantine Building was originally home to the Constantine Technical College which opened in 1930 – now Teesside University. The University called Novus in to refresh the historic Constantine Building to create a modern learning environment.

Safety flooring and suspended ceilings were installed as part of the upgrade, in addition to new vinyl flooring and the re-plastering of all walls throughout the first floor corridor. Nine new radiators and new energy efficient lighting will also be installed.

All new pipework was required to be fully concealed, which the team of 15 operatives from Novus’ Gateshead office worked carefully to ensure.

The building was able to remain in use during the works with Novus ensuring that disruption was kept to a minimum. The entire corridor was cordoned off and access routes set up but where access was unavoidable Novus operatives were on hand to escort university staff and students safely through the site.

The built-in locker system in the three corridors had to be demolished, extending the width of each corridor by an extra 500mm, creating a wider and more spacious corridor area.

The Novus team worked closely with University staff and the project’s mechanical subcontractor to come up with the best solution as existing pipework for the radiators wouldn’t allow the operatives to isolate the system to install the new radiators. Pipework in the floor below was frozen and a new main isolation valve was installed to drain the system down before the new radiators were fitted.

Four other buildings at the University campus have had interior repainting works following the successful completion of the Constantine Building refurbishment.

Phillip Cuthberston, quantity surveyor at Novus Property Solutions said the University is now safer and more spacious for students and staff, in addition to benefitting from lower running costs.

Novus Property Solutions,
PO Box 3279,
Galveston Grove,
Oldfield Industrial Estate,
Fenton,
Stoke-on-Trent,
Staffordshire,
ST4 3PE

Phone: 01782 598000
Fax: 01782 598101

Visit Novus Property Solutions' website

Visit Supplier's page