Chief executive Alison Cooper has marked a milestone in the construction of Imperial Tobacco's new headquarters in a ceremony at Winterstoke Road, Bristol. She helped to secure a silver bolt in a specially craned-in steel beam as the new four storey structure – being constructed by Bristol-based contractors BAM – approached its highest point of development.
Construction of the 9,680 square metre building, on the site of a former cigar factory, is on schedule for completion early next year. The £12m concrete framed structure will feature a zinc-clad façade, and extensive glazing and curtain walling. Around 550 Imperial Tobacco staff will work there.
Meanwhile as many as 170 workers are on site for the construction. Alison Cooper said: "We’re very excited about the excellent progress being made with the construction project, and are looking forward to building on our long history in Bristol in a modern new site. Our new global headquarters will create a great work environment at the hub of our international business, further facilitating our collaborative approach to achieving our strategic agenda."
BAM regional director Steve Tapson: "There is extensive teamwork behind the scenes on any project of this size and it’s great for that to be recognised on occasions like this." Other firms involved in the development – which will achieve an environmental BREEAM rating of excellent – include Bristol-based development advisors Eagle Land, project managers CBRE and property advisors Burston Cook.
Major local subcontractors involved include groundworkers D20 Limited, reinforced concrete frame contractors Thames Valley Construction, steel fabricators Robbin Engineering and services engineers T Clarke (Bristol). Designers of the project are AWW Architects, WA Fairhurst & Partners (structural and civil engineers) and Hoare Lea and Partners (services engineers). Cost consultants are Gardiner and Theobald.The construction team will shortly be commencing internal blockwork, cladding the facade of the curtain wall, and zinc rainscreen cladding. Installing the building services will also commence in the near future.E N D S
Pictured: Alison Cooper, Imperial Tobacco Group’s Chief Executive, with Steve Tapson Regional Director of BAM Construction, atop the company’s new global headquarters in Winterstoke Road, Bristol during Monday’s ceremony.
