We acted for Veritas in 2014 as project managers for a relocation across London. As their lease was coming to an end, they approached us again to help them with a move from 90 Long Acre to Riverside House.
The project started right at the beginning of the pandemic. They were looking at taking 8,300 sqft on the ninth floor of Riverside House. As we progressed through the design development stage of the project, with our workspace consultants’ hat on, we discussed with them how they thought that they would react to the experience of everyone working from home for the last few months. This prompted a more in-depth review ending with a decision to investigate a more agile approach. The decision was finally made not to take the ninth floor but to take the floor above, which was only 6,500 sqft.
The building is a recently Cat A refurbished space with exposed services beneath a corrugated steel soffit. This brought several design challenges that we were able to help with.
Veritas already had an interior designer on board called Two by Two. Our role was firstly to take the design and create a detailed specification and M&E performance specification for a fit out tender. We ran a full tender process including analysis and cost comparison, and cost negotiation, until they were happy to appoint a contractor. We then created all the supporting contract documents, working with our recommended construction lawyer. Peldon Rose were the successful contractor. We managed the design development stage where Peldon Rose developed the design into the final scheme.
Our role then continued into the contract administration, with regular valuations and client-side project management. This included managing the AV solution and procurement and the relocation with a separate tender for the move contractor.
With our wealth of experience on the office furniture side we were able to offer competitive prices for the supply and installation of the desking element and we managed another tender for the supply of all the loose furniture.
While this entire project ran through the period of the pandemic and there was a change of direction to take less space, it was completed on time. All initial pre-contract meetings were held via videoconferencing, and we found this to work well. We even managed a number of site meetings in that way, although we were present at some of them, and we were very much present for the snagging and practical completion.
