Work starts on £4.9m campus

Aug 17 2007 by Iain Laing, The Journal

DEVELOPER Terrace Hill has appointed builder Mansell to create the first phase of a 55,000 sq ft office development on Princeton Drive in Stockton.

The £4.9m business campus, designed by Lister Associates, is the latest in a series of developments by Terrace Hill in the Stockton area, including Teesdale Business Park and the adjoining Stockton Riverside College.

Gateshead-based Mansell will construct three buildings, each with its own parking and soft landscaping arranged around a central boulevard area, with a further two units earmarked for the remaining land.

The buildings have been designed in line with the current British Council for Offices (BCO Guide 2005) Best Practice in the Specification of Offices.

The individual floor plates provide a highly flexible office environment and the external elevations blend facing brickwork with aluminium-framed curtain glazing and a dominant curving roof form.

The developer has become known for the high quality construction and design excellence of its buildings, providing a catalyst for regeneration and job creation on Teesside.

“At Terrace Hill, we are very proud of our strong reputation and this must be reflected in the selection of constructors for our developments,” said Edward Bell, a director of Terrace Hill.

“Mansell has a strong track record in delivering buildings of high quality, within budget and on schedule, something that is vital if we are to deliver on our commitments to partners and prospective tenants.”

Work on the project is already underway, with construction expected to be completed in early December 2007. The buildings will combine a number of innovative features, such as a curved roof providing internal plant space, an insulated aluminium standing seam roof with concealed gutters and extended eaves detail creating solar shading to the main glazed elevations.

Bill Aitchison, Mansell’s managing director in the North-East, said: “It’s great to be working with Terrace Hill again, and this development is one of a number of projects we are working on in Stockton.

“Everything is currently on track to have the three buildings completed before Christmas and this high quality office development should be a major boost to the local economy.”

The site is being managed by Andy Lockhead, a new recruit to the Mansell team, who has previously worked for a number of well-known construction firms in the region. Originally from Guisborough and now living in Newcastle, Andy has an excellent knowledge of the Teesside area.

Mansell’s appointment follows the company’s successful completion of Phase 2 of Stockton Riverside College in 2006. The £2.9m project included a sports hall and new IT facilities.