Surgo in £2m refurb at halls of residence

Sep 5 2008 by Chris Knox, The Journal

GROWING construction company Surgo has renewed its relationship with Durham University by undertaking a £2m refurbishment contract at its student halls.

Newcastle-based Surgo Construction landed the job after upgrading the university’s science labs four years ago and will provide the 151-bed block at Grey College with new kitchen and toilet facilities.

The project, which is being carried out over two phases, will also involve the replacement of all mechanical and electrical services as well as its windows and doors.

Surgo is currently tendering for a number of contracts in the region valued at between £2m and £5m and has said that it would be interested in undergoing any new-build opportunities at Durham University.

Sean Kelly, senior project manager at the university, said: “We are investing in the upgrade of its student accommodation to ensure that it is of a standard in keeping with the rest of the services on offer to students.

“Surgo Construction has a strong tradition for successfully delivering projects of this type and I am confident we will benefit from its past experience and look forward to work completing according to schedule.”

Surgo believes it is now on course to hit this year’s turnover target of around £60m, up from £50m last year, after working on a number of large-scale contracts, including the £38m Excelsior Academy in Scotswood, Newcastle.

The academy replaces Westgate Community College on Newcastle’s West Road and provides four individual schools for 1,800 students aged 11-18.

The project is one of the biggest in Surgo’s five-year history, but the firm is more concerned with ensuring that it maintains its influx of medium-scale contracts.

Director Jeff Alexander said: “Of course we like to win the large-scale jobs and we were privileged to take on the Excelsior Academy project.

“However, it’s more important that we ensure that our bread-and-butter refurbishment work keeps coming in, especially at the current time.

“I’m not saying that we are not nervous about what the next two years will bring, it’s just that we have a good spread of contracts on the go at the present time.”